31 August 2005

Take it easy people

| Ralph
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This morning’s inclement weather seems to have inspired many Canberra drivers to try and remove themselves from the gene pool. Please feel free to write yourself off, so long as you don’t take any other innocent parties with you, and jack up our insurance premiums. No news reports (as yet) indicating whether any of them were successful.

I saw at least four cars travelling between 20-30 kmh over the limit on the wet roads, and numerous others without headlights on. Ironically the fog light brigade didn’t seem to be out of bed when I made my way into town this morning.

Your ABS, AWD, EBD, and ESC aren’t designed to save you when your car is aquaplaning. Air bags aren’t very effective when it comes to trees, street poles and semis.

Please share your stories.

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It’s been a while since I’ve driven in Canberra, but I keep seeing ACT numberplates everywhere I go. And I have to say they drive like maniacs. BUT the worst lot has to be the Central Coast. When I visited there recently, it was definitely a near-death experience on the roundabouts. I and my other drivers with the right of way started to come through this one section, when a lady decided she didn’t want to wait anymore, came into my lane on the roundabout forcing me to stop – this is peak hour mind you – then she dashed out through a gap in the other lane’s traffic.

Lady, if I ever find you…

Admitting that you’re just stirring doesn’t ease the pain, Vic. The cold, awful, bitter pain.

Vic Bitterman9:13 pm 31 Aug 05

My drive to work – all 6 minutes of it – was fine. Like every day.

Anyone else who travels further than that is a loser.

(Yes, I’m stirring!!!!!!!!)

Yeah, a ridiculous number of f*ckmuppets on the road today. I was particularly impressed with the guy who allllmost (I was wishing so hard…) managed to write off his wrx on a roundabout in Kaleen.

random.. I think you are missing Ralph’s point. But I dont give a rats ass, In rainy dark conditions, I will drive with my headlights on. Cause it’s not all about us seeing you, it’s also about others seeing us.

Samuel Gordon-Stewart12:57 pm 31 Aug 05

Those calvary traffic lights have been a disaster from the time they were announced. Common sense would tell you that you don’t place traffic lights in such close proximity, but I think the recent upgrades to Canberra West Central show that our planners lack the notion of common sense.

I’ll just count my lucky stars that I had the luxury of not having to be out of bed until 11am today.

Absent Diane12:39 pm 31 Aug 05

Kerces – There was a prang there yesterday funnily enough

Ralph, I know. And I maintain that if you couldn’t see me in my blue laser in this mornings conditions, you need your eyes tested.

Well this look slike the right place to mention the new traffic lights outside of Calvary Hospital are operational as of yesterday, so just watch out for them. Especially since the bus stops on both sides of the road are in ridiculous spots in relation to the lights.
K

What I don’t get is that it took me three times as long to get to work today. Why don’t people realise that if you knock a bit of speed off, driving in the wet really is no different to driving in the dry. But no, everyone has to get all ansty and try to be the last car through the lights before they turn red and end up blocking all directions of traffic through intersections.

Also, guy in the black Camaro, don’t drift the thing around town with the FOR SALE sign and your phone number on the back, just makes you look stupid.

Ralph: Exactly. I’ve got a silver car, so I always use the lights in the rain.

Having headlights on in the rain is not about improving your visibility. Its about ensuring that other people can see YOU.

Usually I’d be the first to whinge, however I’d like to apologise to the person that had to brake for me today when I pulled out on to an empty lane on Hindmarsh Dr, only to discover that it merged with their lane about 10m later. Sorry about that (never driven that way before).

Canberrans aren’t really any worse than anywhere else. Driving in both Sydney and Melbourne in the last month, I can safely say there’s a large percentage of bad drivers everywhere you go.

Headlights were unneccessary. Completely. Get your eyes tested.

Whenever it rains Canberrans drive very very fast so they can get to where they’re going before they have an accident. Bad drivers in Canberra.

Personal favourite this morning was young man in rice mobile, sliding sideways towards a fullen laden down chippie ute on the Coppins Crossing Road.

I welcome their attempts to remove themselves from the gene pool, my sentiments exactly Ralph. I am wondering how the banks have covered their loans as they all seem to be very young people in very expensive looking vehicles…

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