Car parking for the selfish

Walking along the pavement this morning only to find it completely blocked by a big white van. No space between it and the wall so had to walk in the road. Again. The van was still there 3 hours later so you can imagine how many people ended up in the road. If one of us had got hit by a car - would the owner of the van really care? I doubt it somehow or they wouldn't park there in the first place.

If only it were as simple as the type of car we could make all BMW drivers take an additional test, as part of the purchase conditions. Unfortunately, it's just down to ignorance. Some people seem to live in a forward looking bubble. They don't seem to see, or care about, what is happening around them. This attitude can be witnessed in all areas of British life. The driver who squeezes into the end space on a road, with no thought to how the car in front will get out, is probably the one who sat in front of me on a plane, last week. He fully reclined his seat into my lap and then had to stretch forward to eat his food!

Just an interesting note about BMW drivers.
A friend of mine was the sales manager in a large BMW dealer in the 70's. Strangely, he drove a company Ford from his groups other francise. Why do you not use a BMW? says I, well, says he, I don't want to be thought of as the kind of person that drives a BMW!
He did not say it as a joke, he was serious!

Re disabled parking spaces; is there a recommended percentage of spaces in any car park to be designated disabled?
I would love to know as there is a garden centre / farm shop near me which seems to have far too many! If you go there when it's really busy, summer (I wish) or just before Christmas the car park can be packed, except for three quarters of the disabled spaces being empty. This to my mind is proof that there are far too many.
Hopeful shoppers are left with the choice of parking in a disabled space or going away & spending their money elsewhere!

In my experience the most dangerous drivers are tarted up chavs and chavettes in hotted up Renault Clitos with whip aerials, chrome exhaust pipes, and loads of other crap hanging off them. These are invariably the ones tailgating, lane changing, or belting past on the motorways at 95 mph in the rain.

Most people who drive quality cars tend to do so responsibly. Urban 4x4's are probably the exception, generally they are arrogant idiots with a complex.

Who causes road rage?
1 Arrogant drivers of Mercedes, BMW, Audi and VW cars - note the pecking order.
2 4x4s who won't move over onto the verge on a tight road.
3 Those who overtake you in a low speed area.
4 Idiots who sit in the middle lane of the motorway.
5 Queue jumpers - again usually BMW.
6 Tailgaiters, from white van man to the blacked out Corsa.
7 Chavs who leisurely swagger across the road in front of you.
8 The oblivious lane changer.
9 The woman on double yellow lines - see no 1.

Have you not noticed that often folks that drive fancy cars like BMW, Mercs and 4X4's just don't care and ignore everyone and just pull out any time and give no thought or care to other drivers or any one on the road. Why?

Some BMW drivers use their car as a status symbol and set a bad example for those of us who drive within the law and show courtesy to other motorists.

I drive my BMW peacefully but would like to reflect on the attitudes of some motorists who have cars which aren't much to write home about and these drivers seem to want to give the impression that they can outdo a BMW with their car. If they are prepared to drive carelessly or break the law and they do then all that shows is that they are prepared to break the law to win. If I wanted to break the law I could have but I am not the typical competitor as I drive mine in luxury and pleased with what I have accomplished so don’t need to compete with others.

Anyone who cannot accept the natural progress of someone else outperforming them and goes to whatever length to obstruct and/or outdo is obviously not happy on their inner self and trying to prove something – but not properly. It is a symptom of an inferiority complex. Anything they achieve is tainted, but at least my history of success isn’t tainted and if I wanted to they couldn’t outdo me but I don’t care.

P665APL GREEN Volkswagen Polo 1.4 Cl 3 Door Hatchback
Time 1905 on 10th June 2008
A429/M40 slip road southbound. Forceful lane changes - reluctant to wait his turn or respect other motorists. A very high accident risk.

KS53ARU Black Volkswagen Polo Twist 3 Door Hatchback
Time 1600 on 11th June 2008
Tailgating then overtaking and pulling in front of law abiding motorists and driving slow to cause obstruction. Along the A5 northbound before Grand Union Canal. High accident risk

WF07UFC Black Peugeot 307 S 5 Door Hatchback
Time 1640 on 11th June 2008
Just after Dunchurch roundabout westbound on A45.
Overtaking as road converges and forceful cutting into stream of traffic. Another high accident risk.

No wonder it is a BMW car since many BMW drivers (not all) seem to think they have priority and are a cut above the law.

Congratulations to the driver of the red BMW 118D SE MANUAL 6 GEARS DIESEL 3 DOOR HATCHBACK registration number PE57 KLD who overtook as he pulled out of Highfield Road into passing traffic on Midgeland Road in Blackpool on Friday 30th May 2008.

It seems you car was the only good thing on your side - it certainly was not your driving nor consideration towards other motorists.

Pity the traffic lights were red at Squires Gate Lane which we all caught up with you and managed to get your number.

Unfortunately the white lines in car parks are usually too close together for the large vehicles that are now in common use. If I can't open my door fully then I can't get in/out comfortably while avoiding damage to the car next to me or to mine. My car is not large and I avoid parking next to another car for fear of damage to my bodywork. The cure is to have all parking spaces as wide as disabled bays.

Unfortunately the white lines in car parks are usually too close together for the large vehicles that are now in common use. If I can't open my door fully then I can't get in/out comfortably while avoiding damage to the car next to me or to mine. My car is not large and I avoid parking next to another car for fear of damage to my bodywork. The cure is to have all parking spaces as wide as disabled bays.

I use & submit pics to Crap Parking.co.uk-it's a FAB site.
I would urge eveyone on here to use it-the guy makes really funny comments in responce to pics you submit. It really makes me laugh. You would be amazed at the idiots who park & where they park-Trust me it's well worth a visit.
www.crap-parking.co.uk