Conference terri::cars_uk

    6 is an awkward one - if you answer before June 1 (or is it July 1?)
    the answer is (c), otherwise (a) :-).
    
    Jeff.
     

    Here's what I think, on some of the questions.
    
    1, b  I remeber reading that a new law was out, but when its
    implemented I cant remember
    
    2 b  IMO
    
    3 ?  at a guess a?
    
    4 I think advisory, only the round red ones used in roadworks are
    compulsory.
    
    5 ? at a guess 1/2?
    
    6 as in .-1 depends when, i think now (ie 24/5/91) is is c?
    
    7 I guess a because they're very safe
    
    Hope this helps. 
    
    Huw.

    I think the following are correct, sorry i couldnt help with the rest.
    
    
    1. A qualified driver may accompany a learner if they meet certain
    criteria - what are the criteria?
    
    	a) aged 18, full licence 1 year
       *b) aged 21, full licence 3 years
    	c) aged 25, full licence 3 years
    
    4. Speed limits shown by electronic signal on M-ways are advisory or
    mandatory?
    
    Mandatory.
    
    
    6. Where fitted, it is compulsory for rear belts to be worn by :
    
    	a) all passengers
    	b) only if under 5' tall
       *c) children under 14
    	d) on motorways
    
    
    
    Good luck !
    
    
    Shaun
    

    I disagree with 4 in .3, and 6 is about to change as said before.
    
    Jeff.

    Well it was only "To the best of my knowledge" ...
    
    doesn't say much eh ;^)
    
    
    Shaun.

    
    I think .3 and the speed limits is correct and that the 'advisory'
    speed limits set up are now compulsory. I know they didn't use to
    be ;-) and that the police had to apply for 'planning permission'
    or somesuch to change the speed limit .
    
    R.
    

    If you're right - when, where and how was this announced, and how is
    the poor motorist supposed to keep up with the changes?
    
    
    Jeff.

    
    
    I think the idea was you were always *supposed* to obey even
    the 'advisory' speed limits!

    

	How do you keep up with the changes?  When was the last time you
	bought a highway code?  Plus, ignorance is no excuse in the eyes
	of the law.

	Dave

    I think 2 will be (c): trevelling to fast ;-)
    Officialdumb policy is "speed kills", never mind the contributing
    factors, including following too close, dangerous passing, dangerous
    lane changing, stupidity, etc.
    
    russ

    I beleive the electronic spped limit displays are still advisory. The
    new legislation allowed temporary speed limits, but these must comply
    with the the normal signing requirements, e.g. Numbers in Red Circles
    on both sides of the carriageway, repeaters, etc,etc.
    
    JK

	So, thanks to you all so far! although most of the replies debated
    the advisory/mandatory question and I have only two responses from
    which to guage the right answers!!! Any other suggestions would be
    welcome!!
    
    Cheers,
    	Colin
    
    PS Anyone else thinking of entering? It's great fun!!!
    
    	What I think I've got so far is :
        
    1. A qualified driver may accompany a learner if they meet certain
    criteria - what are the criteria?
    
    	b) aged 21, full licence 3 years		FROM 2 RESPONSES
    
    2. What is the most common cause of motorway accidents?
    
    	b) travelling too close
    OR
    	c) travelling too fast
    
    3. How many pedestrians are killed or injured on pedestrian crossings
    each year?
    
    	a) 1500						FROM 1 RESPONSE
    
    4. Speed limits shown by electronic signal on M-ways are advisory or
    mandatory?
    
	2 ADVISORY
    	1 MANDATORY    
    
    5. If all rear seat passengers were restrained, the DoT assess that
    fatal and serious injuries would be reduced by :
    
    	c) 1/2						FROM 2 RESPONSES
    
    6. Where fitted, it is compulsory for rear belts to be worn by :
    
    	c) children under 14 (current rule) 		FROM 2 RESPONSES
    
    7. M-ways carry 15% of motor vehicle traffic - what percentage of
    accidents causing injury occur on them?
    
    	a) 2%						FROM 1 RESPONSE

    OK, if you want another (reasoned) guess: for 2 I would say travelling
    too close is the most common cause of motorway accidents.
    
    Travelling too fast is not a cause in itself, though the faster you go,
    the closer you get if maintaining the same distance, if you get my
    drift.  Also, you tell me how long a piece of string is, and I'll tell you
    what "travelling too fast" means.
    
    Jeff.

    
    Seen/heard in a Kwik-fit (sp? who cares?) advert....
    
    "The wearing of rear seat belts, where fitted, will be compulsory
    from July 1, 1991." I suppose that means they are not compulsory
    today.
    
    Richard.

    Re: .14 If you re-read question 6 in .0, you'll see that some sort of
    existing compulsion is implied.  Thus they are compulsory for some
    category today.  That category is under-14's.  From 1st July it is
    enhanced to include all people - and not a moment too soon IMHO.
    
    Jeff.

    
    
    from a chat with the local police....
    
    the flashing signs on the central resevation are NOT MANDATORY....but
    various forces are trying to change that..
    
    Following too close (not stopping fast enough) is the cause of many
    minor accidents.. but suprisingly enough drivers falling asleep at the
    wheel causes more near fatal/fatal accidents than the other 2.
    
    licenced drivers with learners... as far as I can understand the only
    ruling to this is the 'qualified' driver must have 12 months of
    'experience' which means that if they passed the test at the minimum
    age (17), the minimum age that they can accompany a learner is 18.
    
    
    
      now what are the other questions ??
    
    
      Alan..

>>  <<< Note 1454.9 by MARVIN::RUSLING "Hastings Upper Layers Project Leader" >>>

>>	How do you keep up with the changes?  When was the last time you
>>	bought a highway code?  Plus, ignorance is no excuse in the eyes
>>	of the law.
    
    After reading this I looked at one in the local news agents. I was just
    about to reject it as "no different from the one I've got" (same
    picture on the cover et al) when inside the back, in small print about
    reprints it said 		REPRINTED 1991
    
    True 'nuff, it has all the latest legislative bits, seat belts and all. 
    So come on everyone, buy one, it IS different (pity they don't put 1991
    edition on the front!)
    
    Richard

 When my brother got his provisional licence through, it was accompanied by a
peice of paper saying that anyone sitting next to him, had to be over 21 with
a full licence. Judging by the options that you had, it must also have included
a set period for which they must have been driving, but I ignored that as I knew
I was safe from having to accompany him as I was still only 20 (just, he 
actually passed 4-5 weeks before my 21st !!!!)


		 Alan
		~~~~~~

    Re .14
    
    I believe it is a requirement for an accompanying driver to have
    held a license for 3 or more years to 'supervise' a learner.
    (as well as being 21 years of age).
    
    Re .14 and earlier
    
    Updates to the law affecting drivers are usually notified
    when you receive a road tax (road find license ?) reminder.
    
    That's where I have heard of some of these new laws.
    I don't know how far this system goes, but I am sure that there
    are changes to the [motoring] law that I am unaware of.
    
    One obvious failing of this system is that most people will
    receive only one or two updates per year.
    
    Some people will not even get to see the notes...
    
    J.R.

    >     Updates to the law affecting drivers are usually notified
    > when you receive a road tax (road find license ?) reminder.
    
    That's a problem for lease car "owners", then.  All we get is a tax
    disc through the internal mail.
    
    But the comment about the Highway Code made me think.  I can't remember
    the last time I looked at a copy.  Haven't they now withdrawn the
    direction signals a horse and cart driver makes with his whip? :-)
    
    Perhaps it should be a legal requirement to own/carry an up-to-date
    copy, and to renew it each year.  I shall be getting one asap.
    
    Jeff.

    I agree that it is worrying that the Highway Code is "revised" without
    obvious changes to the cover. I bought one about a year ago, so it sounds
    like this is already out-of-date.
    
    Do they incluse "change bars" so that you know what is different?
    
    Anyway, the highway code is only a "guide". Surely changes to laws as
    significant as the ones mentioned should be publicised properly, and
    not just the 30 second filler at the end of the news. There are umpteen
    million drivers in this country, and they can't all be checking in
    W.H.Smiths whether updates have been made!!!!
    
    mb

>><<< Note 1454.21 by BRUMMY::BELL "Martin Bell, {watch this space} Birmingham UK" >>>

>>    I agree that it is worrying that the Highway Code is "revised" without
>>    obvious changes to the cover. I bought one about a year ago, so it sounds
>>    like this is already out-of-date.
    
    Likely
    
>>    Do they incluse "change bars" so that you know what is different?
    
    No chance
    
>>    Anyway, the highway code is only a "guide". Surely changes to laws as
>>    significant as the ones mentioned should be publicised properly, and
>>    not just the 30 second filler at the end of the news. There are umpteen
>>    million drivers in this country, and they can't all be checking in
>>    W.H.Smiths whether updates have been made!!!!
    
    Want to bet?, This is usually the 'filler' item just before the one
    about a cuddly panda!.
    
    Anyway, at least the pictures/drawings have been updated. Out go the
    Morris 1100, in comes a metro lookalike.
    
    Richard

	Thanks one and all for your suggestions and comments. I have
    mislaid my copy of Highway Code (which was a good couple of years old)
    and have had it on my list of things to do for a while. I really will
    go out and get one now - it might answer the last couple of questions!
        
    Cheers,
    	Colin
    
    	Synopsis of answers so far (and it needs a little more work on
    questions 2,3 and 7!!) is :
        
    1. A qualified driver may accompany a learner if they meet certain
    criteria - what are the criteria?
    
    	b) aged 21, full licence 3 years		FROM 4 RESPONSES
    
    2. What is the most common cause of motorway accidents?
    
	a) falling asleep at the wheel
    OR    
    	b) travelling too close
    OR
    	c) travelling too fast
    
    	1 response in favour of each of these three!!!!
        
    3. How many pedestrians are killed or injured on pedestrian crossings
    each year?
    
    	a) 1500						FROM 1 RESPONSE
    
    4. Speed limits shown by electronic signal on M-ways are advisory or
    mandatory?
    
	3 ADVISORY
    	1 MANDATORY    
    
    5. If all rear seat passengers were restrained, the DoT assess that
    fatal and serious injuries would be reduced by :
    
    	c) 1/2						FROM 2 RESPONSES
    
    6. Where fitted, it is compulsory for rear belts to be worn by :
    
    	c) children under 14 (current rule) 		FROM 3 RESPONSES
    
    7. M-ways carry 15% of motor vehicle traffic - what percentage of
    accidents causing injury occur on them?
    
    	a) 2%						FROM 1 RESPONSE

Sure seems like a lot of opinion and not a lot of knowledge :-) :-)

    On the subject of road safety, the freebie local rag delivered at home
    included a couple of statistics from a report now available.
    
    In the report, it states that the U.K. has the safest roads in Europe !
    
    Also, that of however many billion pounds are collected in road 'tax',
    less than 22% is used towards roadworks.  (I forget the figures).
    
    J.R.

    	Very interesting but this is not helping guys!! C'mon, I
    wannanother chance to drive round Thruxton with Damon Hill and chat to
    Jonathon over lunch. Gimme a break... I'm definately going to buy a
    Highway Code this weekend :-)
    
    Colin

    May I suggest that you (and several of your friends!!) contact
    Autoexpress tel. no: 071 921 5900 as they will, almost certainly, give
    you the correct info on the disputed questions.
    
    As they will probably be aware of the competition is the reason for
    using more than one person to elicit the answers.
    
    Pete

	Well, I finally entered the competition, after many happy hours 
trying to learn the definitive answers to some of these questions through 
local council Road Safety Officers, magazines and the Highway Code. Not sure
I got them all right but this is what I sent in. I'll let you know if I get
through to the heats (at Thruxton on 23rd July) :

    1. A qualified driver may accompany a learner if they meet certain
    criteria - what are the criteria?
    
    	a) aged 18, full licence 1 year
    -->	b) aged 21, full licence 3 years
    	c) aged 25, full licence 3 years
    
    2. What is the most common cause of motorway accidents?
    
    	a) falling asleep at the wheel
    --> b) travelling too close
    	c) trevelling too fast
    
    3. How many pedestrians are killed or injured on pedestrian crossings
    each year?
    
    	a) 1500
    -->	b) 3000
    	c) 3500
    
    4. Speed limits shown by electronic signal on M-ways are :

	a) advisory 
    --> b) mandatory

    5. What must you do if the red lights above your motorway lane flash?

    -->	a) Stop
	b) Proceed with caution
	c) leave at next junction

    6. What is recommended as a following distance in normal driving 
       conditions?	  

	a) One foot for each mph?
	b) 3 metres for each mph?
    -->	c) 1 metre for each mph?

    7. The shortest braking distance at 50 mph is quoted as :

	a) 50 ft
    -->	b) 125 ft
	c) 90 ft

    8. If there are no speed limit signs, the maximum speed under street
       lights is :

    -->	a) 30 mph
	b) 40 mph
	c) 50 mph

    9. Where fitted, it is compulsory for rear belts to be worn by :
    
    -->	a) all passengers (as of 1.7.91)
    	b) only if under 5' tall
    	c) children under 14
    	d) on motorways
    
   10. If all rear seat passengers were restrained, the DoT assess that
    fatal and serious injuries would be reduced by :
    
    -->	a) 1/3
    	b) 2/3
    	c) 1/2

   11. Anti-lock brakes work only when :

	a) braking on snow or ice
	b) braking very heavily
    -->	c) a wheel starts to lock
	d) braking on any slippery surface

   12. What is the cause of 95% of road accidents?

	a) travelling too fast
    -->	b) human error
	c) not stopping at red lights
	d) vehicle defects

   13. Reaction time of an average driver is equivalent to :

	a) one yard (3 ft) for each mph travelled
    -->	b) one foot for each mph travelled
	c) ten feet for each mph travelled
	d) one metre for each mph travelled

   14. M-ways carry 15% of motor vehicle traffic - what percentage of
    accidents causing injury occur on them?
    
    -->	a) 2%
    	b) 5%
    	c) 12%
    	d) 18%

re .28

Question 4: I thought they were advisory...

Question 11: I would hope that anti-lock brakes worked all the time :-)

Scott 

>    1. A qualified driver may accompany a learner if they meet certain
>    criteria - what are the criteria?
>    
>    	a) aged 18, full licence 1 year
>    -->	b) aged 21, full licence 3 years
>    	c) aged 25, full licence 3 years
    
    Surely the answer is A if it has to be any.
    
    When i accompanied a friend for lessons, i was 18 and hadn't even sent
    off for a full license - i had passed about 4 months earlier. I still 
    had the pass certificate, and as my normally luck goes we got stopped... 
    the policemans answer to me was...
    
    "Anyone with a full license."
    
    So i applied and recieved my license and took my friend out again,
    no problems...               

re.30

the law recently changed to 'over 21 with 3yrs full licence'


...art

 As I pointed out a few back, my brothers provisional came through with a small
easily missed peice of paper saying that it was 21yrs old, so as you can imagine
I was well cheesed off as I was still 20 at the time. *8+>



		 Alan
		~~~~~~

    Thanks for correcting me...
    
    I don't want to get arrested if i take anyone out for a little lesson.
    
    And who says this conference isn't useful? ;-)
    
    Cheers,
    
    				Lewis.