View Full Version : Rant - Car windscreen washers.
So - picture the scene - gloriously sunny day here in Norn Iron so I get me glad rags on, get the helmet down, give it a loverly polish and get me visor gleeming and head out. Out for 2 minutes and i have to come back in and take the lining out of my jacket cause its so warm.
Get 2 miles from the house feeling wonderful. Bike feels good, I feel good.
Gets within 15feet of the car in front slowing down for a junction - AND THE FECKER DECIDES RIGHT THEN TO WASH HIS WINDSCREEN!!! ONLY PROBLEM IS ONE OF THE JETS OBVIOUSLY ISN'T SET RIGHT AND SQUIRTS RIGHT OVER THE TOP OF THE CAR BANG SQUARE ON IN THE MIDDLE OF MY VISOR!!!!!
Sorry for appearing to shout but why can't these tossers set them right so that us poor bikers don't get hit with that sort of thing. It may seem a silly insignificant thing but that really peed me off this morning.
Only thing that made up for it was chucking an empty fag packet I had in my pocket through his sun roof as i passed.
:roll:
Gazza77
26-04-07, 10:16 AM
Try driving a soft top as well (I have an MX5). I can guarantee people will see you behind with the roof down and do that on purpose, especially at traffic lights. :roll:
So - picture the scene - gloriously sunny day here in Norn Iron so I get me glad rags on, get the helmet down, give it a loverly polish and get me visor gleeming and head out. Out for 2 minutes and i have to come back in and take the lining out of my jacket cause its so warm.
Get 2 miles from the house feeling wonderful. Bike feels good, I feel good.
Gets within 15feet of the car in front slowing down for a junction - AND THE FECKER DECIDES RIGHT THEN TO WASH HIS WINDSCREEN!!! ONLY PROBLEM IS ONE OF THE JETS OBVIOUSLY ISN'T SET RIGHT AND SQUIRTS RIGHT OVER THE TOP OF THE CAR BANG SQUARE ON IN THE MIDDLE OF MY VISOR!!!!!
Sorry for appearing to shout but why can't these tossers set them right so that us poor bikers don't get hit with that sort of thing. It may seem a silly insignificant thing but that really peed me off this morning.
Only thing that made up for it was chucking an empty fag packet I had in my pocket through his sun roof as i passed.
:roll:
Perhaps it wasn't his car? Perhaps it was a hire car, or a loan car, or his mum's/dad's/wife's/son's.
Perhaps it's the first time he'd used his washers since he bought it. Perhaps it'd been to the dealership yesterday to have its washer system replaced and they hadn't adjusted it correctly.
He's probably, and quite rightly, p1ssed off at you for throwing your litter in the car, and has now tarred all bikers with the same brush.
It's not always as clear cut as one might perceive.
Try driving a soft top as well (I have an MX5). I can guarantee people will see you behind with the roof down and do that on purpose, especially at traffic lights. :roll:
Happened to me this morning in the MX5 that :)
Captain Nemo
26-04-07, 10:26 AM
would you rather he drove with a dirty windscreen and didnt see you????
Personally, I like it. Helps clean the bugs off the visor.
And hmmmmmm, that apple smell.
Well personally if I was in the car I would tend to look behind me before doing it and if there was a bike there I would tend to hang off till he passed me.
Maybe it's just me then.
I'll get me coat.
:(
Sir Trev
26-04-07, 11:24 AM
There is no optimal setting for washer jets. If you set them to hit the middle of the windscreen whilst stopped they will hardly reach the glass at all when doing 70. That's why most are set slightly high and some of it can easily sail over the top. Of course if it all flies over onto the vehicle behind it's set very wrong but I bet most people don't realise you can easily alter the angle yourself, leave it to the next service, then forget to mention it when they drop the thing off!!
ArtyLady
26-04-07, 12:20 PM
IMO they do it deliberately and if it isnt deliberate then there should be an ad campaign or if learning, they should be taught in their lessons to avoid doing when a bike is behind - its downright dangerous, they should wait until the bike has passed (it usually happens on dual carriageways and motorways when you are behind them and waiting to pass :rolleyes: )
*gets down off soapbox* ;)
Hey bignev, I'm with you. It's maddening when people do this. Thoughtless and arrogant.
Luckypants
26-04-07, 12:37 PM
Well personally if I was in the car I would tend to look behind me before doing it and if there was a bike there I would tend to hang off till he passed me.
'cos you ride a bike! Average car driver has no concept of open motoring (see MX-5 comments) and does not think.
If that's the worst a car driver does to me, I'll be happy.
Try driving a soft top as well (I have an MX5). I can guarantee people will see you behind with the roof down and do that on purpose, especially at traffic lights. :roll:
thats what you get for driving one of the gayest cars ever made!! LOL (IMHO)
Gazza77
26-04-07, 12:45 PM
thats what you get for driving one of the greatest cars ever made!!
Cheers! ;) :cool:
They think it funny to soak the bikers. Its just another hazard to expect.
Cloggsy
26-04-07, 12:48 PM
Personally, I don't mind screen wash... Rather that than having a lit cigarette 'pinged' out of the window at you :toss: :smt013
Cheers! ;) :cool:
only having a laugh mate;)
Gazza77
26-04-07, 01:38 PM
only having a laugh mate;)
I know! ;)
At least I have some support. Phew thought I was all alone and had to go get my fluffy teddy out for comfort there.
I can see all points but it just really really peed me off this morning for some reason.
Nearly as much as the fella flingin his butt out his sunroof a couple of weeks back.
Nearly as much as the fella flingin his butt out his sunroof a couple of weeks back.
Sorry nev, but I feel the need to remind you that this is a U-rated site. ;)
:smt046
Now that would be an act i would like to see.
socommk23
26-04-07, 07:19 PM
So - picture the scene - gloriously sunny day here in Norn Iron so I get me glad rags on, get the helmet down, give it a loverly polish and get me visor gleeming and head out. Out for 2 minutes and i have to come back in and take the lining out of my jacket cause its so warm.
Get 2 miles from the house feeling wonderful. Bike feels good, I feel good.
Gets within 15feet of the car in front slowing down for a junction - AND THE FECKER DECIDES RIGHT THEN TO WASH HIS WINDSCREEN!!! ONLY PROBLEM IS ONE OF THE JETS OBVIOUSLY ISN'T SET RIGHT AND SQUIRTS RIGHT OVER THE TOP OF THE CAR BANG SQUARE ON IN THE MIDDLE OF MY VISOR!!!!!
Sorry for appearing to shout but why can't these tossers set them right so that us poor bikers don't get hit with that sort of thing. It may seem a silly insignificant thing but that really peed me off this morning.
Only thing that made up for it was chucking an empty fag packet I had in my pocket through his sun roof as i passed.
:roll:
shame there wasnt a lit one in there!
andyaikido
26-04-07, 07:48 PM
This gets on my nerves too!
Surely, it's best use the washers at a standstill? That way the screenwash actually finds its way onto the windscreen of the car that sprayed it.
arenalife
26-04-07, 08:41 PM
What a load of gays, do you pull over when it rains too?
Like arenalife I immediately thought about the rain. What the hell do people do when it rains heavily if they cant cope with being squirted by windscreen washers and think thats "downright dangerous"? :confused: ;) :p
Tbh, its only dangerous if you have your visor up and it actually goes in your eyes :smt119 :p :lol: yes learnt that lesson too :oops:
andyaikido
27-04-07, 01:28 AM
If it's raining then it wouldn't bother me but I don't want screenwash (which has anti-freeze in it, does it not?) on my paintwork, visor and gear.
It's also disrespectful to whoever's following, you wouldn't pour a drink out of the window of your car onto whoever was behind you wether it was raining or not.
the_lone_wolf
27-04-07, 07:01 AM
I don't want screenwash (which has anti-freeze in it, does it not?) on my paintwork
cars have paintwork too;)
If it's raining then it wouldn't bother me but I don't want screenwash (which has anti-freeze in it, does it not?) on my paintwork, visor and gear.
It's also disrespectful to whoever's following, you wouldn't pour a drink out of the window of your car onto whoever was behind you wether it was raining or not.
If it has antifreeze in, then the driver of the car is in trouble when it gets on his paintwork - Screenwash is little more than slightly diluted pure ethanol with a colouring. It'll evaporate off in no time at all - and it'll clean your visor very nicely.
21QUEST
27-04-07, 07:40 AM
We have to be careful when we say "Ooh it's harmless".
I've almost come off due to the harmless fluid getting into my eyes. It doesn't taste nice either :rolleyes: . The best bit, when one has tried to get their attention the morons haven't even got a clue why.....
How difficult is it to work out that the jet of fluid which should be hitting the screen is actually NOT....
Ben
ArtyLady
27-04-07, 09:59 AM
Like arenalife I immediately thought about the rain. What the hell do people do when it rains heavily if they cant cope with being squirted by windscreen washers and think thats "downright dangerous"? :confused: ;) :p
Tbh, its only dangerous if you have your visor up and it actually goes in your eyes :smt119 :p :lol: yes learnt that lesson too :oops:
My OH is a car mechanic and says on the bottle of this stuff, it generally says "do not inhale or get in eyes or on skin" (or words to that effect).
When you are in a car, its that bit further away from you physically, and you can shut your windows. If this stuff hits your visor the fumes could potentially be an irritant? could they not? to someone with respiratory probs, (me and my OH included).
Also if you were walking down the street and someone sprayed water (or any liquid) in your face surely this is an assault is it not?? :confused:
Jelster
27-04-07, 10:28 AM
Sorry for appearing to shout but why can't these tossers set them right so that us poor bikers don't get hit with that sort of thing. It may seem a silly insignificant thing but that really peed me off this morning.
Nev, I understand your frustration but I also have at least 1 jet that goes way over my roof, on purpose. It's the best way to deal with ********s who sit 6 inches off my bumper on a motorway. Makes them jump :p
Obviously I do check what's behind me before I hit the washers when I actually need to clean my screen.
(note to self - must top up washer bottle)
.
DoubleD
27-04-07, 10:39 AM
what annoys me more is fags being flicked out the window, I can handle the pine fresh smell :)
Perhaps it wasn't his car? Perhaps it was a hire car, or a loan car, or his mum's/dad's/wife's/son's.
Perhaps it's the first time he'd used his washers since he bought it. Perhaps it'd been to the dealership yesterday to have its washer system replaced and they hadn't adjusted it correctly.
He's probably, and quite rightly, p1ssed off at you for throwing your litter in the car, and has now tarred all bikers with the same brush.
It's not always as clear cut as one might perceive.
Errm, forgive me if I'm wrong, but doesn't the highway code say that you should check this sort of thing before you drive - so if he had borrowed the car etc, it was his responsibility to check that it was ok before driving?
Lou x
We have to be careful when we say "Ooh it's harmless".
I've almost come off due to the harmless fluid getting into my eyes
Which is kind of what I said is it not in the last sentence of my post? :p
When you are in a car, its that bit further away from you physically, and you can shut your windows. If this stuff hits your visor the fumes could potentially be an irritant? could they not? to someone with respiratory probs, (me and my OH included).
Fumes? how strong do you think this stuff is? :confused: even if people used pure cleaning fluid and hardly any water I doubt very much there would be a problem with fumes. I would say if its going to be an irritant would be a minor one and only if it hit your eyes tbh - thats the only time Ive had a problem with it. If you have respiratory problems again youre more likely to have more problems with a cars exhaust fumes and pollution in the air than from the spray.
And I rarely ride with my visor up enough to not cover my eyes. Too much crap already in the air and chucked up from the road to not keep my eyes at least covered anyway.
Errm, forgive me if I'm wrong, but doesn't the highway code say that you should check this sort of thing before you drive - so if he had borrowed the car etc, it was his responsibility to check that it was ok before driving?
Lou x
The highway code is not legislation in itself though - and it only indicates that the driver should ensure the vehicle is roadworthy and legal - and a badly adjusted washer jet does not in itself constitute either unroadworthiness or illegality.
The HC does give some details on what to check, but doesn't go into as much detail as 'check adjustment of washer jets before driving'.
ArtyLady
27-04-07, 01:55 PM
Fumes? how strong do you think this stuff is? :confused: even if people used pure cleaning fluid and hardly any water I doubt very much there would be a problem with fumes. I would say if its going to be an irritant would be a minor one and only if it hit your eyes tbh - thats the only time Ive had a problem with it. If you have respiratory problems again youre more likely to have more problems with a cars exhaust fumes and pollution in the air than from the spray.
Well I certainly find it very strong smelling even in the car with all the windows up!
Its only happened to me a couple of times and it took me by surprise and annoyed me but my OH (does many miles and been riding 30 years) has encountered this numerous times and he says that 9 times out of 10 he sees them look directly at him in their mirror and then they do it, so then it has to be deliberate. If it isnt deliberate then its careless and negligent IMO. :mad:
All that said, as I said before, would you deem it acceptable for someone to squirt you in the face with liquid if you were walking along the street? :confused:
OPened a can of worms here didn't I?
hehe.
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