Drivers and their problems

I am admiring the superbly unnecessary precision of

Quote:

More than  94.6% of journeys using the Dartford Crossing are paid correctly and on time

though.

hawkinspeter wrote:

To me that sounds like the following driver caused the crash by not concentrating on what the car ahead was doing. There can be any number of reasons why a car needs to suddenly slow/stop and although photographing a sign shouldn't be one, it doesn't mean that following drivers just carry on regardless.

There are a lot of people out there who seem to think exactly that.  It's like all those times that the traffic lights change as you are halfway across a crossing, and the oncoming motorists seem to be of the opinion that if you're still in the roadway then you're fair game…

David9694 wrote:

it's way off-topic, but the police for several days seemed to lose the narrative to mr self-appointed underwater search specialist. 

mr specialist 'my guys have searched the river 3 miles downstream: she is not there'

dog Walker <finds the body in some reeds a week later a mile downstream>

IIRC didn't the same guy try to get involved in the search for that British teenager who disappeared on Tenerife?

David9694 wrote:

it's way off-topic, but the police for several days seemed to lose the narrative to mr self-appointed underwater search specialist. 

mr specialist 'my guys have searched the river 3 miles downstream: she is not there'

dog Walker <finds the body in some reeds a week later a mile downstream>

TBF underwater search is incredibly challenging, and IIRC part of this river was tidal. Things can get moved around at random times.

Having said that, while this dude was presumably motivated by trying to help he didn't seem shy of airtime. There also seemed to be an extraordinary number of people inserting themselves into the story. And ultimately the initial police theory turned out to be correct (seems odd to defendLancs police! ).

Intrepid investigive journalist uses taxi to get to traffic chaos street but somehow forgets local and important mayoral elections close local schools for use as polling stations.

Hirsute wrote:

"Always leave enough room between your vehicle and the one infront so you can get out of the queue easily if you need ... half a car length of visible road, also helps lessen the domino effect in situations like this"

Which is definitely best practice, if you don't mind the motorists behind you honking their horns at you and wanting you to close up the line so that maybe one extra car will get through on a green light 

Jogle wrote:

One person's "loading bay" is another person's bus stop...

https://www.cornwalllive.com/news/cornwall-news/dangerous-bus-stop-put-u...

Here it is on Streetview:

https://maps.app.goo.gl/hUhCNxhcFtv96pwBA?g_st=ac

Looks like the loading bay signs went up between 2014 and 2021.

David9694 wrote:

Worcester News readers react to proposed blanket 20mph speed limit

...James Toghill, was also sceptical, saying: "No to 20mph, cars brake better than they ever have and are designed to hit pedestrians in a safer manner than old cars."

https://www.worcesternews.co.uk/news/24582729.worcester-news-readers-rea...

Can't we start designing cars to NOT hit pedestrians?

David9694 wrote:

Lord Montagu issues climate change warning at estate dinner

https://www.dailyecho.co.uk/news/24696530.lord-montagu-issues-climate-ch...

Maybe he's about to dump the 2025 programme of car-fests.

To be fair, if we were to shove all the cars into museums and only drive them on occasional days out, then there'd be a lot less emissions.

Patients react after Royal Stoke lodges overflow car park plan

As you say with your cartoon: I demand to be able to drive and park where I like, when I like- it's all those other drivers and the lack of roads, and the bloody cyclists, that are the problem

David9694 wrote:

Lord Montagu issues climate change warning at estate dinner

https://www.dailyecho.co.uk/news/24696530.lord-montagu-issues-climate-ch...

Maybe he's about to dump the 2025 programme of car-fests.

Given I took this picture Beaulieu House, I wouldn't expect any consistency.

David9694 wrote:

Please can you tell me the way to the secret staircase? 

I could, but then I'd have to push you down it.

If you visit his motor museum it's got a little section celebrating all his family's victories in 'the war on motorists'.

David9694 wrote:

New parking rules in England (that would be nice, but it's Sheffield) from Monday and drivers fear 'being fined for breathing'

The new rules will come into effect across Sheffield from Monday, May 20, with £70 fines for drivers - reduced to £35 if paid within 14 days.

https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/midlands-news/new-parking-rules-en...

Birmingham Mail wrote:

Under the new rules, motorists could be issued a penalty charge if they park across dropped kerbs, in cycle lanes, or if they park too far from the kerb, it has been confirmed. The council said new enforcement rules had been introduced following a recent consultation.

In what way is this unreasonable?

(and note only that they COULD be issued a penalty charge)

HLaB wrote:

It's what pedestrian walkways are designed for ain't it https://www.oxfordmail.co.uk/news/24435787.oxford-bmw-car-stuck-botley-r...

It's ridiculous that they put pedestrian walkways where cars need to go

HLaB wrote:

(Speed limit for safety reasons)

No Sh1t Sherlock!

Well it could be there as part of the war on drivers, or because the Local Authority "have been invaded by the woke", or as part of a plan to bring road laws into disrepute...

What a shoddy excuse. I've been driving for 40 years too and have no issues figuring out give way triangles and dashed lines. 

M27 I think.

An excellent example of complaintese there:

Quote:

I witnessed first hand the dire consequences of inadequate exit solutions

Looks like complaints about car headlights are on the increase

Something we have all had to live with for years- the lighting arms race and the SUV mentality: I'm in a higher, bigger, heavier vehicle than you and I have higher and more powerful lights, so I win and sod the rest of you. However, the increasing problem for us is the alacrity with which excuses for driving into a cyclist are accepted by police, judges and juries: CoaB reminded us yesterday of the tragic Mason case which demonstrates that you can get away with killing a cyclist simply by saying you didn't see them, whatever the circumstances. We're all familiar with the 'the sun was in my eyes [so I had to put my foot down]' defence for killing a cyclist, and now we have 'I was dazzled by oncoming vehicle headlights [so I had to put my foot down]'