mobiles and driving | The Back Room Archive | Back Room Forum

Mon 3 Dec 2001 21:39

mobiles and driving - Bill Doodson

Hi folks not posted for a while so thought I would relay the good news story of the day, for me anyway.

Im not one to make calls on the mobile in general when driving, but crossing the M62 to Manchester at 06:30 on the way to work this morning, (Frost in Huddersfield so used the car and not the Blackbird) I was behind an Escort type van. I was braking but still catching it up and cars in front had their brake lights on. The van had one DIM rear light on. Then as the other brake lights went out the rear lights came on at normal brightness. A poor earth somewhere I think, but also a major problem for anyone behind! The van has a phone number on it, so as I am passing I stick it in the mobile (ensuring a very good distance between me and traffic in front) and ring the number. Leave a message on the answer phone " the van on the M62 has no brake lights" and carry onto work. This afternoon got a call on the mobile, Leeds number I don't recognise, " are you the man that phoned about the van? thanks very much we would never have known unless you had told us"

It felt so good that someone had recognised that I had tried to help with a proper response. So I know trying to dial in a phone number at 70 is daft but maybe the guy will do the same for me one day, or one of you.

BUT it also raises the question, how often do we check things like our lights, especially now in winter? This vans may have been like that for weeks. Our Panda failed its MOT on a brake pipe at the front. And the rear fog light for gods sake, I check the oil, water, tyres and screen wash etc (The bloody Mondeo has a slow puncture now) but I never get SWMBO to check the lights and things while I press the buttons and levers. How many in this forum can honestly say that they do on a regular basis?

Bill

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Mon 3 Dec 2001 22:08

Re: mobiles and driving - David W

Bill,

Easiest way to check the lights....

Drive into the garage and shut the door, all the lights can be seen on the walls without help of SWMBO.

Assumes freezer, kids bikes, dartboard etc allow vehicle access.

David

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Mon 3 Dec 2001 23:27

Re: mobiles and driving - Darcy Kitchin

How come you've seen inside my garage?

PS steering lock makes a useful prop onto the brake pedal to check stop lights if you can't get in garage,

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Tue 4 Dec 2001 00:30

Re: mobiles and driving - Colin M

Amazing how we fill our garages with junk and leave tens of thousands of quids worth of motor car out in the elements.

Colin

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Tue 4 Dec 2001 12:18

Re: Checking lights - James S

You can easily check your real lights and brake lights. Just wait until a car with those huge new clear headlights e.g Focus Mondeo, Clio ect You can see the lights in the reflective material. Easy don't even need an assistant or to get out of the car.

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