NEWSLINK January 2024_compressed

Area News
Crossing the rubicon, US-style
John Lomas
MSA GB
West Coast
& Wales
Over the years I have noticed that in films
and other programmes about America, you
often see people crossing diagonally at
crossroads as well as crossing the
individual roads, when they get their ‘Cross
Now’ instruction.
I have recently noticed that there is a
traffic light controlled crossroads near me
which is marked and controlled for the
same movements (see above right). Are
there many of these in the UK? I certainly
haven’t noticed any others, and of course
when driving it doesn’t really make a
difference to the way it is dealt with.
Incidently, reading a discussion about
the different experiences for Americans
visiting the UK, I have seen comments
about them being surprised that
pedestrians can cross our roads at places
other than controlled crossings. Someone
posted that in New York, they have
even used a cab to get to the other side
of the road because it is too far to walk
to the next junction, cross over
and then walk back.
Can someone who has
been to the States tell
me, do their ‘jaywalking’
laws apply everywhere,
even outside cities and
towns?
I do sometimes
wonder about the
existence of common
sense in America when I see
examples of some roadside signs
over there. Would it really be necessary
to have a sign like this one anywhere
else in the world (above)?
Having written the above I have
remembered the number of cars which
appear to have been driven into flood
waters, or even fords, and have then had to
be abandoned; but those drivers generally
knew the water was there without having
to be told, they just chose to ignore proper
precautions.
Talking of fords, do many of you actually
teach your pupils the best way to deal with
them either in theory, or if you have one
near enough, as a practical leson? I was
wondering if hybrids and EVs require a
different approach because they may be
more, or possibly less, susceptible to
trouble driving through water?
Someone, somewhere is
watching for YOU.
You may have come across one of the
many ‘Stupid Parking Places’ pages on
FaceBook. Sadly, I spotted an ADI included
What is a driving instructor?
I thought you might be amused by this hoodie/
fleece I have seen on Facebook. It would appear
to come from an American vendor (as the price
was in dollar $).
If you can’t read it clearly it reads
Driving Instructor (noun)... An individual who
does precision guess-work based on unreliable
data provided by those with questionable
knowledge... see also Wizard, magician
in its ranks the other day (below). I have
anonymised it... It is parked with the
offside wheels on a pavement and partially,
at least, parked over a double yellow line.
The photo only showed the rear of the car
so I don’t know if the yellow lines’ terminal
marking was under the car or if the lines
extended in front of the car.
Now, obviously, I hope that it wasn’t one
of our members BUT I did feel that it ought
to be brought to your attention as a
cautionary tale and to remind you that
virtually everybody out there has a camera
these days, and your signed-up driving
school car makes you an obvious target for
any real or assumed slippage from correct
standards.
I have also seen, on the same site, another
FB photo featuring the seemingly now
obligatory ‘I Passed with ‘X’ Driving School’
board and the car was clearly parked on a
corner over double yellow lines.
Whoever posted it on that site obscured
the pupil’s face but left the school’s identity
clear for all to see.
See pg 31 for answers
to John’s questions in
the December issue, on
whether any roads in
the UK demand you use
the right lane for
progress
Contact John via:
20 Snowdon Place,
Upper Stratton, Swindon.
SN2 7LR
T: 0779 609 1767
E: johnstardriving@
hotmail.com
32 NEWSLINK n JANUARY 2024