A farmer who held up a convoy of 20 cars as he drove his tractor home from a cattle market in Ireland has been banned for driving for 12 months.
The farmer, who was called ‘arrogant and individualistic’ by a district court judge, was told: "You don't have the right to force other people to drive at 15 miles per hour."
Michael Nevin, from Co Mayo, insisted that he had pulled over to allow traffic to overtake at the earliest opportunity, but gardai pursuing him said that he had passed six possible places before finally pulling in. When stopped he was issued with a fine which he refused to pay.
Counsel for the accused argued that Mr Nevin had an impeccable driving record and his livelihood would be compromised by a conviction under the Road Traffic Act.
However, Judge Devins convicted him under Section 51a of the Road Traffic Act, which stipulates that due care and consideration for others must be exercised while driving.
Click here to read the full Independent news report.
Time Bank hosts conference for members
Road Safety Time Bank (RSTB) is hosting a one-day conference for its members on 12 March at the Russell Hotel in London.
The conference is open to all RSTB members and will include presentations on how to complete your RSTB homepage and how to trade.
A wide range of subjects will be covered including work related driving, older drivers, ‘Bikewise’, drugs & driving, targeted enforcement campaigns, working with local communities, speed limit review and young drivers.
Click here to download the booking form, and click here for more information about RSTB.
Free drink drive resource launched
E-Training World has launched a free to use web-based training session, as part of its commitment to the European Road Safety Charter.
The aim of ‘Drink Driving Kills’ is to educate drivers on the subject of drinking and driving and in particular driving the morning after having a few drinks the night before.
A driving examiner is suing for £15,000 after he was hurt during the 'worst exam in 12 years of having learners behind the wheel'.
Andrew Carmichael was testing Lisa Connolly when she braked suddenly, forcing another car to swerve to avoid a crash, he told the court. As a result, he developed whiplash.
Mr Carmichael said he recorded 14 faults with her driving, five serious and one dangerous. They included a three-point turn that became a 'nine-point turn'. At one point, 'the candidate braked severely with her left foot'.
Click here to read the full Daily Mail news report.
Drivers risking lives through impaired vision.
A study by the College of Optometrists in London found that 20% of motorists aged 35-55 are aware they cannot see clearly. Middle-aged men are the worst culprits, with one in three admitting they would never go for an eye test.
A quarter said they ‘couldn’t be bothered’ to get a check-up, while 18 % said glasses or contacts were too expensive. And half claimed they were worried glasses would make them look older.
The study, which quizzed 4,053 people, found 28% put off a test for up to six months after noticing their sight deteriorate. And 21% put it off for up to five years.
Driving with uncorrected defective vision carries a fine of up to £1,000, three points and a possible ban.
More than 40,000 drivers risk fines of up to £1,000 because they have failed to renew their photocard driving licences.
Photocards expire after 10 years, unlike the old green paper licences, which were valid until the driver was 70. Drivers risk prosecution if stopped by police and may also find that their insurers refuse to pay out on claims they make.
The problem has only emerged in recent months because photocards were first issued in 1998. The first renewals were due in July last year, and between then and the end of January 173,867 photocards expired.
Figures obtained by The Times from the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) show that only 128,987 of those drivers have paid £17.50 and sent in new photos to renew their licences, leaving 44,880 outstanding. Some of those drivers will have died or stopped driving, but the vast majority will have failed to notice the small print on their photocards showing the expiry date.
Click here to read the full Times online news report.
Better than speed bumps
Pat Harris, director of the BUSK (Belt Up School Kids) campaign, brought to our attention this novel way of ‘persuading’ drivers to slow down.
Pat says: “I don't know about you, but this would slow me down!
“People slow down and try to 'straddle' the hole, then breath a sign of relief they completely clear it.
”This is actually a speed control device that is in use - and it is much cheaper than speed cameras.
”Very clever, especially if moved around each day.”
For further information contact Pat Harris on 01633 274944
