c***s on the road

[Richey Edwards]

You don't need a stupid wee camera to prove that 99% of people on the roads do not know how to drive.

[Jacksgranda]

50 minutes ago, bobbykdy said:

How old is your battery? My car went flat a couple of weeks ago, a mate come out to jump start it and I took it a good drive but within a couple of days it was gone again. Luckily I have one of these wee handheld meters you can buy for less than a tenner and it told me the alternator was fine (I only had it replaced less than four years ago so I'd hope so) it was the battery that was the problem, had just stopped holding a charge. Got Halfords mobile to come out and replace it and the boy changing it confirmed it was the original battery (cars is a 10 plate) so I can't really have too many complaints.

It sounds like your battery is gubbed also rather than the alternator as when alternator goes the car tends to pack up in the middle of a journey which isn't the case if you have a flat battery but have managed to get it going.

The battery's not that old, but doesn't seem to hold the charge for more than a day. Got her charged up and took her for a run, hope she starts when I have to go out in an hour's time.

[Ginaro]

6 hours ago, Soapy FFC said:

Whilst I don't condone these drivers ignoring the signs, I need to ask why there is a no left turn there? From what I can see that's the Elm Row/London Road junction and given that London Road is one of the main routes out of the city centre, and Leith Walk is a main route as well, I can't see the need to prevent left turns. However I must say the last time I was there that junction was a roundabout, so I'm not sure what the current set up is.

As mentioned this is the most efficient way to run the junction - two phases (as seen in the original tweet) with straight ahead southbound + pedestrian crossing (+ trams I assume), and then straight northbound + right eastbound. Anything else, like an all-stop phase, means delays. If you want to go left then go around the Picardy Place gyratory instead or take a different route to avoid coming up this bit of Leith Walk. Obviously traffic modelling probably didn't take into account the willingness of so many drivers to break the law.

Not been there recently either but the roundabout was a massive waste of space and walking on the east side meant taking a 100m detour to a crossing on London Road, so it's better now being a junction.

Edited December 19, 2022 by Ginaro

[Jacksgranda]

29 minutes ago, Cosmic Joe said:

I thought what happens in the Lodge, stays in the Lodge?   

There's business and there's Lodge business...

[bobbykdy]

3 minutes ago, Jacksgranda said:

The battery's not that old, but doesn't seem to hold the charge for more than a day. Got her charged up and took her for a run, hope she starts when I have to go out in an hour's time.

It sounds like it will be ok when you go out shortly as it will still have surface charge but more than likely will be flat again within the next couple of days unfortunately.

[microdave]

1 hour ago, bobbykdy said:

How old is your battery? My car went flat a couple of weeks ago, a mate come out to jump start it and I took it a good drive but within a couple of days it was gone again. Luckily I have one of these wee handheld meters you can buy for less than a tenner and it told me the alternator was fine (I only had it replaced less than four years ago so I'd hope so) it was the battery that was the problem, had just stopped holding a charge. Got Halfords mobile to come out and replace it and the boy changing it confirmed it was the original battery (cars is a 10 plate) so I can't really have too many complaints.

It sounds like your battery is gubbed also rather than the alternator as when alternator goes the car tends to pack up in the middle of a journey which isn't the case if you have a flat battery but have managed to get it going.

On my way to work this morning, the battery light came on with the display saying "battery charging error" but everything felt fine so I carried on. After doing a bit of research (google), it might be the alternator needing replaced. That was fine until I read the BiB and now I'm worrying about gettng home and then to the garage later on.

[Michael W]

3 hours ago, Jacksgranda said:

Same here - battery charged on Saturday, flat again this morning. Surely not starting it for one day shouldn't leave the battery flat?

Could possibly be the alternator that has gone? 

[coprolite]

1 hour ago, Jacksgranda said:

The battery's not that old, but doesn't seem to hold the charge for more than a day. Got her charged up and took her for a run, hope she starts when I have to go out in an hour's time.

Turn the lights off when you're not using it. 

[ICTChris]

Someone filmed at that junction the other day

 

I used to live near there and it would seem a bit counter intuitive not to able to turn left there, although I don't really drive down there much.  

There is zero excuse for driving through so many signs and across pedestrian traffic though.

[welshbairn]

2 hours ago, Jacksgranda said:

The battery's not that old, but doesn't seem to hold the charge for more than a day. Got her charged up and took her for a run, hope she starts when I have to go out in an hour's time.

Dodgy solenoid m8.

[Jacksgranda]

2 hours ago, bobbykdy said:

It sounds like it will be ok when you go out shortly as it will still have surface charge but more than likely will be flat again within the next couple of days unfortunately.

She's to go in for MoT repairs so I'll get my mechanic to see if he can get to the bottom of it, but atm he appears to be as baffled as I am.

[TxRover]

42 minutes ago, Jacksgranda said:

She's to go in for MoT repairs so I'll get my mechanic to see if he can get to the bottom of it, but atm he appears to be as baffled as I am.

Most common causes:

-Lots of short trips not allowing charging system to get battery recharged from starting.

-Small short/drain from a faulty circuit (much more likely these days)…especially an aftermarket alarm.

-Alternator or component of the system not allowing proper charging.

-Battery knackered*.

*Batteries get knackered based upon age, use and poor charging habits/system. A brand new battery, drained flat a couple of times, can be toast.

[alta-pete]

Aye, option 4 consistent with our recent experience.

Very surprised that Mrs a-p II's wee diesel Audi killed its battery through lockdown. It was used to getting thrashed in and out of Edinburgh every day for 2 years and suddenly it just wasn't getting used at all for months at a time. A couple of jump starts over the piece and the garage declared it needed replaced as it was refusing to take an adequate charge.

What with your recent health issues @Jacksgranda, could there have been a change in the frequency you've been using the car?  

[Jacksgranda]

1 hour ago, TxRover said:

Most common causes:

-Lots of short trips not allowing charging system to get battery recharged from starting.

-Small short/drain from a faulty circuit (much more likely these days)…especially an aftermarket alarm.

-Alternator or component of the system not allowing proper charging.

-Battery knackered*.

*Batteries get knackered based upon age, use and poor charging habits/system. A brand new battery, drained flat a couple of times, can be toast.

This

51 minutes ago, alta-pete said:

Aye, option 4 consistent with our recent experience.

Very surprised that Mrs a-p II's wee diesel Audi killed its battery through lockdown. It was used to getting thrashed in and out of Edinburgh every day for 2 years and suddenly it just wasn't getting used at all for months at a time. A couple of jump starts over the piece and the garage declared it needed replaced as it was refusing to take an adequate charge.

What with your recent health issues @Jacksgranda, could there have been a change in the frequency you've been using the car?  

No, very low mileage this last 3 years,

[microdave]

4 hours ago, microdave said:

On my way to work this morning, the battery light came on with the display saying "battery charging error" but everything felt fine so I carried on. After doing a bit of research (google), it might be the alternator needing replaced. That was fine until I read the BiB and now I'm worrying about gettng home and then to the garage later on.

No, I didn't make it home. Now "parked" next to a bus stop like a proper c**t on the road waiting for a rescue vehicle.

[TxRover]

56 minutes ago, Jacksgranda said:

This

No, very low mileage this last 3 years,

Yea, you’ve likely killed the battery…My MIL has the same issue. The best answer is to, at least once a week, do a good 20-30 drive somewhere. The distance isn’t important, it’s the time…and keeping the engine running the whole time (unless it has stop/start, which shouldn’t activate while the battery isn’t fully charged). Plan B is a battery charger to hook up on a regular basis…but it’ll only help a little. Best backup is a small Li-ion battery jump pack and being willing to buy batteries pretty often.

[strichener]

6 hours ago, flyingscot said:

I'd suggest it's to reduce congestion and make the traffic lights more efficient.

From the video, the people cross London Road and Leith Walk at the same time traffic is flowing in certain directions. The green man across London Road is on at the same time as the green traffic light for Leith Walk/Elm Row - fine as the left turn is supposed to be prohibited. 

If you allow this left turn into London Road, the pedestrian signal can't be on green at the same time as the green traffic light on Leith Walk. Therefore, to let people across London Road there needs to be another phase added where traffic is stopped on both Leith Walk and London Road. This will lead to 20-25 seconds of 'dead time' where all traffic is stationary whilst people cross the road. 

The councillor alludes to this in his second tweet that the modelling shows it doesn't work. It's more efficient to ban the left turn and have people wanting to go east find another route or circle back at Picardy Place than delaying all traffic for the convenience of a few who want to turn left.

It is obviously not working.  The simple solution is to allow the left turn and let pedestrians take their chance!

[Jacksgranda]

22 minutes ago, TxRover said:

Yea, you’ve likely killed the battery…My MIL has the same issue. The best answer is to, at least once a week, do a good 20-30 drive somewhere. The distance isn’t important, it’s the time…and keeping the engine running the whole time (unless it has stop/start, which shouldn’t activate while the battery isn’t fully charged). Plan B is a battery charger to hook up on a regular basis…but it’ll only help a little. Best backup is a small Li-ion battery jump pack and being willing to buy batteries pretty often.

I take it that's minutes.

I'm halfway there - every fortnight there is a round trip to Cookstown/Pomeroy - Cookstown (20 minutes travelling time) involves a stop and switch off.

Pomeroy (30 minutes approx), I wheel into the yard, fill the car up with small children and drive off, making sure that no dogs or cats have been smuggled on board, usually doesn't involve a switch off.

[TxRover]

2 hours ago, Jacksgranda said:

I take it that's minutes.

I'm halfway there - every fortnight there is a round trip to Cookstown/Pomeroy - Cookstown (20 minutes travelling time) involves a stop and switch off.

Pomeroy (30 minutes approx), I wheel into the yard, fill the car up with small children and drive off, making sure that no dogs or cats have been smuggled on board, usually doesn't involve a switch off.

Sorry, yes, minutes. If the car sits a long time often, a battery tender is a godsend, if you have a garage.

[tamthebam]

11 hours ago, alta-pete said:

Had cause to have interaction with Police Scotland's traffic division a couple of years ago and the chap enquired whether I had a dash cam (which I did not). Light hearted discussion thereafter that most who had dash cams were indeed the c***s on the road who were needing watched. 

See also cyclists with cameras