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Drivers and their problems
A new catch-all Tea Shop thread for those miscellaneous new stories that don't quite fit with parking, crashing into buildings or trapped/prisoners in their homes.
If you're new please join in and if you have questions pop them below and the forum regulars will answer as best we can.
Latest Forum Topics
Latest Comments
- brooksby 1 hour 31 min ago
You are Elon Musk and I claim my £5
- Simon E 3 hours 55 min ago
It may not be strictly true but my initial reaction is to feel that a 'smart' device all too easily leads to a dumb user. As for how that handlebar...
- chrisonabike 4 hours 11 min ago
The other issue is it might well cost a substantial chunk of that 20 pounds for all the admin (especially chasing late or non-payment, enforcement...
- chrisonabike 4 hours 16 min ago
Seconded - not a Londoner and never lived there so have no idea. But ... I used to visit and ... it's quite big. In fact, more like a series of...
- TomDW 6 hours 35 min ago
Any experienced London cyclist will tell you don't leave a £1K bike locked up especially in Shoreditch. This could all have been avoided. Having an...
- belugabob 6 hours 36 min ago
Where did the e-bike doc go wrong? It got past the proposal stage...
- David9694 6 hours 50 min ago
Person trapped after campervan flips in Devon crash...
- Hirsute 7 hours 40 min ago
My wife forgot to tell me about this and now the 48 hour deadline has passed. No ved either.
- mark1a 8 hours 50 min ago
Thanks to all at road.cc HQ, I received my t-shirt, socks and stickers in the post this morning. Stickers are already being stuck:
- Simon E 10 hours 38 min ago
The total cost of putting a complete bike on a UK showroom floor is considerably more complex than the Bank of England's inflation figures. Some...
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4135 comments
Drivers and their problems
Ashford residents demand action after another crash on A2042, Elwick Road and Station Approach four-way junction
“So the reason for the level of accidents at the site is because people think they can clear the junction, but because all the sets of traffic lights are so closely together they are mistaken and traffic ends up being stranded in the middle of the junction.
“People also get impatient which causes the problem at that site."
https://www.kentonline.co.uk/ashford/news/it-s-a-serious-issue-residents...
Stormzy given ban for using mobile phone while driving
I think this is a question best for this forum. I have just looked up the Highway Code and can't answer my question there, since it is typically vague on rural road culture.
I am from Exmoor on the Somerset/Devon border. Typically roads are single track with passing places. Generally, whichever road user is nearest a passing place will pull in, reversing if necessary (even if going uphill, although obviously the uphill driver has priority if there isn't a handy spot). I adopt the same rules when cycling and will also pull into a passing spot to let anything faster overtake (for courtesy as well as being much more pleasant than being followed).
However, a cyclist coming the opposite direction (I happened to be driving today) declined to use the passing space right beside him and didn't slow down or make any attempt to share the road. For safety I just stopped completely, but is this now becoming a more usual practice in other parts of the country with single track road? Obviously the highway code provides cyclists with a priority, but I don't see that this displaces the obligation to share the road (eg Highway Code no 155, on using passing places) in the normal way?
Perhaps he is more used to cycling in towns and was unused to rural roads so I'd be interest to hear from others in rural areas - perhaps more education is needed?
~~~~~~~~~
Cyclist 40+ years:
80% cycling / 20% driving
50% rural / 50% urban
60% UK / 40% elsewhere
Joey Baptiste pleads guilty over Ferrari crash in Norwich
Baptiste, 41, from Catkin Close, Cringleford, had previously denied driving without due care and attention, claiming the car had suffered a "mechanical failure".
But he changed his plea to guilty yesterday, with his lawyer telling the court the Baptiste had "lost communication" with Mr Mendham (the vehicle's owner who let JB drive as he was "unwell") , so the vehicle could not be tested. She said that moments before the crash Baptiste had accidentally hit the accelerator when trying to break [sic].
She added that "witnesses think that he was speeding because the car has a loud engine," before her client whispered it was a "4.7 V8 litre engine".
Miss Buck said that Baptiste had received four points on his driving licence for an unrelated speeding incident which happened since the Ferrari crash. The magistrates in Yarmouth indicated they intended to issue him with at least another seven points for the Rose Lane smash.
Before they sentenced him, Miss Buck requested an "exceptional hardship application" be lodged, claiming that Baptiste required his full driving licence to do his job as a ground worker. She added that he has a son who lives in Fakenham and requires his driving licence to pick him up at the weekends.
As he left court after the hearing, Baptiste unleashed an expletive-filled tirade at our reporter, who asked if he wished to comment on the case.
Baptiste said he would throw him and his telephone into the nearby river if he took a photo of him. Court security guards came out of the building to soothe tempers and Baptiste was ushered back into the building by the guards and his solicitor.
https://www.edp24.co.uk/news/24831593.joey-baptiste-pleads-guilty-ferrar...
Cornwall planning: Desperate race against time to fight 'predatory' parking proposal at beach beauty spot
A planning inspector has overturned Cornwall Council's refusal of a hated car park plan and now angry residents need serious help
So if I've got this right, it's OK to park a load of cars ("The site falls within the Cornwall National Landscape, the Heritage Coast and part of the northern boundary of the car park is formed by the two Grade II listed lime kiln structures") erect a crappy home made sign, but not to have a camera on a pole because it "would represent alien and visually intrusive man-made features which would fail to conserve or enhance the landscape character and scenic beauty"?
Those who are against the parking equipment being installed are now in a fight against time to oppose the appeal approval in the High Court.
"Do we have any philanthropic friends who would like to leave a legacy of keeping this part of the world unspoilt, friendly and accessible to the community? We have identified a barrister but are unable to take things further without financial support."
https://www.cornwalllive.com/news/cornwall-news/cornwall-planning-desper...
How much are Canterbury car parks? ANPR is all fine and dandy but a pain for late night pick-ups by parents
Dad's taxi getting himself tied up in knots over paying £2 to park.
https://www.kentonline.co.uk/news/opinion/anpr-forces-you-onto-double-ye...
A rat ate my £50k Range Rover...
Lots of snow and ice on the roads today - make sure you've got the right vehicle for the job if heading out...
Braintree assistance dog 'scared' after being hit by car
hit and run on a zebra crossing now assistance dog doesn't want to go out
https://www.gazette-news.co.uk/news/24829371.braintree-assistance-dog-sc...
War memorial damaged in village collision
Another war memorial, without hi-viz or a helmet, getting in the way of a hardworking, tax paying, otherwise law-abiding motorist
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c938zv1gxl4o
London is Europe’s most congested city, with drivers sat in traffic an average 101 hours last year
https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025/jan/06/london-is-europes-most-c...
"You have to cross a footpath, then you get into the cycle lane, and because the road is so busy you have to take a sharp turn not to hit oncoming traffic," said Alice Reeve.
yes Alice, it's called "driving carefully".
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/ce8xk25x8vlo
one more lane, bro...
Opening date revealed for new Silvertown Tunnel with users of new route and Blackwall Tunnel facing toll charges from Spring
TfL also considered offering a 50% discount for low-income drivers living in 12 east and south-east London boroughs and the City of London – this will also be implemented in Spring.
https://www.kentonline.co.uk/kent/news/kent-drivers-slapped-with-new-tun...
"low income drivers"
How far away can a speed camera catch you going too quick?
RAC road safety spokesperson Pete Williams said: “Although this new long-range camera could be used to enforce illegal mobile phone use or tailgating, it’s primary use will no doubt be to catch speeding drivers, if indeed it becomes more widely used by forces.
“Some drivers will inevitably end up being very surprised when a notice of intended prosecution letter arrives on their doormat when they felt they had managed to slow down enough after spotting a police car in the distance.”
https://www.herefordtimes.com/news/24837903.far-away-can-speed-camera-ca...
Interesting article in the Slate (US, obviously):
What Our First Big EV Terror Attack Can Tell Us About Car Safety
Most of the infrastructure that stops drivers from hitting people, buildings, and one another is designed for smaller, lighter vehicles.
https://slate.com/business/2025/01/new-orleans-terrorism-electric-vehicl...
Free parking please !
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cn8g0l1n53eo
A council is set to charge households about £40 a year to help keep parking free.
Bollington Town Council in Cheshire is going to pay Cheshire East Council to avoid charges being brought in at Pool Bank car park.
Driving is a right embedded in the Maggie Carter (sic)
95mph in a 70 https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/ceqlqpe7e7jo
Already with points but only ends up with 11 in total
91-100 gives Disqualify 7 – 28 days OR 4 – 6 points
Footage shows dogs being dragged by the side of car in Darenth Park Avenue, Dartford
However, several people defended the driver, with one person saying: “Nothing wrong here these dogs need lots of exercise.
“They are bred to chase rabbits around a field to protect farmer’s crops from damage so they need to build up their muscles.
“Also let’s not forget greyhound racing has been a sport for many years.”
(Paywall) https://www.kentonline.co.uk/dartford/news/shocking-footage-shows-dogs-b...
Council raises car park prices by as much as 50p...local councillors go into meltdown as a result.
https://www.eadt.co.uk/news/24844806.east-suffolk-parking-fees-plan-spar...
"Around 200 cars" parked up along part of the Peak District have prevented gritting taking place.
Derbyshire County Council said on Saturday morning crews could not get through due to double parking on Rushup Edge and Man Nick, near Edale.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cr53n054jl6o
Where's Cycling Mikey when you need him??
Entrapment, innit? I mean, there's a road there then they decide you can't drive there? Buses get in the way of drivers anyway, they're always stopping. And why would they issue all those fines if it wasn't to make money?
Stephen Norman shouldn't be driving if he doesn't know the rules.
I see it at every junction. Light turns amber, first car maybe could have stopped but carries on through second car certainly could have stopped but carries on through, third car put his foot down to make it through before it turns red, fourth car puts his foot down and goes through on red.
The motorist has been waging war on everybody else for 100 years, and they've always won.
One for wtjs
Thanks for the advance warning. The only proper such episode I have experienced in Lancashire, apart from the nutters shouting out the window, was from the close passing driver of BMW PK14 HLW in August 21 who claimed to have 'given me 1.5 metres' and threatened to 'fucking flatten' me and to knock me off my bike, when I caught him up at some road works. It was all on video, but it took over 6 weeks to receive a reply from the police. The officer claimed to have been temporarily transferred to another station! The result was: 'he shouldn't have spoken to you like that'.
Well everyone is concerned for the blond ... 😉
... but yes, it's funny how "cyclists" always promote sudden concerns for others.
https://aseasyasridingabike.wordpress.com/2020/12/09/selective-concern/
As to bus stop bypasses increasing danger - I understand there is legitimate concern but I do wonder if people have ever heard of "side roads" ... ?
At least it wasn't reported as an accident.
Hidden behind a paywall.
Nope - had an urgent appointment with his tax advisor
Amen, brother!
Much as the concern for the less than able who "have to drive" when objecting to LTNs but then illegally and immorally parking in blue badge bays because...
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