http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Tag: idiotic - Recent Posts en Wed, 24 Jun 2026 17:13:24 +0000 http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=3748&page=385#post-384854 Wed, 24 Jun 2026 18:06:39 +0000 ejstubbs 384854@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>In a similar vein:</p> <p><strong><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2026/jun/24/carspreading-vehicle-size-crash-deaths-study">‘Carspreading’ could lead to extra 2,600 crash deaths a year by 2040, study finds</a></strong></p> <p><em>Analysis shows cars in Europe have grown longer, taller and wider every year since 2000</em></p> <p><blockquote>The increase in size, which leaves people more likely to be killed in a crash and increases emissions that hurt lungs and heat the planet, has progressed at a roughly steady rate for two and half decades even as family sizes have fallen, the campaign group Transport &amp; Environment (T&amp;E) found.</p> <p>Car bloat is frustrating drivers, too, with cities expected to lose 8.5-14% of on-street parking by 2040 if the historical trend continues unchecked, the analysis found. London and Berlin are each predicted to lose about 100,000 parking spaces.</p> <p>The findings come as research shared exclusively with the Guardian shows potential SUV buyers are undeterred by warnings that they are more likely to kill pedestrians.</p> <p>The authors recommended capping bonnet heights and car widths, changing taxes to discourage people from buying bigger vehicles, and tightening vehicle standards so they considered the visibility of young children from the driver’s seat.</blockquote></p> <p>(Wasn't Gembo suggesting a campaign against large cars at some point in the past? I don't seem to be able to track that down since the search function appears not to, er, function.) </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=3748&page=385#post-384795 Sat, 20 Jun 2026 07:54:49 +0000 chdot 384795@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>“</p> <p>The findings indicate that if governments want to reduce the number of large, dangerous vehicles on the roads, it is likely to require financial penalties, according to the psychologists at Swansea University who led the research.</p> <p>“</p> <p>Er NO</p> <p>IF Govs want to do anything they need to be banned in current form or (minimum) reclassified with much stricter driving test</p> <p>“<br /> A series of studies have shown that sport utility vehicles (SUVs) and similarly oversized domestic vehicles such as pickup trucks are more dangerous than standard cars for pedestrians and cyclists. Much of the risk comes from their higher and blunter front ends.</p> <p>“</p> <p>THIS IS NOT MEW</p> <p>Remember bull bars?</p> <p>At least they were banned </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=3748&page=385#post-384794 Sat, 20 Jun 2026 07:15:28 +0000 Murun Buchstansangur 384794@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Generic callousness rather than specific this time:</p> <p>“SUV buyers undeterred by warnings of risk to pedestrians, UK study finds”</p> <p><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/jun/20/suv-risks-warnings-road-safety-buyers-uk-study" rel="nofollow">https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/jun/20/suv-risks-warnings-road-safety-buyers-uk-study</a> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=3748&page=385#post-384714 Mon, 15 Jun 2026 14:45:56 +0000 Murun Buchstansangur 384714@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p><a href="https://www.scotland.police.uk/what-s-happening/news/2026/june/appeal-after-one-vehicle-crash-on-the-a70-near-harperrig-reservoir/" rel="nofollow">https://www.scotland.police.uk/what-s-happening/news/2026/june/appeal-after-one-vehicle-crash-on-the-a70-near-harperrig-reservoir/</a> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=3748&page=384#post-384713 Mon, 15 Jun 2026 14:10:11 +0000 neddie 384713@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p><blockquote>The white Seat Leon Cupra car the pair were travelling in left the road</blockquote></p> <p>Just as well we know the exact type and colour of the car, and that no one was driving it - it simply 'left' the road - could happen to anyone. Bad car! </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=3748&page=384#post-384711 Mon, 15 Jun 2026 11:54:07 +0000 Greenroofer 384711@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Yup that sounds like it was the one. I hope they recover well: it would have been a frightening experience, looking at the damage to the roadway. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=3748&page=384#post-384709 Mon, 15 Jun 2026 10:34:43 +0000 Gresham Flyer 384709@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>"I don't recall seeing any mention of this in the news". </p> <p>This it? -I'm not sure of the exact location on the A70 you are referring to <a href="https://www.edinburghlive.co.uk/news/edinburgh-news/west-lothian-driver-teen-passenger-34118476" rel="nofollow">https://www.edinburghlive.co.uk/news/edinburgh-news/west-lothian-driver-teen-passenger-34118476</a> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=3748&page=384#post-384694 Sun, 14 Jun 2026 08:25:15 +0000 gembo 384694@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>@greenroofer we did see the gouges you speak of, though were travelling at light speed (well maybe 30mph) due to the massive tailwind. Two hours ten mins out to the Apple pie (on more sheltered routes via Murieston and Harburn and Dog Trust Road) half hour in the Pie trying to explain to Audrey that we were new cyclists as the ones she thought we were had left as we came in. She hadn’t taken her tablets so was quite confused. Fifty min back to Balerno. Three terrible passes where the overtaking vehicle was directly into Oncoming traffic and one terrible pass where the car who overtook us pulled in without realising a big van had followed it and Van man was blaring his horn. Plenty of perfectly executed overtakes and waiting until clear so obviously it is possible to drive with care in South Lanarkshire. All forgotten about due to the tailwind, </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=3748&page=384#post-384691 Sat, 13 Jun 2026 20:20:31 +0000 Greenroofer 384691@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Just back from riding the A70 over Auchinoon Brae, and in the week since I was last there, there's been an incident at the top of the hill on the new tarmac. There are skid marks on the road at the brow of the hill in the southbound lane, then a curving gouge in the new tarmac. The gouge leads to tyre tracks up the verge that terminate in smashed fence posts. A bit further down the hill there's a pile of bits of headlamp and car trim.</p> <p>I don't recall seeing any mention of this in the news. It's just another example of the daily toll of crashes that damage property and wreck lives, but aren't worthy of mention. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=3748&page=384#post-384488 Thu, 28 May 2026 19:49:32 +0000 gembo 384488@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Mrs Garto exited Gembo Towers this morning to see a car falling from the sky. The driver had yet again failed to understand that coming down a hill and round a corner requires a big deceleration and looking ahead. If you don’t want to hit the famous Balerno barrier that is hit with depressing frequency by very bad drivers of which the roadways abound. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=3748&page=384#post-384482 Thu, 28 May 2026 11:34:22 +0000 chdot 384482@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>“</p> <p>Well road.cc reader Jack has alerted us to one motorist so tired of being told to stop blocking the pavement, and covering her neighbour’s drive, that she’s gone to the press! </p> <p>BBC Bristol’s headline ‘Why I should be able to park across my neighbour’s drive’ also seems to make relative light of the issue of blocking almost the entire pavement, seemingly preventing anyone on a mobility scooter from passing through without ramming into a hedge </p> <p>“</p> <p><a href="https://road.cc/news/cycling-live-blog-28-may-2026" rel="nofollow">https://road.cc/news/cycling-live-blog-28-may-2026</a> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=3748&page=384#post-384477 Wed, 27 May 2026 19:25:24 +0000 chdot 384477@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>“</p> <p>Major rail disruption affecting Edinburgh after vehicle strikes bridge at Dunbar</p> <p>“</p> <p><a href="https://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/news/major-disruption-between-edinburgh-and-berwick-upon-tweed-after-8643639" rel="nofollow">https://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/news/major-disruption-between-edinburgh-and-berwick-upon-tweed-after-8643639</a> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=3748&page=384#post-384384 Thu, 21 May 2026 11:48:44 +0000 Frenchy 384384@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Makes a change from it being the Cameron Toll bridge, I suppose. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=3748&page=384#post-384382 Thu, 21 May 2026 11:27:00 +0000 chdot 384382@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Not quite the same sort of rubbish driving, but definitely ‘driver error’</p> <p><a href="https://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/news/lorry-strikes-bridge-causing-major-rail-disruption-between-edinburgh-and-glasgow-8556097" rel="nofollow">https://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/news/lorry-strikes-bridge-causing-major-rail-disruption-between-edinburgh-and-glasgow-8556097</a></p> <p>Trains disrupted for about an hour </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=3748&page=384#post-384381 Thu, 21 May 2026 11:12:26 +0000 MediumDave 384381@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p><a href="https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/scottish-news/black-bmw-crashes-edinburgh-street-37185585" rel="nofollow">https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/scottish-news/black-bmw-crashes-edinburgh-street-37185585</a></p> <p>Saw the aftermath of this on my way to the swimming pool this morning. I was a bit late due to fitting new brakes last night and needing to stop to fettle. </p> <p>The driving was clearly so rubbish that the miscreant was being stuffed into a police car as I walked past. Thankfully no kids seemed to be around at the school - normally quite busy at that time of the morning. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=3748&page=384#post-383936 Wed, 22 Apr 2026 20:03:57 +0000 davey2wheels 383936@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>@urchaidh I've had the person in the car that pulled out in front of me also say that. I said that I was also a driver and that was a terrible (not actually that word) piece of driving. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=3748&page=384#post-383917 Tue, 21 Apr 2026 15:19:54 +0000 urchaidh 383917@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Not quite today, but was close passed with oncoming traffic in Porty back in February. Reported it to the Polis, without expecting much, but after a long drawn out process I heard back yesterday that the driver had been charged with careless driving and reported to the PF. Driver had the chutzpah to tell the police officer "he was a cyclist too" and ask him to apologise to me for "this momentary lapse in judgement".</p> <p>Never forget, They drive among us! </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=3748&page=384#post-383564 Thu, 19 Mar 2026 23:28:38 +0000 Arellcat 383564@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Current roadworks on the A703 south of the Bush crossroads are becoming quite unpleasant, bordering on dangerous, for cycling. One lane is coned off for, at a guess, 200 metres. There is 4-way traffic signalling in place and modest intervisibility.</p> <p>This evening I was third in line behind two cars and by the time the cars cleared the section I was still halfway through, and then two drivers waiting at the lights ahead of me decided not to wait for their green and figured they could chance their arms and nip through. Unfortunately I was in their way and did quite a lot of shouting. Their light was still on red when I cleared the roadworks.</p> <p>On two previous occasions the next phase in the cycle has turned green before I've managed to clear the section, while last night it behaved.</p> <p>I have sent a complaint to Midlothian Council about it all. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=3748&page=384#post-383430 Thu, 12 Mar 2026 09:02:44 +0000 EdinburghCycleCam 383430@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>&gt; I'm concerned that this won't leave enough time to issue the NIP to the owner of the vehicle. Should I push for an earlier viewing of the video?<br /> It can't hurt to phone 101 and enquire. The police now have a portal where you can upload the video, and they just need to email you a link to it. It's still not a proper submission portal, but it does allow you to show the video to them without them having to come and see it and you burn it to a disc or give them a USB stick.</p> <p>However, they'll still need to take a statement to send the NIP, I think, so I'm not sure it matters.<br /> It'd be worth saying when they come to visit that there's only 3-4 days to send the NIP, and make sure they understand this. I almost always have the officer claim that's only for speeding tickets or something else, and have on more than one occasion had them fail to send the NIP in time as a result. Most recently (last weekend) the officer tried to tell me that it's 14 days from when they take a statement, which I told him in no uncertain terms is incorrect and I will be making a complaint if he takes too long and lets this go as a result.</p> <p>If you want to name drop to try and get them to take it seriously, one complaint I made about the police sitting around with their thumbs in their behinds went to Inspector Roger Park, Edinburgh commander for roads policing division, who told me that any driving offence (where there's no collision) has to have the NIP sent within 14 days of the incident. He also told me that I need to make the officer aware of this restriction as many of them don't know (Which is crazy in so many ways).</p> <p>I'd also recommend phoning for an update a couple of days before the 14 day limit expires, to make sure they've actually done it. If the officer is on a rest day, I'd ask to speak to the officer's sergeant instead. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=3748&page=384#post-383429 Thu, 12 Mar 2026 08:59:24 +0000 Frenchy 383429@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Certainly worth asking. Could also offer to go to a station if that would speed things up? </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=3748&page=384#post-383426 Wed, 11 Mar 2026 23:55:41 +0000 davidsonsdave 383426@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Walking my youngest from after School club to Beaver Scouts, I took a couple of steps onto the zebra crossing a little ahead to ensure that the approaching BMW driver sees us and stops. Driver continues straight across but I was able to grab and stop child who was by then running onto the zebra. </p> <p>Car clearly captured on my phone as I habitually record crossing at this particular point which is at a roundabout where a woman crossing on one of the other zebra crossings was killed by a bus several years ago.</p> <p>Police Scotland have so far missed three oportunities to come out to view the footage and are now planning to come out on Sunday, which will be 10 days after the incident. I'm concerned that this won't leave enough time to issue the NIP to the owner of the vehicle. Should I push for an earlier viewing of the video? The penalty for this is already soft enough IMO given the danger this driver presented and I want to make sure they have some incentive to pay more attention. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=3748&page=384#post-383304 Tue, 24 Feb 2026 17:36:47 +0000 MediumDave 383304@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>The broken vehicle on Gorgie Road was still there this morning. </p> <p>They'd put a "police aware" note on it at least. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=3748&page=384#post-383297 Mon, 23 Feb 2026 21:35:10 +0000 MediumDave 383297@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Saw the aftermath of some presumably quite rubbish driving at the junction of Ardmillan, Gorgie and Dalry earlier. </p> <p>One motorcar had come to a crashing halt in the middle of the junction with various bits hanging off it and an entourage of 2 police motorbikes and a patrol car. </p> <p>A second vehicle, also heavily damaged was resting on the pavement outside the fancy Springwell development on Gorgie road. This too was surrounded by cops. No ambulances at least so hopefully no humans were harmed. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=3748&page=384#post-383252 Wed, 18 Feb 2026 18:53:17 +0000 gembo 383252@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Sheriff Alison Mackay sentenced him to 18 months and banned him for life again. Again yup 6th life ban.</p> <p>He will be back driving very badly on the streets of Perth in less than a year </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=3748&page=384#post-383251 Wed, 18 Feb 2026 13:59:59 +0000 Murun Buchstansangur 383251@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I think we have a <strike>winner</strike> biggest loser</p> <p>'Perth driver with five life bans jailed for injuring pensioner while fleeing police</p> <p>John Phillips has numerous driving convictions and was previously labelled a danger to other people.</p> <p>A drink and drug-fuelled driver, who defied FIVE life bans to crash into and seriously injure an elderly woman in Perth, has been sent to prison for 28 months.</p> <p>Serial dangerous driver John Phillips was trying to flee from a city centre police roadblock when he reversed at speed into the front of the 75-year-old woman’s car.</p> <p>Phillips has nine previous convictions for dangerous driving and has been banned at least 12 times.</p> <p>The 35-year-old admitted causing the woman severe injury by dangerous driving in Caledonian Road shortly after midnight on July 24 last year.</p> <p>Sheriff Alison McKay jailed him for 28 months at Perth Sheriff Court and banned him for life again.</p> <p>She also imposed an eight-month supervised release order.</p> <p>The sheriff said: “The first difficulty is that you were driving again at all.</p> <p>“You have been disqualified for life. You are not allowed to drive motor vehicles.</p> <p>“You still got yourself into a position where you were driving when you shouldn’t be, you’ve taken alcohol and drugs and were a danger to others in the community.</p> <p>“On this occasion, you injured somebody and you could have killed her.</p> <p>“I know you know that. The only disposal available to me has to be custody.”</p> <p>Banned driver spotted by police</p> <p>Phillips admitted driving while disqualified and at three times over the legal alcohol limit (69mics/22), nearly three times the cocaine limit (27mics/10), and almost 12 times the limit for a cocaine-derivative (591mics/50).</p> <p>Phillips was once described in the same court as having a “deep-seated attraction” to cars.</p> <p>Fiscal depute Laurelle Johnstone told the court police in a marked car spotted Phillips’ BMW turning onto Caledonian Road.</p> <p>“Due to information that had been passed onto police, they went to stop the accused.</p> <p>“They manoeuvred their vehicle into the opposite lane, blocking the accused while signalling for him to stop.”</p> <p>At the same time, the pensioner was driving south down the street in her Toyota Aygo, directly behind Phillips.</p> <p>The prosecutor said: “Upon seeing the police vehicle, the accused reversed at speed.</p> <p>“This caused the rear of his vehicle to collide with the front of the witness’s.”</p> <p>Officers made “tactical contact” with Phillips’ car to bring it to a standstill.</p> <p>Ms Johnstone said: “The accused was still trying to reverse but he could not do so as his car and the police vehicle were now stuck together.”</p> <p>Ms Johnstone said the victim was taken to Perth Royal Infirmary and found to have a fractured sternum and other injuries.</p> <p>The woman told prosecutors she continued to suffer pain and take medication.</p> <p>Solicitor David Holmes, defending, said Phillips had realised he needed to make changes to his life and had lost six stone in weight.</p> <p>Mr Holmes said: “He recognises alcohol has been a problem.</p> <p>“He has reached the stage in life where he has had to examine his own behaviour.”</p> <p>Previous ‘danger’ warning<br /> In 2023, Phillips was convicted of stealing a friend’s Transit van and “using it as a weapon” against a pedestrian in Alyth.</p> <p>Following that conviction, Sheriff McKay told Phillips: “You are a danger to yourself, but you are also a danger to other people.”'</p> <p><a href="https://www.thecourier.co.uk/fp/news/courts/5433987/perth-driver-life-bans-jailed/" rel="nofollow">https://www.thecourier.co.uk/fp/news/courts/5433987/perth-driver-life-bans-jailed/</a> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=3748&page=384#post-383236 Mon, 16 Feb 2026 13:10:40 +0000 chdot 383236@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026/feb/16/amazon-van-stuck-britain-mudflat-path-broomway-thames-estuary" rel="nofollow">https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026/feb/16/amazon-van-stuck-britain-mudflat-path-broomway-thames-estuary</a> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=3748&page=384#post-383110 Fri, 06 Feb 2026 14:54:35 +0000 mcairney 383110@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Pretty standard: <a href="https://road.cc/news/pro-cyclist-struck-by-speeding-100kph-driver-in-alleged-hit-and-run-despite-being-perfectly-visible-with-hi-vis-jersey-and-flashing-light" rel="nofollow">https://road.cc/news/pro-cyclist-struck-by-speeding-100kph-driver-in-alleged-hit-and-run-despite-being-perfectly-visible-with-hi-vis-jersey-and-flashing-light</a> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=3748&page=384#post-382959 Thu, 22 Jan 2026 23:27:45 +0000 neddie 382959@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Later tonight, passed the Choobs and someone shouted “nice bike”. Laidback will know the one. </p> <p>What a week it’s been! And it’s only Thursday! </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=3748&page=384#post-382956 Thu, 22 Jan 2026 19:17:56 +0000 neddie 382956@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Loud-exhaust-BMW-convertible-M-series vanity-plated aggressive-muscle-gym-rat driving onto the pavement at Gibson Tce / Dundee St. Forced a woman walking to stop abruptly to avoid getting ploughed into.</p> <p>Called him out on it, as he got out in some great hurry, "shouldn't be driving on the pavement, ya nearly knocked someone over!"</p> <p>Got a load of F-word abuse and called a "gimp" for the pleasure of it. LOL. Aye, I wonder where he learned that word? </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=3748&page=384#post-382634 Sun, 04 Jan 2026 23:14:39 +0000 mcairney 382634@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Some ridiculously close 'punishment' passes cycling up the Wisp from Old Dalkeith Road. Pretty sure there was a touch of retribution given I'd already played leapfrog with the 2 drivers at the Drum St and Ferniehill lights before the lights at the left-hand turn. </p>