Rant number 17
Apologies for the very late posting ladies and gents. I've only just got back. Which - bearing in mind the subject in question - may be understandable...
So who is Delia? Well Delia is not a she. She is a what...
This evening, I had around a 50 mile trip to make. This in its self is no problem. Unfortunately however - I did not know the way there exactly. I had a plan however.
After much begging and pleading (and the administration of a minor sedative) I was able to prize my wife's much loved iPhone 4 from her hands. On it you see is a SatNav - which I felt would - most definitely mean that I would get there in double quick time.
Definitely...
Having a healthy distrust for technology (despite having a degree in Music technology - go figure) due to my upbringing in movies (think the Terminator crossed with Demon Seed via Event Horizon - all within my grumpy head goo) I also printed out a paper copy of a route.
I really, really should have risked it with the paper
Knowing that I would be able to get to around 5 miles from where I was going without any guidance, I set off in high spirits - with a view to pulling over around where I was familiar. And this I did.
Which is where I made a very silly error.
My paper copy said go left - and Delia 'knowing better' said to go right.
I trusted her friendly, patronising and dulcet tones.
This, if I am not mistaken - added around 10 miles to my journey (with change,) took around 20 minutes longer and stressed the hell out of me. Ball-ache - really does not cover it.
The thing is, Delia has done this before - more than once.
She forgets roundabouts exist, gives misleading instructions, sends me down dead ends - and various other annoyances.
And lets face it - I'm talking about Delia here- but I really am describing the problems with Sat-Navs in general.
To be very fair to them - and I really should be. Sat-Navs have made traveling to areas outside of your area a little easier.
My issue with them is more that - to use one, you need to put your trust in its hands - which is always always dangerous with a machine (Westworld, the Matrix, I Robot.)
We've all seen and laughed at idiots who have driven through streams or into super narrow lanes at a Sat-Nav's bequest. In an unknown area however, you can see almost see how people can get themselves into these scrapes - although there is evidently some lacking common sense going on there.
The moral I suppose is to trust road signs and maps rather than following the Sat-Nav like a mindless idiot. Have you ever noticed how many times the Sat-Nav seems to be taking you away from your destination!?
Rant over.
Showing posts with label bad driving. Show all posts
Showing posts with label bad driving. Show all posts
Tuesday, 17 January 2012
Monday, 16 January 2012
Rant 16 - 16/1/12 Subject: People who drive like idiots pt 1.
Rant number 16
The reason I have called this number 1 - is that doubtless in the remaining 350 odd days of the year. People will manage to piss me off again with this subject.
Anyway - on to the matter at hand.
People who drive like idiots!
I drive to work each day, to band at least twice a week & often go long distances at the weekend. In this time - I get plenty of chance for people to piss me off.
Usually, on a day to day basis, there is a good gap between the idiots and the normal people. Today however seems to have been some kind of dick driver convention.
So what have they been doing? I hear you cry?
For the most part, driving without giving a shit about those around you. And no, I don't mean speeding in this case - more often than not in fact, this means that people are driving very slowly for no apparent reason.
Example A came this evening on the motor way. As I have already made clear - there are roadworks on the M62 - covering approximately 90% of my daily routes (whoopdy fricken doo) and so most of the journey is spent at 50 miles per hour. Once out of this area, most people do put their foot back down to 70.
Not all however.
Some sit in the middle lane - doing around 63 miles an hour.
I mean why!? The lorries in the left hand lane are generally going at around 60, if you want to go at around 60 - just get in that lane.
As stated - the joyful roadworks continue. Today also - the 3 bloody workman I saw had coned off 2 lanes for around 12 bloody miles - firstly within the 50 zone then - even across the national speed limit area.
At the transition point, I was sitting doing 50 in the left hand lane the -after I saw the contra-flow I indicated right - to get into the right lane. Mr fucking patient behind me could have made room for me to come across, but decided to plow on ahead anyway.
Being a patient sort of fella, I let this wash over my back and slowed a little to let him past, then fell into place behind him.
Now this would have been fine but for one thing....
2 miles later when the motorway opened up again he went straight into the left hand lane at - you guessed it 50 fucking miles an hour.
What was the fucking rush then pal to squeeze me out!?
Finally - after an eternity of speed cameras, contra-flow and idiots, the slip-road came in sight and I escaped the motorway. As is very common, the motorway then joins a roundabout, from which you head into town - which is when fuckhead number 3 reared his ugly head.
He came from the left on the roundabout - no problems there - and I fell into place behind him - which is where it became clear, that in the 40 mile an hour zone we are occupying, he was determined to not exceed 25 miles per hour.
I really - really - really - really - really hate that!
I do not expect anyone to speed. The limits are there for a reason - and it is at each drivers discretion as to whether to exceed them. As stated previously however - particularly at night - limits tend to be a little on the slow side anyway. There is certainly no conceivable reason to drive at 15mph less than the limit in question - you are not driving safer, you are driving like a complete dick.
I mean, have these people not got homes to go to or places to be?
This equally applies to selfish people who crawl off from busy traffic lights etc. Think of all the people who will be stuck in the queue behind you - because you can't work out how to move off properly.
Still, another day comes tomorrow - maybe the idiots will be at a convention elsewhere...
Rant Over.
The reason I have called this number 1 - is that doubtless in the remaining 350 odd days of the year. People will manage to piss me off again with this subject.
Anyway - on to the matter at hand.
People who drive like idiots!
I drive to work each day, to band at least twice a week & often go long distances at the weekend. In this time - I get plenty of chance for people to piss me off.
Usually, on a day to day basis, there is a good gap between the idiots and the normal people. Today however seems to have been some kind of dick driver convention.
So what have they been doing? I hear you cry?
For the most part, driving without giving a shit about those around you. And no, I don't mean speeding in this case - more often than not in fact, this means that people are driving very slowly for no apparent reason.
Example A came this evening on the motor way. As I have already made clear - there are roadworks on the M62 - covering approximately 90% of my daily routes (whoopdy fricken doo) and so most of the journey is spent at 50 miles per hour. Once out of this area, most people do put their foot back down to 70.
Not all however.
Some sit in the middle lane - doing around 63 miles an hour.
I mean why!? The lorries in the left hand lane are generally going at around 60, if you want to go at around 60 - just get in that lane.
As stated - the joyful roadworks continue. Today also - the 3 bloody workman I saw had coned off 2 lanes for around 12 bloody miles - firstly within the 50 zone then - even across the national speed limit area.
At the transition point, I was sitting doing 50 in the left hand lane the -after I saw the contra-flow I indicated right - to get into the right lane. Mr fucking patient behind me could have made room for me to come across, but decided to plow on ahead anyway.
Being a patient sort of fella, I let this wash over my back and slowed a little to let him past, then fell into place behind him.
Now this would have been fine but for one thing....
2 miles later when the motorway opened up again he went straight into the left hand lane at - you guessed it 50 fucking miles an hour.
What was the fucking rush then pal to squeeze me out!?
Finally - after an eternity of speed cameras, contra-flow and idiots, the slip-road came in sight and I escaped the motorway. As is very common, the motorway then joins a roundabout, from which you head into town - which is when fuckhead number 3 reared his ugly head.
He came from the left on the roundabout - no problems there - and I fell into place behind him - which is where it became clear, that in the 40 mile an hour zone we are occupying, he was determined to not exceed 25 miles per hour.
I really - really - really - really - really hate that!
I do not expect anyone to speed. The limits are there for a reason - and it is at each drivers discretion as to whether to exceed them. As stated previously however - particularly at night - limits tend to be a little on the slow side anyway. There is certainly no conceivable reason to drive at 15mph less than the limit in question - you are not driving safer, you are driving like a complete dick.
I mean, have these people not got homes to go to or places to be?
This equally applies to selfish people who crawl off from busy traffic lights etc. Think of all the people who will be stuck in the queue behind you - because you can't work out how to move off properly.
Still, another day comes tomorrow - maybe the idiots will be at a convention elsewhere...
Rant Over.
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