Is congestion deliberate?

[sheerwater]

Hi again,
Just for the record I was not suggesting using the hard shoulder for releiving congestion, only as an extra lane at the point of the road blockage. Stu as for your mother being hit on a crossing its worth reading some of the points I made regarding the siting of a new pedestrian crossing within 20 metres od a footbridge and 100 metres of an underpass. My arguement was in this instance that a crosing attracts people away from the footbridge/underpass and places then near to fast moving traffic. Crossings are not foolproof as your poor mum found out and there are plenty out there driving cars who come under the fool heading. Only yesterday some cavalier turbo XR, 2000 valve multiport injection , go faster alloys wwas following me so close on a country road that I didnt know he was there and my kid pointed out that the car behind was so close you couldnt see see the roof!!!! Needless to say I was overtaken on a blind bend with two dangerous junctions. And before we blame kids this guy was about 50 years old. Flash B****
cheers Nige

Nige,

It wasn't my mum, I think that was Mark. But I completely agree with his comments about there being places for speed. Anywhere with padestrians is a bad idea, or anywhere where there is heavy traffic.

As for the country lane I seem to recall that the IAM have a saying for this 'There is no such thing as an empty road'. I have to admit to loving county lanes, but am starting more and more to simply pay the kart people and be a complete hooligan on a track - then do a gentle drive home. Getting quite good too - I get invited for their monthly races almost every visit. Not been yet though, I really should make the effort....

Stu

[sheerwater]

Stu,

Sorry, Yes it was Mark, I was just following on the discussion but its a good idea ref the Karting or similar to get the adrenalin going. I think that lack of danger is one of the real causes of a lot of society's problems. We need to exhaust our pent up energy which is often supressed by 1001 things. I ski to scare the hell out of me. Unfortunately for those who wish to smash bus shelters etc. the danger of being caught and made to pay for the damage has also been taken away by the do-gooders.

Cheers Nige

Iknow what you mean, I was watching 'traffic cops' and the really annoying part is at the end when they voice over says thing slike 'The teenager who stole the car that collided with parked cars, nearly hitting people was given 120 hours community service'. I mean, is that really going to make people think no we shouldn't be doing this?

I wonder what the police make of the crazy sentences? Does it reduce moral to know that some person who is hell bent on making life as difficult as possible is going stratight onto the streets again?

Stu

[sheerwater]

Yes saw the programme to. Funny how the ''naughty people'' are inconvenienced by a few hours yet those who suffer really lose out. Take for example my wifes new car..4 days old and hacked along the door...twice for good measure down to base metal. While the repair cost £125 her business suffered as we had to get another car, made telephone calls, used our petrol to travel back and forth and I lost two days work organising dropping off/collecting car. Real cost far nearer £1000. 120 hours at minimum wage = £620 or thereabouts. Who loses. As for the kids not knowing what they are doing...they got the car rollong on the prog didnt they. My punishment theory is controvercial. Work out the real cost of the crime including police time etc. Set this up as a loan to be repaid over a lifetime. Let them pay it all back when they get cash. Im fed up of seeing criminals who have just cost people a load of inconvenience/cash with expensive mobiles, flash clothes and a better car than mine. Cheers Nige

Nige

Your punishment regime is too soft. Monetary punishment never works and is difficult to control.

Bring back corporal punishment, public flogging and stocks, removal of personal assets and public shaming on billboards and crime rates would soon fall.

Just my opinion you understand.

Mike

I seem to recall reading that most people who had the birch got the message after the first time, and that it was only a select few who had the attitude if you are going to do that to me I'l just re-offend.

I think discipline has got too soft by far anyway in todays society. When growing up I got a smack occasionally, never very often, and I was certainly not beaten black and blue. I got the message though and learnt very quickly from it. Now it seems that by the time I have kids it's going to be illegal to do this as someone has stated that kids don't learn, and anyone who is smaked turns into a violent sociopath. Yeah, right. Strange but as more and more complain about smaking and people stop doing it, crime from children and teenagers increases. Coincidence?

Stu

[sheerwater]

Yep...agreed.
I bumped into somebody who works in a solicitors today. Their attitude was that the only people to benefit from the law today are criminals and those on social security. Of course you may have a police record and dont know about it. During a routine police check on my character I discovered that I had a police record. It was incorrect and I had a hell of a job getting the facts corrected. Pity I didn't commit loads of offences as I would have been treated with sympathy, Cheers Nige. PS wife is a criminal. Caught speeding after they changed speed limit while we were on holiday. No warning signs to say things had changed.