@AwaoffSki: I think Ttaskmaster meant we the general public can make all our own decisions as long as we leave the car fit to pass MOT; in contrast to the ES's constraints/policies/DJs etc?

Yes i understood that.

 

 

MoT-free cop cars under fire after crash. - Free Online Library.mhtml

4 hours ago, Ttaskmaster said:

We're also free to do whatever we like to our vehicles, so long as they pass an MoT.

The ESes, just like those of us in private companies, will be governed entirely by whatever policies are dreamed up by some desk jockey and procured by some random bloke with a parts catalogue from whichever agreed supplier the desk jockey negotiated the cheapest contract with... neither of whom likely know the first thing about cars.

 

 

As previously mentioned...Police cars are exempt from an MOT under the V112 form "Declaration of exemption from an MOT" section "i", "Vehicle provided for police purposes & maintained in an approved workshop."

 

Thing is I have three close friends in the police (roles including advanced drivers, instructors & firearms) & have a further three acquaintances who either are serving or retired...& the cars tyres are usually run right down & winter tyres ??....your having a laugh right what are those??.....Loads of stories or minor accidents...even of them running into each other because of poor summer tyres (but just road legal) in winter time up here...

 

We usually talk about cars, mountaineering (which is how I know them) & they all stated that my cars were way better set up for winter than their patrol cars The only cars winterised so to speak were always the LR defenders...& a few of the other big 4x4 models....hell I remember one of them was in the dog section & flipped his police car in winter...winter tyres?..er no...lucky both the dogs were saved by the crash proof special built cages in the back...

 

Prevention is better than cure....winter tyres are nothing new & considering the climate & how far north we are, the wind swept terrain etc..its totally fool hardy just to save some ££ in the short term..as replacement vehicles are not cheap....

2 hours ago, Wino said:

@AwaoffSki: I think Ttaskmaster meant we the general public can make all our own decisions as long as we leave the car fit to pass MOT; in contrast to the ES's constraints/policies/DJs etc?

We probably have more money with which to buy whatever fancy gubbins we like, as well...!

 

8 minutes ago, fabdavrav said:

We usually talk about cars, mountaineering (which is how I know them) & they all stated that my cars were way better set up for winter than their patrol cars

And why are these specific individuals not sorting out their own patrol cars?

Are they not personally responsible for maintaining their vehicles?

 

No, they're not. As already mentioned, some clueless desk jokey policy decides their fate, same as a soldier goes to war with kit he knows is BS but was what was decided upon by a similar desk jockey miles away from knowing what he needs.

 

When there was 'Winter' properly in the Central Belt of Scotland Keith Brown MSP was Transport Minister and was running off at the mouth on the 

Emergency Services & Transport Scotland getting suitable vehicles, equipment and facilities,  then when it happened again it was Derek Mckay MSP (now Finance Minister) that had that job, same thing, we are spending, equipping, Ambulances, Rescue services and all the guff.

Central Belt, the place that is all that matters really to the Scottish Government Ministers.

Transport Scotland is just a pretty useless Organisation,  not underfunded, that is for sure.

As for Police Scotland, send Officers on offroad training near Stirling.  Give then Soft Roaders, even Hybrid Softroaders & not even M+S Tyres let alone 

Winter Certified ones.

http://beta.gov.scot/news/winter-resilience-statement 

 

Former Royal Marine drafted in. Mr Keith Brown MSP,  he can swim, jump, yomp, and speak guff for Scotland and make an appearence any place any time.

Minister for everything , a safe pair of hands, education, industry, business and commerce, inward investment, infrastructure, and any old pith up in a brewery he can pith up organising.

 

Keith Brown parachutes in to get grip on winter weather crisis - The Scotsman.mhtml

 

http://transportscotland.org 

 

Now yet another Transport Minister, keen to learn, listen to the experts, same old same old guff.

 

Edited 15 February, 20188 yr by AwaoffSki

On 14/02/2018 at 10:42, Wino said:

You need studded tyres to work on black ice, don't you?

 

Yes mate 

 

nothing really grips on black ice unless its studded. 

 

If there was grip.. it probably wasnt proper black ice  

11 minutes ago, fabiamk2SE said:

 

Yes mate 

 

nothing really grips on black ice unless its studded. 

 

If there was grip.. it probably wasnt proper black ice  

 

I'll disagree, based on 23yrs of winter driving....up here in the depths of Scotland...

 

I've hit black ice with & without winter cert tyres, & know the difference in grip levels...plenty of videos & info on the web......winter tyres will grip quite well...but obviously if you have a compacted layer of snow & ice down all the winter months then studded are good as you can drive at full on normal summer speeds...just they wear out quicker & are noisy on tarmac...I know a few people who run them...but there are the maintenance crew for Cairngorm,  Lecht etc ski resort & have to drive up there before the gritters get to work & also at night time etc..& basically when the snow gates are closed to the public, but not to them....

I can confirm that my local ambulance has winter tyres on it so I would think the rest of the fleet would have too

So as Scotland prepares for Siberia Hysteria maybe members in Scotland or anyplace in the Snowmageddon that is the UK could post the lowest temps that shows on the cars dash.

Edited 27 February, 20188 yr by AwaoffSki

26 minutes ago, AwaoffSki said:

So as Scotland prepares for Siberian Hysteria maybe members in Scotland or anyplace in the Snowmageddon that is the UK could post the lowest temps that shows on the cars dash.

 

Only -5 here as of yet.. but it is only 6:30, so theres time. 

 

Im expecting a few more call outs in the morning... 

I'm trying to persuade my work to use all season tyres, Michelin cross climate are same rolling resistance as Michelin energy which is one of their main considerations, and they're not much more expensive either. But it's like banging your head against a brick wall to be honest. Even if the tyre depot has cross climates in stock we're forced to wait for them to order in Michelin energy.

1 hour ago, amwphotos said:

I'm trying to persuade my work to use all season tyres, Michelin cross climate are same rolling resistance as Michelin energy which is one of their main considerations, and they're not much more expensive either. But it's like banging your head against a brick wall to be honest. Even if the tyre depot has cross climates in stock we're forced to wait for them to order in Michelin energy.

 

and the difference is amazing mate. Handles like a summer but keeps gripping in the winter. 

 

I've got them on my car and on my van and tbh unless i bought a quick motor, id not fit anything else. 

 

Snowing here at the mo. happy days...

 

 

Transport Scotland & Traffic Scotland website as usual, hopeless.  

Can not cope, Orange Weather Warning, and less information showing than on other days of the year.

 

Currently showing no Current Incidents, and as often when Snow Gates are closed not showing as.   EDIT, back working for a while....

http://trafficscotland.org/currentincidents 

http://trafficscotland.org/weatherstations

http://trafficscotland.org/map/index.aspx?type=26 

Edited 28 February, 20188 yr by AwaoffSki

Perth & Kinross and A90 Forfar Traffic Cameras link.

Click on the pic to get live pictures.

http://www.pkc.gov.uk/trafficcameras 

Mirror I know..but the picture said it all

 

https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/uknews/overstretched-nhs-staff-forced-to-sleep-overnight-in-aande-as-hospitals-face-perfect-storm-of-snow-flu-and-norovirus/ar-BBJKvbQ?li=AAmiR2Z&ocid=spartandhp

 

ambulance at an angle as slid off road & stuck in ditch..& police on scene & road now blocked...clever..

 

Just like the M80 last night which was blocked by masses of HGVs as they were sliding/jack knifed etc...& 1000 vehicles stuck overnight because of it...

 

 

We need to enforce what some other countries do & force the trucks to have proper tyres on their drive axles....at least then they would be able to get traction...

 

Cars/vans:-

 

https://www.michelin.co.uk/tyres/learn-share/buying-guide/ever-heard-about-winter-tyre-regulations

 

HGV/buses:-

 

https://www.continental-tires.com/transport/knowhow/european-winter-regulations

 

 

& this is not the first time this has happened in the past 10yrs either...

No people in car or hurt...

 

but one way for the emergency services to clear the road of snow..

 

https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/uknews/fire-and-snow-highways-agency-car-becomes-victim-of-beast-of-the-east-as-rescue-vehicle-bursts-into-flames/ar-BBJKHKo?li=AA59G2&ocid=spartandhp

 

 

 

 

^^^ Maybe an explanation of why it caught fire might be good, and was it anything to do with the weather, 

or just JLR built it and someone like the Special Division of JLR added modifications, or some sparky did?

Or was there a some other issue??

Left running and some fault during a regen!

Edited 1 March, 20188 yr by AwaoffSki

2 minutes ago, AwaoffSki said:

^^^ Maybe an explanation of why it caught fire might be good, and was it anything to do with the weather, 

or just JLR built it and someone like the Special Division of JLR added modifications, or some sparky did?

Or was there a some other issue??

Left running and some fault during a regen!

 No explanation...but from dash area I recon from the spread of flame & cold weather....so heater to max & burn out??

 

...& we all know what happens to Vauxhalls especially if a Zafira (Zafire) when you turn the heater up....so the same now with LR??...

 

 

That will be it.

Not a Cigar left lit....

 

 

UK, European launch for BFGoodrich truck_bus tyre range _ Tyrepress.mhtml

Edited 2 March, 20188 yr by AwaoffSki

Sometimes regardless of tyres or even the vehicle unless a snow blower (tractor / snow blower) or plough is going through then nothing else is.

& even then 10 minutes later after there may be nothing other than a blower or plough.

100 yards away the roads can be clear apart from the drifting snow.

Near no depth of snow fallen just what there was blowing...

 

Edited 2 March, 20188 yr by AwaoffSki

As a former ambulance  medic of more than 10 years I can guarantee you that none of the ambulances in the midlands run with winter tyres, hence why they issue the crews tyres now socks. When they first introduced the the socks, most if not all went home with the crews. Down here the ambos are front wheel drive. And when the newer style arrived they were so full of issues many went off the road after a few months.  I do remember a time when the newly purchased BMW X5's (area officer cars) they bought all had to have new tyres fitted and the ones they came with were just summer time use only. How we the lonely front line crews laughed at our managers waste of public money. 

 

Mind it was good fun in the snow. New recruits always got stuck while the more  mature staff just took it slowly and steadily.