Monbiot on speed cameras and the real war
in [UK Drivers]
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From: GT on 30 Jul 2010 05:27 "Chelsea Tractor Man" <mr.c.tractor(a)hotmail.co.uk> wrote in message news:17330ros2ho1c$.hoofk8avz9sw.dlg(a)40tude.net... > On Thu, 29 Jul 2010 15:23:02 +0100, GT wrote: > >> As an aside - there are now cars with breathalysers - you have to blow in >> a >> little tube before it lets you start the engine. It was a high spec BMW >> or >> Merc I think. I have no links or evidence to support this claim - think I >> saw it on a tv programme a years or two back. > > In the US they have used steering wheels that can detect alcohol in sweat > or something. Euuwwww - thats nasty. My steering wheel doesn't have any sweat on it. Just my eye lashes don't have those nasty mite things. And there are no bed bugs in my bed...
From: Adrian on 30 Jul 2010 05:36 "GT" <a(a)b.c> gurgled happily, sounding much like they were saying: >>>> <pedant mode> >>>> >>>> ITYM it's a tax on all powered vehicles although some are set at a >>>> zero rate at the moment. >>>> >>>> </pedant mode> >>> <pedant strength="maximum"> >>> Only those that are required to be registered and to display a licence >>> disc. >>> </pedant> >> I can't think of any powered vehicles permitted to use the public >> highway which are not required to be registered and to display a VED >> disc even if the rate is zero. Perhaps you can fill in the gap in my >> knowledge? > Old cars don't need a tax disc - is it older than 26 years? Pre-73, but - yes, they do need a tax disc. It's just free of charge, as it is for some new cars.
From: Derek C on 30 Jul 2010 05:44 On Jul 30, 9:53 am, Chelsea Tractor Man <mr.c.trac...(a)hotmail.co.uk> wrote: ..  > > if accidents had gone up rather than down over the post GATSO period you > might be able to make a case. > > > The years during which speed humps, bus lanes, cycle lanes, chicanes and > > potholes infested the country. > > excuses > Confounding factors according to the psycholists on this group! I have driven in Germany where the Autobahns have no speed limits. HGVs are still speed limited and most cars travel at much the same speeds as they do in the UK. However the lane discipline is much better because you do get the occasional Merc, Beamer or Porsche bearing down on you at high speed in the fast lane, so it's a very good idea to check in your mirror before pulling out into it. Speed does not kill, it's the sudden stop that does. Going faster will increase your stopping distance, reduce your ability to manoeuvre and increase the damage caused in any collisions. Sensible driving is about balancing getting to your destination reasonably quickly against risks, and knowing where and when is is necessary to slow down. Most motorists find many speed limits to be unrealistically low in good conditions. They pander to the lowest common denominator, worst drivers in the worst cars in the worst conditions. The speed limit campaigners will not be happy until we have a man with a red flag walking in front of every vehicle again! Not very practical in today's world (or even then) - see below: Britain's Red Flag Act â¦In 1865 Britain introduced the 'Locomotives on Highways Act'. Better known as the 'Red Flag Act'. â¦The act stipulated that all mechanically powered road vehicles must: â Have three drivers. â Not exceed 4 mph (6.4 kph) on the open road and 2 mph (3.2 kph) in towns. â Be preceded by a man on foot waving a red flag to warn the public. â¦In 1896 the act was withdrawn and the speed limit increased to l4 mph (22 kph). Incidentally, Germany still has a thriving car industry producing crashworthy cars with excellent handing, brakes and performance, whilst the native car industry in speed limited Britain died years ago, because there was no need to make cars that were any more than adequate for use in the UK. Derek C
From: Brimstone on 30 Jul 2010 05:48 "Matt B" <matt.bourke(a)nospam.london.com> wrote in message news:8bfjcgFd3jU1(a)mid.individual.net... > On 30/07/2010 09:48, Brimstone wrote: >> >> "Matt B" <matt.bourke(a)nospam.london.com> wrote in message >> news:8bfhapF1c0U1(a)mid.individual.net... >>> On 30/07/2010 09:03, Brimstone wrote: >>>> >>>> "Matt B" <matt.bourke(a)nospam.london.com> wrote in message >>>> news:8bf9d8Fi9hU1(a)mid.individual.net... >>>>> On 30/07/2010 07:12, Chelsea Tractor Man wrote: >>>>>> On Thu, 29 Jul 2010 19:02:15 +0100, JNugent wrote: >>>>>> >>>>>>> IOW, road tax (where charged) is a charge for the use of the roads. >>>>>> >>>>>> no, its a *tax* on those who use powered vehicles on the roads >>>>> >>>>> ITYM, _yes_, it's a *tax* on _some_ of those who use powered vehicles >>>>> on _public_ roads. >>>>> >>>> <pedant mode> >>>> >>>> ITYM it's a tax on all powered vehicles although some are set at a zero >>>> rate at the moment. >>>> >>>> </pedant mode> >>> >>> <pedant strength="maximum"> >>> Only those that are required to be registered and to display a licence >>> disc. >>> </pedant> >>> >> I can't think of any powered vehicles permitted to use the public >> highway which are not required to be registered and to display a VED >> disc even if the rate is zero. Perhaps you can fill in the gap in my >> knowledge? > > There's this one: > > <http://img.thesun.co.uk/multimedia/archive/00811/SNN2507CAR_380_811078a.jpg> > > Note the lack of a number plate. Which is to do with the office of the user rather than the type of vehicle and then only for official business. > > And, IIRC there are exceptions for various types of recovery vehicles, > certain types of road maintenance vehicle, certain categories of > government/armed forces vehicles, etc. > All of which need to be registered and to display a VED disc with the exception of some of the road maintenance machinery. But then they're not vehicles, using the public highway, they're machines repairing it.
From: Brimstone on 30 Jul 2010 05:52
"GT" <a(a)b.c> wrote in message news:4c5299e4$0$12270$c3e8da3(a)news.astraweb.com... > "Brimstone" <brimstone(a)hotmail.com> wrote in message > news:cZ-dnXT9auRsDM_RnZ2dnUVZ7rydnZ2d(a)bt.com... >> >> "Matt B" <matt.bourke(a)nospam.london.com> wrote in message >> news:8bfhapF1c0U1(a)mid.individual.net... >>> On 30/07/2010 09:03, Brimstone wrote: >>>> >>>> "Matt B" <matt.bourke(a)nospam.london.com> wrote in message >>>> news:8bf9d8Fi9hU1(a)mid.individual.net... >>>>> On 30/07/2010 07:12, Chelsea Tractor Man wrote: >>>>>> On Thu, 29 Jul 2010 19:02:15 +0100, JNugent wrote: >>>>>> >>>>>>> IOW, road tax (where charged) is a charge for the use of the roads. >>>>>> >>>>>> no, its a *tax* on those who use powered vehicles on the roads >>>>> >>>>> ITYM, _yes_, it's a *tax* on _some_ of those who use powered vehicles >>>>> on _public_ roads. >>>>> >>>> <pedant mode> >>>> >>>> ITYM it's a tax on all powered vehicles although some are set at a zero >>>> rate at the moment. >>>> >>>> </pedant mode> >>> >>> <pedant strength="maximum"> >>> Only those that are required to be registered and to display a licence >>> disc. >>> </pedant> >>> >> I can't think of any powered vehicles permitted to use the public highway >> which are not required to be registered and to display a VED disc even if >> the rate is zero. Perhaps you can fill in the gap in my knowledge? > > Old cars don't need a tax disc - is it older than 26 years? I suspect you're thinking of vehicles constructed before 1 January 1973. They have to display a valid tax disc at zero rate. |