View Full Version : Gripe of the day - What is yours?
svenrico
27-02-21, 02:13 PM
Private dental treatment is now more obvious at my local dentist. Pay more for private treatment and have it done straight away, or book in with the receptionist for NHS treatment on your way out and find you have to wait 6 months!
Take back control of what though ? EU seems to have been dictating the terms.
Yep, and if we are so feeble as to let them dictate the terms then so be it. They aren't going to be particularly benevolent or philanthropic towards us, why would they? We made the decision and we got what we wanted. We had 4 1/2 years to decide what we wanted.
Just to be clear, I was never in favour of voting for a blank sheet of paper. When you sign a blank contract with "T&Cs to be completed later" don't be surprised at what gets written there at a later date. You've signed it, tough.
I would have preferred to remain, I used the privileges of being able to work freely in different EU countries in the past and the loss of that alone seems such a retrograde step. I genuinely feel sorry for the musicians/performers who have just realised what the reality of being a third country actually means, but that's what it is. Similarly the farmers and fishing trade, it's a great shame that they now are subject to a lot of restrictive rules/regs, but that's what happens.
SV650rules
27-02-21, 05:22 PM
Yep, and if we are so feeble as to let them dictate the terms then so be it. They aren't going to be particularly benevolent or philanthropic towards us, why would they? We made the decision and we got what we wanted. We had 4 1/2 years to decide what we wanted.
Just to be clear, I was never in favour of voting for a blank sheet of paper. When you sign a blank contract with "T&Cs to be completed later" don't be surprised at what gets written there at a later date. You've signed it, tough.
I would have preferred to remain, I used the privileges of being able to work freely in different EU countries in the past and the loss of that alone seems such a retrograde step. I genuinely feel sorry for the musicians/performers who have just realised what the reality of being a third country actually means, but that's what it is. Similarly the farmers and fishing trade, it's a great shame that they now are subject to a lot of restrictive rules/regs, but that's what happens.
After all the hype about financial companies rushing out of UK to the EU..
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-02-22/about-1-000-finance-firms-eying-post-brexit-outposts-in-u-k
Oven ready deal apparently. Wonder where that weekly £350,000,000 got too?
ahhh the famous bojo bus. how did he become prime minister again?
ahhh the famous bojo bus. how did he become prime minister again?
...because people have very short memories, many get their opinions from the Mail/Express and no one looks at their policies. BoZo comes over as a funny buffoon - fun at parties? Perhaps. Leader of a country? Not in my opinion.
My neighbour, a delightful, 79 year old lady said there was no way she would vote for Corbyn (bearing in mind her deceased husband was chairman of the local boiler makers union). I explained some of Corbyn's policy ideas which she liked but still wouldn't vote for him because she didn't like him. How do you fight that?
SV650rules
28-02-21, 09:17 AM
Apparently they did a poll of football supporters and asked 'if every player in your local football team moved to another club, would you support the present local club or the new club they had moved to?' - they all said would continue to support their local club, even though they had a completely new team. Well voters are pretty much like that, they support the club, not the players... Political parties know that, which is why they could put lipstick on a pig and voters would vote for it in a lot of constituencies - which is also why 'safe seats' exist.... except Bojo stole a lot of 100 year labour seats in 2019.... mainly because a lot of people with real labour values found comrade Corbyn unelectable.
SV650rules
28-02-21, 09:19 AM
ahhh the famous bojo bus. how did he become prime minister again?
The fact is that the high court found the figure on the side of the bus was correct...
Apparently they did a poll of football supporters and asked 'if every player in your local football team moved to another club, would you support the present local club or the new club they had moved to?' - they all said would continue to support their local club, even though they had a completely new team. Well voters are pretty much like that, they support the club, not the players... Political parties know that, which is why they could put lipstick on a pig and voters would vote for it in a lot of constituencies - which is also why 'safe seats' exist.... except Bojo stole a lot of 100 year labour seats in 2019.... mainly because a lot of people with real labour values found comrade Corbyn unelectable.I think Corbyn was just a little too far left for most voters. There are still people in the labour party that want to pull the party further to the left but they can't see that this would make them unelectable and what's the point of that. Love or hate him, Blair saw that hence the 'new labour' policy. Tories have a similar problem with members wanting to go further to the right hence Brexit and the current policies of favouring the rich and influential.
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it matter not who you vote for as all politicians are just puppets being controlled by the people you cant vote for. if anyone is to blame for politicians stupid mistakes then blame the advisers.
svenrico
01-03-21, 12:23 AM
. Similarly the farmers and fishing trade, it's a great shame that they now are subject to a lot of restrictive rules/regs, but that's what happens.
- and wasn't fishing supposed to benefit a great deal from leaving ?!
svenrico
01-03-21, 12:29 AM
The fact is that the high court found the figure on the side of the bus was correct...
Might have been correct in terms of contributions to the EU ,but did it take into account the benefits of membership and money paid back to the UK in subsidies ?! Wasn't implying all that money would go to the NHS misleading
anyway ?
svenrico
01-03-21, 12:37 AM
They aren't going to be particularly benevolent or philanthropic towards us, why would they? We made the decision and we got what we wanted. We had 4 1/2 years to decide what we wanted.
Exactly, and even considering the pandemic ,how could they leave what seemed like everything to the last minute after all that time ? The whole thing was a **** up from start to finish , but of course it isn't finished yet and will just go on and on. Nobody knew what leaving really meant at the time of the referendum and they still don't really know what the consequences are going to be.
svenrico
01-03-21, 12:41 AM
After all the hype about financial companies rushing out of UK to the EU..
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-02-22/about-1-000-finance-firms-eying-post-brexit-outposts-in-u-k
Will that mean we might get a bit more than bugger all interest on savings ?
Ordered something online with an estimated delivery on Wednesday 10th. Great, I'll be at work I'll get it sent there. Got a text this morning from Hermes saying my order is out for delivery today (Sat 6th) and we are shut. Hopefully it'll be redelivered Monday.
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Will that mean we might get a bit more than bugger all interest on savings ?
Since the BofE has been considering negative interest rates I think that's unlikely.
I have some pension savings in the US which are doing well but now the £ has strengthened against the $ it has reduced my gains somewhat. It was $1.28/£1 but now is $1.38 (and briefly hit $1.40)
GOTD the woeful standard of driving on the roads.
Too many people in their own worlds ignoring the majority of road signage
Speed limits - driving at 40 mph everywhere doesn't make you safe. It only makes you a moron who is oblivious to everything going on around you
Traffic lights - Red means stop, green means go
Roundabouts - give way to the right, not the left
Solid white lines - you can overtake a cyclist if it safe to do so
I find myself more and more regretting being in the car than on the bike these days (Unless the weather does not permit, or the bike is not the practical transport i need). At least on the bike you can skip around these eejits like they don't exist and be on your merry way.
daktulos
06-03-21, 09:55 PM
Solid white lines - you can overtake a cyclist if it safe to do so
Only if it's going at 10mph or less, and even then only if there's no hatching. I agree with what you're saying, but most cyclists round here are faster than that.
svenrico
07-03-21, 01:13 AM
At least on the bike you can skip around these eejits like they don't exist and be on your merry way.
Apart from drivers who don't obey :-
Roundabouts - give way to the right, not the left !
Craig380
07-03-21, 09:02 AM
Yesterday on the main A523 between Leek and Ashbourne, there was a bloke riding a horse, which amazed me. That road is lifting with artics and big trucks every day of the week, and the horse was obviously skittish, as it was tossing its head and swivelling its hind quarters out.
I literally went fully over into the oncoming lane and passed at 20mph.
The thing is, I get that sometimes you might need to ride a horse a couple of hundred yards on a main road. But I know that road, and where the farms and stables are. The rider was MILES from them. So why ride an obviously nervous horse a long way on a main road?
Only if it's going at 10mph or less, and even then only if there's no hatching. I agree with what you're saying, but most cyclists round here are faster than that.
Even if not, on any road above 30mph it's a hazard you can negate with relative ease -if safe to do so.
Adam Ef
08-03-21, 11:47 AM
Every f$%£%£$g thing that I order being greeted with a "sorry that's out of stock and we didn't realise" or "we don't know why that hasn't been sent". Two more online purchases and both are messed up. I'll be really glad when we can go back in to places and actually see the goods physically in front of us before parting with money and then playing the wait 3 weeks for a refund game or being given the run around for deliveries weeks later.
shiftin_gear98
10-03-21, 07:45 AM
Phoned the insurance to come collect the bike. Gutted.
And to top it off, it's Forth Dimension who collect it, they are the ****ers who held me hostage last time.
They do nearly all motorbike salvage stuff. They're on eBay (surreymcsalvage) so keep an eye for it on there, it may go nice and cheap!
Adam Ef
10-03-21, 11:16 AM
Van failed the MOT this morning. Some other welding I hadn't spotted. No time to do it myself for a while now and it's such a pain getting it up on stands and working on it in the rain that I think I just need to pay to get it done. At least then the retest will be free and it will pass straight away. Not perfect timing for finances though.
Adam Ef
10-03-21, 11:18 AM
They do nearly all motorbike salvage stuff. They're on eBay (surreymcsalvage) so keep an eye for it on there, it may go nice and cheap!
https://www.ebay.co.uk/str/Surrey-Motorcycle-Salvage?_trksid=p2047675.l2563
Luckypants
10-03-21, 11:24 AM
Not perfect timing for finances though.
Is it ever? :pale:
I have a neighbour who has too many cars and clogs up the communal car park. He seems to have 3 main vehicles between himself and his mrs. And then regularly has a further 2 cars, or more he seems to buy from WBAC/BAC to repair and sell on.
It's been going on about 2 years and the council have started to investigate - finally. As selling from the property/car park would be classed as a change of use of the land to a business premises (which he does not own, nor have permission for).
The investigating officer did a drop in visit today, to which the person in question cited they'd lost their job and this work was for some income. Yet he still leaves his house every day Mon-Fri to drive/commute somewhere in the morning/return at night . . . . .
Why don't people simply come clean when they know they've been caught?
Needless to say i'm continually providing this information back to the Council to get this situation cleared up. I do not mind if someone is running a business, however it should be done properly, above board and in a manner that does not affect others in a residential area.
And yes, he has been spoken to by other residents and myself before about all of these vehicles and the nuisance it causes prior to further action being taken. His response to this was to start parking the extra vehicles along the road instead, which takes up parking for other residents . . . .
Quite right too. There's a self employed chippie behind my house and there's always a lot of sawing going on especially at weekends. I don't see any work being done to the house so I can only assume he's making things for his customers. It's just a hunch, I've no proof.
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svenrico
11-03-21, 12:43 AM
Phoned the insurance to come collect the bike. Gutted.
And to top it off, it's Forth Dimension who collect it, they are the ****ers who held me hostage last time.
My insurance company used them for repairs on my Triumph Bonneville when I was rear ended and knocked off causing more damage than you would expect from a slow speed accident.
I must say they did an excellent job of repairs and didn't skimp on new replacement parts. They did take a bit longer than I expected but I wasn't bothered as it was coming up to winter.
timwilky
19-03-21, 12:33 PM
I had a small accident with my compound mitre saw a couple of weeks ago, whilst it was only skin, the bone on a finger was exposed. reason trying to cut a very small mitre and holding the wood too close to the blade as I could not fix a clamp as so small.
So lesson leaned I have been looking for a table saw. Whilst I usually buy Dewalt, the small saws only have a 8" blade so opted for a Makita 2704. FFS they don't come cheap, but with a finger still having a hole where the skin is still missing, neither do new fingers.
So shopping around and I can get it 50quid cheaper than anywhere else and there seems to be shortage of 240v I hand over the card details and advised it will come Tuesday.
Just had the phone call...Mr Wilkinson, this is Travis Perkins. About your web order...Heart starts to sink, they are going to say a price mistake online...No, Makita say none in the country for at least 4 weeks.
Gripe, I have a job to finish, a painful finger and back to using the mitre. Carefully.
shiftin_gear98
19-03-21, 02:40 PM
Owch.
Mine, they drove my bike off in a van today.
Officially bikeless - apart from all the SV bits clogging up my garage.
Owch.
Mine, they drove my bike off in a van today.
Officially bikeless - apart from all the SV bits clogging up my garage.
horrible feeling :(
You can ride but don't have a bike, I have bikes but can't ride - cast comes off next week, so; soon (hopefully).
Dave20046
19-03-21, 08:47 PM
I had a small accident with my compound mitre saw a couple of weeks ago, whilst it was only skin, the bone on a finger was exposed. reason trying to cut a very small mitre and holding the wood too close to the blade as I could not fix a clamp as so small.
So lesson leaned I have been looking for a table saw. Whilst I usually buy Dewalt, the small saws only have a 8" blade so opted for a Makita 2704. FFS they don't come cheap, but with a finger still having a hole where the skin is still missing, neither do new fingers.
So shopping around and I can get it 50quid cheaper than anywhere else and there seems to be shortage of 240v I hand over the card details and advised it will come Tuesday.
Just had the phone call...Mr Wilkinson, this is Travis Perkins. About your web order...Heart starts to sink, they are going to say a price mistake online...No, Makita say none in the country for at least 4 weeks.
Gripe, I have a job to finish, a painful finger and back to using the mitre. Carefully.
I find Travis Perkins are utter ****e, there's always a problem every single dealing. Did quickly google that saw though and it does look to be unavailable.
I've got a big einhell mitre saw, it's crap (.) compared to a Makita but it does clamp to a table ...and has a guard (albeit flimsy)
svenrico
19-03-21, 08:50 PM
'Just had the phone call...Mr Wilkinson, this is Travis Perkins. About your web order...Heart starts to sink, they are going to say a price mistake online...No, Makita say none in the country for at least 4 weeks.'
Just as a matter of interest but where is it coming from ?
svenrico
19-03-21, 09:07 PM
Not really a gripe (I hope ),because although it will be some inconvenience BMW are doing the work free of charge, but got a recall letter today for my BMW 1 series car for some fault with air conditioning/heater that could lead to a fire ! My car doesn't have air con' ng but it is 09 reg and nearly 12 years old ! Taken them a long time to discover that fault hasn't it ?!
ps was surprised when I got the car that it didn't have air conditioning, I thought BMW''s had all the bells and whistles !
timwilky
19-03-21, 09:32 PM
'Just had the phone call...Mr Wilkinson, this is Travis Perkins. About your web order...Heart starts to sink, they are going to say a price mistake online...No, Makita say none in the country for at least 4 weeks.'
Just as a matter of interest but where is it coming from ?
Japan, probably been shut down for Covid, 240v seem to be totally out of stock. I could go 110v, but carrying the transformer is a pain.
shiftin_gear98
24-03-21, 04:16 PM
12 bids and counting. It didn't take long to for it to get on Fleabay.
Dave20046
24-03-21, 07:56 PM
12 bids and counting. It didn't take long to for it to get on Fleabay.
Don't worry I'm sure AdamEf will be the highest bidder by now
SV650rules
24-03-21, 09:08 PM
ps was surprised when I got the car that it didn't have air conditioning, I thought BMW''s had all the bells and whistles !
The BMW 'extras' list is infamous - you get basic car with 4 wheels and an engine, everything else is an extra at added cost....... with a Jap car you get pretty much everything with the basic car.
The BMW 'extras' list is infamous - you get basic car with 4 wheels and an engine, everything else is an extra at added cost....... with a Jap car you get pretty much everything with the basic car.
Not as bad as a Porsche. Literally everything is an optional extra.
There was a review i saw the other day and the model was a GTS variant or something like that and yet you still had to pay extra to get the 'GTS interior' on the GTS model!
Adam Ef
25-03-21, 07:24 AM
Don't worry I'm sure AdamEf will be the highest bidder by now
I wouldn't know what to do with a 1000. I might get a 750 again one day, but even that was over the top for my abilities really.
Although, there is still a 1ft wide slither of space left in the garage.... ;)
Dave20046
25-03-21, 08:59 AM
I wouldn't know what to do with a 1000. I might get a 750 again one day, but even that was over the top for my abilities really.
Although, there is still a 1ft wide slither of space left in the garage.... ;)
https://www.ebay.co.uk/i/265067658901
?
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Petrol-Bicycle-Motorised-Bike-Upgraded-80cc-Engine-Monkey-Pit-bike-40mph-/184391678858?var=0&mkevt=1&mkcid=1&mkrid=710-53481-19255-0&campid=5338268676&toolid=10044&customid=CjwKCAjw6fCCBhBNEiwAem5SO51HyqCgofpjDtrCL 1esHs4c1YyKcqtjN8t_Cuo2jHCI1pztj2bM1xoCcEUQAvD_BwE
??
excuse the vulgar mudflap
joking aside. do you need a licence, insurance, mot and tax for those petrol pushbike conversions?
punyXpress
25-03-21, 03:34 PM
For the 'stars & stripes' version he says " For off road use only... " this after listing several licence - losing misdeeds.
Dave20046
25-03-21, 05:57 PM
joking aside. do you need a licence, insurance, mot and tax for those petrol pushbike conversions?
Yep, almost certainly illegal. They are engine propelled (and not low pwr electric) so will be illegal, I recall kids used to stick petrol RC engines on scooters and these were illegal. Not sure you can even tax them due to safety checks or if you can it would be a bit of an undertaking getting vosa to sign it off I guess.
I have ridden one of the conversions because it looked hilarious, think it was an 80 or 100cc 2 stroke. It was terrifying - you just look like an insane postman putputting along with a cloud of smoke behind you on a conventional bike but not pedalling.
Dave20046
25-03-21, 06:01 PM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YamiV2DR_r8 :rendeer:
Sir Trev
25-03-21, 06:52 PM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YamiV2DR_r8 :rendeer:
Love it. Eccentricity at its best!
svenrico
25-03-21, 08:52 PM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YamiV2DR_r8 :rendeer:
Fred Dibnah would have loved it.:)
svenrico
28-03-21, 10:30 PM
'The new 'graduated driving licences' would see elderly drivers, suffering with health problems, restricted to an area of just 20 or 30 miles from their home and could see a night time ban enforced.'
Watch out over 70's !
Dave20046
29-03-21, 10:32 AM
'The new 'graduated driving licences' would see elderly drivers, suffering with health problems, restricted to an area of just 20 or 30 miles from their home and could see a night time ban enforced.'
Watch out over 70's !
I'm sorry (and I'll review in a few years!) but I bloody agree. I recently sat in the car with my mother and when asked why she was doing 33 in a 40 in the wrong lane she said 'because I'm turning right' and I had to point out she wasn't turning right for over half a mile and the limit was 40 and it was more than safe to be doing that (as two cars undertook her). Then she did 38 through the following 30!
I think the "I'm turning right" screw everyone else mentality comes with age, previously she would never have done that asa notably longtime nervy driver . My Dad's getting like that too. The ampount of accidents my grandparents had in their latter years was unbelievable, sad to remove those freedoms and I'm not sure a blanket rule is the way to go but certainly another layer of testing!
I've seen older people go the wrong way around a round about (pretty sure it was on a ride with people on here) , she had the audacity to shake her head and scowl at all the dirty bikers waving both arms at her. And also go the wrong way down a motorway. I know young people can be reckless but atleast they have some consciousness and ample cognitive resources to react or atleast inspect their own actions rather than presume they are in the right and scowl at everyone trying to warn them of the chaos.
Lumping a whole age group together is dangerous and discriminatory. I'm 64 this year so only a few years away from this. I recognise the driving styles mentioned above and it's not just limited to over 70's (and it annoys me too). I've always thought some sort of regular checkup on the driver would be a good idea, like an MOT. Just to check that drivers like me who passed their tests decades ago still have had their eyesight checked, have the same number of limbs (that work) and still remember the basics of the highway code.
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I'm sorry (and I'll review in a few years!) but I bloody agree. I recently sat in the car with my mother and when asked why she was doing 33 in a 40 in the wrong lane she said 'because I'm turning right' and I had to point out she wasn't turning right for over half a mile and the limit was 40 and it was more than safe to be doing that (as two cars undertook her). Then she did 38 through the following 30!
I think the "I'm turning right" screw everyone else mentality comes with age, previously she would never have done that asa notably longtime nervy driver . My Dad's getting like that too. The ampount of accidents my grandparents had in their latter years was unbelievable, sad to remove those freedoms and I'm not sure a blanket rule is the way to go but certainly another layer of testing!
I've seen older people go the wrong way around a round about (pretty sure it was on a ride with people on here) , she had the audacity to shake her head and scowl at all the dirty bikers waving both arms at her. And also go the wrong way down a motorway. I know young people can be reckless but atleast they have some consciousness and ample cognitive resources to react or atleast inspect their own actions rather than presume they are in the right and scowl at everyone trying to warn them of the chaos.
If a vehicle is in the right hand lane of a multi lane carriageway and they're turning right, it is legal to pass them on the left hand side.
Highway code 163
Overtake only when it is safe and legal to do so. You should
only overtake on the left if the vehicle in front is signalling to turn right, and there is room to do so
daktulos
29-03-21, 11:39 AM
'The new 'graduated driving licences' would see elderly drivers, suffering with health problems, restricted to an area of just 20 or 30 miles from their home and could see a night time ban enforced.'
Watch out over 70's !
If this happened, the IAM would be in trouble!
Doesn’t really matter does it? It’s not long before self-driving cars will be good enough that all human operators will be banished in the name of safety.
Enjoy the thrill of pensioners coming at you on the wrong side of the road while you still can.
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still say that it should be compulsory for people to take a driving test every 10 years (licence renewal time) till retirement age then every 2 years after that. the standard of driving compared to 20 years ago is fukin shocking and we need to get sub standard drivers off the roads for everyone's safety. that wont sell cars though will it :smt021 :smt021 :smt021
SV650rules
29-03-21, 07:41 PM
Look at the stats and the group comprising 16 to 29 year olds are the most likely to have a serious accident, and a lot of them are very serious indeed ( 5 killed in one car sort of thing ), with the 20 to 29 year olds the worst by far of every group. Drivers over 80 are more likely to kill or injure themselves than others. Maybe a few older drivers need a psychiatric assessment as they may have alzheimer's.
chris8886
29-03-21, 08:32 PM
We also should make the driving test FAR more difficult, driving is a privilege, NOT a right and people should only be driving/riding if they're of a good enough standard! People that are very nervous when they've just passed their test shouldn't be allowed to drive on their own and there should be a test/extra part to drive on the motorways. Apart from the amount of traffic, the number of vehicles not in the correct lanes causes so many extra traffic jams.
svenrico
29-03-21, 08:54 PM
I'm sorry (and I'll review in a few years!) but I bloody agree. I recently sat in the car with my mother and when asked why she was doing 33 in a 40 in the wrong lane she said 'because I'm turning right' and I had to point out she wasn't turning right for over half a mile and the limit was 40 and it was more than safe to be doing that (as two cars undertook her). Then she did 38 through the following 30!
I think the "I'm turning right" screw everyone else mentality comes with age, previously she would never have done that asa notably longtime nervy driver . My Dad's getting like that too. The ampount of accidents my grandparents had in their latter years was unbelievable, sad to remove those freedoms and I'm not sure a blanket rule is the way to go but certainly another layer of testing!
I've seen older people go the wrong way around a round about (pretty sure it was on a ride with people on here) , she had the audacity to shake her head and scowl at all the dirty bikers waving both arms at her. And also go the wrong way down a motorway. I know young people can be reckless but at least they have some consciousness and ample cognitive resources to react or atleast inspect their own actions rather than presume they are in the right and scowl at everyone trying to warn them of the chaos.
At least it does refer to old people 'suffering with health problems ', not everybody over 70 ! If you have a health problem that might affect your driving you have to declare it to the DVLA now anyway, whatever age you are. I had my license revoked because of sleep apnoea ,until I started with CPAP treatment and was passed fit to drive by a consultant after a few weeks.( but it took me 6 months to get my license back because of incompetence at DVLA. Even the DVLA doctor eventually said she couldn't understand what had happened and my license would be returned immediately. ) I wouldn't want to comment on your mother's state of health but your sweeping generalisation about 'screw everyone else mentality comes with age etc ' is simply not right. People's mental health can deteriorate at any age . I know two people younger than me who have sadly recently developed Alzheimers.
svenrico
29-03-21, 09:08 PM
still say that it should be compulsory for people to take a driving test every 10 years (licence renewal time) till retirement age then every 2 years after that. the standard of driving compared to 20 years ago is fukin shocking and we need to get sub standard drivers off the roads for everyone's safety. that wont sell cars though will it :smt021 :smt021 :smt021
How is your standard of driving ?
svenrico
29-03-21, 09:14 PM
We also should make the driving test FAR more difficult, driving is a privilege, NOT a right and people should only be driving/riding if they're of a good enough standard! People that are very nervous when they've just passed their test shouldn't be allowed to drive on their own and there should be a test/extra part to drive on the motorways. Apart from the amount of traffic, the number of vehicles not in the correct lanes causes so many extra traffic jams.
Driving IS a right if you pass the driving test and tax and insure your vehicle. What if you had failed the driving test if they had made it FAR more difficult, would you still feel the same way ?
svenrico
29-03-21, 09:19 PM
Look at the stats and the group comprising 16 to 29 year olds are the most likely to have a serious accident, and a lot of them are very serious indeed ( 5 killed in one car sort of thing ), with the 20 to 29 year olds the worst by far of every group. Drivers over 80 are more likely to kill or injure themselves than others. Maybe a few older drivers need a psychiatric assessment as they may have alzheimer's.
If they have Alzheimers they will already have been medically assessed and as I have said in another reply any medical condition that may affect your driving has to be declared to the DVLA, otherwise your insurance is invalid.
Dave20046
29-03-21, 09:41 PM
If this happened, the IAM would be in trouble!
Doesn’t really matter does it? It’s not long before self-driving cars will be good enough that all human operators will be banished in the name of safety.
Enjoy the thrill of pensioners coming at you on the wrong side of the road while you still can.
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Both those made me laugh! The org is on form today, or is it the topic?!
If a vehicle is in the right hand lane of a multi lane carriageway and they're turning right, it is legal to pass them on the left hand side.
Highway code 163
Overtake only when it is safe and legal to do so. You should
only overtake on the left if the vehicle in front is signalling to turn right, and there is room to do so
__________________
Not entirely sure why you posted that (could be a few things I guress) though I do love a highway code interpretation session and a question just sparked - I'd always hoped to be able to argue, if challenged, "only overtake on the left if the vehicle in front is signalling to turn right, and there is room to do so" that a vehicle could be signalling to me their intention to turn right with behaviour other than using indicators . i.e road positioning right most, shoulder check. What do the org think?
The multilane bit "and they're turning right" is similar to my question above (and actually validitates my thought above a bit) . It obviously doesn't mean the steering wheel has been turned and they're moving away from parallel with you... it's about intention. Re. my example's intention - at that time there was feck all - she was literally half a mile to a mile from the next right turn - there aren't even houses on the right of the stretch, only a body of water. What I was getting at, and she didn't admit to was she'd subconsciously/habitually/lazily avoided the inactive buslane on the left. I was a bit surprised by the 'it's convenient for me screw everyone else' sort of response I got back - I took it more of defensiveness from the lack of awareness engaged up until that point (which is what worried me).
I do agree young people are higher risk and generally disagree strongly with discriminating but in terms of survival it is sometimes useful to observe common factors - re. age I did state subject to testing in my flippant comment above. .
Edit: but now I'm questioning that last sentence, and myself - as I've definitely challenged anyone bleating similar about race or gender.
chris8886
29-03-21, 09:41 PM
Driving IS a right if you pass the driving test and tax and insure your vehicle. What if you had failed the driving test if they had made it FAR more difficult, would you still feel the same way ?
I'm afraid I don't believe it is, it'd be damned awkward without the ability to drive (I definitely know this), but you can manage. Also that is why I think everyone should have to go through some form of retraining/test every set number of years. That way you ensure that the people on the roads are competent and able to use the road safely and appropriately. I understand that this is probably a controversial point of view, but until I can be persuaded otherwise, I believe it to be a good way forward.
punyXpress
29-03-21, 09:47 PM
Will they, though, or will they be 'soldiering on' in blissful ignorance?
Dave20046
29-03-21, 09:51 PM
Lumping a whole age group together is dangerous and discriminatory. I'm 64 this year so only a few years away from this. I recognise the driving styles mentioned above and it's not just limited to over 70's (and it annoys me too). I've always thought some sort of regular checkup on the driver would be a good idea, like an MOT. Just to check that drivers like me who passed their tests decades ago still have had their eyesight checked, have the same number of limbs (that work) and still remember the basics of the highway code.
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Apols if an offensive vent John, it was a bit of a kneejerk from a bit of fresh worry about my parents. It was supposed to be a little tongue in cheek with the whole 'I'll change my stance when I'm that age' thing. Didn't expect anyone to take any notice.
-
Ouch the sleep apnoea thing is a bit brutal, I've never heard of it affecting driving - did it, or was it a docs precaution?
Driving IS a right if you pass the driving test and tax and insure your vehicle. What if you had failed the driving test if they had made it FAR more difficult, would you still feel the same way ?
If everyone was made to do the same thing I think I'd feel okay about that. If it was impossible they'd know and change it (and if not we'd all have fun overthrowing the dictatorship). I know tests now are harder than what I sat and I sat tests much much much harder than my instructor did - he'd always tell me how his motorbike test was just an emergency stop and a free icecream. I never felt agrieved (other than missing out on icecream), I think it's a good bit of progress.
svenrico
29-03-21, 10:08 PM
I'm afraid I don't believe it is, it'd be damned awkward without the ability to drive (I definitely know this), but you can manage. Also that is why I think everyone should have to go through some form of retraining/test every set number of years. That way you ensure that the people on the roads are competent and able to use the road safely and appropriately. I understand that this is probably a controversial point of view, but until I can be persuaded otherwise, I believe it to be a good way forward.
Yes , it is a controversial subject and we are all entitled to our point of view ,but I don't quite understand your point about ' awkward without the ability to
drive ' .
As things stand it is a fact that it IS a right and you are legally entitled to drive if you have passed the driving test and your vehicle is taxed and insured.
I have nothing against people taking some form of training to improve their skills but I am wary of this idea of ' compulsory' this or that and more government interference.
svenrico
29-03-21, 10:33 PM
Ouch the sleep apnoea thing is a bit brutal, I've never heard of it affecting driving - did it, or was it a docs precaution?
Dave, I think it depends on the degree of the condition. Mine was diagnosed after testing and monitoring by the sleep clinic as 'severe obstructive'. I didn't realise I had it until the doctor asked a standard list of questions and referred me to hospital. But, I knew something wasn't right because I kept waking up during the night and kept falling asleep during the day. So, yes it could affect driving if left untreated if you are sleepy during the day. Once diagnosed you have to inform the DVLA for them to liaise with the hospital. My problem was I couldn't stand the treatment to start with and therefore had to surrender my driving license. Using CPAP every night, as I have for the last 5 years, I am fine and there is no problem with DVLA. It is as well for anybody to seek medical attention if they think they might have this condition, stopping breathing while you are asleep is not good and even worse if you should choke and stop breathing altogether !!!
Sorry if I am waffling a bit ,but if anybody recognises the symptoms ----
Dave20046
29-03-21, 10:37 PM
Dave, I think it depends on the degree of the condition. Mine was diagnosed after testing and monitoring by the sleep clinic as 'severe obstructive'. I didn't realise I had it until the doctor asked a standard list of questions and referred me to hospital. But, I knew something wasn't right because I kept waking up during the night and kept falling asleep during the day. So, yes it could affect driving if left untreated if you are sleepy during the day. Once diagnosed you have to inform the DVLA for them to liaise with the hospital. My problem was I couldn't stand the treatment to start with and therefore had to surrender my driving license. Using CPAP every night, as I have for the last 5 years, I am fine and there is no problem with DVLA. It is as well for anybody to seek medical attention if they think they might have this condition, stopping breathing while you are asleep is not good and even worse if you should choke and stop breathing altogether !!!
Sorry if I am waffling a bit ,but if anybody recognises the symptoms ----
No that was both useful and worrying, I've wondered if I had it on a number of occasions - I know I snore and I wake up a lot in the night and wake up feeling like crap but hard to differentiate between 'the usual' and sleep apnoea
SV650rules
30-03-21, 07:55 AM
Sleep aponea is already a question on the licence renewal at 70, but much younger people can suffer from it. The Aussies have the right idea about young drivers, fed up of 17 year olds getting into their parents 5 litre V8 and wrapping themselves and their mates around 'power poles' ( like a telegraph pole but on steroids, a lot of lectrickery in Aussie roads is run on wooden poles and goes into upper part of houses, just like phone wires used to do in UK ) - the Aussies made green 'P' ( probationer ) plates on car compulsory for first 12 months after passing test, If they are stopped by police for any 'moving traffic violation' in that time they lose their licence and have to retake, the blood alcohol limit is also 50% of normal limit, which IIRC was 0.05 - reduced to 0.025. It is also an offence to show 'L' plates on a vehicle not being driven by a learner, I recall the youngsters using magnetic L plates that were easy to apply and take off. Authorities are normally very reluctant to take older peoples licences away, as it reduces their mobility and makes getting older even harder to bear. If you notice though, all ages of driver are being squeezed by new regs, the truth is the driver is an endangered species and the powers that be want to get them off the roads and replace them with little 4 wheel drone vehicles controlled from a satellite, charged by the mile and tracked everywhere they go.
Luckypants
30-03-21, 07:55 AM
As things stand it is a fact that it IS a right and you are legally entitled to drive if you have passed the driving test and your vehicle is taxed and insured. There is a difference between a right and an earned entitlement. Driving is NOT a right, when I was born I did not have the right to drive. I earned the entitlement to drive when I passed my test. This may seem like a semantic argument, but I think goes to the heart of the poor driving standards currently plaguing the UK. Everyone thinks they have a 'right' to drive - they do not. The privilege of driving un-supervised is earned through passing a test at the appropriate age. This privilege can be revoked through being un-fit due to health or by being found to not meet the required standards. A right cannot be legally withdrawn.
A lot of people seem to think they can drive like ****s because they have a 'right' to drive, when in fact they should be working to maintain their standards as the license (an earned privilege) to drive can be removed. If we were in the lucky position of having enough police officers to effectively police driving standards laws a lot more people would be losing their licences no matter their age.
Apols if an offensive vent John, it was a bit of a kneejerk from a bit of fresh worry about my parents. It was supposed to be a little tongue in cheek with the whole 'I'll change my stance when I'm that age' thing. Didn't expect anyone to take any notice.
It wasn't offensive Dave so don't worry on that score. I just wanted to put across another perspective. Having read up more on this story, it would appear that the graduated licence would only apply to those with certain medical conditions. At the moment it's pretty binary and certain conditions would just take your licence away, this idea is to partially remove it, that is restrict when and where you can drive.
When you live in a area rural like mine a car is a life line as public transport is very poor. So taking taking a licence away can have a huge impact on person of any age.
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SV650rules
30-03-21, 08:12 AM
I have noticed that the more expensive the car the worse the driving often is, as if they have more 'right' than people in smaller cars. Round our way certain ethnic groups have males who have either not taken a test, have lost their licence or are no longer fit to drive and you see women who can hardly see over the steering wheel piloting big Mercs and Beemers around in very erratic fashion, with a bloke sitting in the back, to be avoided at all costs, to describe their driving as merely 'unpredictable' is being kind.
Both those made me laugh! The org is on form today, or is it the topic?!
Not entirely sure why you posted that (could be a few things I guress) though I do love a highway code interpretation session and a question just sparked - I'd always hoped to be able to argue, if challenged, "only overtake on the left if the vehicle in front is signalling to turn right, and there is room to do so" that a vehicle could be signalling to me their intention to turn right with behaviour other than using indicators . i.e road positioning right most, shoulder check. What do the org think?
The multilane bit "and they're turning right" is similar to my question above (and actually validitates my thought above a bit) . It obviously doesn't mean the steering wheel has been turned and they're moving away from parallel with you... it's about intention. Re. my example's intention - at that time there was feck all - she was literally half a mile to a mile from the next right turn - there aren't even houses on the right of the stretch, only a body of water. What I was getting at, and she didn't admit to was she'd subconsciously/habitually/lazily avoided the inactive buslane on the left. I was a bit surprised by the 'it's convenient for me screw everyone else' sort of response I got back - I took it more of defensiveness from the lack of awareness engaged up until that point (which is what worried me).
I do agree young people are higher risk and generally disagree strongly with discriminating but in terms of survival it is sometimes useful to observe common factors - re. age I did state subject to testing in my flippant comment above. .
Edit: but now I'm questioning that last sentence, and myself - as I've definitely challenged anyone bleating similar about race or gender.
It was only to point out that anyone passing on the left was doing so legally, and in any other situation too.
Near where i live there are a lot of people who do the same (all ages and vehicles) who sit in the right hand lane for a mile or more to turn right, even though there is no traffic. I pass safely on the left at the speed limit, rather than creating a rolling roadblock sitting behind them.
Unfortunately the majority of people don't consider the impact of their driving actions on others. EG people lane hogging, blocking junctions, deliberately being in the wrong lane at a junction.
Dave20046
30-03-21, 09:24 AM
It was only to point out that anyone passing on the left was doing so legally, and in any other situation too.
Near where i live there are a lot of people who do the same (all ages and vehicles) who sit in the right hand lane for a mile or more to turn right, even though there is no traffic. I pass safely on the left at the speed limit, rather than creating a rolling roadblock sitting behind them.
Unfortunately the majority of people don't consider the impact of their driving actions on others. EG people lane hogging, blocking junctions, deliberately being in the wrong lane at a junction.
Yeah, I didn't blame the passing drivers I just don't think they should have had to. Especially on that stretch, having done it many times you've got a hard bank on the left and one t-junction that, to get a field of view out of, cars creep into the carriageway leaving little in the way of an escape route which I like to have available to me in general, especially when passing a vehicle because you don't know what they're going to do. On this particular stretch people tend to jump back left as they suddenly realise they're in the wrong lane (and aren't turning right) and just avoided the left lane because it had white writing on it that they couldn't be bothered to read.
Back to the highway code terminology - would they have been legal in passing if my example wasn't turning right after all?
For me, i would say yes. As the distance travelled in the right hand land (as you said) would be significant enough to make me believe/assume the car must be turning right at the junction. As there is no other reason to sit there for that length of time. Your manoeuvre (if undertaking) would only prove to be unfounded/'illegal' once the other vehicle had passed the turning point and continued straight on. By which point you would already be past the point of danger of the other vehicle moving into lane 1.
TBH its the same decision making i use locally along a 50mph dual carriageway, with 3 turn right lanes over a 1 mile stretch. I know if the person goes straight to the outside lane they're turning right somewhere, and i continue on my way in lane 1.
SV650rules
30-03-21, 11:27 AM
I think the clue is 'has signaled their intention' either by old fashioned sticking you arm out or by the new fangled indicators illuminated by electricity.... If there is going to be any danger to me I ignore indicators and wait until the vehicle has actually started their manoeuvre - been caught a few time by people leaving indicators on. Reason I have fitted these blue indicator repeaters to my last few bikes, bright blue 5mm LED visible in peripheral vision even in bright sun, as an extra to those dim green lamps fitted by OEM. Picture attached, the two LED are lit because 'hazards are on' normally only left or right one flashes.
Just watched the MotoGP highlights on ITV4. Absolutely awful. Boring commentary, silent bikes, a commentator who screams on the last lap and no replays.
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svenrico
30-03-21, 08:09 PM
There is a difference between a right and an earned entitlement. Driving is NOT a right, when I was born I did not have the right to drive. I earned the entitlement to drive when I passed my test. This may seem like a semantic argument, but I think goes to the heart of the poor driving standards currently plaguing the UK. Everyone thinks they have a 'right' to drive - they do not. The privilege of driving un-supervised is earned through passing a test at the appropriate age. This privilege can be revoked through being un-fit due to health or by being found to not meet the required standards. A right cannot be legally withdrawn.
A lot of people seem to think they can drive like ****s because they have a 'right' to drive, when in fact they should be working to maintain their standards as the license (an earned privilege) to drive can be removed. If we were in the lucky position of having enough police officers to effectively police driving standards laws a lot more people would be losing their licences no matter their age.
It does seem to me like you are engaging in semantics - 'right' or 'entitlement', for example . What do you mean by-
' A right cannot be legally withdrawn.' ? -of course it can, for drink driving for example or medical reasons as we have said. Nobody is suggesting people can drive like idiots because they have a right to drive and nobody is saying anybody is born with the right to drive.
I am afraid we will have to agree to differ on this one because you have lost me .
svenrico
30-03-21, 08:13 PM
Round our way certain ethnic groups have males who have either not taken a test, have lost their licence or are no longer fit to drive Wow, be careful, on dodgy ground there !
svenrico
30-03-21, 08:17 PM
Just watched the MotoGP highlights on ITV4. Absolutely awful. Boring commentary, silent bikes, a commentator who screams on the last lap and no replays.
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I find British Superbikes better to watch than MotoGP.
svenrico
30-03-21, 08:18 PM
The bloody seat !
svenrico
30-03-21, 08:23 PM
No that was both useful and worrying, I've wondered if I had it on a number of occasions - I know I snore and I wake up a lot in the night and wake up feeling like crap but hard to differentiate between 'the usual' and sleep apnoea
None of my business of course but I would see a doctor , you have the classic symptoms of sleep apnoea. If it is you will feel much better after receiving treatment.
Dave20046
30-03-21, 09:38 PM
For me, i would say yes. As the distance travelled in the right hand land (as you said) would be significant enough to make me believe/assume the car must be turning right at the junction. As there is no other reason to sit there for that length of time. Your manoeuvre (if undertaking) would only prove to be unfounded/'illegal' once the other vehicle had passed the turning point and continued straight on. By which point you would already be past the point of danger of the other vehicle moving into lane 1.
TBH its the same decision making i use locally along a 50mph dual carriageway, with 3 turn right lanes over a 1 mile stretch. I know if the person goes straight to the outside lane they're turning right somewhere, and i continue on my way in lane 1.
Yep, and I do the same and I'm just waiting for the day a copper challenges me on it- glad I'm not the only one. It does make sense as the alternative interpretation is traffic can just be impeded by somebody not following another part of the highway code (the rather explicit , keep left one!). Despite it being legal when done I still don't like passing on the left, I believe it to be pretty vulnerable.
None of my business of course but I would see a doctor , you have the classic symptoms of sleep apnoea. If it is you will feel much better after receiving treatment.
Think I will, I don't get sleepy during the day but yes a few signs I probably shouldn't ignore.
svenrico
30-03-21, 09:56 PM
Think I will, I don't get sleepy during the day but yes a few signs I probably shouldn't ignore. Hope you get it sorted out. If you are referred to the sleep clinic at your local hospital ,they are very good (or at least they were before hospital appointments were cancelled !)
I find British Superbikes better to watch than MotoGP.I watch that too. Quest had MotoGP last year and used the BT commentary team which I enjoyed. For some reason ITV4 are only using the video and audio from the trackside was missing completely, I could have been watching electric bikes. Why pay good money for the rights and then treat it so badly
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The last two days were lovely and warm but bike wasn't legal. Today the bike is legal and the weather is cold and grey (but I'm still going out).
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Grant66
01-04-21, 11:53 AM
Just watched the MotoGP highlights on ITV4. Absolutely awful. Boring commentary, silent bikes, a commentator who screams on the last lap and no replays.
Sent from my SM-T510 using TapatalkWatched it last night. The production team needs to be replaced ASAP.
My favourite part is cutting during overtakes to see the reaction of the team manager. Even missed the end of one of the races because, apparently, the pit crew cheering is what we wanted to see.
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SV650rules
01-04-21, 06:15 PM
I find British Superbikes better to watch than MotoGP.
Yeah, BSB and WSB are the best - MotoGP is in danger of going the way of F1 and getting way too commercial and losing its way.
svenrico
01-04-21, 07:51 PM
Watched it last night. The production team needs to be replaced ASAP.
My favourite part is cutting during overtakes to see the reaction of the team manager. Even missed the end of one of the races because, apparently, the pit crew cheering is what we wanted to see.
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When is it on ITV4? I can't find it in the Radio Times.
Grant66
01-04-21, 07:58 PM
When is it on ITV4? I can't find it in the Radio Times.Monday 20:00
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svenrico
01-04-21, 08:06 PM
Monday 20:00
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Must just be on in certain regions. Not on in North West /Yorks /N East.
Grant66
01-04-21, 08:23 PM
I'm in the North West. My TV guide says it's on Monday.
https://www.freeview.co.uk/tv-guide
Freeview agrees [emoji3]
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SV650rules
02-04-21, 03:14 PM
Shame BSB 2021 round 1 isn't until June at Oulton park.....
https://www.britishsuperbike.com/
svenrico
02-04-21, 08:00 PM
I'm in the North West. My TV guide says it's on Monday.
https://www.freeview.co.uk/tv-guide
Freeview agrees [emoji3]
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Thanks, yes, I can see it is on ITV4 at 8pm on Easter Monday, but it wasn't shown as being on this last Monday 29th March on ITV4 (in my Radio Times anyway ):confused:
Adam Ef
06-04-21, 06:48 AM
'The new 'graduated driving licences' would see elderly drivers, suffering with health problems, restricted to an area of just 20 or 30 miles from their home and could see a night time ban enforced.'
Watch out over 70's !
Everyone is different
O7-dJ1el5KE
garynortheast
06-04-21, 08:22 AM
I'd struggle with that and I'm 20 years younger!
svenrico
06-04-21, 08:35 PM
I'd struggle with that and I'm 20 years younger!
Exactly, as others say ' everyone is different'.
Dave20046
06-04-21, 09:30 PM
THE DVLA
Not checked in on them in a while but did today and it's nice to see they're still a pack of inept fecal pipes.
Sent off my V5 to change address some months ago, told the delay is because they're dealing with some sort of virus round the office. Tax reminder obviously went to the old address, found out it's untaxed today. Can't tax it without a V5. Ring the DVLA they tell you to use their online chat, use the online chat they say they can't help over chat and you must ring them 'eventually you'll get through'. I did not get through(apparently, the staff are so sick to death of all this relaxing furlough they've planned a week of slightly less relaxing striking). Two Post Offices later,all the while ringing the DVLA I get taxes for an extra £25 fee*
*unless they just took my money to have me on as both the DVLA webchat and the first post office said this was impossible.
Adam Ef
06-04-21, 10:35 PM
I had this with the GSXR750 I bought a while back. I got the V5 through eventually... two weeks after I sold it.
After waiting two months to tax and use it I actually managed to get through to the DVLA on the phone and they told me I could tax it using the VIN. There had been no need for me to wait for the V5 like I'd been told by the DVLA originally.
THE DVLA
Not checked in on them in a while but did today and it's nice to see they're still a pack of inept fecal pipes.
Sent off my V5 to change address some months ago, told the delay is because they're dealing with some sort of virus round the office. Tax reminder obviously went to the old address, found out it's untaxed today. Can't tax it without a V5. Ring the DVLA they tell you to use their online chat, use the online chat they say they can't help over chat and you must ring them 'eventually you'll get through'. I did not get through(apparently, the staff are so sick to death of all this relaxing furlough they've planned a week of slightly less relaxing striking). Two Post Offices later,all the while ringing the DVLA I get taxes for an extra £25 fee*
*unless they just took my money to have me on as both the DVLA webchat and the first post office said this was impossible.
You can set up to have your VED paid by direct debit. It costs no more than normal, and they email you 1 month in advance to confirm the payment date & amount. You can do full 12 months/2 x 6 months/12 x monthly.
I do DD for both my car and bike. It means i never worry about it not being valid, as it's on a continuous payment schedule.
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