Like they said before you find good people and bad people at any place, you did the right thing.
sometimes police tell the drivers to keep going while the close some side of the road, the first time they ask, they do it politely, if the persons listen and do as they say thumbs up for the understanding driver, but sometimes some driver comes a long and stop he`s car trying to pass from the closed side, now the police have all the right to yell at the driver to move the car.
to sum up being late is never a problem not getting there is the problem.
and remember that all paths get to rome