Driving standards

[GrumpyPenguin]

3 hours ago, NBL said:

Who's to say it's the kids fault?  What about the driver of the vehicle that hits them?  Or the vehicle that they are trying to get around?

 

All vehicles, regardless of their size present hazards if carelessly parked.  Commercial vehicles more so as large cars at least have windows you can see through if the person is tall enough.

 

I'm not saying they should be banished, just thoughtfully parked.  If you can't see that then maybe you are the one that shouldn't be allowed to reproduce.

I certainly did not say it's the kids fault alone. And whilst all drivers need to drive with common sense pedestrians also have a duty of care to themselves.

 

Most large cars (& many smaller ones) have privacy glass which is impossible to see through from outside the vehicle.

 

Just where did I condone vehicles of any type being badly parked ? Some people are overdue for a vist to Specsavers.

[GrumpyPenguin]

3 hours ago, johnofwessex said:

 

I think the issue over SUV's is that while we can all see the need for a Tradesman's Transit, who on earth needs a SUV in London unless you are a visiting upland sheep farmer?

A certain ghastly little power mad man seems to think he needs an armoured one for himself and another one for his security team.

[GrumpyPenguin]

1 hour ago, Deeps said:

You made some very valid points, and my suggestions were definitely ‘tongue in cheek’, but it is difficult to convey that inflexion in written debate. In my minds eye I envisaged a single lorry that was spread over the central reservation without others vehicles involved but, nevertheless, you highlight a valid issue.

 

As to resources, every time I’m on a long journey with traffic updates selected on the car radio, it seems there are always problems on the M25. Far from sitting idle I’d imagine such resources would be in almost constant demand! No doubt someone here has data for how much lengthy delays affect the economy?

This (& many other forums) could do with a TIC smiley.

 

A single loaded HGV on it's side will almost certainly be written off, apart from visual damade the chassis will probably be twisted, so yes, once anbody involved is safe clear it to the side as quickly as possible, maybe just to one side for full recovery later when there is less traffic. Any estimate to the costs of delays to others can at best be just that - estimates.

 

I've done a fair amount of HGV driving and believe me - they overturn easily when loaded. I would think that most that do overturn are the result of taking evading action for some reason. A couple of times I swerved to avoid idiots and nearly went over - never again, I'll brake hard but never swerve.

 

Talking of idiots three times other vehicles have collided with mine whilst stationary in traffic - on the last page of the six page report form there is the question ;

Q : What action could you have taken to avoid the collision ?

A : Been somewhere else.

The driver trainers were not amused !

 

[Deeps]

3 hours ago, 30801 said:

As it happens our new neighbours have both a Transit and a Q7. They seem to be keeping them on the drive for now but it looks like that involves the Q7 driver climbing out of the passenger door.

Fun times might be in store.

Back in the early 1980’s I had a Granada Coupe (lovely car by the way) and when parked in the driveway alongside our house the only way I could get in and out of it, because the gap was so narrow, was through the sunroof.

[Nick C]

1 hour ago, chiefpenguin said:

Q : What action could you have taken to avoid the collision ?

A : Been somewhere else.

Apparently in Thailand if there's a collision between a local and a tourist it's often automatically deemed to be the tourist's fault, on the basis that if they weren't there, the collision wouldn't have happened...

 

On the subject of parking, there's one further up our road this evening - SUV, half on the pavement, facing against traffic, and on the opposite side of the road to all the other parked cars. Just about enough room to weave a normal sized car through, but no way an ambulance or fire appliance would fit...

Edited February 16 by Nick C

[tractionman]

38 minutes ago, Nick C said:

SUV, half on the pavement, facing against traffic, and on the opposite side of the road to all the other parked cars

 

and at night always made much worse when parked SUV (and van) drivers leaving their headlights on, facing traffic on the wrong side of the road, it's virtually blinding 😒

 

 

 

[Guest]

14 minutes ago, tractionman said:

 

and at night always made much worse when parked SUV (and van) drivers leaving their headlights on, facing traffic on the wrong side of the road, it's virtually blinding 😒

 

 

[PhilJ W]

1 hour ago, tractionman said:

and at night always made much worse when parked SUV (and van) drivers leaving their headlights on, facing traffic on the wrong side of the road, it's virtually blinding 😒

And also illegal.

[PhilJ W]

12 hours ago, TheQ said:

Until I retired to most common parking on pavements I saw, was the coppers parking their private cars outside Norwich North police station.

Many years ago there was a street behind  Barking Police Station with double yellow lines. The local CID had a tatty looking Transit van with peepholes fitted in the sides. I observed it one morning parked on the double yellows with a parking ticket on the windscreen so I went in and told the desk sergeant that the CID van had got a ticket. He said he'll tell them but I hope he wiped the grin off of his face before he did so.

[GrumpyPenguin]

3 hours ago, Deeps said:

Back in the early 1980’s I had a Granada Coupe (lovely car by the way) and when parked in the driveway alongside our house the only way I could get in and out of it, because the gap was so narrow, was through the sunroof.

I had one of those & when I bought it the previous owner kept it in his garage & entered/exited it though the sunroof - those doors are big !

Lovely car indeed, wish I still had it.

[PhilJ W]

Another car towed away but in this case they probably done the driver a favour as she seems to be intoxicated.

 

[kevinlms]

8 hours ago, PhilJ W said:

Another car towed away but in this case they probably done the driver a favour as she seems to be intoxicated.

 

I do hope her friend wasn't going to let her drive, if the car had been there! Would have taken them a while to compile that clip - lots replay button hitting!

[Enterprisingwestern]

10 hours ago, PhilJ W said:

Another car towed away but in this case they probably done the driver a favour as she seems to be intoxicated.

 

No, probably just American!

 

Mike.

[Sidecar Racer]

 

 Appears that the company has moved , so no more drum beats ,

 

https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@32.7827854,-96.7827944,3a,83.3y,199.93h,86.72t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sc3dO2Sq5yd2Ukjb-8rq94w!2e0!7i16384!8i8192?entry=ttu

[MrWolf]

Could be worse!

 

 

 

 

[tractionman]

On 16/02/2024 at 18:54, 30801 said:

 

 

 

anyone like me so inclined to do something about the worsening glare of modern headlights, here's a relevant petition:

 

"Review the brightness of car headlights for safety

The Government should launch a review into the problem of some headlights causing oncoming traffic drivers to be unable to see clearly and safely. The review should be conducted with car manufacturers to find solutions."

 

https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/653793#

 

 

 

 

 

[MrWolf]

Signed by both of us. It's particularly dangerous for motorcyclists as you get whited out at night and can't see anything at all on the road ahead but the oncoming lights. It's bad enough in an old car that only has H3 lamps.

[Guest]

1 hour ago, MrWolf said:

Signed by both of us. It's particularly dangerous for motorcyclists as you get whited out at night and can't see anything at all on the road ahead but the oncoming lights. It's bad enough in an old car that only has H3 lamps.

 

Meanwhile you can just walk into Halfords any buy yourself some illegal LED replacement bulbs.

 

https://www.halfords.com/motoring/bulbs/lucas-h7-477-led-headlight-bulb-twin-pack-201235.html

[Reorte]

Since it's pretty much all LEDs (for new) now anyway it's a while since I've seen "but they're much better because they're brighter" even though it wasn't the technology but the law created for a very good reason that kept the brightness down.

 

This might get be a bit of abuse but I'm fed up with bike lights now. Thanks to LEDs they can be as bright as car headlights now. That on it's own certainly isn't a bad thing, but they're rarely adjusted accordingly, and I find flashing at that brightness level is disorientating, especially if it does a strobe-type flash (beats me how anyone can standing cycling with that). When the law was changed to allow flashing bike lights it was probably a good idea, when they were nowhere near as bright, but they've changed.

[Nick C]

39 minutes ago, Reorte said:

Since it's pretty much all LEDs (for new) now anyway it's a while since I've seen "but they're much better because they're brighter" even though it wasn't the technology but the law created for a very good reason that kept the brightness down.

 

This might get be a bit of abuse but I'm fed up with bike lights now. Thanks to LEDs they can be as bright as car headlights now. That on it's own certainly isn't a bad thing, but they're rarely adjusted accordingly, and I find flashing at that brightness level is disorientating, especially if it does a strobe-type flash (beats me how anyone can standing cycling with that). When the law was changed to allow flashing bike lights it was probably a good idea, when they were nowhere near as bright, but they've changed.

Bike lights? As in lights, on bicycles? That'll never catch on...

[johnofwessex]

3 hours ago, 30801 said:

 

Meanwhile you can just walk into Halfords any buy yourself some illegal LED replacement bulbs.

 

https://www.halfords.com/motoring/bulbs/lucas-h7-477-led-headlight-bulb-twin-pack-201235.html

 

So why is a 'High Street' retailer selling something that cant be legally fitted to a vehicle used on public roads in the UK?

[MrWolf]

18 minutes ago, johnofwessex said:

 

So why is a 'High Street' retailer selling something that cant be legally fitted to a vehicle used on public roads in the UK?

 

Not much has changed. When I first started driving you could buy halogen H4 bulbs that weren't legal for road use, intended for rallying only. Lots of POS beige MK2 Escorts ended up fitted with them.

[MrWolf]

2 hours ago, Reorte said:

Since it's pretty much all LEDs (for new) now anyway it's a while since I've seen "but they're much better because they're brighter" even though it wasn't the technology but the law created for a very good reason that kept the brightness down.

 

This might get be a bit of abuse but I'm fed up with bike lights now. Thanks to LEDs they can be as bright as car headlights now. That on it's own certainly isn't a bad thing, but they're rarely adjusted accordingly, and I find flashing at that brightness level is disorientating, especially if it does a strobe-type flash (beats me how anyone can standing cycling with that). When the law was changed to allow flashing bike lights it was probably a good idea, when they were nowhere near as bright, but they've changed.

 

I can understand why you might fear being lambasted by the lycranazis for having the gall to criticise them. I remember nearly flattening a work colleague who rode competitively, sponsored by a couple of local bicycle shops. He came down a side road on the inside of traffic, hopped up onto the pavement to avoid a cement truck turning left and dropped onto the main road in front of me without a glance behind.

I had to swerve and jam on, as did a black cab coming the other way, otherwise we'd have met head on.

When I told him what a near miss he'd had, all the arrogant twunt could do was retort loudly with "Haven't I got the right to be on the road then?!"

No point trying to tell him that the only rights he'd be getting if a Bedford CF mashed him into a London taxi would be the last rites...

 

All of our ancient bicycles (eleven at the last count.) have old school dynamo or battery lighting, some have both, except my racer which has modern LED lamps. These have steady, or two speeds of flash.

I keep the front one on steady because it's eye level for anyone not driving a 4x4, I find it makes it harder to see where I'm going if it's strobing and because I don't like other bicycles with flashing lights for the same reasons.

A flashing red rear is much less of a distraction and quite a good idea though.

 

Worse are the morons with no lights, dressed in black and hooded, paying no attention to any road rules. Perhaps they don't want to be seen for some reason?

 

In a similar vein, why do I see so many electric bikes (the size of mopeds!) with no lights on? There's no excuse for that, unless you're delivering something other than takeaways?

 

Also, how come I can ride a motorised bicycle with no licence or a ban anywhere I please at up to 40mph, yet if I fit an old fashioned cycle motor to a bicycle I need a license, registration, tax, insurance, helmet, lights etc to do 18mph under power?

[Guest]

1 hour ago, johnofwessex said:

 

So why is a 'High Street' retailer selling something that cant be legally fitted to a vehicle used on public roads in the UK?

 

My initial thought since they're Lucas bulbs being sold at Halfords and not something from China on eBay, they'd be made to some regulations and be legal but. Nope.

[Guest]

25 minutes ago, MrWolf said:

 

 

Also, how come I can ride a motorised bicycle with no licence or a ban anywhere I please at up to 40mph, 

 

Um, you can't. Legally you can have pedal assistance up to 15mph and I think 200 watts. Anything else counts as a motorbike. 

Of course that doesn't stop loads of them being sold for 'off road' use...