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Examples of poor driving you have witnessed!
- Thread starter MarkyD
- Start date
Maryland
Well-Known Forumite
It's my day off, so I am about to become Dash-Cam Vigilante Stalker on my way to Aldi. If that proves a tad unstimulating to the little grey cells, I shall switch to Turning On Radio While Going Along idiot and possibly also Thinking About Tonight's Dinner muppet and, if I'm being particularly dangerous to other road users, Thinking How Loverly The Staffs Countryside Is Looking Today nutter. I know! Clap me in irons and bring me before cam-man so that he can explain the error of my ways, please!
Incidentally, the fascinating footage of somebody in a van being a bit undecided coming out of the services seems to have been taken down. Interesting. But we have instead A Bit Of Loose Straw Being Blown Off The Back Of A Farmer's Trailer (reg number duly supplied, of course).
In a parallel universe, on the outskirts of Wolverhampton the other evening I espied a genuine idiot who had decided to park a foot off the stripes of a zebra crossing, on the wrong side of the road, at twilight, and causing vehicles to stack up in that carriageway trying to find a way to get round him safely. Car coming the other way slowed to pass expletive-laden comment on his brainpower and driving skills. He did not like that at all, especially coming from a woman. It was quite funny.
Incidentally, the fascinating footage of somebody in a van being a bit undecided coming out of the services seems to have been taken down. Interesting. But we have instead A Bit Of Loose Straw Being Blown Off The Back Of A Farmer's Trailer (reg number duly supplied, of course).
In a parallel universe, on the outskirts of Wolverhampton the other evening I espied a genuine idiot who had decided to park a foot off the stripes of a zebra crossing, on the wrong side of the road, at twilight, and causing vehicles to stack up in that carriageway trying to find a way to get round him safely. Car coming the other way slowed to pass expletive-laden comment on his brainpower and driving skills. He did not like that at all, especially coming from a woman. It was quite funny.
db
#chaplife
i check this thread every day, expecting to make an appearance, but so far so good lol..
every time i use the middle lane to sail past the queue of traffic in the far-left lane by the bus stops behind plumbits and then use the little feeder lane by the pelican crossing here (a perfectly legal manoeuvre) to go out past saino's, and have a little battle with the cars at the merge point who are determined not to let me in, i always think "that'll land me on the forum one of these days"
every time i use the middle lane to sail past the queue of traffic in the far-left lane by the bus stops behind plumbits and then use the little feeder lane by the pelican crossing here (a perfectly legal manoeuvre) to go out past saino's, and have a little battle with the cars at the merge point who are determined not to let me in, i always think "that'll land me on the forum one of these days"
It's the way the road has been designed they want you to use both lanes.they have even put a sign up asking people to use both lanes if people did just that it would ease congestion on the island.the highways authority might have more luck in getting people to use both lanes if they put another sign at end of feeder lane saying merge in turn
captainpish
Well-Known Forumite
You are correct however it only seems to be used by some prick in a taxi trying to gain a few spaces. Also the merge sign is in the right hand lane and therefore it is the onus of the twat in a taxi to wait to be let in, not force the drivers in the left hand lane into the pavement. Ive got no problem letting people in there but i do get a bit pissed off when you get overtaken and forced off the road. Ive almost gone into hulk mode at that merge point on numerous occasions.
agree the way its been implemented is poor in other areas of the country both lanes merge in to each other with nether lane having priority combined with a couple of merge in turn signs. dorset is one area with this set up both lanes move at about the same speed and works well
kyoto49
Well-Known Forumite
i check this thread every day, expecting to make an appearance, but so far so good lol..
every time i use the middle lane to sail past the queue of traffic in the far-left lane by the bus stops behind plumbits and then use the little feeder lane by the pelican crossing here (a perfectly legal manoeuvre) to go out past saino's, and have a little battle with the cars at the merge point who are determined not to let me in, i always think "that'll land me on the forum one of these days"
This has to be the most irritating part of the Stafford road system, this bit coming off the roundabout at Gaol Square, the fact that it's OK to drive like a lunatic past a queue of patient respectful motorist and then barge in further up the road. I never let ANY of those DICKS in, and always pray that those around me have the courage of their conviction to stay within 1cm of the bumper in front so as too also prevent the morons from taking over the roads. Have had plenty of abuse but I'm lovin it Never let one in yet
. It's like a little challenge I set myself. Other than that I'm a very good respectful driver, but tw*ts who disregard the goodwill of other road users are not going to benefit from my goodwill, that's for sure!
kyoto49
Well-Known Forumite
It doesn't and can't ease congeston on the roundabout because as soon as the two lanes are full there is nowhere for anyone to go, so it all grinds to a halt waiting for the lights to change and the outside lane to merge in to the left lane, thereby slowing everyone up. Fndamentally, the road will only ever let the number of cars through that the single lane by the lights at Sainsbury's will allow, no matter how many lanes lead up to it.
it eases congestion by giving traffic an area to wait in during the red phase of the lights without impacting on traffic using other entrances and exits on the roundabout. for the a34 approach it allows approx 30 cars to wait in stead of 15 befour the queues start to block the a34 northbound lanes. on the roundabout the 2 lanes allow approx 20 cars to wait be four impacting in other traffic instead of 10. therefor using both lanes increases the capacity of the junction by not slowing down other traffic not going that way
kyoto49
Well-Known Forumite
I don't see it. It may well double the number of cars that can initially leave the roundabout, but once that is full, none of them can go anywhere until the lights by Sainsburys where the traffic is single lane go. So the number of cars leaving the roundabout is limited, once the first 2 lanes are full, by the number of cars that can go through the traffic lights. The capacity of the junction can only ever be as big as the limit on the number of cars that can get through the lights, once the initial 2 lanes are full............surely?
when there is prolonged heavy congestion agree the end result will be the same it will smooth out the peaks and troughs and reduce congestion at other times by not slowing up other users. the long term solution will be the western access route which will bypass this notorious bottle neck
Maryland
Well-Known Forumite
I think kyoto's sort of right-ish, although I would dispute the number of vehicles he cites. However, he seems to speak as one who Knows this sort of stuff, so I'm guessing a traffic engineer or some such. Be that as it may, such accommodations are only going to work if drivers behave like people who've been adequately trained, who know the rules of the road ( such as zipping on merge ), are not dangerously thick, are not befuddled by aggression, and are thinking about the responsible task of driving a motor vehicle. As well as being sober, not using their sodding phones, not showing off to their mates etc etc. For a lot of people, that sort of stuff seems to be a big ask.
Then there's the matter of bus drivers (don't get me started: I've been there done that and I know how bloody minded they can be) making very little effort to get into the kerb at the bus stops just along the road. That doesn't help with backing-up on Gaol Square one little bit.
But how I wish they'd put up some red light cameras on Gaol Square. It has got to be the worst place in Stafford for sailing through red lights. And it is actually bloody dangerous there as well, since it's a small roundabout with multiple lanes at each set of lights. Send for cam-man and commission him immediately to stake out Gaol Square!
Is there some sort of big light we can shine into the sky above Stafford to summon him to the task of hunting down lawbreakers?
Then there's the matter of bus drivers (don't get me started: I've been there done that and I know how bloody minded they can be) making very little effort to get into the kerb at the bus stops just along the road. That doesn't help with backing-up on Gaol Square one little bit.
But how I wish they'd put up some red light cameras on Gaol Square. It has got to be the worst place in Stafford for sailing through red lights. And it is actually bloody dangerous there as well, since it's a small roundabout with multiple lanes at each set of lights. Send for cam-man and commission him immediately to stake out Gaol Square!
Is there some sort of big light we can shine into the sky above Stafford to summon him to the task of hunting down lawbreakers?
wildwood
Well-Known Forumite
i check this thread every day, expecting to make an appearance, but so far so good lol..
every time i use the middle lane to sail past the queue of traffic in the far-left lane by the bus stops behind plumbits and then use the little feeder lane by the pelican crossing here (a perfectly legal manoeuvre) to go out past saino's, and have a little battle with the cars at the merge point who are determined not to let me in, i always think "that'll land me on the forum one of these days"
A very similar thing at the top of Radford Bank - both lanes approaching the hill from Wildwood way state you can go straight on - if only people filtered more sensibly once over the island.
db
#chaplife
every time i use the middle lane to sail past the queue of traffic in the far-left lane by the bus stops behind plumbits and then use the little feeder lane by the pelican crossing here (a perfectly legal manoeuvre) to go out past saino's, and have a little battle with the cars at the merge point who are determined not to let me in, i always think "that'll land me on the forum one of these days"
This has to be the most irritating part of the Stafford road system, this bit coming off the roundabout at Gaol Square, the fact that it's OK to drive like a lunatic past a queue of patient respectful motorist and then barge in further up the road. I never let ANY of those DICKS in, and always pray that those around me have the courage of their conviction to stay within 1cm of the bumper in front so as too also prevent the morons from taking over the roads. Have had plenty of abuse but I'm lovin it Never let one in yet
funnily enough, i do exactly the same! brightens an otherwise dull journey home lol.. sometimes i choose to be in the left lane, and see who wins the "can he merge from the right?" fight (spoiler: i win) - sometimes i choose to be in the right lane, and see who wins the same game (spoiler: i win again)..
i start planning it from way back on the dual carriageway, scoping up ahead for any weak links (learner drivers, micras or other cars typically driven by old people, hippies, trucks or other slow moving vehicles, etc.) which would make a slip-in-from-the-right easy - or conversely, checking for bimmers/4x4s/etc. that might be thinking of doing the same, so choosing the left lane to see if i can hold my ground and stop them getting in..
there are so many factors to consider, it really does become quite strategic and fun.. optimum arc to prevent access to the feeder, when to hang back until the last minute so people don't realise you are trying to merge and therefore stop you, etc..
simple things
Flopsy Bunny
Well-Known Forumite
This morning at about 7.50am I was travelling up the Wolverhampton Road towards Rising Brook. The pedestrian lights just before the Star and Garter pub changed to red so I stopped and so did the white pick up truck on the opposite side of the road. When the pedestrian had crossed over, the lights still on red, the truck driver came through and so did the car following him! Lights still on red. Surprise surprise, the truck driver was on his mobile phone so not paying attention. I drive for a living and every day I must see at least a dozen drivers using a mobile phone whilst driving. I usually shake my head at them if I can catch there attention so look out!!! People getting away with it when it is clearly breaking the law.