Don't do this, don't do that
Tuesday, March 18, 2008 Further to my post HERE about unnecessary signs, I have just driven to and from Cambridge on the A14 and on both sides of the dual-carriageway temporary electronic signs have been erected with the message DON'T PHONE WHILE DRIVING.
I think most people now know that using a hand-held phone while driving is illegal. But - and this is what annoys me - it is still legal to phone while driving, as long as you use a hands-free kit (see HERE).
But the authorities don't care for the small print. After all, in today's bully state it's easier to tell everyone not to phone while driving. Period. That's the problem with Britain. When it comes to telling people what to do, we always have to go that extra mile.
PS. As you know, anti-smoking campaigners now want to ban smoking while driving, although there is not a shred of evidence to suggest that smoking is a serious distraction. It's not illegal - yet - so if anyone sees a sign that says DON''T SMOKE WHILE DRIVING please let me know immediately.
Reader Comments (6)
Have you tried walking through Waterloo Station? It's like being with the worst kind of nagging Aunt. My favourite is the 'Skateboarding is forbidden on the concourse, and it's illegal' announcement. Never mind the fact that 250,000 commuters can hardly walk to their train without bumping into each other and that there just aren't any spotty-faced youths about. Have you seem the skateboarding actuary? No, neither have I. Absurd...
I have a sign in the back of my car which says
"Don't Stop Smoking".
I bought it in Majorca last year - it is large and hexagonal and Red.
Guess I will be a target if they do ban smoking whilst driving - although I won't be going anywhere then so they can pay me to stay home instead of going out to work! It is like lorry drivers - most of them still smoke in their lorries, it is something that helps them with concentration and it is therefore better for everyone that they do continue to smoke! As people have said on F2C, etc, SHS has never yet been proven to harm anyone, never mind kill anyone, but an out of control lorry, due to an inattentive driver, can do one hell of a lot of damage!
I am staying at a friend’s house due to unforeseen problems at mine, and have been enjoying the commute from Eltham to London Bridge for a while. Smoking OUTSIDE the London Bridge Station is banned under the concourse roof which must 60 feet off the ground and open at the ends. In the meantime you can breathe in the diesel from about 20 taxis while puffing away. The smoking ban is ignored by many and Network Rail has put up another sign to the effect that “we know you are ignoring the ban and will get the police onto you” approach. I was very happy to see two policemen on foot wandering past me, not bothered at all.
To top that I was early one night for my train and popped into The Oast House pub inside. By the sink was this sign “How To Was Your Hands” and these are the ten steps. This moronicism beggars belief, no further comment from me.
1. Pull down towel ready to use.
2. Rinse hands in water at 40-45c
3. Use anti-bacterial soap
4. Lather for 20 seconds
5. Rinse at 40-45c
6. Dry hands on paper towel
7. Turn off tap with paper towel
8. Throw towel in bin
9. Sanitize hands using hand sanitizer
10. Allow hands to dry before going back to
work
Repeat procedure every 20 minutes if you handle food and 60 minutes anyone else.
Dave Atherton
I use London Bridge station in the evenings and stand outside at the London Dungeon entrance. Everybody has a fag there and nobody says a word. Sometimes in the mornings I have to use Victoria Station where there are signs everywhere. They state that you cannot smoke outside in the open air near the taxi rank, bus station and entrances to the tube as they say the rail network own the land. Again nobody takes any notice. Surely the roads and pavements belong to Westminster City Council?
Simon, also, whilst on the subject of railway stations, why are they being so spiteful about banning smoking on open air platforms? Surely this is illegal as the bans should only apply to confined spaces? Have you managed to mention this on any of the programmes you have appeared on?
just spent the easter weekend visiting Nottingham.
i was walking down one of that cities streets only to be loudhailed by a disembodied voice warning me that "car thieves operate in this area"....
very much in the "dont do this" meme of your post. however, what was 1984ish was the very voice of authority in an english street. has anyone else encountered such a thing?
oh - and regarding the smoking ban. you cannot smoke outside the terminal building at heathrow (terminal 1) ... there are lots of signs to that effect.
and nobody takes a blind bit of notice. smokers are outside puffing away. its rather heartening to see such rebellion.