This could be fun......

[Ribald]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/devon/3883235.stm

[David Hickman]

How about a RIBNET get together in the slow lane of the M5 this summer????

[codprawn]

The trailer towing speed limit is 60mph - lorries are governed to 56mph - so what are you supposed to do when you meet one? Even worse what happens if you get stuck behind a lorry carrying steel coils on an uphill section - or even a tank transporter - of course everyone has to stick behind it at 20mph!!!

Yet another example of Labour's total anti car policy - roads are busier than ever - what is Labours solution? Simple lets make the roads narrower and close off all the side streets forcing all the traffic to use just 1 road!

Developers are now told not to allow sufficient parking spaces to FORCE people to use public transport - what happens - residents aroung the stadium or whatever come home to find their drive blocked by parked cars.

[Ribald]

Originally Posted by codprawn

Developers are now told not to allow sufficient parking spaces to FORCE people to use public transport - what happens - residents aroung the stadium or whatever come home to find their drive blocked by parked cars.

A recent development near us is for 40 flats. The developers have to provide 1.5 spaces per flat = 60 spaces. The only access to this development is onto a busy road, 50m from a r/a that serves a major school in the area. Result - there will be chaos at school arrival/leaving times. Still, at least it will slow down some of the pr*ts who like to drive like Button.

[ribraff]

Ian Gray, the proprietor of the Riverside Caravan Park in Plymouth, says modern cars and caravans rarely cause a problem on motorways
He said: "Modern cars can pull vans at the speed of the motorway. It's only a problem occasionally on narrow country lanes.


....now that's got to be the funniest thing i've heard in a while

[Stephen-RIB]

Originally Posted by codprawn

The trailer towing speed limit is 60mph - lorries are governed to 56mph - so what are you supposed to do when you meet one? Even worse what happens if you get stuck behind a lorry carrying steel coils on an uphill section - or even a tank transporter - of course everyone has to stick behind it at 20mph!!!

Yet another example of Labour's total anti car policy - roads are busier than ever - what is Labours solution? Simple lets make the roads narrower and close off all the side streets forcing all the traffic to use just 1 road!

Developers are now told not to allow sufficient parking spaces to FORCE people to use public transport - what happens - residents aroung the stadium or whatever come home to find their drive blocked by parked cars.

Overtaking one slow machine with another one leaves one spare lane for normal traffic and going up a hill this causes many delays on a motorway. I think caravans and other road trailers should stick to the inside lane, I do when I am towing unless I meet something like a tractor or milk float which is going mega slow. We slow everyone down on the minor routes normally anyway.

[Manos]

GREAT NEWS

I just hopped that one day these people who frustrate, upset and annoy all other motorists who mind their own business, and create stupid accidents because they never thought to check the grease on the wheel baring on their 'Hearse' were limited in some way. And this is one way.
There is no law yet but from what I hear on the grape vine caravan owners will be called to pay a hefty road tax fee as well while using their . Now I don't know if this will apply to trailers too.

[roohairy]

IMHO One of the biggest causes of slow downs on busy roads is when you get one lorry overtaking another with a speed advantage of 1/2 mph on a dual carriageway.
I can't say that I find caravans a problem on 3 lane raods where they are already banned from the ouside lane, they only tend to be a problem when they are travelling at 'let's all look at this beautiful countyside' speed. Maybe minumum speed limits would be more help!
I have to agree that most cars are capable of pulling a caravan, large trailer, boat(!) or similar at or beyond any UK speed limit, it's the driving that's the problem, not the vehicles.

[Nauti Buoy]

Originally Posted by Manos

GREAT NEWS

There is no law yet but from what I hear on the grape vine caravan owners will be called to pay a hefty road tax fee as well while using their . Now I don't know if this will apply to trailers too.

So does that mean that cos I tow my Rib on the back of my Motorhome I am in for a hefty fee? I have to say the biggest problem I come up against... dare I say it without getting shot down.... Elderly folk poodling down the inside lane or sitting in the middle lane, not a care in the world 40mph to 45 mph max, and the occasional person who then sees a Motorhome and Boat going for the overtake and then they decide to put their foot down leaving you stranded and having to back down only then to have then slow down again in front of you. So I disagree that Caravans and Boat towers are a hinderence to road traffic.

Enough Said

[Bilge Rat]

I'm considering buying a coach and converting half to take my boat, then i can do an Italian job style launch from the back

[Garygee]

Hi folks

In my option I belive it is the drivers of SOME caravans and other vehicles that often cause problems on motorways.

As has been said most vehicles can hold 60 with ease towing a caravan, trailer or boat.

I belive that limiting caravans to the inside lane will have a number of effects, all negative in my options some of which are.

1) The inside lane will become one solid crawling lane making exiting and enrty to the motorway very hard

2) Cause MORE caravan accidents, as people drive too close due to frustration of the low speed.

3) Drive more caravans onto normal roads where the slower speeds will have far great negative effect, and increase traffic through towns etc.

I belive that it it people who need to leran common sence and think of others.
I agree creeping past a lorry at the lorry speed +1MPH should not be done, but when the lorry is doing 30MPH up hill overtaking at 60MPH causes little problem for other road users.

Levae things as they are, I think the planned changes will cause far more problems then they will cure.

And as for Manos, I think people with this approch are half the problem with caravans, trailers etc often doing their most to make life hard work for people towing. As with all road users its the few who casue the problems which are reflected on the the many

Regards Gary

[Mark Halliday]

Originally Posted by Bilge Rat

I'm considering buying a coach and converting half to take my boat, then i can do an Italian job style launch from the back

Do you think your RIB would survivr the drop?

[TQBoater]

Originally Posted by Nauti Buoy

.... Elderly folk poodling down the inside lane or sitting in the middle lane, not a care in the world 40mph to 45 mph max,

I'm in the same mind on this one
I don't think it's any particular group though caravans old people etc just so many people can't or won't use the lanes properly. You see it so many times people who just sit in the middle or outside lane when there is no other car near.

The lanes are for overtaking and not just because your doing 70mph do you have a right to sit in the outside lane.

I'll get off my soap box now

[Biggles]

Once you start touring a lot with a trailor you start to appreciate the problems that crop up on the roads and in particular the Motorway system.

Car drivers do cause probelms their are some really bad and inconsiderate drivers out there who don't have a clue when it comes to driving on busy motorways but on the whole they don't tend in themselves to cause many Motorway problems. What i have seen over the last year since I have been stuck at 60 mph in the inside lane, is inconsiderate drivers of Lorries. Lorries cause most of the problems by being very impatient and using their brute size to dominate everybody else. Its amazing that nearly every Lorry driver will overtake even if they are doing only 1 Mph more than another lorry, and hang how much of a congestion he will cause whilst it takes him 5 minutes to overtake. And they are supposed to be proffesionals !!!!

There are just too many lorries on our roads. They are too big, too smelly and too aggresive.

I had a short period where I used to search lorries coming in to an establishment and was amazed at the number of 7.5 ton lorries being used to transport a single small package that would easily fit in a mini, and they all stated it was cost effective.

The trouble is your poor average motorist doesn't have a voice. And this government in particular knows that. The day before Labour brings in its anti Caravan/trailer law we should all go for a slow drive around and clog up the traffic system, hopefull when their is a labour MP behind you trying to get to an "important" meeting !! Their again he would probably be travelling by Helicopter, or in the bus lane on the M4 or breaking the speed limit like Jack Straw and getting let off for it. One law for them One law for us.....

[Red Fox]

Labours next plan is for us all to drive on the right like in the USA. Apparently they are going to phase it in starting with lorries and buses first.

[Simon B]

This ones opened up some debate? I'll add o it;

1. If lorries go slow and car drivers can go fast how come when there is even the slightest minor deceleration wave in lanes 2 and 3 all of a sudden these slow lorries cruise past maintaining a reasonable average speed.

2. How come when the above happens you get all the ex-pupils from Muppet and Co driving school diving in and out of lane 1 to get some minor speed advantage usually forcing the regular users of 1 to slow down till it all stops.

3. Most trucks are governed to 56mph which most of them manage the trailer regs are max 60 is there a real speed advantage to being out in lane 2 to maintain the 4mph extra allowed or are we as guilty as all the other minor (sort of "this legislation excludes me" or "I own a BMW QED I own the road surrounding it") law breakers out there and towing at 65-70 hmmm...

4. A large part of congestion and jorney time length is composed of a reduction in average speed. The slowing down of your average speed is bizarely a function of peoples inability to slow down slowly enough i.e throttle control from well back in the queue. Watch the vehicles bank up in lane 2 and 3 then look at the brake lights all blinking on and off like pretty little linear christmas tree bless.. then see the speed drop lower and lower, oh heres Muppet and Co!

Rant on dudes, I feel a whole lot better, time for me dinner toodle pip.

[Garygee]

I folks

Simon, for me you have missed the point

I belive most lorrys, caravans, trailers etc are more then happy with 56MPH or 60MPH.
However some vehicles cannot do or maintain these speeds or even close to them. Banning caravans from the 2nd lane prevents then overtaking these slow moving vehicles at all.

This means that the 1st lane will slow down to the speed of the slowest vehicle, and back up accordingly, which may be as slow as 20-30mph!.


Now that would be a problem for everyone !!.

Regards Gary

Regards Gary

[Simon B]

Accepted, though, seriously slow vehicles usually have a police escort and their movements I think have to have some sort of approval. I didnt realise the ban (if genuine) would apply to overtaking. IMHO this would open up a Pandoras box of impossible regulation. Still Phoney Blair and Co might still have a pop at it, I shouldnt be so hard on him really.

It wouldnt work and would lead to all kinds of daft stuff like trucks only moving at night and demands for vehicle taxation based on ability to move and access, would we see a drop in tax for vehicles exiled to lane 1?

Has the AA or RAC made comment yet?

[Red Fox]

Years ago in Germany, my Dad was pulled over by the police and ordered to pay an on the spot fine for overtaking a line of lorries. He was towing the caravan at the time and pleaded ignorance of the rule. The cops lost interest in the silly englishman and shouted "no overtaking until Dusseldorf!". At the next layby Dad pulled in and a British army lorry convoy was there. The lead driver came over and explained that on certain sections that was the rule. The convoy left and Dad was not keen to follow as it was a long way to Dusseldorf! Eventually we did leave and after a few miles we came up on the back of the convoy. The rear truck signalled and pulled onto the hard shoulder and it was like a wave...British army lories all pulled over, keeping up their speed, and we sailed through on the inside lane. Once past the lead truck, they all filed back on...ps...they didn't let the germans through apparently, only british caravans!

[Bill S]

Red Fox - read your PM's!!!!!!!!!