Motorways Part 2 - Slip Roads

Motorways, freeways, or what ever you call them, generally come with this marvolous invention to help you join them smoothly..............the slip road.


The idea is, that as you drive down the slip road, you increase your speed so that at the actual point that you join the motorway, your speed is somewhere near the speed of the vehicles already on the motorway - which is supposed to be a maximum of 70 miles and hour in this country ........ yeah right!!!!

So why is it, whenever I go to join the motorway (remember, I must use it to get to work, so quite frequently), and I end up following someone, they drive like Miss fucking Daisy and proceed down the slip road at 40 miles an hour!!!!

Prometheus and 3D fail (for me)

Went to see Prometheus tonight, the new Ridley Scott movie, and a sort of prequel to Alien. Really enjoyed the film and conveniently it has been left open for a sequel.

For something different, we went to Uxbridge to watch it in 3D imax. Now you have to wear the glasses so you can see it in 3D, and unless you watched it straight on, it all got a little blurry, but basically I couldn't see the difference. The advert for Spiderman before was good - with Spiderman coming out of the screen at you, but during Prometheus.....................didn't really notice it. Michael has confirmed that loads of stuff was in 3D, but it all passed me by.

So, I have to conclude that 3D does not work for me!

Motorways

We have these wonderful things in this country, they are called motorways, and they allow traffic to travel at highers speeds than on normal roads and are usually the quickest way of travelling long distances. They have them in other countries too, and go by the names of freeways, autobahns, snelweg, autostrada to name but a few, but the principles are the same.

Anyway, motorways, like all roads, have rules (you can find them in the Highway Code), and the principle is that if you break the rules, then you pay the price, which  often in this country (unless you do something really stupid and serious) is a fine and points on your licence. But as we all know, the police are often overstretched and so some of the lesser rules shall we say, often get ignored.....by drivers and the police when it comes to enforcement.

So, I drive on the motorway to work every day, and home again. In fact, the majority of my 50 mile plus round trip is on the M40. Now rule 264 explains that we should all be driving in the inside lane unless overtaking a slower moving vehicle. And rule 265 explains that certain vehicles are not generally allowed in the outside (right hand) lane when then road has three or more lanes.

Lane discipline

264

You should always drive in the left-hand lane when the road ahead is clear. If you are overtaking a number of slower-moving vehicles, you should return to the left-hand lane as soon as you are safely past. Slow-moving or speed-restricted vehicles should always remain in the left-hand lane of the carriageway unless overtaking. You MUST NOT drive on the hard shoulder except in an emergency or if directed to do so by the police, HA traffic officers in uniform or by signs.
265

The right-hand lane of a motorway with three or more lanes MUST NOT be used (except in prescribed circumstances) if you are driving

• any vehicle drawing a trailer
• a goods vehicle with a maximum laden weight exceeding 3.5 tonnes but not exceeding 7.5 tonnes, which is required to be fitted with a speed limiter
• a goods vehicle with a maximum laden weight exceeding 7.5 tonnes
• a passenger vehicle with a maximum laden weight exceeding 7.5 tonnes constructed or adapted to carry more than eight seated passengers in addition to the driver
• a passenger vehicle with a maximum laden weight not exceeding 7.5 tonnes which is constructed or adapted to carry more than eight seated passengers in addition to the driver, which is required to be fitted with a speed limiter

All I can say is 'yeah right'!!! Many a journey I spend in the inside (left hand) lane speeding past the middle lane hoggers going more slowly that I am. And while lorry and coach drivers follow the rules, some of those long wheel base big vans fall into point two and they are often then ones up your arse in the outside lane doing 90 plus!

And the sign costs..............

A couple of weeks ago I got off the motorway on my way home and I noticed that the county council have put up a new sign. It says that they are spending £25 million on fixing the roads.


Well after two winters in which fair amounts of snow fell, which didn't really do the roads any good they certainly need fixing. A collection of potholes would be a better way to describe the roads round here.


But back to the sign - it is on the A40 in Stokenchurch, and I am sure that it is not the only one in Buckinghamshire. So, how many of these signs have appeared throughout the county and how much of the £25 million have the council spent on the signs? Anyone know how much a road sign retails at nowadays?

Christopher Update

Well Christopher has now been with us about six weeks and I can truly say I cannot imagine life without him. He has settled in brilliantly and definitely rules the roost..........it's his house now!

We kept him in for the first tow or three weeks, and then started taking him out on a lead. He was very good, letting us put the harness on him. We then took to letting him out in the yard freely while we were there, not letting him jump over the wall.

Once hubby had fitted the super dooper microchip reading cat flap, we let him go out by himself during the day, but set it to in a night for the first few days, then over the bank holiday, we let him do what he wants.

Routine is now well established.......he comes in for breakfast, then goes up to our bedroom to get on his bed (which he kindly lets us use at night), where he then sleeps until mid afternoon. He then pops out for a check to make sure that the neighbour hood is behaving itself before coming back for dinner from about 5pm.

The rest of the evening is in out, in out until about 10pm ish when he goes off for longer night prowls - got to keep those mice in order!! Although he spends most of the night out, he does pop back in the middle of the night to check that we are ok, usually announcing himself with a loud chirp at about 3am as he leaps onto the bed for a cuddle and stroke before going back out again.