Author Topic: why dont we ever learn .  (Read 380 times)

Alfred

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why dont we ever learn .
« on: Jan 18, 2018, 07:42:55 PM »

It seems that every year either in summer or winter we seem to have a problem with our weather and transport systems, where as other countries seem to cope and get on with all that nature throws at it, in past years tidal surges and flooding were never planned for, or anticipated, yet  again we were caught out,.


in summer we have the problems of  tarmacked  roads melting  even railway lines too seem dodgy as these steel lines it seems can apparently soften, and leaves on the lines can also stop the railway from operating,


again in winter we have the opposite effect whereby snow has stopped some of our roads from operating even though snow ploughs are effective yet  some councils in the past didn't anticipant correctly and plan accordingly, a few years some councils  actually ran out of sand  needed to grit the roads, today some councils it seems have  learnt the lessons,


and trains  too also have in the past had similar problems , particularly with snow, so with all the technological devices there are in the world , and since we can anticipate the weather mainly as a result of satellites , which give us accurate information, why is it that we always seem to be caught out,  where by we should have anticipated, and made plans to cope with emergency situations,  long before that,  yet we still get caught out , so is it a question of saving money,.??


yet other European and western countries have coped and have  managed very well, in  being able to deal with the problems we seem to get and yet they manage very well, regardless,  so why is it that over many years we still seem unable to learn from our weather conditions, and make plans to deal with it, in advance, and not get caught out,


Q; what are your thoughts on how best we should or could deal with future weather conditions,.  for summer and winter,...............itll be interesting to read your replies, 

xetog

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Re: why dont we ever learn .
« Reply #1 on: Jan 19, 2018, 12:50:03 PM »

Ashy, the question you pose requires a long and involved answer, but I will just say that most nations have  relatively predictable weather patterns so that preparation is difficult.  In just the last few days we have had a major storm not fully predicted by the weather service.  Bad weather measures can be very expensive to maintain and things like snow ploughs very costly to buy and leave idle most of the year. 


Flooding is another issue where responsibility had been devolved to organisations who see no importance in dredging rivers etc.  In places like Norway where ice is a problem every year, studded tyres in the winter are law.


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zoony

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Re: why dont we ever learn .
« Reply #2 on: Jan 19, 2018, 04:28:47 PM »
Plus emergency stuff and snow-chains in the boot to boot.
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sueboo

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Re: why dont we ever learn .
« Reply #3 on: Jan 19, 2018, 08:37:35 PM »
We always carry snow chains but to date haven't needed them despite driving over snowy mountains.  Have to agree UK do seem to take things to the extreme.
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prestbury

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Re: why dont we ever learn .
« Reply #4 on: Jan 20, 2018, 12:42:27 AM »
I think Xetog summed some of it up.

The problem with this country is that generally it is a mild climate and we are unprepared  for extremes.

Leaves on the line! Never a problem with steam trains. Soft asphalt, never a problem with normal summers. Snow, we do not have enough of it to justify the equipment.

I could go on.

Undercover Pensioner

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Re: why dont we ever learn .
« Reply #5 on: Jan 20, 2018, 08:03:25 AM »
I think it is also a case that councils, etc., have to ask themselves how much they invest in something that only happens occasionally and not for long.  If you are Norway or Canada for instance you are planning for a whole season - we plan for the odd day. 
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Ashy

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Re: why dont we ever learn .
« Reply #6 on: Jan 20, 2018, 08:43:14 AM »
The main trouble is that the weather employs guerilla tactics and you can never be sure where it will strike next. Weather forecasts for longer than two hours are less and less accurate as the wind can change direction only slightly and fog changes to sunlight or vice versa, snow changes to rain etc. Sod's law states that whatever precautions you take they will be the wrong ones.