Honest John’s Motoring Agony Column 22-04-2017 Part 2

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Fri 21 Apr 2017 14:57
- Mark1975
Driving Dope

I am constantly frustrated by car drivers who think that the rules of the road do not apply to them: tailgating, hogging the middle lane, speeding, through red lights, etc. Today I was driving down a narrow, one-way lane when a car driver passed me at speed with only 3 inches to spare, running me off the road. Fortunately for them, I was riding slowly enough to stop and wasn’t injured. I pointed out to one of them that all road users had equal rights to be there and that his car VED was an emissions tax and it didn’t give him the right to intimidate or drive dangerously, and he said “I’m in a car so it’s ok.” He continued to swear at me and blame me for the incident. I reported it to the police informing them that I had a video recording but they were not interested. They have registration marks, but just do as they please. Is it time to do something about these rogue car drivers?

Honest John says

Unfortunately these motoring louts have been allowed to inhabit the moral high ground, so unless we become a Republic and elect Jeremy Clarkson as president this sort of thing will continue
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Fri 21 Apr 2017 15:54
- glidermania
I really cannot believe some of the most inane questions people send to you. 'I put my wet car in the garage overnight and next day it was still wet. Should I get a carport?'!

Seriously!? OK if you have maybe a 10+ year old car, it may not be a good idea to put a wet car in a garage but then again, leaving a 10+ year old car out in all waethers isnt a good idea either.

Fact is, I had a 2002 BMW 3 Series and a 2001 Vauxhall Zafira. Both were regularly put in our twin garages soaking wet overnight. Neither car had a spot of rust on the bodywork or underside when sold after 13 years of ownership.
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Sat 22 Apr 2017 10:47
Honest John’s Motoring Agony Column 22-04-2017 Part 2 - pat pending
Driving Dope I am constantly frustrated by car drivers who think that the rules of the road do not apply to them: tailgating, hogging the middle lane, speeding, through red lights, etc. Today I was driving down a narrow, one-way lane when a car driver passed me at speed with only 3 inches to spare, running me off the road. Fortunately for them, I was riding slowly enough to stop and wasn’t injured. I pointed out to one of them that all road users had equal rights to be there and that his car VED was an emissions tax and it didn’t give him the right to intimidate or drive dangerously, and he said “I’m in a car so it’s ok.” He continued to swear at me and blame me for the incident. I reported it to the police informing them that I had a video recording but they were not interested. They have registration marks, but just do as they please. Is it time to do something about these rogue car drivers? Honest John says Unfortunately these motoring louts have been allowed to inhabit the moral high ground, so unless we become a Republic and elect Jeremy Clarkson as president this sort of thing will continue

I fear that this comment by Mark1975 is just a bit of a wind-up - mirroring the 'peddling dope' story above. Maybe it would be good to remove it? Cyclists can be irritating enough in their attitudes to road space and rules, without interfering with this agony column as well.

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Sun 23 Apr 2017 01:10
Honest John’s Motoring Agony Column 22-04-2017 Part 2 - Strawman

But it serves a valuable point in calling out that the problem is louts exist on all sides and there is a self entitlement view on the car driving side that needs challenging and correcting.

Some recent motoring lout examples.

First double parking lout, causing road problems slowing lots of traffic and blocking another car in then swearing at blocked in car driver when he asked to be let out.

Second inconsiderate lout. As a group of cyclists we had come across a horse rider who's horse gets spooked easily. We had slowed to walking pace to pass slowly, but impatient prat lout has to use car horn to complain that he cannot proceed instantly causing horse to panic and nearly pitching its rider off.

Third while cycling on my own impatient, dangerous and stupid lout has to over take me on blind bend so he ends up head on towards car coming the other way who uses horn to alert stupid lout of risk so dangerous lout has to swerve close to me and I have to leave the road surface to avoid a crash.

I see lots of louts while I drive and cycle about. Some ride bikes but most drive cars and have an over entitled attitude of they are the priority in the road. As we wake up to the health problems cars bring perhaps we car drivers need to adopt more humility and stop acting like we are the most important.

And remember lots of adult cyclists are also car drivers. Does that create a more balanced view on the issue?? Also cyclist and car have a crash, I am pretty certain the cyclist will feel it more, regardless of blame.

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Sun 23 Apr 2017 09:49
Honest John’s Motoring Agony Column 22-04-2017 Part 2 - nrm1969

You've hit the nail on the head. There are idiotic pedestrians who just step into the road and expect traffic to stop but also plenty of motorists who don't know they need to give way to pedestrians crossing the road they want to turn in to and by the way using indicators let's pedestrians know what your intentions are too.

Cyclists on pavements because they are fed up of cars passing too closely causes friction with pedestrians.

Cyclists who jump lights or cycle up inside of traffic upset motorists and put themselves at risk.

Car, lorry,bus, etc drivers who pass cyclists too close or drive fast through puddles and soak pedestrians, frighten horses, etc.

We all make mistakes but some people seem to hold the law and other road users in contempt. The way our current life style has evolved is that driving seen as a necessary right but it is apparent not everyone is equipped with the skill and temperament for it. Why should anyone be deemed to be skilled enough to get a driving job as a minicab or van driver without proper assessment?

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