N8 Numpty
05/03/08 22:10 Filed in: General
Nonsense
I drive a lot in the
course of my job, and while I would never consider
myself to be the best driver on the roads, I come up
against a lot of idiot drivers on the highways and
byways of our fair isle.
Like the one I encountered this morning as I drove to Cork. I overtook a few slow-moving vehicles just south of Urlingford, and as often happens, the overtaking lane ended before I had a chance to get past one particular truck. This was a big artic, carrying ESB poles or something like that. It couldn't go much above 60 km/h. However, I wasn't the only one in this position, as there was a Nissan Primera in front of me and behind the truck.
The truck driver obviously knew that there was traffic building up behind him, and did what he could to allow it to overtake him. But our friend in the Primera made such a meal of the manoeuvre that it wasn't until we were beyond Horse and Jockey that he finally got past him.
For the first mile or so, it wasn't feasible to try to overtake as there was too much traffic coming against us. Then when it cleared, Numpty in the Primera puts on his right indicator and promptly hits the brakes. So I hung back, as this would normally be an indication that he was going to turn right. But he didn't, he just went on for another mile or so with his indicator on. The truck moves over to the hard shoulder to let him go, and Numpty starts to overtake. Some traffic appears from the other direction, and yer man panics and slams on the brakes. He could have gone safely, having not crossed the central line, but instead aborted the manoeuvre. Then we get to Turnpike, so the truck has to pull out of the hard shoulder. Between Turnpike and H&J Numpty thinks about it once or twice again, but decides to stay put.
Then after Horse & Jockey, the truck practically goes into the ditch to give him enough room. He hesitates for a while, but finally makes his move, out way over the central line (even though his own lane was completely clear, the truck having all its wheels in the hard shoulder), and forcing an oncoming car into the hard shoulder on the opposite side. I got out past the truck right after him, but of course he's now right up against the white line. Eventually I got past him.
Today it was announced that penalty points will be dished out to car owners who allow their registration plates to become illegibly dirty. Surely they could put in a category for idiocy too?
Like the one I encountered this morning as I drove to Cork. I overtook a few slow-moving vehicles just south of Urlingford, and as often happens, the overtaking lane ended before I had a chance to get past one particular truck. This was a big artic, carrying ESB poles or something like that. It couldn't go much above 60 km/h. However, I wasn't the only one in this position, as there was a Nissan Primera in front of me and behind the truck.
The truck driver obviously knew that there was traffic building up behind him, and did what he could to allow it to overtake him. But our friend in the Primera made such a meal of the manoeuvre that it wasn't until we were beyond Horse and Jockey that he finally got past him.
For the first mile or so, it wasn't feasible to try to overtake as there was too much traffic coming against us. Then when it cleared, Numpty in the Primera puts on his right indicator and promptly hits the brakes. So I hung back, as this would normally be an indication that he was going to turn right. But he didn't, he just went on for another mile or so with his indicator on. The truck moves over to the hard shoulder to let him go, and Numpty starts to overtake. Some traffic appears from the other direction, and yer man panics and slams on the brakes. He could have gone safely, having not crossed the central line, but instead aborted the manoeuvre. Then we get to Turnpike, so the truck has to pull out of the hard shoulder. Between Turnpike and H&J Numpty thinks about it once or twice again, but decides to stay put.
Then after Horse & Jockey, the truck practically goes into the ditch to give him enough room. He hesitates for a while, but finally makes his move, out way over the central line (even though his own lane was completely clear, the truck having all its wheels in the hard shoulder), and forcing an oncoming car into the hard shoulder on the opposite side. I got out past the truck right after him, but of course he's now right up against the white line. Eventually I got past him.
Today it was announced that penalty points will be dished out to car owners who allow their registration plates to become illegibly dirty. Surely they could put in a category for idiocy too?