OT Speed awareness courses
 

Huge wrote:
On 2013-11-11, John Williamson wrote:
Huge wrote:
What are those things that fiddle with the valving on diesel engines to
create engine braking? Make the most appalling racket; seems like they
convert kinetic energy into noise!

[Googles]

Ahhhh ...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jake_brake

They don't fiddle with the valves,

Actually, if you read the 'pedia article, that's exactly what they do.

I've never seen an engine fitted with a Jake Brake in the UK. But you
are right that they do alter the exhaust valve arrangements

On the other hand, the universal fitting here in the UK seems to be the
exhaust brake:-

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Exhaust_brake

And in forty years driving, I've never seen any other form of engine
brake fitted to a vehicle here.

--
Tciao for Now!

John.

OT Speed awareness courses
 

"Apellation Controlee" wrote in message
...

On Sun, 10 Nov 2013 21:58:11 +0000, gremlin_95
wrote:

On 10/11/2013 18:12, Adrian wrote:
On Sun, 10 Nov 2013 17:32:21 +0000, SteveW wrote:

Indeed we allow 44 (or is it 48 now) ton trucks to travel at 56,
knowing they haven't a hope in hell of matching a car's stopping
distance.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ridS396W2BY

Quite impressive. I travel by bus to get to work and the journey
involves a lot of NSL A-roads, I was quite impressed how quickly and
smoothly the buses come to a complete stop when going down hill at full
pelt (56-62mph). The auto box seems to drop down gears as it slows down
to increase the braking effect.

That is impressive it may even distract the drive from his book/laptop/TV!

Mike

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"Adrian" wrote in message
...
On Sun, 10 Nov 2013 11:48:40 +0000, ARW wrote:

I rather suspect attendance on an SAC would only reinforce my long-
standing belief in the need for regular re-testing of all drivers...

Oh, good! I am happy to report that I'll get to find out soon...
mutter

You have the NIP or have you just been filmed:-).

The very friendly Dayglo-clad man hidden in a hedge told me, once he'd
put his hairdryer down.


If I get the offer I will attend the SAC course. If only to prove your
working hypothesis about re-testing of all drivers. What do you think - a
re-test every 10 years? I would be happy to re-test.


--
Adam


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"dennis@home" wrote in message
eb.com...
On 03/11/2013 19:10, John Williamson wrote:

My satnav marks sites where they have been known to lurk in the past.
That doesn't mean that there's one there now *or* that it hasn't found a
new site just round the next bend. I got so many false positives, I've
disabled the option. I also got many, many failures to warn me...


Tomtoms let you mark them and share with others.
I just keep marking them even if there isn't one.
I just want to get people off the road so there are less delays for me.



So how does that work then?

--
Adam


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On 10/11/2013 21:58, gremlin_95 wrote:

Quite impressive. I travel by bus to get to work and the journey
involves a lot of NSL A-roads, I was quite impressed how quickly and
smoothly the buses come to a complete stop when going down hill at full
pelt (56-62mph). The auto box seems to drop down gears as it slows down
to increase the braking effect.

I use the guided bus. Under acceleration the auto box keeps the revs
around 1500; under braking it takes it much higher.

But this means it decelerates at maybe a sixth of a G. Not enough to
make me fall over, standing and not holding on. My car will exceed a G.

Andy

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On Mon, 11 Nov 2013 20:35:05 +0000, ARW wrote:

I rather suspect attendance on an SAC would only reinforce my long-
standing belief in the need for regular re-testing of all drivers...

Oh, good! I am happy to report that I'll get to find out soon...
mutter

You have the NIP or have you just been filmed:-).

The very friendly Dayglo-clad man hidden in a hedge told me, once he'd
put his hairdryer down.

If I get the offer I will attend the SAC course. If only to prove your
working hypothesis about re-testing of all drivers. What do you think -
a re-test every 10 years? I would be happy to re-test.

I'd suggest a retest after 12mo then 3yrs then 10yrs after the original
test pass, then every 10yrs, until retests at age 75, 80, 85, 88, 90,
then every year.

Also, somebody'd face the same "extended" test as can be court-ordered
after a ban, if they fail either the original or a periodic re-test three
times or more.

http://www.drivingtesttips.biz/exten...ving-test.html

OT Speed awareness courses
 

In message , ARW
writes
"Adrian" wrote in message
...
On Sun, 10 Nov 2013 11:48:40 +0000, ARW wrote:

I rather suspect attendance on an SAC would only reinforce my long-
standing belief in the need for regular re-testing of all drivers...

Oh, good! I am happy to report that I'll get to find out soon...
mutter

You have the NIP or have you just been filmed:-).

The very friendly Dayglo-clad man hidden in a hedge told me, once he'd
put his hairdryer down.


If I get the offer I will attend the SAC course. If only to prove your
working hypothesis about re-testing of all drivers. What do you think -
a re-test every 10 years? I would be happy to re-test.

Hmm.. I suppose compulsory testing at 70+ would be sensible. While I
consider myself a safe driver a pass would require considerable brushing
up on aspects of the Highway Code that I have forgotten or that have
changed over the last 53 years.

Towing rules for instance seem pretty impenetrable.

Something beyond personally ticking the boxes on the health
questionnaire. Shotgun and firearm certificate renewal (every 3 years)
require comment from your doctor as well as a statement from a suitable
acquaintance.





--
Tim Lamb

OT Speed awareness courses
 

On Mon, 11 Nov 2013 11:56:02 +0000, John Williamson
wrote:

Apellation Controlee wrote:
On Sun, 10 Nov 2013 21:58:11 +0000, gremlin_95
wrote:

On 10/11/2013 18:12, Adrian wrote:
On Sun, 10 Nov 2013 17:32:21 +0000, SteveW wrote:

Indeed we allow 44 (or is it 48 now) ton trucks to travel at 56,
knowing they haven't a hope in hell of matching a car's stopping
distance.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ridS396W2BY
Quite impressive. I travel by bus to get to work and the journey
involves a lot of NSL A-roads, I was quite impressed how quickly and
smoothly the buses come to a complete stop when going down hill at full
pelt (56-62mph). The auto box seems to drop down gears as it slows down
to increase the braking effect.

I don't know if they caught on but, about 30 years back, I was on a
bus that was fitted with a magnetic arrester device. The braking, even
from the device alone, was breathtaking.

Retarders. Some of them use electromagnets to energise what is,
effectively, a shorted out generator.

http://www.telma.com/

Others use a pump in the gearbox to force oil through an adjustable
hole. When working and used correctly, they replace about 90% of the
friction braking. Hybrid buses use the motor and recovered energy to put
some charge back into the batteries, too.

They're fitted to the vast majority of large buses and coaches, and are
beginning to catch on in the lorry world, too. They are also a legal
requirement in Germany, and come in very handy on some of their long,
steep, motorway hills.

Retarders - yes, I knew I hadn't got the correct term. Thanks.

OT Speed awareness courses
 

On 12/11/2013 10:38, Apellation Controlee wrote:
On Mon, 11 Nov 2013 11:56:02 +0000, John Williamson
wrote:

Apellation Controlee wrote:
On Sun, 10 Nov 2013 21:58:11 +0000, gremlin_95
wrote:

On 10/11/2013 18:12, Adrian wrote:
On Sun, 10 Nov 2013 17:32:21 +0000, SteveW wrote:

Indeed we allow 44 (or is it 48 now) ton trucks to travel at 56,
knowing they haven't a hope in hell of matching a car's stopping
distance.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ridS396W2BY
Quite impressive. I travel by bus to get to work and the journey
involves a lot of NSL A-roads, I was quite impressed how quickly and
smoothly the buses come to a complete stop when going down hill at full
pelt (56-62mph). The auto box seems to drop down gears as it slows down
to increase the braking effect.
I don't know if they caught on but, about 30 years back, I was on a
bus that was fitted with a magnetic arrester device. The braking, even
from the device alone, was breathtaking.
Retarders. Some of them use electromagnets to energise what is,
effectively, a shorted out generator.

http://www.telma.com/

Others use a pump in the gearbox to force oil through an adjustable
hole. When working and used correctly, they replace about 90% of the
friction braking. Hybrid buses use the motor and recovered energy to put
some charge back into the batteries, too.

They're fitted to the vast majority of large buses and coaches, and are
beginning to catch on in the lorry world, too. They are also a legal
requirement in Germany, and come in very handy on some of their long,
steep, motorway hills.
Retarders - yes, I knew I hadn't got the correct term. Thanks.

That's the one, they are apparently built in to the gearbox on these buses.

Probably something like this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bXai8z99lUg

It seems to control the 18 tonne bus from 'running away' down hills
whilst making all manner of strange noises in the process.

--
David

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"Adrian" wrote in message
...
On Mon, 11 Nov 2013 20:35:05 +0000, ARW wrote:

I rather suspect attendance on an SAC would only reinforce my long-
standing belief in the need for regular re-testing of all drivers...

Oh, good! I am happy to report that I'll get to find out soon...
mutter

You have the NIP or have you just been filmed:-).

The very friendly Dayglo-clad man hidden in a hedge told me, once he'd
put his hairdryer down.

If I get the offer I will attend the SAC course. If only to prove your
working hypothesis about re-testing of all drivers. What do you think -
a re-test every 10 years? I would be happy to re-test.

I'd suggest a retest after 12mo then 3yrs then 10yrs after the original
test pass, then every 10yrs, until retests at age 75, 80, 85, 88, 90,
then every year.


I like the 12 month and 3 year idea.

--
Adam


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On 03/11/2013 10:41, Gefreiter Krueger wrote:
On Sun, 03 Nov 2013 10:34:26 -0000, charles
wrote:

In article , Gefreiter Krueger
wrote:
On Sun, 03 Nov 2013 10:19:04 -0000, Bob Eager wrote:

On Sun, 03 Nov 2013 10:15:52 +0000, Gefreiter Krueger wrote:

On Sun, 03 Nov 2013 10:09:14 -0000, Bob Eager
wrote:

On Sun, 03 Nov 2013 09:33:07 +0000, Gefreiter Krueger wrote:

Another announced that the speed limit on a dual carriage is
60MPH!

It usually is.

You really love making sweeping, WRONG statements, don't you?

https://www.gov.uk/speed-limits

Jesus Christ. Let me draw you a picture.
http://www.petersphotos.com/temp/speed.jpg

And that picture proves that you made a WRONG statement. Again.

The website clearly states a single carriageway is 60mph.

Ok, so I misread dual in the post above.

I hate to think how many mistakes you make on the road.

On a road you see the road, not a label telling you what it is. You
can't misread it.

Sometimes you have to read the label, too. there's a mile stretch of
dual
carriageway near here which has 50mph signs posted.

That's a number, and less likely to be misread.

Until a few years ago there was a section of road near here that was
single carriageway, one lane each direction, no central reservation, no
hard shoulder - however it was classed as a motorway and hence 70 mph
limit for cars, but no speed limit signs. It was incredible how many
people, even locals thought that it was 60 mph or even 40 mph!

It has since been downgraded to an A road and a 50 mph limit - it
apparently makes the regulations for road closures, partial closures,
etc. for maintenance simpler.

SteveW



And you don't have to read the label, unless the satnav makes a noise to
warn you it's got a camera.

OT Speed awareness courses
 

On 03/11/2013 19:10, John Williamson wrote:
Gefreiter Krueger wrote:
On Sun, 03 Nov 2013 18:44:53 -0000, John Williamson
wrote:

Gefreiter Krueger wrote:
On Sun, 03 Nov 2013 10:34:26 -0000, charles
wrote:

In article , Gefreiter Krueger

wrote:
On Sun, 03 Nov 2013 10:19:04 -0000, Bob Eager
wrote:

On Sun, 03 Nov 2013 10:15:52 +0000, Gefreiter Krueger wrote:

On Sun, 03 Nov 2013 10:09:14 -0000, Bob Eager
wrote:

On Sun, 03 Nov 2013 09:33:07 +0000, Gefreiter Krueger wrote:

Another announced that the speed limit on a dual carriage is
60MPH!

It usually is.

You really love making sweeping, WRONG statements, don't you?

https://www.gov.uk/speed-limits

Jesus Christ. Let me draw you a picture.
http://www.petersphotos.com/temp/speed.jpg

And that picture proves that you made a WRONG statement. Again.

The website clearly states a single carriageway is 60mph.

Ok, so I misread dual in the post above.

I hate to think how many mistakes you make on the road.

On a road you see the road, not a label telling you what it is. You
can't misread it.

Sometimes you have to read the label, too. there's a mile stretch of
dual
carriageway near here which has 50mph signs posted.

That's a number, and less likely to be misread.

And you don't have to read the label, unless the satnav makes a
noise to
warn you it's got a camera.

Unless it's a scamera van,in which case you need a radar detector as
well, and a laser detector, too in case PC99 is lurking behind a bush.

Keep going, with any luck, you'll have your 12 points soon enough....

You ignorant idiot. What on earth makes you think the scamera vans
aren't marked on the satnav too?

My satnav marks sites where they have been known to lurk in the past.
That doesn't mean that there's one there now *or* that it hasn't found a
new site just round the next bend. I got so many false positives, I've
disabled the option. I also got many, many failures to warn me...

Many (all?) police forces publish where their mobile units are going to
be for the week ahead. I'm sure some company provides an up to date
database at a cost.

SteveW

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On 04/11/2013 11:41, Apellation Controlee wrote:
On 4 Nov 2013 10:44:27 GMT, Huge wrote:

On 2013-11-04, Apellation Controlee wrote:
On Mon, 04 Nov 2013 07:34:39 +0000, Chris J Dixon
wrote:

charles wrote:

Sometimes you have to read the label, too. there's a mile stretch of dual
carriageway near here which has 50mph signs posted.

Interesting one near me.

50 eastbound
http://goo.gl/maps/AAKev

NSL westbound
http://goo.gl/maps/c9QbE

That's unusual. I know stretches where the limit reduces to 30mph for
several hundred yards approaching a roundabout (not such a bad idea in
some circumstances) and, as a result, the opposite carriageway,
carrying traffic in the other direction, away from the roundabout, is
also restricted to 30mph (pointless, frustrating and inviting
infringement).

Not the A470 from the A55 to Llandudno, by any chance. That has a whole
series of ludicrous 30 restrictions at each of the roundabouts.

The particular case I have in mind is the A34 from Wilmslow towards
Manchester. This is the stretch where many Manchester United
footballers dream up excuses about being pursued by paps.

ISTR that the whole section was originally NSL except for the last 40
mph section, but they had a lot of accidents.

It's another of those ridiculous roads crying out for split level
junctions instead of grade level. Particularly the last junction before
the motorway where there's always queuing traffic.

SteveW

OT Speed awareness courses
 

On 05/11/2013 08:49, Tim Lamb wrote:
In message o.uk, Dave
Liquorice writes
On Sun, 03 Nov 2013 12:05:34 -0000, Gefreiter Krueger wrote:

Here, it's the countryside - narrow lanes, etc, - that have the
lower
limits

How odd. I've never seen a lane with a limit on it,

Can't think of any around here either.

Umm.. curious situation here. Lane becoming a *Byway open to all
traffic* linking between two B classified roads. One end is inside a
30mph limit the other (Byway) outside ie 60mph.

Presumably there ought to be some de-restriction signs unless there is
a general limit on Byways? None of my tractors can exceed 18mph so I
don't feel tempted:-)

Ah, you don't have one of these then!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jSN0fRCjGYk

SteveW

OT Speed awareness courses
 

On 05/11/2013 10:12, Apellation Controlee wrote:
On Tue, 05 Nov 2013 09:48:42 -0000, "Gefreiter Krueger"
wrote:

On Mon, 04 Nov 2013 22:47:08 -0000, Dave Liquorice wrote:
----------------8

A sheep would probably cause serious damage,

They normally live in fields. If one has escaped, you usually spot it a long way off.

A sheep jumped over a wall onto the bonnet of the car driven by a
relative of mine.

A cow did that to friends of ours. It made a right mess. Fortunately the
six month pregnant woman in the passenger seat was only bruised, but
they had to get her out of the driver's side.

The sheep was killed and the farmer claimed against Don for its value.

I'm not sure what happened to the cow.

SteveW

OT Speed awareness courses
 

On 05/11/2013 18:26, Gefreiter Krueger wrote:
On Tue, 05 Nov 2013 18:21:46 -0000, Apellation Controlee
wrote:

On Tue, 05 Nov 2013 10:46:01 -0000, "Gefreiter Krueger"
wrote:

On Tue, 05 Nov 2013 10:12:36 -0000, Apellation Controlee
wrote:

On Tue, 05 Nov 2013 09:48:42 -0000, "Gefreiter Krueger"
wrote:

On Mon, 04 Nov 2013 22:47:08 -0000, Dave Liquorice
wrote:
----------------8

A sheep would probably cause serious damage,

They normally live in fields. If one has escaped, you usually spot
it a long way off.

A sheep jumped over a wall onto the bonnet of the car driven by a
relative of mine.
The sheep was killed and the farmer claimed against Don for its value.

Successfully? How did he prove it was the driver's fault?

It seems it wasn't necessary to prove anything. The sheep (a road
hazard in the countryside) died in an impact with the car. There
appeared to be nothing to discuss.

Ridiculous.

ISTR that drivers can claim from the farmer for damage to their vehicle,
but only if the fence or wall is in a poor state of repair. It
apparently is not a valid claim if an animal simply jumps over. I've
never understood why, as I would consider any farm animal that has
escaped into the road a failure on the farmers part.

SteveW

OT Speed awareness courses
 

On 05/11/2013 11:42, tony sayer wrote:
In article o.uk, Dave
Liquorice scribeth thus
On Sun, 03 Nov 2013 12:05:34 -0000, Gefreiter Krueger wrote:

Here, it's the countryside - narrow lanes, etc, - that have the
lower
limits

How odd. I've never seen a lane with a limit on it,

Can't think of any around here either.

... and always thought it crazy that you could go faster on a narrow
road with blind bends than in a built up area on a straight with
excellent visibility.

Who will come of worse between a tractor and a car?

A large rabbit or even a pheasant can take out a headlight or smash a
radiator grill. A sheep would probably cause serious damage, roe deer
have long thin legs so will tend to get scooped up and have a good go
at coming through the windscreen. A red deer, probably will come
through the windscreen, you might survive...



Mate of mine had a new "ish" BMW written off by a wayward horse!..


A cow derailed a train once;!... 13 dead and 61 injured..

I remember that. I think that there was a bit of a fuss at the time as
the train was being run push-pull - pulled as normal to one end of the
line and pushed back to save moving the loco to the other end. I don't
know if that was to save time, effort or of there were no facilities for
running round the train at one or both ends of the line.

SteveW

OT Speed awareness courses
 

On 03/11/2013 23:52, bm wrote:
On 03/11/2013 21:49, Adrian wrote:
On Sun, 03 Nov 2013 21:40:51 +0000, dennis@home wrote:

The maximum safe speed is the speed limit (or less)

So if 60mph was "safe" on a particular stretch of road yesterday, 31mph
will be "unsafe" today, even if the only difference is the removal of
some binbags?

as other road users won't be expecting some idiot doing twice the limit
and may well do something that it is normally safe to do.

Perhaps the most basic tenet of defensive driving is to expect the
unexpected, and to prepare for ****s doing barking mad things.

That's exactly how I drive. Treat every other road user as a complete
tosser (alias lootenant) and you won't go far wrong.

At the start of my first paid for driving lesson I was asked what was
the first rule of the road. The instructor wanted the response "Drive on
the left," but my response was "Assume everyone else is out to get you."
I still think I was right!

SteveW

OT Speed awareness courses
 

On 11/11/2013 20:35, ARW wrote:
"Adrian" wrote in message
...
On Sun, 10 Nov 2013 11:48:40 +0000, ARW wrote:

I rather suspect attendance on an SAC would only reinforce my long-
standing belief in the need for regular re-testing of all drivers...

Oh, good! I am happy to report that I'll get to find out soon...
mutter

You have the NIP or have you just been filmed:-).

The very friendly Dayglo-clad man hidden in a hedge told me, once he'd
put his hairdryer down.


If I get the offer I will attend the SAC course. If only to prove your
working hypothesis about re-testing of all drivers. What do you think -
a re-test every 10 years? I would be happy to re-test.

I don't like the idea of a re-test. I have done one myself (I was
training to be a driving instructor when I was unemployed, but then
found work in my normal line). The reason I don't like it is that I know
that many people who get nervous would fail unfairly. I know my wife
would fail and that would mean her losing her job, depite the fact that
she is actually a very good and safe driver (I get very uncomfortable as
a passenger with most other drivers). She would simply panic. She is
very nervous about driving anywhere she doesn't know, but perfectly
capable of driving where she needs for work, because it is all in a
limited area that she knows. If she needs to go somewhere new, she
travels with a colleague for the first visit or gets me to take her in
after work. She knows her limits and sticks within them.

SteveW

OT Speed awareness courses
 

On 10/11/2013 20:04, alan wrote:
On 05/11/2013 18:01, bert wrote:

Like the idiots around here who ignore them on level crossings.

But is it as a result of poorly though out safety measures?

I've been stuck at a level crossing for five minutes BEFORE any sign of
a train. If this is common is it any wonder why people think they have a
large margin of safety when jumping lights.

I don't know if it is still the case, but there used to be a requirement
for the barriers to lower when a train reached a point that was 45
seconds away for the fastest train on the line. So if the crossing is on
an express line, but the local stopping train has just set off from a
nearby station, the wait can be a lot longer.

Around my way the council have changed all predestrain crossing lights
times to give a pedestrian what seem half an hour to cross the road and
they have introduced left and right filter lights on all cross road etc.

The result is that there are no longer gaps in traffic for people
attempting to cross other than at a official crossing and many drivers
running the red light in order not to be stuck at a junction for a long
period.

And I bet they run the entire sequence, filters, pedestrian phases, etc.
even when there is one vehicle there in the middle of the night!

SteveW

OT Speed awareness courses
 

On Tue, 12 Nov 2013 23:43:11 +0000, SteveW wrote:

I don't like the idea of a re-test.
The reason I don't like it is that I know that many people who get
nervous would fail unfairly.

If somebody cannot drive to a _really_ basic minimum standard for 20
minutes, how is that "unfair"?

I know my wife would fail

Then, perhaps, she should get some additional training.

She would simply panic. She is very nervous about driving anywhere she
doesn't know

Sorry, but that doesn't sound like a driver who is going to react
particularly well to a sudden and unexpected change in circumstances...

OT Speed awareness courses
 

On 12/11/2013 23:43, SteveW wrote:


I don't like the idea of a re-test. I have done one myself (I was
training to be a driving instructor when I was unemployed, but then
found work in my normal line). The reason I don't like it is that I know
that many people who get nervous would fail unfairly. I know my wife
would fail and that would mean her losing her job, depite the fact that
she is actually a very good and safe driver (I get very uncomfortable as
a passenger with most other drivers). She would simply panic. She is
very nervous about driving anywhere she doesn't know, but perfectly
capable of driving where she needs for work, because it is all in a
limited area that she knows. If she needs to go somewhere new, she
travels with a colleague for the first visit or gets me to take her in
after work. She knows her limits and sticks within them.

People who are nervous and panic when presented with new or unexpected
road situations are probably the most dangerous people on the road for
other drivers, cyclists and pedestrians. The old joke of "I've never
had an accident but have seen hundreds in my rear view mirror" may be
appropriate.

The fact that you feel uncomfortable as a passenger with most other
drivers suggests that you may not be a good judge of what is a safe
driver or the driving style of your spouse is vastly different to the
rest of the road community.


--
mailto:news{at}admac(dot}myzen{dot}co{dot}uk

OT Speed awareness courses
 

In message , SteveW
writes
On 05/11/2013 08:49, Tim Lamb wrote:
In message o.uk, Dave
Liquorice writes
On Sun, 03 Nov 2013 12:05:34 -0000, Gefreiter Krueger wrote:

Here, it's the countryside - narrow lanes, etc, - that have the
lower
limits

How odd. I've never seen a lane with a limit on it,

Can't think of any around here either.

Umm.. curious situation here. Lane becoming a *Byway open to all
traffic* linking between two B classified roads. One end is inside a
30mph limit the other (Byway) outside ie 60mph.

Presumably there ought to be some de-restriction signs unless there is
a general limit on Byways? None of my tractors can exceed 18mph so I
don't feel tempted:-)

Ah, you don't have one of these then!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jSN0fRCjGYk

Er.. no!

My digger has the *97hp* Flanders and Swann London Transport bus engine.

Everything else is even more sedate.

--
Tim Lamb

OT Speed awareness courses
 

In message , SteveW
writes
On 05/11/2013 18:26, Gefreiter Krueger wrote:
On Tue, 05 Nov 2013 18:21:46 -0000, Apellation Controlee
wrote:

On Tue, 05 Nov 2013 10:46:01 -0000, "Gefreiter Krueger"
wrote:

On Tue, 05 Nov 2013 10:12:36 -0000, Apellation Controlee
wrote:

On Tue, 05 Nov 2013 09:48:42 -0000, "Gefreiter Krueger"
wrote:

On Mon, 04 Nov 2013 22:47:08 -0000, Dave Liquorice
wrote:
----------------8

A sheep would probably cause serious damage,

They normally live in fields. If one has escaped, you usually spot
it a long way off.

A sheep jumped over a wall onto the bonnet of the car driven by a
relative of mine.
The sheep was killed and the farmer claimed against Don for its value.

Successfully? How did he prove it was the driver's fault?

It seems it wasn't necessary to prove anything. The sheep (a road
hazard in the countryside) died in an impact with the car. There
appeared to be nothing to discuss.

Ridiculous.

ISTR that drivers can claim from the farmer for damage to their
vehicle, but only if the fence or wall is in a poor state of repair. It
apparently is not a valid claim if an animal simply jumps over. I've
never understood why, as I would consider any farm animal that has
escaped into the road a failure on the farmers part.

Umm.. I suppose responsibility/blame can be easily shown where
negligence is apparent.

Limousin cattle and the best fence in the world might be a test case:-)

--
Tim Lamb

OT Speed awareness courses
 

On 12/11/2013 23:43 SteveW wrote:

I know my wife
would fail and that would mean her losing her job, depite the fact that
she is actually a very good and safe driver (I get very uncomfortable as
a passenger with most other drivers). She would simply panic. She is
very nervous about driving anywhere she doesn't know, but perfectly
capable of driving where she needs for work, because it is all in a
limited area that she knows. If she needs to go somewhere new, she
travels with a colleague for the first visit or gets me to take her in
after work. She knows her limits and sticks within them.

That's far from the definition of 'a very good and safe driver'.

--
F

OT Speed awareness courses
 

SteveW wrote:
Many (all?) police forces publish where their mobile units are going to
be for the week ahead. I'm sure some company provides an up to date
database at a cost.

On the whole, I find it easier to just stick to the limits. Taking this
week as a sample, I'd need to consult all the databases for areas South
of Birmingham, as well as the ones for Flanders and the Pas de Calais area.

--
Tciao for Now!

John.

OT Speed awareness courses
 

On Tue, 12 Nov 2013 22:58:03 -0000, SteveW wrote:

On 03/11/2013 10:41, Gefreiter Krueger wrote:
On Sun, 03 Nov 2013 10:34:26 -0000, charles
wrote:

In article , Gefreiter Krueger
wrote:
On Sun, 03 Nov 2013 10:19:04 -0000, Bob Eager wrote:

On Sun, 03 Nov 2013 10:15:52 +0000, Gefreiter Krueger wrote:

On Sun, 03 Nov 2013 10:09:14 -0000, Bob Eager
wrote:

On Sun, 03 Nov 2013 09:33:07 +0000, Gefreiter Krueger wrote:

Another announced that the speed limit on a dual carriage is
60MPH!

It usually is.

You really love making sweeping, WRONG statements, don't you?

https://www.gov.uk/speed-limits

Jesus Christ. Let me draw you a picture.
http://www.petersphotos.com/temp/speed.jpg

And that picture proves that you made a WRONG statement. Again.

The website clearly states a single carriageway is 60mph.

Ok, so I misread dual in the post above.

I hate to think how many mistakes you make on the road.

On a road you see the road, not a label telling you what it is. You
can't misread it.

Sometimes you have to read the label, too. there's a mile stretch of
dual
carriageway near here which has 50mph signs posted.

That's a number, and less likely to be misread.

Until a few years ago there was a section of road near here that was
single carriageway, one lane each direction, no central reservation, no
hard shoulder - however it was classed as a motorway and hence 70 mph
limit for cars, but no speed limit signs. It was incredible how many
people, even locals thought that it was 60 mph or even 40 mph!

It has since been downgraded to an A road and a 50 mph limit - it
apparently makes the regulations for road closures, partial closures,
etc. for maintenance simpler.

How could it be classed as a motorway if it's a single carriageway? The reason you get the 70 limit is the two directions are seperated.

--
"Dear IRS: I would like to cancel my subscription. Please remove my name from your mailing list." -- Joe Cockler

OT Speed awareness courses
 

On Tue, 12 Nov 2013 23:17:51 -0000, SteveW wrote:

On 05/11/2013 10:12, Apellation Controlee wrote:
On Tue, 05 Nov 2013 09:48:42 -0000, "Gefreiter Krueger"
wrote:

On Mon, 04 Nov 2013 22:47:08 -0000, Dave Liquorice wrote:
----------------8

A sheep would probably cause serious damage,

They normally live in fields. If one has escaped, you usually spot it a long way off.

A sheep jumped over a wall onto the bonnet of the car driven by a
relative of mine.

A cow did that to friends of ours. It made a right mess. Fortunately the
six month pregnant

I thought you were going to say cow there.

woman in the passenger seat was only bruised, but
they had to get her out of the driver's side.

The sheep was killed and the farmer claimed against Don for its value.

I'm not sure what happened to the cow.

--
How much deeper would the ocean be if sponges didn't grow in it?

OT Speed awareness courses
 

On Tue, 12 Nov 2013 23:26:42 -0000, SteveW wrote:

On 05/11/2013 11:42, tony sayer wrote:
In article o.uk, Dave
Liquorice scribeth thus
On Sun, 03 Nov 2013 12:05:34 -0000, Gefreiter Krueger wrote:

Here, it's the countryside - narrow lanes, etc, - that have the
lower
limits

How odd. I've never seen a lane with a limit on it,

Can't think of any around here either.

... and always thought it crazy that you could go faster on a narrow
road with blind bends than in a built up area on a straight with
excellent visibility.

Who will come of worse between a tractor and a car?

A large rabbit or even a pheasant can take out a headlight or smash a
radiator grill. A sheep would probably cause serious damage, roe deer
have long thin legs so will tend to get scooped up and have a good go
at coming through the windscreen. A red deer, probably will come
through the windscreen, you might survive...



Mate of mine had a new "ish" BMW written off by a wayward horse!..


A cow derailed a train once;!... 13 dead and 61 injured..

I remember that. I think that there was a bit of a fuss at the time as
the train was being run push-pull - pulled as normal to one end of the
line and pushed back to save moving the loco to the other end. I don't
know if that was to save time, effort or of there were no facilities for
running round the train at one or both ends of the line.

You mean it was being driven with no forward view?

--
If you're bothered by a god-botherer, does that make you god?

OT Speed awareness courses
 

On Tue, 12 Nov 2013 23:00:06 -0000, SteveW wrote:

On 03/11/2013 19:10, John Williamson wrote:
Gefreiter Krueger wrote:
On Sun, 03 Nov 2013 18:44:53 -0000, John Williamson
wrote:

Gefreiter Krueger wrote:
On Sun, 03 Nov 2013 10:34:26 -0000, charles
wrote:



That's a number, and less likely to be misread.

And you don't have to read the label, unless the satnav makes a
noise to
warn you it's got a camera.

Unless it's a scamera van,in which case you need a radar detector as
well, and a laser detector, too in case PC99 is lurking behind a bush.

Keep going, with any luck, you'll have your 12 points soon enough....

You ignorant idiot. What on earth makes you think the scamera vans
aren't marked on the satnav too?

My satnav marks sites where they have been known to lurk in the past.
That doesn't mean that there's one there now *or* that it hasn't found a
new site just round the next bend. I got so many false positives, I've
disabled the option. I also got many, many failures to warn me...

Many (all?) police forces publish where their mobile units are going to
be for the week ahead. I'm sure some company provides an up to date
database at a cost.

Pocketgpsworld. They receive updates from police forces and from customers like myself. 19 quid a year, fre sub for life if you find a new camera I think.

--
If you're bothered by a god-botherer, does that make you god?

OT Speed awareness courses
 

On Tue, 12 Nov 2013 23:20:35 -0000, SteveW wrote:

On 05/11/2013 18:26, Gefreiter Krueger wrote:
On Tue, 05 Nov 2013 18:21:46 -0000, Apellation Controlee
wrote:

On Tue, 05 Nov 2013 10:46:01 -0000, "Gefreiter Krueger"
wrote:

On Tue, 05 Nov 2013 10:12:36 -0000, Apellation Controlee
wrote:

On Tue, 05 Nov 2013 09:48:42 -0000, "Gefreiter Krueger"
wrote:


----------------8



A sheep jumped over a wall onto the bonnet of the car driven by a
relative of mine.
The sheep was killed and the farmer claimed against Don for its value.

Successfully? How did he prove it was the driver's fault?

It seems it wasn't necessary to prove anything. The sheep (a road
hazard in the countryside) died in an impact with the car. There
appeared to be nothing to discuss.

Ridiculous.

ISTR that drivers can claim from the farmer for damage to their vehicle,
but only if the fence or wall is in a poor state of repair. It
apparently is not a valid claim if an animal simply jumps over. I've
never understood why, as I would consider any farm animal that has
escaped into the road a failure on the farmers part.

I would only agree if the farmer didn't have a reasonable fence. If only the animal was to blame, then knock for knock.

--
When shagging a goat you are best taking it to the edge of a cliff because they push back harder. -- Billy Connelly

OT Speed awareness courses
 

In article , Huge
scribeth thus
On 2013-11-13, alan wrote:

The fact that you feel uncomfortable as a passenger with most other
drivers suggests that you may not be a good judge of what is a safe
driver or the driving style of your spouse is vastly different to the
rest of the road community.

I'm uncomfortable as a passenger with many other drivers and I'm an RAC
MSA competition license holder and ex-member of the IAM.


The conclusion
I draw is that there are a *lot* of crap drivers out there.



Now tell us something we don't know;(...
--
Tony Sayer

OT Speed awareness courses
 

A cow derailed a train once;!... 13 dead and 61 injured..



I remember that. I think that there was a bit of a fuss at the time as
the train was being run push-pull - pulled as normal to one end of the
line and pushed back to save moving the loco to the other end. I don't
know if that was to save time, effort or of there were no facilities for
running round the train at one or both ends of the line.

SteveW



Polmont..

Read all about it here.

http://www.railwaysarchive.co.uk/doc...olmont1984.pdf
--
Tony Sayer

OT Speed awareness courses
 

At the start of my first paid for driving lesson I was asked what was
the first rule of the road. The instructor wanted the response "Drive on
the left," but my response was "Assume everyone else is out to get you."
I still think I was right!

SteveW


Very right. I was told .. what must you do before you start the car?..

Simples..

Make sure you can stop it!.

Like when gliding..

Have you thought of where you might land before you take off?..
--
Tony Sayer

OT Speed awareness courses
 

On 13/11/2013 12:06, Gefreiter Krueger wrote:
On Tue, 12 Nov 2013 22:58:03 -0000, SteveW
wrote:

On 03/11/2013 10:41, Gefreiter Krueger wrote:
On Sun, 03 Nov 2013 10:34:26 -0000, charles
wrote:

In article , Gefreiter Krueger
wrote:
On Sun, 03 Nov 2013 10:19:04 -0000, Bob Eager
wrote:

On Sun, 03 Nov 2013 10:15:52 +0000, Gefreiter Krueger wrote:

On Sun, 03 Nov 2013 10:09:14 -0000, Bob Eager
wrote:

On Sun, 03 Nov 2013 09:33:07 +0000, Gefreiter Krueger wrote:

Another announced that the speed limit on a dual carriage is
60MPH!

It usually is.

You really love making sweeping, WRONG statements, don't you?

https://www.gov.uk/speed-limits

Jesus Christ. Let me draw you a picture.
http://www.petersphotos.com/temp/speed.jpg

And that picture proves that you made a WRONG statement. Again.

The website clearly states a single carriageway is 60mph.

Ok, so I misread dual in the post above.

I hate to think how many mistakes you make on the road.

On a road you see the road, not a label telling you what it is. You
can't misread it.

Sometimes you have to read the label, too. there's a mile stretch of
dual
carriageway near here which has 50mph signs posted.

That's a number, and less likely to be misread.

Until a few years ago there was a section of road near here that was
single carriageway, one lane each direction, no central reservation, no
hard shoulder - however it was classed as a motorway and hence 70 mph
limit for cars, but no speed limit signs. It was incredible how many
people, even locals thought that it was 60 mph or even 40 mph!

It has since been downgraded to an A road and a 50 mph limit - it
apparently makes the regulations for road closures, partial closures,
etc. for maintenance simpler.

How could it be classed as a motorway if it's a single carriageway? The
reason you get the 70 limit is the two directions are seperated.

Nope. There is actually no requirement for a motorway to have a central
reservation. This section was built as a spur from the M60 and was
intended to be extended and to form one carriageway of a normal motorway
at a future date, however the extension and the other carriageway were
never built. The spur was classed as motorway from the start. It was the
A6144(M) and is now the A6144 - looking that up can cause it's own
problems however, as there are now two separate motorway exits, both
going to the A6144 - the original A6144 and the former A6144(M) which
join, so the A6144 is actually Y shaped with three ends!

See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A6144(M)_motorway for more oddities
about this road, such as it being the only fully single carriageway
motorway in the UK and being under control of the local council instead
of the Highways Agency. One of the links at the bottom goes to a page
with some video of travelling Westbound along that road just before its
donwgrading and once past the roadworks, you can see the motorway
signage. If you do take a look, you will notice that the two lanes are
divided by a hatched area (dashed, so you can cross it to overtake), but
when originally built, there was a single, dashed dividing line - it was
only repainted as a hatched area and additional two way traffic signs
installed as there were two head-on crashes within a week of opening.

The HC is (was?) a bit unclear here, using a phrase something like "a
motorway or dual carriageway with a central reservation" and could be
read two ways. Enquiries revealed that it should be read as two separate
items and would be better phrased as "a dual carriageway with a central
reservation or a motorway" which is not open to mis-interpretation.
Therefore as a motorway, 70 mph, despite no reservation.

SteveW

OT Speed awareness courses
 

On 13/11/2013 12:07, Gefreiter Krueger wrote:
On Tue, 12 Nov 2013 23:26:42 -0000, SteveW
wrote:

On 05/11/2013 11:42, tony sayer wrote:
In article o.uk, Dave
Liquorice scribeth thus
On Sun, 03 Nov 2013 12:05:34 -0000, Gefreiter Krueger wrote:

Here, it's the countryside - narrow lanes, etc, - that have the
lower
limits

How odd. I've never seen a lane with a limit on it,

Can't think of any around here either.

... and always thought it crazy that you could go faster on a narrow
road with blind bends than in a built up area on a straight with
excellent visibility.

Who will come of worse between a tractor and a car?

A large rabbit or even a pheasant can take out a headlight or smash a
radiator grill. A sheep would probably cause serious damage, roe deer
have long thin legs so will tend to get scooped up and have a good go
at coming through the windscreen. A red deer, probably will come
through the windscreen, you might survive...



Mate of mine had a new "ish" BMW written off by a wayward horse!..


A cow derailed a train once;!... 13 dead and 61 injured..

I remember that. I think that there was a bit of a fuss at the time as
the train was being run push-pull - pulled as normal to one end of the
line and pushed back to save moving the loco to the other end. I don't
know if that was to save time, effort or of there were no facilities for
running round the train at one or both ends of the line.

You mean it was being driven with no forward view?

Locomotives normally have the facility to be coupled together and
controlled from the cab of the leading one (multiple working) allowing
one driver to control multiple locomotives. In push-pull working, the
leading carriage has a cab built into it and the train is driven from
there when in push mode. Similar to the old 1950s Diesel Multiple Units
(DMUs) where one carriage had a pair of diesels under the floor and a
cab at one end and the other just had the cab and no engines.

SteveW

OT Speed awareness courses
 

On Wed, 13 Nov 2013 15:17:10 -0000, SteveW wrote:

On 13/11/2013 12:07, Gefreiter Krueger wrote:
On Tue, 12 Nov 2013 23:26:42 -0000, SteveW
wrote:

On 05/11/2013 11:42, tony sayer wrote:
In article o.uk, Dave
Liquorice scribeth thus
On Sun, 03 Nov 2013 12:05:34 -0000, Gefreiter Krueger wrote:


lower


Can't think of any around here either.



Who will come of worse between a tractor and a car?

A large rabbit or even a pheasant can take out a headlight or smash a
radiator grill. A sheep would probably cause serious damage, roe deer
have long thin legs so will tend to get scooped up and have a good go
at coming through the windscreen. A red deer, probably will come
through the windscreen, you might survive...



Mate of mine had a new "ish" BMW written off by a wayward horse!..


A cow derailed a train once;!... 13 dead and 61 injured..

I remember that. I think that there was a bit of a fuss at the time as
the train was being run push-pull - pulled as normal to one end of the
line and pushed back to save moving the loco to the other end. I don't
know if that was to save time, effort or of there were no facilities for
running round the train at one or both ends of the line.

You mean it was being driven with no forward view?

Locomotives normally have the facility to be coupled together and
controlled from the cab of the leading one (multiple working) allowing
one driver to control multiple locomotives. In push-pull working, the
leading carriage has a cab built into it and the train is driven from
there when in push mode. Similar to the old 1950s Diesel Multiple Units
(DMUs) where one carriage had a pair of diesels under the floor and a
cab at one end and the other just had the cab and no engines.

So why was a fuss made?

--
Is a booby trap only dangerous for women?

OT Speed awareness courses
 

On 13/11/2013 10:00, F wrote:
On 12/11/2013 23:43 SteveW wrote:

I know my wife
would fail and that would mean her losing her job, depite the fact that
she is actually a very good and safe driver (I get very uncomfortable as
a passenger with most other drivers). She would simply panic. She is
very nervous about driving anywhere she doesn't know, but perfectly
capable of driving where she needs for work, because it is all in a
limited area that she knows. If she needs to go somewhere new, she
travels with a colleague for the first visit or gets me to take her in
after work. She knows her limits and sticks within them.

That's far from the definition of 'a very good and safe driver'.

There's nothing wrong with being limited as long as you know your own
limits and stick to them - it's the ones that don't that are the
problem, hence the high number of accidents in the young and some of the
elderly. She isn't overly hesitant or overly confident; has good road
positioning and observation; sensibly adjusts her speed to the
conditions; thinks about others when she's stopping or parking; etc.,
etc. All the things that we should aspire to!

She is actually perfectly capable of dealing with things beyond what
she'll meet, but is stressed by knowing in advance that she's going to a
new area, far more so with someone observing her. That's one of the
reasons for not driving the first trip somewhere herself - assessment of
new patients usually requires two staff and a new area and feeling that
a collegue is observing her would be too close to a driving test, hence
let them drive her to a new patient rather than the other way round!
She'd She has enough stress in her life and there is no reason to add to it.

Over the years I have done numerous exams and the only ones I have been
nervous about while doing them are the driving test, observed practicals
and presentations - it's not the pressure of the exams that is the
problem, it's the pressure of having someone watching you. Many people
would fail unnecessarily, just due to that.

SteveW

OT Speed awareness courses
 

On Wed, 13 Nov 2013 16:12:49 +0000, SteveW wrote:

She is actually perfectly capable of dealing with things beyond what
she'll meet, but is stressed by knowing in advance that she's going to a
new area, far more so with someone observing her. That's one of the
reasons for not driving the first trip somewhere herself - assessment of
new patients usually requires two staff and a new area and feeling that
a collegue is observing her would be too close to a driving test, hence
let them drive her to a new patient rather than the other way round!
She'd She has enough stress in her life and there is no reason to add to
it.

Over the years I have done numerous exams and the only ones I have been
nervous about while doing them are the driving test, observed practicals
and presentations - it's not the pressure of the exams that is the
problem, it's the pressure of having someone watching you. Many people
would fail unnecessarily, just due to that.

WTF is her reaction if a TrafPol car happens to follow her?

OT Speed awareness courses
 

On 13/11/2013 08:43, Adrian wrote:
On Tue, 12 Nov 2013 23:43:11 +0000, SteveW wrote:

I don't like the idea of a re-test.
The reason I don't like it is that I know that many people who get
nervous would fail unfairly.

If somebody cannot drive to a _really_ basic minimum standard for 20
minutes, how is that "unfair"?

While being observed by an examiner, which makes a huge difference.
Driving and driving while being officially observed are two vastly
different things and those that suffer from anxiety are no worse at the
former, but far worse at the latter.

I know my wife would fail

Then, perhaps, she should get some additional training.

She would simply panic. She is very nervous about driving anywhere she
doesn't know

Sorry, but that doesn't sound like a driver who is going to react
particularly well to a sudden and unexpected change in circumstances...

What sort of change in circumstances? She's fine with idiots doing
unexpected things or having to work her way around a closed road or a
jam, she worries about going somewhere totally different that she hasn't
been before - not a particularly unrealistic fear - and worries far more
if she is going to have to take a passenger on that unfamiliar journey,
hence travelling the route as a passenger the first time, instead of
feeling under pressure from having a colleague as passenger.

As I've said elsewhere, it's the thoughts of driving somewhere
unfamiliar that is the problem, not so much actually doing it. Having to
do it while under observation would really make her nervous. She suffers
from anxiety problems, driving she can cope with, a driving test would
likely push her over the edge.

I know that I am happy doing exams or preparing work that will be
reviewed by others, but I hate being observed doing it - as do many others

SteveW