Hi-Way Driving Ltd

Liverpool Daily Post Letter

I have just learned through a chance comment from a colleague that I will have to buy a complete new set of car seats for my children or face prosecution from September 18th.

This has to be one of the worst advertised pieces of legislation ever, presumably so the Government can rake in a fortune from it's ill-informed motorists.

Allegedly the changes have been advertised since July - well, not where I have seen them they haven't. I watch TV but there was nothing there, I read magazines but saw nothing and listen to radio but heard nothing. Apparently there was something about it in a major motor accessory store which is not somewhere I shop because I don't feel the need to fit go faster stripes and furry dice.

Surely it might have been a good idea to send reminders to the motorists at the time their Vehicle Licence Duty was due in the year running up to the changes.

This also means that we will no longer be able to share the school-run with another family unless we both fit extra seats in our cars - or the school sets aside a room where parents can dump these seats for when the other parents on the afternoon run collect the children. As a result we will use two cars and double the traffic and pollution. Brilliant idea.

The other absurdities include the fact that classic vehicles and camper vans seem to be exempt. (What about school minibuses?)  I have a classic camper (am I doubly exempt?) and have fitted seat belts so they are the perfect height for my children. If I take them out, I would be driving legally (if recklessly) but if I leave them in and use no booster, which would put the children higher than the seat-belt mount, I can be fined. Nonsense

Jack Walters via e- mail to Liverpool Daily Post

This Government is run mainly by lawyers yet there seem to be too many anomalies in the laws created by them.

Angry Truckers & Bikers

Truckers and bikers' biggest dislike on motorways is middle lane-hogging motorists, according to a new survey.   (The Centre Lane Owners Club?)

Car drivers' main bug-bear is lorry drivers who cut them up, the RAC Foundation and the Freight Transport Association (FTA) said.

Truckers are also none too keen on "swoopers" - motorists who make late decisions to leave the motorway and cut across lanes to reach their exit. (One reason could be the lack of information on the mile marker)

The survey forms part of National Motorway Month*. RAC Foundation manager, Sheila Rainger said: "The key to harmony between different motorway users is better understanding of each others strengths and limitation."

Ack Liverpool Post 21/8/06

*National Motorway Month???????????? How many of us have even heard of National Motorway Month?.

Being in the business of advanced driver training for the past 24 years I have seen very little publicity about this event. In our trade news papers we had a very small mention of it a couple of weeks ago, but nothing has been mentioned for the driving public.

Lack of publicity AGAIN.

Times Letter

A letter to The Times last week.

Sir,

Driving standards would be improved dramatically by outlawing seatbelts and airbags and by the compulsory fitting to the middle of all steering wheels, a 2ft -long steel spike, pointing at the drivers throat.

Trevor,   Croydon, Surrey.

(A man after my own heart, How many drivers would then drive too fast and too close to the vehicle in front.)

The Anatomy of an Accident

A split second reconstruction of a motor vehicle travelling at 55mph crashing into a stationary object. The driver is not wearing a seat belt and the car does not have an airbag.

1/10th of a second - front bumper and radiator collapse.

2/10ths of a second - Rear wheels leave the ground and heavy structual members act as brakes - driver goes forward at original speed =  20 x gravity - drivers weight now 3200 Ibs and the legs are ramrod straight and snap at the knee joints.

3/10ths of a second - Driver off the seat. Torso upright. Steering wheel bends under the death grip.

4/10ths of a second - Engine block hits stationary object. Driver still moving at 55mph. Rear of car bucks

5/10ths of a second - Drivers fear frozen hands bend steering column. Driver impaled on same. Lungs punctured. Blood spurts therein.

6/10ths of a second - Drivers feet ripped from his shoes. Head hits screen. Chassis bends. Car starts its downward fall.

7/10ths of a second - Car body goes out of shape. Drivers seat rams forward pinning the driver against steel of column. Blood leaps from mouth. Shock has frozen the heart.

                                                              The driver is now dead.

                                    TOTAL TIME ELAPSED = 7/10ths OF A SECOND

Child Seat Laws

Some of our readers have been asking about the seat belt laws and how it would effect them.

As there are so many different situations the best advice I can give is for you to go to the web site www.thinkroadsafety.gov.uk. down to 'further information'. The 'seat belt and child restraints' information is there and can be downloaded to a pamphlet form so can be used in school, work etc.

I just wish the Government and the  DfT get it's act together and give the driving public easier access and more information about a very important new rule that effects ALL drivers instead of the public having to go looking for it.