superskib

I have a bigger gripe about non disabled drivers parking in disabled bays If I can't open the door far enough to get how 'disabled' do I have to be to justify using them?

Does anyone know if there's a standard size for parking spaces? If so how do I get to give the author a *******ing? I am a wrinklie, OAP, senior, whatever epithet takes your fancy. I am reasonably mobile, still ride a bike every day etc. Cars have got progressively wider with every model change. My Fabia is much wider than my old 100E Anglia for instance. Last week I parked in a bay locally and as I was about to get out a woman pulled in beside in a small Pug like a 307. She was within the marked bay albeit not central. To get out of my wife's Ka I had to open the door as far as it would go ie. touching her car. She went ape**** about my door touching hers albeit she had a rubbing strip for just such an instance. Bays need to be wider by at least a foot (30cm). Also why are bays always marked out at right angles instead of at an angle (on the slant). which makes entering and exiting the bay so much easier. This also ensures that the flow/direction of movement is obvious to all but the braindead. Nowadays I have taken to parking in disabled or mother/child bays which are given much more space. Incidentally if people are fit enough to have kids why do they need extra wide bays, right outside the entrance? The supermarket chain that addresses this problem will have my custom and that of a lot of other wrinklies I imagine. And then there's garage size!!!!!! Discuss

Does anyone know if there's a standard size for parking spaces? If so how do I get to give a *******ing? I am a wrinklie, OAP, senior, whatever epithet takes your fancy. I am reasonably mobile, still ride a bike every day etc. Cars have got progressively wider with every model change. My Fabia is much wider than my old 100E Anglia for instance. Last week I parked in a bay locally and as I was about to get a woman pulled in beside in a small Pug like a 307. She was within the marked bay albeir not central. To get out of my wife's Ka I had to open the door as far as it would go ie. touching her car. She went ape**** about my door touching hers albeit she had a rubbing strip for just such an instance. Bays need to be wider by at least a foot (30cm). Also why are bays always marked out at right angles instead of at an angle (on the slant). which makes entering and exiting the bay so much easier. This also ensures that the flow/direction of movement is obvious to all but the braindead. Nowadays I have taken to parking in disabled or mother/child bays which are given much more space. Incidentally if people are fit enough to have kids why do they nedd extra wide bays right outside the entrance? The supermarket chain that addresses this problem will have my custom and that of a lot of other wrinklies I imagine. And then there's garage size!!!!!! Discuss

I had been led to believe that Skodas were only for wrinklies like me!:confused:

i was a metre past the stop line but still not in the junction - just! Thanks for help Gibbo

:confused: Scene- Single carriageway A road, daylight, damp road, NSL. Good visibility. Traffic lights at junction, I am driving 2 secs behind two vehicles the second of which is too close to the first. The lights are green and there is a car waiting in the side road. The first two go through on green and as I get very close to the signal it goes to amber. Quick look in mirror - clear behind, very firm braking brings me to a stop about a metre in front of the stop line. At the end of this my 12th drive, my observer tells me I should have accelerated to get across on green. What do you lot think? Cheers all

Amazing how these things get round - I got this from a mate in Australia yesterday!!!

Hi everyone, The variety of responses is what makes the Briskoda forums (Forae ?) so valuable as it avoids the blinkered fundamentalism of some of the advanced driving sites. Tavia; As a teacher one plans to change the topic or activity so as to avoid distraction - but driving is a continuum. I do stop at intervals (as advised) to maintain freshness but it is the intermittent distractions like Goochie's libido that are problematic. Scooby; I think perhaps the conscious competence aspect is especially relevant as I imagine almost all drivers are unconsciously competent a lot of the time. I have yet to reach the stage where I use the IAM 'system' automatically (no pun). As to my age, I am not sure that one's attention span returns to childlike proportions as one ages, even though many other aspects do. I am able to concentrate for long periods in my art/craft work and although I have the radio on I am not really aware of what is being talked about for most of the time. With 50 years experience I am able to do my work 'automatically'. Thanks chaps Gibbp

On the IAM website I have asked how to achieve total concentration when driving? Even when doing my observation drives as an associate, when I am really trying to do everything by the book, I find that I am sometimes distracted - perhaps by what the observer is saying, or just by things that I notice whilst driving that start a chain reaction. In my professional training as an academic it was posited that everyone has a finite attention span, for children it is as little as a few minutes, adults maybe 45-60 minutes in ideal situations. Given that all sorts of things are happening all around us whilst driving, is it possible to have anything more than a few minutes before we are distracted? Recently I was caught in torrential rain on the M5. I took shelter in the Michaelwood service area for about 30 minutes. I exited in what was still driving rain, into a busy traffic situation, straining every nerve to focus on the job in hand. About a few hundred yards up the motorway, in lane 1 between two HGVs, there was a terrific roar as two Tornados crossed the road at what seemed like zero feet going full chat with the afterburners on in a banked turn. Was I distracted or what? As I live near RAF Coningsby, a front line fighter bomber station, I am used to 'sudden aircraft noise' but this was something else. As a former ground control operator I suspect they were doing an emergency manouevre as the cloud base was very low, but I found it almost impossible to concentrate on driving, I am only surprised that no one didn't swerve across the carriageway. Any advice on concentration gratefully received. Gibbo:confused:

Is it possible to steer with the right foot in a FWD car?

My understanding of these terms is that FWD cars may understeer if there is too much power when cornering. Conversely oversteer is what results from too much welly in RWD motors - is this correct? If so lifting off in mid bend will tuck nose in when driving my Fabia and more power will make it run wide true or untrue?

My fabia has had new turbo, new door seals, new fuel pump and new antiroll bar all in 32K miles over 4 years. My old Astra did 170K miles in 13 years with nothing other than one cam belt, one exhaust, two sets tyres and brakes relined twice. I part exchanged it for the Fabia and still got

I am doing the IAM Skill for Life programme and after 7 drives it has become clear that the IAM does not train its observers to follow a planned systematic (seen these terms before?) programme of training procedures. I have watched the Police's Roadcraft video and it is equally clear that their instructors are following a planned system of teaching and learning. Judging by the video it takes 3 weeks of intensive work (90-120 hours?) with about 30 hours of actual driving for each individual and about 60 hours observing the other two drivers and learning from their mistakes/experience as they work in 3 man groups plus an Instructor in each car. Should the IAM be training its observers to operate a planned system of teaching and learning as teaching is a skill in itself? What is the average amount of actual driving done to pass the IAM test?

I tried a Focus 115 TDCi in Zetec trim before I bought my Fabby TDi Elegance. I agree the engine is a beaut, more refined than the PD lump but the build quality wasn't comparable. It was when the new Ford TD engine was installed in the Focus and they wouldn't budge on the

Compared to yourself, Gibbo, I am but a mere novice upstart. I have driven but a meagre 1.5 million miles. I have had several accidents, although none in the past 10 years. I have driven about 50,000 track miles in total. I have had a little bit of driver training, yet I still consider myself an average driver. Hi Tavia, Tell me what is your day job to do 1.5million miles? And 40K track miles I am in awe, totally awesome experience, I reckon my total mileage is about 500K in 50 years of driving. And not a single track mile – I bend the knee to a superior driver! Also thank you for your kind words regarding us OAPs being entitled to a little forbearance on the 'making progress' front. In 1955 I was a passenger in an RAF vehicle that tried to accelerate through an ever tightening bend. The Standard Vanguard pickup evenually rolled 6 times sideways and twice lengthways (according to the police report). I got out of the back without a scratch and managed to pull my unconscious mate out just before it went up in flames when the petrol reached the cigarette butt. Since then I have never felt relaxed when I experience notable centrifugal force when cornering – even when I am driving. This is where psychology enters the equation – but does that prevent me from becoming an Advanced Driver? Cheers chaps Gibbp

Thank you all for your time, knowledge and expertise but, for my part, I think it is now becoming a sterile discussion. Throughout I have been in a majority of one it seems and this does not surprise at all. Firstly, and sadly, it confirms my suspicion that most people who are interested in motoring and related matters, are also interested in speed; not speed for a purpose, but speed for its own sake. I went through this mindset between 20 and 30 and after buying a series of progressively faster cars I bought an Avenger GT in vivid yellow with black vinyl roof and go faster stripes on the sides. In this boy racer's dream I was clocked by a PC of the Devon & Cornwall Constabulary on the Plympton bypass at 105mph. This at a time when, because of a global fuel crisis, there was a blanket 50mph limit on all roads. The local magistrates were wonderfully understanding when I pleaded guilty by post and they fined me £25 and endorsed my licence! From that point onwards my attitude to motoring changed and I became strictly pragmatic and utilitarian. A car, van, lorry (I have driven all of them) is simply a tool, and travelling from A to B is a necessary activity, and not a sensual experience. As a teacher and artist/craftsman I have an appreciation of good engineering, efficient design and mechanical sympathy. My previous car, an Astra with the basic 1.4 lump, did 170K miles at an average of 48mpg on one engine, clutch and battery. For 6 years I averaged 25K miles annually. Speedwise I just went with the flow on all sorts of roads, I seldom overtook or was overtaken. I think ScoobyChris referred to it as a ‘comfort zone’. Since retiring I have just continued to drive in the same relaxed manner. I don’t get under other peoples’ feet so to speak, and I don’t sit on anybody’s back bumper straining to overtake at any or every opportunity (anybody recognise themselves here?). Last year I read an article which referred to a research paper that found that people over 70 started to have more accidents, so I did the Drive Check of the IAM to get an objective assessment of my skills. By and large I did fairly well except for ‘making progress’. I had never heard the term before and was rather surprised that the IAM of all people would place so much importance on it. During the assessment I had not held up anyone else, nor have I on the subsequent ‘observation’ drives. I am still at a loss as to why it is afforded such priority. The IAM proselytises safety, but that is an abstract (not objective) concept in essence. It cannot be measured accurately (other than statistically). It is not possible to say that Xmph is safe but 2Xmph is not. It follows that road safety and safe driving is always subjective. It is an interaction between driver, car and environment. The psychology of the driver is almost as influential as skill and experience. As an example of this, back in the ‘70s I used to do work for two F1 drivers, and on odd occasions I was a passenger in their cars on public roads. It was immediately clear that their perception of road safety did not match mine; I just could not imagine what their level of skill and experience was, it was beyond my understanding. Having been fortunate to have contact with another world class artist/craftsman in my own field of expertise it was still a strain on my imagination to get to grips with his ability. The point I am making is that what passes as ‘making progress’ for one person, will be seen as reckless by some, dawdling to others, and to me just unnecessary. It is far too simplistic to evaluate it by direct reference to speed limits. In your responses I was rather saddened and surprised that my references to minimising emissions, road comparisons (single carriageways to motorways) and all the other variables that are simply compared by a 60 or 70mph speed limit, were totally ignored. One respondent even suggested that a closing speed of 120mph was ‘irrelevant’ – not in my book mate! Thanks to all – Gibbo

Sharkrider you wrong about HGV limit - look it up in the Highway Code Gibbo

Thanks for further advice. As to causing others to overtake recklessly I think this answers that response. Yesterday I was driving through the village of Metheringham at a strict 30mph. After a few hundred yards of this 'driving to the limit' a following white transit overtook me close to a pedestrian crossing!!! Incidentally, as the limit for HGVs on single carriageways is 40mph does the same reasoning apply, should they speed up so as not to inconvenience the press on brigade? cheers Gibbo

Hi all, I do the commentary bit frequently, even when out with the missus (poor dear) but that isn't the point even if I can see every goddam thing for miles around WHY drive to the limit? Gibbo

Hi Chaps (any ladies?) Thanks for all the comments, ideas, suggestions etc. BUT NOBODY is addressing the question. Why is it important to 'Make Progress' which is simply a euphemism for Drive Fast? If it is safe, all things considered, to drive at 60mph, why should I do so at each and every opportunity? Any body care to answer the Question as opposed to airing your knowledge and prejudices? Regards Gibbo

Hi TKW, With respect, your reply is absurd in parts, ie closing speed is far from irrelevant in a head on collision, viz the recent examples in the national press when Naz Hameed reduced a man to quadriplegia, and the recent one where a chap was killed in a 'hidden dip'. As to driving within my stopping distance; is there anything wrong with allowing more stopping distance than is absolutely necessary? What on earth is the point of doing 60mph in a country lane if there is no need to do so? I think you need to radically rethink your attitude to 'advanced driving' and its relation to road safety. I do agree that the majority of the Institute's procedures are valuable, and in the best interests of other road users, BUT, it is quite clear that there is a 'press-on' ethos which probably stems from basing everything on the Police influence. Almost everything advocated by the IAM derives from that source. Police training is geared to enable officers to drive as fast as possible in all sorts of circumstances (I was taught initially in 1970 by a Met Squad Car driver); however that emphasis on maximum speed at all times is not conducive to enhancing the everyday day driving practice of an OAP who simply wants to be a more responsible motorist. My observer passed the IAM test in 1974 and has been observing ever since. He is very experienced and is simply reiterating the attitude of the chap who did the Drive Check with me. I don't doubt that when I get the 2nd opinion drive, prior to the test, I will get more of the same – it seems to be an essential and absolute requirement to 'make progress' at all times. None of you will answer the simple question WHY? Even the Chief Training Officer of the IAM avoided answering it when I emailed him about this matter. It was instructive to me that in the Summer 06 issue of the magazine there was an offer of 'an exclusive IAM Track Day' where members can experience a Jaguar with 0-60 time of 3.5secs!!!! This tells me volumes about the subconscious attitudes of the IAM. Yes I am sure the IAM does wonderful work in many other ways - but track days? Many years ago I did work for Jack Brabham, Bruce Maclaren and Ron Tuaranac (the designer of Brabham race cars) and they assured me that public road driving and race track driving had very little in common. I can well understand the need to demonstrate to an observer that one is able to drive as quickly as possible (within safe and legal limits), say for 15 minutes within an hours drive; and to exhibit that ability on the test, but why the constant, ongoing, continuing emphasis? I have also posed the question, if a road has a 60mph speed limit such limit must, by definition, only apply to perfect conditions by an exemplary driver. If the road conditions are less than perfect in any way, and the driver is less than exemplary in any way then the safe limit must be less! Think about it TKW - you know it makes sense. Regards Gibbo

Hi Everyone, I am currently going through the observation phase of the Inst. of Advanced Motorists 'Skill for Life' prgramme, I have done 6 drives to date, covering about 250 miles. My observer is constantly urging me to 'make progress', especially on single carriage A and B roads. I live in Lincs where there are very few dual carriage ways, so much of my motoring is done on this type of road. On a motorway, if I am doing 70mph, there is no oncoming traffic, no parked vehicles, no hidden entrances and exits, few bends of any consequence and all the traffic is travelling within a range of 30mph say 50 to 80 mph, the lanes are quite wide and there is an 'alternative route' on the hard shoulder. The road surface is normally constant and well maintained. All of these factors make Motorways our safest roads. Contrast this with a single carriage way road. Normally one lane in opposing directions, all sorts of road surfaces, complete with potholes etc. with bends, hills, trees etc. to obscure visibility. All sorts of entrances and exits, side roads, house drives, farms and so on. If I am 'making progress' at the legal limit of 60mph I have a closing speed of 120–130mph with oncoming traffic (bearing in mind many are exceeding the limit). These vehicles are up to 44 tonnes in weight and about 3-5 feet away as we pass each other. In these circumstances I feel my normal cruising speed of 45-55mph is a much safer and more sensible speed. Coupled to this I am not constantly braking and accelerating to keep 'making progress', and as such am being more economical with fuel and pumping less emissions into the atmosphere. What do other Skoda drivers think?

Hi Grant and Teflon Tom, Thanks for the help. Tom, in your calculator there are two constant factors, firstly the circumference of the wheel (no prob) the other is the figure 1050 that is multiplied by the ratio. What is this factor, what does it refer to, how is it calculated? Sorry to be a pain but I am intrigued. I have worked out all the speeds and note that your figure of the mph per 1k revs in 5th is slightly different from the published figure but not much - 30 to 28mph (this was taken from the road test in DieselCar magazine) Grant I'll see how I get on with the calculator - sadly my math in primitive. Thanks chaps - this is what makes Briskoda a great facility. Cheers Gibbo

Dear Teflon You are more than a star, you are a firmament!!!!! You should be a maths teacher Thanks a bunch Gibbo

Hi Sounds wonderful - is it accurate and where can I buy one? Gibbo