Drivers and their problems

David9694 wrote:

It's probably "too dangerous" or "too busy" to cycle around, which is a shame.  I do sometimes wish a place that this would have the courage to "do a Paris". It's a bit like at Hebden Bridge, you aren't going there on your day out to be surrounded by cars.  

For 60-70 years councils have created off street parking and one ways to try to maintain the illusion that cars, free-flowing roads and a sense of local amenity are all possible at once, but in many places, that no longer works.

Exactly this.  In the UK the dial is turned so far to "drive" that the solution to most problems is a four-wheeled one.  Your town is really rich?  You'll be keeping those parking spaces if you want to keep your post!  You're unlikely to persuade the rich to "reduce their status" / convenience.

Your town is really poor?  The working people you've got need to be able to get out to earn money with their vehicles, the carers / emergency services need to get in etc.

Your town relies on tourism?  Keep 'em driving - the money comes in with the swanky vehicles / large coaches...

Congestion?  We need to clear the streets / make more space to get the traffic flowing again.

Curiously where things have been rebalanced (e.g. NL) the same issues can lead to the conclusion that fewer motor vehicles and more provision for cycling and other modes is the way forward.

Capacity issues?  More cycling (and public transport).

To paraphrase Field of Dreams, "Build it right and they will come: and use it!"

Over 20 years, so a start.

"Please take my licence away as I am not capable of driving".

ktache wrote:

Over 20 years, so a start.

If I'm getting it right, according to this, his ban will be extended by half his prison term. That works out to a tick over 30 years until he can apply to drive again. He'll be 68 years old.

Sadly I don't think a driving ban of any length will stop a nutter like this from driving.

Somehow I don't think he'll be bothering with the paperwork

I think this statement sums up the attitude of the judicial system towards RTAs

Quote:

Anderson showed a shocking disregard for his actions, with a police bodycam capturing him saying: "I've drove into the back of another car [sic]. Sometimes mistakes happen, but I'm not a bad person."

https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/29048971/driver-killed-baby-aunt-crash-cou...

Else where the family are calling for a lifetime driving ban.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cnk4q7p8jnpo

There was case locally, still awaiting sentencing, where a driver, speeding at twice the speed limit, killed a cyclist, ran off was found hiding later in a shed claimed pretty much the same excuse. They felt they'd just been careless with their driving, not dangerous, also tried the cyclist came out of nowhere, didnt see them excuse, props to the jury for not believing that one.

Do we know if the guilty plea acted as a discount to the sentence?

Even 17 years doesn't feel long enough as will be released in 7 probably

ktache wrote:

Look at the angry man.
https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/article/2024/may/06/bournemouth-road...

Christ, just what the fuck is it with these angry old men. I'm old now and more mellow that I've ever been.

stonojnr wrote:

Long grass causing concern https://www.ipswichstar.co.uk/news/24325384.concerns-long-grass-kesgrave...

Suffolk Highways wrote:

“We ask road users to take caution and drive to the conditions of the highway.”

Grrr - don't you be comin' on 'ere acting like you're an 'expert'! 

https://road.cc/content/news/155056-cyclist-jailed-after-fatal-collision...

'Surely every driver that parks on a kerb in Southampton can expect the same letter as I received?'

If only.

We were quoted £5000 to drop our kerb so we decided not to do it. Our neighbours on the corner built a driveway without planning permission and use the pedestrian dropped kerb to drive onto their driveway. The council don't care.

Eton Rifle wrote:

Christ, just what the fuck is it with these angry old men. I'm old now and more mellow that I've ever been.

HRT?

(hormone replacement therapy / legal-ish testosterone)

Some of the comments on Facebook are comedy gold "you can't see a thing from a car until you are right up to the give way line!"

And the important bit, from that council statement:

breckland.gov.uk wrote:

The Council, which owns 30 car parks across the district, currently covers the significant maintenance and operating costs through existing budgets, meaning that everyone in the district - regardless of whether they use the facilities - pays for this service.  However, like most councils across the country, Breckland is facing budget pressures which are forcing it to take a fresh look at its services and how they are funded. 

Introducing parking tariffs similar to those already charged in most other Norfolk market towns - is one of the key recommendations from an independent report and feasibility study commissioned by the Council to help it consider alternative management options.  The report's key findings were that the Council's car parks represented a significant financial cost - around £450k per year - to its budgets without delivering an effective service, suggesting instead that car parking costs should be funded by those who benefit directly from using them.   

Hirsute wrote:

Not leaves on the line but on the road.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0PajBbgthIo

How To Make A Junction Safer - California Crossroads - Finchampstead Wokingham

"bikists"?

According to no context Brits, the average driver spends 91 hours a year looking for a parking space

There's no parking problem up here, but you still see them queing up to take the places closest to the shop at Sainsbury's, and it's not infrequent for buses to be blocked on the one-way High Street, because of stupid idle people parking at the structural and immoveable pinch point to save them walking a hundred yards

Hirsute wrote:

Please crush this killing machine

https://www.burytimes.co.uk/news/24863866.tesla-cybertruck-seized-whitef...

And there is no reportedly about its legality in the UK.

I am pleased to learn that the police do sometimes enforce road safety laws.

And I'm very pleased that someone with far more money than sense (or societal ethics) has been caught out.

As you say, I trust that this vehicle will now be crushed.

brooksby wrote:

Hirsute wrote:

Please crush this killing machine

https://www.burytimes.co.uk/news/24863866.tesla-cybertruck-seized-whitef...

And there is no reportedly about its legality in the UK.

I am pleased to learn that the police do sometimes enforce road safety laws.

And I'm very pleased that someone with far more money than sense (or societal ethics) has been caught out.

As you say, I trust that this vehicle will now be crushed.

Remove the motors and sell them, then turn it into a battery backup for a hospital or school or something.

I don't think that is right

"We have always been at war with Dereham"

The proximity to the Transport Research Labs at Crowthorne means that the area often gets weird new stuff. 

They get very uppity in parts of Norfolk when they're told they have to pay to park. Even when the charges are a mere fraction of the cost of running the car to park in the first place

That is nowhere near 90 degrees.