Drivers and their problems

'Heart-breaking' end of lifeline rural bus service serving three Welsh counties

It's the commenters I felt sorry for (e.g. CHRISWE) trying his best mental gymnastics to say this is all Mark Drakefords fault and that he wants only to get people out of their cars and on to, er, public transport.  It seems EU money helped to  support this service, so we're back to the gift that keeps on giving to ordinary people.

Still, I expect the India deal will be along any minute now and save the day, a bit like the Bwcabus. 

"In response to the motion, a Welsh Government spokeswoman said: "Despite promises that Wales would not be a penny worse off after Brexit, the UK Government has failed to replace funding for rural transport schemes previously supported by EU. Unfortunately, we are therefore unable to continue supporting the Bwcabus service."

https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/bwcabus-carmarthenshire-tr...

A cut out and keep handy guide 

https://www.somersetlive.co.uk/news/motoring/new-study-shows-main-reason...

Grand total: 2,291,904 

South West drivers hit with fines even when ticket meter is broke

"One case for getting a PCN which will no doubt rankle many a car park user is ...that you will be charged even if its machines are not working properly. A faulty machine does not automatically grant free parking. There is clear signage to this effect..."

"One policy that will probably anger many motorists is one that says that it's up to you to have enough cash or the app or a credit card or smartphone that works as "appeals submitted on this basis will not be granted under any circumstances".

Drivers and their problems - if you've managed to convinced yourself that parking is free if the meter isn't working, then Alliance have a suprise in store for you. 

https://www.devonlive.com/news/local-news/south-west-drivers-hit-fines-8...

Driver desperation in Watchet: 

"Estimates for re-routing the coast road, which according to the authorities could be closed for years, have varied from £30 million to £60 million."

“Apart from a few weekends and bank holidays, the town is incredibly quiet.

“Some days Swain Street is like a pedestrian road." 

Always remarkable how these sums a bandied about so freely, but £2m on a cycleway seems like an impossibility.

Somerset Council slated for claiming it did not know how to apply for B3191 funding

https://www.wsfp.co.uk/news/somerset-council-slated-for-claiming-it-did-...

Wiveliscombe residents have taken to social media to express their fury at parking restrictions

https://www.wsfp.co.uk/news/wiveliscombe-residents-have-taken-to-social-...

Luton Airport fire: Cause of car park inferno that damaged 1,500 vehicles revealed - a diesel 

interesting comments on this story 

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/what-caused-the-luton-ai...

The Essex street where shops are "suffering" as parking restrictions threaten survival

https://www.essexlive.news/news/essex-news/essex-street-shops-suffering-...

Dramatic photo shows damage as car smashes into telegraph pole in West Mersea as man arrested on suspicion of drink driving

https://www.essexlive.news/news/essex-news/dramatic-photo-shows-damage-c...

Police target 'pavement blockers' in blitz on Cheshire neighbourhood

Officers say a total of four fixed penalty notices were dished out in Leighton

https://www.cheshire-live.co.uk/news/chester-cheshire-news/police-target...

Fridges found off Martlesham road in suspected fly-tip

Charlotte Ingham discovered a pair of appliances, which appear to be fridge freezers, off Waldringfield Road on the edge of the village. "My husband says he thinks he saw a cyclist leave them there, but I said I'm sure he's mistaken."

https://www.eadt.co.uk/news/23856752.fridges-found-off-martlesham-road-s...

oh here we go drivers' annual Christmas present of free parking

Cheap parking perk for Torbay shoppers this Christmas

Drivers can pay for an hour and park all day in car parks around the Bay

...for the whole of December - come, you big spenders get the Torbay cash tills ringing

https://www.devonlive.com/news/devon-news/cheap-parking-perk-torbay-shop...

Probus residents trapped after internet firm digs up road without warning

trapped, I tells ya!

work started in full swing on Saturday morning but residents were only provided with plastic ramps to drive over the cabling trenches in and out of their driveways at 2pm, meaning they had been stuck at home or unable to drive back to their house for most of the day

https://www.cornwalllive.com/news/cornwall-news/probus-residents-trapped...

hear me out...

Drivers told to travel with water bowl on seat to save fuel

https://www.hampshirechronicle.co.uk/news/23860817.drivers-told-travel-w...

there, see no such a wacky idea 

Police target motorists using rush hour rat run

Brixham Police have issued a warning after receiving complaints the road was being used as a rat run

One said: “Perhaps, if we didn't have continuous roadworks causing a lot of delays, people, particularly those of us in Brixham, wouldn't have to be forced to try and look for ways of avoiding the traffic! Not excusing those who break the law but Torbay roads are very frustrating at the moment.”

https://www.devonlive.com/news/devon-news/police-target-motorists-using-...

20 mph from over on the Wales thread and updated

will cyclists have to follow it? 

Nope. Driver distraction. Variants include being overtaken by cyclists 😱, something something, registration plates/ it's not fair. 

it's not necessary 

this usually has it that the traffic around here is so bad all the time so it won't make any difference. 

great, so you've no objection 

drivers won't obey it / the police won't enforce it 

sometimes admissions around driver behaviour are bundled into the attempted objection. I remind them of the speed cameras and vans - you know, the ones that are only there to rip drivers off.  I think this shows drivers' attitudes to existing limits

it will make pollution worse

Again, an admission of an existing problem is implicit here.  Driver myth from pre-catalyser days.

It will make pollution somewhat less worse. Emissions are a coefficient of weight, speed/acceleration and engine size. I don't notice cars getting any smaller or driving technique getting any better. 

it will increase road danger

this is the constantly watching the speedo argument and another admission that cars are dangerous (don't forget that we normally have to maintain the fiction that the 4-5 daily road deaths are all individual tragedies, etc)

cars can't go at 20 mph without incurring damage to clutch and gears

straight up driver myth - possibly from bad old days of double de-clutching etc 

"Typically, cars are most efficient at 45-50mph" - so don't drive in town if fuel economy is really your concern. It's not about your preferences - have you not grasped that by now?  

https://www.rac.co.uk/drive/advice/how-to/fuel-saving-tips/

I can understand it outside schools 

if you were that keen, you'd be doing it now and we might not be having this conversation.
Anything to contain and minimise. 

more control / it's all a plot to get 'us' off the road/ 15 minute cities 

Ah yes, when you've finally run out of road, there's always the fantasy world of secret government plans and conspiracy bullshit. 

Poole family's car suddenly bursts into flames on busy road

Welcome to cyclists' world, Mr Driver. Aren't we all meant to stop being such snowflakes, pick ourselves up, laugh it off and carry on? 

He added: "I want them to compensate [us] for the financial losses to us and for the psychological trauma inflicted on my family and I.

https://www.bournemouthecho.co.uk/news/23860971.poole-familys-car-sudden...

PS maybe avoid airport multi-storeys?