Millions of motorists face £100 FINES when new laws come into effect on FRIDAY !!

[T.C.]

I personally am glad the these new laws have come in to effect.

 

What new laws? I repeat my earlier thread, it is not the legislation that has changed (the offences have always been there) it is simply the way it will be enforced!

[renegadeimp]

They really need to come down harder across the entire board. Not just motorways

[banjo67xxx]

In respect of retesting, it was seriously considered a few years ago, and I remember it clearly because I was one of a number of advanced examiners who were approached and asked if we would be interested in becoming re-test examiners as the logistics would place too much strain on the existing system as the DSA examiners would not be able to cope with the extra work load.

 

Then someone in Government pointed out that making drivers sit a re-test every 5 or 10 years would be a guaranteed vote loser, and so it was quickly and quietly dropped.

Damn democracy!!!

 

They really need to come down harder across the entire board. Not just motorways

Unfortunately, democratic government cant make such hard choices.

 

I do like my freedom of speech, but I can see that totalitarianism does have some practical advantages (I'm not saying I agree with it - don't come round my house with burning pitch forks, I respect human rights too)

[Surfer01]

In view of the 100 car pile up in Kent this morning, if I come across a thick bank of fog I must admit I would think that using the middle lane will be the safer option. I have seen what two HGVs can do to a car that is crushed between them.

The car was travelling slowly in the slow lane when a HGV caught up with it and rear ended it and pushed it into the HGV in front who was also travelling slowly due to fog!

[renegadeimp]

In view of the 100 car pile up in Kent this morning, if I come across a thick bank of fog I must admit I would think that using the middle lane will be the safer option. I have seen what two HGVs can do to a car that is crushed between them.

The car was travelling slowly in the slow lane when a HGV caught up with it and rear ended it and pushed it into the HGV in front who was also travelling slowly due to fog!

 

That accident was majority caused by people driving through the fog ( get ready for this) with NO LIGHTS. Seriously. Those types of drivers should be banned for life.

[T.C.]

In view of the 100 car pile up in Kent this morning, if I come across a thick bank of fog I must admit I would think that using the middle lane will be the safer option. I have seen what two HGVs can do to a car that is crushed between them.

The car was travelling slowly in the slow lane when a HGV caught up with it and rear ended it and pushed it into the HGV in front who was also travelling slowly due to fog!

 

So you are a driver that still refers to slow lane, middle lane and fast lane? There is no such thing. We have a left hand driving lane and 2 overtaking lanes, and that is all they are "Overtaking lanes"!

 

Lane 1 (The left hand driving lane) is 99% of the time the safer option as you have the hard shoulder as your escape route, but by using the middle lane leaves you with very few options.

 

Anyone remember the big pile up on the M4 in 1991 when 25 burnt to death? I was first on scene and watched all of them burn alive (not a pretty sight) because our fire extinguishers were no match for the blaze. The majority of those who died were in the middle lane simply because they treated it as a cruising lane.

 

Had they used lane 1 which was empty, many of them would still be alive today.

 

So sorry, I have to refute your argument.

 

I conducted an advanced test the other day. Driver got most upset when I failed him because we travelled for over 4 miles in the middle lane when the inside lane was empty. True he was given bad instruction as well, but as an experienced driver he was actually quite embarrassed, but given the views expressed by many on this particular subject, it goes to prove that there is a serious lack of understanding and knowledge in respect of Motorway driving.

 

Spend 24 hours working the Motorway and opinions would soon change, but some drivers really do need some serious re-education!

[Surfer01]

TC just to enlighten you, I passed my advanced driving licence many years ago when I served in the police force as I drove pursuit cars. That test is far more stringent that any advanced driving test available to the general public.

If one refers to the inside, middle and outside lane many people are confused, but using the terms "slow, middle and fast lane" every one understands however if you wish to be pedantic that is your option.

BTW if the driver you failed was taught by an advanced driving instructor, that instructor should have their advanced driving licence revoked!

[T.C.]

TC just to enlighten you, I passed my advanced driving licence many years ago when I served in the police force as I drove pursuit cars. That test is far more stringent that any advanced driving test available to the general public.

If one refers to the inside, middle and outside lane many people are confused, but using the terms "slow, middle and fast lane" every one understands however if you wish to be pedantic that is your option.

BTW if the driver you failed was taught by an advanced driving instructor, that instructor should have their advanced driving licence revoked!

 

I am fully aware of the requirements of the Police advanced standard, I qualified as an instructor during my service, and I have been an advanced examiner for over 30 years.

 

But now that you have taught me to suck eggs and revealed your background, it is shameful that in one sentence you undo a lot of work done by many others in trying to educate the motoring public in Motorway driving by returning to phrases and descriptions that have never existed. You of all people should know better, and yes call it pedantic if you wish, but when it comes to driver education, there is no half measures, and you of all people should know better.

 

And in respect of the tutor who taught the test candidate, yes, he was reported to his group, and again given your background you of all people should know that there is no such thing as an advanced licence!!!!

[Surfer01]

I think you are now being very childish and showing your immaturity!

[T.C.]

I think you are now being very childish and showing your immaturity!

 

Fine, think as you wish, but for someone who is supposed to be as qualified and as experienced as you claim, then you should take a good look at yourself, because it is people like you that do more damage than those less fortunate to have gone through the training that you claim you have done, and should know better.

 

Pot calling the kettle black springs to mind, but in any case I am not going to enter into a slagging match on a public forum with someone like you, as it is clearly you that is being childish with your lame comments and observations. Just a shame I cannot block people like you.

[Grotesque]

I think you are now being very childish and showing your immaturity!

 

Ha! Copper!

[banjo67xxx]

if I come across a thick bank of fog I must admit I would think that using the middle lane will be the safer option. I have seen what two HGVs can do to a car that is crushed between them.

As a police trained driver you should know better, as T.C. says.

 

I would feel safer in the left lane, as in fog I prefer to drive at a speed where I can stop within the distance I can see ahead (although that's difficult to judge so I probably go faster than that), and there's too many superheros in the middle and right lanes who have X-ray vision. Also, I'm closer to the hard shoulder if the need arises. Although even then, if I needed to stop to avoid an accident I'd prefer the grass on the other side of the hard shoulder, better still, in thick fog where people have already crashed I'd be trying to get my 4x4 up an embankment behind a tree.

 

I'm not a nervous person, and I have had many speeding tickets in my time, its only fog on a motorway makes me paranoid.

[Grotesque]

[banjo67xxx]

Grotesque - ROTFLMAO

[Grotesque]

Banjo, they call it 'a tale of nocturnal terror'... AKA morning rush-hour on the isle of Sheppey!!!

[renegadeimp]

Just a shame I cannot block people like you.

 

User CP > Edit Ignore list.

[T.C.]

User CP > Edit Ignore list.

 

Thank you for that it is appreciated. Now done.

[mbanani]

 

If I am driving in the middle lane at say 70 mph, than what right people behind me have legally to go faster, so if I am breaking the highway rule by hogging the lane than anybody who wants to go faster is also breaking the law, which says you are not allowed to go over 70 mph on the motorway.

[banjo67xxx]

If I am driving in the middle lane at say 70 mph, than what right people behind me have legally to go faster, so if I am breaking the highway rule by hogging the lane than anybody who wants to go faster is also breaking the law, which says you are not allowed to go over 70 mph on the motorway.

 

That's the sort of attitude that deserves a FPN for driving without due care and consideration. Although technically you are correct, ACPO guidelines suggest allowing 10%+2mph for people breaking the speed limit.

 

It would be interesting to see if ACPO produce some guidelines on length of time in the middle lane, distance from a vehicle in the left lane, and whether or not there is a requirement for another vehicle to need to use the right lane to circumnavigate the inconsiderate so and so's.

[mbanani]

But then if you are going above 70 mph then you are also driving without due care and attention and be served with penalty notice.

Why is it that it is OK for someone when they are speeding and putting other people in danger, and being reckless, but a person who is just driving at the max speed allowed, must be dealt with punity.

Double standard I think.

[banjo67xxx]

But then if you are going above 70 mph then you are also driving without due care and attention and be served with penalty notice.

Why is it that it is OK for someone when they are speeding and putting other people in danger, and being reckless, but a person who is just driving at the max speed allowed, must be dealt with punity.

Double standard I think.

Speeding and driving without due care are seperate offences. You can commit one crime without the other or both at the same time.

 

Your attitude implies that you dont believe you are breaking the law, and that obstructing the highway is perfectly safe, which it most certainly is not. By infuriating your fellow criminals (by which I mean the speeders) you are more likely to cause them to make mistakes and that endagers people's lives a lot more than they do by just going a few mph too fast.

 

To demonstrate the difference in attitude: the last time I was handed a FPN for speeding, when asked "Do you have anything to say ..." I genuinely replied "It's a fair cop guv". (It made the officer laugh.)

 

Remember "Speed does not kill" - 95.7% of accidents are NOT attributable to excess speed.

[sailor sam]

 

If I am driving in the middle lane at say 70 mph, than what right people behind me have legally to go faster, so if I am breaking the highway rule by hogging the lane than anybody who wants to go faster is also breaking the law, which says you are not allowed to go over 70 mph on the motorway.

 

So what are you trying to prove by driving in the middle lane at 70? Are you trying to 'police' the speed limit? If so, why not go the whole hog by sitting in the third (or outside) lane and stick to 70?

[banjo67xxx]

So what are you trying to prove by driving in the middle lane at 70? Are you trying to 'police' the speed limit? If so, why not go the whole hog by sitting in the third (or outside) lane and stick to 70?

Don't tempt him! He's the sort of person that would!

 

If he wants to police the speed limit, then encourage him to join the police force. He'd soon learn that there are many more serious offences than speeding.

[Kiki1]

 

If I am driving in the middle lane at say 70 mph, than what right people behind me have legally to go faster, so if I am breaking the highway rule by hogging the lane than anybody who wants to go faster is also breaking the law, which says you are not allowed to go over 70 mph on the motorway.

 

What if you catch up with another idiot doing 69 ? . Do you flash your lights and tailgate him, undertake or crawl past him in the correct lane?