Will Aston Martin Benefit from the Royal Wedding?
To many the iconic picture of the royal wedding is William and Catherine driving away afterwards in his father’s 1969 Aston Martin.
Aston Martin must be laughing their socks off!
Another Truck Runs Into a Coach
There was another horrendous crash on the two lane section of the M11 last night, in which two people were killed and many were injured.
There was also the Sudbury train crash, where a truck crossed the line and derailed a train and the incident where a cement mixer fell on top of a train.
You have to question why accidents like this happen.
When I used to fly private aircraft, I had to take various competency checks every year and professional drivers do a lot more. Do the drivers of trucks have to take these sort of checks?
Also, as many drivers are from outside of the UK and may well be licensed in their own country, do they have proper checks?
But we mustn’t get xenophobic here, as there have been several accidents involving British coaches on the continent. There was also at least one in the UK, where the driver had been thought to be drinking.
I think that the best we can do at present, is to analyse all of the accidents and make recommendations.
One thing that is a common factor in many accidents involving trains and other vehicles is level crossings. And this is not just a British problem, but one that occurs everywhere there are level crossings. I stood by the level crossing at Northumberland Park last week and was surprised at how many times it opened and closed in the half hour I was there. No-one tried anything silly while I was watching, but this is a classic crossing that could be closed to road traffic, as there is a bridge fairly nearby. It might cause inconvenience for a couple of months, but closing the crossing, might save a few lives. How many other crossings could be closed?
Today’s accident happened on an unlighted two-lane section of motorway. Should we light more of the dangerous sections of roads?
Other factors are also involved in many traffic accidents.
We should analyse and act!
M1 Closed on Busiest Sporting Weekend
The M1 is closed on the busiest sporting weekend of the year, with two FA Cup semi-finals and the London Marathon.
But it probably won’t be as bad as it could be, as Manchester United fans won’t have much trouble getting up to Wembley from Surrey.
It does though illustrate the folly of not allowing an extra rail route into London from Manchester via the East Midlands.
Electric Cars are Coming
Well at least in the car park halfway between my house and Dalston Junction station, there is a charging station.
Pod Point in Bentley Road Car Park, Dalston
It’s called a Pod Point and it looks from the web site that the company has some interesting ideas.
Petrol and Diesel Prices
As someone who doesn’t drive at the moment and gets free travel on buses and the tube, I can’t say I’m sad that petrol and diesel prices are rising fast.
I know that I will see price increases in goods because of the increase in transport prices, but then a lot of prices are rising anyway as China and other developing countries demand a bigger share of global resources.
But having moved to London, if I look at my finances, I see a drop in gas and electricity costs, as this house is modern and fully insulated, a severe fall in transport costs and because I now have choice, my everyday food and living costs are lower too!
I know my lifestyle change has been forced on me because of the stroke, but by changing it, I have been able to make substantial savings in my cost of living. I’m also enjoying myself much more, as there is so much more to do here in the city, rather than being trapped without transport in the countryside.
So those that complain about high petrol and diesel prices, would be better to use their energy to change their lifestyle using ways that cut that energy usage.
After all, we’re going to have to cut our CO2 emissions whether we like it or not!
Am I Bothered?
Look at this picture of a Congestion Charge sign.
Congestion Charge Sign
And this parking ticket machine.
Parking Ticket Machine
But then look at this picture of the traffic as I approached the West End on one of the few means of transport still available to me, my feet.
Traffic in the West End
So am I bothered? Not in the least, as I can still walk, use buses, the Underground and other trains and where it is more convenient or a cost saving, I can even use a black cab!
Bad Driving
There has been a lot of reports about the reasons why people drive badly today. Various solutions are being proposed including restrictions on young drivers.
I have driven for many years, but don’t now and I may never do again. But I’m happy to use buses and trains, with lifts to the nearest station.
I sometimes think that the reason we have a lot of bad driving is because people are pressured to use their cars, by lifestyle, family or jobs.
Let’s look at some categories, who get blamed for bad driving and accidents.
- Young drivers often have no other means, except a battered car to get to work or have a night out. It will be interesting to see if things like the new East London Line and the extensions to the Manchester Tram, actually cut accidents involving young drivers, as they take quality public transport instead.
- Elderly drivers who won’t give up their car, as they need it for the shops etc. You see quite a few round here, who should not drive. But there is no alternative.
- Company car drivers, who feel pressured to use the car, rather than perhaps take the train. How many companies refuse train expenses to people with company cars?
- And what about wives who are pressured to drive their husbands after a good meal out!
I have recently seen a change in that some people I know have swapped their cars for trains on longer journeys.
This needs to be encouraged, by more comfortable trains, better stations, more parking at stations, better connections and perks like free WiFi. I know of one person, who now commutes to his office in the nearest big city by bus because of the WiFi.
One thing that is accelerating change to rail and bus is Railcards and passes, as I found on my trip to Great Yarmouth.
Traffic News
Lying in my comfortable hotel bed on Friday morning watching the BBC Breakfast program for London, I suddenly realised that I no longer need traffic news, as effectively I can’t drive, so it’s somebody else’s problem!
Will I ever drive again? Perhaps I will and perhaps I won’t!
Crash Scams – A Job For Daisy
Apparently, according to the BBC, there has been a large increase in crash scams, where crooks get you to run into their vehicles and then claim for damage, injuries and storage that are pure fiction.
This is a classic application for my software, Daisy, as it can show a complete pattern of claims, by car, registration letter, post code etc., so that links and hopefully the crooks can be determined.
I Can Drive
Not legally, I should add and not on any public road. But a couple of weeks ago, when I needed to move the Jaguar, it was a struggle and I ended up stalling it in reverse. whether it was my arm or my leg, I didn’t know, but today, I was able to move it so I could put all of the bottles for recycling in the boot. I then did a three point turn on the stud yard.
It’s progress! I hope!
The Anonymous Widower 