It's much more dangerous reversing out onto a road, busy or not, and isn't there actually a law about it?
Mind you (in rant mode) I'm sure there's also a law about not parking within a certain distance of a junction and that's flouted all the time.
There is a law for both things!
Another thing I am increasingly seeing too, is people either parked or overtaking by the zig-zag lines at pedestrian crossings: do they not know how dangerous this is!
Yesterday, I was driving on quite wide road, it is only two lanes but could quite easily be made in to four, and a guy in an X5, overtook a whole line off traffic at a pelican crossing as the lights changed to flashing amber. SO DANGEROUS!
Yesterday, I was driving on quite wide road, it is only two lanes but could quite easily be made in to four, and a guy in an X5, overtook a whole line off traffic at a pelican crossing as the lights changed to flashing amber. SO DANGEROUS!
the law doesn't apply to people in BMWs or urban 4x4s :P
A light right foot will do more to reduce CO2 than retrospective road tax, says the IAM
Proposed Vehicle Excise Duty (VED) changes intended to reduce CO2 emissions from cars will have little impact unless driving behaviour changes as well, according to research from the IAM.
Although many manufacturers have highly efficient "eco" versions of their cars available, many drivers will unwittingly lose the benefit of the technology through poor driving habits. The following examples of common errors by drivers increase fuel consumption significantly:
a. Under inflated tyres - tyres that are 20 per cent underinflated use three per cent more fuel
b. Roof storage - wind resistance causes use of up to 20 per cent more fuel at 70mph
c. Air conditioning - uses up to 10 per cent more fuel
d. Aggressive driving - uses 15 per cent more fuel
e. Speeding - travelling at 80mph uses up to 15 per cent more fuel than 70mph
f. Short journeys - the first two miles use up to 100 per cent more fuel
Taken together, all these items can increase fuel consumption, and CO2 emissions, by up to 45 per cent. This level of increase would mean that even the most economical and eco-friendly car, such as Ford's new Focus ECOnetic, may emit as much CO2 as a seven-seater people carrier like the Ford Galaxy, in spite of the Focus' class leading Band B VED (road tax) rating.
The extra fuel cost for the Focus would also wipe out the savings in road tax. If the Focus is driven efficiently for approximately 10,000 miles a year, the fuel bill will be around £865.
Poor driving habits would increase this by more than £330 per year, far outweighing the proposed reduction of £90 in VED.
IAM Head of Technical Policy and Advice, Tim Shallcross, said: "If the government is serious about getting motorists to reduce CO2 emissions, the IAM says more investment in driver education and information is needed, rather than extra taxes that motorists suspect are more about revenue-raising than improving the environment."
f. Short journeys - the first two miles use up to 100 per cent more fuel
I thought these generally were common knowledge that driving style is far more crucial than the size of engine. Though the one above is suprising. Knew that short journeys and cold starts use mroe fuel, but up to 100%?!!?
it's only petrol engines that use more fuel when cold, it's in the manufacturer's interest to make the engines heat up as quickly as possible, to improve emissions figures.
Do you carry a high vis jacket in your car ? It could save your life
The last bank holiday before Christmas sees many motorists make longmotorway journeys and sadly, some of these journeys will be interrupted by a breakdown. And a motorist's troubles don't end once the car is onthe hard shoulder; it is an extremely hazardous place on which up to 20people are killed each year.
But the IAM (Institute of Advanced Motorists) says that understanding the risks at the roadside and knowing what to do will keep you and your passengers safe.
Remember that it is illegal to stop on a hard shoulder, except in anemergency. At the first sign of trouble with your vehicle, slow downgradually, pull over to the far-left side of the hard shoulder, put yourhazard warning lights on and turn your steered wheels to the left.
If possible, try to stop where other traffic has a clear view of your car -avoid bends or the brow of a hill.
Put on a high-visibility jacket to increase the chances of other motorists seeing you and move any passengers away from the vehicle viathe left-hand side. Behind the motorway barrier and to the rear of thevehicle is safest position to avoid any flying debris if passing trafficstrikes your vehicle.
Pets and children must also be kept under control.Attempting to use a reflective triangle will put you at even greater risk and is not advised. It is not safe to carry out repairs on the hard shoulder.
Call for breakdown assistance on your mobile phone or, more preferably, from one of the emergency phones positioned at half-a-mile intervals along themotorway which can help the motorway Control Centre locate your exact location.
Look for arrows on small marker posts indicating the directionof the nearest phone.
Wait well away from the motorway and hard shoulder for help to arrive.If you are alone and feel in any way threatened, return to the vehicleand wait in the front passenger seat if you are travelling in a car,with the doors locked and the seatbelt on.
The moment you feel safe get back behind the barrier.
On rejoining the motorway, use the hard shoulder as an acceleration lane, to match your speed to the flow of traffic and then merge with the traffic in the left-hand lane.
Always suprised me the stupidity of some people when they've broken down. Once saw a family next to a people carrier, just walking and frolicking around with their car sticking out into the lane. One truck or lorry would only have had to glance the side of their car for all of them to be in hospital.
Interesting bout the traingle, what's the point in having them then?
Always suprised me the stupidity of some people when they've broken down. Once saw a family next to a people carrier, just walking and frolicking around with their car sticking out into the lane. One truck or lorry would only have had to glance the side of their car for all of them to be in hospital.
Interesting bout the traingle, what's the point in having them then?
Not much point in the triangle on the motorway hard shoulder, since they should be able to see you a mile away (if you've put the hazards on). Very handy if you break down just around a bend on a country road though !
What amazes me is the stupidity of people who are involved in a motorway shunt, and then stand in the carriageway swopping insurance details (which doubly confirms their stupidity).
