Reply to: 3rd most congested country in Europe

[Mordac]

How about banning mothers from driving monster trucks to take their precious spawn to the local school?
Make the kids walk or ride a bike.

We used to joke about 4x4s on the local school runs, but with all the speed humps and potholes one could seriously argue you do actually need a 4x4 to get about these days.

[greenlake]

UK is third most traffic-congested country in Europe - study

Meanwhile, in America....

[darmstadt]

In other words only the Mayor of London/TFL can only be bothered to chase people abroad for money owed to UK taxpayers.

There is actually a company such as: https://www.epcplc.com/about_epc who do this for quite a few towns in the UK but there is this:

FAQ: EU Cross Border Enforcement Directive | ETSC

Which probably won't affect the UK due to Brexit anyway...

Previously only 25 of the 28 EU countries are taking part. However due to the ECJ ruling, Denmark, Ireland and UK are affected by the change in legal basis as the Directive will now also be extended to them with a later deadline of May 2017.

But would cover the following:

Eight major road safety related offences are included in the text of the EU Directive:

Speeding;
Not using a seatbelt;
Not stopping at a red traffic light or other mandatory stop signal;
Drink driving;
Driving under the influence of drugs;
Not wearing a safety helmet (for motorcyclists);
Using a forbidden lane (such as the forbidden use of an emergency lane, a lane reserved for public transport, or a lane closed down for road works);
Illegally using a mobile phone, or any other communications device, while driving.

[BlasterBates]

In other words only the Mayor of London/TFL can only be bothered to chase people abroad for money owed to UK taxpayers.

Fines are now routinely chased up across border however small they are; you just pay extra for the admin.

The days of driving across Europe with "impunity" because you have a foreign number plate are long gone.

[SueEllen]

I've got blitzed in Holland and the fine was sent to Germany. I've got caught twice with the congestion charge in London and the fine was sent to Germany. I've known people who have got caught speeding in France and Belgium and escorted to the nearest cash point to pay the on the spot fine or risk having their car impounded. I've known of people who have been caught speeding in Germany who have received points albeit in the Germany system which means if they continue to do it, I have no idea what happens....

In other words only the Mayor of London/TFL can only be bothered to chase people abroad for money owed to UK taxpayers.

[LondonManc]

I got a €90 on the spot fine for speeding in France. No points or other follow up though; never mentioned it on the insurance. I was "geblitzt" in Germany once too, and never heard anything.

It is a bit of a crap situation, and a failure of the EU that they haven't managed to integrate road penalties at least among EU states. But of course the people complaining about foreign lorry drivers would also be fighting tooth and nail against the EU doing anything about this, and Brexit has put a nail in the coffin of progress.

I read that Germany has been talking about introducing a road toll for foreign cars and lorries. Especially in Bavaria where a lot of foreign lorries travel through for free without contributing anything to the German economy, or probably without even stopping. At least foreign drivers here are a benefit to the UK.

A contribution to the upkeep of German roads would be a start, as would increasing HGV tax over here and access for foreign lorries.

[vetran]

Lets hope the UK does the same.

you can just imagine all the expats complaining how racist it is.

[BrilloPad]

I read that Germany has been talking about introducing a road toll for foreign cars and lorries.

Lets hope the UK does the same.

[vetran]

how many ties do you see a housing estate go up with an extra 50/100 houses at least.

And the only way out of the estate of little boxes is onto an already overloaded trunk road.

There should be a law or something that means anyone who wants to stick up 100 identikit little boxes needs to improve surrounding infrastructure.

they put 600 homes on a single track road down our way. Its Bedlam.

[original PM]

how many ties do you see a housing estate go up with an extra 50/100 houses at least.

And the only way out of the estate of little boxes is onto an already overloaded trunk road.

There should be a law or something that means anyone who wants to stick up 100 identikit little boxes needs to improve surrounding infrastructure.

[darmstadt]

I've got blitzed in Holland and the fine was sent to Germany. I've got caught twice with the congestion charge in London and the fine was sent to Germany. I've known people who have got caught speeding in France and Belgium and escorted to the nearest cash point to pay the on the spot fine or risk having their car impounded. I've known of people who have been caught speeding in Germany who have received points albeit in the Germany system which means if they continue to do it, I have no idea what happens....

[VectraMan]

How about on the spot fines - I'm sure the French do something like that....

I got a €90 on the spot fine for speeding in France. No points or other follow up though; never mentioned it on the insurance. I was "geblitzt" in Germany once too, and never heard anything.

It is a bit of a crap situation, and a failure of the EU that they haven't managed to integrate road penalties at least among EU states. But of course the people complaining about foreign lorry drivers would also be fighting tooth and nail against the EU doing anything about this, and Brexit has put a nail in the coffin of progress.

I read that Germany has been talking about introducing a road toll for foreign cars and lorries. Especially in Bavaria where a lot of foreign lorries travel through for free without contributing anything to the German economy, or probably without even stopping. At least foreign drivers here are a benefit to the UK.

[LondonManc]

Most EU countries do apart from those that don't

I think that new chap David should stay in Germany; the competition doesn't look like it's up to much.

[SueEllen]

and if they don't have the money to pay the on the spot fine, they could be fined again under the Vagrancy act for travelling without visible means of support

Nah we seize their vehicle on the spot.

Since HGVs are expensive ....

[OwlHoot]

Most EU countries do apart from those that don't

and if they don't have the money to pay the on the spot fine, they could be fined again under the Vagrancy act for travelling without visible means of support