17-March-2010

Dangerous things people do when driving

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Parking on pavements is right up there as a most loathed, but the arrogance of a significant minority of motorists doesn't stop there. I happen to walk along the ring road that encompasses the city where I live fairly often. The walk takes me about 8 minutes and at peak times I don't think I've ever managed to do it without seeing some self centred oaf blithely chattering on a mobile - the record is no less than four.

Today one smug so-and-so was doing so on a nearby side road when he was obliged to stop beside me and, since his window was open, I asked him, more politely than he deserved not to drive whilst on the phone. Typically, his response appalled me even more "So what?”

Having lost count of local pedestrians, cyclists and motorists killed, maimed or simply distressed by the “my phone call is more important than your life” brigade I was absolutely incensed. So much so that I immediately called the local police station and gave them his details (personalised number plate and shiny new Ferrari so he shouldn't be hard to trace).

Hopefully his offence will have been caught on CCTV so he'll get a fine. Not that it'll mean much to such a plutocrat! Isn't it time that using mobile whilst driving equals loss of licence? No ifs or buts, no time frame imposed just zip and it's gone!

In my walk along this moderately busy road I have seen motorists having their breakfast, numerous van/lorry drivers studying atlases (inc. one using a magnifying glass!), reading the paper/magazines, doing make-up and even taking photos (it’s a great view of the cathedral). No wonder these bozos regularly drive through the pedestrian crossing against a red light!

However, the worst ever example of such idiocy was having a motorist zoom past me at 90+ mph on a motorway whilst reading a novel that was propped up on the steering wheel! No joke!

By: Fess

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Can't believe that you can actually buy a dvd player with a screen that fits in where your radio goes. dumb asses out there will actually watch them whilst driving.

Gainsborough lad. 14-Dec-2009 20:48

Lorry drivers are notorious for not only using their mobile phones but watching tv and dvds while driving and I am not joking .

anon 14-Dec-2009 17:21

My father just hit his head about my cell phone ww

chuckles 24-Nov-2009 06:38

It is dangerous you can also get in trouble by the internet sites on the cell

Lulu 24-Nov-2009 06:38

I recently traveled by coach up the M6, in an hour I observed in cars overtaking us, a Mercedes driver shaving, a youth in a Cleo consuming a Macdonald's meal with coffee, a strange looking young man doing air guitar (with incredible enthusiasm) and lastly, two men in a Vauxhall with the passenger giving close attention to the drivers troser fastening area!
Do they not see a coachfull of faces staring down at them?

Stan Derwick 28-Oct-2009 21:59

I saw a biker do a wheelie past jct 19 of the M60 last week dobbo996...wasn't you was it?!!

Bryster 05-Oct-2009 20:50

The police should crush your car if you're doing something seriously dangerous behind the wheel. You can always eat before or after your journey. And for mobile phones, aren't there hands-free kits or you could put the phone on the dashboard with the speaker on? Either way, you'd have both hands for driving!

Terry 02-Aug-2009 01:15

Wow, and I thought this was only a problem in the US! Have read all the driving related links and we are suffering with all the same idiot driver problems here and (it seems) all in the past maybe 7 or so years. Right about when everybody had a cell phone!

JackalopeX3 08-Jun-2009 02:16

Bryster - you have no idea how fast that bike was going, unless of course you had a speed camera strapped to your head. He may have been speeding. He may have been travelling at 30. Just look more carefully next time.

dobbo996 01-Jun-2009 17:40

I am in school and think that people should not apply make up whilst driving

student 09-Dec-2008 17:49

I was turning left at a T-junction ( with a slight crest to the right). After making sure I had a clear exit, I pulled out. At the same time a biker (with pillion) came over the crest doing at least 45mph...in a 30 zone!
After my fierce braking and his swerving he kindly gave me the finger...presumably because I had pulled out on him! I'm sorry fellas...but you really do bring s**t on yourselves e.g 50 yards of road and you think it's a racetrack, wheelies from the lights etc.

Bryster 11-Jul-2008 22:37

The most dangerous things I've seen people do is masturbate whilst driving. I'm a lorry driver so being high up you can see into peoples cars, the two times I have seen this, on the M1 and A40 I just couldn't believe my eyes.

Professional Driver 30-Jun-2008 19:50

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