Fernsfeldflyer
@fernsfeldflyer.bsky.social
UK cyclist, interested in EVs, net zero, science and technology, road safety.
The numbers show that being spared a ban is no deterrent to further bad and dangerous driving, and that some drivers will continue to break the law despite the potential hardship of a future ban.
It's time to scrap the hardship defence or raise the bar very high, and then make it one time only.
It's time to scrap the hardship defence or raise the bar very high, and then make it one time only.
January 23, 2026 at 10:23 AM
The numbers show that being spared a ban is no deterrent to further bad and dangerous driving, and that some drivers will continue to break the law despite the potential hardship of a future ban.
It's time to scrap the hardship defence or raise the bar very high, and then make it one time only.
It's time to scrap the hardship defence or raise the bar very high, and then make it one time only.
I can't find the latest figures but in 2015, 2090 drivers had up to 19 points on their licence, and 58 had more than 20.
There are reports of drivers with over 100.
So Hardship is an excuse to continue to break the law without consequence, except money. 1/2
There are reports of drivers with over 100.
So Hardship is an excuse to continue to break the law without consequence, except money. 1/2
January 23, 2026 at 10:16 AM
I can't find the latest figures but in 2015, 2090 drivers had up to 19 points on their licence, and 58 had more than 20.
There are reports of drivers with over 100.
So Hardship is an excuse to continue to break the law without consequence, except money. 1/2
There are reports of drivers with over 100.
So Hardship is an excuse to continue to break the law without consequence, except money. 1/2
What is the answer to banned drivers continuing to drive, and thus with no insurance.
I'm not sure prison is the answer, they are full and expensive, but it seems the current answer of another ban is not working. There must be some way of deterring them.
Time for a rethink.
I'm not sure prison is the answer, they are full and expensive, but it seems the current answer of another ban is not working. There must be some way of deterring them.
Time for a rethink.
January 22, 2026 at 7:34 PM
What is the answer to banned drivers continuing to drive, and thus with no insurance.
I'm not sure prison is the answer, they are full and expensive, but it seems the current answer of another ban is not working. There must be some way of deterring them.
Time for a rethink.
I'm not sure prison is the answer, they are full and expensive, but it seems the current answer of another ban is not working. There must be some way of deterring them.
Time for a rethink.
I think the term is being used by some to suggest anyone who is not white English.
See also ICE USA.
See also ICE USA.
January 22, 2026 at 1:19 PM
I think the term is being used by some to suggest anyone who is not white English.
See also ICE USA.
See also ICE USA.
Don't give the Donald any ideas!
January 22, 2026 at 1:15 PM
Don't give the Donald any ideas!
My over 70s friends listen to Times Radio, read the Times and Telegraph. They dislike the BBC because it's too lefty/dishonest. They are noticeably moving further to the right, but I'm not sure they see big Nige as the answer to anything... Yet.
As an old lefty I despair of them and Labour.
As an old lefty I despair of them and Labour.
January 22, 2026 at 1:14 PM
My over 70s friends listen to Times Radio, read the Times and Telegraph. They dislike the BBC because it's too lefty/dishonest. They are noticeably moving further to the right, but I'm not sure they see big Nige as the answer to anything... Yet.
As an old lefty I despair of them and Labour.
As an old lefty I despair of them and Labour.
I am not sure how this will end. The local roads are in such a state that it could take years to fix properly.
Notts CC have announced the purchase of ONE machine that will sort everything out.
Several years ago, they announced another machine that was never seen beyond a photoshoot.
Notts CC have announced the purchase of ONE machine that will sort everything out.
Several years ago, they announced another machine that was never seen beyond a photoshoot.
January 21, 2026 at 2:32 PM
I am not sure how this will end. The local roads are in such a state that it could take years to fix properly.
Notts CC have announced the purchase of ONE machine that will sort everything out.
Several years ago, they announced another machine that was never seen beyond a photoshoot.
Notts CC have announced the purchase of ONE machine that will sort everything out.
Several years ago, they announced another machine that was never seen beyond a photoshoot.
I'm not sure where this money is being spent but we aren't seeing it in Nottinghamshire.
The roads are deteriorating rapidly. I recently reported a dangerous pothole in a run of bad potholes. Notts CC filled the worst one and left the rest.
Still we have the flags!
The roads are deteriorating rapidly. I recently reported a dangerous pothole in a run of bad potholes. Notts CC filled the worst one and left the rest.
Still we have the flags!
January 21, 2026 at 11:58 AM
I'm not sure where this money is being spent but we aren't seeing it in Nottinghamshire.
The roads are deteriorating rapidly. I recently reported a dangerous pothole in a run of bad potholes. Notts CC filled the worst one and left the rest.
Still we have the flags!
The roads are deteriorating rapidly. I recently reported a dangerous pothole in a run of bad potholes. Notts CC filled the worst one and left the rest.
Still we have the flags!
The sentence seems a poor response to a person's death.
The driver's response in court didn't seem to accept any responsibility or show any compassion for the dead man or his family.
Time for an offence of Failing to Render Assistance with steep sentences for all these hit and run drivers.
The driver's response in court didn't seem to accept any responsibility or show any compassion for the dead man or his family.
Time for an offence of Failing to Render Assistance with steep sentences for all these hit and run drivers.
January 20, 2026 at 7:06 PM
The sentence seems a poor response to a person's death.
The driver's response in court didn't seem to accept any responsibility or show any compassion for the dead man or his family.
Time for an offence of Failing to Render Assistance with steep sentences for all these hit and run drivers.
The driver's response in court didn't seem to accept any responsibility or show any compassion for the dead man or his family.
Time for an offence of Failing to Render Assistance with steep sentences for all these hit and run drivers.
This guy seems to write for The Times, Sunday Times, Spectator and works at the BBC.
So not surprising that he's writing pro-motoring click bait.
So not surprising that he's writing pro-motoring click bait.
January 20, 2026 at 6:37 PM
This guy seems to write for The Times, Sunday Times, Spectator and works at the BBC.
So not surprising that he's writing pro-motoring click bait.
So not surprising that he's writing pro-motoring click bait.
2/2.
Living in the country does not automatically mean an SUV or 4*4.
If the weather is so bad that one is needed, you should probably stay at home. The car may not have the tyres or equipment to cope, and you may become part of the problem.
Living in the country does not automatically mean an SUV or 4*4.
If the weather is so bad that one is needed, you should probably stay at home. The car may not have the tyres or equipment to cope, and you may become part of the problem.
January 12, 2026 at 3:17 PM
2/2.
Living in the country does not automatically mean an SUV or 4*4.
If the weather is so bad that one is needed, you should probably stay at home. The car may not have the tyres or equipment to cope, and you may become part of the problem.
Living in the country does not automatically mean an SUV or 4*4.
If the weather is so bad that one is needed, you should probably stay at home. The car may not have the tyres or equipment to cope, and you may become part of the problem.
I worked for an Electricity Board for 30years, mostly in rural areas. I had a selection of cars from a Morris Minor to a Vauxhall Cavalier. I was out in the worst weather in these cars, on country roads and tracks and only 3 times needed to get a lift in a 4 wheel drive. 1/2
January 12, 2026 at 3:15 PM
I worked for an Electricity Board for 30years, mostly in rural areas. I had a selection of cars from a Morris Minor to a Vauxhall Cavalier. I was out in the worst weather in these cars, on country roads and tracks and only 3 times needed to get a lift in a 4 wheel drive. 1/2
Is the London now safer because of the socialist speed bumps?
Asking for the Telegraph.
Asking for the Telegraph.
January 12, 2026 at 10:00 AM
Is the London now safer because of the socialist speed bumps?
Asking for the Telegraph.
Asking for the Telegraph.
It sounds like there should be a national group. The Umarell University, The National Umarell Society, The Institute of Professional Umarell.
There could be annual lectures on detailed aspects of Umarellship, or to provide hard learend knowledge to an unresponsive world.
There could be annual lectures on detailed aspects of Umarellship, or to provide hard learend knowledge to an unresponsive world.
January 12, 2026 at 9:56 AM
It sounds like there should be a national group. The Umarell University, The National Umarell Society, The Institute of Professional Umarell.
There could be annual lectures on detailed aspects of Umarellship, or to provide hard learend knowledge to an unresponsive world.
There could be annual lectures on detailed aspects of Umarellship, or to provide hard learend knowledge to an unresponsive world.
The failure to maintain roads correctly is obvious this winter.
Badly filled potholes are opening up and expanding. Previously sound roads are breaking up with potholes and longitudinal cracks.
I'm afraid a few bags of tarmac ain't going to fix it.
Round here money for Farage's flags not roads.
Badly filled potholes are opening up and expanding. Previously sound roads are breaking up with potholes and longitudinal cracks.
I'm afraid a few bags of tarmac ain't going to fix it.
Round here money for Farage's flags not roads.
January 11, 2026 at 3:06 PM
The failure to maintain roads correctly is obvious this winter.
Badly filled potholes are opening up and expanding. Previously sound roads are breaking up with potholes and longitudinal cracks.
I'm afraid a few bags of tarmac ain't going to fix it.
Round here money for Farage's flags not roads.
Badly filled potholes are opening up and expanding. Previously sound roads are breaking up with potholes and longitudinal cracks.
I'm afraid a few bags of tarmac ain't going to fix it.
Round here money for Farage's flags not roads.
Make the bus lane into the traffic lane and the traffic lane into the bus lane.
Allow buses to pull into the traffic lane at bus stops.
Radical but watch the drivers scream when they have to wait behind park cars for someone just popping in for a paper.
Allow buses to pull into the traffic lane at bus stops.
Radical but watch the drivers scream when they have to wait behind park cars for someone just popping in for a paper.
January 11, 2026 at 2:50 PM
Make the bus lane into the traffic lane and the traffic lane into the bus lane.
Allow buses to pull into the traffic lane at bus stops.
Radical but watch the drivers scream when they have to wait behind park cars for someone just popping in for a paper.
Allow buses to pull into the traffic lane at bus stops.
Radical but watch the drivers scream when they have to wait behind park cars for someone just popping in for a paper.
I always found the definition of Dangerous Driving to be wooly. It needs to be clearer and the CPS could then stick with the charge as they could show dangerous intent.
Falling below well acceptable standards is not a suitable measure and open to interpretation.
Falling below well acceptable standards is not a suitable measure and open to interpretation.
January 11, 2026 at 8:53 AM
I always found the definition of Dangerous Driving to be wooly. It needs to be clearer and the CPS could then stick with the charge as they could show dangerous intent.
Falling below well acceptable standards is not a suitable measure and open to interpretation.
Falling below well acceptable standards is not a suitable measure and open to interpretation.
Can you imagine Farage's army of armed masked men, no doubt recruited from the 'hotel burners', driving round in unmarked vehicles dragging people off the streets, children from schools for not being English enough or a political opponent.
We would all sleep soundly in our beds?
We would all sleep soundly in our beds?
January 9, 2026 at 8:54 AM
Can you imagine Farage's army of armed masked men, no doubt recruited from the 'hotel burners', driving round in unmarked vehicles dragging people off the streets, children from schools for not being English enough or a political opponent.
We would all sleep soundly in our beds?
We would all sleep soundly in our beds?
They obviously don't want to upset the motor industry and drivers.
Clarify the definition of dangerous driving, get rid of the hardship defence and implement more long term bans.
Clarify that 'illegal' ebikes are actually mopeds and motorbikes and have to comply with existing laws re tax etc
Clarify the definition of dangerous driving, get rid of the hardship defence and implement more long term bans.
Clarify that 'illegal' ebikes are actually mopeds and motorbikes and have to comply with existing laws re tax etc
January 7, 2026 at 4:58 PM
They obviously don't want to upset the motor industry and drivers.
Clarify the definition of dangerous driving, get rid of the hardship defence and implement more long term bans.
Clarify that 'illegal' ebikes are actually mopeds and motorbikes and have to comply with existing laws re tax etc
Clarify the definition of dangerous driving, get rid of the hardship defence and implement more long term bans.
Clarify that 'illegal' ebikes are actually mopeds and motorbikes and have to comply with existing laws re tax etc
More cowardice from this government. Is there no principle or policy that they won't betray.
Is there any group, body or organisation that they will stand up to, except for the sick and disabled.
Is there any group, body or organisation that they will stand up to, except for the sick and disabled.
January 2, 2026 at 11:06 AM
More cowardice from this government. Is there no principle or policy that they won't betray.
Is there any group, body or organisation that they will stand up to, except for the sick and disabled.
Is there any group, body or organisation that they will stand up to, except for the sick and disabled.
Surely the answer is to widen the roads, add another road, add another lane to the motorways, get rid of buses and lanes and the tram to make more room for the traffic.
That always works doesn't it? 😫😫😫. (Sarcasm)
That always works doesn't it? 😫😫😫. (Sarcasm)
December 31, 2025 at 10:57 AM
Surely the answer is to widen the roads, add another road, add another lane to the motorways, get rid of buses and lanes and the tram to make more room for the traffic.
That always works doesn't it? 😫😫😫. (Sarcasm)
That always works doesn't it? 😫😫😫. (Sarcasm)
Paine's Brewery. I had a trip round there over 40 years ago. It was a lovely traditional brewery with some great beers.
One of my best brewery tours.
One of my best brewery tours.
December 24, 2025 at 3:47 PM
Paine's Brewery. I had a trip round there over 40 years ago. It was a lovely traditional brewery with some great beers.
One of my best brewery tours.
One of my best brewery tours.
I always wonder what these engineers, and more likely their political bosses, think is an acceptable no of deaths on their roads.
Could they justify that level? Could they justify to victims' families, that making roads safe may have added seconds to a journey?
War on cars, no war on people!
Could they justify that level? Could they justify to victims' families, that making roads safe may have added seconds to a journey?
War on cars, no war on people!
December 16, 2025 at 7:57 PM
I always wonder what these engineers, and more likely their political bosses, think is an acceptable no of deaths on their roads.
Could they justify that level? Could they justify to victims' families, that making roads safe may have added seconds to a journey?
War on cars, no war on people!
Could they justify that level? Could they justify to victims' families, that making roads safe may have added seconds to a journey?
War on cars, no war on people!