Unsurprisingly I love that show, maybe there should be a GOM section on here?
If there's anything they should be dumbing down it should be politics.
I think most people in the UK can agree on the basics, reduce crime, improve NHS, improve transport etc etc.
OK I know there's a whole dirth of other factors, but they could replace voting with just a simple top 20 requirements. People vote on what is most important to them, then they compile the final list and put it out to the political parties, whoever comes back with the best solution gets awarded the contract. And it is a contract, so if they then fail they have to provide compensation. And not just a fine, they have to provide the customer i.e. us, with compensation based around the issue they've failed on. So if it is health then they have to fund a free private dental week, or congestion then they have to fund half price petrol week , road safety, then they have to scrap all outstanding NIP's and have a no speed limit on the motorway day etc etc. Otherwise how on earth are the great British Public able to make a decision on who to vote for? It's a full time job just keeping up with the news, so people just switch off and don't participate.
Sorry to hijack the thread but my manifesto on transport would be:
Mopeds - scrapped, get a mountain bike you lazy, annoying low life chavs
M'bikes - under 125cc scrapped, if you can't pass the test you can't ride a bike (god it's so obvious)
Any vehicle 10 years+ = big expensive super-MOT, get all the £500 scrap off the roads
Petrol tax - capped, so that if oil goes up it has very little effect at the pumps.
HGV's - the cause of all major death on the roads - can only use inside lane at peak times, (it works in Germany), no lorries barely overtaking lorries on dual carriageways
Once a month a no speed limit on the motorway day (for cars 1.8 litre+), so we can track if this is anyway linked to accidents.
Traffic lights - can be ignored after 10pm (works in Italy), and you can run a red 24/7 when turning left if conditions permit.
Breakdown cover is mandatory - linked to insurance
Accidents - you get fined and penalty points for any reasonable accident - linked to insurance
Parking - you can park anywhere for free for 2 hours
Driving test - rigorous including skid pan & motorway driving (as all BMW drivers will spend most of their time either hogging the fast lane or skidding into a ditch)
Driving retest - every 5 years, every year for drivers over 65.
Drink driving - roadside ban if over the limit, no court case, no mitigating circumstances, just banned there & then, duration based on blood alcohol level. Car you are in at the time crushed at the roadside as a warning to other drivers.
Train travel - free (mandatory £200 yearly tax on everyone) - we've got to do something radical to get people out of their cars, more carrot less stick please.
Oh it really is so obvious when you start to think about it.
What worries me in the future about the technology in cars is really things like the auto braking feature they showcased on the Mercedes (where it crashed into the other car at full speed on the demo). OK they'll get it working properly eventually, with all the necessary safeguards, but then it'll get watered down and start appearing in Fords & Micra's with cheaper components and less safeguards and become as reliable as Windows 2000 running on a £300 laptop. Would you put your loved ones safety in the hands of Bill Gates?