[David9694]

A new catch-all Tea Shop thread for those miscellaneous new stories that don’t quite fit with parking, crashing into buildings or trapped/prisoners in their homes. 

Topic

[David9694]

A tonic for a Monday morning

A tonic for a Monday morning – daft things drivers say to the police when they’re pulled over:

Posting on its Facebook page, the team said: “This BMW caught speeding over 100mph M6 J13-J12. When stopped we found both rear tyres were below the legal limit and the front windows heavily tinted. Driver replied to us about the tyres: ‘It doesn’t matter about the two tyres it’s a 4×4’. Driver reported and PG9 issued.”

https://www.stokesentinel.co.uk/news/stoke-on-trent-news/what-bmw-driver-said-after-10583182?int_source=nba

[David9694]

chrisonabike wrote:

chrisonabike wrote:

I don’t think we’re going back.

Ah nuts. 

[David9694]

Eype car park: Driver warns

Eype car park: Driver warns of parking fines at Euro Car Park

A MOTORIST says he has been left feeling ‘bullied and intimidated’ after being slapped with hefty charges after parking at a west Dorset beauty spot.

 He added: “We should be able to enjoy our beaches without threat of legal action and financial consequence, especially when abiding by the rules.

https://www.dorsetecho.co.uk/news/25553069.eype-car-park-driver-warns-parking-fines-euro-car-park/?ref=cprfa

This case does seem to have progressed through to the County Court and a CCJ issued against him, so there are episodes of this story which are missing.  Not much good bellyaching to the press now, not least for the mainly barrack room “advice” in the comments.  His next steps are pay up, face recovery action (bailiffs, ultimately) or apply to have the judgement set aside.  He might have a chance if he were parked slightly off as it’s not tarmaced and line marked.

It used to be an honesty box arrangement: 

https://www.bridportnews.co.uk/news/24563210.major-upset-euro-car-parks-changes-eype-beach/

This driver took his little girl down there out of hours (after 9 pm)

https://www.dorsetecho.co.uk/news/24664710.eype-people-still-awaiting-response-euro-car-parks/

[David9694]

Or 1600 tragedies – repeated

Or 1600 tragedies – repeated year after year. 

[Tom_77]

David9694 wrote:

Furthermore, if the number is low enough that you can actually name the victims, it then highlights that human tragedy even further.

One death is a tragedy, 1600 deaths is a statistic.

 

[chrisonabike]

I don’t think we’re going
I don’t think we’re going back. In fact if Reform are the serious challengers by the next election I’d imagine it will be Labour saying that they’re going to put the boot in to some specific EU migration-adjacent things but not go wild like their opponents.

Reform will presumably be promising to get Brexit *really* done (Make it illegal to fly the EU flag? Align with US “low regulation” food, goods and business policies? Propose a league with Hungary and Turkey? Start widening the Channel?)

[David9694]

Ah yes, London’s finest:

Ah yes, London’s finest:

Normally when drivers accumulate 12 points on their licence they receive an automatic 6 month ban, but in the case of LTDA members, over 90% of those represented by our barristers receive a ban of just 1 month, or in most cases, no ban whatsoever.

see also: 

pages 18 & 19 Cycling under the spotlight

“Munk is correct when he says that cyclists are responsible for fewer than 1% of pedestrian deaths on Britain’s roads. However, that statistic doesn’t really wash if you’re the family member of a victim who has been killed by a cyclist. Percentages can be, albeit unintentionally, somewhat dehumanising and misleading. Giving a straight figure rather than a percentage makes those tragic deaths and injuries feel personal and gives the subject more gravitas.

Furthermore, if the number is low enough that you can actually name the victims, it then highlights that human tragedy even further.” 

https://www.taxinewspaper.co.uk/assets/files/downloads/TAXI_595.pdf

Well quite – the number of people killed by cyclists in a year is so small you could name them all and invite them all round to your house.  1,600 people killed by drivers: you would need to hire somewhere. 

 

[David9694]

Mr Blackbird wrote:

Mr Blackbird wrote:

I suspect that a lot of Reform voters are from poorer areas who feel that the two main parties have not done much to improve their lot. Farage’s bullshit about reducing taxes and reducing immigration (because in the eyes of Reform UK it is a root cause of all ills) must seem like the only hope for change. Shame Farage never highlights the negative effects of Brexit on the economy and public finances.

Brexit Is Back on the Menu

With Cabinet ministers finally admitting Brexit’s economic damage, the ground is shifting – and the path to rejoin Europe may soon be framed not as retreat, but renewal.

Blaming Brexit offers a convenient narrative: we would be doing better, if only our trade ties weren’t so restricted. For Labour, this is a safe space to occupy. It allows the party to acknowledge the pain without reopening the ideological divisions that tore the country apart after 2016.

Brexit Is Back on the Menu

Starting to slide into Reform and their problems territory here, but I so much want to believe what this opinion piece is saying: however, time for Labour is already getting on.  

The “it won’t get polarised” narrative continues:

Crucially, the next time this debate happens, the tone will be different. The case to rejoin will not be based on fear or doom, as it was in 2016, but on optimism and opportunity. Rejoining can be framed as a route to growth, stability and partnership – not submission. It can be presented as a positive step towards making Britain more secure, more prosperous and more influential in a rapidly changing world.

Politically, that’s powerful terrain for Labour. It allows the government to speak to business, young voters and disillusioned moderates in the same breath. It also lets them contrast an optimistic, outward-looking Britain with the inward, fractious nationalism of the Tory years. When framed that way, rejoining the single market – or even reapplying for full membership – becomes less about going backwards and more about moving forward again. 

[Rendel Harris]

ktache wrote:

It’s a bit of a read, but the opening line from the LTDA is just priceless…

https://www.theguardian.com/news/ng-interactive/2025/oct/18/driverless-cars-uk-autonomy-waymo-london

Reminds one of Harry Enfield and Paul Whitehouse as Lee and Lance the butchers: “Surfing on Waymos Lance, is that what you want, because that’s what’s gonna ‘appen!”

[ktache]

It’s a bit of a read, but the

It’s a bit of a read, but the opening line from the LTDA is just priceless…

https://www.theguardian.com/news/ng-interactive/2025/oct/18/driverless-cars-uk-autonomy-waymo-london

[Mr Blackbird]

Yes, but having been
Yes, but having been disqualified, he drove within minutes.
I live in Peterborough and get so pissed off reading about drivers getting caught with no licence, no insurance, pissed, on drugs, car not roadworthy, currently banned from driving.
People that fall so foul of the law do not see a ban as a deterrent, because they continue to drive.

[chrisonabike]

Jogle wrote:

Jogle wrote:

A man who admitted drug driving and was disqualified for 17 months has been arrested after driving away from court in a distinctive yellow car.

Quite right – it clearly wasn’t in keeping with the seriousness of the occasion!

Presumably he’ll just be given the usual stern warning not to do it again, again, after he points out he wasn’t high this time so it’s no worse than many others do…

[Jogle]

Mr Blackbird wrote:

Mr Blackbird wrote:

Does this not highlight the futility of driving bans in some cases?

Does it also highlight that, despite admitting drug driving, he didn’t expect to be disqualified?

[Mr Blackbird]

Does this not highlight the
Does this not highlight the futility of driving bans in some cases?

[Jogle]

Disqualified driver arrested
[b]Disqualified driver arrested after driving away from court[/b]

A man who admitted drug driving and was disqualified for 17 months has been arrested after driving away from court in a distinctive yellow car.

https://www.itv.com/news/border/2025-10-16/disqualified-driver-arrested-after-driving-away-from-court

[Author]

Replies