Been discussed on here before but an interesting story today on the what car website...
I'll be signing up...
www.whatcar.co.uk/news-article.aspx?NA=227687
Lee
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I carry a hi-vis jacket in my, because I think it is sensible to. But we should not be obliged to do so by the law - the last time I looked we lived in a free country.
This 'petition' is little more than a database building effort by Comma, who will doubtless use it to sell you their other products ...
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why are motorists driving on the hard shoulder. how difficult is it to spot a broken down car on the hard shoulder and not to hit it or anyone else. exactly how stupid are some people
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snipquote
Last winter as I was slowing down to exit a motorway on a dark evening I saw a car on the hard shoulder, one person changing off side rear wheel, spectator (passenger?) blocking right rear light, left rear light not on, (or defective). I saw this car too late to stop had I been on the hard shoulder stopping with a problem.
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how difficult is it to spot a broken down car on the hard shoulder and not to hit it or anyone else. exactly how stupid are some people
Snowy/foggy night, lane markings not easy to see. Car on shoulder broken down with electrical fault - no or poor lights. It happens.
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I saw it was being made compulsory in some EU countries to have one for each occupant of a vehicle, and guess it won't be long before our political surrender monkeys roll over, so when I saw Poundland had some, I bought a few.
Go on, ask me how much they were.
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Bathtub Tom - How much were they ?
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One just can't resist it, can one? (As Prince Charles might say).
When we were in the UK recently we went into Poundland and picked up a pair of perfectly adequate reading glasses and a can of WD40. In each case we didn't really believe it (esp knowing the price of WD40 in France) so we had to ask just to make sure...
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£4.99 seems to be about the going rate.
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AS, do you buy EVERYTHING at Fourninetynineland?
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No - this was Man at Millets or Fell Walkers R Us!
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As someone who has had to go out to breakdowns in the past (my Dad used to own a garage and we had a truck to do breakdowns for a time) I ALWAYS carry a hi-vis vest in my car. I also carry an magnet amber strobe which plugs into the cigarette lighter, along with first-aid kit, belt-cutter/glass hammer and battey-powered remote strobe & torch. This stuff costs next to nothing and could save your life (or someone elses).
Spend a bit of time by a broken down car on a snowy motorway late a night in winter and you'll feel a lot safer knowing that people can see you. Got nothing to do with being a 'free country' or politicians - just a bit of good old-fashioned common sense. What next, people wanting to drive around without headlights?
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I saw some elderly idiot changing an offside rear wheel on a car on the hard shoulder of the M6 last week - his rear end was almost in the roadway, he was wearing a jumper probably developed by Quintiq designed for urban warfare, he was practically invisible....its not just that his family would probably be griefstriken but the poor motorist who hit him....
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As a construction professional, I keep my boots, hi-vis vest and tin helmet in the boot at all times anyway, so when we got stuck in the snow in Feb, put them on when I got out of the car to assist with other people. I don't know about lifesavers, but they made me feel safer!
I'm buying hi-vis vests for £3.75 & hi-vis coats for about £11.75 (ex vat but including company lettering)
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Go on ask me how much they were.
Either the irony's more than usual or this humour has escaped most people. I doubt anything at the "pound shop" would cost £4.99. Maybe most people on here don't shop there! ;-)
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Go on ask me how much they were. >>
To be pedantic it rather depends on how many were purchased.
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To be pedantic it rather depends on how many were purchased.
>>
Maybe there was a sale on. ;-))
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In Israel, despite the high level of sunshine and good visibility during daytime hours, it is a legal requirement to wear a high-vis garment if you are standing in the carriageway by a broken down car. Rental cars have one in the glovebox.
It is very sensible. Two weeks ago, I saw a man standing by his car that had broken down and was waiting for his wife to pick him up. He was carrying his young child and was easily visible in the early nighttime because he was wearing his hi-vis waistcoat. Luckily the trafic was so slow he was in no danger (and I had the chance to offer help), but my wife commented on how visible he was.
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In a similar vein, I am always amazed at how many cyclists go out on the road at dusk with no lights, wearing drab clothes. They can't all have a death-wish, surely?
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Not just cyclists; pedestrians too. So many people wear black or near-black all over these days, and go traffic-surfing in the evening rush hour, apparently without realizing they're practically invisible. Even under streetlights, with headlights all around, people can just disappear.
The (dark blue) waterproof jacket I bought last week for my six-year-old has some refelective piping on it but it's still darker than I'd like, so I'm looking for some reflective tape to brighten it up a little. While I'm at it, I'll stick some to mine too. Anyone know a good source?
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Anyone remember those (now sadly departed) public information films used as fillers on BBC before the lamentable programme links we have nowadays? The germane one to this thread was: 'Be right, be bright, wear something light, wear something white at night' - sung in a lilty folksong type voice with guitar accompaniment.
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Evans and most other bike shops sell good high-reflective tape that sticks well to fabrics.
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Has anyone noticed how many drivers where hi viz vests and coats whilst driving (presumably) to and from work as they are in private cars rather than the works van. I can only assume it gives them a feeling of power, perhaps other road users are supposed to mistake them for plod or another 'official'?
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No, I haven't! Why would anybody want to be mistaken for a policeperson or some minor appratchik of the Highways Agency?
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Years ago in the days of sealed beam headlamps I was driving on a narrow sharply undulating road with no footpath near the Scottish Scout headquaters/camp site on a very dark night. I saw a white flash in my headlamps and braked to little more than walking pace. I then saw about six teenagers, all darkly dressed with one wearing white socks. Almost a very tragic incident. I always remember the See and be Seen road saftey campaign and would rather wear a Hi Vis than a hospital gown or worse. And yes I do have a Hi Vis in my car.
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yes Chris M i agree with you, but these people are usually in unkempt bangers like old vectra"s and mk1 or was it 2 or is it a facelift model mondeo? so obviously state kept cash in hand jobbing wasters, anyway it doesnt cut with me because i just drive in my mr magoo normal fashion ;-)
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More likely road workers or bin men on their way home after a shift.
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I was joking by the way and yes I have been in a pound shop - once.
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I was only trying to be helpful!
Have you tried their 'chocolate mis-shapes'?
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The most frequently ignored advice, straight from the Highway Code, is to exit a broken down car on the nearside and wait for breakdown assistance at least 50 metres beyond the car, inside the crash barrier and some way into the grass verge if possible.
Add a high visibility vest and warning triangle and safety is increased massively. A warning triangle extends warning of the danger by hundreds of metres and is especially useful at a bend or near a hill or bridge. Two warning triangles are compulsory in Spain but are virtually unknown in Britain and cannot legally be placed on a motorway: work that one out!
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I always carry a high visibility jacket in the boot. I work 50 miles away and majority of my driving is on the motorway. I got my jacket used from a local army surplus store in Nottingham. It is an ex-police jacket which is thick so ideal for winter months. the inner layer can come off so the outer jacket can be used in summer months. It cost me £20 money well spent
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...wait for breakdown assistance at least 50 metres beyond the car, inside the crash barrier and some way into the grass verge if possible.
Beyond or before? Wouldn't it be safer to be behind the direction/position or 'upwind' of any possible impact to avoid flying debris (or worse)?
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Beyond or before? Wouldn't it be safer to be behind the direction/position or 'upwind' of any possible impact to avoid flying debris (or worse)?
I think this advice is written with the lowest common denominator in mind again.
If the official advice was to stand 50 yards behind the vehicle on the grass banking or 50 yard in front if you can't get off the hard shoulder some numpty would get themselves killed by standing on the hard shoulder 50 yards behind the vehicle.
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