Yep, true Dan but we don't know if it was just a stupid (as opposed to a deliberately aggressive & dangerous) act and if it was just a silly mistake, what a price to pay for it. That was really the point I was trying to make. We all do things by mistake but how often do we own up and take the flak ? Who knows what really happened in the exchange between the drivers, the point is that if they hadn't 'got involved' they'd both have gone safely on their way having had a near miss - nothing more.
Yesterday I was in the car with Mrs V and kids. A guy in a white van pulled out in front of us in an attempt to turn right from a side road. Suddenly deciding he didn't want to do that he just stopped right in front of us, reversed and turned left, driving in the same direction as us. Not a hint of an acknowledgment let alone indication ! Half a mile further along the guy then pulled straight out from a side turning in front of another van and very nearly caused another accident. The really sad thing is that I don't think he'd even seen either of us and had we remonstrated with him, he may well have believed he was the innocent party and we the nutters ! Who knows what might have happened then. Well I know one thing, that my family are more important than anyone/anything else sothe last thing I'm gonna do is risk my life of theirs just to make a point to a low life.
More power to the traffic police I say. Catch morons like this and punish them severely - that's the only way these people will ever learn to be responsible. Don't blame the police for the law or the liberal judges and magistrates who make a mockery of it and wouldn't understand justice if it reversed into their ivory towers.
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Volvoman - True on all fronts. I agree that the traffic police should have more power, but to be honest it would be great if there were simply a good few more of them. I won't open up a speed camera debate here but they catch speeders, not idiots. Both are unacceptable but only one is generally being caught.
Hugo - As I'd read V's post, the "accident" was precipitated by the careless or thoughtless (we'll never know) driving of the Peugeot. He was the one who paid the price and whilst I would never wish that on anyone he has, especially with all evidence provided such as CCTV etc, noone else to blame but himself.
Not very often thankfully but I occasionally see some horrific driving and you wonder how the car and driver got to the point you saw them without killing themselves or someone else beforehand. Is a forty pound fine and three points going to deter many of these lunatics? Maybe they don't even have their licence any more? Increase the penalties drastically I say. If someone is going to spend three months not daring to bend over to pick up soap for reckless driving maybe they'd think more carefully about doing it.
Good debate this :)
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Yes V I saw that programme, I think it's a repeat.
However, I really think it should be use in a Government sponsered anti road rage ad!
The amaizing thing is that no charges were brought. I guess they found insufficient evidence to put the lorry driver in the frame.
At least in this instance it was the guy committing the stupid act who came off worse - he had noone to blame but himself. How many times is it the innocent bystander or car driver who ends up being injured or killed due to someone else's stupidity?
Having said this Dan, losing your leg is a bit worse than a fixed penalty notice for careless driving etc.
****Signature? - Ideas on a postcard please anyone!****
****We never stop learning****
Hugo
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On a slightly lighter note about last nights program did anyone see the Skoda Octavia VRS outrun the police? Very quick....
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Yeah but the main reason for this was that the scumbags didn't give a toss how they drove whereas the cop did. Furthermore, you can bet your life that he would have been held more accountable for any accident deemed to have been his fault than the low life would have been.
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Totally agree, Volvoman. Also shows how professional and calm the police drivers are under pressure.
The video footage from inside the chase car got my adrenaline pumping but also showed just how potentially dangerous a chase like that is - as a family man I was thinking of the risk to pedestrians and other drivers.
Maybe they should show the footage of a stolen car impact on a pedestrian to car thieves as a deterent. Might bring a dose of reality to the game.
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On the subject of personal safety, I've just sold my car and swapped to a motorbike, it's certainly a different feeling without the security of a metal box around you. There are still the same idiots on the road but you *have to* take avoiding action and be careful. The instructor drummed into me that my safety is only my responsibility. Same as it should be for a car, but you wouldn't know it!
Luckily riding is good fun and it's nice to pass the idiots again when they're in a traffic queue.
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What struck me about the programme was that it was interesting to see the whole issue of road rage and bad driving etc from the other point of view, ie the police's perspective.
The police are subjected to so much criticism, a lot of it here, yet those interviewed last night proved to be decent, skilful caring individuals interested in doing their job to the best possible effect, whilst at the same time taking into account the importance of protecting the innocent public.
Of course that doesn't make every single policeperson perfect, but these guys impressed me.
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Best police force in the world bar none. The more you travel overseas the more you realise just how good they are. I'm sure Growler will have something to say on this subject, especially after the 'fat' boys of Manila.
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Don't get me started on the Manila porkers.....
Stay indoors or take a taxi if you're going out any night 2-3 days before the 15th or the 30th of the month (payday).
Not to mention the one I met last week who was deliberately switching the traffic lights to red just as I crossed the line so he could (try and) book me. Ah well, but the beer is cold and cheap, the women are beautiful and the average year round temperature is 27 C.....
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.....and white sand beaches, palm trees, mangoes, pineapples, bananas of all descriptions, papayas, kalamansis, coconut milk, halo halo and tuba. Then, of course, there's balut!
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Wildly O/T but I never did manage to confront balut (poor man's Viagra di ba?), although Growlette has been known to do that, but as for fruit I enjoy rambutan, lanzones and even (clothes-peg on nose) durian.
Road rage. Honestly the best remedy are my motorcycles. What would have me fuming in my car and my good friend and personal physician Dr Yumul castigating me about stress at my age I can blow away in an instant on a bike.
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but as for fruit I enjoy rambutan, lanzones and even (clothes-peg on nose) durian.
Please Mr Growler can you describe a durian in detail for those readers who have not been out East and tried one.
Prior to visiting your neck of the woods and being told of their attributes I arranged for one to be smuggled in by air. It was the centre of attention in the open plan office for days and days.
They used to be banned in hotels and on aircraft. Is it still so?
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OK it's OT but this should tell you all you want to know. Just don't take one home.
www.ecst.csuchico.edu/~durian/
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What an amazing world, Growler. A website dedicated to the Durian. How do you find all these strange sites? On your Filipino search engine? Now tell them about balut! I bet you can't find a site for that.
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You know what, there is a balut site:
tinyurl.com/ixml
As Bafta will know, in this male-oriented culture all foreigners embroiled in a drinking session with the locals will be challenged at some point to eat balut or forever be tarred a "white monkey". That's the good part. The really clever bit is managing to stage your exit before they start firing their guns in the air.
We must keep this motoring and on message. Therefore I suggest all those callow slack-jawed youths in lowered Novas be lined up and forced to eat a couple of balut before being asked "what was your point again?"
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Growler. Thanks for the Durian site. Brilliant
It is being broadcast to my old mates.
I do not think words convey the taste v texture or the range and persistance of its perfume.
One lass in our office was still wingeing days later cos the perfume was still with her.
I forget how many platic bags were required to enable to to be hand baggage from SIN.
If you pop one in the office air con I am sure it will test evacuation procedures.
A little light diversion from the original sad posting.
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Hi GarethJ,
i've just done the opposite,
got rid of a Suzuki 1200 Bandit and bought a 1.25 Fiesta, somewhat slower, but it gets me to work dry and a damn sight safer. Apart from the fact that every time i got on the bike i risked my life or my licence. Twist the wrist and before you know it your over a 100mph, as i am a HGV driver for a living i decided that it was not worth the risk to my licence, not to mention car drivers that do not see you. The only reason they do not see you is because they are not looking for you. I've had a few close shaves on the bikes.
All the best and safe riding.
P.S., what bike you got ?
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Hi GarethJ, i've just done the opposite, got rid of a Suzuki 1200 Bandit and bought a 1.25 Fiesta, somewhat slower, but it gets me to work dry and a damn sight safer. Apart from the fact that every time i got on the bike i risked my life or my licence. Twist the wrist and before you know it your over a 100mph, as i am a HGV driver for a living i decided that it was not worth the risk to my licence, not to mention car drivers that do not see you. The only reason they do not see you is because they are not looking for you. I've had a few close shaves on the bikes. All the best and safe riding. P.S., what bike you got ?
Hi pastyman,
I got rid of the car because I'm being charged a fortune to park at the railway station all day, and if you think road-rage is bad you should see station car-park-rage! My car has been hit twice there so it's much nicer to calmly put my crash helmet and gloves on while everyone else goes mad to get out of the car park, then pass them at the exit and in the next queue into town.
I'm trying my test in 3 weeks so I'm stuck with a 125 Varadero for now, you're right about the danger from other road users so c-a-r-e-f-u-l is the order of the day for me.
I've had cars for years but this is my first bike, seems good so far and I could really get used to 80 mpg!
Gareth
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****Signature? - Ideas on a postcard please anyone!****
****We never stop learning****
Hugo
Hugo, don't know about road rage but this gives me screen rage!Why do you put this at the bottom of your posts?
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****Signature? - Ideas on a postcard please anyone!**** ****We never stop learning**** Hugo Hugo, don\'t know about road rage but this gives me screen rage!Why do you put this at the bottom of your posts?
Hugo\'s signature doesn\'t give me screen rage, but when I spot the asterisks out of the corner of my eye, I think it\'s someone testing the swear filter again.
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Dave restrain me, please!
HF
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