Drivers and their problems

chrisonatrike wrote:

I do get a bit tetchy when I see discarded inner tubes.  Really?  Single tubes aren't coming from folks passing in cars or trucks... Either you carried a spare there, so taking the bust one back with you doesn't even represent a weight gain OR you've cadged one from someone else and are now littering to boot!  For those - I hope snakebite hits later!

Clearly some people do think they're in one of the Monuments and it's fine to act like a pro - but without the support to clean up after you.

Given I absolutely agree with you that litttering with disgarded tubes is unacceptable, my following point is a bit irrelevant.  However, there is a difference between carrying a spare and carrying a bust one - the spare will have been neatly rolled up (perhaps never unrolled) and nicely packed.  The bust tube will be more cumbersome and, for example, probably not easily fit back in a saddle bag.

But as I say, that doesn't excuse littering in any way at all.

chrisonatrike wrote:

It's because (parts of) society don't have any taboo about crap driving but all of society is very pro-driving.  Or has it as aspiration "gonna get a new car!" or requirement "you don't have a car?!"

The first of those struck me the other night at the pub. The kitchen had closed and the cook was at the bar having a beer. She was talking about buying a new "K5" (which I had to look up, turns out it's a Kia, starting about $25k US.) She was excited about replacing her six year old car, she's single and I'm pretty sure she earns somewhere between 1/5 and 1/4 what I make, and I've never bought a new car in my life! My current car is 18 years old and cost less than half that used! My car, plus my wife's car, plus all of my bicycles probably add up to about $25k.

Steve K wrote:

However, there is a difference between carrying a spare and carrying a bust one - the spare will have been neatly rolled up (perhaps never unrolled) and nicely packed.  The bust tube will be more cumbersome and, for example, probably not easily fit back in a saddle bag.

Indeed but that's begging the question isn't it?  Of course it's more effort and takes precious seconds to do something rather than just leave it lying on the floor (thereby making you lighter - win!)  As to "how on earth can I carry this very flexible and stretchy ring-shaped thing with me...?"  As noted if you'd drop it in the first place you're probably the kind to decide you couldn't possibly wrap it round yourself or your bike as that would ruin the aerodynamics...

chrisonatrike wrote:

Steve K wrote:

However, there is a difference between carrying a spare and carrying a bust one - the spare will have been neatly rolled up (perhaps never unrolled) and nicely packed.  The bust tube will be more cumbersome and, for example, probably not easily fit back in a saddle bag.

Indeed but that's begging the question isn't it?  Of course it's more effort and takes precious seconds to do something rather than just leave it lying on the floor (thereby making you lighter - win!)  As to "how on earth can I carry this very flexible and stretchy ring-shaped thing with me...?"  As noted if you'd drop it in the first place you're probably the kind to decide you couldn't possibly wrap it round yourself or your bike as that would ruin the aerodynamics...

Yeah, absolutely.  I was just reflecting on my own reaction after replacing a punctured tube; but I would never even think of just dropping it by the road side. 

You wear it figure of eight over your shoulders, proper old school.

It seems to be a combination of drug/drunk driving or simply lack of maintenance. Quite a few are "Stopped for driving with no lights" or "Stopped for driving without seatbelt" (often drugged/drunk) or "Stopped due to insecure load" or some blatant defect. So someone driving without the licence to do so, vehicular or otherwise, has got so used to it, they've forgotten to do the basics and give the police an excuse to take interest. I think that's why the AI system is so useful to the police, it spots phones and missing belts, and then you are already into a high percentage chance of other offences.

Just that!  Humans produce *vast* amounts of waste.  If even a tiny fraction of that escapes during disposal there's plenty to make it very noticable dotted around the environment.  There definitely are specific litter louts but their contribution is swamped by the overspill from that of all the careful folks.  It's the sheer amount of packing etc. we all go through.

I've lived in a couple of mid-sized blocks of flats now - the tall buildings channel the wind.  I've watched plenty of times as the rubbish / recycling disperses itself while loading, or collection points are full people leave stuff's left near there (which then migrates), or the gulls get in!

continuous stream of police stops where they do the stop because there is an issue with the car, it turns out the driver hasn't had a licence for years and normally unroadworthy, untaxed and uninsured

This is just the same post from me as usual, because it's now so common: in Lancashire, they just don't do any police stops because they haven't worked out how to switch the ANPR cameras on, don't catch anyone and refuse to do anything about it when somebody catches the villains for them- Lancashire is just a paradise for habitual road traffic offenders. This is 17 SAM (people with personalised plates are inherently suspect) an Audi Q7 Tiger Tank for ubermensch who are too busy intimidating people in smaller vehicles to bother about trivialities like MOT and insurance

Reminds me neighbour moaned that because of some local roadworks it took her 20minutes to drive to the nearest wine bar(!?)...you can walk it in 8minutes

I'm genuinely curious - when you share pics like this, did this driver do something in particular to draw your attention (they're not obviously crashing red lights at 50mph or overtaking on double white lines for example...), or do you just check the MOT and VED status of all vehicles you pass? 

Also, is it just me, or is the threading on this post (and others, like "Pictures of your bike") awry? Seems the threading can't cope after a certain number of comments.  

I do a short trip each day where I check all the vehicles I can. The Audi tank did nothing other than being an Audi, so I know the driver is bound to be guilty of something. There are so many offences in Lancashire, where traffic policing has been completely abandoned...over 5 years of happy VED-free motoring!

At least the mot is up to date.

I did laugh out loud at "so I know the driver is bound to be guilty of something".

I did laugh out loud at "so I know the driver is bound to be guilty of something"

A bearded Audi driver with tattoos is 99% likely to be guilty of offences against other road users every day

I do not believe that Santa could ever be an audi-###ker.

Current TV ad.

And why would a self driving car ever need to be massively overpowered?

And would the indicators still appear to be malfunctioning?

I saw that ad on Eurosport tonight and Im just like, seriously?, Santa is just some slightly old dude with a trimmed beard now who gets driven around in an autonomous Audi, hes not even "jolly" anymore ? talk about a Christmas cheerless ad.

but theres one on ITV4 for ITV4, Im surprised hasnt caused more grumbling about yet though.the ref who shows a red card at the cyclist getting on the train.

Do you then report those without MOT / VED? I believe ANPR only pings on registration numbers which have been entered as being of interest - not sure if reporting lack of MOT / VED gets them put on that database. Suspect not.  

Do you then report those without MOT / VED? I believe ANPR only pings on registration numbers which have been entered as being of interest

Nothing is of interest to Lancashire Constabulary!- owing to the implementation of Lancashire Indolence Mode Policing and Lancashire Idleness Associated Response. I could have repeated a photo of MV57 GXO which is seen almost every day around Garstang and which was reported over 6 months ago- he could park that at Garstang Police Station and they wouldn't stir themselves from the sofa

I thought you'd been quiet! You'd think there would be good money and kudos for the police with these easy wins. I do wonder if you should do an experiment and get some mates to submit footage to see if you are on a police block list! 

I note car behind is an older Audi, so will probably also be without MOT and the driver of the van behind will have an 80% chance of being on the phone. That would be a good haul for plod. 

I note car behind is an older Audi, so will probably also be without MOT and the driver of the van behind will have an 80% chance of being on the phone

Nope! Other Audi legit, and even Lancashire drivers aren't often on the handheld phone on this road. However, to avoid disappointment I'll present Range Rover Evoque LR67 UMH on the A6

to see if you are on a police block list! 

I am on a police block list! Lancashire Constabulary views reporters of offences as the problem, not the offenders. Hence, the runaway MOT, insurance and VED evasion in Lancashire.

Awavey wrote:

but you could easily tear the reg part off, and still dump the bag or its contents so it doesnt solve the problem, equally alot of the road detritus we see, and Im not denying people do still chuck stuff and dont care, but actually comes out the back of rubbish trucks, as they just chuck the rubbish in the back and rarely if ever secure/close the hatch part, it might compact it a bit, but most of its still left loose right, and when the truck gets up to a certain speed there is a negative pressure effect that actually then sucks some of the trash back out.

I only know this because I happened to be following one once that was merrily dumping McDs type stuff and other loose items roadside as it hacked along a road.

 

That doesn't explain the copious quantities of cans/bottles/fast food containers that can be found at the traffic lights at the end of motorway off-ramps.
I can honestly say that I've never seen a refuse truck on a motorway.

David9694 wrote:

Bristol Clean Air Zone drivers to be given six week 'offer' to avoid fines

The  "trial system" gives you 7 days to pay the fee, after which it turns into the much bigger fine.

The long term intention is that you have to pay in advance - perhaps the admin is simpler that way? 

Expect the usual driver bullshit on this soon. I'll say it again, you could hand-write "Petrol £1.30 a litre: this way⛽️" on a bit of old cardboard and drivers would know about it. 

https://www.bristolpost.co.uk/news/bristol-news/bristol-clean-air-zone-d...

It bugs me that this has taken so long to get implemented. Bristol's air pollution has been above legal limits for years now and the CAZ has been kicked down the road until now which is particularly bad timing in terms of the cost-of-living crisis and recession. There's lots of accusations that the CAZ is just a money generator which to be fair, it is, but in reality motorists have been getting away with dumping polluted air around the city and not paying for the privilege.

David9694 wrote:

Car registrations could be printed on McDonald's bags to stop littering

yes please.  Sometimes you see two lots of McD's or other detritus a car's width apart - two of you literally tossed your rubbish out of the windows and drove off. 

https://www.devonlive.com/news/uk-world-news/car-registrations-could-pri...

We should charge-back companies the costs associated with clearing up the waste they produce. If McDonalds want to put their branding on their packaging, then I don't see why they can't be charged for the litter that's associated with them - they can always just pass the cost onto their customers (who are the ones doing the actual littering anyway).

hirsute wrote:

I watched this in disbelief

How are these people allowed to drive ?

https://youtu.be/7yfnYz76KEE

Rufford Ford DEEP FLOOD | part 137

I like that there's a crowd gathered to watch the fun and games and yet drivers think "I can make that, doesn't look too bad".

Sorry to burst your bubble that was done 40 years ago

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Porsche_953

David9694 wrote:

too many arms folded to resist here...

Portswood Broadway closure: Businesses 'will not survive'

https://www.dailyecho.co.uk/news/23174302.residents-businesses-battle-po...

Aren't there studies that show how much traders overestimate how many of their customers came by car and parked right outside / near their premises...

Crazy driving, tinted glass... wild assumption but perhaps there may be more than one vehicle with these numberplates in circulation?

That's the pub/hotel I stay at when I visit my folks, they do a great breakfast.

As brooksby says Clevedon isn't huge and even though they are 77 and 81 (I think) they can walk and cycle anywhere they need to go. They certainly wouldn't drive to that pub as they live in the next street. Oh, and they don't own a car.

Clevedon parking is terrible though as locals know there are no parking wardens so they are used to parking wherever they like.