I think today must have been declared National Slow Driving Day, and I was the only not to know about it. Not that I'm a speeder (I have no sympathy for people who get speeding fines), but I do like to drive as fast as is allowable, according to the conditions. Nothing irritates me more than people hanging about at a green light, or driving 10km or more below the speed limit, when it's a clear, dry day.
I especially dislike drivers who drive at 50kph in a 60 zone, but then continue at 50 through a 40kph zone.
And it seemed to be endemic today (as opposed to yesterday, which was "Let's see how fast we can drive in a torrential downpour with zero visibility; first one to drop under 60 is a wimp!")
But it could have been worse. I could also have found myself playing an impromptu round of "How Many Random Manouevres Does It Take For Me To Beep You". This is when the driver ahead speeds up, slows down, brakes and/or swerves/merges (or a combination of these) at random intervals and for no apparent purpose other than to drive me nuts, and force me to resort to beeping their appalling driving performance. Or flash them (with my lights). For me, it depends on which hand I have free at the time.
I do make allowances for old or heavy vehicles who can't gun it up a hill very well, and but not for people who are clearly looking for a place but can't find it, but won't stop and check, but crawl along, stopping suddenly, swerving in and out of parking spaces without indicating, or even stopping altogether, but leaving the following driver unsure as to whether they have parked really badly or will be imminently moving off again. The best one of these stopped at the side of the road (no indicator), and then when I went to pass it (it had stopped for a fair pause), it tried to do a U-turn via my passenger seat. Luckily for everyone there was no-one coming in the opposite direction, so I was able to swerve wildly across the road, and avoid a crash.
I know that everyone makes mistakes, including me, but I try to avoid most trouble by actually looking in my mirrors - the side ones AND the rear view mirror, indicating my intentions, and keeping up with the flow of traffic (except on the Story Bridge where I'm the only driver actually going at 60kph and therefore holding up all the other drivers). I try to remain aware that there are other drivers on the road at the same time as me, and that there is a pretty comprehensive set of rules (some would argue "guidelines"!) to show us all how to share the roads without causing carnage.
Thankfully, I'm home now, and shan't be going out driving again today. I can only hope everyone goes back to driving at the proper speed tomorrow.
I especially dislike drivers who drive at 50kph in a 60 zone, but then continue at 50 through a 40kph zone.
And it seemed to be endemic today (as opposed to yesterday, which was "Let's see how fast we can drive in a torrential downpour with zero visibility; first one to drop under 60 is a wimp!")
But it could have been worse. I could also have found myself playing an impromptu round of "How Many Random Manouevres Does It Take For Me To Beep You". This is when the driver ahead speeds up, slows down, brakes and/or swerves/merges (or a combination of these) at random intervals and for no apparent purpose other than to drive me nuts, and force me to resort to beeping their appalling driving performance. Or flash them (with my lights). For me, it depends on which hand I have free at the time.
I do make allowances for old or heavy vehicles who can't gun it up a hill very well, and but not for people who are clearly looking for a place but can't find it, but won't stop and check, but crawl along, stopping suddenly, swerving in and out of parking spaces without indicating, or even stopping altogether, but leaving the following driver unsure as to whether they have parked really badly or will be imminently moving off again. The best one of these stopped at the side of the road (no indicator), and then when I went to pass it (it had stopped for a fair pause), it tried to do a U-turn via my passenger seat. Luckily for everyone there was no-one coming in the opposite direction, so I was able to swerve wildly across the road, and avoid a crash.
I know that everyone makes mistakes, including me, but I try to avoid most trouble by actually looking in my mirrors - the side ones AND the rear view mirror, indicating my intentions, and keeping up with the flow of traffic (except on the Story Bridge where I'm the only driver actually going at 60kph and therefore holding up all the other drivers). I try to remain aware that there are other drivers on the road at the same time as me, and that there is a pretty comprehensive set of rules (some would argue "guidelines"!) to show us all how to share the roads without causing carnage.
Thankfully, I'm home now, and shan't be going out driving again today. I can only hope everyone goes back to driving at the proper speed tomorrow.
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