Ducati Sporting Club UK > General > Idle Chat > Schools Out

[Jools]

I've worked from home for the last 8 years, so I've been working everyday since I don't need a snowplough to grit the landing so that I can get to my office.

I did have a 110 mile round trip in about 4 inches of snow on Monday to see a customer and I got there with very little trouble, even though even roads like the A40 between Denham and Beaconsfield were ungritted and covered in snow. I don't really care that people who live closer didn't make the effort, but what really does get me about the snow 'crisis' is the amount of whinging that goes on and the blame culture that this country has fallen into.

Everybody moans about the council's and their inability to keep the roads clear. These same people would probably also be the first ones to whinge about the ludicrous waste of taxpayers money spent on snowploughs and dirty great piles of grit that are only ever needed once every 10-15 years.

In other countries I've worked in, people actually have to take some responsibility for themselves rather than take the flimsiest excuse to lard around and take the day off. They have to fit winter tyres, by law, which I'm told are narrower so they cut through snow, have a big old tread and are made of softer compound rubber. They'll also carry snow chains.

Here, the public psyche (and the media) just seems fixated on spinning round pointing fingers for being ill-prepared at anyone other than themselves.

The trickiest bit of my journey on Monday was going through Fulmer, Bucks. It's in a valley so you go down into the village, round a couple of S bends and up the other side. The road out obviously goes back up hill, it was covered in packed snow and it has a right hand turning off the main drag half way up. As I came to the bottom of the hill, a group of about 5 cars were trying to get up it. Did they take a nice steady run up at the hill? Did they buggery. The first car set off, and all the other cars started to follow it at the same sort of distance they would have done on a dry day. As the first car got virtually on top of the right hand turning he gave a couple of flicks on his indicator to turn right and stopped, half way up the hill to turn right (even though there was no approaching traffic). Second car completely failed to anticipate that the first one was turning right (hard to do when you're following it 4 feet behind) and stopped too. So now, you've got 5 cars all trying to pull away from a standing start, halfway up a hill, no throttle control and big old rooster tails everywhere as they slithered with spinning wheels and no steering control into the nearest verge. It was hardly rocket science to take a long steady run up on the flat, keep the momentum going up the hill and do no more than breathe on the gas and I got up there quite easily.

I don't 'spose any of the drivers who found themselves stuck in the verge halfway up the hill would admit "Ah yes, I got stuck because I'm a fecking cretin that hasn't got a clue how to drive in snow" no way "It's the bleedin councils fault"

[Bionicle]

Originally Posted by Jools

In other countries I've worked in, people actually have to take some responsibility for themselves rather than take the flimsiest excuse to lard around and take the day off. They have to fit winter tyres, by law, which I'm told are narrower so they cut through snow, have a big old tread and are made of softer compound rubber.

Jools, both my cars have had winter tyres fitted since November, winter tyres are not restricted to snowy conditions and actualy come into their own when temps drop below 9 degrees, summer tyres do not function correctly in temps under 9 degrees. watching the UK news i have heard pleanty of moaning from motorists who blame the council for not gritting or salting enough, i have yet to hear any of these people state they have done their bit by using winter tyres

Something that would really help the UK market is legislation. A number of other EU countries have made the use of winter tyres a legal requirement and many offer specific winter recommendations

In the UK, however, there is no legislation and very little in the way of advice. The main authority on the subject, the Highway Code, is less than forthcoming. In fact the official guide, which describes itself as "essential reading for everyone," has nothing on the subject of winter tyres, and only contains three entries on the subject of tyres in general. The addition of a line explaining how improved grip could be attained by using winter tyres, would improve consumer perceptions of winter tyres no-end. But as we have seen, a legal requirement would be even better.

The fact remains, as far as the UK government is concerned there is not likely to be any new legislation unless the EU introduces it first.

[Steve GD]

It certainly does seem as if there is an increased tendency to a) skive off and b) blame someone else for it. Is that having your cake and eating it , or am I just a grumpy old man?
Still, on the upside, at least the roads are not clogged by the 4x4s parked on the double yellow lines outside the schools.