Am I just getting old and grumpy

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Tue 27 Sep 2011 10:59
Am I just getting old and grumpy - dieseldogg

Coming back from Coleraine yesterday at lunchtime.

Tootling at about 50/55 on an empty road up past Ballyrashane.

Transit van pulls out in front of me, i.e. turning left onto the main road, he causes me to brake/ slow down, even though the road behind me was empty, then about a 1/4 mile later turns in left again, bringing me almost to a standstill.

No signs of any cognetive function, just drive mindlessly.

Coming down the Lisconnan Rd, met a small dark coloured van completely on the wrong side of the road (i.e he was) he "dwamled" /swerved back in just in time.

OK. we can all be distracted....on the phone?

Furthur down the Lisconnan there was a car & trailer parked on the other side of the road, an oncoming Jeep accelerated and swerved arounf the obstruction, once again bring me almost to a stop.

Plain ignorant

Then finally whilst still on the Lisconnan I met a tractor & trailer which virtually filled the road width available, he forced me up the ditch despite having just passed (I mean 10m back) a very wide lane end where he could & should have pulled in.

He refused to stop and indeed barely slowed

Very very ignorant/thick behaviour

Why the blinking heck will motorists meeting an potential obstruction not SLOW DOWN or even STOP.

I do.

Ps

I am fully aware that the common denominator in all these incidents was myself.

Edited by dieseldogg on 27/09/2011 at 11:03

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Tue 27 Sep 2011 11:05
Am I just getting old and grumpy - madf

"Am I just getting old and grumpy?"

Yes.

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Tue 27 Sep 2011 11:16
Am I just getting old and grumpy - richardcroft

No, you're not grumpy. There are more selfish and inconsiderate people on the roads today or it might just be the vehicle you were driving. Do you mind me asking what it was?

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Tue 27 Sep 2011 12:12
Am I just getting old and grumpy - dieseldogg

An Octavia

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Tue 27 Sep 2011 12:36
Am I just getting old and grumpy - Ethan Edwards

No your not. The number of feckwits who drive seems to be increasing exponentially.

Poor usage of fog lights, inability to comprehend what indicators are let alone the usage of them. No lane discipline. These are the subtle hints that your in the presence of a feckwit.

Mind you I may have grumpy tendancies myself.

How you are treated based on the vehicle your driving.

Yes. When I'm in my small N Note people cut me up more but conversely let me out of side roads etc.

When I am in my wifes X-Trail 4x4 nobody lets you out but fewer people cut you up when they see the 3 inch s/steel bull bars.

There is a definite difference.

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Tue 27 Sep 2011 18:16
Am I just getting old and grumpy - Bobbin Threadbare

Yes. When I'm in my small N Note people cut me up more but conversely let me out of side roads etc.

When I am in my wifes X-Trail 4x4 nobody lets you out but fewer people cut you up when they see the 3 inch s/steel bull bars.

There is a definite difference.

I'll go with that. When I had my Focus it seemed invisible, and if I drive my mum's Aygo then everybody tries to boss you on the roads. In my own Mazda 6, I've got no problems, unless it's some numpty in a BMW who loves himself (this morning, cutting in on a packed roundabout, bumping over a pavement and weaving onto the motorway).

I even saw someone driving a Cashcow recklessly today and they usually creep along. So no, it not's old age (I'm 28) and you're entitled to be grumpy! Oh an a guy in a very snazzy convertible Maserati of some type who treated me to a series of foul hand gestures, while I was sitting waiting at traffic lights.

I wonder if the increased rudeness has to do with obsession about fuel economy and low speeds; maybe people are frustrated at having a car with no zip that they feel they must creep away from lights etc. Ergo, they're going crackers and take it out on others.

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