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In a car that is unroadworthy . That could have huge consequences. Thats what the roadside assistance is for.
I check my lights regularly. Headlight are checked against the wall I park in front of, brake and tail lights when parking (reflections off parked cars and windows for example) and the indicators self-test on every use (the flash speeds up if one blows on that side).
That's kind of what I meant really - not that I'm driving round oblivious but rather that I don't make conscious checks. I've been driving for long enough that it's a background task in much the same way as I don't have to think what gear I need or remind myself "mirror, signal, manoeuvre" when changing direction. If I had something like a headlight out I'm reasonably certain that I'd know. In particular the lamps on our current Seat are self-levelling, you can see the beams bob up and down when you start the car so a blown lamp would be immediately apparent.
In any case, I can't remember the last time I had a bulb out. It was probably in a Ford Escort. I've had lease vehicles forever, the last time I ran an "old" car was maybe 15-20 years ago. Half the time these days cars have LED clusters rather than single bulbs anyway.
To counter this, the battery in our ageing Kuga died 1 month before our new car was due. Mrs K was fairly local, yet called the AA. The guy diagnosed correctly learning her concern through discussion then said “look, if you know anyone that can pop to Halfords (a mile away) the battery will be half the price and I’d be happy to fit it”.
Cue me popping to Halfords and dropping off a cheap(er) battery.
In a car that is unroadworthy . That could have huge consequences. Thats what the roadside assistance is for.
Your black-and-white outlook on life really could use sidelights. 😁
In a car that is unroadworthy . That could have huge consequences.
Yes. Rationale as given before. You may disagree, I explained already and I don't think I'd make a different decision in the same situation next time either despite what you think. Maybe one of the STW real policemen will read this and add qualified comment at some point.
But hearsay and conjecture are kinds of evidence.
"As I said, I thought best course as she was already on the edge of town and had sidelights and rear lights it was a reasonable risk to take. Technically wrong – I’m not even sure, are headlights mandatory in a BUA with streetlights.
you are correct – those criticising you for this part need to go read their Highway Code – sidelights in build up area with street lights."
Correct, but to then to let her drive back to Uni, 120 miles away, the next day without at least checking the bulbs is some very poor dadding ...
In a car that is unroadworthy . That could have huge consequences.
Only if the street lights go out.
20 mins checking the bulbs or 2 days digging a hole..?
Correct, but to then to let her drive back to Uni, 120 miles away, the next day without at least checking the bulbs is some very poor dadding …
Not sure if taking the piss or major comprehension fail.
No hole being dug, AFAICT?
I think you've confused things by calling both your house and her uni accommodation "home", so it's easy to read your early posts as if you told her to drive 120 miles home (your house) in the dark with no proper headlights. When you actually told her to drive home (uni house) instead, which sounds perfectly sensible.
Just to add the AA charge 10.99 for a H7 bulb supplied and fitted so if the company is the AA and it was one of there vans then yes you did get ripped off
I can't believe this is still going 🙂
My first car was a 1970s Mini with 7" headlamps and H4 tungsten bulbs, 24V halogen would have been a major improvement
No, you can't get PP for a blown bulb, brake lights are the exception to this if it's considered dangerous
As above ^^ you can drive in a streetlit BUA/30 on sidelights, however, that doesn't absolve you from the blown bulbs which must work
Then you get into insurance/careless driving etc, but that's a bit OTT for this scenario IMHO
I'm guessing that those advocating teaching a child anything don't have teenage children 🙂
JonV: Just raise a complaint with the recovery operator
I can’t believe this is still going
Nor me really, but people reading the first few posts and then making (wrong) conclusions, including some accusing me of false claims, poor parenting, digging holes on the back of those conclusions - I wouldn't need to answer not for that.
I think you’ve confused things by calling both your house and her uni accommodation “home”, so it’s easy to read your early posts as if you told her to drive 120 miles home (your house) in the dark with no proper headlights. When you actually told her to drive home (uni house) instead, which sounds perfectly sensible.
I agree, but I have clarified several times since - but as above doesn't stop people not reading it and then piling in.
I think can all agree that this would have never happened in our day.
That's true. In my day very few university students had a car.
God knows what they did with all that money they saved on tuition fees!
Well, I for one think it's a disc race that you let her fly a helicopter back from the moon whilst on fire.
God knows what they did with all that money they saved on tuition fees!
I rather suspect that this is actually well documented. 😁
particularly now we know more of the effects of alcohol and morning after blood alcohol levels, I suspect for most of my three years at Uni I'd have been over the limit to drive.
It does look like your "roadside assistance" set up is the wrong tool for the job.
Problem is more of an ongoing maintenance issue than a "get you home" one.
Halfords do a Motoring Club where they change any bulbs, wipers, consumables etc for an annual fee.
Will also do safety checks on the car included to check if things like this are needed. Would avoid the situation of driving round without knowing the car's not roadworthy, And much more likely to hold the right bulbs in stock.
Would have been a better choice the morning after getting home.
That’s true. In my day very few university students had a car.
Very much this.
It amazes me why so many have a car. Particularly in a city it makes very little sense.
I love my daughter dearly but there’s no way I’d let her travel in a car that she’s maintained. She can’t perform basic tasks like wash a cup up without causing a minor flood in the kitchen…. some stuff is best left to others.
It's this bit that make me think of the Halfords club. Without knowing a friendly mechanic with the uni town, the alternative seems to be an unmaintained car.
It amazes me why so many have a car. Particularly in a city it makes very little sense.
Depends on the city I suppose. I studied in Preston in the early 1990s, it wasn't exactly known for its expansive underground system. Students owning (shit) cars wasn't uncommon.
customers want the world, and expect the world and complain for the sake of it.
My daughter works holidays in retail and is well aware of the problems with customers. To be clear, no complaint has yet been made and if/when it is, it will be done properly.
for the sake of it
I see this as a clear 'error' by the roadside mechanic - I'll give benefit of doubt as to whether deliberate or not, Hanlon's razor as cited before, etc. As a consequence of the error, I then put the car into another garage who (eventually) found the issue to be the bulbs. YMMV on whether consequential losses are my problem, indeed whether I should have checked them before giving it to a garage to sort out. All I can answer in defence of that is that the bulbs had only recently been replaced by a pro, why would I assume they were wrong (indeed, did not know until Friday that there were 12 and 24V versions). The google suggestions did mention bulbs but I'd discounted that for reasons as above - and then on the same basis the garage also checked various other stuff like alternators and earthing before having that (literal) lightbulb moment. But simple fact, cost me another £45 for diagnostics time, and another pair of bulbs. That's not 'for the sake of it' IMHO.
It amazes me why so many have a car. Particularly in a city it makes very little sense.
I agree - UoW is reknowned (piss taken by other Unis) for being in the middle of nowhere, Leam where most students live is 8-10 miles away and while there are regular buses part of her course includes various placements where public transport is technically possible but like much of the UK's transport infrastructure expensive and inconvenient
It does look like your “roadside assistance” set up is the wrong tool for the job.
Problem is more of an ongoing maintenance issue than a “get you home” one.Halfords do a Motoring Club where they change any bulbs, wipers, consumables etc for an annual fee.
Yes, although at the time we didn't know it was bulbs. But useful to know and I will consider that, although as said previously we do have local indie mechanics that we get car serviced at when she is home home (not Uni home)
It amazes me why so many have a car. Particularly in a city it makes very little sense.
How many is it? There’s 2 in my elder’s flat of 8, including my daughter. The other only uses it travel home at weekends or holidays. My daughter’s is parked outside our house.
what makes you think a breakdown service has any obligation to make your vehicle MOT compliant?
So these professional car repairers have no liability for any claim arising from working on a car but not making it roadworthy?
So these professional car repairers have no liability for any claim arising from working on a car but not making it roadworthy?
Which part of what he did made it not roadworthy ?
It’s this bit that make me think of the Halfords club. Without knowing a friendly mechanic with the uni town, the alternative seems to be an unmaintained car.
Unmaintained is a bit overstated. It's not like she's away a year at a time - she usually comes home during 'reading week' and between terms (hence why she's here now) and that's when vaguely competent Dad also checks and tops up oil and tyres and so on. And then as said before, serviced annually which I suspect is more than a lot of older cars get. And I will be reminding to check bulbs and tyres more frequently from now on.
I've looked and Halfords don't actually do much - the MOT would pay for itself at full price (though no-one pays full price for MOT do they?) and they would fit (not supply) basic parts like bulbs, blades or a battery. You do get two 10 point checks (normal price £15 ea) which cover tyre depth and inflation, MOT reminder (like, thanks!), headlight check, etc. - and you get one free check on their 'free' Car Club anyway. TBH it's not that impressive, for £50.
https://www.halfords.com/motoring/advice/Introducing-halfords-motoring-club.html
5% off member pricing (an always-on, unlimited discount on all motoring products and services online and across our stores, garages and Halfords Mobile Expert)
1 x free MOT at your local Halfords garage (worth up to £54)
1 x £10 welcome voucher
2 x free 10-point car checks (worth £30)
1 x free fitting for a pair of wiper blades or a pair of bulbs or a battery in our stores
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How many is it? There’s 2 in my elder’s flat of 8, including my daughter. The other only uses it travel home at weekends or holidays. My daughter’s is parked outside our house.
Straw poll of 120 students I was working with at Stirling uni revealed over 50%, and of the car owners @50% had private plate.....We even had a few who admitted trying to drive from halls on site to park near the lecture hall - when walking over the bridge was quicker....
Anecdotally from my son - 6 in his flat, he sold his van, but 4 others have kept a car all uni. They are all Heriot Watt, a fair way out the city. Despite living in city centre Edinburgh and needing to park Monday - Friday about a mile away...and so use the bus or cycle to uni, but cars = biking at weekend.
Which part of what he did made it not roadworthy ?
How was the car roadworthy after the repair?
Does daughter maybe need a weekly checklist just so both you and she can be happy the easy stuff is checked weekly/monthly?
probably, but it's also one of those things others have alluded to, that growing up and leaving home / going to Uni is supposed to lead to independence, and is something I try not to interfere too much in. I'm here to give advice, but as eg: in this recent situation, she makes the calls and sorts it out.
It's hard finding the right balance between texting your kids weekly to remind them to check their lights and tyre pressures, and letting them drive around in unroadworthy cars - not the same necessarily as 'dangerous' BTW. I've told her many times, but as any parent of kids of that age will know, it goes in one ear and out the other.
Straw poll, how often do we responsible adults actually do that?
Does daughter maybe need a weekly checklist just so both you and she can be happy the easy stuff is checked weekly/monthly?
Someone on here said something wise - you’re a consultant, not management.
I’ve told her many times, but as any parent of kids of that age will know, it goes in one ear and out the other.
So true.
Someone on here said something wise
bit like monkeys and typewriters, it had to happen eventually
you’re a consultant, not management.
exactly. I like that.