Re: Over 40's Moving Back and Catching Up
 

Hertz would have taken it from your account because it would be Hertz that were fined as the car was registered to them, they would have then claimed on your account as there would have been something in the small print that allowed them to do so. They would not appeal, and you couldn't because it wasn't you that was fined, always a possibility with a rented car as it's the owner that gets the fine.

Re: Over 40's Moving Back and Catching Up
 

It doesn't seem fair, does it, and it does seem very aggressive. An extension of the practice of cop cars setting a speed trap at the bottom of a hill where they know that unwary motorists are likely to to have increased speed just because of gravity.

Re: Over 40's Moving Back and Catching Up
 

New penalty points for certain motoring offences have just been introduced, the offences that previously resulted in 2 points being added have now gone up to three points.

Re: Over 40's Moving Back and Catching Up
 

Here in UK they have just signed into law ------ any driver convicted of DUI even the first offence will not only still receive a hefty fine and points, but they are not allowed to drink any alcohol --- period!!! and they will all have an ankle shackle put on that measures every 30 minutes the persons possible intake of alcohol for a period of 2 years, they measure it by there perspiration, and if the system shows just one time that they have consumed any alcohol whatsoever in that two year period they are banned from driving for a long period of time,
Pretty cool huh!!!! thats just about the best deterrent that Ive ever heard of!!!!

Well anyone know over there in the USA whats happening with Conan O'Brien?
Yesterday I was watching the Lorraine show and he was interviewed, he is over here now in UK and he is soon to be doing a new late night talk show here, it will be on TV 4 nights a week,
Ive always liked him, he should do well here, I just hope the american style of humor goes down well with the british viewers, shouldn't be a problem though,
I think they said he will be on from 11pm till 12pm, Im looking forward to watching him.

Re: Over 40's Moving Back and Catching Up
 

Here's a summary of the new driving laws that came into effect today.

https://uk.news.yahoo.com/drivers-ca...0.html#gTtgT2p

Re: Over 40's Moving Back and Catching Up
 

Rod, from what I understand Start Stop technology cuts out the engine while waiting at traffic lights etc, as soon as you hit the accelerator its starts the car, it saves petrol.

Re: Over 40's Moving Back and Catching Up
 

I like the ankle shackle idea, I dont drink n drive, at least in the UK you can catch a bus to work.

Drinking and Driving is a major problem in this country, the authorities dont do enough work in that area.

Conan, not heard even a whisper, Im not a fan, he has never make me laugh, my neice loves him, I just dont find him amusing at all, its almost like he tries too hard.

Im a Craig Ferguson fan all the way, with an edgy sense of humour he's awesome, I watch him every week night, he has the talking skeleton robot Geoff and the horse, he also has plenty of British guests, he quits in December, he would go down a treat in the UK, I think he is doing a game show here after the Late Late Show.

Re: Over 40's Moving Back and Catching Up
 

Yes fish Ive always also liked Craig Furguson, like his humor, very funny guy, I remember shortly after he first started his late late show years ago he had this little clip showing him at the court house taking his US citizenship oath, and he had a secret camera showing the packed room full of new Americans,
just thinking how long ago he started his late show on TV ---- me thinks about 7 years ago or maybe more? --- I think he will be great on a game show, good for him!!! he has done well in America.

Re: Over 40's Moving Back and Catching Up
 

I have just finished watching (guess who's coming to dinner) with Spencer Tracy, Katharine Hepburn and Sydney Poitier, Ive seen it many times over the years, and this time was just as good as all the other times, great movie!!!

Its been so hot and dry this Summer, and with the heat especially the last couple of weeks high humidity too that has made it quite unbearable, but I dont think its been like this all over the country, up north and even places in the south have had recent floods even, I dont like all this heat, I had enough of that in Vegas where I lived for 14 years, but at least it was a dry heat I suppose,
over here in England winters are my favorite times of the year, cant wait for all those lovely cool and even cold rainy days, I dont like the wind though, but it goes with the territory,
My Mum came to a decision a couple of days ago, she decided that she no longer feels safe to drive, and so she wants to just get rid of her car, her two lifelong lady friends both over 90 talked to her and made her see that it would be safer and sensible for Mum at 95 to call it a day with driving, neither of her two best friends drive, they never have done, they take taxis if they need to go to the doctors or dentist or if they want to see a movie or show locally,
They explained that at there ages all the traffic and stress of the roads here now is crazy, and if they go on little breaks they take a coach tour, or boat tour, one of them have just come back from a nice cruise around the U.K. for 7 days, she treated herself and her two daughters to the cruise, it cost her £3,500 and she said it was wonderful, they all really enjoyed it,

So Mum will probably sell her car or scrap it, I already yesterday canceled the insurance, but its taxed and MOT'd for another 10 months, nice little runabout 1999 47k miles, stick shift,
Im not going through with my driving tests, my provisional licence is on the way, Ill just keep it for U.K. I.D. comes in handy,
So as I see it Mum will save around minimum £1,000 per year, thats what it costs her to keep the car on the road with insurance, mot, tax disk, petrol etc etc, and taxis over here for short trips are quite inexpensive, it would take a hell of a lot of taxi trips to come to £1,000 per year wouldn't it !!! ;)
and the pleasure of just sitting back and letting a nice English cabby take you from A TO B -------lovely :cool: and here in Pompey you call the cab and there at your door in 5 minutes and if the customer is elderly and can hardly walk like Mum ---- they will take her arm and escort her carefully to the cab and even strap them in too, what service!!!!

I don't miss driving, and if I go to the States or Europe for a holiday sometime in the future I will always be able to rent a car and drive legally on my U.S. licence, as I said before I will always keep my U.S. licence valid.

Re: Over 40's Moving Back and Catching Up
 

You cannot keep your US DL valid if you no longer live there. Most if not all states now require proof of residency.

Re: Over 40's Moving Back and Catching Up
 

Yes - this is true. In Ohio the license only lasts 4 years and then you have to renew. Rodney - I totally understand your mum not wanting to drive again at her age - it's the sensible thing to do - quit driving. That said, if her car is in decent condition and has a valid MOT, could you and your mum not come to some sort of financial arrangement and you could buy the car from her or pay payments? That way you can still go ahead with your plans and hopefully it won't be too long before you can start driving there.

Re: Over 40's Moving Back and Catching Up
 

Ahhhh Rod, Im sorry to hear that things have changed as far as your decesion to drive, I find it very easy to drive in the UK, its alot of fun for me, just going to places I used to visit as a child and seeing places Ive never seen before...

I do think the DVLA would reinstate your license, of course Id still take a refresher before jumping on the M1.

Good luck to you.

Re: Over 40's Moving Back and Catching Up
 

With all the pomp and ceremony to get a UK licence I don't think they drive any better there than any other places.They can be very courteous though.;)

Re: Over 40's Moving Back and Catching Up
 

I'm a nervous driver - well nervous driving places I don't know and on the highway, I hate situations where I have to move out in front of another car, so I absolutely understand how it might feel a bit nerve wracking to go through the driving test again etc. etc. I really do. However, I think it would be well worth doing it. Taxis/public transport are great in some situations but it is not the same as the independence that driving yourself gives you.

Why not keep your Mum's car on for another few months and give it a go? It wouldn't cost much to keep it a little longer and I think you will be amazed at the freedom it gives you and the world it opens up for you. I really, really hope you give it a go Rod, now while you have a car sitting there just waiting for you to try.

Nothing ventured nothing gained!

xxx

Re: Over 40's Moving Back and Catching Up
 

Rod, it looks like you have given this a lot of thought and I agree with your conclusion.
It is very unlikely that you break any laws but when people get behind the wheel of a car things change.
You get to feel like a criminal when you start to drive because of all the laws related to driving.
I was thinking you could join one of the many car share organization such as City Car Club, which they have one in Southampton, but why go to the trouble?
http://www.citycarclub.co.uk/locatio...mpton-car-hire
Cheers