http://www.rac.co.uk/forum/ RAC Motoring Forum en Fri, 27 Jan 2012 21:22:05 GMT vBulletin 60 http://www.rac.co.uk/forum/racstyle/images/misc/rss.png http://www.rac.co.uk/forum/ http://www.rac.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?14608-dash-lights-go-off-when-i-turn-lights-on&goto=newpost Fri, 27 Jan 2012 17:23:11 GMT hi guys, i took my 98 1.6 8v Astra mk4 for it's MOT today, bar stewards failed it on slightly loose headlights, they werent loose as such, but the brackets underneath were broken, but i managed to sort that with plastic ties, anyway after putting it all back together and checked the lights were working i noticed that when i now turn the sidelights/headlights on the mileage/trip and also the radio display thing goes out, and also the dash has no back lights

so have i disturbed something, blown a fuse or is the light switch U/S, hope it's something simple :o as i dont know much about auto electric's

tommy ]]> Technical and Maintenance Questions tommytwotanks http://www.rac.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?14608-dash-lights-go-off-when-i-turn-lights-on http://www.rac.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?14607-Access-via-iphone&goto=newpost Fri, 27 Jan 2012 17:09:01 GMT I access this forum by iphone be it on my meal break like now or at home have you any idea how difficult you have made it for me and others who use... I access this forum by iphone be it on my meal break like now or at home have you any idea how difficult you have made it for me and others who use their phone.


Miss breakdown ]]> Forum Suggestions Miss Breakdown http://www.rac.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?14607-Access-via-iphone http://www.rac.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?14606-Foreign-lorry-drivers-to-pay-daily-fee&goto=newpost Fri, 27 Jan 2012 15:59:30 GMT All foreign lorry drivers could be charged as much as £10 per day to use Britain's roads, under new Government proposals revealed on Wednesday. The move is designed to ensure foreign haulage companies, which currently use the UK road network for free, contribute to maintenance costs. It is also hoped the planned system of HGV road charging will boost competitiveness for UK hauliers, who will be charged the daily fee but allowed to claim it back. Britain is currently one of the only countries in the EU who do not charge HGV drivers to use its roads, with UK drivers paying charges or tolls on most haulage trips across Europe.

What do you think of the Governments proposals?

You can read the full story here ]]> General Driving Discussion Owen http://www.rac.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?14606-Foreign-lorry-drivers-to-pay-daily-fee http://www.rac.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?14605-Traffic-wardens-pressured-into-issuing-tickets&goto=newpost Fri, 27 Jan 2012 15:47:21 GMT A judge has warned that traffic wardens expected to issue a minimum quota of tickets were being coerced into acting in a “predatory and sometimes... A judge has warned that traffic wardens expected to issue a minimum quota of tickets were being coerced into acting in a “predatory and sometimes dishonest” manner. The practice was exposed by parking warden Hakim Berkani, 45, who was sacked for refusing to issue large numbers of tickets. Mr Berkani won his employment tribunal after judge Jeremy Burns ruled that his opposition to the secret quota scheme could not “justify dismissal”.

Details of the minimum quota policy were disclosed in evidence after other wardens revealed that they were under pressure to meet secret targets. Internal emails suggested that wardens were expected to issue an "absolute minimum" of ten tickets a day to avoid being disciplined. A letter from an unnamed warden said it was "very difficult to issue a genuine and honest ticket” in the wealthy London borough of Kensington and Chelsea, because the residents were “unbelievable well-behaved”. Another warden claimed that he was told his ticket productivity was “the worst of all" and a third said he was "targeted" by a supervisor for "not taking part in the dodgy practices” and failing to issue enough tickets.

You can read the full story here ]]> General Driving Discussion Owen http://www.rac.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?14605-Traffic-wardens-pressured-into-issuing-tickets http://www.rac.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?14604-Competition-time-Your-Winter-Driving-Tips!&goto=newpost Fri, 27 Jan 2012 13:18:56 GMT It’s competition time on the RAC Forum! This month we’d like to hear your Winter Driving tips. This can be anything that could help out your... It’s competition time on the RAC Forum!

This month we’d like to hear your Winter Driving tips.

This can be anything that could help out your fellow motorist when conditions are poor - from the best way to prepare your car for adverse weather conditions, survival kit items to keep in the boot, roads to avoid in poor weather or even tips for careful driving in icy or snowy conditions.

Seen a useful driving tip and want to add more? Or disagree with someone else’s tip? Let us know here too!

Everyone who posts a tip for Winter Driving will be entered into a prize draw to win one of five RAC Winter Driving kits. The competition will close at midnight on 28th February. You can read the full T & C’s here ]]> General Driving Discussion Owen http://www.rac.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?14604-Competition-time-Your-Winter-Driving-Tips! http://www.rac.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?14603-Terms-and-Conditions&goto=newpost Fri, 27 Jan 2012 12:50:39 GMT 1. To enter the free prize draw submit an on-topic post in the relevant thread 2. The start date for entries is: 28th February 3. The closing... 1. To enter the free prize draw submit an on-topic post in the relevant thread

2. The start date for entries is: 28th February

3. The closing date for entries is: 28th February

4. No purchase necessary

5. The prize is one of five RAC winter driving kits. No cash or other alternative to the stated prize is available. In the event of unforeseen circumstances making the stated prize no longer available, the prize draw administrator reserves the right to provide a similar prize or a prize of equal or greater value

6. The free prize draw is administered by Join the Dots (Research) Ltd, Faulkner House, Faulkner Street, Manchester, M1 4DY on behalf of the RAC

7. Each participant may make multiple postings. However, only one entry per person will be accepted for the purposes of the prize draw.

8. Winners will be selected from all valid entries in a random draw to be conducted within 7 working days of the closing date

9. Winners will be notified by email and private message within 14 days of the draw date. Entrants who have not responded within 28 days, shall be disqualified, lose their entitlement to the prize and it shall be awarded to a reserve entrant selected at the time of the initial draw.

10. Qualifying winners will receive the prizes with six weeks of the draw taking place

11. After the draw date winners usernames will be published here

12. By entering entrants agree to participate in reasonable publicity in the event that they are a winner. This may include use of their forum username in online publicity, in emails, and through any other print or social media ]]> Forum Suggestions Owen http://www.rac.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?14603-Terms-and-Conditions http://www.rac.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?14602-Typing-choices&goto=newpost Fri, 27 Jan 2012 12:36:22 GMT What has happened to BOLD, ITALICS, UNDERLINE, etc., when replying to posts? What has happened to BOLD, ITALICS, UNDERLINE, etc., when replying to posts? ]]> Forum Suggestions Snowball http://www.rac.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?14602-Typing-choices http://www.rac.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?14600-Future-changes-to-motorbike-licence&goto=newpost Fri, 27 Jan 2012 10:34:48 GMT 'Proposed Motorcycle licence changesSo whats this all about? More European interferance? If the UK government backs proposals from Europe that would make it more difficult, costly and take many more years to obtain a full motorcycle license it would have a dramatic impact on the whole UK motorcycle industry.The key proposals are:The minimum age for riding motorcycles larger than 125cc is likely to rise from 17 to 19 Direct Access to larger motorcycles will not be allowed until the age of 24 (currently 21) There will be new categories of motorcycle licence created, which will mean two-year “steps� between motorcycles of different engine size Riders will have to take another motorcycle test between steps. For full details visit the Motorcycle Industry Association for full details and use their links to lobby your MP and MEP. The direct link to the page is Motorcycle Industry Association Campaign PageThe letter that the site sends to your MP/MEP is as follows:Dear Recipient,Third European Directive on Driver LicensesAs one of your constituents, I am writing to protest about European plans to change the provisions for gaining a motorcycle licence and to ask you to support calls for the Government to make effective use of the UK’s Presidency of the EU to put a stop to EU proposals. These proposals are not based on researched road safety evidence and are unlikely to contribute to road safety. The effect of the proposals will be to discourage people from taking up motorcycling and discriminate against the use of motorcycles as a low-polluting and zero-congesting alternative to the car.In particular I am angry about plans to raise the age of access to bikes bigger than 125cc from 17 to 19 and plans for a second motorcycle test on medium-powered machines as a route to a licence for large motorcycles.The effect of this change will mean that riders aged 17-19 working some distance from home may no longer have the option of motorcycle or scooter use, as 125cc machines will not have an adequate performance for these journeys.In a letter to the Motor Cycle Industry Association the Minister of Transport, Stephen Ladyman, says: “I share your concerns ..[and].. am concerned by the plans for staged access for motorcycles which would require a two year gap between categories. In effect this would raise the minimum age of access to medium sized machines from 17 to 19 in the UK. There is no road safety case for this proposal, and I recognize the problems it would cause motorcyclists and the motorcycle industry.�I am also concerned about the increase of the Direct Access age from 21 to 24. Research shows that it is not the age of access to motorcycles which is the key factor in motorcycle safety but the amount of experience that riders gain. The Directive does not address longer-term rider training issues, merely discriminates against riders and discourages motorcycle use. It does appear that the EU is becoming excessively cautious with regard to motorcycle licensing, particularly when compared to other activities that the Members States may require of its citizens aged 17-24 (for example military service).British support for such measures would be at odds with the UK Government’s own National Motorcycle Strategy which talks about ‘mainstreaming’ motorcycling in UK transport policy.In addition, our contacts with police are already finding that unlicensed riding and driving are on the increase and adding yet further complexity to motorcycle licence conditions can only multiply the number of riders “opting out� of the licensing process. As far as enforcement is concerned the same contacts advise that the existing motorcycle licence rules are already too complex for the non specialist officer to understand. The result of the new directive will be more largely unenforceable legislation, to the detriment of respect for the law.I ask for your support in persuading Ministers to take a stronger line in support of motorcycling in the UK and to oppose European plans to make getting a motorcycle licence more difficult and expensive.Yours sincerely, ]]> Motorbikes st3_121 http://www.rac.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?14600-Future-changes-to-motorbike-licence http://www.rac.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?14599-How-do-I-dispute-liability&goto=newpost Fri, 27 Jan 2012 01:49:46 GMT I am insured with Aviva. Today, whilst edging out of a parking space in a retail park car park I was hit from the right by an elderly driver who was... I am insured with Aviva. Today, whilst edging out of a parking space in a retail park car park I was hit from the right by an elderly driver who was travelling at speed.

On my right hand side was parked a transit van which was impeding my view. This is why I was having to edge out of the parking space in order that I could see what, if any traffic was coming.

Here is a google maps satellite view of the accident area to which I have added the vehicle positions:

[IMG]http://i43.tinypic.com/2yobuxh.***[/IMG]

The impact ripped the plastic bumper cover almost completely off the front of my car but worse than that the solid steel bar that resists intrusion into the engine bay was ripped right off the bodywork and was left lying on the road. The mounting points for that bar have been completely torn and bent. To do that kind of damage the driver must have been doing a fair speed. Here is a pic of the resulting damage to my car at the scene:

[IMG]http://i43.tinypic.com/330ww76.***[/IMG]

I called my insurance company to inform them of the accident. They tell me that *I* am liable. Their reason being that I was not on the road but entering it from the parking space. The other party WAS on the road and therefore they had the right of way.

Apparantly it's irrelevant that the other party was travelling so fast in a CAR PARK with a 5mph limit. It's also irrelevant that I was having to edge forward so that I could see if it was safe to pull out because of the Transit that was impeding my view.

Here is a view of the scene taken immediately afterwards, with both vehicles in the positions they finished in after the accident:

[IMG]http://i43.tinypic.com/144d374.***[/IMG]

As you will be able to see, my car's front wheels are only just out of the parking bay I was parked in. My vehicle is protruding perhaps a foot in total outside of the bay. With the Transit in the way, even this far out of the bay, I could not have seen the other vehicle until they were at least level with the Transit, and certainly could not have done anything about it when I did see it, given the speed it was travelling at.

My question is this: How do I go about disputing liability? I do not accept that this accident was my fault. The other vehicle was speeding and negligent in his awareness of the road in front of him. If a pedestrian had stepped out instead they would be dead or severely injured. This was a car park, not the public highway. As far as I'm concerned this gentleman was driving irresponsibly and that is why this accident occurred.

Is this something I should discuss with the insurance ombudsman or is there a better alternative?

Edit: I don't understand why my images file extensions are being replaced with *** but each is meant to be a .*** ]]> Motoring Finance and Insurance gpcola http://www.rac.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?14599-How-do-I-dispute-liability http://www.rac.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?14598-Which-Battery-do-I-need&goto=newpost Thu, 26 Jan 2012 21:50:39 GMT Hi all, I have a Citroen C3 1.1 2004 and need a new battery, but I am unsure what ah I need. Thanks Hi all,

I have a Citroen C3 1.1 2004 and need a new battery, but I am unsure what ah I need.

Thanks ]]> Technical and Maintenance Questions dany123456 http://www.rac.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?14598-Which-Battery-do-I-need http://www.rac.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?14597-Sun-pdl-900-diagnostic-ever-heard-of-it&goto=newpost Thu, 26 Jan 2012 11:55:04 GMT hi as anyone ever heard of a faul code diagnostic reader,model..sun pdl900??...if so are they any good and what can they be used for,i cant seem to... hi as anyone ever heard of a faul code diagnostic reader,model..sun pdl900??...if so are they any good and what can they be used for,i cant seem to find any info on this?...thanks,wayne ]]> Technical and Maintenance Questions wayne14280 http://www.rac.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?14597-Sun-pdl-900-diagnostic-ever-heard-of-it http://www.rac.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?14594-can-t-find-image-of-ex-rac-discovery-commercial&goto=newpost Thu, 26 Jan 2012 00:45:28 GMT i've bought an rac commercial landrover discovery on a 1996
i've wanted one of these now for sometime but, i now have realised i cannot find an image of one when in use and i wanted to re-stripe it up close to original etc.
it's so genuine, all spec as should be .. can you help? dan ]]> General Discussion dan4vans http://www.rac.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?14594-can-t-find-image-of-ex-rac-discovery-commercial http://www.rac.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?14593-First-RAC-experience&goto=newpost Wed, 25 Jan 2012 22:27:59 GMT Last night my brakes went on my car when I finished work in Darlington, so I needed to ring and use my breakdown cover. My first experience with the... Last night my brakes went on my car when I finished work in Darlington, so I needed to ring and use my breakdown cover. My first experience with the RAC was fab, from my initial call to the Recovery truck taking my car away must of been less than hour. I expected this to be a lot longer as it was peak traffic times. Everyone I spoke to was very helpful and professional, a great service all round. I will be recommending this service and will be happy to renew my membership. ]]> RAC Feedback k_evans http://www.rac.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?14593-First-RAC-experience http://www.rac.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?14592-Why-are-drivers-so-lax-when-it-comes-to-indicating&goto=newpost Tue, 24 Jan 2012 23:11:55 GMT I notice that may people have given up using their indicators, every car has to have indicators as a legal requirement, but it seems a bit of a... I notice that may people have given up using their indicators, every car has to have indicators as a legal requirement, but it seems a bit of a paradox that people don't use them when driving.

I look at peoples indicators to make driving decisions, especially when it comes to motorway driving, at least half the drivers I see don't indicate when changing lanes, they just slip from one lane to another. I always say it take three events to cause an accident, not indicating is one event, add to that two other issues such as a slow driver, a speeding driver, bad weather or lack of concentration and then your relying on luck to save you.
Also at roundabouts most people indicate on exit, but they don’t on entry this makes it tough to judge when you can pull out.

As a PS to motorways does anyone get annoyed by middle lane hoggers, these are the people who call the driving lane the “slow lane”, even though there is not, and never has been a slow lane on motorway, why do people stay in the middle I don’t get it. ]]> General Driving Discussion edwards http://www.rac.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?14592-Why-are-drivers-so-lax-when-it-comes-to-indicating http://www.rac.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?14591-carboot-opens-automaticly-when-starts-ignition&goto=newpost Tue, 24 Jan 2012 17:24:43 GMT ive got a ford focus 51 plate 2.0 ghia when i started the car the boot unlocked its self i got out made sure nothing was around the bar and slammed... ive got a ford focus 51 plate 2.0 ghia
when i started the car the boot unlocked its self
i got out made sure nothing was around the bar and slammed it shut .
drove off and then it opened itself again.
it stays shut when the car is switched off and locked
any help with this problem greatfuly recieved ]]> General Driving Discussion peternation http://www.rac.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?14591-carboot-opens-automaticly-when-starts-ignition