Rioters may remember the storm in a tea cup when the “Feel the Power” ACT license plates were first rolled out. Opponents said that the plates would likely invoke a spate of road rage incidents due to their overtly testosterone soaked sentiment, especially when ACT residents were driving interstate. Ultimately, as most controversies do, the criticisms came to naught.
I think we should reciprocate and warn interstate drivers about the perils of driving in the National Capital. Given the increasing trend of Canberra drivers to pull out into the path of an oncoming vehicle on 80km/h roads, forcing the oncoming vehicle to aggressively deploy the anchors. I’m proposing the title of this post as a new slogan for TAMS to consider putting on all future ACT plates.
I’d like to know if it is just me (perhaps driving a light weight 1.3 ltr car) that is somehow provoking other ACT road users into a state of total disregard for my Newtonian force, or have other rioters also experienced the same growth in this vehicular phenomenon in recent years.
If so, I would also like to know what is causing this. Is it simply a manifestation of growing societal impatience, a mass increase in the incidence of myopia, or something more sinister?
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What’s Your opinion?
CANBERRA $@#% You I’m pulling out anyway
Oldest to Newst
the safest way to drive is to distrust everything and everyone, even youself.
Sage words indeed from the Sergeant and Bethie.
Before this post continues and someone is forced to invoke Godwin’s Law http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Godwin's_law
I formally call for a truce. What do you say HenryBG? I’ll agree to stop “punishing” other road users if you agree to stop being such a crusty old fart and pulling in front of whomever you dam well please?
Maybe we can even go and do a defensive driving course together? Just as long as you promise wear an onion in your belt.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ARXfQzfl9EQ
Thanks for the feedback one and all.
Aspro
Alderney said :
I ignored your first post as it was so rife with bizarre statements that I figured you could have only been trolling. But after this post, I’m convinced you’re not.
Alderney said :
95% of drivers believe that they’re better than average. Hence, nearly half of all drivers are more confident of their abilities than they should be. Overconfidence is possibly the biggest silent killer on our roads. Don’t believe me? Look at the statistics of the most over confident group of drivers on the road… 17 to 24 year old males.
Alderney said :
I’m not going to argue that the commodore driver didn’t do anything wrong. They clearly have failed to give way and committed an offence… but why do you keep pointing out that they were probably from Queanbeyan? Is this a vain attempt to convince everyone that the give way offence was somehow worse because of where the driver may sleep at night? I’m not following.
Alderney said :
Whilst I have no doubt that the situation was heart stopping and possibly required a change of pants, how do you know it was a deliberate and malicious move? It could’ve been a genuine mistake rather than a callous disregard for your safety. All human beings make mistakes… all human beings have natural blind spots, something that cross road intersections on 100 + km/h carriageways do not cater for.
Alderney said :
It’s fair to say that almost any time that two drivers find themselves in a tricky situation with one another, that neither one of them can be let off all blame completely. In fact both drivers will often leave the scene utterly pissed off at being wronged by someone else.
Many drivers would then praise themselves and their driving ability for being able to get out of that situation… eg: “lucky for that person…”. Drivers will almost NEVER look back on the incident and question what they could’ve done differently to avoid the situation all together.
Classic example: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tcLKiIMVa0M
I have no doubt the driver of the Rodeo in the incident above went home carrying on about what a close call he / she had when they got cut off at Oaks Estate. Rather than saying “I contributed to a near collision when someone failed to give way to me and I didn’t slow down when I had time to do so”
Back to your incident; being such a capable driver as you claim, I’m sure you were paying full attention to the road. You would not have been tailgating, and thus would had had a good chance to observe the commodore driver approaching or sitting at the intersection with the potential to cross your path. Again being a capable driver, you’d be aware of the deadly ramifications of being involved in a collision at an indicated 105 km/h regardless of fault. You would have immediately taken your foot off the accelerator, or cancelled cruise control, and hovered your foot over the brake… just in case something went wrong.
If not, you contributed to the near collision and should not be praising yourself quite as much as you are.
Alderney said :
Again not following.
Postalgeek said :
You think motorists can’t get on, so you ride your bike instead. I’m not sure I follow your logic? 😛
Postalgeek said :
That’s why I like driving in Sydney. More often then not every driver of every discription, will let you in so long as you indicate your intent. We spend our lives rushing from one place to another then wonder why so many people are having stupid accidents that so easily could have been avoided. No one on this forum can honestly say that they have not been involved in some sort of road rage (minor to major) in their driving lives.
in regards to the OP, I have had occasions where I have pulled out in front of a car that I misjudged the distance on, and I am sure I am not the only one. I apologise to you in advance if I do it in the future…..small excuse and an excuse all the same but I am still getting used to driving my new car.
Seems that once again we have two sides of the same tedious coin: drivers who cut in front of other drivers, and drivers who don’t like letting other drivers in. They feed off each other.
This is one of the reasons why I ride when I can.