RE: ABD Call for Code
Tuesday 4th March 2003
ABD Call for Code
Send a copy of the Highway Code to everyone says ABD
The Association of British Drivers has today called for a copy of the Highway Code to be sent to all road users.
Despair appears to have set in with many ABD members who are witnessing more and more bizarre behavious from other road users.
The ABD say they recognise that it takes more than a set of instructions to make a safe driver, but are of the opinion that there are many road users who don't have a clue how they are supposed to behave on the roads, and who are seemingly oblivious to any of the guidelines and rules set out in the Highway Code.
ABD Chairman Brian Gregory said: "The Highway Code could be mailed to all UK residents for very little if any cost if it were sponsored by industry. We are sure there would be no shortage of companies prepared to pay to advertise on the cover. The Highway Code is not just for drivers but contains valuable guidelines for all road users. Although this initiative would not force people to read the code, it would dramatically increase the chances of more road users gaining greater awareness about safe road use."
Link: www.abd.org.uk , www.highwaycode.gov.uk
Discussion
Bonce said: (OK so it's actually meant to be "Mirror signal mirror manoeuvre")
Pedant.
Can we put a check in there somewhere to make them cancel the move if there is someone there when they check... I am fed up with the "it must be OK, I checked my mirror and signaled, that car should not have been there!"
You could achieve highway code market penetration by it being issued with all new cars and at m.o.t. or with tax disc.The real problem is that of police tolerance of bad behaviour since they are so busy chasing easy target speeders on motorway(why?)or transferred to anti terrorist.Roadcraft would be nice but unrealistic since it is not compulsary but introducing theory retest and even road test for any offenders would sweep some of the goons off our beloved roads.Oh yes-and remember that the driving test is the lowest acceptable standard-so why don't the police enforce that?
If you guys read the highway code it repeats mirror-signal-manouvre on many pages(i'm an ex driving instructor and pedant). As advanced drivers(I hope)then we know that is only the basis for good driving-360 observation at all times is the only safe way(get some eyes transplanted on the back of your head!)
sublimatica said: .... Insurance costs would come down, which would cover it.
You don't really believe that insurance companies would do that do you?
If we were all required to take further driving tuition and to be assessed on a regular basis (failure to meet a set standard after, say, two tries, would require sitting another driving test), I suspect there would be a substantial reduction in accidents without the need for lowering speed limits - but it would also result in a reduction in revenue for the government and a similar reduction in votes.
Christmas for turkeys voting (rearrange!)
DVLA send out all sorts of current advice leaflets with excise licence reminders and applications of which I would guess most is put straight into the recycle bin without passing go!
It would be interesting to know how many ABD members can honestly say they have current up to date copies of the highway code and have kept up their knowledge of its content.
Most of the people I take for advanced tuition have only the knowledge they required to pass their tests from the highway code an a lot of that is forgotten, some of them many years past into the bargain and these are people that take a real interest in their driving skills. Even simple things like asking them to describe the exact meaning of road signs we pass have many struggling into the albums of their memory and failing badly (thats if they even see the sign
without being prompted)
It would be interesting to know how many ABD members can honestly say they have current up to date copies of the highway code and have kept up their knowledge of its content.
Most of the people I take for advanced tuition have only the knowledge they required to pass their tests from the highway code an a lot of that is forgotten, some of them many years past into the bargain and these are people that take a real interest in their driving skills. Even simple things like asking them to describe the exact meaning of road signs we pass have many struggling into the albums of their memory and failing badly (thats if they even see the sign
without being prompted)
mybrainhurts said: Madcop.........in your experience, what's the most frequent cause of RTA's?
Not concentrating on the job in hand. Attention is diverted to some other action other than what is required at the time. This can be attributed to many things from distractions outside the vehicle to actions and distractions within it where the drivers full attention is diverted by something he is doing in addition to driving or someone else is doing in the vehicle that distracts him/her.
Many people get away with performing other tasks while they are driving most of the time The problem is they get complacent about the actions which could be something like:-
texting someone on their phone/laptop, re-arranging paperwork, reading directions from maps and bits of paper, fiddling with CD or tapes which are stored in inaccessible places whilst the vehicle is in motion. Talking on the phone, talking to passengers whilst looking at them, distracted by kids fighting in the back, looking over hedges to see if Jone's sheep have still got footrot, unwrapping vacuum sealed packs of sandwiches, drinking from various vessels without a straw, looking at t1ts and bums, looking at other accidents, dropping lighted cigarettes into the reproductive area, driving in a trance whilst thinking about what is happening at work, home, squash club etc, driving too fast for the prevailing weather/traffic conditions and doing any manner of the above. Stress of having to be somewhere at an appointed time and being late, taking chances because they are late, scraping ice off the windows in the morning and then driving in the same manner that is habitual for conditions in mid August and many many more.
The problem is that there are too many things within the cabin environment that are tempting to divert attention from what should be the main priority and just as many distractions outside the cabin area that many people do not have the discipline or self control to ignore. As I said, most of the time, people get away with it. When they get really complacent about their abilities to cope with the control of the vehicle and add on a few too many other tasks, is when the wheel often comes off.
I think it would be good amongst all the 'Speed Kills' and 'Watch your speed' signs to maybe having a few with other pieces of driving advice. Since I particularly hate middle lane hogs, I was very pleased to see on a recent trip to Tasmania they had big signs on any two lane road 'Keep left unless overtaking', and this seemed generally to be observed.
Biannual retest is overdoing it.Compulsion should only be needed by gawps and @ 70yrs(they do it in Oz).The system could not cope with the number of retests for all-it barely copes now and the poor staff are underpaid,overstressed and it's a piss poor job to boot. And where on earth would you find enough anal retentives to fill the posts.
madcop said:
drinking from various vessels without a straw, looking at t1ts and bums,
Does this mean you would accept drinking with a straw?
Tits & bums kept in quote for no other reason that they're good
Where do you stand on smoking in the car, surely as dangerous or distracting as being on a mobile phone (lighting up mainly).
Sorry to all smokers here but you get my point?
FourWheelDrift said:
Does this mean you would accept drinking with a straw?
Tits & bums kept in quote for no other reason that they're good
Yes, as it does not require you to tilt your head backwards and cause you to have an obstruction in front of your eyes whilst you do it.
Where do you stand on smoking in the car, surely as dangerous or distracting as being on a mobile phone (lighting up mainly).
Sorry to all smokers here but you get my point?
Just why I included dropping the burning article into your reproductive area. I didn't include focusing on the end if it 3 inches from your nose whilst you ignite it. Of course there is a risk especially if the lighting is done with a gas lighter and not the cigarette lighter that you can enclose around the end of the fag by touch rather than sight.
I used to smoke years ago. The only me at fault accident I have ever been involved in was when I was 19 and was attempting to put a smoked 'fag but' out of the crack at the top of the window because it was cold, when I failed to spot the woman in front stop at a mini roundabout and hit her up the ar5e.
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