December 2003
Hello
Coming back from Gloucester on the M4 yesterday , I began thinking about how the Government could begin to put to good use all the millions of pounds generated by speed cameras.
An education campaign on TV,Radio and in the press!!! Here's what they could cover:
1. Lane discipline - if the lane to your nearside is clear , then MOVE OVER! You don't need to sit in the outside or middle lane if lanes 2 and/or 1 are empty.
2.Lights - if its dark or raining , then use them.Check ALL of them each week (including your brake lights)to see that they actually work! Fog lights are only to be used when visibility is very poor i.e. in fog. Switch them off when its clear again.Also,that little blue light on your dash means your lights are on main beam - are you in traffic? Yes? Then dip them!!
3.Tax and Insurance - you do actually need these,to be legal and also to avoid an expensive personal lawsuit if you hit someone and are at fault.Have you actually done a driving test and passed?
4.Tyres- check they have tread on them and the pressures are correct.Check your oil/water/battery at least once a week.
5.Winter driving - don't drive unless you can see out of all your windows - clear your screen completely before you move off!
6.Driving in general - mention the two second rule and also show highlights of the piece on Fifth Gear about driving in the blind spots of lorries.
Any others I've missed?
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I was involved in a 4 vehicle RTA tonight.
The usual dual carriageway 'domino' effect accident where traffic comes to standstill and catches out one driver who knocks one car which collides with the one in front and so on...
Fortunately no one was seriously injured but the first two vehicles were badly damaged. One vehicle contained a baby just a few months old and the parents were understandably distraught because the rear window had shattered all over the baby and the father, who was bleeding from his head.
The vehicle which started the accident contained two guys who were obviously shocked and winded.I immediately dialled 999 and asked for a ambulance. To my amazement it took over a minute for the call to be transfered to the ambulance control staff.
The ambulance did arrive very quickly especially since this was in rush hour traffic.
The police arrived 40 minutes later. Apparently there were no available police units in Dorset (where the RTA happened) or Hampshire so the Wiltshire police dealt with the incident. The policemen I spoke to apologised for the time it took them to arrive.They had travelled across three counties to deal with this incident ! . Thinking about it now there response time was pretty amazing considering how far they had travelled.
This is not a dig at the emergency services because they were very good in dealing with the incident but its left me concerned because this may have been a much more serious incident and the time it took for my 999 call to be answered could be life and death in some cases.
Perhaps polices forces should be investing in more control staff and traffic cars not s************ vans ?
The police have also informed me tonight the car which started the accident has no insurance. Advice anyone ? Read more
Reggie
Its a no to a joint control in Hull (Humberside). Had TENYAS (Ambulance) in the same building for a while but they moved out to York.
Fullchat
Saw a TV advert tonight, depicting a man riding and subduing a really mean and powerful looking bull. Would I be tempted to buy something so obviously dangerous, something that would turn and discombuberate me if I lost concentration for a just a moment? Are the advertising bods losing it?
My wife, who is wiser in these things, said that the bull was obviously sedated, any lessons in that? Read more
Hillwoman pointed out that the bull gave in far too quickly and that it was staggering sideways as the clip ended. Does that suggest a big shot of valium?
I heard today that the new A650 Bingley bypass road has opened ahead of schedule. Strange that given that the sign indicates completion in Autumn 2003.
The local MP described it as good news for the local community and for the environment as pollution will be reduced as cars arent in traffic jams.
Now there is some revolutionary news, traffic jams and artificially lowering speeds must increase pollution. Lets look forward to more congestion reducing roads opening. Read more
Maybe there will be more sightings of the Fairys now that people are sitting around longer in Cottingley?
hi all thanks in advance for your help
i have a 1993 L reg polo fox coupe 1.05 litre
this occasionally dies in mid traffic with no warning (usually lifting the foot off the throttle or going down the gears (4 speed) from 30 to 70mph. more so after a run of 10 miles or more when things are hot, and possibly more on wet days..sometimes it will run for hundreds of miles without a hiccup
performance is not special but seems to run smoothly enough when starting and running
the hall effect unit on the end of the cam has been replaced
complete with rotor cap etc , new plugs fitted
coolant and antifreeze all changed in last 20k
service and oil change carried out at 95K new air filter etc (2 months ago)
new plugs, have checked under the bonnet for loose connections and sprayed cleaned fuse box passenger side. cleaned and sprayed all the plug together connections accesible.
it has been suggested to me it might be a fuel filter problem or fuel pump
however i dont know where the fuel filter is as i cant see one directly attachted to the single point injection mechanism under the air filter housing. i dont know if the fuel filter has ever been replaced , certainly not by me in 10K miles.
can anyone help or throw some ideas?
Cheers... the Frustrated polo owner Read more
hello,
Does the rev counter drop to zero when it dies ? (I had this happen on mine - '91 mk3 g40 - so vaguely similar model)
im my case this was diagnosed as a faulty hall sender on the distributor.....
at least if the revs drop to zero its more likely to be electrical than fuel related...
Cheers, Seb
i usually spend £10-12 on oil for our run around..hoping that its of reasonble quality...owever ive noticed the shops also sell economy oil thats around £5
what im wanting to know is..is the £10-12 stuff just the cheeper in a flashy can?? so how do i know whats the cheepest ,but not total rubbish? bearing in mind its for our cheep but trusty old polo..not a turbo nutter 16v Read more
My old Polo would run on any old carp. 5 litres £2.99 from Asda. Couldn't break the damn thing.
Chances are you'll get sick of the old Polo whatever you do to it, and then sell it for £8.79 to the elderly where it will continue to grind out the miles until Cliff Richard freezes over.
After you've changed cars you'll miss the Polo, but will harbour a certain resentment that God gave immortality to a German automobile instead of you.
Mystic Maz.
I'm about to purchase a VW Passat from them, 04 delivery. Excellent trade in price. I have checked them on Companies house, all appears correct. Local trading standards, have not heared a dicky bird about them. Offered to deliver it straight to the door, have told them I will go to Stockport to collect. They have said that they will give me a full tank of fuel.
Is it just me? I just feel it's too good to be true. Probably just being sceptical but they are nearly £2,500 cheaper than the same model from a VW dealership.
Anyone think I'm over reacting of should I just go ahead with the purchase. Read more
As someone has said earlier VW have deals on Passats to meet dealer targets. Irvines@ Bridgwater in Somerset had 2.0 S 130
saloons for £12500 saving £2900 good price but no longer available. This was 10 days ago yet still being advertised in the local press.Looks like i,ll have to wait till the end of next year to change.
I took my fiat brava 1.4s (P Reg) to the local fiat "specialist" for a replacement timing belt this October. The recomended replacement interval is 72000 miles, I'd reached 75000 miles - so more or less on time.
2000 Miles and less than three months later the timing belt tensioner has shattered! As you might expect there's lots of damage - pistons, valves etc.
When I took the timing belt cover off it was clear that the tensioner wheel was the original. I didn't explicitly request replacement of the tensioner wheel, but to me it would seem common sense to replace both timing belt and tensioner together.
My instinct is that the repair shop failed to carry out the timing belt replacement with reasonable care and skill. The garage disagrees and doesn't accept responsibility. I would be greatful on any opinions on the garage's stance on this one. Read more
Any idea of how much it should cost to change the timing belt AND tensioner on a 1998 Fiat Brava SX1.4?
Cheers
hi huys just registered here
anyway,ive got a 1.3 1988 polo..its done 130k but seems to have been looked after..anyway i get this rattle when the revs are around 2-3k stationay...cant hear it while driving
it never uses oil
tappets dont tick on start up
cam looks unworn
rocker box is clean..not black
it doesnt breath oil into the aircleaner
is there any known probs with that engine...it sort of sounds like worn big end shells...but wouldnt that do it all the time and the tappets would tick cus of the low oil pressure?
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thanks guys..thats given me some things to look at...i fitted a new belt with a new w/pump while i was there..i guess it could be a touch slack but i was worried about having the pump under to much tension..anyway its tensioned right by the book,but yeah it does falp about a little if you watch it
never thought about the oil pump..
and suprisingly the carb seems right..starts nice etc
Can we give a moment's thought to the Gritting Lorry driver killed in an accident last night. These people are genuine unsung heroes keeping roads open. - This man paid the ultimate price for us. Read more
PU
Totally agree.
Normally these people also drive the dustbin lorries which is another taken for granted service.
Condolences to his family....
Browse
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The old adage about "better to arrive late than not at all" was drummed into me from an early stage, but I have to admit I only really understood it when I became a father. That co-incided with the death of my stepfather, so the realisation dawned that I was not immortal - if my stepfather could die then so could my son's father....
I once found a driving tuiton book from the early 60s. The introduction said that the best way to drive was as if every other driver was incompetent and you were the one that had to compensate. Since reading that I've tried to anticipate what would be the most stupid or dangerous thing for the other road user(s) to do, such as "X will change lane without looking or indicating". Then, if they do, you get a smug sense of satisfaction that you saw that one coming and were ready for it, rather than the cold grip of fear that would normally result. If they don't, you also (oddly) get a little less cynical about the world, which is also a help to reducing stress. It also helps keep you focussed on the world outside the car.
Another trick is to watch your own driving carefully - none of us are perfect so every now and then you realise that someone else is cursing you. Next time someone does something stupid you are less likely to rant, if you remember doing it yourself.
The tactic that really worked for me was to adjust the way I rated my driving, from "how quick" to "how smooth". It's just as difficult to do, and probably more so around "interesting" bends.