Millions of drivers at risk of huge fines with 'very high' pollen count this week
Over the past week, the UK has experienced medium, high and very high pollen rates, which could result in drivers on the road getting in dangerous situations. The Met Office has forecast that today, Friday, June 9, most of England and Wales will be hit with high and very high pollen levels.
Experts are warning that this could break Rule 90 of the Highway Code which requires all motorists to ensure they are fit to drive.
We seem to be swamped with stories of this type. Motorists potentially threatened with huge fines if they fail to follow every syllable of the Highway Code, fail to observe every single clause of motoring law or if they shout at other road users using the wrong pronouns.
Clearly there is an anti-motoring theme, but maybe another theme is the promotion of dismal, dreary, soul-rotting, mind-numbing motoring tedium. The latter theme seems to be the one with government backing.
13 comments:
It's those 'experts' again, competing to spew the most doom-worthy warnings - and which the domesticated media will uncritically lap up because it will attract readers.
It's a joint conspiracy to get more attention by frightening people unnecessarily. I can think of other fashions sweeping the world driven by this fear-mongering-for-benefit.
I, for one, am fed up with it.
This kind of dross, trotted out by hacks with bugger all to write about, appears every day on msn's news page along with a numbing amount of sleb crap. Allegedly . . .
Also, if you get pollen up your nose then the bees and other pollinators can't reach it, and you are effectively contributing to food shortages and falling biodiversity. Utterly selfish behaviour which the media do well to warn us of.
DJ - I'd be surprised if government PR isn't involved too. Easily done - pick up a possible but unlikely scenario, write some doom words and feed it to the media. Ticks a Net Zero box as a nudge towards discouraging car use. Quick and cheap too - could be done over morning coffee.
Jannie - it's not a bad source of blog posts though. Allegedly . . .
Sam - and even if your car has a pollen filter you are having an even bigger effect on food shortages.
It seems to be just clickbait, to me. The headlines usually warn of huge fines for some un-stated transgression, but then the article points out that you would only get such a fine in court after having been done multiple times for the same thing. And the thing is usually something the coppers wouldn't waste time on anyway
As for pollen, are they going to stick a tube up your nose and make you breathe into it, to test the levels?
Huge fines?
For what? Sneezing?
Can someone explain, please?
But but but - I need to go shopping on my bike!
What a farce to read such rubbish from fifth-form journo kidults with nothing better to do except whinge and think they're interesting...
Bucko - yes it is clickbait, but behind it I think there is also a Net Zero box being ticked. As you say, these articles seem to be structured in similar ways. To my mind that suggests a common source which could be a Nudge Unit source. Simple and cheap for them to do.
Peter - I don't have that reaction to pollen, but some people might sneeze so violently that they are momentarily not in control of the car. It's all "might" and "could" type words of course, not necessarily something anyone believes to be a genuine problem.
Scrobs - journo kidults is right, maybe that's what prevents them from being embarrassed by what they do.
I have a bit of sympathy for people affected because in my younger days I used to get really desperately bad hay fever about this time of year (ie exam season!). Eyes would close up, sneezing, blocked head and if I were daft enough to go near tall grasses or wheatfields an itchy red rash like nettle stings wherever I touched it. It was seriously miserable for a few days each year. The anti-histamines of the day were basically sleeping tablets and I wouldn't go outside, let alone drive,if it was a bad day. But that said the doom and gloom currently being dispensed by the authorities and media clickbait is bordering on obscene, if you suffer from it you know it, don't need telling!
Woodsy - Mrs H also used to suffer from it in her younger days, but it isn't so bad now. She seems to be in much the same position as you are - she doesn't need telling.
a short blog about cars, pollen dangers
Chatgpt reponse
Pollen may be an unexpected adversary for your car, but its effects should not be ignored. By taking proactive measures to protect your vehicle, such as regular cleaning, maintaining air filters, and keeping the windows and air conditioning system in optimal condition, you can minimize the risks associated with pollen. Don't let this invisible menace compromise the appearance and performance of your beloved car. Stay vigilant and enjoy the ride without worrying about the hidden dangers of pollen.
Any lazy journo can do it.
shvatio - very interesting and I bet those lazy journos are already doing it.
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