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Today's rubbish driving...

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Started 13 years ago by Stepdoh
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Kenny
Member

This morning (07:50) I'm cycling along a residential street, with a side street up ahead on my left, and directly opposite the side street there are a couple of parked cars which are preventing the car pulling out because I'm coming along. And of course, the car pulls out, immediately realises they've made a mess of it and stop, straddled right across the road. I have to slow and pull into the side street to get around them.

Which led me to a conversation later in the day where I came to the conclusion that car drivers consider their own safety in such a situation, but not the safety of the other person.

So, with the above scenario, if I had been a car, the car driver would not have pulled out because they would know that I would drive straight into the side of them, hurting them. So they wait.

But I'm a bike, the car driver subconsciously knows that they are safe from danger, so pulls out, and then of course realise they can't go anywhere. But they are ok, so it's fine, even if I go straight into the side of their car.

I therefore think that some car drivers are considering their own wellbeing when they are driving and making decisions, and not thinking about the wellbeing of the other road users, whether they be cars, motorbikes, cyclists etc. So long as the driver isn't going to get hurt, that's all that matters.

Maybe I'm being overly cynical.

Posted 11 years ago #
Dave
Member

I agree. There's far too big an asymmetry between what people can see (based on the time I spend driving in town) and what they do for it to be possible that they make genuine mistakes.

Classic practical demonstration - coming down Broughton Street to cross the roundabout at London Street, if there's traffic waiting to pull out from the left (so has to let me past) and I'm looking at them, they almost always pull out in front of me, and I slam on the brakes.

If I go onto the roundabout aiming my head 90 degrees to the right (but looking forward, out of the corner of my eyes) they *never* pull out.

Posted 11 years ago #
Dave
Member

Anyway, I really came here to post this beauty:

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Posted 11 years ago #
Wilmington's Cow
Member

That's brilliant Dave. My video, with the camera still on ultra-wide, really downgrades my truck driver. I think I'll have to go narrower like you have.

Posted 11 years ago #
fimm
Member

What on earth?

Posted 11 years ago #
Kenny
Member

Anyway, I really came here to post this beauty:

Yeah, I had a very similar incident at that junction before Christmas. It was a boy racer who was doing at *least* 40mph and I could see it happening, so slowed down. He then slowed down at the last minute, and must have had one hell of a set of brakes on him, because he somehow managed to stop before the line I would have ridden along. It's a terrible junction because it's not lit (reported to Clarence many weeks ago, ignored so far) and everyone assumes that the road is closed the way we cycle along it. Every day I check both behind me for idiots who will turn left across me because they incorrectly assume I will also be turning left, and to my left for the situation you had.

Glad you survived it.

Posted 11 years ago #
DeathbyPompino
Member

Today's is brought to you buy a suped-up black range rover on Brandon Street.

It's got traffic work road lights on at the moment. Come around the corner to see the sign "Wait here at red light" and the lights have already changed from orange to red. So I slow to a stop, lean right and unclip.

This numpty blasts through the red light, narrowly missing my elbow and forcing a runner to leg it across the junction. Totally unjustifiable driving!

Posted 11 years ago #
amir
Member

Today I was rolling up Minto St towards town in the bus lane. A long flat bed lorry overtook in the car lane and start to indicate left to go up West Mayfield. However it stayed in the right hand lane so that it could turn left juuuust in front of another cyclist who was in also in the bus lane about 100m in front of me. From my perspective it seemed awfully close and completely unnecessary. What is wrong with people?

Posted 11 years ago #
ARobComp
Member

BMW on melville drive this am. Came across junction behind me and then passed FAR too close. They were really hugging the left hand position in the road as they continued which made me think they might be a foreign driver used to driving on the right hand side of the street.

Still since they've removed the cycle lane (no real need to IMO as there is tonnes of space) its a pretty nasty pinch point for cyclists there. (talking about the junction at the east end of the meadows)

Posted 11 years ago #
PS
Member

Didn't involve any cyclists but this occured at a location that has attracted much discussion on here, so I reckon it may be instructional:

I was on a Lothian Bus 26 heading east along Princes Street at about 6.30pm yesterday evening. Had just set down/picked up passengers outside Jenners, so was in the left hand lane. A yellow CityLink coach was alongside in the right hand lane.

Both vehicles pulled forward at much the same speed towards the junction with Market Street, beyond which the carriageway goes down to one lane as the pavement now bulges out.

I presume the 26 was in the correct lane and that by the time you get to the Market Street traffic lights the right hand lane is a "right turn only" lane. CityLink coach driver obviously had other ideas as it continued straight over (in effect jumping a red light in that right hand lane) such that the two buses very nearly had a coming together as the 26 moved right to go through the pedestrian pinch.

Judging by the heavy use of horn both at that junction and as he passed the 26 again on Leith Street, Citylink driver seemed to think he was in the right.

Lesson learned is that, in addition to the fun with tramlines and pedestrians nipping across the single lane on that stretch, it looks like we're going to have to look out for drivers who have no idea what lane they should be in. When these drivers happen to be in charge of a 10 ton vehicle there is potential for carnage.

Posted 11 years ago #
kaputnik
Moderator

10 ton vehicle

12.5 tonnes. Empty!

Posted 11 years ago #
wingpig
Member

Can't remember what switchings were required for straight-along travel in yesteryear but both directions currently require at least two sideways shuffles at some point. There's also the peculiar absence of ASZs in some lanes when there's one on the adjacent lane.

Posted 11 years ago #
fimm
Member

@winpig the one place I can think of where there's an ASL on the inside lane and not the outside one is where the outside lane goes straight to the tram stop and it is strictly for trams only, so the ASL setup does kind of make sense.

Posted 11 years ago #
fimm
Member

...was brought to you by the driver of a small red car who thought it was appropriate to overtake me while we were crossing the level crossing at Kirknewton.

What idiot overtakes on a railway level crossing?

Posted 11 years ago #
chdot
Admin

"What idiot overtakes on a railway level crossing?"

The sort that is likely to do the same with tram lines.

Was at Haymarket yesterday. Looks like lots more possibilities for problems -

Posted 11 years ago #
fimm
Member

Piffle, I meant to have a proper look at the rails (given that I ride over that level crossing quite happily (if cautiously)). I was too busy cursing the moron. I'll try and remember this evening. The thing about that crossing, of course, is you cross it once and at right angles to the rails.

Posted 11 years ago #
steveo
Member

A twofer today! Bottom of Henderson Terrace waiting at the lights at the end of Gorgie waiting to go up, when they turn a chav BMW blats off and gets round into Muireston before I even clip in.

The moron behind him decides he's going to have some of that and blats off and cuts me off, the Complete and utter [No Swearing] (third in the queue) goes as well and had I not stopped dead in the junction he'd have side swiped me. Luckily the guy behind was paying attention!

Posted 11 years ago #
bdellar
Member

OK, so how do I embed video here?

Posted 11 years ago #
kaputnik
Moderator

pasting a complete (not twit-shortened) youtube link will embed a video clip. No tags required. Think it works for Vimeo too.

Posted 11 years ago #
bdellar
Member

Ha, I was messing around with html and stuff. Didn't think of just posting the link! Here's today's bad driving:

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Posted 11 years ago #
bdellar
Member

And one from last week:

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Posted 11 years ago #
kaputnik
Moderator

Brilliantly done by today's driver there B. And coming right up to a build-out as well. Their mother must be very proud of them.

And that it was a monster-truck in the second video was a nice touch!

Posted 11 years ago #
kaputnik
Moderator

Can anyone beat someone driving the wrong-way round the Forest Road / Bristo Place one-way system then trying (and failing) to do a U-turn outside that expensive wine hotel place?

Suit in the Audi TT convertible behind me was so keen on his horn (even after the danger had passed and traffic had stopped to let the confused get back in the right direction) that I ended up expending even more frowning and glowering in his direction.

Posted 11 years ago #
559
Member

Heading south on Drumbrae Road South bus lane this morning a "considerate" driver in the normal lane decides to hold back to let a transit van out of Pearce Road right across my path. After slowing down long enough for van to clear away, exasperated wave to the "considerate" driver. She then tooted to gain my attention slowed to beside her now open passenger window, I said she can't let traffic out of a side road when there is a inside lane. She disputed this.

My Q to this forum, is there anything in the Highway Code that covers this?

Posted 11 years ago #
kaputnik
Moderator

@559 the responsibility certainly lies with the vehicle waiting to turn out of the side road;

183

When turning...
...give way to any vehicles using a bus lane, cycle lane or tramway from either direction.

Also, there are various rules that mean that the vehicle turning out of the side street must not use another vehicle giving it a hand or headlight signal as an indication that it is clear to make the turn. The driver must assess the situation for itself and only make the turn if it is safe to do so (and you or a bus are not using the greenway lane)

Posted 11 years ago #
559
Member

@kaputnik, cheers,
thats what I thought, would have remonstrated more with the van driver, but they were away

Posted 11 years ago #
Smudge
Member

Was brought to me by the chump in a small blue hatchback (with woman and child on board) who failed to overtake me before beginning a left hook then thinking better of it and waiting while I cancelled my emergency stop and carried on past the turning with an exasperated look/wave. He then started over the junction and aimlessly tooted his horn, seemingly at no-one in particular. You Sir, are an absolute smeghead.

Last nights **** driving was brought to me by the woman in a smal 4x4 type vehicle who made an appallingly badly (un)planned overtake approachin the roadworks leaving Juniper Green entering Currie. On realising she had no space to pass before reaching the back of the queue and being alongside me she decided to pretend I wasn't there and pull in anyway. Fortunately her pretence was not airzound proof and she swiftly changed her mind and decided to pull back in behind me after all. On the plus side she did make a very nice wide (shamefaced?) overtake once we were past the roadworks.

I love the way the airzound can magically make me visible to drivers doing stupid things and pretending I don't exist B-)
I probably only use it once every couple of months, but it's good when I do!!

Posted 11 years ago #
559
Member

Left hooked on Clermiston Drive by black pick up truck into Parkgrove Road. He accelerated passed me to then turn left. I luckily sensed and stopped, after recovering from surprise, went after and caught up.

Proceeded to have a good positive discussion on what he had just done, hope he takes on board, that foot off the gas pedal is a good thing. Thanks also to the driver of the car who had been waiting to turn out of Parkgrove Road who also came back to positively contribute

Posted 11 years ago #
recombodna
Member

Nice old woman went from the outside lane on george street straight into a parking space at the kerbside almost taking me out in the process. She was very apologetic and offered to take me for a coffee. I politely declined and asked her to consider using her mirror before changing lanes. She apologized even more and said she would. Then as I pulled away down the street a Taxi driver ran out in front of me shouting " He was indicating and you went up the inside!!" over and over again very loudly. All I could say was "He was a she and and she was much nicer than You".............. Then coming up chambers street a police van pulled out off a parking space without indicating and narrowly missed me. Some days eh?

Posted 11 years ago #
kaputnik
Moderator

Oh I've been on the recieving end of "what the taxi driver saw" before. Invariably wrong.

Posted 11 years ago #