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  3. General Driving Discussions

    Conversations about driving, gadgets, travel, breakdowns and safety
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  • Happy Bonfire Night! 🎆
    One of the few things I miss here in the US is bonfire night.☹ see more
  • An RAC mechanic damaged my car, now the RAC doesnt want to compensate me for it.
    @Nula Thanks for the info. Not sure you can fit a crank pulley incorrectly, but if you leave out the retaining bolt or don't torque it up it can... see more
  • Happy Bonfire Night! 🎆
    @olduser @Rolebama @Drivingforfun how did you guys celebrate as kids? We didn't do much but drove around watching the fireworks from the car 😅... see more
  • V-16 Beacons Spain
    @Santa good recommendation! @g4ugm when are you planning to visit Spain? see more
  • Happy Bonfire Night! 🎆
    I totally missed this yesterday - we didn't actually head out to any events due to one of my son's having a football training session - however, it... see more
  • Too Bright? Drivers say LED Headlights are making night driving harder
    @Lily I'm sure you are right. As said above, it's important to have headlights correctly adjusted. One problem is that people put the wrong... see more
  • V-16 Beacons Spain
    I had a look at some, and my first thought was that a flashing light magnetically stuck to the back of the car wouldn't be much use. Amazon has... see more
  • An RAC mechanic damaged my car, now the RAC doesnt want to compensate me for it.
    Hi Neil. The Crank Pulley and seal were installed incorrectly, this caused an oil leak and a massive gash in the crank pulley seal. This was in... see more
  • How Did You Make Money As A Kid?
    I had a neighbour who was an Avon representative, and when I was about eight, I decided I wanted to make my own money. So she “sublet” me one of her... see more
  • V-16 Beacons Spain
    @g4ugm I found this information, that aligns to what the other members of the forum have mentioned: "The Dirección General de Tráfico (DGT) has... see more
  • V-16 Beacons Spain
    @Beelzebub definitely good advice for your own safety but I am a believer in trying to warn other drivers that there's a potential hazard coming up -... see more
  • V-16 Beacons Spain
    Don't even think about using a triangle on a motorway. I had three colleagues killed while working on the hard shoulder. Each time, a driver... see more
  • V-16 Beacons Spain
    @Lily From what I have read, non-Spanish cars don't require one, as under the same Vienna conventions that enable driving on an IDP mean you can... see more
  • Too Bright? Drivers say LED Headlights are making night driving harder
    @Santa that's quite handy, maybe they need to introduce regulations so all cars have this "auto" mode. If your car is from 2015 the technology has... see more
  • V-16 Beacons Spain
    Hi there @g4ugm, you will need an emergency beacon (V-16) in Spain from January 1, 2026, as it will replace the traditional warning triangle. For... see more
  • Happy Bonfire Night! 🎆
    Hello everyone, and Happy Bonfire Night! 🎆 Every year, Halloween seems to steal more of the spotlight, but Bonfire Night will always have my... see more
  • V-16 Beacons Spain
    Folks, I looked at the section on the RAC web site on driving in Spain and it says I need a triangle, but the Spanish Transport Site (dgt.es) says I... see more
  • Bloody Parking Wardens
    It depends on how you would describe their job as well done. Using Rolebama's hospital incident above, was the car park attendant told by his... see more
  • Dartford Tunnel
    @Rolebama, you can buy a satnav specifically for people with large vehicles. You enter the vehicle's height and weight, and it will calculate routes... see more
  • Too Bright? Drivers say LED Headlights are making night driving harder
    @Rolebama yeah I know about those ones. The people braking for those are usually at least actually speeding before they break, though 😆 Except for... see more
  • Dartford Tunnel
    Sadly, some lorry drivers in the UK are also prone to hit bridges. All bridges under 16 6" are clearly marked, so there is no excuse. On the... see more
  • Dartford Tunnel
    When I worked as a Plant Fitter I was asked to drive a mobile crane back to the yard. It was very heavy, and, with a fixed jib, quite tall. I had to... see more
  • How Did You Make Money As A Kid?
    I had forgotten about getting deposits on bottles. There used to be a 'Lover's Lane' a bit away, but was always a good place to pick up the empties.... see more
  • Too Bright? Drivers say LED Headlights are making night driving harder
    @Drivingforfun I can't say I know the road well, but have used it a few times. I agree with your comment about people braking for the cameras. Same... see more
  • How Did You Make Money As A Kid?
    @Drivingforfun My first job was at a chippie where I would have to lift those big sacks of spuds and put them in the peeling machine. Well it was... see more
  • Dartford Tunnel
    Ever heard of our can opener bridge? Even with flashing lights and a huge flashing sign saying "OVER HEIGHT MUST TURN', it made no difference.😁 see more
  • Dartford Tunnel
    @Santa Thanks for all the helpful replies. Santa, could I ask you, is it the Dartford tunnel from Kent to Essex that is a bit wider? Many thanks. see more
  • Dartford Tunnel
    Perhaps the OP should have used the free ferry. I have been through all three tunnels, and they are all well-lit. I once got pulled over... see more
  • Too Bright? Drivers say LED Headlights are making night driving harder
    My 2015 car had LED lights (all but the number plate lamp, for some mysterious reason). It has an "Auto" mode (Which I leave on all the time) that is... see more