dirty weather, is it worth washing you car?
Discussion
or just cleaning your 'lenses' ie lights, mirrors, windows.
By the time I get to the number plate, my rag is already filthy, so unfortunately it tends to get missed.
The rear plate is completely unreadable now, but for some reason the desire to clean it isn't there.
(typical reply would be 'offence under act blah blah - failure to display blah blah (20-30 pounds no points!, or more sadly 'it's people like you who kill children'.
interstingly, as VW golfs are RENOUND for having dirty tailgates, it would mean that you would have to stop every 10 miles or so on the motorway to clean your numberplate so the gatsos can get you and therefore make you drive safely.
Oh, roll on that election!
By the time I get to the number plate, my rag is already filthy, so unfortunately it tends to get missed.
The rear plate is completely unreadable now, but for some reason the desire to clean it isn't there.
(typical reply would be 'offence under act blah blah - failure to display blah blah (20-30 pounds no points!, or more sadly 'it's people like you who kill children'.
interstingly, as VW golfs are RENOUND for having dirty tailgates, it would mean that you would have to stop every 10 miles or so on the motorway to clean your numberplate so the gatsos can get you and therefore make you drive safely.
Oh, roll on that election!
hmm. perhaps you can get a 'plate net' similar to a 'hair net' you might use in the shower. :-)
Nah, sod it. it can stay dirty for the time being.
wonder what you could get done for on a motorway. Perhaps you ARE obligued to keep stoppin and cleaning your number plate at regular intervals, even though legally you can't stop on a motorway!.
Oh what a farce.
Nah, sod it. it can stay dirty for the time being.
wonder what you could get done for on a motorway. Perhaps you ARE obligued to keep stoppin and cleaning your number plate at regular intervals, even though legally you can't stop on a motorway!.
Oh what a farce.
popov123 said:
In answer to your question - I would say YES it is worth washing your car, if only to stop all that nasty cr@p they are now throwing all over the roads building up and eating your car away from underneath.
Yes I agree. It may seem to be a waste of time washing your car only to have it mucked up again next time you go out, but I still wash our car frequently during the winter months.
I may not wash the whole car every time, but I certainly do the glass, lights, number plates* and the alloy wheels.
It may sound a bit ridiculous but I feel I drive better when the car is smart and clean, so that's maybe not a bad thing.
Best wishes all,
Dave.
*It might be better not to be too diligent with those!
I saw a filthy Vectra last week on the Derby ringroad, local panda car had pulled him over and the driver was wiping the rear plate. Only a few moments earlier I had wiped the rear plate of my Furby at the petrol station. A little later on the A38 and I had an unmarked burgundy coloured Omega behind me, I am glad I had cleaned the plate as it was completely black and unreadable (also glad I had clocked the unmarked car whilst in traffic, as I would have been giving it large when it cleared).
Often park in many 'interesting' parts of London on business so happy to have the daily runner a bit dirty. Less likely to get keyed. Easy to manage these days, shiny as a button on Sundays then it's filthy after one early morning Kengestion beating Monday run.
Goes against the grain though - to me, car cleaning is enjoyable and therapeutic. Zymol wax smells absolutely divine and I'm tempted to keep a small sample as stress relief, memory association and all that. Sad? No, couldn't be happier in a Zymol induced high
Goes against the grain though - to me, car cleaning is enjoyable and therapeutic. Zymol wax smells absolutely divine and I'm tempted to keep a small sample as stress relief, memory association and all that. Sad? No, couldn't be happier in a Zymol induced high
How dissapointed am I ? 150+ miles thru the Yorkshire Wolds today and the only thing you can see is the bloody number plate....
...good job no speed limits were broken
...and yes I know my lights need cleaning
>> Edited by stepej on Sunday 12th December 21:31
>> Edited by stepej on Sunday 12th December 21:34
...good job no speed limits were broken
...and yes I know my lights need cleaning
>> Edited by stepej on Sunday 12th December 21:31
>> Edited by stepej on Sunday 12th December 21:34
stepej said:
How dissapointed am I ? 150+ miles thru the Yorkshire Wolds today and the only thing you can see is the bloody number plate....
...good job no speed limits were broken
...and yes I know my lights need cleaning
Ah yes, the delights of motoring on country roads, damp and muddy, slippery etc.
Best wishes all,
Dave.
Hi Bryan..
I can see where you're coming from....and it's understandable...
However there are more reasons that speed camera activations why I as a copper would like your plate to be visible..
ANPR activations, PNC checks as you pass by etc etc...
Which is why I generally issue fixed penalty tickets to those motorists who have made no effort whatsoever to clear their numberplates.
Your statement about VW Golfs is absolutely correct...the aerod's of the car seem so suck all the dirt and grime around the tailgait...
So, I'm afraid it does cost £££ motorists who I come into contact with, but like you say..while you're getting away with it..it's cheaper than 3 points and £60.
Having said that...the pictures obtained from truvelos in my force can be enhanced to read taxdiscs...so people had better start covering THEM up with wiper blades and mud too...
I can see where you're coming from....and it's understandable...
However there are more reasons that speed camera activations why I as a copper would like your plate to be visible..
ANPR activations, PNC checks as you pass by etc etc...
Which is why I generally issue fixed penalty tickets to those motorists who have made no effort whatsoever to clear their numberplates.
Your statement about VW Golfs is absolutely correct...the aerod's of the car seem so suck all the dirt and grime around the tailgait...
So, I'm afraid it does cost £££ motorists who I come into contact with, but like you say..while you're getting away with it..it's cheaper than 3 points and £60.
Having said that...the pictures obtained from truvelos in my force can be enhanced to read taxdiscs...so people had better start covering THEM up with wiper blades and mud too...
No Discretion said:
Your statement about VW Golfs is absolutely correct...the aerod's of the car seem so suck all the dirt and grime around the tailgait...
Same I find on the Focus... constantly having to wash/wipe the rear window in drizzly weather/mucky roads as it all seems to congregate on the tailgate.
No Discretion said:
Which is why I generally issue fixed penalty tickets to those motorists who have made no effort whatsoever to clear their numberplates.
Last winter I spent up North
all the cars were going around looking like iced cakes with holes scraped where the windows were. You could hardly see where the plates were, let alone read them. That must keep you busy pdV6 said:
Same I find on the Focus... constantly having to wash/wipe the rear window in drizzly weather/mucky roads as it all seems to congregate on the tailgate.
Exactly the same on my Focus estate - even the slightest bit of moisture on the road and it all swirls around the back with reduced visibility in no time at all. I've given up on worrying about making it spotless til the spring or at least til the roads have been washed off a bit - i'll suffice with a weekly run to the local 99p jetwash for now, just to get the worst of it off... What is it about that shape of car though? Never had the problem in my old Astra estate or hatch.....
Pigeon said:
Which is why I generally issue fixed penalty tickets to those motorists who have made no effort whatsoever to clear their numberplates.
Last winter I spent up North
You'd think so.....however, the other night, I was the motorway car...so had plenty of opportunity...yet only pulled over 3 cars with dirty plates. Having said that...I do only pull those in that are really bad.
One driver, when sat in the rear of my car...couldn't remember his number plate and couldn't read it from where he was sat; even though we were directly behind his vehicle.
I'm always surprised and obviously pleased at how many people do take the time and effort to clean their plates, lights mirrors etc...
havoc said:
Saw a repmobile this morning that can't have been washed for months...the FRONT numberplate was completely illegible at any more than 10-15 feet, and then you had to look closely.
I thought then "Now THERE'S an interesting idea..."!
ive been spotted Thats the good thing about having another focus 10 miles on a crappy road and you have a stealth plate , and sorry street lamp i wont be cleaning my plates for you to spy , anyway there isnt enough traff pol around these days as they have been replaced by fatties in van
No Discretion,
As a matter of interest, on that same shift, how many cars did you stop for only having one headlamp working?
Not being funny, but dirty number plates are naughty, but not dangerous, whilst faulty headlights are not only naughty, but dangerous, especially to oncoming traffic.
As a matter of interest, on that same shift, how many cars did you stop for only having one headlamp working?
Not being funny, but dirty number plates are naughty, but not dangerous, whilst faulty headlights are not only naughty, but dangerous, especially to oncoming traffic.
No Discretion said:
Having said that...the pictures obtained from truvelos in my force can be enhanced to read taxdiscs...so people had better start covering THEM up with wiper blades and mud too...
Cheers for the heads up ND
cue small strip of 3M opaque tape to cover written details As if I would 
Edited to add In relation to cleaning the car, I always clean the lenses/plates even if the thing is smothered in cr*p so that I don't get rear ended by someone who didn't see me.. The rest of the time I'm not bothered by a bit of road grime on the bodywork (unless its the Tivs)..
>> Edited by seamus on Monday 13th December 21:39
I thought that "Failure To Display" was when you had no plate whatsoever, whereas a broken/illegible plate attracts a much more serious charge.
That aside, washing your car isn't just about keeping it looking good cosmetically. It stops the thick build-up of grime on the body and brake dust on the wheels from eating away at your vehicle.
You should at least give it a quick rinse every couple of weeks, paying particular attention to leaving the number plate mucky as hell.
D
That aside, washing your car isn't just about keeping it looking good cosmetically. It stops the thick build-up of grime on the body and brake dust on the wheels from eating away at your vehicle.
You should at least give it a quick rinse every couple of weeks, paying particular attention to leaving the number plate mucky as hell.
D
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