What's made you grumpy today?

[portland_bill]

The M4 was a disaster for me on Friday, rain and accidents added a good few hours to my journey home. Depressing when at 4pm you think you should be at the border, but you are just at Birmingham.

M40?
M4 is East-West, London to Bristol and South Wales. Not a good route for travelling north, and a long time to find Birmingham, which is probably a bonus.
M40, meanwhile, is plagued with idiots, has been since it opened, and travels from London to Birmingham.
When it was opened, it suffered a collision on the first day, and has had one most days since. I try to avoid it unless absolutely necessary.

 

[vexorg]

Think it was M4 then M5, was in cardiff area roughly. Should've gone M50, but satnav said M4 was quicker

 

[portland_bill]

Think it was M4 then M5, was in cardiff area roughly. Should've gone M50, but satnav said M4 was quicker

Ah, that makes more sense. I don;t get to use the M50 much, but when I have it is ususally lightly trafficked, out of holiday season. M4, Cardiff to Bristol is horrid. Lots of strange lane layouts to catch the visitor, and trap them into leaving. (Never to be heard from again) Parts of it are 50mph limit, rigidly enforced, causing bunching and lots of aggravation, then everyone competing to be in front when the limit increases again. Add to that, lots of locals using it as a commuter step, just one junction on, the next off, to add to the confused passing traffic. Many collisions along that stretch. Then M5 gets a bit busy form there, until north of Gloucester.

Then when M5 joins the M6, it is mostly a car park. (It is not a coincidence that motorways, and car parks both have large rectangular blue signs.)

 

[cainy1989]

it was minus 2 this morning when I left the house at 5am for work, only to find the climate seats in my Mondeo have stopped working - the fuse is buried on the underside of the fuse box in the engine bay, and a quick google says it could spell disaster of an expensive fix....so not only was I cold this morning but extra grumpy!

 

[PuntoHowTo]

Not today but yesterday, Picked little-un up from the childminder and stopped off at the shop on the way home. The only two parent and child spaces where in use, so I had to park in a space much further out to be able to get the door open far enough to get him out.

Walking around the edge of the car park, not far from the shop door was a car in a space with the lights on but not moving (not uncommon) I usually walk with him holding my hand between me and the parked cars so he is not on the side walking where the cars are moving.

Just as we get to the car with the lights on, and we are just walking past it when suddenly the reversing lights come on and the car lurches backwards without any warning. No pause to check it is clear before moving. I manage to pull the boy backwards and step back by which point the car continues about 4 - 5 feet out of the space in front of me, then without any apparent reason pulls back in again. eventually I walk past and am now on the driver's side I get his attention as he is trying to put it back in reverse for a second go at getting out of the space. He opens the window and I quite literally say "you just nearly ran over my Toddler"

His immediate reply "I'm Sorry I am disabled and I can't see very well"
My reply "well you shouldn't be driving then if your first reason for dangerous driving is you're disabled and you can't see"

His reply "I said i'm sorry"

I just walked away partly just in amazement and I partly in disbelief.

I wish I had gotten his number plate I could have reported him to the DVLA.

The best bit was when he opened the window, I could see into the car and the dash, the whole dash was LCD screens and displaying cameras all around the car so if he can't see given all the added visibility that the screens offered over any standard car he really really should not be on the road. I wouldn't have called him an old man either. I do hate how "I'm disabled" has become a go to excuse for people.

 

[portland_bill]

I do hate how "I'm disabled" has become a go to excuse for people.

I agree, disabled, should mean they have to work harder to meet the standards required, not accept a lower standard. A disabled person taking a driving test, gets no special treatment, they have to perform to the same standard, despite their disability. Sadly, having passed a test, then becoming disabled does not require a retest.
I would have suggested he reverse in in future.

 

[vexorg]

Just as we get to the car with the lights on, and we are just walking past it when suddenly the reversing lights come on

Kind of reminds me of the biggest scare I've had driving, though other way round. We had a sedona, visibility is really good on it, but the back end is high. I got in got ready, started the car, put it in reverse and the rear parking sensors were beeping away. I was in our drive, had put stuff in the boot,
nothing behind, nothing in the mirrors, or looking out the back.
I was puzzled and going to check if they were clean, as I got out the car 3 year old walked away from the back of the car over to her parents. She must have been standing right behind the car below the window line. I would have flattened her if it had not been for the parking sensors (though I would fit under the sedona but that's not the point).

 

[bugsymike]

Kind of reminds me of the biggest scare I've had driving, though other way round. We had a sedona, visibility is really good on it, but the back end is high. I got in got ready, started the car, put it in reverse and the rear parking sensors were beeping away. I was in our drive, had put stuff in the boot,
nothing behind, nothing in the mirrors, or looking out the back.
I was puzzled and going to check if they were clean, as I got out the car 3 year old walked away from the back of the car over to her parents. She must have been standing right behind the car below the window line. I would have flattened her if it had not been for the parking sensors (though I would fit under the sedona but that's not the point).

Frightening, though it does pose the question what were her parents doing?
I have seen mothers on their mobile phones pushing pushchair with the child's foot jammed underneath dragging along the ground, the child screaming in pain and when pointed out, the mother just got angry!
Another one on phone walking ahead, young child had caught dress in brambles by a busy road, mother totally unaware and continued walking until I shouted out when driving past on the other side of the road.
In both cases the parent blamed the child!!!

 

[portland_bill]

Many years ago, I needed to cross a small car park between a queue of cars. The front of the queue was stopped while waiting for another to reverse out of a space. The front car had stopped with plenty of space for the emerging car, so no need for any to reverse, therefore should be safe to cross.
As we apssed behind a Vauxhall Zafira, it snicked into reverse, and immediately started to move towards us. I just slapped the back of it 3 times. Frightened the driver a treat, causing her to stop very abruptly. As I continued walking, she opened her door and started to get out, as if to confront me. I plipped the car locks, which gave the customary indicator flash, attracting her attention. Seeing the fully liveried BSM school car, she realised she was never going to win that argument, and quietly got back in her car, not saying a word. A win.

 

[bugsymike]

Many years ago, I needed to cross a small car park between a queue of cars. The front of the queue was stopped while waiting for another to reverse out of a space. The front car had stopped with plenty of space for the emerging car, so no need for any to reverse, therefore should be safe to cross.
As we apssed behind a Vauxhall Zafira, it snicked into reverse, and immediately started to move towards us. I just slapped the back of it 3 times. Frightened the driver a treat, causing her to stop very abruptly. As I continued walking, she opened her door and started to get out, as if to confront me. I plipped the car locks, which gave the customary indicator flash, attracting her attention. Seeing the fully liveried BSM school car, she realised she was never going to win that argument, and quietly got back in her car, not saying a word. A win.

A clear case of "car in gear , brain in neutral"

 

[PuntoHowTo]

Kind of reminds me of the biggest scare I've had driving, though other way round. We had a sedona, visibility is really good on it, but the back end is high. I got in got ready, started the car, put it in reverse and the rear parking sensors were beeping away. I was in our drive, had put stuff in the boot,
nothing behind, nothing in the mirrors, or looking out the back.
I was puzzled and going to check if they were clean, as I got out the car 3 year old walked away from the back of the car over to her parents. She must have been standing right behind the car below the window line. I would have flattened her if it had not been for the parking sensors (though I would fit under the sedona but that's not the point).

Unfortunately I had a work colleague lost her 3 year old in very similar circumstances. The children were playing in the garden. The 3 year old was with much older children and parents were watching them out of the window.

The neighbors were having some building work done and come the end of the day the builders hopped in their van which was a transit with a tipper bed on the back. Obviously no parking sensors, cameras or other kit, and the 3 year old was behind it and not visible from the cab. it was a shared driveway so at the time the child was in their own garden.

I worked in the hospital at the time where the child was bought and several of the A&E staff were left pretty traumatized by that as well. This is why I am always so careful. They started fitting Parking sensors to cars as in the USA it became quite a problem that people with big SUVs would not see small children. this helped prevent these accidents a lot, but now they are fitting cameras as standard and doing away with the parking sensors, which forgets the real main reason for fitting them in the first place.

 

[StevenRB45]

This is one of the reasons I love the camera/sensor on ours...

Best will in the world best observation in the world if a small person steps behind your car while you are looking in the opposite direction they can save you. Although I also park nose out...

but now they are fitting cameras as standard and doing away with the parking sensors, which forgets the real main reason for fitting them in the first place.

You sure? Ours has both, the camera can be hard to see in low sun or if road grime has covered the lens so a back up is provided.

 

[PuntoHowTo]

This is one of the reasons I love the camera/sensor on ours...

Best will in the world best observation in the world if a small person steps behind your car while you are looking in the opposite direction they can save you. Although I also park nose out...



You sure? Ours has both, the camera can be hard to see in low sun or if road grime has covered the lens so a back up is provided.

your car is 2017. A lot of newer cars have cameras but less and less has parking sensors.


I have all round sensors on the golf and they are exceptionally good. To the extent I would trust parking the car without even looking over my shoulder ( I should add that I still do look over my shoulder)

Not only do they cover the back but they also cover an area either side of the back of the car which means if there is something you can hit even if you have to turn and steer into it, the parking sensors can see it. same on the front the parking sensors pick up things that even on a low car you cannot see normally.

That being said I am always someone who knows where the corners of my car are, so it does annoy my wife when I go passed the beeping and into the solid noise when parking, to make sure I tuck myself in nice and close to things.

 

[vexorg]

On the older shaped jukes all had a camera, and very few had parking sensors.

 

[StevenRB45]

Well if we take the latest quality Stellantis product..

And stop laughing at the price at the back there..

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There are two things clearly visible one is parking sensors the other is the small black bump above the rear plate holder for the camera.

Obviously other manufacturers may make such ridiculous decisions but we're all consumers and can decide whether or not to give them our business..

 

[PuntoHowTo]

Well if we take the latest quality Stellantis product..

And stop laughing at the price at the back there..

Auto Trader UK - New and Used Cars For Sale

Find your next car with Auto Trader UK, the official #1 site to buy and sell new and used cars. Over 400,000 cars online. Simple, easy, quick!

www.autotrader.co.uk

There are two things clearly visible one is parking sensors the other is the small black bump above the rear plate holder for the camera.

Obviously other manufacturers may make such ridiculous decisions but we're all consumers and can decide whether or not to give them our business..

How does what is essentially the replacement for the Punto manage to be more money down, more per month then nearly double the final settlement value of my Golf cabrio which I bought brand new..... sort of proves my point on the Pandina thread about the cost of new cars here now.


Anyway. That is the Prima version which they have thrown everything at and currently fiat don't believe in optional extras so it either has parking sensors or they don't fit them to the car period.

The likes of Kia, Hyundai. Toyota. ford, vauxhall, peugeot etc, are all moving to fitting a camera rather than have parking sensors because one camera fitted to a car that already has a big touch screen is much cheaper than 4 sensors plus a module

 

[The Panda Nut]

I always reverse slowly. nearly 35 years ago I was parked in a car park in Norwich. Some oak posts had been placed to protect the building I was visiting. Unfortunately for me one was broken off just above knee height. On returning to the car it was hemmed in. Not realising the post was there I bumped it. Seed less than 1mph. Result bumber deformed and sprung back immediately. Shame about the GRP tailgate (BX Estate). The bottom edge of the tailgate had a bit, of bumper trim attached. It wasnt so lucky and must have moved a few mm. Result the tailgate split from bumper to the high mounted back window. It was unrepairable and cost £2500 for a new one to be fitted. Car was only a couple of weeks old too. Ive been even more careful since as it send shudders down my spine thinking if that post had been a small child.

On the subject of 'what were the parents doing', we visited my Uncle in Wadebridge Main A389 right outside the door on the bend at Sladesbridge back in the 80's. We had been there just a few minutes when there was a knock on the door. The neighbour had rescued 'The Global Head of just abouteverything' from wandering around on the main road just on that blind bend.... He had unlocked the door removed the chain and let himself out. I am still eternally grateful for her action and kindness as it would have ended very badly. On another occasion we were in the science museum in London and our youngest decided she would run off and hide. She was only 30 feet away behind a pillar but gave us the sickest few minutes of my life. We still speak of it today and thats over 30 years ago. Moral is fit your children with a tracker, a collar and a chain and padlock them to your wrist. This avoids forgetting them at the supermarket too!

 

[PuntoHowTo]

I always reverse slowly. nearly 35 years ago I was parked in a car park in Norwich. Some oak posts had been placed to protect the building I was visiting. Unfortunately for me one was broken off

When I read up to this point I thought you had done something similar to my dad who parked the car not reaslising he had gone over a broken off post. When he reversed back out the post caught the sharp edge of the back underside of the bumper and it pulled the bumper off. going over it it had the nice smooth front edge to run over the top of the post and it wasn't heard inside the car.

I tried to put my Mk1 Mondeo with factory Fit RS body kit up on a set of Ramps once and then coming back down off them, caught the bumper and pulled it off.

Moral is fit your children with a tracker, a collar and a chain and padlock them to your wrist. This avoids forgetting them at the supermarket too!

I hold my little ones hand where ever we go. I cannot understand how someone can let a toddler loose in a busy carpark.

 

[The Panda Nut]

When I read up to this point I thought you had done something similar to my dad who parked the car not reaslising he had gone over a broken off post. When he reversed back out the post caught the sharp edge of the back underside of the bumper and it pulled the bumper off. going over it it had the nice smooth front edge to run over the top of the post and it wasn't heard inside the car.

I tried to put my Mk1 Mondeo with factory Fit RS body kit up on a set of Ramps once and then coming back down off them, caught the bumper and pulled it off.



I hold my little ones hand where ever we go. I cannot understand how someone can let a toddler loose in a busy carpark.

Even more a new born in a pram..... By the end of the weekend we had got used to it... In fainess we only moved a few feet

Big problem is you get dafter as you get older,

 

[StevenRB45]

The likes of Kia, Hyundai. Toyota. ford, vauxhall, peugeot etc, are all moving to fitting a camera rather than have parking sensors because one camera fitted to a car that already has a big touch screen is much cheaper than 4 sensors plus a module

I will say I've not seen this..other than Tesla did it a few years ago.

Did a scan around on my lunch time walk, next doors 17 plate Lexus CT, camera only. Ford Puma, camera and sensors, same on a 73 plate Kia Sportage...only ones that may have been camera only were a Tesla 3 and Surprise Surprise a VW ID3.

However I could have pulled a mid-spec Corsa and it would have exactly the same on the rear as the "la prima" as would a 208. If anything if you're already making drilled bumpers and wiring looms for lower spec cars, re-tooling to remove sensors for higher spec ones with cameras is probably going to cost your more than a set of sensors bought by the 1000 is.

Moot point anyway..main thing is your boy is fine and I applaud your restraint...