UH-OH! FLASHING BLUE LIGHTS IN THE REAR VIEW MIRROR!
Discussion
On my way to an appointment yesterday. On an ex-NSL-now-nanny-state-50 stretch of the A4095, some old biddy pulls out of a side road in front of me and waddles along at about 35. Safe to overtake, shift lever over to the left to let the AMG Speedshift choose the optimum overtaking gear, mirror-signal-manoeuvre, overtake, pull back in and continue at 50.
No idea what speed I might have achieved during the overtaking manouevre as my eyes were on the road - but my car has 354 bhp and a claimed 0 to 60 time of 4.8 seconds.
Round the next slight curve I am again slowed down to about 40 mph by another dawdler. Road has one of the new nanny-state 'ghost islands' with non-continuous edge markings, so it's not unlawful to cross the irrelevant and potentially distracting markings. Road otherwise clear, safe to overtake, shifter left, M-S-M, overtake, pull back in and continue at 50 mph.
Checking mirror again, I see headlamps and flashing blues from a silver coloured Ford Focus behind the dawdler. "Sh*t", I think, "Where did he come from? He must want me!". It is impossible to stop and pull over as the idiotic council has inflicted a never-used high-kerbed cycle lane on what was once a perfectly good road. So I indicate left and pull over at the next safe opportunity half a mile further on......
But the BiB, having finally managed to attract the attention of the dawdling old git who had held me up and had then managed to overtake themselves, go barrelling past at high speed with headlamps, blues and siren, and indicate "Thank you" with a courteous wave. They were obviously on a shout - and simply needed to get past!
It seems the sun was shining in more than one way yesterday in British West Oxfordshire!
>> Edited by nickwilcock on Saturday 3rd September 07:51
No idea what speed I might have achieved during the overtaking manouevre as my eyes were on the road - but my car has 354 bhp and a claimed 0 to 60 time of 4.8 seconds.
Round the next slight curve I am again slowed down to about 40 mph by another dawdler. Road has one of the new nanny-state 'ghost islands' with non-continuous edge markings, so it's not unlawful to cross the irrelevant and potentially distracting markings. Road otherwise clear, safe to overtake, shifter left, M-S-M, overtake, pull back in and continue at 50 mph.
Checking mirror again, I see headlamps and flashing blues from a silver coloured Ford Focus behind the dawdler. "Sh*t", I think, "Where did he come from? He must want me!". It is impossible to stop and pull over as the idiotic council has inflicted a never-used high-kerbed cycle lane on what was once a perfectly good road. So I indicate left and pull over at the next safe opportunity half a mile further on......
But the BiB, having finally managed to attract the attention of the dawdling old git who had held me up and had then managed to overtake themselves, go barrelling past at high speed with headlamps, blues and siren, and indicate "Thank you" with a courteous wave. They were obviously on a shout - and simply needed to get past!
It seems the sun was shining in more than one way yesterday in British West Oxfordshire!
>> Edited by nickwilcock on Saturday 3rd September 07:51
Witney to Long Hanborough?
Sounds like the classical West Oxon road with a completely insane Turkey 50, a cyclepath and ghost islands. Then, Long Hanborough... used to be 40, perfectly safely. Now a jungle of humps, bumps, 30 limits, islands and suspension-rippers. It used to be quite a pleasant village until the Council managed to vandalise it to a scale that is absolutely awesome.
Sounds like the classical West Oxon road with a completely insane Turkey 50, a cyclepath and ghost islands. Then, Long Hanborough... used to be 40, perfectly safely. Now a jungle of humps, bumps, 30 limits, islands and suspension-rippers. It used to be quite a pleasant village until the Council managed to vandalise it to a scale that is absolutely awesome.
Yup, that's the one! The first idiot pulled out from the old road into Witney where it meets the north end of Jubilee Way.
I've never seen any cyclist brave enough to use that lethal cycle track!
The whole Witney to Bladon section is now a mish-mash of turkey limits and every road obstruction known to the nanny-state bar landmines. It's an utter disgrace...
I've never seen any cyclist brave enough to use that lethal cycle track!
The whole Witney to Bladon section is now a mish-mash of turkey limits and every road obstruction known to the nanny-state bar landmines. It's an utter disgrace...
MMC said:
Witney to Long Hanborough?
Sounds like the classical West Oxon road with a completely insane Turkey 50...
I was out on my bike on Friday, and made the mistake of going from Faringdon to Oxford on the A420. Pretty much all the single carriageway parts are now 50 limits, for absolutely NO obvious reason. I would imagine
that anyone frustrated by such a ludicrous speed policy would be very keen to get well over three figures on the dual carriageway sections (keeping eyes peeled for the inevitable talivan of course). Drove from Reading to Oxford and back today - on 2 different routes.
Both fast roads with plenty of overtaking spots (A4074 and A34/A417). Held up by pikeys, caravans, lorries, horse boxes and ambulances. No one overtaking, ever - due to ghost islands
As for driving in Oxford... Sheer DANGEROUS hell due to all the daft congestion causing 'road safety' measures...
Both fast roads with plenty of overtaking spots (A4074 and A34/A417). Held up by pikeys, caravans, lorries, horse boxes and ambulances. No one overtaking, ever - due to ghost islands
As for driving in Oxford... Sheer DANGEROUS hell due to all the daft congestion causing 'road safety' measures...
Watch this space chaps. County Hall has been busy whilst everyone who might object has been off on their hols:
Curbridge - W. Oxon: Used to be 60, been 40 for the last two years, now about to be 30 with the limit stretched out further at either end.
Bicester-Newton Purcell and Tingewick - Used to be 60, now about to be 50 all the way (signs already in but masked), Newton Purcell already gone from 60 to 40.
And I suspect there are plenty more where they came from.
This is the same County Council, mind, who think a galv.steel post in the middle of one of the cycle tracks I use regularly is a good idea...
And the same CC who are about to shove in traffic calming in my village without any reference to traffic calming in sensitive areas.
Speed reduction - no matter where, no matter when - it's like an article of faith with OCC. And they wonder why drivers now treat most speed limits with utter contempt.
Curbridge - W. Oxon: Used to be 60, been 40 for the last two years, now about to be 30 with the limit stretched out further at either end.
Bicester-Newton Purcell and Tingewick - Used to be 60, now about to be 50 all the way (signs already in but masked), Newton Purcell already gone from 60 to 40.
And I suspect there are plenty more where they came from.
This is the same County Council, mind, who think a galv.steel post in the middle of one of the cycle tracks I use regularly is a good idea...
And the same CC who are about to shove in traffic calming in my village without any reference to traffic calming in sensitive areas.
Speed reduction - no matter where, no matter when - it's like an article of faith with OCC. And they wonder why drivers now treat most speed limits with utter contempt.
This is the same bunch of idiots who claimed to be putting an end to their 'war on the motorist' as one of their manifesto claims.
No doubt their new turkey 30 limit will stretch all the way from the Grey Gables garage to Witney.....
I've copied MMC with all my correspondence to Keith Mitchell and David Robertson of OCC regarding their continuing war on the motorist. Robertson had the nerve to say:
"We are delivering on our manifesto promise " Provide traffic calming where it is wanted" - The local community have made it very clear, through their Parish Council, that they want the chicanes as they have proved to slow traffic down to the statutory speed limit."
To which I replied:
"I quote the words of Mandy Rice-Davies:
"They would say that, wouldn't they?"
That's like asking turkeys whether they wish to vote for the abolition of Christmas. Of course the local loudmouths will want everything other than their own vehicles totally banned from their villages, given half a chance. Perhaps if you persuaded this inept government to spend money where it is really needed - A40 dualling from London to Cheltenham, A34 upgraded to motorway standard, relief for Marcham etc etc, the pressure on rural alternative routes would ease."
He also wrote:
"We will carry on trying to walk the fine line to provide for communities and to look after the car drivers. Car drivers would make it easier to do if they would stick to the legitimate speed limits."
To which I replied:
"And why is it that you consider that only 'car drivers' would 'make it easier to do if they would stick to the legitimate limits'? Bus and HGV drivers are often to blame for speeding through rural villages. In addition, if the plethora of totally absurd speed limits hadn't been inflicted on Oxfordshire in the first place, motorists might actually respect them more. I cite the ridiculous limits on the A415 between Abingdon and Berinsfield as a typical example.
Sorry, but we were expecting a breath of fresh air from a Conservative Council. Instead it's just the same old war on the motorist now painted blue. Why did we ever bother to vote for you, I ask myself.
I repeat, I hope that it won't take death caused by YOUR (Bampton) chicanes to wake you up to the danger posed by such lethal road obstructions. Should that ever happen, I shall make it abundantly clear to the local media that you were advised in no uncertain terms about the danger posed by your policies."
Funnily enough, after this he was a bit more conciliatory and responded:
"Thank you for your comments - I am interested to hear your views, especially about how you think we can improve the lot of motorists and would like to invite you to attend and participate in our Conservative Policy Development Group discussions. Previously, (MMC) has provided some constructive( from a motorist perspective) input to this group and your views would be welcome.
The group meet in Oxford, on a regular(but no too frequent) basis. Should you be interested in joining us, then let me know and I will make the arrangements."
Well, still waiting to hear back from you, David!
Shall give the beggars a nudge about this latest turkey 30 limit in Curbridge and see what they have to say. I understand that the most recent accident in the area happened to a police vehicle which skidded on the layer of gravel which the council evidently considers to be a properly resurfaced road.
Did anyone else catch that excellent documentary about the German autobahn system last night? Light years ahead of the appalling UK road system.
No doubt their new turkey 30 limit will stretch all the way from the Grey Gables garage to Witney.....
I've copied MMC with all my correspondence to Keith Mitchell and David Robertson of OCC regarding their continuing war on the motorist. Robertson had the nerve to say:
"We are delivering on our manifesto promise " Provide traffic calming where it is wanted" - The local community have made it very clear, through their Parish Council, that they want the chicanes as they have proved to slow traffic down to the statutory speed limit."
To which I replied:
"I quote the words of Mandy Rice-Davies:
"They would say that, wouldn't they?"
That's like asking turkeys whether they wish to vote for the abolition of Christmas. Of course the local loudmouths will want everything other than their own vehicles totally banned from their villages, given half a chance. Perhaps if you persuaded this inept government to spend money where it is really needed - A40 dualling from London to Cheltenham, A34 upgraded to motorway standard, relief for Marcham etc etc, the pressure on rural alternative routes would ease."
He also wrote:
"We will carry on trying to walk the fine line to provide for communities and to look after the car drivers. Car drivers would make it easier to do if they would stick to the legitimate speed limits."
To which I replied:
"And why is it that you consider that only 'car drivers' would 'make it easier to do if they would stick to the legitimate limits'? Bus and HGV drivers are often to blame for speeding through rural villages. In addition, if the plethora of totally absurd speed limits hadn't been inflicted on Oxfordshire in the first place, motorists might actually respect them more. I cite the ridiculous limits on the A415 between Abingdon and Berinsfield as a typical example.
Sorry, but we were expecting a breath of fresh air from a Conservative Council. Instead it's just the same old war on the motorist now painted blue. Why did we ever bother to vote for you, I ask myself.
I repeat, I hope that it won't take death caused by YOUR (Bampton) chicanes to wake you up to the danger posed by such lethal road obstructions. Should that ever happen, I shall make it abundantly clear to the local media that you were advised in no uncertain terms about the danger posed by your policies."
Funnily enough, after this he was a bit more conciliatory and responded:
"Thank you for your comments - I am interested to hear your views, especially about how you think we can improve the lot of motorists and would like to invite you to attend and participate in our Conservative Policy Development Group discussions. Previously, (MMC) has provided some constructive( from a motorist perspective) input to this group and your views would be welcome.
The group meet in Oxford, on a regular(but no too frequent) basis. Should you be interested in joining us, then let me know and I will make the arrangements."
Well, still waiting to hear back from you, David!
Shall give the beggars a nudge about this latest turkey 30 limit in Curbridge and see what they have to say. I understand that the most recent accident in the area happened to a police vehicle which skidded on the layer of gravel which the council evidently considers to be a properly resurfaced road.
Did anyone else catch that excellent documentary about the German autobahn system last night? Light years ahead of the appalling UK road system.
nickwilcock said:
Hmmm - perhaps my e-mails may have had some effect! A rather miffed Conservative council officer has advised me that he has "issued an instruction that no work is progressed on this or any other ad hoc speed limit in the County" until he's had time to investigate them personally.
"ad hoc"? Is that how speed limits are designed now? Fills me with confidence....
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