The 40 mph limit for goods vehicles is outdated – They have air-brakes now and with disc brakes using ABS, EBS and some have engine brakes and retarders.
There is also an environmental issue here as you are not quite able to achieve top gear at 40 mph. Raising it to 45 mph would save fuel and reduce the frustration of the following car drivers as their speedo's would read 50 mph.
It would also stop/ reduce the crazy overtaking manoeuvres.
Why is this idea important?
The 40 mph limit for goods vehicles is outdated – They have air-brakes now and with disc brakes using ABS, EBS and some have engine brakes and retarders.
There is also an environmental issue here as you are not quite able to achieve top gear at 40 mph. Raising it to 45 mph would save fuel and reduce the frustration of the following car drivers as their speedo's would read 50 mph.
It would also stop/ reduce the crazy overtaking manoeuvres.
The design of our towns and cities leaves a lot to be desired when coping with the unforseen traffic levels for when they were designed. Most 'A' roads are of single lane construction and where the roads widen are often littered with parked vehicles.
A free and easy way to alleviate traffic problems is to ban parking along these 'A' roads which would add to safety and help keep the traffic moving.
It may inconvenience a few motorists but for the greater good it will help solve a problem that can be operated almost overnight at little or no cost.
Why is this idea important?
The design of our towns and cities leaves a lot to be desired when coping with the unforseen traffic levels for when they were designed. Most 'A' roads are of single lane construction and where the roads widen are often littered with parked vehicles.
A free and easy way to alleviate traffic problems is to ban parking along these 'A' roads which would add to safety and help keep the traffic moving.
It may inconvenience a few motorists but for the greater good it will help solve a problem that can be operated almost overnight at little or no cost.
One of the biggest daily holdups is that at the Dartford Crossing. Tolls are collected both Southbound and Northbound. Why not cancel either of these tolls and instead just double the toll on the other. This method is already used on the Severn crossing.
Why is this idea important?
One of the biggest daily holdups is that at the Dartford Crossing. Tolls are collected both Southbound and Northbound. Why not cancel either of these tolls and instead just double the toll on the other. This method is already used on the Severn crossing.
At the moment travelling by train during the rush hour, when most people are going to work, is the most expensive time of the day to travel. Fares reduce once the rush hour is over and yet the journeys taken in off-peak are far more pleasant and enjoyable as people have more room.
My idea is to reverse this, to make the less pleasant, busiest and yet economically most important journeys the cheapest to take, whilst those trips that people take for purely pleasure more expensive if necessary.
At the moment there is a kind of economic discrimination against those of us who go to work during the rush hour while the ladies (and gents) of leisure have their fares subsidised by the rest of us
Why is this idea important?
At the moment travelling by train during the rush hour, when most people are going to work, is the most expensive time of the day to travel. Fares reduce once the rush hour is over and yet the journeys taken in off-peak are far more pleasant and enjoyable as people have more room.
My idea is to reverse this, to make the less pleasant, busiest and yet economically most important journeys the cheapest to take, whilst those trips that people take for purely pleasure more expensive if necessary.
At the moment there is a kind of economic discrimination against those of us who go to work during the rush hour while the ladies (and gents) of leisure have their fares subsidised by the rest of us
In Switzerland (it was and may still be) illegal to drive an HGV on a Sunday. This reduced traffic problems and allowed people to travel much easier on a Sunday. There is little justification for HGVs to be on the road on a Sunday. All you see are trucks for the large supermarkets jamming up the roads in towns and cities which could deliver overnight after 12am. In rural counties you regularly see HGVs on minor and A roads as they travel from one store to another.
Give the road back to the motorist for just one day a week please, getting anywhere in this country is becoming a nightmare !
Why is this idea important?
In Switzerland (it was and may still be) illegal to drive an HGV on a Sunday. This reduced traffic problems and allowed people to travel much easier on a Sunday. There is little justification for HGVs to be on the road on a Sunday. All you see are trucks for the large supermarkets jamming up the roads in towns and cities which could deliver overnight after 12am. In rural counties you regularly see HGVs on minor and A roads as they travel from one store to another.
Give the road back to the motorist for just one day a week please, getting anywhere in this country is becoming a nightmare !
its a disgrace that those entering 6th form have to fine £500 for school tranpsort to the local 6th form – cant afford the transport, they dont do 6th form, instead they sign on the dole
Why is this idea important?
its a disgrace that those entering 6th form have to fine £500 for school tranpsort to the local 6th form – cant afford the transport, they dont do 6th form, instead they sign on the dole
Legislate against airlines being able to oversell places on planes – a major source of frustration and distress to the travelling public. They have taken the price of the ticket up front so don't lose out if someone doesn't fly. There is no justification for telling someone they can't fly because their seat is double booked. No other industry is allowed to do this – theatres don't ask you to come back to the next performance because they sold your seat twice. Even restaurants don't double book tables and they aren't even paid up front!
This practice is treats customers unfairly and should be made illegal.
Why is this idea important?
Legislate against airlines being able to oversell places on planes – a major source of frustration and distress to the travelling public. They have taken the price of the ticket up front so don't lose out if someone doesn't fly. There is no justification for telling someone they can't fly because their seat is double booked. No other industry is allowed to do this – theatres don't ask you to come back to the next performance because they sold your seat twice. Even restaurants don't double book tables and they aren't even paid up front!
This practice is treats customers unfairly and should be made illegal.
Allow advertisements on motorway overbridges and highway land where a safety case allows for it
Why is this idea important?
Allow advertisements on motorway overbridges and highway land where a safety case allows for it
I recently contacted DVLA to ask about purchasing the registration for my first car, which would have been long scrapped and was told that this was not possible.
It seems to me that a change in regulation would allow people like myself to purchase a cherished number, when otherwise I would not be interested in something like this.
Why is this idea important?
I recently contacted DVLA to ask about purchasing the registration for my first car, which would have been long scrapped and was told that this was not possible.
It seems to me that a change in regulation would allow people like myself to purchase a cherished number, when otherwise I would not be interested in something like this.
Even though the government subsides the railways more than ever before rail ticket prices seem to be esculating to ever more ridiculous levels. Where does all this money go? Into unessesary levels of bureaucracy and management. The solution is simple. Right now the government owns most of the high street banks and the high street banks own almost all of the rolling stock on the railways. If the government took ownership of the rolling stock the government would then have control of both the tracks and the trains that run on them. The banks would also have paid back some of the debt they owe to the nation. This would enable the railways to be restructured in order to run them along the same lines as all the other countries that have successful railways. If having many different companies competing against each other was more efficient then why does private industry tend to want to merge into larger and larger companies? The reason is that they know that centrally controlled larger enterprises are more efficient and better able to aportion resources and control logistics.
Why is this idea important?
Even though the government subsides the railways more than ever before rail ticket prices seem to be esculating to ever more ridiculous levels. Where does all this money go? Into unessesary levels of bureaucracy and management. The solution is simple. Right now the government owns most of the high street banks and the high street banks own almost all of the rolling stock on the railways. If the government took ownership of the rolling stock the government would then have control of both the tracks and the trains that run on them. The banks would also have paid back some of the debt they owe to the nation. This would enable the railways to be restructured in order to run them along the same lines as all the other countries that have successful railways. If having many different companies competing against each other was more efficient then why does private industry tend to want to merge into larger and larger companies? The reason is that they know that centrally controlled larger enterprises are more efficient and better able to aportion resources and control logistics.
1. Eurostar tickets bought in the UK have to, by law, have your name printed on them. (Although not if purchased on the more freedom-respecting continent.)
2. London Transport tracks your whereabouts, if not any longer by CCTV camera, certainly still by computer every time you enter or leave a station or board a bus.
This should be abolished.
Why is this idea important?
1. Eurostar tickets bought in the UK have to, by law, have your name printed on them. (Although not if purchased on the more freedom-respecting continent.)
2. London Transport tracks your whereabouts, if not any longer by CCTV camera, certainly still by computer every time you enter or leave a station or board a bus.
This should be abolished.
from the Ealing times news paper
A CONTROVERSIAL box junction in Southall has netted Ealing Council more than £1m in just 12 months. Nearly 19,000 motorists were fined after being caught on CCTV.
Jim Douglas, who runs consumer website Moneybox Junction which gives advice to motorists who believe they have been unfairly charged, said Ealing is the authority he gets the most complaints about.
He said: "It's disgusting. The council is not obliged to enforce,
"However, it continues to send out tickets like confetti and whenever someone takes it to appeal it does not contest because it knows it is in the wrong."
Last week the Department for Transport (DfT) advised councils to pay back money which had been raised through unfair enforcement to motorists.
There were lots of complaints to ealing council but there was a blunt response from the council's was that residents should pay up or appeal.
The problem for residents is when you appeal you risk doubling the fine and that's one thing many couldn't afford – and hundreds were pressured into paying fines that should never have been levied."
Why is this idea important?
from the Ealing times news paper
A CONTROVERSIAL box junction in Southall has netted Ealing Council more than £1m in just 12 months. Nearly 19,000 motorists were fined after being caught on CCTV.
Jim Douglas, who runs consumer website Moneybox Junction which gives advice to motorists who believe they have been unfairly charged, said Ealing is the authority he gets the most complaints about.
He said: "It's disgusting. The council is not obliged to enforce,
"However, it continues to send out tickets like confetti and whenever someone takes it to appeal it does not contest because it knows it is in the wrong."
Last week the Department for Transport (DfT) advised councils to pay back money which had been raised through unfair enforcement to motorists.
There were lots of complaints to ealing council but there was a blunt response from the council's was that residents should pay up or appeal.
The problem for residents is when you appeal you risk doubling the fine and that's one thing many couldn't afford – and hundreds were pressured into paying fines that should never have been levied."
Keeping an old but fuel efficient vehicle running is much much greener than scrapping it and buying a new one. the carbon footprint of building, shipping etc a new car is equivalent to several years of driving one at average mikeage rates. BUT my 15 year old bit still clean and efficient mid sized diesel car – with Catalytic Converter adn particulate filter and still giving an average in mixed type driving of 58mpg – attracts a road tax of £205 versus a rate for a larger engined new car (band F) at £125 – this is completey unfair and perversely anti-environment.
Age of car should have no effect on road tax rates
Why is this idea important?
Keeping an old but fuel efficient vehicle running is much much greener than scrapping it and buying a new one. the carbon footprint of building, shipping etc a new car is equivalent to several years of driving one at average mikeage rates. BUT my 15 year old bit still clean and efficient mid sized diesel car – with Catalytic Converter adn particulate filter and still giving an average in mixed type driving of 58mpg – attracts a road tax of £205 versus a rate for a larger engined new car (band F) at £125 – this is completey unfair and perversely anti-environment.
Age of car should have no effect on road tax rates
Change the laws regarding Tramway development
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Why is this idea important?
Change the laws regarding Tramway development
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Why are train prices, cinema prices, telephone calls and holiday prices etc. allowed to increase willy-nilly just because it's a certain time of day/week/year. You don't see Bakers' Oven putting up sandwich prices at lunch, do you? Why should this be any different?
For me to get to London at 8am will cost a huge £40; I wait 40 minutes and it halves to £20. Why? I'm not any more of a burden at 8 than 9, surely?
Holidays – School complain and will take action if you miss school, but how are we supposed to go on holiday in half-terms if the prices rocket?
Why is this idea important?
Why are train prices, cinema prices, telephone calls and holiday prices etc. allowed to increase willy-nilly just because it's a certain time of day/week/year. You don't see Bakers' Oven putting up sandwich prices at lunch, do you? Why should this be any different?
For me to get to London at 8am will cost a huge £40; I wait 40 minutes and it halves to £20. Why? I'm not any more of a burden at 8 than 9, surely?
Holidays – School complain and will take action if you miss school, but how are we supposed to go on holiday in half-terms if the prices rocket?
Currently, drivers of all vehicles over 3.5 tonnes (ie Transit size and up) which are used to transport dangerous goods by road are required to take an ADR course and pass a test on the topic every 5 years. Costs for this course are at least £300 per person, plus 2 to 5 days off work since the training course has to be attended in person. The examination costs another £60 to £250, and is marked centrally by the Scottish Qualifications Agency.
Of course safety is important, but the ADR training course is over-the-top for drivers of small vehicles, and much too expensive for small companies. It should be possible to take at least the refresher training online, or for small companies only operating small veicles (ie 3.5-5 tonnes) to have delegated authority to run the training courses and exams for their own staff once a manager has attended the training course and passed an exam. Of course, the small company taking this responsibility would have to take on liability if they fail to run it properly.
The current system is bureaucratic, and adds nothing to the saftey of road users or drivers. A huge industry has sprung up testing drivers, often cheating so that the instruction company can attain high pass marks. It is box-checking and not value-added.
Why is this idea important?
Currently, drivers of all vehicles over 3.5 tonnes (ie Transit size and up) which are used to transport dangerous goods by road are required to take an ADR course and pass a test on the topic every 5 years. Costs for this course are at least £300 per person, plus 2 to 5 days off work since the training course has to be attended in person. The examination costs another £60 to £250, and is marked centrally by the Scottish Qualifications Agency.
Of course safety is important, but the ADR training course is over-the-top for drivers of small vehicles, and much too expensive for small companies. It should be possible to take at least the refresher training online, or for small companies only operating small veicles (ie 3.5-5 tonnes) to have delegated authority to run the training courses and exams for their own staff once a manager has attended the training course and passed an exam. Of course, the small company taking this responsibility would have to take on liability if they fail to run it properly.
The current system is bureaucratic, and adds nothing to the saftey of road users or drivers. A huge industry has sprung up testing drivers, often cheating so that the instruction company can attain high pass marks. It is box-checking and not value-added.
Since councils and the mayor of london have had powers over local roads there has been a big increase in fixed penalties because councils and the transport for london make the restriction what are enforced by fixed penalty notice's.
This gives councils and transport for london a licence to print money, the roads should in control of a independant department who's main job is to keep traffic flowing, having the power to remove traffic lights, set times of bus lane operation and restricting the use of bus lanes to mornings only, being able to remove bus lanes what cause congestion, councils and transport for london have abused the powers for their own agenda often an anti car agenda, controlled parking zones used to contol car users movement and take aways peoples freedom of movement if they use a car.
The independant department should be able to remove speed humps on back roads and change speed limits. Speed humps cause pain for disabled people and were never tested to see how they affect disabled people, causing a number of disbaled people to trapped in their homes.
Why is this idea important?
Since councils and the mayor of london have had powers over local roads there has been a big increase in fixed penalties because councils and the transport for london make the restriction what are enforced by fixed penalty notice's.
This gives councils and transport for london a licence to print money, the roads should in control of a independant department who's main job is to keep traffic flowing, having the power to remove traffic lights, set times of bus lane operation and restricting the use of bus lanes to mornings only, being able to remove bus lanes what cause congestion, councils and transport for london have abused the powers for their own agenda often an anti car agenda, controlled parking zones used to contol car users movement and take aways peoples freedom of movement if they use a car.
The independant department should be able to remove speed humps on back roads and change speed limits. Speed humps cause pain for disabled people and were never tested to see how they affect disabled people, causing a number of disbaled people to trapped in their homes.
I advocate scrapping all laws and regulations that prevent a shared-taxi service being operated in the UK. Shared taxis are cleaner and greener than cars or 'normal' taxis. They can complement existing public transport infrastrcuture
Shared taxis services operate successfully in many other countries, including mainland Europe.
Why is this idea important?
I advocate scrapping all laws and regulations that prevent a shared-taxi service being operated in the UK. Shared taxis are cleaner and greener than cars or 'normal' taxis. They can complement existing public transport infrastrcuture
Shared taxis services operate successfully in many other countries, including mainland Europe.
The average cost of installing traffic lights at a junction is over £100,000. Why don’t we allow the installation of all way stops as they do in the USA. A couple of pots of paint and a few signs and it works like a dream.
Why is this idea important?
The average cost of installing traffic lights at a junction is over £100,000. Why don’t we allow the installation of all way stops as they do in the USA. A couple of pots of paint and a few signs and it works like a dream.
Villages and large estates, should be provided with a bus exclusively for their own use. It could be mainly used for ferrying residents to the nearest town, station, school and back home, but could also be used for leisure activities. For instance, if there was a pub run it would save drink driving; if there was a nightclub run it would prevent hoons causing havoc on the streets. Kids and Oaps could also be taken to the local leisure centre, the options are endless.
Why is this idea important?
Villages and large estates, should be provided with a bus exclusively for their own use. It could be mainly used for ferrying residents to the nearest town, station, school and back home, but could also be used for leisure activities. For instance, if there was a pub run it would save drink driving; if there was a nightclub run it would prevent hoons causing havoc on the streets. Kids and Oaps could also be taken to the local leisure centre, the options are endless.
I would not normally be in favour of this. But:
1) Rail fares are now enormously expensive (it can cost well over £100 to go from London to Swindon for example).
2) They are enormously complicated, especially around London.
3) Making a mistake is not a defence against being taken to court.
3) Rail companies have deliberatly reduced the sources of face-to-face advice on buying tickets (station staff/train guards).
4) Automated ticket machines rarely give all the fare options, and rarely give full information about the fares you are buying.
5) Queues are main stations are often enormous, giving you little time to navigate fares.
Basicly, why should train companies have the force of the law in enforcing an increasingly discredited system? The incentives are for them to make more complex fare structures (especially by created ever more catagories of 'off-peak' tickets), knowing they can advertise the lowest fares and pick up penalty fares from people who fail to understand the system. Barrier staff only catch the people who make genunine mistakes – fare dodgers can easily follow people through barriers/jump over them, knowing they cannot be persued in a busy station.
Give the train companies an ultimatum, sort out the fare strucutres or take away their big stick.
Why is this idea important?
I would not normally be in favour of this. But:
1) Rail fares are now enormously expensive (it can cost well over £100 to go from London to Swindon for example).
2) They are enormously complicated, especially around London.
3) Making a mistake is not a defence against being taken to court.
3) Rail companies have deliberatly reduced the sources of face-to-face advice on buying tickets (station staff/train guards).
4) Automated ticket machines rarely give all the fare options, and rarely give full information about the fares you are buying.
5) Queues are main stations are often enormous, giving you little time to navigate fares.
Basicly, why should train companies have the force of the law in enforcing an increasingly discredited system? The incentives are for them to make more complex fare structures (especially by created ever more catagories of 'off-peak' tickets), knowing they can advertise the lowest fares and pick up penalty fares from people who fail to understand the system. Barrier staff only catch the people who make genunine mistakes – fare dodgers can easily follow people through barriers/jump over them, knowing they cannot be persued in a busy station.
Give the train companies an ultimatum, sort out the fare strucutres or take away their big stick.
Dear Nick Clegg,
Please can you change the School Transport Policy to INCLUDE children from low income families living in rural areas that do not have 3 schools within 2 to 6 miles from their homes.
The policy states that the statutory right to free transport for secondary school pupils from low income families provides a choice to one of the three nearest schools to their home address. However, transport will only be provided if the school is between 2 and 6 miles of the home address, and to the nearest school preferred by reason of a parent's religion or belief, between 2 and 15 miles of the home address.
Real Choice – In a statement, School Minister Lord Adonis said "We want to remove transport as a barrier to parental choice. No young person should be prevented from going to a school of their choice simply because of travel costs. That's why it is vital to expand the right to free school travel for young people from low income families to give them real choice in applying for schools."
I look after my disabled husband and have two young secondary school aged children. I chose the second closest school for many important reasons and then was refused help with transport costs. Where is our "Real Choice"? There is no real choice if you live in a rural area!! Even religion is taken into account and are allowed up to 15 miles from their home. My second closest school is 12 miles from our home. You are lucky in most rural areas if you have one school close to your home! It is the children who live in rural areas that really need the help with transport costs as they have much further to travel thus incurring high costs.
We strongly believe we are being excluded from this policy just because we live in a rural part of Devon.
Please, please PLEASE can you amend this policy? Thank you.
Why is this idea important?
Dear Nick Clegg,
Please can you change the School Transport Policy to INCLUDE children from low income families living in rural areas that do not have 3 schools within 2 to 6 miles from their homes.
The policy states that the statutory right to free transport for secondary school pupils from low income families provides a choice to one of the three nearest schools to their home address. However, transport will only be provided if the school is between 2 and 6 miles of the home address, and to the nearest school preferred by reason of a parent's religion or belief, between 2 and 15 miles of the home address.
Real Choice – In a statement, School Minister Lord Adonis said "We want to remove transport as a barrier to parental choice. No young person should be prevented from going to a school of their choice simply because of travel costs. That's why it is vital to expand the right to free school travel for young people from low income families to give them real choice in applying for schools."
I look after my disabled husband and have two young secondary school aged children. I chose the second closest school for many important reasons and then was refused help with transport costs. Where is our "Real Choice"? There is no real choice if you live in a rural area!! Even religion is taken into account and are allowed up to 15 miles from their home. My second closest school is 12 miles from our home. You are lucky in most rural areas if you have one school close to your home! It is the children who live in rural areas that really need the help with transport costs as they have much further to travel thus incurring high costs.
We strongly believe we are being excluded from this policy just because we live in a rural part of Devon.
Please, please PLEASE can you amend this policy? Thank you.
Remove any legislation enabling the development of current proposals for high speed rail. The proposals are not cost effective and will disadvantage whole communities by concentrating availability on small pockets and by failing to connect with existing rail facilities.
The real issue facing railways in Britain is not speed. It is capacity. Unless and until the width and height of trains can be achieved to create high capacity trains the railways will become increasingly uneconomic. Given scarce resources a programme of widening and increasing the height of the routes and removing bottlenecks is the more cost effective option. High speed rail will not be environmentally friendly and will deliver, probably, no cost benefit. Nor is it sufficient simply to adopt the continental standards. Provision should be made for yet wider and taller trains.
If, once the railways have been thus enhanced and modernised, high speed rail is then considered it should link in with existing facilities and enable those disadvantaged by the gridlock effect of places such as Birmingham to enjoy its benefits too.
Too much attention is paid to the single component of a journey. What is mooted as a "one hour" journey will actually be a four hour journey when considering the necessary connecting journeys at each end. A thirty minute saving is an irrelevance.
Why is this idea important?
Remove any legislation enabling the development of current proposals for high speed rail. The proposals are not cost effective and will disadvantage whole communities by concentrating availability on small pockets and by failing to connect with existing rail facilities.
The real issue facing railways in Britain is not speed. It is capacity. Unless and until the width and height of trains can be achieved to create high capacity trains the railways will become increasingly uneconomic. Given scarce resources a programme of widening and increasing the height of the routes and removing bottlenecks is the more cost effective option. High speed rail will not be environmentally friendly and will deliver, probably, no cost benefit. Nor is it sufficient simply to adopt the continental standards. Provision should be made for yet wider and taller trains.
If, once the railways have been thus enhanced and modernised, high speed rail is then considered it should link in with existing facilities and enable those disadvantaged by the gridlock effect of places such as Birmingham to enjoy its benefits too.
Too much attention is paid to the single component of a journey. What is mooted as a "one hour" journey will actually be a four hour journey when considering the necessary connecting journeys at each end. A thirty minute saving is an irrelevance.
Transport authorities such as Transport for London should not bring criminal prosecutions against someone for fare dodging on the first occasion on which they are caught. They should impose a fixed penalty fine instead.
Why is this idea important?
Transport authorities such as Transport for London should not bring criminal prosecutions against someone for fare dodging on the first occasion on which they are caught. They should impose a fixed penalty fine instead.
Increase speed limit on motorway in dry conditions to 80MPH
Why is this idea important?
Increase speed limit on motorway in dry conditions to 80MPH