Drivers and their problems

"Wales' largest modified and performance car show"

Friends abandon journey four hours in and head home again after seeing complete gridlock on major west Wales route

There have been massive queues near Carmarthen with people said to be facing a two-hour wait to enter a Cruise Culture car show at Carmarthen Showground, and heavy traffic heading to west Wales

Billed as "Wales' largest modified and performance car show", there was said to be a two hour wait to get into the showground on Sunday afternoon. 

https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/friends-abandon-journey-fo...

What cars do to people - Assaults on Herefordshire traffic wardens revealed

There were six physical and 11 verbal assaults on wardens, now officially known as
civil enforcement officers (CEOs), in the financial year up to this April, according to a freedom of information response by Herefordshire Council.

https://www.herefordtimes.com/news/23743224.extent-assaults-herefordshir...

Both the Birmingham Mail and me stretching things a bit here, but this is the time of year that returning travellers' tales are told, "oh, David we found this darling little place outside Arrezzo, simply adorable, you'd love it" and guess what, it will turn out to be some little town or village that has solved its traffic problems, has a car lite central square and lots of little alleyways with restaurants and tavernas "and the best of it was we seemed to be the only tourists there. Here, I've got some photos..."

I might venture that it all looks very nice, and wouldn't it be great if we did the same? 

Anyway, delightful Petworth, Sussex - in reality, yet another quaint old place spoiled by cars, but maybe the seductive appeal of the photo will appeal to Brummies who know they want something nicer in their life, but can't quite put their finger on what it is.

https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/whats-on/whats-on-news/most-underrated-...

Somerset villagers try to ban non-residents from driving through

Sounds like you guys want an LTN? 

"...councillor Oliver Patrick shared a message with thousands of local residents on social media claiming that "enough was enough" and non-residents had been barred from driving through the narrow lanes of Hardington..."

" 'Somerset Highways has restricted access into Hardington to 'residents only'. If you ignore these signs, continue to cut through Hardington without a legitimate reason, and are involved in a collision, then your insurance may not cover you.' "

"a spokesman for Somerset Council said: "The council is trying to restrict access to non-residents by appealing to the better nature of road users with the use of advisory signs."

https://www.somersetlive.co.uk/news/somerset-news/somerset-villagers-try...

Another media "cyclist lucky to be alive" focus / reframing and the story of the driver doing a hit & run not developed. 

Helmet credited with saving doctor's life after crash

https://www.bournemouthecho.co.uk/news/23748090.helmet-credited-saving-d...

PS The cycling mayor isn't an official appointment, but I can see him ending up not pleasing anyone here - the BE are in sensitive mode at present when the comments get out of hand as they invariably do whenever he, cycling or speed cameras or e-scooters come up, otherwise I'd have told him where he can stick his "opinion" (even though in practice I follow it). 

"Derek Heritage, Bournemouth’s recently appointed ‘cycling mayor’, said: “My opinion is that cyclists should always wear a helmet. I have two close friends who were involved in accidents and believe they could have died had they not been wearing them."

Tell me again about that dangerous, flammable e-scooter. One month's worth of "car bursts into flames" uk news stories: 
 

The three major changes a transport expert says the Welsh Government should have made to its 20mph rollout

The transport expert has raised concerns about the impact of the Welsh Government's new default 20mph speed limit

Transport expert : Professor Stuart Cole CBE, an Emeritus Professor of Transport Economics and Policy, University of South Wales (it usually turns out to be guff put out by a medium-sized fleet hire company or an obscure trade rag with a name like Motaquest).

His points:

• Welsh Government's objectives were "appropriate" (a concern?)
• start off in urban areas where most casualties, etc occur 
• the government should have introduced bus priority measures to accompany the scheme

Overnight road closures in Gloucester 'make thousands of residents hostages in their own home'

More than a mile stretch of road will be closed overnight while road works are underway on the A430 Secunda Way in Hempsted

David Bucknell said: “We are now faced with over three weeks of Secunda Way being closed each night. With little or no provision for 4,000 residents who will be made hostages in their own homes by highways.

“Work is being undertaken at night to minimise disruption. For safety reasons we cannot allow vehicle access through the site during the overnight closure when work is going on, but we are working on ways to allow some essential access for residents living within the closure when safe and practical.

“A diversion route is in place throughout the works and pedestrian access will be maintained at all times.”

https://www.gloucestershirelive.co.uk/news/gloucester-news/overnight-roa...

Sorry, sorry, sorry this is a propos de nothing whatsoever, just a bravo to the headline writer here. 

https://lulworth.com/visit/places-to-visit/durdle-door/ (They could perhaps do with saying somewhere "watch the video showing the walk from the car park to the beach") 

https://www.dorset.live/whats-on/whats-on-news/durdle-door-reviews-why-v...

ULEZ: Party of law and order latest: 

According to the Daily Mail, he (Iain Duncan-Smith, former party leader) said: "A lot of people in my constituency have been cementing up the cameras or putting plastic bags over them. 

"I am happy for them to do it because they are facing an imposition that no-one wants, and they have been lied to about it. 

"The actions you are seeing show how angry people are at what is being imposed on therm. Sadiq Khan has gerrymandered all the information – people have had enough."

Desperate stuff.

(Sky News) 

This one has me stumped - I just can't see another way for children to get to/from school. 

Parents fear 'chaotic' traffic outside Essex school is 'accident waiting to happen'

The path directly in front of the school is also very narrow and cars drive fast and often mount the kerb to pass other cars. Vehicles already park all over the pavements and this will only increase if the size of the school increases.”

In response, the school has said it has been updating the travel plan to include initiatives such as Walk to School Week, pedestrian skills training and cycle training for pupils. A request has also been made to Essex County Council's School Crossing Patrol Service for a suitability assessment for a crossing patrol near to the school site.

Essex County Council has acknowledged that these are “legitimate concerns” and that Bentley Primary is unusual in that it is located directly adjacent to a railway station and level crossing and near to a small supermarket, which add to traffic congestion at various times of the day.

https://www.essexlive.news/news/essex-news/parents-fear-chaotic-traffic-...