Yet Another Cycling Forum
General Category => On The Road => Topic started by: Regulator on 17 September, 2008, 09:25:02 am
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I pull up at the ASL at the Mall/Trafalgar Square junction. A Porsche (AS08AAA) is parked in the ASL with a police van parked behind.
I notice the female driver of the Porsche is busy texting away on her Blackberry. I inform the police officers in the van behind. Their response: "What do you expect us to do about it?"
For feck sake - you're police officers! You should know that it's an offence, you lazy sods.
Number of police van taken - a complaint will be winging its way to the Professional Standards Directorate. >:(
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Number of police van taken - a complaint will be whining its way to the Professional Standards Directorate. >:(
Just corrected your typo, Reg.
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There was all this bloody fanfare when the fine was introduced, but a quick cycle (around London at least) confirms that it is not enforced at all. >:(
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That's outrageous, Regulator! Thanks for reporting them.
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Was the vehicle moving? Or stopped in traffic?
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Thank you. I wish the Police would actually deal with offences.
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That would make me furious, WTF kind of response was that?
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Was the vehicle moving? Or stopped in traffic?
that is irrelevant, the law relating to mobile phone usage by the driver of a vehicle covers if the car is moving or stationary. IIRC the definition is that if the keys are in the ignition then it is illegal to use the phone (even if the engine is switched off).
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My email this morning:
S Walsh Haulage Company:
Dear Sir
I note your website claims your "strength is increased by the employment of skilled labour".
An example that detracts from this boast is your driver, exiting the OP and travelling east on eastway this morning at 9am, negotiating the turn after the lights with a mobile phone clamped to his ear.
This was a thirty-ish man with a shaved head and a blue windcheater, I didn't get the reg, sorry.
This is a horrible junction at the best of times, lanes merge and it's tricky to negotiate, but this driver couldn't care less that people could see what he was doing so it may be worth reminding your employees of the danger to other road users and to your company's reputation when such recklesssly stupid acts are carried out?
Best regards
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Was the vehicle moving? Or stopped in traffic?
that is irrelevant, the law relating to mobile phone usage by the driver of a vehicle covers if the car is moving or stationary. IIRC the definition is that if the keys are in the ignition then it is illegal to use the phone (even if the engine is switched off).
Believe its engine running, isn't it .
When is it legal to use a hand held electronic device in a motor car?
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Maybe they weren't traffic so won't do anything.
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The Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) (Amendment) (No. 4) Regulations 2003 (http://www.opsi.gov.uk/si/si2003/20032695.htm)
Try that, it should answer your questions.
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If they were blocking traffic (what's an ASL?) then they should have been cautioned/fined by the Police, whatever is appropriate.
BUT
If they were parked up, off the beaten-track so to speak, and had parked up in order to use their phone then good for them. I couldn't care if the engine was running or not, it's nice to hear that someone is using a phone whilst their car is parked.
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If they were blocking traffic (what's an ASL?) then they should have been cautioned/fined by the Police, whatever is appropriate.
BUT
If they were parked up, off the beaten-track so to speak, and had parked up in order to use their phone then good for them. I couldn't care if the engine was running or not, it's nice to hear that someone is using a phone whilst their car is parked.
Advanced Stop Line. To be pedantic the car was stopped in the Cycle Reservoir behind/in front of the ASL (depending on which line you define as the 'advanced' one.
EDIT: so at the head of a line of traffic waiting at a traffic light
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In which case, the cops were wankers
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You don't happen to think they(the police) were on their way to their break do you, and thus didn't want the paperwork stopping them having a cuppa and a bacon butty?
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The Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) (Amendment) (No. 4) Regulations 2003 (http://www.opsi.gov.uk/si/si2003/20032695.htm)
Try that, it should answer your questions.
Genuine emergency?
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Given the cops attitude towards "soft targets" their response should be reported.
RLJing cyclists have killed nobody in the last 5 years (the risk is mostly borne by the cyclist) whilst drivers on mobiles have killed eleven people.
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Probably in the asl as they were moving and stopped for the red light.
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Given the cops attitude towards "soft targets" their response should be reported.
RLJing cyclists have killed nobody in the last 5 years (the risk is mostly borne by the cyclist) whilst drivers on mobiles have killed eleven people.
But they have been involved/caused a few accidents.
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Che, i agree, but I think you mean
...it is illegal to cross a stop line on amber unless it would be dangerous not to do so
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Anth, you're right, but it has to be said that most of the motor vehicles in the cycle reservoir have entered it illegally (and that includes the vast numbers of PTWs blocking and intimidating cyclists)
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Che, i agree, but I think you mean ...
Quite right. Thank you. Fixed it.
Yep you're right. It is possible to get stuck in them by accident. It is not, however, as Lynx suggests, the probable explanation.
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Anth, you're right, but it has to be said that most of the motor vehicles in the cycle reservoir have entered it illegally (and that includes the vast numbers of PTWs blocking and intimidating cyclists)
So thats your point of view and opinion.
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So thats your point of view and opinion.
No, it's an observation. To draw from that observation the conclusion that the car had probably not been forced to stop in the ASL because of traffic conditions would be an opinion, though perhaps a reasonable one (in my opinion). Your statement, by contrast, that the car probably had been forced to stop in the ASL due to traffic conditions, is an opinion. I hope that the observations that have been made demostrate that it is not one that can reasonably be sustained.
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Che, i agree, but I think you mean ...
Quite right. Thank you. Fixed it.
Yep you're right. It is possible to get stuck in them by accident. It is not, however, as Lynx suggests, the probable explanation.
Oh no, I agree with that. The amount of cars you see stopped in the reservoir defies simple bad luck (and what actually amounts to good driving in realising what you have to do). Generally they are rolled into by drivers long after the lights has turned red.
The fact that the driver in the OP was not only in the reservoir, but also on her phone, indicates a possible propensity to not really give a damn about the rules.
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So thats your point of view and opinion.
No, it's an observation. To draw from that observation the conclusion that the car had probably not been forced to stop in the ASL because of traffic conditions would be an opinion, though perhaps a reasonable one (in my opinion). Your statement, by contrast, that the car probably had been forced to stop in the ASL due to traffic conditions, is an opinion. I hope that the observations that have been made demostrate that it is not one that can reasonably be sustained.
In my opinion your observation is correct... ;)
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So thats your point of view and opinion.
No, it's an observation. To draw from that observation the conclusion that the car had probably not been forced to stop in the ASL because of traffic conditions would be an opinion, though perhaps a reasonable one (in my opinion). Your statement, by contrast, that the car probably had been forced to stop in the ASL due to traffic conditions, is an opinion. I hope that the observations that have been made demostrate that it is not one that can reasonably be sustained.
In this case my opinion is the car didn't roll in to it. But in general lots of motorists have no idea what they are as they've not read the highway code recently.
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You can't even have a phone conversation while watching TV (something that is not mind involving) and know whats going on with both.
You are usually not in charge of >1 tonne of steel, glass and rubber, which you control with your hands and feet, whilst watching TV though
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And again we can go to the OP.
I had so doubt it was parked, I was wondering if it was stopped or moving.
I pull up at the ASL at the Mall/Trafalgar Square junction. A Porsche (AS08AAA) is parked in the ASL with a police van parked behind.
EDIT: I would have thought the word 'parked' implied 'stopped', but maybe there's some new-fangled 'moving parking' that I haven't heard about.
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You can't even have a phone conversation while watching TV (something that is not mind involving) and know whats going on with both.
You are usually not in charge of >1 tonne of steel, glass and rubber, which you control with your hands and feet, whilst watching TV though
Even better if you can't follow a TV program you shouldn't use it driving a vehicle. Turn the fu*king thing off and wait till you finish. I include peds in this too, as they can't seem to talk on the telephone and notice whats going on around them.
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And again we can go to the OP.
I had so doubt it was parked, I was wondering if it was stopped or moving.
I pull up at the ASL at the Mall/Trafalgar Square junction. A Porsche (AS08AAA) is parked in the ASL with a police van parked behind.
EDIT: I would have thought the word 'parked' implied 'stopped', but maybe there's some new-fangled 'moving parking' that I haven't heard about.
Stopped in traffic is not parked, if it was they'd issue parking tickets. ;)
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EDIT: I would have thought the word 'parked' implied 'stopped', but maybe there's some new-fangled 'moving parking' that I haven't heard about.
'Parked' in this case is Reg being arch or even sarcastic. A subtle use of language.
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There was all this bloody fanfare when the fine was introduced, but a quick cycle (around London at least) confirms that it is not enforced at all. >:(
Nor is the 20mph speed limit in the road I live in. Never has been, not even slightly.
The point of these regulations is not to force inconsiderate people to alter their behaviour for the better. It is to enable politicians to say "There, we've introduced a law - now shut up" to people on the receiving end of inconsiderate behaviour ::-)
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EDIT: I would have thought the word 'parked' implied 'stopped', but maybe there's some new-fangled 'moving parking' that I haven't heard about.
'Parked' in this case is Reg being arch or even sarcastic. A subtle use of language.
Moi? Sarcastic? Never.... ;)
As it was, the driver entered the ASL illegally, as the traffic light was red when she did so. The police were just being arses - and I have written to the PSD, although I'm sure I'll get the usual guff that they were busy doing something else or that no such police vehicle exists.
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EDIT: I would have thought the word 'parked' implied 'stopped', but maybe there's some new-fangled 'moving parking' that I haven't heard about.
'Parked' in this case is Reg being arch or even sarcastic. A subtle use of language.
Moi? Sarcastic? Never.... ;)
As it was, the driver entered the ASL illegally, as the traffic light was red when she did so. The police were just being arses - and I have written to the PSD, although I'm sure I'll get the usual guff that they were busy doing something else or that no such police vehicle exists.
I would have taken issue more with you being 'subtle'... :P
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EDIT: I would have thought the word 'parked' implied 'stopped', but maybe there's some new-fangled 'moving parking' that I haven't heard about.
'Parked' in this case is Reg being arch or even sarcastic. A subtle use of language.
Moi? Sarcastic? Never.... ;)
As it was, the driver entered the ASL illegally, as the traffic light was red when she did so. The police were just being arses - and I have written to the PSD, although I'm sure I'll get the usual guff that they were busy doing something else or that no such police vehicle exists.
I would have taken issue more with you being 'subtle'... :P
>Insert suitable two finger smiley<
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>Insert suitable two finger smiley<
Dunno a v-sign smily, but this conveys much the same idea: (http://board.pythonist.com/images/smiles/suck.gif)
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>Insert suitable two finger smiley<
Dunno a v-sign smily, but this conveys much the same idea: (http://board.pythonist.com/images/smiles/suck.gif)
Ah - but .anth might think I'm propositioning him (again).... ;D
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>Insert suitable two finger smiley<
Dunno a v-sign smily, but this conveys much the same idea: (http://board.pythonist.com/images/smiles/suck.gif)
Ah - but .anth might think I'm propositioning him (again).... ;D
It certainly removes any ambiguity.... :-*
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Masters,
This thread has been edited to remove some posts that either fell short of our guidelines, or quoted the same.
Please think about the effect of your post - editing threads can make my wires begin to smoulder.
Threepio
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There was all this bloody fanfare when the fine was introduced, but a quick cycle (around London at least) confirms that it is not enforced at all. >:(
I see it regularly. I sometimes point at people if I catch them at it. It works better if you're in a group though. Maybe also shout something like, "Watch (out for) that idiot on the phone and driving!"
If you point at someone, other people will look at them. It might at least make them feel uncomfortable. Idealy I'd have a very loud horn I could use, which the person on the other end of their phone would hear. (Via the phone ;D)
Even if I do catch them at it. I very rarely have time to point them out. It's dark inside a car, and you're not at a good angle on a bike.
I'd have thought that London would be better than the rest of the country, but I very rarely visit London, so can't really comment.
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I frequently shout 'Get off the phone!', which is often the first time the jerk has noticed me. >:(
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I once, on a downhill section, at approx 25 mph tapped heavily on the driver's window of a car the driver of which was so busily engaged in his urgent chat that he completely failed to spot I was about 1' from his right ear.
I think I got my point across.
On reflection this probably wasn't the brightest of moves, but the shock he got at least didn't result in his sticking the wheel hard a starboard. (Phew !)
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I pull up at the ASL at the Mall/Trafalgar Square junction. A Porsche (AS08AAA) is parked in the ASL with a police van parked behind.
I notice the female driver of the Porsche is busy texting away on her Blackberry. I inform the police officers in the van behind. Their response: "What do you expect us to do about it?"
For feck sake - you're police officers! You should know that it's an offence, you lazy sods.
Number of police van taken - a complaint will be winging its way to the Professional Standards Directorate. >:(
I didn't know officer discretion had been removed from the police manual?
What sort of van?
Was anyone in the back?
If they were on a task or on route to change a post they cannot and must not stop for trivial matters such as the one you have mentioned. They were obviously not on an emergency task, however as to the rest one can only assume.
Some on here are too quick to blame the law for their own issues.
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If Reg is right about their response, and I would tend to believe him, and he uses direct speech, then I would suggest, GruB, that they didn't give a toss about the dangerous and illegal situation in front of them, or for anyone who might be endangered thereby.
If they were on another task, they could still have called another unit to deal with it.
I mean, if you're travelling somewhere and see a potentially violent incident, do you just ignore it, or do you re-prioritise and stop?
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Grub,
I understand your point about officer discretion, other assignment, etc. but surely even a hoot of the horn and a gesture of hand to ear might have been warranted simply to let the idiot know that she had been clocked?
What happens if further down the road, tomorrow etc. she kills somebody at stupid speed in her toy whilst using her chuckleberry to bemoan her lot having just lost her bonus at Tossers Investment Bank?
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I haven't read the whole thread. I will before I reply again.
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I pull up at the ASL at the Mall/Trafalgar Square junction. A Porsche (AS08AAA) is parked in the ASL with a police van parked behind.
I notice the female driver of the Porsche is busy texting away on her Blackberry. I inform the police officers in the van behind. Their response: "What do you expect us to do about it?"
For feck sake - you're police officers! You should know that it's an offence, you lazy sods.
Number of police van taken - a complaint will be winging its way to the Professional Standards Directorate. >:(
I didn't know officer discretion had been removed from the police manual?
What sort of van?
Was anyone in the back?
If they were on a task or on route to change a post they cannot and must not stop for trivial matters such as the one you have mentioned. They were obviously not on an emergency task, however as to the rest one can only assume.
Some on here are too quick to blame the law for their own issues.
The van was the sort used for ferrying officers - it wasn't a meat wagon.
I wouldn't consider somebody behind the wheel a high powered vehicle, in heavy traffic (and in the midst of a group of cyclists), whilst texting on a Blackberry to be a trivial matter... but maybe that's just me. I have a funny aversion to be hit by inattentive drivers.
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I once, on a downhill section, at approx 25 mph tapped heavily on the driver's window of a car the driver of which was so busily engaged in his urgent chat that he completely failed to spot I was about 1' from his right ear.
I think I got my point across.
I had a similar thing last week where I rapped on the window of a car in the nearside lane of the A4 heading east from Gillette Corner. The driver apparently wasn't expecting to be overtaken by a cyclist in the middle lane, but unfortunately was not startled enough to drop her phone. I think the party on the other end would have heard my polite request that she put the thing away though.
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well a colleague of mine was knocked of her scooter recently, the driver got out of her car, still on the phone (!!!), assured herself that she was still alive and got back into her car and drove off. The car behind her had got the details, gave details to the Police etc.
Feedback from the Police indicates that the driver in question was banned at the time of the incident and given all the information, they went around there, arrested her and the Police expect her to do time for it.
I still wonder why banned drivers are allowed to keep cars. If it was me in charge I'd ban drivers until court proceedings have finshed and I'd confiscate cars from banned drivers.
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50% of 17-24 year Olds Driving while Over the Limit
The txting limit that is...
BBC NEWS | UK | Texting 'greatest driving risk' (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7621644.stm)
RAC Foundation director Professor Stephen Glaister said the participants in the study had been almost unanimous in their view that drink-driving was the most dangerous action on the road.
"Yet this research clearly shows that a motorist who is texting is significantly more impaired than a motorist at the legal limit for alcohol," he said.
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On a related point, does anyone else have difficulty telling police, traffic wardens, community police, special constables and all the other uniformed bods apart?
I saw a uniformed couple walking the other day. One had a chest badge that said something wordy, but I felt it would have been impolite to peer closely enough to read it.
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I have a funny aversion to be hit by inattentive drivers.
So do I. Especially if they are parked at the time
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"Yet this research clearly shows that a motorist who is texting is significantly more impaired than a motorist at the legal limit for alcohol," he said.
One of the transport supervisors at our place sent his iphone back as he didn't like it.
He said he couldn't use the touchscreen keyboard whilst driving as the letters were too small ??? >:( and has gone back to his old keypad phone.
I just sort of looked at him pityfully, said that's probably one reason why they did it in the first place, shook my head and walked off.
Was probally trying to wind me up as he's a bit of a tit anyway.
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My email this morning:
S Walsh Haulage Company:
Dear Sir
I note your website claims your "strength is increased by the employment of skilled labour".
An example that detracts from this boast is your driver, exiting the OP and travelling east on eastway this morning at 9am, negotiating the turn after the lights with a mobile phone clamped to his ear.
This was a thirty-ish man with a shaved head and a blue windcheater, I didn't get the reg, sorry.
This is a horrible junction at the best of times, lanes merge and it's tricky to negotiate, but this driver couldn't care less that people could see what he was doing so it may be worth reminding your employees of the danger to other road users and to your company's reputation when such recklesssly stupid acts are carried out?
Best regards
Gotta reply:
Hi
I'm sorry not to have replied to your email but I have just returned to
this office.
We also take a dim view of these actions with mobiles as it is not only
dangerous but illegal. I am trying to establish the identity of the
person involved and there will be a severe reprimand if I can identify
individual involved.
Also I will be producing a memo to all me drivers stating the companies
stand on breaking the law and driving safely.
Once again I am sorry I have not replied earlier but as I said I have
been away from my desk.
Dereck Breeze
Transport Manager S Walsh & Sons
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:thumbsup: Result! Sounds like he's pissed off.
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Polar Bear is right, they should have at least done the pointy finger at her. Using a mobile phone is not the most heinous offence out there. Especially not while parked, even in an ASL.
I just get pissed off at all the quips at the law that in many poster's opinions fall short of the standard of law and order they demand.
You are probably right. It is sub standard. You have yourselves to blame. You probably voted for the arse that is Tony BLAIR. He is the one that fcuked it up. You will reap the misery he has caused for many years yet.
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You are probably right. It is sub standard. You have yourselves to blame. You probably voted for the arse that is Tony BLAIR. He is the one that fcuked it up. You will reap the misery he has caused for many years yet.
Careful, GruB. You just might receive a very long explanation as to why I am not to blame. O:-)
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You are probably right. It is sub standard. You have yourselves to blame. You probably voted for the arse that is Tony BLAIR. He is the one that fcuked it up. You will reap the misery he has caused for many years yet.
Careful, GruB. You just might receive a very long explanation as to why I am not to blame. O:-)
Guilty of generalisation myself. Point noted. Well put. I shouldn't post when I'm tired.
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... You have yourselves to blame. You probably voted for the arse that is Tony BLAIR...
They probably didn't. Only 22% of the electorate did at the last time of asking.
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Using a mobile phone is not the most heinous offence out there. Especially not while parked, even in an ASL.
This sort of view is part of the problem, IMO. It is a crime as serious as drink driving. I might agree if actually parked up in a parking bay, but stopped in traffic at the lights is pretty much as bad as driving whilst doing it. She would have been driving before, and probably afterwards, still on her phone.
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You are probably right. It is sub standard. You have yourselves to blame. You probably voted for the arse that is Tony BLAIR. He is the one that fcuked it up. You will reap the misery he has caused for many years yet.
Careful, GruB. You just might receive a very long explanation as to why I am not to blame. O:-)
Saying "It's all Thatcher's fault" is not a long explanation. :P
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ah, but whose fault was Thatcher/Blair ? That's where the long explanation may be needed ;)
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ah, but whose fault was Thatcher/Blair ? That's where the long explanation may be needed ;)
I think we can safely blame our ancestors who abandoned the nomadic life in favour of a sedentary one for absolutely everything that has gone wrong since.
Wankers. Cuh.
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Using a mobile phone is not the most heinous offence out there. Especially not while parked, even in an ASL.
This sort of view is part of the problem, IMO. It is a crime as serious as drink driving. I might agree if actually parked up in a parking bay, but stopped in traffic at the lights is pretty much as bad as driving whilst doing it. She would have been driving before, and probably afterwards, still on her phone.
I have to agree. Having been alongside a driver who was weaving in a drunken manner, only to look at her and see she was on her phone...
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Only 150 drivers were fined in redbridge in London, jenny Jones elicited this fact from Boris the bumbling idiot at mayor's question time. This means there's a huge variance in enforcement and a green light to East London twats driving on a mobile- the chances of getting caught are slim.
It's goons like that that make me want to get a helmet cam.
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Only 150 drivers were fined in redbridge in London, jenny Jones elicited this fact from Boris the bumbling idiot at mayor's question time. This means there's a huge variance in enforcement and a green light to East London twats driving on a mobile- the chances of getting caught are slim.
It's goons like that that make me want to get a helmet cam.
Do you blame boris for everything?
Try blaming the police, the ones that enforce the laws.
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Only 150 drivers were fined in redbridge in London, jenny Jones elicited this fact from Boris the bumbling idiot at mayor's question time. This means there's a huge variance in enforcement and a green light to East London twats driving on a mobile- the chances of getting caught are slim.
It's goons like that that make me want to get a helmet cam.
Do you blame boris for everything?
Try blaming the police, the ones that enforce the laws.
Actually I blame the drivers.
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More than 500 people a week are caught using mobile phones while driving in London, figures reveal today.
London-wide, more than 28,600 motorists were caught using their phones to make calls or send texts in 2007/8 - compared with 24,145 the previous year.
In Westminster more than 2,700 people received a £60 penalty for the offence, the highest number of any borough. In Waltham Forest more than 1,800 people were fined.
The lowest level was in Redbridge - 150 during the year. The Metropolitan Police figures were revealed by Boris Johnson at the Mayor's Question Time, in response to an enquiry from Green Party member Jenny Jones.
Ms Jones said the figures showed discrepancies in how seriously police took the offence in different parts of the capital. She said: "Driving while using a mobile phone can be more dangerous than drinkdriving and is completely reckless behaviour.
"It is shocking that in the last two years some boroughs have hardly made any improvement in enforcing the mobile phone ban. Some boroughs are clearly taking this issue more seriously than others but the police must enforce this consistently across the capital."
500 drivers a week flout phone ban | News (http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standard/article-23557108-details/500+drivers+a+week+flout+phone+ban/article.do)
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How stretched are the Police?
If I were an [dodgy 90's American film voiceover] Officer of the law [/dodgy 90's American film voiceover] who knew that there were naff all other Police around, I would have to try and weigh up the opportunity cost of stopping the driver on the mobile.
Tieing myself up pulling her over, telling her off, stopping her trying to worm out of the ticket, writing the ticket, then getting back on the go could take a limited resource out of contention for however long that would take 10-15mins??
What might I miss in that time, or be late responding to. If I (could) leave an officer behind to finish the ticket, might I turn up shorthanded, pitched against a violent situation.
Sure, the officer responded very poorly in PR terms, a simple "sorry, we just can't deal with that right now, we'll note her reg plate and keep an eye out" would have been MUCH better.
So, Regulator - 'tis right for you to make the complaint. The above is a bit of random thoughts about the possible situation.
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I take all the points, but I remember that this same Police Force - the Met - managed to mobilise a huge presence to try to foil Valiant's demonstration, and to stop the distribution of free food in Brixton. I think a free meal to the needy is far less hazardous than a stupid inattentive cow in charge of a ton of metal in traffic.
In
My
Humble
Opinion.
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I think that even if that situation were true (i.e. it was a waste of resources to 'do' her), it sends a really shit message, that if you complain about an ACTUAL visible lawbreaker in broad daylight, under the nose of a copper, nothing happens.
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In
My
Humble
Opinion.
Corrected that for you ;)
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I typed out a big reply and then I deleted it. I don't think my experience or knowledge can really be related to by someone that is not in my position.
I have made a decision to try and avoid replying to threads like this in the future as they only grip my happiness and life is too short.
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(http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/37/Nice_Cup_of_Tea.jpg)
Here you go mate.
Take it easy.
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I typed out a big reply and then I deleted it. I don't think my experience or knowledge can really be related to by someone that is not in my position.
I have made a decision to try and avoid replying to threads like this in the future as they only grip my happiness and life is too short.
Sorry if my post wound you up, GruB. I guess we'll have to agree to disagree on this.
As you already know, I don't think the police here are "bloody useless", quite the opposite. OTOH there are a few wrinkles that I'd like to see sorted, such as the apparent non-emphasis on traffic policing. Perhaps that can be laid more at the door of our current car culture, and the poor priorities of government?
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Or this?
(http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/5a/Magnum_ice_cream.jpg)
Careful - that might be loaded!
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;D I'll take both please. :thumbsup:
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We love you grub !!!
(Actually I'm just posting to get us onto another page without those stupid huge piccies (this may well be seen as a challenge ... ))
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We love you grub !!!
(Actually I'm just posting to get us onto another page without those stupid huge piccies (this may well be seen as a challenge ... ))
Making a long/bulky post makes no difference; there are 15 posts per page so if you want a new page, aim for post #15, 30, 45 or 60 etc...
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I really don't think that it was worth complaining about.
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Jakob,
No, don't, you can't, please, I am so weak.
You have left it so open one cannot concentrate now without knowing the answer.
What is not worth complaining about?
Mind you, I'm not getting involved in the discussion, I'm after clarity ;)
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We love you grub !!!
(Actually I'm just posting to get us onto another page without those stupid huge piccies (this may well be seen as a challenge ... ))
One gone
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There are still 5 more posts until #90...
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Everything's relative. Maybe I'm blase, but you get used to seeing helmetless motorcyclists carrying children on the handlebars, people sitting on the roofs of trucks, babies held on drivers' laps, entire families riding pillion, bus drivers chatting away on mobiles as they negotiate hairpin mountain roads, car drivers with 8 passengers aboard going straight through red lights, people driving on the pavements... and here in England, someone complains that the police ignore the driver of a parked car who is texting while stationary. Sorry, but I just can't muster the required indignation.
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It was not parked in the 'Lock it and leave it' sense. It was stopped at traffic lights.
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Everything's relative. Maybe I'm blase, but you get used to seeing helmetless motorcyclists carrying children on the handlebars, people sitting on the roofs of trucks, babies held on drivers' laps, entire families riding pillion, bus drivers chatting away on mobiles as they negotiate hairpin mountain roads, car drivers with 8 passengers aboard going straight through red lights, people driving on the pavements... and here in England, someone complains that the police ignore the driver of a parked car who is texting while stationary. Sorry, but I just can't muster the required indignation.
It's easy to be blase until you start comparing death rates.
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Just to help things along towards post #90, if Reg's "Short Rant" runs to more than 6 pages of replies what will hapen if he really has a go? :demon:
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The one after this should do it !
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Your post actually, hatler.
Page 1 is OP + 14 replies, page 2 replies 15-29 etc.
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Jakob,
No, don't, you can't, please, I am so weak.
You have left it so open one cannot concentrate now without knowing the answer.
What is not worth complaining about?
Mind you, I'm not getting involved in the discussion, I'm after clarity ;)
I don't think that it was worth sending a complaint to the PSD.
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I the police in question had jumped out of the car and booked her, she would have gone straight home and started moaning on her forum about being done for a minor offence whilst hundreds of killer cyclists ran red lights all around...
I'm with the police on this one. As usual.
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Some we win, some we loose. Which side of that equation we fall on depends on your view of which side of the equation you stand on.
Other than that- No Comment ;)
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Compared to my native Denmark, where I remember police officers being a bit, well, 'Prussian' in their attitudes, I quite like the relaxed approach that most London coppers seem to have. In Denmark most people probably wouldn't even walk across a red pedestrian light in front of a police officer, whereas here nobody minds.
I've only ever been stopped once, while pushing my old motorbike on the pavement at night. Instead of the 'halt, papers bitte!" that you'd get in some countries, the officer in question just asked me a couple of seemingly nonchalant questions about where I was going, undoubtedly to check whether it seemed likely I'd nicked the bike.
The officer you met at the crossing probably wasn't used to dealing with the public, else he'd said something that sounded a bit friendlier.
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AIUI pedestrians crossing on red lights are not committing an offence in England but are in Denmark.
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In Denmark, they'll wait at the red light in the middle of the night on a deserted street....
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AIUI pedestrians crossing on red lights are not committing an offence in England but are in Denmark.
That explains a lot... In Denmark I can smoke a spliff, but can't cross on a red, in the UK it's the opposite :)
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In Denmark, they'll wait at the red light in the middle of the night on a deserted street....
I think that's called loitering in the UK, and is an offence. ;)
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In Denmark, they'll wait at the red light in the middle of the night on a deserted street....
I think that's called loitering in the UK, and is an offence. ;)
Loitering?
Nah- Soliciting :)
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We love you grub !!!
(Actually I'm just posting to get us onto another page without those stupid huge piccies (this may well be seen as a challenge ... ))
Making a long/bulky post makes no difference; there are 15 posts per page so if you want a new page, aim for post #15, 30, 45 or 60 etc...
When you play monopoly, do you get irritated by family members who count out their moves 1 space at a time, even if they roll a 10? :)
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When you play monopoly, do you get irritated by family members who count out their moves 1 space at a time, even if they roll a 10? :)
No, I just get them each to roll the dice 47 times, then I tell them who won and by how much. Saves so much time and hassle.
..d