• Some might still see cellular telephones as executive toys, but for Dave Longmans they are a life saver.
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Longman was travelling north on the M1 in his automatic car with the cruise control set at 70mph (112krn/h). To his horror, when he tried to brake the engine insisted on pushing the car on, gradually burning out the brake linings. When he tried to switch the engine to neutral, the revs shot up.
In desperation Longman reached for his trusty car phone and called his local car dealer. They advised him to pull onto the hard shoulder and switch off the engine. He followed their instructions and, though cutting the engine affected the car's powersteering and brakes, he eventually rolled to a standstill.
So everything ended happily, but one has to wonder what would have happened if Longman had called some of the car dealers the Hawk has come across over the years . . "Hello, can you hold?" • Councillors in Bordeaux are set to launch a radical transport plan which will give cyclists and pedestrians priority over vehicles on half the city's streets.
They plan to split their streets into three categories; major boulevards (25% of all roads), on which motor traffic will have priority, but will be subject to a 501un/h (30mph) speed limit; trading roads (also 25%) open only to CVs and PSVs with a 30kmh (18mph) limit; and residential roads, accounting for half the city's streets, restricted to pedestrians and cyclists. Residents will be encouraged to use the city's new Metro line.
As befits this French development, the routes will be designated red, blue and white roads respectively.
• The Hawk, like all wily birds, applauds those who care about trees, so three cheers for Barnsley-based D Sharp and Son (Transport).
When the company ordered eight new trailers, managing director Gary Sharp stipulated that the timber for the vehicles should come from a country which maintains the size of its forests by re-planting. Trailer builder Howard Whitehead scoured the earth for such a place, finally picking Malaysia.
• Questions were asked in the House last week after Annette Gerry of the Victoria House Rest Home in Polegate, Sussex was refused a minibus permit by the South Eastern Traffic Office.
Her MP, Ian Gow, demanded that the (then) transport minister Peter Bottomley should explain why these worthy pensioners were being denied their outings. Bottomley referred the question to SETO, and the answer duly emerged.
No fares were involved, said the SETO folk, so Mrs Gerry didn't actually need a permit. . • The Hawk gets invited to some exciting events — vehicle lauches, high-powered press conferences, and the like — but this week, an invitation dropped into the nest which appeared to be highly resistible. The event? The Concrete Highway Grinding Demonstration and Seminar, which is a two-day affair. and includes papers on "The alternative methods of concrete pavement restoration" and "Concrete pavement restoration technology update." Zzzzzz . . . • Dudley, West Midlands clergyman Robin Blount has been appointed the first chaplain for the Channel Tunnel. He will be responsible for ministering to the tunnel workers on both side of the Channel (and below it, presumably).
Though clearly committed to the Chunnel, Blount admits: "I like crossing the Channel by ferry, because it's nice and slow. I think lorry drivers prefer it too because they like having a break from driving." Sensible chap.