Just noticed in the last week or so a new(ish) 40mph speed limit sign on a dual carriageway approaching a roundabout. They look leagl in terms of size and number (one on each side of the carriageway, but they are quite well obscured by shrubs and trees on the verges.

The question is: what is the minimum distance from which they signs should clearly visible? Read more

I believe although I cannot prove it that good consistent road and direction signs help road safety.
The current approach appears to be big signs. Some of the largest on motorways are difficult to see at night. Towns are being littered with big signs with suspect benefit.

Consistent direction signs leave a lot to be desired as we have all experienced in an unfamiliar location. Why after all these years cannot we get it sorted. I am sure there are enough good folk around who would offer their time to record their observations as they try to navigate with the available signs. This feedback could then be used to ensure correct positioning or siting of appropriate signs.
If signs are well placed a quick glance is all that is required then attention is back on the traffic.

An example of what I call poor or even bad signs can be found at Chichester on the south coast. This is a tourist area and if you need the Accident & Emergency Hospital from the A27 the red A& E sign is clear. Once you have passed it towards the town you have to study the small white and black signs at the many roundabouts.
If you need easy directions then follow the Brown Mask signs to the theatre. I question someones priorities. The number of A&E hospitals are being reduced so directions to them are even more important.

We are seeing more signs indicating exiting a location. e.g. a grey 20 MPH sign crossed through with grey lines. I like the French signs indicating you have just left a town / village by having the name in grey.

Compass directions being added to signs help e.g. M1 N or M4 W. This is an improvement.

A sign erected near Heathrow - Familiar triangular sign with exclamation and text underneath ? Trees removed. What do you do? Reply - Not me sir?

There does however appear to be no problem planting speed signs.
We have a local example of a 30MPH limit that ends but 30 feet of unlimited later the 30 MPH is re-imposed.

I know it is a big task but progress seems so slow. Read more

My cars oil requires changing but looking at the oil available and its vast difference in price i have no idea which to choose. I have a 1.6 Ford Orion LX.

Whats the difference between synthetic, semi synthetic and mineral and which is the best for my car?

What do the figures 20/50, 15/40 mean and hopw do you know which your car requires?

I have heard that Castrol Magnatec might be a good bet as i do alot of short journeys but am really confused and hope someone can shed some light on this subject.

Much appreciated

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Car = Fiesta 1.8 LX diesel.

I have severe trouble starting it. Basically the engine barely turns over when you turn the key, its kinda like the starter is jammed or severely lacking power, then after about 3 or 4 goes it seems to get some life and fires the engine up ?

I have put in a new battery. Have also taken the starter out , checked and extensively cleaned all wires and earths.

I benched the starter on a good battery whilst out of the car and although it did spin it seemed pretty slow to me be then again its hard to tell.

What i want to know is, is this starter likely almost done and is it liekly to be the brushes that are worn?

The only other thing that i reackon could cause this is a tight engine but i dont see how on the earth that could be it was fine bfore?

thanks in advance for any help Read more

I had an accident with another car. The quotes for repairs to both cars will be excessive. I know this because I went with the other person involved to a car body repair garage and believe the quote to repair their car and the quote for my car damage( from a different garage) would be sustantially cheaper if the insurance company sent an independant assessor to view the damage to the other person's car and if I used my own sourced professional repairer(proper job,baking oven,top of the range paints etc).
I rang my insurance company and asked them if I could reduce their costs by upto £1000 would they be willing to 'reimburse' me the loss of my excess and loss of NCBonus the following year(s). They said unfortunately they couldn't. Their hands were tied no matter what I saved them.'It's the system' they said.
Howver they said they would still appreciate me telling them 'what I know' and any help to get their costs down.
As yet I havn't told them.
What do your readers think about this. Surely this is ridiculous that they won't offer a carrot to save themselves money?
How can I get them to see sense and come to a deal?
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