Seriously, what is it with taxi's? I understand they don't WANT to get to their destinations too quickly. I understand that they are probably quite happy to catch all the red lights. I expect they might even be pleased when the traffic is congested and it starts to rain...
And me? I just want to get where I am going safely and as stress free, and as promptly, as possible. I do NOT want to sit in the right lane doing 10km's under the speed limit. I am pleased when the traffic light God looks favourably upon me and blesses me with a string of green lights. And when it's a quiet day on the road and I don't take longer than public transport to get home after work (yes, you guessed it) I am grateful for the lucky break.
But for whatever reason, I keep getting stuck (you guessed - right again) behind every 'go slow' taxi in Melbourne. And I'm over it. Go slow by all means. Catch all the red lights (someone has to). But please please PERLEASE, get out of the right lane and let us non fare collecting drivers past.
Gheesh.
Oh and another thing... to the moron who was shaving whilst driving at 100kms an hour on the Tulla this morning, have a shave BEFORE you leave home! I could hardly believe it. FINALLY there is a driver on the road doing the speed limit and he decides it's the time to take a shave. Oh good grief.
And finally... cos I know I meant to post about this when it happened in summer last year and it's just now as I am on my little rant that it comes to mind...
I drive out of work, and sit at the lights waiting to head onto the freeway, and the guy in the car in front of me is smoking, arm hanging out the window, cigarette in hand and flicking his ash on a total fire ban day, and with the OTHER hand he is pressing his mobile to his ear. Hmmm... It did make me wonder how exactly he was planning to steer.
I mean seriously. These things drive me crazy.
Showing posts with label Bad Driving. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Bad Driving. Show all posts
Monday, 3 August 2009
Saturday, 25 July 2009
Do I get sent straight to hell for beeping an ambulance?
I know I know. It was not one of my prouder moments... but before you shake your head in despair and disappointment, please let me explain.
Firstly. The ambulance was NOT in a hurry.
The lights were not flashing, nor were sirens blaring.
Rest assured, had this been the case I would have been completely out of it's way to allow it's hasty passage. As it was, until it was beside me (having come up from behind me), I was unaware it was more than a big white van. It was raining and visibility was not good. He (like me) was struggling along in traffic. And traffic was slow.
I drive a mini. I do my best to ensure I can see as far in front as possible and I also try and ensure people can see me too. Believe me, I know if I am behind a truck or a 4WD I disappear in their rear view mirror. And so I drive so that I can be seen... Of course this still relies on other drivers staying alert too and especially TAKING THE TROUBLE TO LOOK OVER THEIR SHOULDER to see if the road is clear... BEFORE THEY DECIDE TO CHANGE LANES!
SO. It's raining. I'm in traffic. Beside the ambulance. Visibility is poor. And before I know it, as the traffic slowly eases forward, I realise the ambulance is moving into my lane. Not in front. Not behind. But right on top of me.
And, because I figure he didn't even know I was there, I beep.
It's a quick 'warning' beep, not a blaring blast... enough to let them know I was already in the space they were planning on filling. It possibly saved us a bingle. And yet, as he moved back into his lane, leaned out the window and glared at me (looking MOST unimpressed that he had been 'beeped') and I mouthed "Did you even LOOK?" I couldn't help but wonder if this is just a little black mark against my name...
Firstly. The ambulance was NOT in a hurry.
The lights were not flashing, nor were sirens blaring.
Rest assured, had this been the case I would have been completely out of it's way to allow it's hasty passage. As it was, until it was beside me (having come up from behind me), I was unaware it was more than a big white van. It was raining and visibility was not good. He (like me) was struggling along in traffic. And traffic was slow.
I drive a mini. I do my best to ensure I can see as far in front as possible and I also try and ensure people can see me too. Believe me, I know if I am behind a truck or a 4WD I disappear in their rear view mirror. And so I drive so that I can be seen... Of course this still relies on other drivers staying alert too and especially TAKING THE TROUBLE TO LOOK OVER THEIR SHOULDER to see if the road is clear... BEFORE THEY DECIDE TO CHANGE LANES!
SO. It's raining. I'm in traffic. Beside the ambulance. Visibility is poor. And before I know it, as the traffic slowly eases forward, I realise the ambulance is moving into my lane. Not in front. Not behind. But right on top of me.
And, because I figure he didn't even know I was there, I beep.
It's a quick 'warning' beep, not a blaring blast... enough to let them know I was already in the space they were planning on filling. It possibly saved us a bingle. And yet, as he moved back into his lane, leaned out the window and glared at me (looking MOST unimpressed that he had been 'beeped') and I mouthed "Did you even LOOK?" I couldn't help but wonder if this is just a little black mark against my name...
Tuesday, 15 January 2008
Armed and Dangerous...
Today as I drove to work, I saw my life flash before me.
I seriously believed I was about to be involved in a serious car accident. Two cars beside me were so close to colliding (a collision which would have involved me and possibly two or three other vehicles) and I am still astounded they missed each other. Thankfully for us all, the accident was avoided. Without going into details, I can say it was only a combination of hard braking, quick lane changing and a large amount of luck that saw us through unscathed. There followed loud greetings with horns from numerous vehicles in the vicinity and much animated gesticulation. It made my heart thump a few decibels louder I can tell you!
What scares me is that I share the roads with these people on a daily basis and not only are they putting their own lives at risk (and whoever is unlucky enough to be travelling with them) they are also endangering me! It continually astounds me that so many drivers are so agressive, so impatient and so incompetent.
And so here follows, a substantial list of some of the dangerous driving practices I see regularly on the road. This is my chance to get it off my chest... Feel free to join in by adding your experiences to the comments at the end of the post.
Bad drivers and what 'cheeses me off'
(Aussie term meaning what gives me the s**ts!)...
Dangerous lane changing - zig zagging between cars in heavy traffic at great speed with limited space (more often than not to little or no advantage)
Cutting across three lanes to avoid missing a turn off. Check the signs people.
Tail gating. The practice of driving at full pelt within feet of the car in front is crazy.
Does anyone realise that undertaking is actually illegal?
But then, what alternative do you have when the right lane (the fast lane for Australia) is blocked by some moron driving at 85kmph (in a 100km zone), refusing to budge!
Swapping lanes into the lane in front of me, and then slowing down.
Cutting into limited space between cars, when there is more than enough space after.
Overtaking on double lines (illegal in Australia and all other countries I have visited)!
Beeping when the lights have JUST changed.
Patience people! Patience!
Overtaking dangerously and then turning at the next intersection!
And then there's the tunnel. The speed limit is 80kms an hour. Not 65! What is it with people who decide (because we all know there are speed cameras in the tunnel) that they have to go at least 10km UNDER the limit? Funnily enough, these are often the same people who charged past earlier breaking the land speed record!
And speaking of that, don't you just love the people who INSIST on doing 80 on 100km country roads and then when the opportunity arises to pass - you guessed it -THEY SPEED UP! ARRRRGGGGHHHHH!!!!
Drink driving? Don't even start me on this one!
Get a taxi. Get a bus. Get a LIFE!
OK, I'm guessing you are sensing a little of my frustration by now. Certainly it is difficult to stay calm and be patient sometimes. But these are the times when patience and tolerance is required most.
And yet, how can you be tolerant of this sort of behaviour...
Just last week, as Ames was driving along the Geelong-Melbourne Highway to work, she noticed a fellow driver with a large book balanced on their steering wheel. Yes - believe it or not - this person was READING as they headed down the highway at 100kms an hour! Aye aye aye!
I have seen people putting on make-up and people getting changed! I know someone who eats his breakfast (a bowl of cereal complete with milk) as he drives to work as he is always running late! I have even seen someone driving at 100kmsph, eating KFC AND puffing on a cigarette (yuck) - yes all while in 'control' of a vehicle. I have no doubt if the mobile had rung they would have answered that too!
These people are out there. They share our roads. They forget their manners and they neglect the most rudimentary laws. They don't carry guns, they aren't crazy terrorists. These are people like you, like me, forget that the vehicle they are driving is as good as a loaded weapon. Breathe people breathe.
Drive carefully... and I will endeavour to do the same!
I seriously believed I was about to be involved in a serious car accident. Two cars beside me were so close to colliding (a collision which would have involved me and possibly two or three other vehicles) and I am still astounded they missed each other. Thankfully for us all, the accident was avoided. Without going into details, I can say it was only a combination of hard braking, quick lane changing and a large amount of luck that saw us through unscathed. There followed loud greetings with horns from numerous vehicles in the vicinity and much animated gesticulation. It made my heart thump a few decibels louder I can tell you!
What scares me is that I share the roads with these people on a daily basis and not only are they putting their own lives at risk (and whoever is unlucky enough to be travelling with them) they are also endangering me! It continually astounds me that so many drivers are so agressive, so impatient and so incompetent.
And so here follows, a substantial list of some of the dangerous driving practices I see regularly on the road. This is my chance to get it off my chest... Feel free to join in by adding your experiences to the comments at the end of the post.
Bad drivers and what 'cheeses me off'
(Aussie term meaning what gives me the s**ts!)...
Dangerous lane changing - zig zagging between cars in heavy traffic at great speed with limited space (more often than not to little or no advantage)
Cutting across three lanes to avoid missing a turn off. Check the signs people.
Tail gating. The practice of driving at full pelt within feet of the car in front is crazy.
Does anyone realise that undertaking is actually illegal?
But then, what alternative do you have when the right lane (the fast lane for Australia) is blocked by some moron driving at 85kmph (in a 100km zone), refusing to budge!
Swapping lanes into the lane in front of me, and then slowing down.
Cutting into limited space between cars, when there is more than enough space after.
Overtaking on double lines (illegal in Australia and all other countries I have visited)!
Beeping when the lights have JUST changed.
Patience people! Patience!
Overtaking dangerously and then turning at the next intersection!
And then there's the tunnel. The speed limit is 80kms an hour. Not 65! What is it with people who decide (because we all know there are speed cameras in the tunnel) that they have to go at least 10km UNDER the limit? Funnily enough, these are often the same people who charged past earlier breaking the land speed record!
And speaking of that, don't you just love the people who INSIST on doing 80 on 100km country roads and then when the opportunity arises to pass - you guessed it -THEY SPEED UP! ARRRRGGGGHHHHH!!!!
Drink driving? Don't even start me on this one!
Get a taxi. Get a bus. Get a LIFE!
OK, I'm guessing you are sensing a little of my frustration by now. Certainly it is difficult to stay calm and be patient sometimes. But these are the times when patience and tolerance is required most.
And yet, how can you be tolerant of this sort of behaviour...
Just last week, as Ames was driving along the Geelong-Melbourne Highway to work, she noticed a fellow driver with a large book balanced on their steering wheel. Yes - believe it or not - this person was READING as they headed down the highway at 100kms an hour! Aye aye aye!
I have seen people putting on make-up and people getting changed! I know someone who eats his breakfast (a bowl of cereal complete with milk) as he drives to work as he is always running late! I have even seen someone driving at 100kmsph, eating KFC AND puffing on a cigarette (yuck) - yes all while in 'control' of a vehicle. I have no doubt if the mobile had rung they would have answered that too!
These people are out there. They share our roads. They forget their manners and they neglect the most rudimentary laws. They don't carry guns, they aren't crazy terrorists. These are people like you, like me, forget that the vehicle they are driving is as good as a loaded weapon. Breathe people breathe.
Drive carefully... and I will endeavour to do the same!
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