I hate . . . Legal Lies

After a recent conversation with a public sector organisation, I've noticed that public and private companies will often tell you things that are not entirely truthful. If they want to avoid doing something, or prevent you doing something, they regularly say that the law stops it - even when it doesn't.

Shockingly, this even happens in the police - so here are a few things you should know about the law. This is for the UK, but similar legislation exists across Europe and in North America.

The Data Protection Act

One of the favourite excuses is that a company cannot give you information because of the data protection act. I'd say, about half the time this is used it's nonsense.

The data protection act concerns personal information about a named, living individual.

• A company is NOT an individual. Requests for information on phone numbers, addresses, and similar do not fall under the DPA.
• The DPA specifically allows you access to information about yourself.
• It does not cover information that does not identify the individual, such as information on a building, or group of people

Check the Data Protection Act and it's rights and obligations for yourself - and be armed for the next bureaucrat.

Health & Safety

Wide ranging Health and Safety legislation covers all sorts of things - but a lot of them are to do with industrial equipment, fire exists and similar. Most of what you hear quoted as Health and Safety legislation is in fact either guidance, or just company policy.

I recently asked to use the toilet in a shop, and was refused on the grounds of Health and Safety Law. A shop is a private building, so they have no obligation, but refusing on the ground of H & S is stupid - I'm not going to be causing danger to anyone.

One of the core rules of the Health and Safety legislation is that risks should be reduced to as low as reasonably possible. Unfortunately many organisations seem to take this as 'reduced to zero' - and in doing so just prevent many things with relatively low risks. See Health and Safety Law, and the next time someone quotes 'Heath & Safety', ask them to show you the section in the regulations.

One friend was told recently he could not hire a car on his licence as he had it less than two years, and 'Health & Safely' prevented them letting him have it. That's NOT H & S, that's insurance requirements. They can still refuse, but switching the reasons is not helpful, as it reduces you chance to expplore options, like paying for additional insurance.

Paranoid and stupid, home made rules are also the causes of one major blight in most places - pointless safety signs. A sign sign 'Danger: Steep Slope' at the top of a steep slope. Signs on hot water taps saying 'Water may be hot'. Even 'Slippery When Wet' on wooden steps, and even signs on the backs of trucks warning people not to pass on the inside.

How about this for a suggestion: let's go back to everyone being responsible for their own safety.

Arbitrary 'Legal Reasons'

After being told recently that an organisation could not email a form for 'legal reasons', I questioned why, and the customer 'services' handler could not tell me under which laws. After escalating to a supervisor, who initially said the same thing, he eventually admitted it was because their systems only allowed printed forms to be posted.

Any time someone says 'legal reasons' or 'the law stops us doing that', ask them which law, which Act, which section. 95% of the time they cannot tell you, and neither can their supervisor, or the boss. Rules are instituted by companies, and then they have to justify them - and an unnamed 'law' is the perfect excuse.

The next time you are told 'You cannot do that because of...' check they have got their facts right - the answer may surprise you.

I hate . . . Drivers Wearing Hats

Why would anyone hate drivers wearing hats? It's because in my experience, they are pretty much all one of two types:

Chav Corsa with rear wing (it's front wheel drive!)
From yourcarisshit.com (Ads NSFW).

1. The Extremely Old
They have been driving since before there was a requirement to take a test, and their Rover or Honda has covered 3,000 miles from new in 15 years. Despite all this experience, the Extremely Old will still tend to set out during rush hour.

Identification
Old car in immaculate condition. Average speed around half the speed limit. Tweed caps (men), sensible bonnets (women). Usually in front of you.

Driving Style

• Extremely slow in all conditions
• Likely to be in middle lane of 3 lane motorways.  As they are doing 35mph, cannot pull back in due to the steady stream of trucks going past on the inside.
• Random signals including leaving indicators on for 8 miles, or not at all.

The Dangers
While not a significant danger themselves (too slow for that) their driving style causes other road users to take actions they would normally avoid:

• Overtaking on the wrong side, on bends, at junctions. Anywhere to get past and make some progress
• Speeding, after having managed to get past, to make up lost time
• Deliberate ramming (in extreme cases)

2. The Yoof (AKA Chav or Douche Bag)
Driving since last week (legally) or for 4 years (illegally), the Yoof is generally found in small packs. Unlike the Extremly Old, the Yoof can be found in all locations, at any time of the day or night.

Identification
Also tends to drive an older car, but usually a cheap Vauxhall Nova or similar. The car will generally have been modified: badges removed in a vain attempt to disguise it, large exhaust end, glued on spoiler or rear wing from a completely different vehicle. Driver will usually be wearing a cap just slightly too large for them, normally backwards or sideways. Synthetic materials are obligatory.
Can often be head coming before seen due to the holes punched in the exhaust to make it sound sportier.

Driving Style

• Will attempt to drive fast, but is often limited by the 1.1 litre engine. 
• Creeps forward over the line at red lights, but still pulls away slowly
• Will drive within 6 inches of the car in front
• If encountered with another Yoof, frequent overtaking is mandatory.

The Dangers
Much more dangerous to themselves and other road users:

• Will refuse to let anyone pass them, especially other Yoofs, so expect blocking manoeuvres
• Will do 50 in most 30 zones (but not so dangerous on motorways as cannot go over 80 mph)
• Has no concept of a blind corner, or being able to brake (on bald tyres) in the distance they can see

Dealing with hat wearing drivers
Tactics for the two are similar: avoid at all costs. For the Extremely Old, overtake when safe, but be aware everyone else wants to do the same thing. For the Yoof, avoid altogether - best wait until they go the other way. Tends to drive in random circles, so often easily avoided.

I hate . . . Password Strength Requirements

I use a lot of site for work and fund. Blogs, facebook, twitter, forums, webmail systems, hosted applications - it's a whole lot.

I also work from different computers, using different browsers for different purposes, so have no one single browser to save passwords.

To simplify things, I try to use one password for unimportant things - blogs and forums, one for medium secure things, like Facebook, and one more complex one for high security systems, like online banking.

So when a 'low security' blog or forum does this, it's really annoying:



Just stop it! If I want to use 'password' then I will. If I want to make my password '1' I understand it's not that secure, but I don't care. It's not like I am really bothered if someone manages to hack into an account on a forum I may never visit again.

Finally, for all those who get annoyed with bad web design, have a look at this from the excellent Oatmeal: How to make your Shopping Cart suck less.

I hate . . . Blocking Junctions

Like so many others, I have to drive to work. Despite all the rhetoric, public transport is not really an option, taking 4 times longer and costing as least as much as the petrol.My drive is mostly through built up areas, and passes involves several places where I have to turn through the traffic. It's generally pretty busy, with cars queueing at most junctions, whether or not they have traffic lights.

So why do drivers insist on blocking junctions while waiting? It's not as if they can go anywhere. At most one more car may nip out that junction, delaying then for around 4 or 5 seconds. They decide, instead, to block the junction, preventing any cars turning down it, who then block the road behind them, who block junction further down the road, leading to the queue that caused the the initial blockage.

I think a picture is in order:

Thanks to www.shipmentoffail.com

No-one can get it right all the time, but to all the drivers that make a habit of doing this - think about the consequences next time!