Animal
18th September 2006, 04:20
G'day y'all,
I'm hugely pissed off and need to rant! What the hell is it with brain-dead drivers of cages, buses, trucks and generally anything fitted with a fuel cap and more than two wheels?
Going back several decades to when I was a young kid. My parents, siblings, older kids, teachers and everyone else enthusiastically hammered the Crossing The Road routine into me and every kid my age. Every one of you would've received the same or similar instructions. Remember this? Stop, Look Right (because any traffic approaching from your right is closest to you), Look Left (to see if there's any traffic approaching along the opposite side of the road), Look Right Again (to see where the traffic you noted a second ago is now), Look Left Again (for good measure) and if there is no traffic, ESPECIALLY FROM THE RIGHT, cross the road.
A simple, fundamental system that kept us all from being flattened for years, unless we forgot (or chose to ignore) the Crossing The Road routine. We are blessed to have the famous Right Hand Rule, which applies to roundabouts and almost every other traffic situation imaginable. The routine remains... Look Right to see if there's any traffic in the lane CLOSEST TO YOU, etc. We do this innumerable times every day on our way to work, shops - whatever.
So why am I frustratedly wishing it was legal to shoot brain-dead motorists for endangering MY life through THEIR stupidity? Here's the scenario... any T-intersection in any town, with yet another brain-dead motorist approaching the T from the vertical leg with the only options open are either turning left or turning right. Assuming you or I are approaching this intersection from either the left or the right, with the intention of continuing along on our merry way. Normal situation, happens every day.
Now here's the thing to look out for. Because this is right near the top of my list of things that truly infuriate me, I very carefully (obsessively, maybe) watch to see in which direction the brain-dead arsehole looks first. Without exception, they look to the LEFT. In the process, their cage or bus or whatever is now well into the lane closest to them, and because it's a Give Way, the mindless idiot hasn't quite stopped!
Not such an issue if you're approaching from the left, but if you're on the idiot's right, you're extremely vulnerable to being wiped out. Thanks to my compulsion to observe these mindless menaces, I'm usually thinking of various contingencies and Not Getting Killed options before the arsehole looks to the right and suddenly realises that - "Oh, shit! There's traffic heading straight at me while I didn't bother to look to the right while not also bothering to stop!"
The Give Way rule is wonderful, allowing road-users to not-quite-stop at intersections. Likewise, the Right Hand Rule at roundabouts and other intersections is great. However, while the inherent laziness on the part of motorists has them ASSUMING that there is no traffic on their right - so they don't need to stop because they've looked left - we're going to continue to get caned.
Because this has become my top-of-the-shit-list pet hate, it pisses me off more and more as I watch the behaviour of dumbarse motorists, and my rage is fueled even further.
I have a few challenges for you... Firstly, pay attention to motorists in the scenario I've described above. Watch and see to which side they look first. I've no doubt that you'll see I have a very valid point here.
Secondly, when you're driving, keep this thread in mind and Look Right first. That way you'll know if I'm heading towards you, and possibly unable to avoid crashing into the side of your vehicle while you don't-quite stop. If you Look Right first, you'll see me and have time to stop - and our day won't turn to shit.
Thirdly, challenge non-biker you can. Discuss this scenario with them, emphasise our vulnerability as riders (or other road-users), and raise the awareness that the fundamental Crossing The Road routine is being ignored, and putting our lives at risk.
Okay, I'm done ranting. Who's next?
Stay safe out there!
CADanimal
I'm hugely pissed off and need to rant! What the hell is it with brain-dead drivers of cages, buses, trucks and generally anything fitted with a fuel cap and more than two wheels?
Going back several decades to when I was a young kid. My parents, siblings, older kids, teachers and everyone else enthusiastically hammered the Crossing The Road routine into me and every kid my age. Every one of you would've received the same or similar instructions. Remember this? Stop, Look Right (because any traffic approaching from your right is closest to you), Look Left (to see if there's any traffic approaching along the opposite side of the road), Look Right Again (to see where the traffic you noted a second ago is now), Look Left Again (for good measure) and if there is no traffic, ESPECIALLY FROM THE RIGHT, cross the road.
A simple, fundamental system that kept us all from being flattened for years, unless we forgot (or chose to ignore) the Crossing The Road routine. We are blessed to have the famous Right Hand Rule, which applies to roundabouts and almost every other traffic situation imaginable. The routine remains... Look Right to see if there's any traffic in the lane CLOSEST TO YOU, etc. We do this innumerable times every day on our way to work, shops - whatever.
So why am I frustratedly wishing it was legal to shoot brain-dead motorists for endangering MY life through THEIR stupidity? Here's the scenario... any T-intersection in any town, with yet another brain-dead motorist approaching the T from the vertical leg with the only options open are either turning left or turning right. Assuming you or I are approaching this intersection from either the left or the right, with the intention of continuing along on our merry way. Normal situation, happens every day.
Now here's the thing to look out for. Because this is right near the top of my list of things that truly infuriate me, I very carefully (obsessively, maybe) watch to see in which direction the brain-dead arsehole looks first. Without exception, they look to the LEFT. In the process, their cage or bus or whatever is now well into the lane closest to them, and because it's a Give Way, the mindless idiot hasn't quite stopped!
Not such an issue if you're approaching from the left, but if you're on the idiot's right, you're extremely vulnerable to being wiped out. Thanks to my compulsion to observe these mindless menaces, I'm usually thinking of various contingencies and Not Getting Killed options before the arsehole looks to the right and suddenly realises that - "Oh, shit! There's traffic heading straight at me while I didn't bother to look to the right while not also bothering to stop!"
The Give Way rule is wonderful, allowing road-users to not-quite-stop at intersections. Likewise, the Right Hand Rule at roundabouts and other intersections is great. However, while the inherent laziness on the part of motorists has them ASSUMING that there is no traffic on their right - so they don't need to stop because they've looked left - we're going to continue to get caned.
Because this has become my top-of-the-shit-list pet hate, it pisses me off more and more as I watch the behaviour of dumbarse motorists, and my rage is fueled even further.
I have a few challenges for you... Firstly, pay attention to motorists in the scenario I've described above. Watch and see to which side they look first. I've no doubt that you'll see I have a very valid point here.
Secondly, when you're driving, keep this thread in mind and Look Right first. That way you'll know if I'm heading towards you, and possibly unable to avoid crashing into the side of your vehicle while you don't-quite stop. If you Look Right first, you'll see me and have time to stop - and our day won't turn to shit.
Thirdly, challenge non-biker you can. Discuss this scenario with them, emphasise our vulnerability as riders (or other road-users), and raise the awareness that the fundamental Crossing The Road routine is being ignored, and putting our lives at risk.
Okay, I'm done ranting. Who's next?
Stay safe out there!
CADanimal