Association for British Drivers - BNP for drivers?

downfader

I spent some time on their website yesterday and it was fascinating. Loads of misquotations (as you tend to find on cycle sites too, come to think of it) on science and the environment, loads of moaning about speed limits and cameras (I get the idea that they want to drive at 70 through urban areas :? as this would solve congestion )

Also lots of threatening messages to those who have questioned them or their integrity. So I expect to join the ranks soon

The main thing I took away from it was "oh woe is us, the poor driver!" Not much different to the cycling sites then

sc999cs

Don't get me started on ABD...

turkeytickler

what's their usp vs s*fesp**d?

Cunobelin

This is the organisation that feels cycling on the pavements should be dealt with severely as cyclists should obey the Highway Code

However clamping down on drivers disobeying the same highway coe with thesame offence isa "Jihad against the freedom of motorists"

Says it all really - hypocritical organisation that is against anything that restricts motorists"freedom" to do whatever they want.

downfader

I've noticed that they make claims that a number of their members are cyclists. I wonder what percentage and whether they commute or ride with clubs.

sc999cs

From today's Daily Mail (my wife looks at it honest)

"Drivers are hit by Labour again as motorway tow fees rocket
Last night, motoring groups denounced the 'rip-off' charges and said less well-off drivers unable to afford breakdown cover would be hardest hit.

Nigel Humphries, spokesman for the Association of British Drivers, said: 'It is just a rip-off that doesn't bear any relation to the cost of towing a car off the motorway. A local garage would charge a lot less.'"

ABD are worried that less well off drivers will be hit if they don't have breakdown insurance. How much does that cost each year? £25. ABD members feel they can waste fuel by driving excessively over the speed limit - sorry, speeds they feel they can handle safely and are well within their skills - stuff the primary school or residential areas they may be speeding past - yet can't afford £25 for breakdown insurance?

downfader

Doesnt even cost that much more to get towed tbh. Cant see what the issue is.

dondare

Sounds like SafeSpeed.

Mike Healey

As far as I can tell the ABD/Safespeed argument goes:

1.I break the speed limit because I am a good driver, so 3 penalty points is an unfair imposition on good drivers
2. I am an even bettter driver than him, so I break the speed limit by a greater margin. 6 penalty points is therefore an unjust treatment of one of the best drivers on the road
3. I am superior to the other two wimps because I can go even faster in safety. 9 penalty points is therefore a complete travesty of justice.
4. I have 12 points on my licence and have been banned from driving. If I wasn't such a *****ng brilliant driver, I would have had lots of accidents, but I've only got a 150% loading on my insurance policy (the ****s) because of the odd bang*. All this means that banning me from driving (as if that makes any difference , heh heh!) has removed one of the best drivers in the country from the roads and has therefore reduced made the roads more dangerous as the remaining drivers aren't as good as me.

*That's why I don't bother with insurance any more, 'cos I'm so brilliant I won't have any bangs that are my fault!

downfader

I see the guy from Safespeed died in Dec 2007, could that possibly have been down to the fact he drove everywhere at speed and put pressure on the ol valves. :?

It also said he was an inventor, but says something about the world not being ready. What did he invent? Hovercoats? :?

Anyway, perhaps we should do a social experiment, get the government to allow 1 day a week to be speed limit free, and us normal-minded folks get the hell off the roads on that day, then see what the outcome is. I can already hazard a guess.

nwallace

Stayed in the Glenbrittel Youth Hostel a coupel of years back, I had a clutch problem on my car and it was pissing down so hardly out out on the bike as I had intended. Any how. On the Friday night very late on someone arrived in the dorm, being a light sleeper that was a bit annoying but the next day while the Portreee garages was carrying my car up to their garage to see if they coud lget the clutch working we went past a car well and truly off the road. The guy that had come out to recover me reckoned his boss woudl be looking for over 100 quid to recover it, and judging by the fact there was loads of people digging it out he definately didn't have cover.

I Could not drive without Breakdown cover, new car or (as i do) old. Anything that kills the car on the motorway or even getting a mate roudn with a tow rope is going to be more expensive than a lift from an Orange van.

symo

Least they don't have a forum to exchange their views

biondino

Guys - this is maybe the dumbest question ever asked on this forum, but I don't have breakdown cover because I don't drive all that much. So... what do I do if I do break down?

sc999cs

biondino wrote:

Guys - this is maybe the dumbest question ever asked on this forum, but I don't have breakdown cover because I don't drive all that much. So... what do I do if I do break down?

Owning that Focus you should be able to afford £25 for Green Flag If you can't I'll buy the Focus off you for £25 so you can afford the break down insurance. :twisted:

linsen

Biondido ( ) you pay quite a lot to be towed off a motorway I think. Otherwise get out and push.

In my experience getting breakdown cover is the best way to ensure you will never break down. The more expensive the cover the less likely the breakdown. If you're not car dependent not really such a big deal

I have the same theory about waterproof trousers - once you 've actually put them on then the rain will stop

biondino

sc999cs wrote:

biondino wrote:

Guys - this is maybe the dumbest question ever asked on this forum, but I don't have breakdown cover because I don't drive all that much. So... what do I do if I do break down?

Owning that Focus you should be able to afford £25 for Green Flag If you can't I'll buy the Focus off you for £25 so you can afford the break down insurance. :twisted:

Hey Steve: http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Focus-Cayo-Expert ... 0282140607

karl j

yep, by and large.SS by another name as far as i can tell

downfader

linsen wrote:

Biondido ( ) you pay quite a lot to be towed off a motorway I think. Otherwise get out and push.

In my experience getting breakdown cover is the best way to ensure you will never break down. The more expensive the cover the less likely the breakdown. If you're not car dependent not really such a big deal

I have the same theory about waterproof trousers - once you 've actually put them on then the rain will stop

If breakdown cover is only 25 quid and the pick up is 100 then just save and put a hundred in the savings account for the rainy day?

sc999cs

biondino wrote:

sc999cs wrote:

biondino wrote:

Guys - this is maybe the dumbest question ever asked on this forum, but I don't have breakdown cover because I don't drive all that much. So... what do I do if I do break down?

Owning that Focus you should be able to afford £25 for Green Flag If you can't I'll buy the Focus off you for £25 so you can afford the break down insurance. :twisted:

Hey Steve: http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Focus-Cayo-Expert ... 0282140607

Love to, but the bank balance (i.e. wife) said no!