Brief rant...careless smokers in cars...

[Michel]

One thing, as a runner and frequent pedestrian, that really annoys me is cyclists who ride on the pavements - pavement riding, unless they are specifically shared footways and cycleways (indicated by a blue sign) is in fact illegal.

Technically illegal, but condoned by the government...

http://www.roadsafetygb.org.uk/news/3319.html

Sensible approach if you ask me. I sometimes ride on the pavement, with care. Nearly always to get out of the way of traffic, and rarely when there's pedestrians.

I also break plenty of other road laws on my bike, usually my mountain bike, but only when I'm 100% sure it won't affect anyone else!

[elma]

What does rain on my parade though is the number of people texting on the handsets - ok so if you are making calls or chatting holding on to the handset that is bad enough, but texting where you need to take your eyes off the road to look at the keypad - well that is potentially fatal. If you don't have a hands-free system or voice commands for making and receiving calls, there are plenty of cheap systems available that can provide bluetooth functionality via the headset now, so there really isn't any excuse if you simply can't be without it.

That pours on my parade. I hate driving near people who have the text wobbles.
In this society I'm surprised people aren't out deliberately crashing into them as the texter is probably automatically at fault and the phone proves it.

I was going to get a bluetooth add on for the Xantia for incoming calls but now I've tried it I'm 100% against the idea.

[elma]

Found this, if he was smoking and texting as well then he's basically hit every button in the thread.

[GiveMeABreak]

Found this, if he was smoking and texting as well then he's basically hit every button in the thread.

This is more like it though James

[elma]

Ooh, that ones texting for sure.

[Stickyfinger]

Comments....

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article ... 7234702804

Personally I cannot understand why the cyclists ALL think a Left |Turn Only lane is a start point for a race up the inside of a truck that is heading to a pinch point

[elma]

Not a cyclist, an idiot on a bike.
I learnt to cycle in london and we all know to stay a few metres behind the rear of a lorry in that situation.
Never, NEVER ride between a lorry and the kerb.

[Hell Razor5543]

Not a cyclist, an idiot on a bike.
I learnt to cycle in london and we all know to stay a few metres behind the rear of a lorry in that situation.
Never, NEVER ride between a lorry and the kerb.

Evolution at work. Survival of the fittest (and the smartest).

[elma]

My rant now.
I'm in Southampton picking up a concrete breaker.
Drivers in Hampshire don't understand indicating at all, they just indicate at random and then do whatever. But I can live with that.
The idiot in the blue fiesta that went across 2 lanes texting and made me change lane ro avoid them I'm less impressed with.
Then the builder in a flat bed who ploughed onto the big roundabout at about 50mph plus and scattered the traffic, total ****.
I hate driving in Southamlton in the daytime.
Im buying a dashcam on the way home, its time to start trying to get these catastrophies off the road.
The temptation to just not avoid them is getting hard to resist. I mean how dumb do you have to be to play dodo with a 3.5ton vehicle when you drive a shoebox? Also why should said bigger vehicle take evasive action, potentially hitting something even bigger, when idiot in small car deserves to be squished.

[MikeT]

The cyclists amongst you (I'm currently not one, only due to circumstance) may appreciate this. I just hope the police take the same attitude to all road-users they see on their undercover sting, and hope it's not just another money-raising scheme to milk motorists.

http://www.bournemouthecho.co.uk/news/1 ... s_drivers/

[CitroJim]

I hate driving in Southamlton in the daytime.

James, that's one heck of a catalogue of bad driving in just one trip

I'm hating driving and finding it more and more difficult so I try to drive as little as possible now, my mental faculties currently are not up to the job and even my doctor has recommended I drive as little as possible. Twice this week I've come close to an accident due to my own deficiencies... I must be really peeing off the traffic who have to follow me and I wish I could have a sign on the back of my car explaining why I'm proceeding at 40mph in an NSL area It's not through choice...

I feel safer and happier on my bike.

The cyclists amongst you (I'm currently not one, only due to circumstance) may appreciate this.

Mike, that's an excellent initiative and I do heartily appreciate this

Good to see one transgressor has already been suitably punished...

[MikeT]

I was travelling through the Forest one fine day and had a traffic car behind me when I noticed a leisure cyclist ahead as we approached an incline leading to a blind left bend. As I got within overtaking range there was no opposing traffic but I judged that if one did suddenly appear travelling at the speed limit, me taking to the other side of the road to pass would have been unsafe, causing both of us to take avoiding action and as I would probably have been alongside said cyclist, it was too risky. Once tucked in behind cyclist, I checked my rearview and was embarassed to see the traffic car had already moved right over to the other side, as if to say, this is where you should be.

I now regret not asking the officer to explain why he felt it would have been safe to overtake.

[elma]

At least you recognise it jim and act accordingly. Most of the public seem to think they are the best driver ever and everyone else is just in the way.

Im a country bumpkin now, city aggression freaks me out

[MikeT]

I used to drive in the centre of London professionally and it's more about assertive driving imo. Aggressive and hesitant drivers will get eaten alive either through a bad prang or being left stranded at a junction/lane-change while everyone else carries on past them.

After moving down here, I've learnt defensive driving is best default.
As a motrocyclist as well, I actually have more confidence riding in London (due to the majority being professionals) than I do down here.

I must give credit to a lot of the country-walkers down here though. Most of them walk on the correct side of the road and face the oncoming traffic. Something I've not seen in a long time before and I for one really do appreciate it. It's much safer for both parties.

[elma]

I learnt in London and I'd say I'm not a shy driver.
Theres just too many nutters who don't give a monkeys these days.
I reckon half, or more, of them are on Class A drugs.
I do get more idiots when I drive the van though as I take it a bit easier and they definitely see that as weakness.
Got dash cam now, some of what I seem to get into will shock you.
I'd never drive a motorbike on the roads now, only fields or racetrack for me.