totally agree, the more you detach the driver from the driving function, the more dangerous they become. I think a lot of modern 'driver aids' actually reduce safetyI smoke a pipe and drive a 40!
On the plus side (!) I'm useless at texting.
Overtaking, which we have been known to do, albeit rarely, requires studying the topography, the speed on the vehicle to overtaken and guaging the gaps and accelerating accordingly.
I blame modern car design - too out of touch with the world around, too comfortable, too detached and too much dependency on satnavs.
I smoke a pipe and drive a 40!
On the plus side (!) I'm useless at texting.
Overtaking, which we have been known to do, albeit rarely, requires studying the topography, the speed on the vehicle to overtaken and guaging the gaps and accelerating accordingly.
I blame modern car design - too out of touch with the world around, too comfortable, too detached and too much dependency on satnavs.
I do pretty much that. Well only most of the time if I’m honest.Comment from God’s waiting room, yes, I too get frustrated with these “slow coaches” we all do, but, if they are old or seem confused, cut them a bit of slack. I had two in particular customers at my stalls for a number of years, delightful people and not related but they knew each other. They would sometimes take a bit of time for us to serve them (we are very patient with all of our customers. I always think they are somebodies mum/ dad etc) and I happened to find out that this particular two had both served during the 2nd WW at Bletchley Park of the code breaking fame. So, I reasoned they had earned every right to take their time at my stall, ( and elsewhere) do as they pleased whenever they pleased. ( as long as they paid) For me, when I’m in a situation as mentioned I think of these two, it maybe another war hero in front, It always settles me down. Best regards, Bill Westley
Yet on the German derestricted Autobahns, it all works nicely. I often think, why don’t we in this country follow their lead? Maybe with a little additional test or instruction day to give an update. The ‘smart’ motorways Could easily be derestricted.Riding a motorbike has been so liberating. Traffic? What traffic.
Now, when you're in a limit such as the average speed cameras on the M1, there's Dolly who doesn't get the concept so looks at her speedo and thinks, hmm, I'd better be a needle's width under. As her speedo doesn't read bang on anyway, she's now doing something like 44 mph.
Now coming up alongside in his Audi we have Wayne. Wayne is a knob, He knows that the cameras aren't set at 50. He knows he can do 50+3 +10% in any case, so by the time you've added that in, he's cruising at somewhere around 60 mph easy. So now we have a speed differential of 16 mph. Put the rest of us in there who have our cruise control set at 52 on the speedo and no wonder it chaos.
I believe there’s a little screw on top of the steering box that corrects that. There’s a thread on here somewhere about it.When we first got the truck Corinne would point out something of interest and if I looked the truck would want to look too!
And the construction of autobahns isn’t as good as our motorways. Often 2 lanes with no hardshoulder, short slip roads so joining traffic is going slow and no cats eyes can make night driving a nightmare.Yet on the German derestricted Autobahns, it all works nicely. I often think, why don’t we in this country follow their lead? Maybe with a little additional test or instruction day to give an update. The ‘smart’ motorways Could easily be derestricted.
Our motorways are up there with the best in Europe (contrary to urban myths) yet we have the lowest speed limit.
Agree with that Mark... I think the UK has a very good network regarding getting from A to B.. I can get on a dual carriage way/Mway 2mins from my house (Dover area) and never leave the same bit of tarmac till i reach the north of Scotland (if you get my drift) But the condition of our road network .. Road works, Potholes, and constant Jams is shocking...Signage in rural areas leaves you guessing half the time... Spain/ France. second to none to be honest...Having driven the length of Europe just before Christmas I'd have to say the French and Spanish motorways are far better than ours. Design standards may not be as good but a much higher standard of maintenance. I'm struggling to recall more than 1 set of roadworks the whole way.
I guess you’ve never tried driving through Holland or Belgium. Germany can be pretty bad as well around cities, and they have a lot of roadworks.Having driven the length of Europe just before Christmas I'd have to say the French and Spanish motorways are far better than ours. Design standards may not be as good but a much higher standard of maintenance. I'm struggling to recall more than 1 set of roadworks the whole way.
For work we use the autopay sensor so I’m not sure what the cost of our frequent forays into Europe cost, but I know travelling from nice to Calais some years ago cost nearly 200euro. I drove from Brittany to Calais last August and spent a very small amount of time on the motorway because we were running late, the cost was about 40euros for a relatively short period, I was shocked at the cost. Compared with our VED it’s astronomical.Driving from Algeciras, Spain to St Malo, France cost me under 60euro on the motorway. From Marrakech to Dorset on motorways the difference is plainly obvious, 3 countries seem to have got it right, then you have the UK...……. Tolls go back into maintenance so its not all traffic volume.
Having spent over 20 years in the construction industry, mainly Trunk Road and Motorways and with a good stint on motorway maintenance contract, we have very good standards for the construction but a lack of maintenance means the finished results just aren't kept up to requirements. The maintenance contract I was on never had enough money from the government to keep up with the demand for work, everything was firefighting urgent issues not preventative.