May 2003
On trips to the USA, I've found the ability to 'turn right on red' at many traffic lights a very sensible idea. Would it be worth trialling this system in the UK, or are our roads/junctions too narrow to allow a full implementation?
The other aspect of US driving I found most noticeable was the relative lack of aggression! My first experience was driving from Dulles airport into Washington D.C. - at night, in pouring rain, windows steaming up, lost, in need of sleep, first time with LHD car - and even when crawling at times doing 40 on the beltway I didn't encounter any 'hostility' at all......... Read more
Help
Can anyone recommend somewhere that will do a proper repair job on a mini traveller, it needs new sills. Anywhere near Colindale would be an advantage but I am willing to travel to have the job done correctly.
Thanks Read more
I've had good reports on Tony Fowkes Automobiles(020) 8965 5014 based in Park Royal.
I seem to remember reading in one of the weekend papers about a tyre company that will travel to most places in the UK to fit tyres. Apparently they are pretty cheap - can anyone remember the name?
Thanks
Rik Read more
...but I couldn\'t find it.
What is the best course of action to take after somebody hits your car and pink fluffy dice off. It looks like nobody saw it. No details were left. I have contacted my insurance company and will be getting a quote tomorrow. Is it worth contacting the police? Whatever hit me was white and my car is a reaally dark (almost black) green i.e. not a common colour.
Also, there is a paint mark on the left front tyre. I take it that it would be wise to get than checked out as I have a 200 mile drive back home this evening. Read more
Tony
If there is some substantial damage to your car then there is an obligation for the other party to (1) Stop and (2) Give personal details ( name, address and that of the owner and VRM) to any person having reasonable grounds. If he does not comply with (2) then it should be reported to Police within 24 hrs. (Sect 170 RTA 1988). failure on both points is an offence.
I would suggest that you revisit the Police Station and ask to speak to Duty Inspector/ Supervision. Reiterate (as cooly as possible) the circumstances and point out that in addition to possible offence of careless driving (Sect 3 RTA 88) other offences in relation to stop and report have been committed.
As a person whose taxes go to pay for Police service then you should have this matter investigated. You have a witness and details of the vehicle responsible so half the Polices work has been done.
I shake my head in disbelief at tales like this when a bit of communication by Police to Public would keep Joe Public on the side of Police instead of putting their backs up.
There is a Police Compalints system.
DVD
I thought that generic* engine and gear box were the only carry over assemblies from previous generation V70 to current (P26 platform) model, but I'm in Sweden today, where I noticed that a colleague's five year old V70R has exactly the same rear seat construction as my new V70 2.4T, even though the trim is different. Not only are things like the adjustable rake mechanism the same, but so are the load nets that scroll out of the back of them, and the catch that ensures when folded forward, they do so in to what is exactly a horizontal position.
I wonder what else...?
I guess not suspension and chassis componentry, because his turning circle is much tighter than mine, despite a similar wheelbase and running on identical 225/45x17 tyres.
* I say 'generic' because many detail engine changes *were* made, especially with engine management hardware and software, which are completely different. Read more
Your thoughts please.
A neighbour has recently received an NIP for passing through a red light in Manchester. The picture was taken 1.5 seconds after the light turned red and her speed was recorded at 19.2 mph.
She is now considering whether to accept the 3 points and £60 fine or to challenge based on the fact that she believed it safer to pass the light rather than stop.
The offence took place on a Friday evening, at 6pm rush hour, in extremely heavy rain. As the lights started their green->red sequence she braked from 40 down to the 19.2 mph that the camera recorded, but due to the closeness of the vehicle behind she decided that to brake any harder could cause an accident should the driver behind not be able to stop in the same distance on the wet road.
She does not dispute that fact that she passed the red light as she consciously took the decision to do so.
Does anyone out there ever been in a similar situation, and given the facts, is it worth her while to go to court to provide mitigating circumstances, or will she be given the 3 points automatically? Read more
I think the court would argue that she should have slowed down in anticipation well in advance given the weather conditions and the idiot behind. In other words she was going too fast for the circumstances. Sometimes life's a *****.
This should get the armchair chemists energized. Emission tsting is new round here and I encountered it for the first time today since I have to have a certificate to get my '01 Ford F-150 registered for another year.
The piece of paper I got back included the following info:
Standards for gasoline powered vehicles:
Registered 1/1/97 < 1/1/03 3.5 600
>1/1/03 low idle 0.5 100
>1/1/03 hi idle 0.3 100
Readings for my vehicle were CO 0.006% HC 10 PPM, of course a pass.
This is a learning curve for me and I would be interested to know how this data compares with current approaches in other places where they have had this stuff in place for a while.
Read more
DVD, be fair, we may have the world's fourth most polluted city but we are cleared by the WHO, having had only 16 SARS cases and 2 deaths, all imported. Best record of all the ASEAN countries in fact and due to an uncharacteristically efficient and timely gov't response. Try Canada. I came in from Dubai the other day and lined up for the obligatory temperature check and actually passed. I told the charming young lady whose eyes twinkled mysteriously above her mask, when she applied the sticker to my forehead that any unusual temperature elevation was no doubt due to a slight over-appreciation of the excellent Cabernet and post-prandial cheese platter served in Emirates Airlines business class. This got me through the check but may have been a mistake since I was not directed to the examination tent for further evaluation.
I shall be interested to know how my Harley with its open pipes, nasty cams and street carb settings fares similarly next week.
A few weeks ago I stopped for a few minutes on a meter without paying and returned to find a traffic warden taking down the car's details.
I drove off before the warden issued the ticket and attached it to the window ( I did not try to stop him nor did I disappear in a cloud of tyre smoke).
I've now recieved the "Notice to Owner" stating that I have not paid the penalty charge and I now owe £80.
Am I correct in thinking that the Penalty charge Notice has to be affixed to the car before I'm liable to pay it?
Does someone know the relevant piece of legislation?
thanks for your help
regards
Charlie Read more
In particular www.parkingticket.co.uk/em.html
If I return to my car whilst a parking attendant is issuing a ticket but drive off before it can be either handed to me or fixed to the vehicle am I still liable?
No! To be valid the ticket must be either handed to the driver or fixed to the vehicle. If you subsequently get a Notice to Owner you should write to the issuing authority explaining the situation and ask for it to be cancelled. If they will not cancel it then appeal. Although the adjudication services do not categorise types of appeal anecdotal evidence suggests that between a third and a half of all appeals are for this reason. The legislation was changed in 2000 to allow London authorities to send the Penalty Charge Notice (PCN) to the registered keeper. However, because of stringent restrictions imposed by the Adjudicators it is very unlikely that any will be sent. If you do receive a PCN in the Post you will have to decide whether to pay it, at the reduced rate, or challenge it.
HJ's CbyC says no 5 door variant in the new A3 expected June. Is this only at launch and a 5 door will come along later? Anyone shed any light? Read more
Yes according to car magazine.
Interesting piece in the business section of the BBC News site now about the increasing gap between franchised and indy repair costs - research by Warranty Direct. If I was cleverer I'd post a link. Read more
Perhaps my experience in not typical, but... Asked the AA Service Centre for a quote on a 40,000 mile service on my 'T' plate Toyota Corolla. Answer: £160. Quote from two Toyota Franchise agents: £140. Took it to a franchise agent, and he actually charged me £114.
Quote from the AA to supply and fit front brake pads: £130. Toyota franchise agent: £110.
You pays your money and...etc
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This sounds a good idea, but it is designed with cars in mind, not pedestrians. As I understand it there are no pedestrians in America, so that wouldn't be a problem.