What road traffic law would you introduce?
Discussion
davepoth said:
Increase the speed limit for artics on the motorway, and make manufacturers add a "push to pass" system to bypass the governor regardless of what limit has been set by the owner.
They can stop incredibly well nowadays and making sure it was possible for them to overtake in less than five minutes would make the roads much less congested.
The speed limit is 60mph on motorways for HGV's. The problem lies with the speed limiter regulations imposed by the EU (90kph/56mph). Before speed limiters, we used to catch someone up, and overtake. If it needed you to go marginally over the speed limit, we did, getting around the other truck quickly.They can stop incredibly well nowadays and making sure it was possible for them to overtake in less than five minutes would make the roads much less congested.
Elephant racing wasn't a problem before this stupid piece of legislation. Generally, plod observed and used their discretion. If a heavy driver was taking the mickey, or constantly speeding, they got a ticket.
caelite said:
Not explicitly a change in law so to speak. But begin measuring vehicle excise duty by weight, rather than CO2. Taxing them in this manner may stem the growing trend for overly large and heavy vehicles, often used as a single occupancy conveyancing.
Add a tax free bracket where zero CO2 vehicles currently sit. This bracket will be the UK 'kei' class, which not only has a weight restriction but also a size restriction. Gradually over time offer schemes encouraging city residents into these vehicles, with smaller, free kei parking available, etc.
This change will have the added effect of decreased emissions, as current taxes only focus on the emissions of a running vehicle. Taxing vehicles in weight encompasses the carbon footprint of the the vehicles fuel usage (assuming lighter tends towards more efficient) as well as the carbon produced for its consumables (assuming lighter tends to use less consumables), producing a lighter vehicle tends to produce less carbon and finally reducing the total amount of work needing done to our ailing roads (yes the majority of damage is dealt but commercials, but it may help to a small degree).
I like this.Add a tax free bracket where zero CO2 vehicles currently sit. This bracket will be the UK 'kei' class, which not only has a weight restriction but also a size restriction. Gradually over time offer schemes encouraging city residents into these vehicles, with smaller, free kei parking available, etc.
This change will have the added effect of decreased emissions, as current taxes only focus on the emissions of a running vehicle. Taxing vehicles in weight encompasses the carbon footprint of the the vehicles fuel usage (assuming lighter tends towards more efficient) as well as the carbon produced for its consumables (assuming lighter tends to use less consumables), producing a lighter vehicle tends to produce less carbon and finally reducing the total amount of work needing done to our ailing roads (yes the majority of damage is dealt but commercials, but it may help to a small degree).
The rest of the suggestions are doomed to fail because of this...
DIW35 said:
What's the point of introducing any more, we haven't got enough BiBs to enforce the ones we've already got.
There is sufficient regulation in place as it stands. Just no one to enforce it.Edited by stevesingo on Tuesday 3rd April 11:43
Stop the creeping that impatient people do on busy / dangerous junctions - cant be bothered to obey the give way signs and push their nose out stopping the oncoming traffic in doing so, in essence make every junction a box junction.
Also those that stop to let cars out from side streets when the traffic is flowing nicely - causing those behind to anchor up for no apparent reason.
Also those that stop to let cars out from side streets when the traffic is flowing nicely - causing those behind to anchor up for no apparent reason.
DurianIceCream said:
I'd get the entire UK to start driving on the right.
Needs phazing in. Perhaps just start with lorries and buses for the 1st few weeks, then vans and taxis for a few more weeks, then cars and motorcycles,then bicyclists.Van speed limits need updating since they have raised the speed limits of HGVs to 50mph on single track roads. All vehicles upto 3.5T should have the same limits applied as cars.
TooMany2cvs said:
Periodic retests for all driving licence holders. Doesn't have to be a full test, as for a learner looking for a full licence - it can be a shortened test.
First retest to be 1yr after losing the L-plates.
Then after another 2yrs (so 3yrs from first pass), then 5yrs (8yrs from first pass), then every decade until age 70, 75, 78, 80, then every year.
Fail, and you can re-take the full learner test within two months.
Fail that, and you're back on L plates - and, when you pass and regain your full licence, you're back to the start of the retest schedule.
And, yes, the driver pays a fee that ensures the costs are covered.
Something like this gets my vote.First retest to be 1yr after losing the L-plates.
Then after another 2yrs (so 3yrs from first pass), then 5yrs (8yrs from first pass), then every decade until age 70, 75, 78, 80, then every year.
Fail, and you can re-take the full learner test within two months.
Fail that, and you're back on L plates - and, when you pass and regain your full licence, you're back to the start of the retest schedule.
And, yes, the driver pays a fee that ensures the costs are covered.
Retest automatically triggered for gentlemen who see fit to wear headgear whilst driving.
With an exception for open topped cars and perhaps a few others-it is work in progress but the principle I feel is sound.
"Thou shalt not simply stop at random whilst progressing down the highway in a stream of normal moving traffic to let someone out of a side-road simply because you are a nice person"
"Thou shalt not do an emergency stop just because an emergency vehicle with blue lights and a siren is vaguely in the vicinity"
"Thou shalt not pull out from a side-road in front of a fast moving vehicle and not move thine arse smartly along the carriageway"
"Thou shalt not do thy weekly shop in the Tesco Express at the local petrol station whilst occupying a place at a pump"
...and numerous others...
"Thou shalt not do an emergency stop just because an emergency vehicle with blue lights and a siren is vaguely in the vicinity"
"Thou shalt not pull out from a side-road in front of a fast moving vehicle and not move thine arse smartly along the carriageway"
"Thou shalt not do thy weekly shop in the Tesco Express at the local petrol station whilst occupying a place at a pump"
...and numerous others...
TooMany2cvs said:
Periodic retests for all driving licence holders. Doesn't have to be a full test, as for a learner looking for a full licence - it can be a shortened test.
Yep - I have suggested something similar in the past. Maybe even just a theory test - to make sure people are keeping up to date with the highway code.Find out which are the most common misconceptions (like NSL on dual carriageways, that the middle and outer lanes on a motorway are overtaking lanes - not the 'fast lanes') - and ensure these are always thrown into the test, with a load of random stuff from elsewhere in the HC.
I also think the HC should be on the national curriculum from primary school - right through secondary. It's bonkers that our road network is so pervasive - yet the first time people most people have any compulsion to read the HC is when they jump in a car for the first time at 17/18 - even though the HC covers all types of road user including pedestrians and cyclists (many of whom are children). It could easily be thrown into general studies type lessons - or even morning assemblies.
Edited by Moonhawk on Tuesday 3rd April 09:43
Moonhawk said:
Find out which are the most common misconceptions (like NSL on dual carriageways, that the middle and outer lanes on a motorway are overtaking lanes - not the 'fast lanes') - and ensure these are always thrown into the test, with a load of random stuff from elsewhere in the HC.
On a speed awareness course I attended 4-5 years ago, nearly 70% of those attending thought National Speed Limit in a car on a single carriageway was 40mph. I was shocked.Edited by Moonhawk on Tuesday 3rd April 09:43
Explains all the dawdlers doing 40mph and getting angry/flashing lights when I overtake and continue on my way at 60mph.
vikingaero said:
(1) Permanent indicators/hazard lights for hard shoulder use on motorways 24hrs a day.
That is you have a problem, you indicate left to pull over onto the hard shoulder, you turn on hazards, problem resolved, you indicate right to rejoin the motorway. You always have an indicator/hazard light on from start of the problem to rejoining. That's to stop the muppetf
kerys who think they can pull over and not use warning lights. Obvious exemptions for emergency services, electrical failure and breakdown services.
Additional to this - i'd also make hazards flash with a different pattern to regular indicators. Something like a double flash for hazards.That is you have a problem, you indicate left to pull over onto the hard shoulder, you turn on hazards, problem resolved, you indicate right to rejoin the motorway. You always have an indicator/hazard light on from start of the problem to rejoining. That's to stop the muppetf
kerys who think they can pull over and not use warning lights. Obvious exemptions for emergency services, electrical failure and breakdown services.Indicators should be - flash.......flash.......flash.....
Hazards should be - flash.flash......flash.flash.....flash.flash
If a car pulls to the side of a road, but in front of another vehicle and puts their hazards on - you cannot see the left indicator to know it's hazards - and as a result it looks like the car is actually has just their right indicator on ready to pull out.
Sad Ken said:
On a speed awareness course I attended 4-5 years ago, nearly 70% of those attending thought National Speed Limit in a car on a single carriageway was 40mph. I was shocked.
Explains all the dawdlers doing 40mph and getting angry/flashing lights when I overtake and continue on my way at 60mph.
Yep - similarly I had an argument with my uncle a few months back as to what the NSL for cars was on dual carriageways. Explains all the dawdlers doing 40mph and getting angry/flashing lights when I overtake and continue on my way at 60mph.
He was insistent it was 60, and wouldn't have it that it was 70 until I actually got the highway code up on my phone and showed him.
He still argued that the online version wasn't valid and he only accepted what the hard copy version said
If you collide with an emerging car when overtaking (or filtering) through a junction, it's assumed to be the fault of the overtaker by default, rather than the emerging party unless there is a compelling reason to the contrary.
Legally require the dashboard to emit a loud, annoying beep when following another car at a distance of less than two seconds, based on the current vehicle speed. (There would be a brief grace period of a few seconds where you're given time to drop back a bit after someone cuts in front of you.)
Legally require the dashboard to emit a loud, annoying beep when following another car at a distance of less than two seconds, based on the current vehicle speed. (There would be a brief grace period of a few seconds where you're given time to drop back a bit after someone cuts in front of you.)
I'd be for regular retests. I enjoyed doing my full bike test a few years ago so if they could make the driving test have a MOD1 which also includes more on parking, positioning and basic checks. So many don't even know how to check fluids. If they did do regular re-testing, perhaps introduce a grading system like they do with advance drivers and offer the incentive of massively reduced insurance for those at a higher standard.
Trucks shouldn't be overtaking at peak times and off peak should have a KERS system to give extra boost while passing. Speeds should be higher on certain motorways anyway, or at least make it so it's just the outer lane that's 100+. But then this relies heavily on lane discipline and the speed differential between lanes. The extra tests should help with that.
Trucks shouldn't be overtaking at peak times and off peak should have a KERS system to give extra boost while passing. Speeds should be higher on certain motorways anyway, or at least make it so it's just the outer lane that's 100+. But then this relies heavily on lane discipline and the speed differential between lanes. The extra tests should help with that.
Moonhawk said:
Yep - similarly I had an argument with my uncle a few months back as to what the NSL for cars was on dual carriageways.
He was insistent it was 60, and wouldn't have it that it was 70 until I actually got the highway code up on my phone and showed him.
He still argued that the online version wasn't valid and he only accepted what the hard copy version said
I find that people get into a habit of following other. One or two will do something the wrong way, and then a few more follow, then everyone does it, and it becomes 'official' in their minds. He was insistent it was 60, and wouldn't have it that it was 70 until I actually got the highway code up on my phone and showed him.
He still argued that the online version wasn't valid and he only accepted what the hard copy version said
There's a dual carriageway round the corner from me, where the left lane splits into two just before a roundabout. Drivers will steam up the right hand land, cutting into the middle, and whack the horn on and get abusive towards anyone who rightly drives up the left into the middle. In their minds they're in the right, and no amount of proving to them that they're not will convince them otherwise. These types definitely need some sort of refresher course/retest.
For those with a downer on mobile phones, smart phones nowadays come with some excellent sat-nav apps, Waze for example is bloody brilliant imo, and genuinely helps keep traffic moving imo. What do you do about that?
On the other hand I do think that the law should look at involving those talking to drivers on phones when things turn bad. Two examples I'm thinking of is the 8-dead M1 lorry smash, and that football agent who killed a highways worker. I think the people distracting those drivers should also have had to attend court.
On the other hand I do think that the law should look at involving those talking to drivers on phones when things turn bad. Two examples I'm thinking of is the 8-dead M1 lorry smash, and that football agent who killed a highways worker. I think the people distracting those drivers should also have had to attend court.
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