What's made you not grumpy but not smile either today?

[PuntoHowTo]

Going back to this..

Just got back from walking my boy to school.

Saw a lady in a Tesla model Y a car that scores 98% in safety assist tech have her arse saved from her own stupidity by a bloke in an old insignia which would score a hefty 0 stars on the current system. Fortunately managed to place his foot on the brake when she pulled out from an offset blind t-junction without looking right then on seeing the car bearing down on her froze and stopped her car directly in it's path.

Sure she would have been fine..but the phrase whenever you idiot proof something society produces a better class of idiot comes to mind.

If the situation were different, say she did not give the other driver enough time to react, if he was driving a tesla with all its electrical gadgets, would the car have been able to prevent the accident without any intervention from him. While she was clearly the numpty not paying attention in this case, the road is full of other numpties and had the Vauxhall driver also been less on the ball than he was, it could have resulted in a crash, but with technology the accident could have been prevented and maybe quicker than the human could have reacted.

The Tesla on the other hand scores so well because of the technology, but technology isn’t always fool proof And so there are all those high profile deaths from idiots who decided to have a little snooze while in self driving mode.

I see both sides of the argument, the safest car should be one that does well at protecting the occupants in an accident, but on the other hand if it doesn’t get into an accident at all, then its even safer. Hence the confusing system.

Imagine a hypothetical car that had no airbags or any other safety systems for occupants but was so advanced it could avoid (again hypothetically) any accident. This would technically speaking be more safe than even the biggest tank of a car, you’d never get any injuries in a car that never crashes, but they would still rate it on the level of protection for the occupants. Which if they turn off the electronics and tow It with cables into a big concrete block, its not going to do every well at.

 

[StevenRB45]

If the situation were different, say she did not give the other driver enough time to react, if he was driving a tesla with all its electrical gadgets, would the car have been able to prevent the accident without any intervention from him. While she was clearly the numpty not paying attention in this case, the road is full of other numpties and had the Vauxhall driver also been less on the ball than he was, it could have resulted in a crash, but with technology the accident could have been prevented and maybe quicker than the human could have reacted.

The Tesla on the other hand scores so well because of the technology, but technology isn’t always fool proof And so there are all those high profile deaths from idiots who decided to have a little snooze while in self driving mode.

I see both sides of the argument, the safest car should be one that does well at protecting the occupants in an accident, but on the other hand if it doesn’t get into an accident at all, then its even safer. Hence the confusing system.

Imagine a hypothetical car that had no airbags or any other safety systems for occupants but was so advanced it could avoid (again hypothetically) any accident. This would technically speaking be more safe than even the biggest tank of a car, you’d never get any injuries in a car that never crashes, but they would still rate it on the level of protection for the occupants. Which if they turn off the electronics and tow It with cables into a big concrete block, its not going to do every well at.

Thing is though, you could have negated improvement provided by automatic braking by doing 10mph more ..which is the thing. The car he avoided was behind a 7ft stone wall until it wasn't. Lidar, cameras whatever would not have picked it up until it was in a dangerous position, provided they weren't covered in ice anyway. As it was VX was coming into the school zone at an appropriate speed, but seen many more who think 45 into a 20 is fine.

Put someone in a metal box tell them it's safe if they crash, tell them it'll avoid crashes and you get someone who takes more risks than if you hadn't told them that.

 

[Pugglt Auld Jock]

There should be an option to save as a pdf file. May be able to create a multi-page pdf, so you just scan each in turn, and it saves as one file.

Thanks PB. I was just wondering, I have a high resolution Panasonic Lumix camera - it's the one I use to take pictures to post on the forum - It produces very good resolution pictures, in fact I only use it at half the resolution it's capable of for forum pictures. I wonder if I could just take pictures, full frame, of each document and send them that way? ('cos I know how to do that)

 

[The Panda Nut]

That should be OK Jock , if the policy accepts copies they should do as the recipient can either file electronically or print for the files / reports. If you can do this scanning via the printer is no worse. Mine does page one and then prompts if you wish to add subsequent pages until you hit save when it saves all the pages in one PDF file. Go for it.

 

[portland_bill]

Thanks PB. I was just wondering, I have a high resolution Panasonic Lumix camera - it's the one I use to take pictures to post on the forum - It produces very good resolution pictures, in fact I only use it at half the resolution it's capable of for forum pictures. I wonder if I could just take pictures, full frame, of each document and send them that way? ('cos I know how to do that)

Photos are likely to be much larger file sizes than a scan. Depending on your provider, sending large files might fail.

 

[vexorg]

Supposed to be funny satire but is just the sad reality now:



Obviously I've got a vested interesd since wife has been a nurse for 30+ years

 

[StevenRB45]

C3 been sitting on minimum coolant level for a few weeks, haven't topped it up previously but it also didn't used to do 12k a year previously so not concerned as such.

Anywho with things a bit calmer here and Xmas coming thought I better top it up.

Went on eBay had a look 12.95 a bottle for genuine coolant but Royal Mail and strikes being what they are I want it before February so rang garage.

8.85...sweet I'll just have it off them then. Shame they've got no idea what they are selling. Asked them if it was to dilute or pre-mixed "pre-mixed" read the bottle which is in french. Clearly labelled -35 degrees at 50/50 dilution or -25 at 60/40...guess that'll be to dilute then.

 

[bugsymike]

Clearly unsafe..... 1 star... Although to me it seems to have acceptable rollover protection. There numerous example I have of Pandas actually doing at least OK after quite nasty looking accidents. I actually do not want all these gadgets as they will all be MOT failures if they dont work. so I agree with you.
Pic 2.. Bigger is not always best!!!!!

Here is a tongue in cheek suggestion . Since most accidents are caused by the nut loose behind the steering wheel, rather than an air bag how about a 6 inch metal spike in the centre of the steering wheel , to aid driver concentration?

 

[vexorg]

how about a 6 inch metal spike in the centre of the steering wheel , to aid driver concentration?

Weird, I had a friend's dad that always said if cars had a spike in the middle of the steering wheels and no doors then there would be no raod rage and much safer driving.

 

[bugsymike]

Weird, I had a friend's dad that always said if cars had a spike in the middle of the steering wheels and no doors then there would be no raod rage and much safer driving.

People feel very insulated and safe inside their boxes, often on their phones and unaware of the outside World.

 

[Pugglt Auld Jock]

Here is a tongue in cheek suggestion . Since most accidents are caused by the nut loose behind the steering wheel, rather than an air bag how about a 6 inch metal spike in the centre of the steering wheel , to aid driver concentration?

Effectively what the old cars, pre collapsible steering columns, were. Even more so when you consider that most of those old cars had a steering box mounted well forward in the chassis so it would only take a smallish frontal impact to force the column back. Wonder if Vlad the impaler would have approved?

 

[StevenRB45]

Christmas shop...

Thought we'd avoid actually going in so click and collect order for 4pm. Get there and absolutely bedlam, eventually get everything packed in the car and away at 10 past 6.

However could have been worse, with how slow it was was switching the car off between moving as if not I'd have been idling for a clear hour and a half. After about 4 or 6 restart then move 5 feet and off again followed by 20 minutes or so of podcasts get a message up. "Bing" Economy mode activated, next time I switch off no infotainment or lights. It monitors the battery level if it starts to get concerned it starts limiting what it'll do.

No bother eventually get to the front sit for another 30 mins or so get our shop. Just about to go gentleman behind me in a CRV diesel has been doing similar. He attempts to turn his over...it doesn't so he's now at the front but with an immobile car. We exchange brief words when I point out he's turning it over with the headlamps on and if he knocks them off and rests the battery it he might have just enough to kick it over.

Did briefly consider mentioning the jump leads under my boot floor...but using a 1.2 petrol battery that's already triggered low voltage self-protection stuff to jump start a 2.2 diesel seemed like a bad idea.

Hope he got sorted..while modern idiot proofing may seem rather nannying..useful sometimes.

 

[The Panda Nut]

My op on 28th now cancelled. Anaesthetist is ill. Thats all fine. Anticipated it might not be a smooth passage.
But being told I was bumped because some 'manger' decided I did not need a stent change as it was only done 3 months ago so I will be put back to March not so good when I have been waiting virtually 2 years to get my place in the queuq whem Im in need of an urgent kdney operation and not astent change no so good. I will eventually get to the bottom of this story. Promised call to put things right did not come.
Poor booking clerk didnt know what to say. The silence of my despair at this comment must have had an impact. I woner if my engine lifting beam and inspection pit could by made to do a different job. I really think if it was not Christmas I would go off down there now and find out.
I hope Sunak needs urgent help and that the nurses are on strike and ambulances take him to a car park for a few days to suffer! If MPs give themselves a pay rise this year they can expect extreme direct action from one of the country's most determined and devious minds that will make the Guy Fawkes plot look like a FAIRY TAIL.

 

[bugsymike]

My op on 28th now cancelled. Anaesthetist is ill. Thats all fine. Anticipated it might not be a smooth passage.
But being told I was bumped because some 'manger' decided I did not need a stent change as it was only done 3 months ago so I will be put back to March not so good when I have been waiting virtually 2 years to get my place in the queuq whem Im in need of an urgent kdney operation and not astent change no so good. I will eventually get to the bottom of this story. Promised call to put things right did not come.
Poor booking clerk didnt know what to say. The silence of my despair at this comment must have had an impact. I woner if my engine lifting beam and inspection pit could by made to do a different job. I really think if it was not Christmas I would go off down there now and find out.
I hope Sunak needs urgent help and that the nurses are on strike and ambulances take him to a car park for a few days to suffer! If MPs give themselves a pay rise this year they can expect extreme direct action from one of the country's most determined and devious minds that will make the Guy Fawkes plot look like a FAIRY TAIL.

Re NHS apointments, I have an old customer from before I retired who is dying of cancer, we have regular phone calls to take the **** out of each other, anyway he tried to make his regular bloods appointment and was told to ring back on Friday as to early for their calendar for January, so he rings Friday and the Appointments Dept. is now shut for Christmas!!!!

 

[vexorg]

The NHS staff are normal people, it's not a 24hour a day life time commitment for poor pay, they are entitled to a life and holidays as much as everyone else. The staff (not govt) have been saying the NHS is in crisis since before covid, people shouldn't really be surprised it's falling apart now after all that's gone on.

 

[varesecrazy]

Ive mentioned before..
My son drives our oldest FIAT,
a 2008 GRANDE diesel

Its MOT was due.. so I brought it back down the M4 and got it booked in to a place I use and like

That day came.. -8'C outside.. took a while for a 14 year old diesel to muster much heat... also remembered a 'niggle' spotted in the spring- the air direction flap control felt odd.. I was blaming a parking ticket


MOT failed.. a seatbelt issue
Inertia reel didnt lock

Over the next week at 'above zero' it worked perfectly every time

So resubmitted - a pass


Last day at work for Xmas I managed to get the car Indoors.. pulled pollen filter
Ok

Run up fan.. no change..still a poor flow to the screen
Getting a 'spongy' feel to the control

Had a peek up inside the dash.. followed a Bowden control cable to a mechanism

Arm reaching around dash I can operate all this

I then get a peek of a 2nd pulley.. its SLIPPING on the 1st one that I am driving

Fiddling around with all 3 controls .. Ive managed to get Great Airflow to the top of Dash, aimed at screen

I had a Really HOT trip home

 

[bugsymike]

The NHS staff are normal people, it's not a 24hour a day life time commitment for poor pay, they are entitled to a life and holidays as much as everyone else. The staff (not govt) have been saying the NHS is in crisis since before covid, people shouldn't really be surprised it's falling apart now after all that's gone on.

I agree, but to tell a dying man to book an appointment on a day you know your are shut???

 

[Cheest]

We, meaning Mrs.Cheest, had offered to host a Christmas get together with her family today as they all live a lot closer than my family. As of one hour ago, every one of them has begged off because of the cold and the 50 to 80 mile drive. Mrs.Cheest is understandably not in a goodwill mood toward her kinfolk at the moment. I just said that I guess we can stop cleaning now.

Mrs.Cheest then said that my family would not have cared about the cold and would have been here if it wasn't such a hike. I just nodded and said it was the Nordic viking/farmer and native stock. That said, our daughter and her family, who live near the coast of Maine, should be here this afternoon. Their drive is only 1200 miles.

 

[varesecrazy]

We had 3 mornings of -8 /-11'c around Zero in the day
And potentially as bad as we will see for this winter

I take it you are colder than that by a margin?

 

[Cheest]

We had 3 mornings of -8 /-11'c around Zero in the day
And potentially as bad as we will see for this winter

I take it you are colder than that by a margin?

This was yesterday morning.

That -10F is -23C. It was brutal with the wind and there was a lot of that. Today we are 20 degrees warmer at 10F/-12C. It's tolerable.

There was a weather related meme going around the US yesterday that read:
WEATHER WARNING

Southerners: You are urged not to travel unless absolutely necessary.

Northerners: You will need your big coat.