Drivers and their problems

Exeter street becomes 'free car park' as permit plans spark anger

Petition raised against in Location A  - but then comes this reader letter, from a Mr "You see most people are honest. They don’t see parking outside other people's homes as theft" from Location B :

Once upon a time, and it seems a very long time ago, I shared the same view. Nobody wants Devon County Council telling us where we can and can’t park and charging us for the privilege.

But let me tell you what you’ll want even less: you’ll not want to be the street next to the street with parking restrictions. You’ll not want everyone and his uncle parking in your street, blocking your drive, wrecking the pavements. How would you like to come home from a hard day’s work sweating over whether you’ll be able to park in your own street, never mind outside your own house?

This is the situation Stoke Hill Crescent has had to contend with for the last five years. Our street is nothing short of a free car park. It is infamous to anybody who wants to save the £18 per day our city council is charging to park in the city centre...

We can’t complain because five years ago we said no to parking restrictions. In that time we have had three general elections and several council elections and even though the contractors and the university have agreed to foot the bill, Devon Highways are quite adamant. No means no. So there you have it.

My advice to you is to think long and hard about it. You see most people are honest. They don’t see parking outside other people's homes as theft. I’ve put signs up asking them not to park outside our homes. It worked until Devon County Council took them away (but not before threatening me with legal action).

It’s cause and effect you see. Once there is a precedent for parking restrictions, everywhere else is fair game, even if the street is reduced to a single lane, refuse lorries held up, emergency vehicles and the school run disrupted. I’ve given up asking. Don’t let it happen to you.

"Let them have their fun" latest: Car park off of Laser Quay in Medway City Estate plagued by anti-social drivers and vandalism

https://www.kentonline.co.uk/medway/news/boy-racers-are-vandalising-offi...

Wait 'til she hears about cars...

Bath woman fed up with 'selfish' e-scooter riders on pavements

"It is very unnerving and stressful having to be constantly on the lookout for danger"

https://www.somersetlive.co.uk/news/local-news/bath-woman-fed-up-selfish...

The old letter to a newspaper about seat belts that shows people never like new laws

One woman argued her husband was less in control of his car wearing a seat belt because he is stout and often wore an overcoat while driving
 

https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/old-letter-newspaper-seat-...

Growing frustration as drivers continue to park on grass verges and footpaths in Skegness

Bollards have been put in place - but have not yet proven effective - bit of a long read, this one. TL? Cars.destroy.everything

"The police lacked the resources to regularly issue tickets, leading to the exploration of alternative solutions." No, no, no that can't be right - I have it on good authority from drivers that fines income is pure profit, etc etc

"Google Street View images from 2009 to 2019 show no vehicles on the grass verge, suggesting that this is a recent problem. She said the situation has prompted an increase in litter, with discarded items such as nappies and waste bags now littering the area."

https://www.lincolnshirelive.co.uk/news/local-news/growing-frustration-d...

Drivers and their problems...

Essex man who claims he shouldn't be paying ULEZ says TfL have 'ignored him'

Mr Deans claims upgrades to his 2004 Mitsubishi Evo make it compliant with emissions standards

He told MyLondon: "I drive my car maybe once or twice a month and do less than 3,000 miles a year. It mainly lives in my garage as I am collecting it as it's so rare. It's mainly a weekend car. I don't drive much in the winter and never ever if it's raining or wet on the roads.

But Mr Deans claims to have to spent £20,000 on upgrades to the Mitsubishi Evo and organised for it to be tested, meaning he has a EUROCert document confirming his car is Euro 4 NOx compliant.

"Currently I take care of my mum and dad who are old now which now costs me even more to do every time I go to see them at weekends to make sure they are ok and have all they need. Our freedom is gone.

A TfL spokesperson said: “Vehicles built for markets outside Europe have different emissions standards and regulations from those needed to comply with ULEZ standards, meaning that we cannot ensure that these vehicles are compliant based on the information non-European manufacturers provide. We have advised Mr Deans to contact his manufacturer for a certificate of conformity or to request the relevant proof of emissions standards from them.”

https://www.essexlive.news/news/essex-news/essex-man-who-claims-shouldnt...

Driver told to get 'eyes checked' after leaving car parked on pavement blocking home 'for two days' (picture) 

A Selly Park councillor has slammed a driver for leaving a car dumped across pavement outside a resident's home

https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/midlands-news/driver-told-eyes-che...

Bad drivers 'park wherever they want' in 'lawless' suburb as call issued for tougher enforcement 

Activist Naveed Sadiq believes major intervention is needed from police and the council to crackdown on illegal parking in Small Heat

https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/midlands-news/bad-drivers-park-whe...

"Ah, medical episode, mind how you go sir". This whole "it was a medical episode" is starting to wear a bit thin for me.

PS This was back in June - good luck if you need hospital this week. 

https://www.hertfordshiremercury.co.uk/news/hertfordshire-news/a1m-crash...

More than 300 motorists to receive speeding tickets after car meet motorised mass trespass* near Reading

Other motorists were given section 59 warnings and fixed penalty notices

https://www.getreading.co.uk/news/reading-berkshire-news/reading-car-300...

*TIFTFY

we've created a monster in drivers haven't we. 

https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/politics/live-updates-20mph-speed-lim...

driver poor little me/ victimhood update from the Alliance of Bad Drivers 

Could Kent be set to follow Wales in seeing 20mph zones replace the 30mph limit on residential roads?

' “Now it’s being done by stealth. It's just madness.

“All we want to do in this country is punish the motorist and make life as difficult and miserable as possible. Far better, surely, to get people to drive more carefully.”

It is open to debate as whether that particular horse has already bolted.

“It's all very well saying if you hit someone at 30mph it's worse than if it was 20mph - our philosophy is let's not hit them in the first place. You should be driving properly and paying attention.” ' Drivers - asking nicely for 100 years now. 

https://www.kentonline.co.uk/kent/news/could-kent-towns-be-set-for-blank...

Paramedics saw BMW speed past on Thanet Way, Whitstable - then found Ramsgate drug-driver in mangled wreck

I put this one in as it turns out he was a lorry driver (who lost his job as a result of this) and the story includes the most common reason for car journey in the UK.  

This is what you are defending, ABD:

"It had been his birthday and, after enjoying dinner with his partner, he had gone out in the car again to get some cigarettes. He crashed after swerving on a bend and hitting water on the road.

A court heard how Hathaway, who was driving a BMW 5 Series sport edition, had tailgated an ambulance travelling at 80mph on the A299."

https://www.kentonline.co.uk/thanet/news/paramedics-saw-bmw-speed-past-t...

Guildford town centre to go car free for a day as it puts pedestrians first

E bikes, market stalls, a climbing wall and a rock band will be taking the place of cars as Guildford goes green

https://www.getsurrey.co.uk/news/surrey-news/guildford-town-centre-go-ca...

Tell me again what it is you want when you're sending abusives messages, whining about your lot on social media, doing petitions and vandalising the new 20 mph signage:

Air ambulance scrambled after pedestrian hit by car in Whitstable

The person was taken to hospital

https://www.kentlive.news/news/kent-news/air-ambulance-scrambled-after-p...

Pedestrian critically injured after being hit by car in town centre

https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/pedestrian-critically-inju...

Thirteen-year-old pedestrian hit by car in Charmouth

https://www.bridportnews.co.uk/news/23710330.thirteen-year-old-pedestria...

Stenson Fields: Pedestrian seriously hurt in car crash

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-derbyshire-66219855

Girl, 9, dies in hospital after being hit by car at pedestrian crossing

https://metro.co.uk/2023/07/12/west-yorkshire-collision-girl-9-dies-1911...

Police cordon off road outside supermarket after reports of pedestrian hit by vehicle - live updates

https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/bre...

Just a small sample of this summer's crashes. 

Parking ‘chaos’ at Wingham Primary School as parents use neighbouring village hall

“This is private property, that’s the real point here. I would issue parking tickets and hire a parking company.”

However, one mother says she can’t see what the problem is and it’s the only safe choice.

“It’s a 30 minute window we need to use this car park. We aren’t there all day and I really don’t see the issue,” she says.

“We come in and we come out with no problems 99% of the time. Yes, it causes traffic but for a tiny proportion of the day.

She finished: “You cannot stop us from coming into this car park and until a safer alternative is in place parents and myself will continue using it.” (Let me know, Wingham village hall, if you need any beer held.)

https://www.kentonline.co.uk/canterbury/news/school-parking-chaos-demons...

Audi ends up in water-filled ditch as BMW driver 'fails to stop' after incident in Burgh Le Marsh

The blue Audi Quattro left the A158 at Burgh Le Marsh, near to Poppies restaurant, and came to rest in a water-filled ditch on Wednesday, September 20.

Police believe a white BMW may also be involved, but did not stop at the scene. Officers are now appealing for the BMW driver to get in touch.

https://www.lincolnshirelive.co.uk/news/local-news/audi-ends-up-water-fi...

Man who couldn't remember where he parked gets huge help from 'lovely' Cheltenham people

"Social media can have a bad reputation for trolls, bullies and sad individuals posting negative comments. But in this case, people came up trumps." when there's a sportive or a race passing through

https://www.gloucestershirelive.co.uk/news/cheltenham-news/cheltenham-pa...

subtlety does it, as always, for Christmas 2023 

Customer fury over penalty charges at Tesco superstore car park, off Caird Avenue in New Milton - won't be shopping there no more klaxon 

Another mother told how she could not understand why she had been penalised for using a parent and child space with two children aged eight and 15.

“I won’t be shopping in Tesco no more,” she wrote. “I would understand if I had parked in a disability space.”

https://www.tesco.com/store-locator/new-milton/caird-ave - hmm, no information there about parking rules and restrictions like the ages / number of children you need to be toting use the parent & child spaces.  I think if I were Mr Tesco, I'd be tempted to wash my hands of all of it, other than the 3 hour limit.  

https://www.advertiserandtimes.co.uk/news/boycott-calls-amid-complaints-...