Roundabouts and other driving pet peeves

[Bada-Bing!]

2 years suspended sentence for driving deliberately at a cyclist and almost killing him because she has two young children and mental health issues. Nah she lost her rag and attempted to kill him.

 

[Bada-Bing!]

Riders on these Sur Ron motorbikes who ride at excess speed on pedestrian- Bike areas only on the high street. One was coming towards me at a speeds of 30 mph or more crash straight into a tree and must have broken his leg and wrist.

One of his mates just picked up the bike to go "stash it away" whilst he was lying prone on the ground screaming in agony. Police and ambulance took their time to get to him.

Hope he's not too badly hurt but it was just lucky he didn't injure or worse still kill anyone else. Doubt he was taxed or insured so what use it putting points on his license especially if he doesn't have one.

Illegal e-motorbike riders 'goading' police, force says

Communities want action on illegal motorbikes but police are cautious after high-profile deaths.

www.bbc.co.uk

Whatsapped a mate who is in the police but he couldn't tell me the condition of the rider because of DP. Still, local paper reported him to be "seriously injured". Definitely no number plate on it though. I also don't recall him wearing a helmet, just a balaclava.

 

[Bada-Bing!]

Drivers parked across lowered pavements and also those who jump red lights going beyond the white stop line and then stay stationary waiting but blocking a crossing.

 

[Ragey Erasmus]

Illegal e-motorbike riders 'goading' police, force says

Communities want action on illegal motorbikes but police are cautious after high-profile deaths.

www.bbc.co.uk

Whatsapped a mate who is in the police but he couldn't tell me the condition of the rider because of DP. Still, local paper reported him to be "seriously injured". Definitely no number plate on it though. I also don't recall him wearing a helmet, just a balaclava.

You'd think in general mass drone teams would be a huge help to tackling this sort of stuff but it seems police forces are pretty slow in adopting new technology. No need to chase them through the streets if you can get a bunch of drones in the air keeping tabs on them.

 

[dullonien]

You'd think in general mass drone teams would be a huge help to tackling this sort of stuff but it seems police forces are pretty slow in adopting new technology. No need to chase them through the streets if you can get a bunch of drones in the air keeping tabs on them.

Very good point! We still regularly hear/see the Police helicopter out searching for people where I live. Sometimes will be circling for an hour or more. Helicopters are hideously expensive to run though, and slow to deploy.

Why don't the police deploy a few drones instead? Cheaper, better coverage as they can have a few looking at the same time, and can get much closer + to areas a helicoper never could. Seems like a no brainer!

 

[Bada-Bing!]

Interesting idea. Seriously getting into the whole Blade Runner/robocop type future with drones following criminals and who knows a voice telling them they will not get away. Would society accept that?

 

[Saintjay]

Very good point! We still regularly hear/see the Police helicopter out searching for people where I live. Sometimes will be circling for an hour or more. Helicopters are hideously expensive to run though, and slow to deploy.

Why don't the police deploy a few drones instead? Cheaper, better coverage as they can have a few looking at the same time, and can get much closer + to areas a helicoper never could. Seems like a no brainer!

Depends on what they are doing tbh. There's pretty strict rules on direct and indirect surveillance and what's likely to gather personal sensitive information and information on people just going about there lives.

Plus this is dependent on the 'forces' pursuit policy. As far as i know some still have a no pursuit policy on motorcycles etc. Is it worth the death of the rider, member of the public etc weighed up against what offences are being committed.

You've only got took look at the debate on 'ring' type door bells in social housing flats that cover into communal corridors or the flat opposite. Technically it's surveillance and some local authorities don't allow it.

 

[Bada-Bing!]

I think we already live in a society that is heavily under surveillance with the amount of CCTV, peeps with smartphone video cameras, cyclists wearing cameras and cars with onboard dash-cams.

The issue now is police being handcuffed not to be able to enforce the laws and pursue lawbreakers and giving them the tech which doesn't put riders and public at risk in the process and where and when they can use that tech.

 

[Reiser99]

I think if a drone was used purely in response to supporting a chase then fine. If we get into the realm of drones flying around looking for crime, then it's big brother territory.

 

[Bada-Bing!]

So reported another Surron rider, who I have footage of clearly identifying him (I think second time caught this one) to the police but because he has no number plate will not do anything. Well that's the point isn't it he's free to ride as he pleases until he slams into someone innocent crossing or injures himself.

 

[Bada-Bing!]

 

[Bada-Bing!]

Very lucky escape for mother and baby. But what was the car doing on the wrong side?

 

[Bada-Bing!]

 

[dullonien]

Ashley Neil makes some very good observations here that I think all road users need to follow. Look, there's no denying that the car driver is at fault there, with any sort of obstruction to his view (trees when approaching + car in front) he should 100% be stopping at the give way line and making sure.

However, all users, be it cyclists or drivers, should be aware of potential hazards, and prepare in advance for other road users to make mistakes or poor decisions. So as Ashley guggests in the above video, the cyclist should be approaching that crossroads with caution, ready to stop should a car pull out. I personally try do this at all times when cycling or driving. One example is when navigating roundabouts - if I'm already on a roundabout and I see a car aproaching from the left, I will keep an eye to make sure they're going to stop, or at least look for signs that they may not.

I think too many road users fail to do this. I sometimes watch the dashcam academy videos on youtube and there's many collosions where the other driver is clearly at fault, but there's been ample opportunity for the car with the dashcam to see the hazard and avoid the incident. This doesn't remove blame, but still could have precented the accident from occurring.

 

[Bada-Bing!]

 

[Bada-Bing!]

 

[dullonien]

Saw a number of people doing one of my pet peeves this morning. On my school run there's a dual carriageway with slip roads up to overhead roundabouts. During rush hour the dual carriageway gets congested and slows to a stop in places past the busy junctions as people join.

I often see cars in this scenario take the exit up to the roundabout, only to continue straight back down the slip road the other side and re-join the dual carriageway!

They may skip 3-4 cars, but don't they realise that this just causes further delays on the dual carriageway for others? Selfish, selfish behaviour imo, and probably just shows the type of driver/person they are.

 

[Reiser99]

Saw a number of people doing one of my pet peeves this morning. On my school run there's a dual carriageway with slip roads up to overhead roundabouts. During rush hour the dual carriageway gets congested and slows to a stop in places past the busy junctions as people join.

I often see cars in this scenario take the exit up to the roundabout, only to continue straight back down the slip road the other side and re-join the dual carriageway!

They may skip 3-4 cars, but don't they realise that this just causes further delays on the dual carriageway for others? Selfish, selfish behaviour imo, and probably just shows the type of driver/person they are.

Yeah, but it's the same with speeding and lane hopping. It might make you marginally quicker, but actually if everyone drove sensibly at the same speed there would be less traffic overall and cut journey times.

 

[Bada-Bing!]

Was walking in town this morning when I spotted driver of a lorry carrying a skip with mobile in one hand steering with his left. Managed to get a video of him, but not sure if it is good enough evidence to prosecute him. Reported and evidence uploaded. Up to the police whether they do.

On another case of mobile phone driving they are taking a young lady driver to court and asked me if I would be willing to attend. This was a case back in October where I saw this young female driver with both hands on her mobile texting without hands on the steering wheel whilst moving the car forward. Very dangerous. I can only think she is a young driver who has only passed her test and is willing to challenge the decision otherwise she"ll lose her license. Just hope the case is not end of May/beginning of June when I am out of the country.

 

[Bada-Bing!]

Saw a number of people doing one of my pet peeves this morning. On my school run there's a dual carriageway with slip roads up to overhead roundabouts. During rush hour the dual carriageway gets congested and slows to a stop in places past the busy junctions as people join.

I often see cars in this scenario take the exit up to the roundabout, only to continue straight back down the slip road the other side and re-join the dual carriageway!

They may skip 3-4 cars, but don't they realise that this just causes further delays on the dual carriageway for others? Selfish, selfish behaviour imo, and probably just shows the type of driver/person they are.

Yep, was driving back last night and stopped at temporary traffic lights. What happens well first a surron rider speeds past (no back number plate) or lights.

Then a truck decides to follow for some reason but unlike the surron can't fit through the gap so cars coming the other way have to squeeze past him as he stops in the middle of the other lane. Absolute fcukwit.