Flagging drivers down?

[JonB]

Hiya, was in Taunton today running some errands and I was following a "54" reg Ford Focus Estate around a roundabout, I noticed blue smoke coming out of the exhaust (this isn't right, OK?), but more was to come as he accelerated away loads and loads of black smoke plumed out, basically choking me to death. Anyway I flashed my headlights in order to grab his attention but I couldn't.

What should I have done?
____________________
Be careful whose advice you buy, but, be patient with those who supply it. Advice is a form of nostalgia, dispensing it is a way of fishing the past from the disposal, wiping it off, painting over the ugly parts and recycling it for more than it?s worth.

[garth]

Me, I would have laughed at the abysmal quality of Fix Or Repair Daily cars.

From a legal point of view, I am unsure as to whether you should have informed the driver.

For example, I think if you are following a car with its tail lights out you should tell them.

In short, the cars fucked...


____________________
You ain't a has been if you never was

[phill.c]

if he can't notice a shit load of black smoke in his mirrors then he not checking and he didn't see you flashing so fook him they are the pr!cks who say ooops i didn't see you.
____________________
CBR400RR the funs started - Honda MTX 125 ongoing project when i can be arsed

[mchaggis]

I hardly think someone's not going to notice that they're trailing a load of smoke behind them. Eventually the police will pull them and tell them to go home and not use the car on the road again until it's fixed. You telling them that they're trailing smoke won't achieve much other than possibly getting them annoyed.
____________________
I must not be a troll...
Mmmm, Guinness
Discovering the delights of Hammerite and a 3/4" brush.

[Bendy]

I once followed a Porsche for about 2 miles trying to tell him that half his stuff had fallen off his luggage rack... flashing lights got no response, gesticulating got no response. Pulled up at the lights together and I rapped on his window... he didn't even lower it.

So 'fuck you' I thought and went back to see if there was anything good.

[Stu_666]

[stinkwheel]

With smoky cars (like REALLY smoky) I usually overtake them then pull in front , look over my shoulder at them and fan my hand back and forth in front of my face, or hold my nose if I am wearing an open faced lid.
____________________
“Rule one: Always stick around for one more drink. That's when things happen. That's when you find out everything you want to know.”
I did the 2010 Round Britain Rally on my 350 Bullet. 89 landmarks, 3 months, 9,500 miles.

[Josh|RD125LC]

lol, I bet that works.

As for the car, I would just laugh and drive off, its his car, his problem, and its his problem that he has a junk heap.
____________________
Honda MBX50 | Yamaha RD125LC | Suzuki RG125F Lucky Strike | Suzuki GSF600S
RD125LC Pictures

[JonB]

But if my bike was pluming with smoke, i'd like to know.
____________________
Be careful whose advice you buy, but, be patient with those who supply it. Advice is a form of nostalgia, dispensing it is a way of fishing the past from the disposal, wiping it off, painting over the ugly parts and recycling it for more than it?s worth.

[stinkwheel]

People used to stop me on my Jawa all the time to tell me it was on fire. I eventually painted "I'm not on fire! They all smoke like this." on the mudflap.
____________________
“Rule one: Always stick around for one more drink. That's when things happen. That's when you find out everything you want to know.”
I did the 2010 Round Britain Rally on my 350 Bullet. 89 landmarks, 3 months, 9,500 miles.

[Josh|RD125LC]

Hehe nice one. I can imagine.

Well Jon if you maintained and checked your car regulary, you shouldn't have that problem.
____________________
Honda MBX50 | Yamaha RD125LC | Suzuki RG125F Lucky Strike | Suzuki GSF600S
RD125LC Pictures

[Finglonga]

[Kickstart]

Hi

Sounds like a diesel. These normally seem to dump a massive amount of crap out of the exhaust when the driver accelerates after dawdling for a while.

Normally I pull up beside them at the lights and tell them. Normally when their brake lights do not work (or with Fiestas, they are on all the time).

All the best

Keith
____________________
Traxpics, track day and racing photographs - Bimota Forum - Bike performance / thrust graphs for choosing gearing

[JonB]

Surely diesels must be really bad for the environment then? It stank realllllllly bad!
____________________
Be careful whose advice you buy, but, be patient with those who supply it. Advice is a form of nostalgia, dispensing it is a way of fishing the past from the disposal, wiping it off, painting over the ugly parts and recycling it for more than it?s worth.

[Kickstart]

[Richy]

Speaking from both sides of the fence (rider and weasel driver), if someone overtook my diesel and gestured to say that it was smokey I would think "I fucking know im not blind but theres nought I can do "

Someone on a brand spanking gixxer did that recently and I thought "It wouldnt be smoking if you werent right up my arse when I had it on the redline boyo"

So the driver probably knows but like all things embarrassing in life, wants to pretend its not happening.
____________________
Nothing spells bodge like wrincles in duct tape

[Fallen Angel]

It was quite late and pitch black one evening about 11pm and I was driving up the road behind this focus and noticed he didn't have any lights on, so I got beside him and tried to get his attention - no luck, I tooted him and rolled my window down, no reaction, no response nothing - he must have thought I was angry at him for something, but there was no way in the world he was looking in my direction - weirdo!!!
____________________
I have an asshole tolerance level of -10
www.cliqueyclanmcc.co.uk
www.bebo.com/fallenangelfran

[Zero-G]

Just sounds like a diesel.

The focus here at work does the same when you put your foot down. Plumes of black smoke out the back.
____________________
When A Man Loves A Chicken