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Monday, April 30, 2012
How one physicist beat a traffic ticket
When physicist Dmitri Krioukov was given a $400 (around £247) penalty fine for driving through a stop sign, he came up with a rather intelligent way of proving his blamelessness.
Appearing at a court in California, Mr Krioukov presented a math paper entitled “The Proof of Innocence”. To give a rough idea of the document’s content, here are a couple of sentences:
“Therefore we can assume that the deceleration was close to maximum possible for a car, which is of the order of 10 m/s2 = 22:36 mph/s. We will thus use a0 = 10 m/s2. Substituting these values of a0, xp, and xf into Eq. (8) inverted for t.”
Mr Krioukov wrote four pages of equations, graphs, formulas and a bunch of other things which only very, very intelligent people would probably understand.
However, in a nutshell he wrote that his car (A Toyota Yaris) was obscured by another vehicle (A Subaru Outback). When the physicist approached the stop sign; he slowed down beside the Subaru, came to a full stop, looked for hazards, and then drove on through.
As the officer was parked 100ft away from the stop sign and therefore, had an obstructed view of the incident, he was guessing Mr Krioukov’s angular velocity instead of his linear velocity...apparently.
After hearing his argument, and presumably understanding it, the judge agreed with Mr Kroiukov’s findings and overturned the ticket. However, she claimed the physics paper had nothing to do with the verdict and was instead based on the officer’s position.
Either way, I’m betting Mr Kroiukov was quite pleased with the outcome.
Appearing at a court in California, Mr Krioukov presented a math paper entitled “The Proof of Innocence”. To give a rough idea of the document’s content, here are a couple of sentences:“Therefore we can assume that the deceleration was close to maximum possible for a car, which is of the order of 10 m/s2 = 22:36 mph/s. We will thus use a0 = 10 m/s2. Substituting these values of a0, xp, and xf into Eq. (8) inverted for t.”
Mr Krioukov wrote four pages of equations, graphs, formulas and a bunch of other things which only very, very intelligent people would probably understand.
However, in a nutshell he wrote that his car (A Toyota Yaris) was obscured by another vehicle (A Subaru Outback). When the physicist approached the stop sign; he slowed down beside the Subaru, came to a full stop, looked for hazards, and then drove on through.
As the officer was parked 100ft away from the stop sign and therefore, had an obstructed view of the incident, he was guessing Mr Krioukov’s angular velocity instead of his linear velocity...apparently.
After hearing his argument, and presumably understanding it, the judge agreed with Mr Kroiukov’s findings and overturned the ticket. However, she claimed the physics paper had nothing to do with the verdict and was instead based on the officer’s position.
Either way, I’m betting Mr Kroiukov was quite pleased with the outcome.
Photo © Aidan.Morgan via Flickr under Creative Commons Licence
Labels: California, Dmitri Krioukov, penalty fine, stop sign, Subaru Outback, Toyota Yaris
Friday, April 27, 2012
Travelling in a dream
It’s difficult motivating yourself to go for a run and tone up for the summer when it’s rainy and cold outside. Sometimes it’s difficult to find the motivation even when it’s sunny.
To be honest, even the thought of driving to the gym is often too much. There are things on TV that need watching, after all, and the sofa looks lonely without you.
How about jumping in the Cadillac and using the built-in leather-seat exercise bike while watching the HD TV?
“As if that sort of fabulous vehicle existed,” I hear you say.
Oh but it does! For the jet-set, the Becker Cadillac Escalade ESV is a reality – and you were pleased to have a cup holder and CD player in your car…
But no need to feel embarrassed – there’s not many people who could afford such an indulgent mode of transport.
Costing in between £83,500 and £161,000, depending on what fancy extras the owner chooses to have fitted in the wood and leather interior, the vehicle apparently allows the person to “take the rush out of rush hour.”
The company says, “Spend your private time any way you like. Watch a movie, or just rest and relax in a spacious interior that no European sedan or limousine can match.”
Well that’s all very well and good, but on top of not being able to afford this car, I’d need to be able to afford to pay a chauffer’s salary in order to enjoy my car as a passenger!
How much the car insurance would cost doesn’t bear thinking about really.
To be honest, even the thought of driving to the gym is often too much. There are things on TV that need watching, after all, and the sofa looks lonely without you. How about jumping in the Cadillac and using the built-in leather-seat exercise bike while watching the HD TV?
“As if that sort of fabulous vehicle existed,” I hear you say.
Oh but it does! For the jet-set, the Becker Cadillac Escalade ESV is a reality – and you were pleased to have a cup holder and CD player in your car…
But no need to feel embarrassed – there’s not many people who could afford such an indulgent mode of transport.
Costing in between £83,500 and £161,000, depending on what fancy extras the owner chooses to have fitted in the wood and leather interior, the vehicle apparently allows the person to “take the rush out of rush hour.”
The company says, “Spend your private time any way you like. Watch a movie, or just rest and relax in a spacious interior that no European sedan or limousine can match.”
Well that’s all very well and good, but on top of not being able to afford this car, I’d need to be able to afford to pay a chauffer’s salary in order to enjoy my car as a passenger!
How much the car insurance would cost doesn’t bear thinking about really.
Photo © The Tire Zoo via Flickr, under Creative Commons Licence
Labels: Becker Cadillac Escalade ESV, car insurance, chauffer, gym, HD TV, motivation, passenger, rainy, run, summer
Monday, April 23, 2012
Luxury bicycles
It’s nice when guys have cars because they can take you for day-trips or out to the cinema while you relax in the passenger seat.
However, one of my pet hates has to be men who think they’re God’s gift to humanity, just because they have an extremely flashy car in which they play loud music with the windows down, while hanging an arm out of the side of the vehicle.
Well now, I may soon have a new pet hate because many bike manufacturers are producing luxury bicycles, for those who want to keep fit and healthy and look fantastically stylish at the same time.
You notice I didn’t mention saving money in that list. One of these top-of-the-range bikes, the S-Works McLaren Venge is being sold for £12,000.
How someone can pay that much for a metal frame and two wheels you have to move under your own steam is beyond me…that’s a second hand car and at least one year’s insurance right there!
However, one of my pet hates has to be men who think they’re God’s gift to humanity, just because they have an extremely flashy car in which they play loud music with the windows down, while hanging an arm out of the side of the vehicle.
Well now, I may soon have a new pet hate because many bike manufacturers are producing luxury bicycles, for those who want to keep fit and healthy and look fantastically stylish at the same time.
You notice I didn’t mention saving money in that list. One of these top-of-the-range bikes, the S-Works McLaren Venge is being sold for £12,000.
How someone can pay that much for a metal frame and two wheels you have to move under your own steam is beyond me…that’s a second hand car and at least one year’s insurance right there!
Photo © mjmox via photobucket
Labels: bicycles, bike, car, insurance, McLaren, passenger seat, vehicle
Friday, April 20, 2012
Police make rescue blunder
A lot of us like having some personal belongings in our car, but one news report shows that occasionally it can cause trouble you would have never predicted.
It’s important not to put stuff in a vehicle which blocks the back window – or a driver’s view of the road from any direction for that matter.
But, surely a cuddly toy on the back seat won’t cause any harm? Think again.
In Nottinghamshire an 80-year-old man returned to his car to find the rear window smashed, and a note from the police.
Earlier, a passer-by had phoned the emergency services, worried for the health of a dog on the back seat of the vehicle. It was a sunny day and the animal didn’t appear to be moving.
Well, you guessed it, it was just a cuddly toy dog, but the passer-by didn’t realise and neither did the police when they arrived on the scene.
It was only upon smashing the window to rescue the poor animal that they realised there had been no emergency in the first place.
The police have agreed to pay for the damage caused to the man’s vehicle, and the driver doesn’t hold anything against the force.
“I guess they felt like idiots,” he stated.
"He'd [the cuddly toy] been living quite happily on the car's back seat. But I've decided he will be safer sleeping on a chair in my kitchen."
So lesson learnt – if you want to have a toy animal on your back seat, make sure it’s really unrealistic.
Photo © Jess1820 via Flickr, under Creative Commons Licence
It’s important not to put stuff in a vehicle which blocks the back window – or a driver’s view of the road from any direction for that matter. But, surely a cuddly toy on the back seat won’t cause any harm? Think again.
In Nottinghamshire an 80-year-old man returned to his car to find the rear window smashed, and a note from the police.
Earlier, a passer-by had phoned the emergency services, worried for the health of a dog on the back seat of the vehicle. It was a sunny day and the animal didn’t appear to be moving.
Well, you guessed it, it was just a cuddly toy dog, but the passer-by didn’t realise and neither did the police when they arrived on the scene.
It was only upon smashing the window to rescue the poor animal that they realised there had been no emergency in the first place.
The police have agreed to pay for the damage caused to the man’s vehicle, and the driver doesn’t hold anything against the force.
“I guess they felt like idiots,” he stated.
"He'd [the cuddly toy] been living quite happily on the car's back seat. But I've decided he will be safer sleeping on a chair in my kitchen."
So lesson learnt – if you want to have a toy animal on your back seat, make sure it’s really unrealistic.
Photo © Jess1820 via Flickr, under Creative Commons Licence
Labels: animal, back window, car, cuddly toy, dog, driver, Nottinghamshire, police, rear window, road, vehicle
Monday, April 16, 2012
Bidders may compete for Olympic number plates
The range of merchandise produced in honour of the London 2012 Olympics includes mascot cutlery, replica Olympic torches and diving figurines. However, the DVLA is hoping that true fans will feel the need to add to their collections with special personalised number plates.
Registrations such as GO11 DEN, GB12 ROW and RUN 100m are among those being sold by the DVLA, who were recently given official Olympic licensee status. Although the general public have been invited to bid for these plates, we feel that they would make the ideal adornments for the vehicles of David Beckham, Steve Redgrave and Usain Bolt.
The London 2012 Commercial Director said, “We are delighted to welcome the DVLA as the latest addition to the London 2012 merchandise programme. I'm sure that this London 2012-themed range of personalised registration number plates will really strike a note with fans of the Games.”
There is expected to be a mad rush of bids when the plates are auctioned off at London's City Hall from the 7th to the 9th of June. However, anybody who wants to avoid the frenzied auction hall may purchase their registrations directly from the DVLA website.
To gain some idea of prices we logged on to the motoring site ourselves. We were astonished to find that a plates featuring the letters Y12 GMS and Y12 GBR cost £405 a piece. We just hope that the spend feels worthwhile to whoever picks up these unique items.
Registrations such as GO11 DEN, GB12 ROW and RUN 100m are among those being sold by the DVLA, who were recently given official Olympic licensee status. Although the general public have been invited to bid for these plates, we feel that they would make the ideal adornments for the vehicles of David Beckham, Steve Redgrave and Usain Bolt.
The London 2012 Commercial Director said, “We are delighted to welcome the DVLA as the latest addition to the London 2012 merchandise programme. I'm sure that this London 2012-themed range of personalised registration number plates will really strike a note with fans of the Games.”
There is expected to be a mad rush of bids when the plates are auctioned off at London's City Hall from the 7th to the 9th of June. However, anybody who wants to avoid the frenzied auction hall may purchase their registrations directly from the DVLA website.
To gain some idea of prices we logged on to the motoring site ourselves. We were astonished to find that a plates featuring the letters Y12 GMS and Y12 GBR cost £405 a piece. We just hope that the spend feels worthwhile to whoever picks up these unique items.
Photo © Brunel University via Flickr, under Creative Commons Licence
Labels: auction, DVLA, London 2012, motoring, Olympics, personalised number plates, plate, registration
Thursday, April 12, 2012
Swedes can text and drive
The British government and police have placed such a great emphasis on the dangers of using a mobile phone while driving that criminalisation of the act has long seemed the only option. In Sweden they like to do things rather differently.
Rather than taking heed of the findings that mobile phones act as a distraction for motorists, the Swedish National Road and Transport Institute has conducted its own research into the subject. Surprisingly it found that enforcement of mobile phone laws in other European countries has had minimal impact.
The Swedes would undoubtedly point to recently released media reports telling of the widespread use of hand-held devices and access to social networks by young drivers in the UK. They may also draw upon revelations that the number of British motorists using their phones has risen considerably since the first year of legal enforcement.
A Swedish government representative said, “For it to be effective you would need a total ban, as it is the calls themselves and their content that distracts the driver. Hands-free doesn’t help and I can’t see a total ban being passed.”
Here at CoverGirl we have been wondering what you, the blog reader and potential car insurance customer think about this issue. Would it be better if the British government had turned a blind eye to the use of mobile phones, or was the right decision made when penalties were introduced?
Rather than taking heed of the findings that mobile phones act as a distraction for motorists, the Swedish National Road and Transport Institute has conducted its own research into the subject. Surprisingly it found that enforcement of mobile phone laws in other European countries has had minimal impact.
The Swedes would undoubtedly point to recently released media reports telling of the widespread use of hand-held devices and access to social networks by young drivers in the UK. They may also draw upon revelations that the number of British motorists using their phones has risen considerably since the first year of legal enforcement.
A Swedish government representative said, “For it to be effective you would need a total ban, as it is the calls themselves and their content that distracts the driver. Hands-free doesn’t help and I can’t see a total ban being passed.”
Here at CoverGirl we have been wondering what you, the blog reader and potential car insurance customer think about this issue. Would it be better if the British government had turned a blind eye to the use of mobile phones, or was the right decision made when penalties were introduced?
Photo © OregonDOT via Flickr, under Creative Commons Licence
Labels: distraction, driving, law, mobile phone, motorist, Sweden, Swedish National Road and Transport Institute, UK, young drivers
Tuesday, April 10, 2012
Desperate bus driver causes commotion
Apparently the saying when you've got to go, you've got to go, applies in equal measure to car and bus drivers. This much was made clear when a woman made a beeline for the nearest London lavatory in the double-decker that she was driving.
In her eagerness to find a toilet she mistakenly took a wrong turn down a one way street in the heart of the city. One can only imagine the mixture of shock and embarrassment that she must have felt upon seeing a stream of traffic moving fairly gradually in her direction.
Luckily the police were on hand to create a temporary barrier, allowing the desperate bus driver to extricate herself from the nasty situation. It hasn't yet been established whether her quest to find a loo proved successful in the end.
A local police officer said, “My first thought was ‘oh my God, someone’s stolen the bus. But when we stopped it, the driver jumped off and said ‘sorry I need the loo’.
“Being a one-way street, people often only look one way when they’re crossing. Someone could easily have been hit.”
Perhaps the affable London mayor Boris Johnson will see this case as evidence of the need to spend money on buses with on-board toilets.
In her eagerness to find a toilet she mistakenly took a wrong turn down a one way street in the heart of the city. One can only imagine the mixture of shock and embarrassment that she must have felt upon seeing a stream of traffic moving fairly gradually in her direction.Luckily the police were on hand to create a temporary barrier, allowing the desperate bus driver to extricate herself from the nasty situation. It hasn't yet been established whether her quest to find a loo proved successful in the end.
A local police officer said, “My first thought was ‘oh my God, someone’s stolen the bus. But when we stopped it, the driver jumped off and said ‘sorry I need the loo’.
“Being a one-way street, people often only look one way when they’re crossing. Someone could easily have been hit.”
Perhaps the affable London mayor Boris Johnson will see this case as evidence of the need to spend money on buses with on-board toilets.
Photo © plusgood via Flickr, under Creative Commons Licence
Labels: bus, car, double-decker, driver, driving, lavatory, London, one-way street, police, traffic
Thursday, April 5, 2012
Car buyer tweets with delight
The world's technology experts have been revelling in the benefits of social media for a long time now. However, few would have foreseen the use of Twitter as a sales tool for the used car salesperson.
The sense of surprise was palpable for a technically au fait motorist from Essex, whose Tweets about the difficulty of financing the purchase of a Seat Leon were picked up and responded to by a dealer in Braintree.
It was reported that the forward thinking car seller had set up an automatic alert for the keyword SEAT. Upon hearing of the Essex woman's plight they put together an attractive deal which was relayed via the social network. Apparently the offer was far too good to refuse.
The Essex lady rapidly responded with a message telling of her eagerness to buy the critically acclaimed car. A couple of visits to Braintree later and she was cruising the roads in a vehicle featuring dual zone climate control and a snazzy media system.
She said, “If [the seller] hadn’t contacted me online and put in so much effort to finding me the right deal, I wouldn’t be driving around in my brilliant new car today.
“The dealership may be nearly 100 miles away but they made the whole thing so effortless for me from beginning to end and they’ll definitely be the first people I contact when I’m in the market for another car.”
The sense of surprise was palpable for a technically au fait motorist from Essex, whose Tweets about the difficulty of financing the purchase of a Seat Leon were picked up and responded to by a dealer in Braintree. It was reported that the forward thinking car seller had set up an automatic alert for the keyword SEAT. Upon hearing of the Essex woman's plight they put together an attractive deal which was relayed via the social network. Apparently the offer was far too good to refuse.
The Essex lady rapidly responded with a message telling of her eagerness to buy the critically acclaimed car. A couple of visits to Braintree later and she was cruising the roads in a vehicle featuring dual zone climate control and a snazzy media system.
She said, “If [the seller] hadn’t contacted me online and put in so much effort to finding me the right deal, I wouldn’t be driving around in my brilliant new car today.
“The dealership may be nearly 100 miles away but they made the whole thing so effortless for me from beginning to end and they’ll definitely be the first people I contact when I’m in the market for another car.”
Photo © SEAT accessories via Flickr, under Creative Commons Licence
Labels: car seller, dealership, motorist, roads, salesperson, Seat Leon, technology, used car
Monday, April 2, 2012
Some British motorists don't know their limits
Motorists are quite used to government and police warnings about the dangers of exceeding the national speed limit. However, it would seem that the message needs further reinforcement as people continue to be pulled over for driving too fast.
An interesting report by one of the UK's leading car insurance providers has placed doubt over whether the law-breakers have a need for speed. It suggests that many people are quite oblivious as to the need to slow down in different environments.
These findings seem to support calls for a more extensive driver training programme, covering rural roads, urbanised areas and even motorways. A case could also be made for the inclusion of more speed-related questions as part of the driving test.
My personal experience of this issue goes back to a driving test failure, caused by an inability to stick to the speed limit. It is questionable whether this had more to do with nervousness or the instructor’s omission of important details about the test route.
In any case the minor set back can be seen as something of a blessing in disguise. It meant that I went away and swatted up, instead of becoming one of the seventy per cent of people who don't know which speeds apply to which roads. Yes you read it right, seventy per cent!
One can't help but agreeing with the car insurance expert who said, “It is alarming that so many motorists cannot correctly identify the legal speed limit on UK roads when tested.
“The police data shows that more speeding motorists are being caught each year and drivers should take care to know their limits to avoid a fine, penalty points or worse.”
An interesting report by one of the UK's leading car insurance providers has placed doubt over whether the law-breakers have a need for speed. It suggests that many people are quite oblivious as to the need to slow down in different environments.
These findings seem to support calls for a more extensive driver training programme, covering rural roads, urbanised areas and even motorways. A case could also be made for the inclusion of more speed-related questions as part of the driving test.
My personal experience of this issue goes back to a driving test failure, caused by an inability to stick to the speed limit. It is questionable whether this had more to do with nervousness or the instructor’s omission of important details about the test route.
In any case the minor set back can be seen as something of a blessing in disguise. It meant that I went away and swatted up, instead of becoming one of the seventy per cent of people who don't know which speeds apply to which roads. Yes you read it right, seventy per cent!
One can't help but agreeing with the car insurance expert who said, “It is alarming that so many motorists cannot correctly identify the legal speed limit on UK roads when tested.
“The police data shows that more speeding motorists are being caught each year and drivers should take care to know their limits to avoid a fine, penalty points or worse.”
Photo © amandabhslater via Flickr, under Creative Commons Licence
Labels: car insurance, driver training, driving test, law, motorists, motorways, national speed limit, rural roads