Walking in the Shadows

Random musings from Warwickshire on life in general... Things that make me laugh, make me cry, things that wind me up beyond all endurance - and everything in between.

Showing posts with label Driving. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Driving. Show all posts

The car is BACK!

Well, the engineer at the dealership has worked his magic, and the 207? Well, it’s back to its old self (if anything – its better than it was when it was new!) Talk about a smooth gear change – it’s lovely to drive.

The only “drawback” is that I’ll have to treat it like it like I’m running the car in for the first 500 miles, so that the car learns my driving style again, and gets the new bits “bedded in” for want of a better term.

I can’t praise the dealership service team highly enough – they’ve worked magic on this little car, and I’m rediscovering the reasons why I fell for the 207 in the first place.

As for the 208 – that can go and whistle – I’m not swapping the 207 in for it yet!

Ah well, time to call this quits – I’ve got stuff to sort out before I escape on holiday next week.

Back when I get the chance…

Karen

What I've felt, what I've known
Sick and tired, I stand alone
Could you be there?
'Cause I'm the one who waits for you
Or are you unforgiven, too?

On-the-spot fines planned for careless driving

This was announced this morning, and this seems to be rather interesting… The BBC has got this on it’s website…. As normal, I’ll post my thoughts at the end.

Karen

Now some things you hold on to - and some you just let go
Seems like the ones that you can't have
Are the ones that you want most


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Police will get powers to fine careless drivers on the spot, rather than taking them to court, as part of a government strategy to make Britain's roads safer.

Ministers say motorists who tail-gate, undertake or cut others up often go unpunished and that introducing instant penalties would be more efficient.

Offenders would get a fine of at least £80 and three points on their licence.

Critics say the approach - likely to be introduced in 2012 in England, Scotland and Wales - is too simplistic.

Drug crackdown

Currently motorists who have driven in a careless manner have to be prosecuted through the courts.

Transport Secretary Philip Hammond will give a written statement to MPs on Wednesday explaining the new strategy for England, Scotland and Wales.

The Department for Transport (DfT) said it would also include a crackdown on drug-driving and the closing of loopholes that allow people to escape drink-driving charges.

Disqualified drivers would have to undergo retraining, and possibly take another test, before they got their licence back.

Courts would be encouraged to make more use of their powers to seize vehicles for the most serious offences.

Ministers insist the new approach will try to target genuinely reckless motorists rather than those who normally follow the rules but make an inadvertent mistake.

There will be support for new drivers who need to hone their driving skills, and wider range of retraining and education courses for cases of less-serious offences.

'Greatest danger'

A DfT spokesman said: "The strategy will focus on cracking down on the really reckless drivers through more efficient enforcement.

"By giving the police the tools to deal with those who present the greatest danger to others we can make our roads even safer.

"While seeking to do everything possible to tackle the most dangerous drivers, the strategy will also help the responsible majority to improve their driving.

"This is the government's twin approach to improving road safety."

But the Institute of Advanced Motorists  said on-the-spot fines were not necessarily the right approach for careless driving because, unlike speeding, cases were often not clear-cut.

It also said their introduction could make police reluctant to enter into lengthy prosecutions even in more serious cases.

*********************************************************************************

Good idea in theory, as it should mean that there are more traffic officers on the roads, but in practise? Not going to work, as the budget cuts as the police are losing staff left, rights and centre. Equally, what one person considers careless, another may not see any problem with…

So I’ll reserve judgment and see what happens, as I can see this plan not making any further than the ideas stage…


K

On-the-spot fines planned for careless driving

This was announced this morning, and this seems to be rather interesting… The BBC has got this on it’s website…. As normal, I’ll post my thoughts at the end.

Karen

Now some things you hold on to - and some you just let go
Seems like the ones that you can't have
Are the ones that you want most


********************************************************************************************************
Police will get powers to fine careless drivers on the spot, rather than taking them to court, as part of a government strategy to make Britain's roads safer.

Ministers say motorists who tail-gate, undertake or cut others up often go unpunished and that introducing instant penalties would be more efficient.

Offenders would get a fine of at least £80 and three points on their licence.

Critics say the approach - likely to be introduced in 2012 in England, Scotland and Wales - is too simplistic.

Drug crackdown

Currently motorists who have driven in a careless manner have to be prosecuted through the courts.

Transport Secretary Philip Hammond will give a written statement to MPs on Wednesday explaining the new strategy for England, Scotland and Wales.

The Department for Transport (DfT) said it would also include a crackdown on drug-driving and the closing of loopholes that allow people to escape drink-driving charges.

Disqualified drivers would have to undergo retraining, and possibly take another test, before they got their licence back.

Courts would be encouraged to make more use of their powers to seize vehicles for the most serious offences.

Ministers insist the new approach will try to target genuinely reckless motorists rather than those who normally follow the rules but make an inadvertent mistake.

There will be support for new drivers who need to hone their driving skills, and wider range of retraining and education courses for cases of less-serious offences.

'Greatest danger'

A DfT spokesman said: "The strategy will focus on cracking down on the really reckless drivers through more efficient enforcement.

"By giving the police the tools to deal with those who present the greatest danger to others we can make our roads even safer.

"While seeking to do everything possible to tackle the most dangerous drivers, the strategy will also help the responsible majority to improve their driving.

"This is the government's twin approach to improving road safety."

But the Institute of Advanced Motorists  said on-the-spot fines were not necessarily the right approach for careless driving because, unlike speeding, cases were often not clear-cut.

It also said their introduction could make police reluctant to enter into lengthy prosecutions even in more serious cases.

*********************************************************************************

Good idea in theory, as it should mean that there are more traffic officers on the roads, but in practise? Not going to work, as the budget cuts as the police are losing staff left, rights and centre. Equally, what one person considers careless, another may not see any problem with…

So I’ll reserve judgment and see what happens, as I can see this plan not making any further than the ideas stage…


K

Being preached at (part 2)

Well, I’m back, and it wasn’t as bad as I’d feared. It was informative (to a point), but as I do most of the things that were recommended, it was really a waste of my time.

I get the feeling that the poor guy doing the course was a bit worried, as I openly said that I did do the “eco driving” as I find that it helps the fuel economy on the 207…

But, it was a tad unfair of me, especially as he was from IAM fleet (and I am a member of the IAM – talk about preaching to the choir where I am concerned!) Even so, I was still able to pick up one useful tip – and that was to lock the seatbelts in the rear of the car across the slabs when I don’t have a rear passenger (something I try to avoid!) to make sure that my stuff in the boot doesn’t go flying lessons in the event of an accident.

Aside from that, I wasn’t too impressed, but as I had to go – I guess that it was just a skive… Especially as I’ve now completed the work that I had to do. Thank God. Now all I have to do is avoid getting caught for anything before I make a break for freedom at 17:00…

Back tomorrow.

Karen

Now some things you hold on to - and some you just let go
Seems like the ones that you can't have
Are the ones that you want most

Corporate preaching

Is something that really annoys me. I don’t object to training, but there are some things that I really find objectionable – and one is being preached at with regards to how I drive.

The worst part is, I have to spend 1 ½ hours being preached at, when I have other things that need doing. It’s to do with “green motoring”, and reading thought the ten points that we are given, I can find fault with most of them.

Points like:

Use air conditioning only when necessary. What about those of us that have climate control in the car? That only runs when it needs to!

Use engine braking. Most people don’t have the foggiest, and I seem to recall from when I was learning to drive, that it was an instant fail if you did that, as you were deemed “not to be in control of the vehicle” as well as the comment that it’s cheaper to replace brake pads that the clutch.

Check your tyre pressures. Most people don’t have the foggiest what the tyre pressure should be, and never check the pressure – I at least check mine, and know what the pressure should be for normal loads (2.3 bar front & 2.5 bar rear)

Needless to say, I can see that I’m not exactly going to be popular, but to be honest, I really don’t want to do this damned course, but I’ve been told that I am doing it. The only way that I can escape, is to go sick, or book a day’s holiday (which I get the feeling will be refused!)

Ah well, back to the grindstone.

Back later, if I get the chance…

Karen

Now some things you hold on to - and some you just let go
Seems like the ones that you can't have
Are the ones that you want most