What is it with drivers and not letting other people pull out or even go in the direction they were originally heading?
Having been out on the road today for a quick trip to Tesco I was dissapointed to find that all the idiots had been let loose to coincide with my trip for unessential tat.
All I want is people to let me change lane after I have been indicating for a good 30 seconds or even if people would just let me turn right instead of all the people with stiff necks who can't see me.

This isn't aimed at any of the better more considerate drivers out there , but to all of you that have stopped in box junctions or blocked turnings in traffic jams i hope you go to a hell where noone lets you pull out for all eternity.

Hmm, new to these parts are we.

Rules for driving in Sheffield:
1. Adopt the attitude '#ITS MY ******* ROAD#'
2. See rule 1

Barstools! Aren't they?

Or:
1: insert second pair of eyes in back of head
2: STAY AWAKE
3: If it's stupid, he'll do it, so block him properly or get out of the way
4: Drive at speed limit + 50%. National 10% doesn't apply here
5: Be VERY aware that this is the car crime capital of britain. HE probably doesn't have insurance.

Good luck

Thanks Strix , funnily enough I havnt been driving in sheffield long , but I think you missed out the rule titled "Do everything in your power and I mean EVERYTHING to stop any other driver reaching their destination in any other mood than a bad one"

Think you missed the point. They're rules for YOUR survival!

Well, I consider myself a courteous driver, and often let people in because I'm the caring sharing type :D

However, with the poor traffic management and road network in Sheffield, it isn't really a big surprise that so many drivers become annoyed and inconsiderate.

8) Nah Den Ace....

The sooner we rid our city centres from the menace of automobiles the better.

All those in favour, say "How much is it Ecclesall Road South please driver?"

Regards,

Spacehopper.

That doesn't explain the higher-than-national-average stupidity out there

More than ever, drivers seem to make up there own 'rules of the road' - Highway code:huh: one of my favourites (NOT) - driver in front of me turns right from very busy road into minor road. I follow, they do a U turn into the junction leaving me stuck in the road with bus/skip wagon bearing down on me. Happens frequently on the junction of ecclesall rd/Gisborne rd.
I allways assume now that the idiot in front may do this and hold back.:rant:

Drivers without a doubt are getting more ignorant as the years go by, if you are courteous and let another driver in you'll usually get some prat hooting at you from behind. If you think our road layouts are bad I'd suggest you go to Leicester, driving there will give you the very strong desire to become a pedestrian again. There are two things you can do,
firstly drive as though everybody else on the road is a raving lunatic and if you think they're going to do something silly they probably will. And secondly you could always drive as they do in London, i.e. signal and then move, I think the majority of Londoners must use their rrear view mirrors for applying the lippy.
The long lines of cars crawling in and out of the city at rush hour often mean I can walk faster than the traffic which gives me some amusement. Why don't more office/shop workers who don't need their car for work leave it at home and catch the bus? I mention this as I've noticed Ecclesall road from CarterKnowle to Hunters Bar is becoming a very long almost stationary car park.

Originally posted by draggletail
Happens frequently on the junction of ecclesall rd/Gisborne rd.



Yes it does! That happened to me once there too. Well, on Ecclesall Road SOUTH anyway. ;)

I don't mind giving way and I am careful not to stop in box junctions and block side roads for oncoming traffic to turn into.

What I do object to is the unnecessary lane switiching people do just to move up the traffic, the flash the indicator once and stick the front end of their cars out. If I didnt have a decent motor myself I would be inclined not to hit the brakes and write the feckers off

:rant:

Has anybody experienced a three lane cut up from the little side road coming out from the side of Arctic Spas, onto europa way? They dont even look, and one time an old fella in this Daewoo came shooting across the lanes, and I just managed to stop in time, whilst almost having the driver behind smash into me.

i know people get frustrated driving in busy rish hour traffic on roads that resemble the surface of the moon, but the University roundabout has to be the best one to go on at 5pm if you are wanting a deathmatch for your motor! Nobody knows where the hell they are going!

t020
It changes at the lights at end of Psalter lane by Gelders, of course:) Only lived up here 23 years....:D
Aargh:D

Originally posted by 1Man&hisBMW

i know people get frustrated driving in busy rish hour traffic on roads that resemble the surface of the moon, but the University roundabout has to be the best one to go on at 5pm if you are wanting a deathmatch for your motor! Nobody knows where the hell they are going!

The university roundabout is an absolute nightmare, The worst roundabout in the city - Especially in a 3.5 ton diesel!

Try Handsworth Rd Eastbound if you like real live Playstation!!
Off the parkway, turning right? Watch for the car on your left coming left with you.
Approaching the lights, bear left to stay on this road, but watchout for being cut up from that lane.
Cross the lights and bear right to avoid parked cars, but beware of under takers.
Bear left to avoid the car in the middle of the road turning right thru the gap, and don't get boxed in.
Bear right round the parked cars again,then join left lane at the lights.
Bear right, but watch for the twonk who went straight on instead of turning right, and watch out for the bus at the stop on the hill-cum-blind bend.
You WILL by this time be embrioled in a fight to the death with some short sighted person in a cavalier/mondeo/other aged wreck who has seen none of the obstructions, and blamed you for holding him up (expertly, if you're paying attention!) and be doing around 48mph (thru 30 zone) down the hill to the traffic lights
This is a good time to let him past, watch him draw up to the red light, then breeze past him again as they change!

Isn't it fun living here? I don't think so.

Originally posted by draggletail
t020
It changes at the lights at end of Psalter lane by Gelders, of course:) Only lived up here 23 years....:D
Aargh:D


Yeah... and becomes Eccy Road SOUTH. I like being pedantic, sorry. ;)

PS I want a 2.2l Zafira! I've raced one. They're funny. Nobody expects you to drive it like an Astra! Mine's only a 1.8, but it's hilarious watching a prat in a rollerskate with skirts eat dust when he's out driven (see above)

Favourite manouvre? Slow down to 15mph passing some nice obstruction (no overtaking) or reaching the bottom of a hill, then drop a couple of gears and floor it! Funny, they're no longer rummaging in your boot!

i let people in and out if it's safe and convenient to do so.
But it annoys me when people randomly take it on themselves to stop the entire main road to let someone out. It's not safe, no one else can see that they will suddenly stop, because there is no obstruction visible from further back.
So letting someone out is good if you can, but you shouldn't just pull up on the main road to let them out if the traffic is heavy, unless it's already slowed to a crawl, then it's fine.

The best example I have seen of stupidity on the roads was on Friday afternoon .
Whilst driving on the M1 south at j34 a young lady that was coming onto the M1 looked in her side mirror and proceeded to change lanes with no indicators and with my vehicle travelling next to hers in the lane she was trying to enter.
I pipped my horn to warn her that she was about to connect my left hand door and slowed down to let her in.
She then changed lane and started to give hand signs as though I was the idiot on the road!

Bearing in mind that when entering the M1 south from J34 you automatically enter a lane that is normally open and can immediatle do national speed limit whilst vehicles already on the M1 are just trying to come out of a 50 MPH restriction and are then in the middle and outer lanes It puzzled me as to why she wanted to get into the middle lane as that is where all the slow moving traffic is at that point.

A very good example of ignorance goes to HGV drivers that travel less than 1m away from the rear of other HGV's.
They do not allow room for other vehicles to get in from the slip roads thus creating a traffic jam.
You see this everymorning on the M62.
Also! The M18 where HGV's that are governed to 58 MPH decide to overtake another because they can go 0.5 MPH faster.

I have been stuck behind one from the A1 up untill J4 before they finaly got past.

You think you've got problems ?
In our town we have people who turn right at a roundabout in the outside lane or change lanes whilst on the roundabout. It amazes me that there aren't more accidents.

i ride a scooter, and most drivers still decide to drive right behind you even when its heavily raining!

If you want to see a daily nightmare give the Centenary Roundabout in Rotherham any time of day a go its truly amazing people are not killed or injured every day due to the belief that you can come onto the roundabout at high speed without giving way to anything or anybody.

Can't we name and shame the idiot drivers?
Take down their reg number, make and colour, then post them on here. Surely if we put something like, "blue ford focus reg no. PG53 MUG. doesn't know how to indicate ands drives like an idiot, in my opinion" We wouldn't be breaking any libel or slander laws as we're merely stating an opinion. We could get quite a list. Course it's not so funny if my number gets put on, not that it ever would .

There is something in the air around London Road and Abeydale Road that makes people drive like loonies, I am genuinely scared sometimes.
Luckly by the time Abbeydale Road gets to the old cinema the traffic is too slow moving to be dangerous.

And your not that safe as a pedestrian either.

Proof I think is what's required.
What if someone on here dislikes another person and decides to just put the make, model and reg number of their car on here claiming all and sundry?

Geoff would have a nice field day when the solicitors of these people came knocking.

Nice idea, but I'd suggest it's more trouble than it's worth to be fair.

I reguarly drive in London. Guess what... Sheffield is completely tame in comparison! Sheffield drivers have nothing to moan about really. Yeah, theres always one or two sullen sods who rate themselves above all else... but at least drivers do let people in here. In London it's just bizzarre to let folk in. In London I sometimes adopt this Sheffield habbit just to see the other drivers surprise. They act like they're about to jump out the car to thank you, I actually had one woman pull up along side me after I let her in at a junction by Earls Court and she gave me her telephone number!!!

I have seen some road rage here, but nothing like in London where I see angry drivers all the time. In our capital there is a different style of driving - and its not for the faint hearted.

Thank goodness for the selfless attitudes of many Sheffield drivers... we need good & sensible people to keep the traffic flowing 'cause our usless town planners do everything they can to stop us.

So my theory is - if the Sheffield town planners had IQs of over 100 then we'd end up like London drivers. Thank goodness that we have the dumbest human beings in existance working in the town planning department!!!:clap:

What i find irratating is when you are waiting at a box junction for a space to clear at the other side,you are about to move off when someone from the side street decides to move into the space you have been waiting for,hence you end up blocking the box junction anyway.

Top tip

If you want to turn left onto a busy road - indicate to turn right.
Slow moving traffic will 9 times out of ten let you out cos they think you're not going to pinch their space, then simply turn left.

The joy is seeing the look on their face thru your rear view mirror!!

Originally posted by coopster1974
Top tip

If you want to turn left onto a busy road - indicate to turn right.
Slow moving traffic will 9 times out of ten let you out cos they think you're not going to pinch their space, then simply turn left.

The joy is seeing the look on their face thru your rear view mirror!!

:lol:

To add to that, another top tip:

If you want to turn left or go straight on at a roundabout but the lanes for doing that are clogged up, simply put the right indicator on and bomb it down the right hand lane as if to turn right at the roundabout. Once on the roundabout, keep the indicator on and go all the way around until you reach your turn off. Try not to get dizzy though.

Originally posted by coopster1974
Top tip

If you want to turn left onto a busy road - indicate to turn right.
Slow moving traffic will 9 times out of ten let you out cos they think you're not going to pinch their space, then simply turn left.

The joy is seeing the look on their face thru your rear view mirror!!

So you're the pr*ck who nearly caused the accident in Glossop on Sunday. Pich black, pouring with rain. Rissole.

Originally posted by t020
Yeah... and becomes Eccy Road SOUTH. I like being pedantic, sorry. ;)
Do you, t0 - I hadn't noticed.....;) :P :D :thumbsup:

In my opinion Sheffield drivers are far more friendly and courteous than drivers down South. However, lane discipline, especially on roundabouts, appears a bit dodgy!

Mr_E, you are correct - anyone who thinks Sheffield drivers are discourteous should spend a little time driving in London! Total aggression is the order of the day there, along with zero eye contact with any pedestrian or driver.

I find most of the time people in Sheffield will let you out of junctions and let you change lane. Unless you're driving a Ferrari of course:)

- MJP

GAH! Driving.... GAH!
I hate driving in Leicester, its a joke and Id be happy never to do it again if possible.
Sheffield, there seems to be new hotspots:
London/Abbeydale Road - how some it seems chocca all the time?
St Marys going up to Brook Hill has turned into a perpetual queue.
There's a phenomenon of idiots who drive in a random fashion on all roundabouts in the city centre.
I've started to take a lot of short cuts, through Nether Edge and the like, to bypass ridiculous traffic at times like 2.30 in the afternoon on a Wed.
I've had two people drive into my vehicle in under a year, its cost them dearly and I wonder if they become any more sensible. On both occasions I shall add that I was stationary and both other parties have admitted liability.
GAH and double GAH!

I don't drive, but since we've moved up from Birmingham my girlfriend keeps saying how nice it is, by comparison, to drive in Sheffield and how courteous the drivers are here.

You don't need to be Einstein to see that it's all relative.

Can I just add - as a result of this thread today I made a concerted (is that the right word and spelling?) effort to let more drivers out of junctions/switch lanes etc.

One arrogant [self censored word] in a black Vauxhaul who was blocking the lane into town didn't even thank me when I let him into traffic to go in the Abbeydale Rd direction this afternoon.

He was blocking the entire lane and I slowed down to let him in the line of traffic which [b]6[/url] other cars before me failed to do.
Did I get a thanks? A wave? A flash of the hazards for a second? Did I [self censored word]!!!

And people wonder why others are not helpful drivers these day. :roll:

note to motorists....

you do not own the roads. I'm fed up with idiots just pulling in and out without a care for pedestrians. Also ignoring lights around the uni rooundabout:mad: and bus drivers stopping across crossings:rant:

Do you think that people who devise the road schemes in Sheffield actually drive?

Or are they graduates fresh out of uni who like to apply their theory?

Top of the latest promotions list must be whoever devised the scheme down Eyre Street, Arundel Street, Patternoster Row, Shoreham Street area. Whoever devised it obviously has no idea about traffic flows.

Why, for instance, stop a left turn off Eyre Street into Jessop Street and the Eyre Street car park? Thus you force the traffic to use the effective back roads of Sylvester Street and Sydney Street (or even, worse still, dodging the wheelie bins on Eyre Lane) which carry no road markings? Plus the junction Sydney Street and Matilda Street is a nightmare from a vision point of view and is an accident waiting to happen.

Why devise a traffic flow system that encourages traffic from Shorham Street into Matilda Street but then at the end of Matilda Street only allows three cars at a time to turn right into Eyre Street. Which is, coincidentally, blocked because the five sets of traffic lights from the Furnival Gate end of Arundel Gate on to the top of Commercial Street are not synched so that traffic is continuous stop/go.

Try and get around that system after a match at Bramall Lane. Before super grad deviced the scheme you could probably get through it all in 10-15 mins even with the heavy traffic. Now you're lucky if you manage in under a hour.

I understand the plan to keep traffic off Arundel Gate as much as possible, so why put a system in place that by closing Patternoster Row forced traffic who wish to get to the A57 onto Arundel Gate and then sit in traffic?

Amazing. Even for bus travelling system developers who obviously catch buses that don't have to go that way.

Originally posted by MobileB
Do you think that people who devise the road schemes in Sheffield actually drive?


Exactly what I was going to say, absolute moron's without a clue.

MobileB - all good points, and the people involved will indeed earn their promotions when Sheffield Council use the poor traffic flow as justification for the introduction of congestion charges. The more road "improvements" I see, the more I believe in the conspiracy that the council aim to strangle traffic to create congestion.

Originally posted by Dirk Diggler
He was blocking the entire lane and I slowed down to let him in the line of traffic which [b]6[/url] other cars before me failed to do.
Did I get a thanks? A wave? A flash of the hazards for a second? Did I [self censored word]!!!

And people wonder why others are not helpful drivers these day. :roll:

DD - it also pi**es me of no end when I give way to someone and they do not acknowledge! Grrrrr :mad:

Originally posted by Dug
In my opinion Sheffield drivers are far more friendly and courteous than drivers down South. However, lane discipline, especially on roundabouts, appears a bit dodgy!

That's because on many roundabouts the lane markings were obliterated years ago and the council highways department can't be bothered to paint them in again.

Originally posted by coopster1974
Top tip

If you want to turn left onto a busy road - indicate to turn right.
Slow moving traffic will 9 times out of ten let you out cos they think you're not going to pinch their space, then simply turn left.

The joy is seeing the look on their face thru your rear view mirror!!

This technique works like a charm if you're approaching brook hill roundabout from broad lane between 6-8pm ;)

Traffic Lights

Why does it seem to come as a complete surprise to the driver in the first vehicle waiting at traffic lights when the lights change to green ? Many appear to be daydreaming, have actually dozed off or are engrossed in chatting to their passenger(s)....and then they dawdle, - leaving two or three of those behind them who could have got through, still stuck at the lights.

It wouldn't be such a problem of course if there weren't traffic lights every two hundred yards or so on most of Sheffield's main roads.

Originally posted by t020
:lol:

To add to that, another top tip:

If you want to turn left or go straight on at a roundabout but the lanes for doing that are clogged up, simply put the right indicator on and bomb it down the right hand lane as if to turn right at the roundabout. Once on the roundabout, keep the indicator on and go all the way around until you reach your turn off. Try not to get dizzy though.

Been using this tactic for the last 6 years.
Works a treat (even past Police vehicles).

Everyone knows Sheffield City Council got an offer on the traffic lights, buy one get 10 fre, they had to put them somewhere.
As for driving in London I have no doubt at all that driving in london is sheer hell and sheffield is tame by comparison , but I don't live in London I live in sheffield and I have to make the same trip every day.
I'm thinking of getting loads of flashing lights and stickers on my car so people dont forget Im there, I was cut up AGAIN on park square roundabout today by some old fart in a merc, when i beeped at him his passenger just looked at me all gone out. I think wahts worst is that he didn't even realise he was doing something wrong.
The emergency services are the worst they just start flashing their blue lights and making noises and expect you to move ;)

Originally posted by robbie
note to motorists....

you do not own the roads. I'm fed up with idiots just pulling in and out without a care for pedestrians. Also ignoring lights around the uni rooundabout:mad: and bus drivers stopping across crossings:rant:

NO, motorists don't own the roads but since when do pedestrians pay road tax?
According to the highway code, pedestrians have right of way generally speaking, however, paths are meant for pedestrians and are a damn sight safer than roads.
Pedestrians are just as stupid as drivers at times!
I agree that too many people stop on crossings.

On this subject I'm a (coughs) Middle-of-the-road guy.

I don't mind letting others out when I'm in an OK mood, slow moving traffic so the car is idling on and someone can't get out from my left, someone is obviously in trouble and needs to move over and DOES NOT PUSH.

I DO mind it when they creep in/past, ignore blatant rules, are complete b@$7@£ds on the roads. I will admit that these people get a slow-drive-by treatment while staring at them the entire time then driving as normal-ish after.

One occasion I was driving uphill and entered a narrow section with parked cars either side - another idiot decided a good 15-20 seconds later to come the same stretch the opposite way and we both ended up stopped.

I decided to put on the hand brake, place in park and wait - arms crossed and staring at him. After 2 mins he moved to a driveway - still not enough room so I waited forcing him to commit even more - after 4 mins I had enough room and I sidled past at like 2 MPH - same routine as above but blared the horn at him also.

I wonder what his wife and kiddies also in the car had toi think/say at the time...

But all in all I'm considerat depending on the circumstances (even more with a HGV where it would flick you out of it's tread at the end of the day. :D )

Marvellous, a chance to rant about all the things I hate when driving.....

People who don't indicate, or indicate incorrectly at roundabouts.

People who block junctions by insisting on pulling through a green light when there's just nowhere for them to go. So when their lights go red, they're stuck in the middle and you have a green light but can't move.

People who drive in the bus lane when they're clearly not a bus or taxi (and then get peeved when you have the temerity to want to pull into that lane as the bus lane ends).

People who don't wait to be let out into traffic but force their way out, and then don't even have the courtesy to thank you.

People who pull out into a gap which isn't big enough, thus forcing you to brake violently, and then turn off the road 10 yards further on.

People who don't even think about trying to stop when the traffic lights turn to amber - this is getting worse by the day. And not everybody stops at red either!

People who think that the rules are for other people and they have special dispensation to ignore (for example) "no right turn" signs, or road markings indicating "left turn only".. this is especially annoying as a pedestrian when walking up from West Bar to the University roundabout - have to keep leaping out of the way of people doing illegal right turns.

People who park on double yellow lines and cause an obstruction, who appear to believe that putting their hazard warning lights on means that their car is suddenly invisible and not blocking the road at all.

People who pull out of side roads into the side of the car you've only had for six weeks, and then say "sorry, I didn't see you." Well, why would they? It's only an enormous bright red car with headlights...... OK, perhaps this is personal to me!


Gosh, pretty long list. Didn't realise I was so grouchy!

Originally posted by TrashyBook
Marvellous, a chance to rant about all the things I hate when driving.....

People who don't indicate, or indicate incorrectly at roundabouts.

People who block junctions by insisting on pulling through a green light when there's just nowhere for them to go. So when their lights go red, they're stuck in the middle and you have a green light but can't move.

People who drive in the bus lane when they're clearly not a bus or taxi (and then get peeved when you have the temerity to want to pull into that lane as the bus lane ends).

People who don't wait to be let out into traffic but force their way out, and then don't even have the courtesy to thank you.

People who pull out into a gap which isn't big enough, thus forcing you to brake violently, and then turn off the road 10 yards further on.

People who don't even think about trying to stop when the traffic lights turn to amber - this is getting worse by the day. And not everybody stops at red either!

People who think that the rules are for other people and they have special dispensation to ignore (for example) "no right turn" signs, or road markings indicating "left turn only".. this is especially annoying as a pedestrian when walking up from West Bar to the University roundabout - have to keep leaping out of the way of people doing illegal right turns.

People who park on double yellow lines and cause an obstruction, who appear to believe that putting their hazard warning lights on means that their car is suddenly invisible and not blocking the road at all.

People who pull out of side roads into the side of the car you've only had for six weeks, and then say "sorry, I didn't see you." Well, why would they? It's only an enormous bright red car with headlights...... OK, perhaps this is personal to me!


Gosh, pretty long list. Didn't realise I was so grouchy!

Can you add people who pull out in front of you on a national speed limit road and then proceed to accelerate up to 30mph forcing you to slow drastically and then follow them at that speed for the next 5 miles. (and then come on this forum and say they hate tailgaters)

Allow more time for your journey.

It will ease the frustration.

The phrase 'cat amongst the pigeons' comes to mind whilst reading this thread. People have got so used to using their cars and thinking they can use them when going to work and then leaving them parked up all day in a city centre carpark. I don't think it'll matter how many roads are closed or blocked, forcing traffic to go on certain roads, or how much petrol goes up by or even if they do bring in congestion charges. What is it going to take to make the drivers in Sheffield that it's just not worth tootling around in their motor. The park and ride at the Abbeydale Tesco's has yet to be used , I'd like to ask any of the forum who endure the snail like pace down Abbeydale road and then the horrendous London road why they can't park up and use the bus.
On a seperate point if I get another four wheel drive either mounting the pavement or just parking on it I might be tempted to start kicking door panels, I'm thinking of the school run mummies in this case.

Originally posted by Zebra
NO, motorists don't own the roads but since when do pedestrians pay road tax?
According to the highway code, pedestrians have right of way generally speaking, however, paths are meant for pedestrians and are a damn sight safer than roads.
Pedestrians are just as stupid as drivers at times!
I agree that too many people stop on crossings.

Glasgow is a wonderful place to drive. People exist outside of their protective bubbles (cars).
Unwritten rule - eye contact means pedestrian has right of way. It's great. Pedestrian stands at kerb. Driver lifts foot off accelerator, gap opens in traffic. Pedestrian begins to cross thru said gap. Driver in opposite direction lifts foot off accelerator, crossing complete.

Nobody had to stop. Nobody lost any ground to another vehicle. Nobody had to brake. Nobody got overwound.

:nod:It gives you a warm feeling to do something to help somebody else. Try it.:nod:

Especially if it's raining:thumbsup:

Traffic Lights - DON'T GET ME STARTED! 40 sets of lights from Queens Road to Meadowhall, that's 80 sets both ways and I have counted both ways. They aren't in sync for most of it either and my clutch is about had it as it is!

Pedestrians - Paths for people, roads for cars OK!?! When that green man goes out, if you're still on the road, shift your ass, the lights are changing. Some undesirable human was intentionally dawdling crossing the road yesterday at Commercial Street/Fitzalan Square and he wasn't even crossing at the proper crossing!

Bus Lanes - when will people read the signs? Not all of them are 24 hour. Day after day I see traffic queued on one lane of Queens Road when the bus lane is NOT operational. I sail past the lot of them.

Pulling out of junctions - When traffic is creeping along, i'm happy to let someone out if its safe to do so. But it should be MY choice, not the choice of the car in the side road. I hate it when people assume i'm going to let them out and end up cutting me up. Usually BMW, Volvo and Merc drivers are guilty of this.

Car Parks - Ok, so you've passed your test, drive a clio, but still can't park straight in a space you could fit a bentley in. Or maybe you're the arrogant sod who takes up two spaces in Meadowhall car park (Sainsbury's car park) just because they haven't repainted a line dividing the two spaces. Or maybe you've parked your new Passat so squint in your space that you actually render the space next to you unusable.

Buses - use your goddamn mirrors and show some common courtesy for christ sake. I was on Wicker approaching the end of the bus lane where the road turns left onto Blonk Street. There's a bus ahead of me wanting to go to Castlegate, so I haven't quite got enough space to move into the left lane and be clear. A bus in the left lane approaches from behind, also wanting to go to Castlegate. Does he indicate right and let me move into the lane I want? Does he ****! He goes up beside me, edging closer and closer to the Castlegate junction with no intention of letting me, or the several other cars behind me move. If I had got his registration, i WOULD have reported him.

Also, bus drivers, STOP blocking the exit at the Wicker/Cutlers Gate junction. the buses are in the left lane wanting to go right and the cars are on the right wanting to go left. This causes huge queues on Savile Street, a road where the bus lane shouldn't be 24 hours in the first place!

Rant over :D

Originally posted by WALLBUILDER
The phrase 'cat amongst the pigeons' comes to mind whilst reading this thread. People have got so used to using their cars and thinking they can use them when going to work and then leaving them parked up all day in a city centre carpark. I don't think it'll matter how many roads are closed or blocked, forcing traffic to go on certain roads, or how much petrol goes up by or even if they do bring in congestion charges. What is it going to take to make the drivers in Sheffield that it's just not worth tootling around in their motor.

Surely if people purchase their cars, road tax, insurance and petrol that is their choice. Roads are built using the road tax (using a very small propotion of it) so why shouldn't people drive on them. The complaints of the last few threads are very valid - congestion is being caused by so called flow systems being put in place by deliberately stopping the flow.

You will never stop people using their cars but a bit of common sense will stop a lot of the congestion that people complain about and ease the problems that pedistrians complain about.

And for information, I walk to work each day.

One big frustration with the number of traffic lights is you can be driving around at night and still be blocked by numerous red lights even though there is nothing coming the other way!

It's so difficult now to navigate round and across the city centre that even though I've lived in Sheffield for 20 years I sometimes have no idea of how to get from A to B! No wonder people like to shop at Meadowhall.

- MJP

it really ****** me off when busses decide to stop to pick people up in bus lanes! it clearly says motorbikes can use it aswell :D

quote from Dimp

"Pedestrians - Paths for people, roads for cars OK!?! When that green man goes out, if you're still on the road, shift your ass, the lights are changing. Some undesirable human was intentionally dawdling crossing the road yesterday at Commercial Street/Fitzalan Square and he wasn't even crossing at the proper crossing!"

erm mate I suggest you read your Highway Code again. Pedestrians have right of way at junctions and can cross the road wherever they like. Its ignorant drivers who are in such a rush to get to their destination 1 minute early that are the problem.

Originally posted by robbie
erm mate I suggest you read your Highway Code again. Pedestrians have right of way at junctions and can cross the road wherever they like. Its ignorant drivers who are in such a rush to get to their destination 1 minute early that are the problem. [/B]

So its perfectly fine for me to randomly walk into any road I see fit and disrupt traffic flow and maybe cause an accident is it?

I know that if a pedestrian starts to cross a road before I get to that part then they have right of way, but that surely doesn't extend to people walking out in front of you and INTENTIONALLY going slow. That's selfish and it gets on my raving titites!

If pedestrians have the right of way on the road, i'll start driving on the path then! They seem to be wider than the roads in the city centre anyway! ;)

OOph crikey, this thread certainly raised peoples blood pressure.
Personally I have to travel the length and breadth of Sheffield on a regular basis and could not use public transport or I'd get nothing done. Park and ride would be a waste of time for me so I drive.
I drive around people who poke the nose of their cars too far across the give way line because they seem to have no idea about the depth of their car.
I slow to pass people who look like they are daring each other to run in front of cars, or who are pushing each other at the road side.
I drop back from trucks, buses and any other large vehicle where possible after nearly being flattened by an 8 wheeler who swung out too far.
I slowed for the stupid young woman slowly crossing the road by Ponsfords who never looked and was wearing earphones and when I beeped to warn her I was there, she stuck her fingers up at me. I would have willingly run her over for that but she managed to get across :D
I am an untrained defensive driver, as in Ive never done the defensive driving course, but one day I think I will. |
Driving in Sheffield may pale in comparison to other cities and it is all relative, however, some of us remember how it used to be before the school drop out in charge of planning took over. It was easier then by far.

Originally posted by dinp
So its perfectly fine for me to randomly walk into any road I see fit and disrupt traffic flow and maybe cause an accident is it?

I know that if a pedestrian starts to cross a road before I get to that part then they have right of way, but that surely doesn't extend to people walking out in front of you and INTENTIONALLY going slow. That's selfish and it gets on my raving titites!

If pedestrians have the right of way on the road, i'll start driving on the path then! They seem to be wider than the roads in the city centre anyway! ;)

driving on the path? You aren't a bus driver are you?:suspect: :hihi:

Originally posted by WALLBUILDER
I'd like to ask any of the forum who endure the snail like pace down Abbeydale road and then the horrendous London road why they can't park up and use the bus.


Are you mad? Busses are full of common people.

Driving at 4am is absolutely fantastic.


Why don't you ALL use the bus ???

t020 has a good point. This traffic and road planning is all aimed at causing congestion IMO.

Same as on motorways.
You wil see loads of signs saying 'queue after next junc - 40MPH', so everyone slows down and bunches up, and then, suprise suprise, 4 junctions go by, the warnings are still flashing away and there has been no sign of any problem.

All the signs have done is actually CAUSE congestion.
Stick a temporary speed restriction on the M1 to cause a build up of traffic for no reason, and then say we should all use the bus cos the roads are too busy.

Lovely.

Originally posted by nick2
Are you mad? Busses are full of common people.

I am not common, just lazy otherwise I'd walk, but whichever I still smile at the stationary traffic and the one person one car thing.

Originally posted by MichaelJP

It's so difficult now to navigate round and across the city centre that even though I've lived in Sheffield for 20 years I sometimes have no idea of how to get from A to B! No wonder people like to shop at Meadowhall.

- MJP

How true!

Most of the traffic lights are really badly timed too. Took me a while to figure out why so many Sheffield drivers run red lights - it's because you've got six years between change overs (except on park square roundabout)

Originally posted by dinp
So its perfectly fine for me to randomly walk into any road I see fit and disrupt traffic flow and maybe cause an accident is it?

I know that if a pedestrian starts to cross a road before I get to that part then they have right of way, but that surely doesn't extend to people walking out in front of you and INTENTIONALLY going slow. That's selfish and it gets on my raving titites!

If pedestrians have the right of way on the road, i'll start driving on the path then! They seem to be wider than the roads in the city centre anyway! ;)

I covered that, thanks. Do I need to repeat myself?

Glasgow is a wonderful place to drive. People exist outside of their protective bubbles (cars).
Unwritten rule - eye contact means pedestrian has right of way. It's great. Pedestrian stands at kerb. Driver lifts foot off accelerator, gap opens in traffic. Pedestrian begins to cross thru said gap. Driver in opposite direction lifts foot off accelerator, crossing complete.

Nobody had to stop. Nobody lost any ground to another vehicle. Nobody had to brake. Nobody got overwound.

It gives you a warm feeling to do something to help somebody else. Try it.

Especially if it's raining

you can't expect drivers to slow down!!!!!!!:o :o

Originally posted by robbie
you can't expect drivers to slow down!!!!!!!:o :o

We're all pedestrians at some time. And can anybody honestly say they haven't criticised somebody else's speed in a car park? (Whilst hurrying out of the way)

Originally posted by Strix
I covered that, thanks. Do I need to repeat myself?


Unwritten rule - eye contact means pedestrian has right of way.

The only eye contact I had was when the smarmy git, knowing full well he was holding up traffic by intentionally walking slow, looked at me as if to say 'i'll take as long as I damn well like'.

The lights were on green and he was only halfway across. Can you expect me not to get a bit hot headed?! The bit he was actually crossing to reach was by KFC on Haymarket, but he didnt use the crossing, he crossed by the railings and the tram track which is a lot more dangerous.

I think drivers round here are pretty courteous. Lived in London for a while where I did get some road rage. Know which I prefer.

Try being a cyclist mate, you see them all.

Originally posted by Cycleracer
Try being a cyclist mate, you see them all.

This is the first mention of cyclists,and they are worse than any motorist put together.
Red lights apply to cyclists too.Do you all have a death wish?You see a line of traffic and squeeze down the side of all the cars.Then when the cars set off,you start shouting when you nearly get knocked off.Most cycles are not insured so if you scratch a car,its down to the driver to pay to have it put right.

I drive a bus,(waits for constant moans about buses),and the other day I was waiting at the lights on Burngreave Road/Gower StreetWhen I saw the lights were ready to change I started my mirror checks,and saw a cyclist squeezing down between my bus and the kerb.The gap was as big as the double yellows,(they're the ones you cannot park on by the way).He was struggling to get down the gap,so if I had moved,I would have knocked him off.When he got level with my doors,I opened them and asked him if he had a death wish,and all I got was a toerrent of abuse.
I have also have a cyclist hit the bus while I was turning off West Street onto Leopold Street.A bus takes a while to get around that corner so while I was making my turn,the lights changed.His lights turned green,so he put his head down and started peddling.
His excuse? He didn't see me!!

You won't get me complaining about bus drivers in general uncleheed. They do a difficult job! The odd one's attitude maybe, or the vehicle itself, but not the majority of drivers. I wouldn't want to do it.

Yes, some cyclists appear to be suicidal I agree, but the car drivers who insist on passing cyclists with a few inches to spare instead of waiting a few seconds until they've passed the bollards in the centre of the road is a prat. Whenever possible I give cyclists a wide berth, at least six feet, in case they lose balance. If this isn't possible I slow right down so that ....a) I don't blow them of their bike, b) If they do fall, or swerve to avoid a drain, I have time to brake.

Yes, some are idiots! The majority are careful, and rightfully cautious.

That goes for bus drivers, cyclists and car drivers!

Please tell us uncleheed are you one of those bus drivers who just put on there indicators and pull out into traffic when motorists were already overtaking you?

Similar to the one who forced me onto the other side of the road while I was passing him (he was at a bus stop first then just set off) nearly causing me to hit an oncoming vehicle?

He met with a tarrage of abuse and me then totally blocking the bus lane where abbydale road meets london road.
If I had been ina particularly bas mood that morning I'd have been arraested for my actions.

Some (in fact a lot) of bus drivers are just plain dangerous.

I don't just pull out on people,but I have my own 4 car rule.I load up my passengers,close the doors,then stick on the indicator and wait.
If I haven't been let out by the forth car,the fifth is the unlucky one.I know that sounds a bit selfish,but by then my indicators must have been spotted,and someone should have let me out.I does state in the highway code that buses should be given right of way.

So when you force someone over to the other side of the road, they hit an oncoming vehicle and cause deaths to either party are you going to use that in your defence?

It's in the highway code that they should have let me out so I pulled away?
They'd lock you up without a second thought and rightly so.

Sorry if that seems harsh but I have NO respect for bus drivers after the other day. And you can line up at least 3 cars next to a bus - so 4 car rules is nothing. That's like waiting a couple of seconds!:rant:

I demand an extra lane for M1 Northbound traffic queing for Sheffield Parkway. A disaster is waiting to happen.

In Mansfield they have to use the hard shoulder, it has saved several lives.




PS - new trucks are limited to 53mph (85 km/h actually)

Originally posted by Dirk Diggler
Please tell us uncleheed are you one of those bus drivers who just put on there indicators and pull out into traffic when motorists were already overtaking you?

Similar to the one who forced me onto the other side of the road while I was passing him (he was at a bus stop first then just set off) nearly causing me to hit an oncoming vehicle?

He met with a tarrage of abuse and me then totally blocking the bus lane where abbydale road meets london road.
If I had been ina particularly bas mood that morning I'd have been arraested for my actions.

Some (in fact a lot) of bus drivers are just plain dangerous.

Learn to drive a bus.

Your attitude will change - trust me.

Then you will be expecting him to set off - you're not a fool - then you will be ready to flash him out.

Originally posted by Strix
So you're the pr*ck who nearly caused the accident in Glossop on Sunday. Pich black, pouring with rain. Rissole.

splutter splutter where the F*** did that come from? No I'm not but I wish I was. I would've have taken great pleasure in running you off the road then torching your car for a presumptious comment like that.

An apology will be accepted no questions asked.

Originally posted by Yorkie
Learn to drive a bus.

Your attitude will change - trust me.

Then you will be expecting him to set off - you're not a fool - then you will be ready to flash him out.
Excuse me mate - my attitude wouldn't change and thanks for asking but I do happen to flash buses out of their bay, well at least I used to.

There is absolutely NO CALL for endangering lives on the road no matter if you drive a bus, car, taxi, motorbike or cycle!
I'm not saying bus drivers don't get unneccesary [censored] on the road, but that is NO excuse for forcing drivers over the other side to get hit by oncoming traffic.

I hope it happens to you, then YOU will realise where I'm coming from.

Originally posted by uncleheed
I don't just pull out on people,but I have my own 4 car rule.I load up my passengers,close the doors,then stick on the indicator and wait.
If I haven't been let out by the forth car,the fifth is the unlucky one.I know that sounds a bit selfish,but by then my indicators must have been spotted,and someone should have let me out.I does state in the highway code that buses should be given right of way.

It also says in the highway code, you shouldn't indicate to enter the traffic until it is clear to do so.

Originally posted by Dirk Diggler


I hope it happens to you, then YOU will realise where I'm coming from.


It won't happen to me.

When I approach a bus, I look to see how many people are waiting to board. Then, like all great drivers, I know what to expect.

Originally posted by uncleheed
someone should have let me out.

Why? Because its you? Your right it is selfish.

Originally posted by uncleheed
I don't just pull out on people,but I have my own 4 car rule.I load up my passengers,close the doors,then stick on the indicator and wait.
If I haven't been let out by the forth car,the fifth is the unlucky one.I know that sounds a bit selfish,but by then my indicators must have been spotted,and someone should have let me out.I does state in the highway code that buses should be given right of way.

Depending what car I am driving, I will most likely let you pull into me. Your fault, I can claim to get my car fixed up on your companies insurance. Certainly save me some restoration work.

Also before anyone says all they will do if is write it off, not true. If the accident isn't my fault I can make the insurance company of the person whose fault it is fix it up.

But by pulling out on moving traffic, it shows you shouldn't be allowed on the road and are not safe to be a bus driver. Maybe you should put your ugly mug up on the web so we can see not to get on your bus next time we are catching one.

Originally posted by Yorkie
It won't happen to me.

When I approach a bus, I look to see how many people are waiting to board. Then, like all great drivers, I know what to expect.
:lol: :lol: :lol:
Wow, it's amazing how holier than thou some people can be.
I look forward to that smile being wiped off your face.

Great driver - the EGO has definately landed on SheffieldForum.co.uk :roll:

Originally posted by uncleheed

I drive a bus....
Originally posted by uncleheed
I don't just pull out on people,but I have my own 4 car rule.I load up my passengers,close the doors,then stick on the indicator and wait.
If I haven't been let out by the forth car,the fifth is the unlucky one.I know that sounds a bit selfish,but by then my indicators must have been spotted,and someone should have let me out.I does state in the highway code that buses should be given right of way.

Which company (so we know what to watch out for )?


If it's First, can you go on strike again please, as the roads had free flowing traffic and I actually felt safe for the couple of weeks you were on strike last time?

Originally posted by uncleheed
I don't just pull out on people,but I have my own 4 car rule.I load up my passengers,close the doors,then stick on the indicator and wait.
If I haven't been let out by the forth car,the fifth is the unlucky one.I know that sounds a bit selfish,but by then my indicators must have been spotted,and someone should have let me out.I does state in the highway code that buses should be given right of way.

Good, please tell us the route you work and what time, we could have a good personal injury claim agenst your bus company. Im sure we could get a convoy to follow him and have plenty of other SF witnesses.

The roads were certainly a joy to travel on when the strike was on. :)

When I was learning to drive I was told not to indicate when I needed to set off from the side of the road. I'm quite sure the highway code stated that I had to wait for a safe gap in traffic then pull away.

Most buses I have had the displeasure of being on the same stretch of road as neither follow this rule nor do they wait for a safe gap. They barge in and can frequently cause near-accidents. I've had to do an emergency stop on the Moore Street/Ecclesall Road roundabout because some total prick in a bus pulled out of Moore Street.

Now that roundabout, like most on that ring road, are both busy and quite blind and me stopping suddenly could have caused a really serious accident and the bus would have got away scot-free.

Originally posted by John
It also says in the highway code, you shouldn't indicate to enter the traffic until it is clear to do so.

Does the Highway Code have any force in law ?

Originally posted by Greybeard
Does the Highway Code have any force in law ?

I suppose it does in crash claims.

I'm also getting into the mindset that I will let the next bus hit me and take all I can get from them, its not as if i'd have to antagonise the situation at all!

In fact I bet that I, alone have prevented a good ten accidents involving buses alone and i'm just one driver! I don't even drive that often so that figure must be a lot higher for other drivers.

Every one of my friends who has come to visit me in Sheffield has commented on how insanely dangerousthe bus drivers here really are!

To the driver of a blue renault clio maxim , P588 NFM when driving past meadowhall on the way into sheffield I thought you might like to know that a red light means stop. Call me old fashioned but you're not meant to carry on regardless.

some areas of the highway code explain the law, other bits are just advice on good driving, these aren't a lawful requirement and do not have to be followed. As to whether a prosecution could argue that by not following them you were driving dangerously, i'm not really sure. But if you've pulled out and caused an accident then i wouldn't have thought that they'd need too.

on the way to work i was attacked by a women pedestrian whilst in my car.

im just glad i lock my car door!

i turned off a side road and she, without looking, stepped into the road. So i hooted my horn, "thats what its there for right?" and she stepped back, amd chased my car to the traffic lights!

then tried to break my wing mirror, luckily it folded down, and i could just push it out, because i know they cose £90 to replace!

i couldnt believe it!

As soon as you mention you are a bus driver,everyone is on your case.
I would like,for one day,for everyone who slags off the bus drivers to get on my bus.I am not blowing my own trumpet,but i consider myself to be an excellent driver.Many of my passengers thank me for a smooth journey,and I try to be as curteous as possible when driving.The four car rule i mentioned was taken out of proportion.I would never pull out like that on a fast moving carriagway.
I know there are some complete numpties driving buses,but don't tar us all with the same brush.

The road is mine, ta.

:suspect: :D

Originally posted by uncleheed
I know there are some complete numpties driving buses,but don't tar us all with the same brush.

I don't normally. However, I do with the "Terrier" busses!

Total morons, 1 and all!

Originally posted by uncleheed
,but i consider myself to be an excellent driver......

Oh dear :rolleyes: :suspect:

Originally posted by uncleheed
I load up my passengers,close the doors,then stick on the indicator and wait.
If I haven't been let out by the forth car,the fifth is the unlucky one.I
Sounds fair enough!

Originally posted by garrence
Sounds fair enough!

Not if the "unlucky" 5th car is carrying a baby on the passenger side which then gets hit by a bus several times bigger than the car. Sounds selfish, inconsiderate, thoughtless, mindless and arrogant to me.... oh yes, we are talking bus drivers aren't we, what more did I expect?

I dont drive, I dont think I would want to around Sheffield center, well at the moment anyway.

I work down the bottom of the moor, and used to get to work for 9, the congestion on the parkway was terrible and often made me late for work, I now get a bus at 6am to get to work for 7am, the journey is much more pleasent at that time.

Ive never really had any major hangups with the buses... apart from the fact that the buses I get seem to break down a lot, I get the 23 to Kiveton, and in the last 2 weeks the bus I have been on broke down 4 times.

The drivers for the most part are great, my boyfriend lives in Thurcroft and I usually go round on a later bus, Im a pretty nervy person and with all the drunken teenage kids that like to intimidate people on the buses it does get a bit daunting at times, and the driver always asks if im okay.

One other thing, a friend of mine recently passed his driving test, god knows how, he is one of the worst drivers i know, recently he was going through attercliffe at the big roundabout, on the inside lane, then realised he needed to turn off, then cut straight across the lanes to turn off not checking to see if there was any traffic and quite a few people had to swerve out of his way... i wont be getting in a car with him again, I value my life too much!

Susie
xx

The thing that annoys me most is drivers who think that a red light means "its okay for one more car to go through" and even worse "accelerate madly while you do it to try and pretend you beat the light before it changed"

I hope any driver who ever goes through a red light and hurts someone gets the book thrown at them in court.

The problem with red lights is that sometimes you are too close to the light when it changes to amber and rather than risk an emergency stop which would put you WELL over the line anyway (and a pile up behind you), you sail through and the car behind you probably will as well.

Some of the lights here in Sheffield have no gap whatsoever between one set turning to red and the other set turning to amber - Park Square is a prime example.

that's what amber is for, you stop if you can safely (ie without an emergency stop), if it's changed to red though you should have stopped since the yellow should give you time as long as you aren't speeding.

Originally posted by Susie
I dont drive, I dont think I would want to around Sheffield center, well at the moment anyway.


I remember about a week ago driving along the 40 limit dual carrigeway from "Castle college" to the university way and came onto the Ecclesall RD roundabout. Admitedly it was dusk but I had dipped beam lights on and this old bat in a while MK1 micra came on and nad not seen me or the car to the left of me. After one emergency stop and a slam of the horn I followed her and when she stopped at a red light I screamed at her - told her how stupid she was - glad I wasn't a cop or I would have done her then and there - NOW DRIVE ON!

Both cars would have been write offs, myself and friend would have been hurt and herself dead - if we were lucky.

Barmy old bats and those who are unable to drive should be banned from driving - I know myself when I am unable to drive for any reason I either stop the car and continue another way or don't even bother.

Originally posted by Greybeard
Traffic Lights

Why does it seem to come as a complete surprise to the driver in the first vehicle waiting at traffic lights when the lights change to green ?

'tis nothing! Today I was coming down to Rivelin Valley Road from Walkley Lane past the temporary traffic lights, and a young lady in an escort was, apparently, trying to park.

Except she wasn't. She was in the queue at the lights, 25 yards behind the next car. Then, when the lights go green and the entire queue disappears, she moves forwards slowly and stops AT THE GREEN LIGHT! Once she got moving (after some impatient gestures from yours truly) 5 more cars got through. Wasn't even close to changing!


Having said all that, the worst thing I have seen recently, mostly in Page Hall is reversing from a parking position, on the wrong side of the road, straight into the flow of traffic coming the other way. The fact that they're on the wrong side of the road simply means that they are reversing completely blind.

spiffymonkey

I have to agree with you on that one.

I had an exact replay of the same issue, just been through Ecclesfield and was approaching the Junction at Hatfield House Land/Elm Lane, you know just outside the Pheasant Pub. Anyway traffic lights in our favour, I'm cruising at a steady pace thinking I'm gona get through the lights, which is a rare thing at this junction, stupid old fossil, who a nampto second before was driving towards the lights, quite simply and very litterally STOPPED, at a GREEN LIGHT. Well you can imagine what happened next - you guessed it, I politely asked her to continue on her merry way in a manner akin to someone who has just lost their mind....much good it did, she just flicked the 'V' and carried on like it was me who was in the wrong.

10/10 for the gesture though, right on sister.

You would all be moaning a lot more if instead of each bus there were 40 additional cars (with one person in each) on the roads, the road system in Sheffield can't cope now, it would grind to a complete stop.

Originally posted by nick2
You would all be moaning a lot more if instead of each bus there were 40 additional cars (with one person in each) on the roads, the road system in Sheffield can't cope now, it would grind to a complete stop.

Yes, that's true, although I don't moan about the buses. I tend to moan about the complete lack of common sense in some people and the complete lack of consideration for others.

Two examples from the last 15 minutes(!) Guy on Crookesmoor Road decided to pick someone up that he knew. Did he stop at a sensible place? Nope, he stopped in the middle of one of the narrowed bits used for traffic calmin, thus leaving approx. 3/4 of a cars width of road left. Then, at Hunters Bar roundabout, there was a bus waiting to turn left and blocking visibility from Ecclesall road. I proceed round the roundabout only to have some loony woman in an Astra shoot straight out from the side of the bus determinedly not looking at who she might have narrowly avoided.

Originally posted by HellBoy
spiffymonkey

I have to agree with you on that one.

who a nampto second before was driving towards the lights, quite simply and very litterally STOPPED, at a GREEN LIGHT.

Could you see what was infront of her car? She might have had a very good reason for stopping if there was a person or an animal in the road.

Originally posted by ptigga
Could you see what was infront of her car? She might have had a very good reason for stopping if there was a person or an animal in the road.

Your not supposed to stop for animals, you're supposed to run them over.

Originally posted by nick2
Your not supposed to stop for animals, you're supposed to run them over.

Not quite. It is not advisable to risk the consequences of an Emergency stop for animals because you could be endagering a human life. But as long as you can stop safely then you should stop.

Originally posted by ptigga
Not quite. It is not advisable to risk the consequences of an Emergency stop for animals because you could be endagering a human life. But as long as you can stop safely then you should stop.

Thats what I meant.

Originally posted by HellBoy
spiffymonkey

I had an exact replay of the same issue, just been through Ecclesfield and was approaching the Junction at Hatfield House Land/Elm Lane, you know just outside the Pheasant Pub.

must be something about that road, on friday as i was heading towards chapletown in the rain and dark, and this complete wassack reverses out of the drive narowly missing the car in front and causing me to stop, with no lights it then proceeded to wave between the 2 lanes until it finally decided which lane it wanted for the lights

prat!!!

Originally posted by nick2
Your not supposed to stop for animals, you're supposed to run them over.

Unless its something big like a cow or a deer. Will do a lot of damage to your car.

Originally posted by nick2
You would all be moaning a lot more if instead of each bus there were 40 additional cars (with one person in each) on the roads, the road system in Sheffield can't cope now, it would grind to a complete stop.
Erm isn't that what it was like during the Bus Drivers strike a couple of months ago?

I seem to remember the road's being bliss back then :thumbsup:

Originally posted by Dirk Diggler
Erm isn't that what it was like during the Bus Drivers strike a couple of months ago?

I seem to remember the road's being bliss back then :thumbsup:

you know i was only thinking the same thing myself, no buses blocking the end of the wicker at that bus gate across ladys bridge, no buses pulling out in front of you without warning, castlegate being almost safe to drive down, many is the time i wish the strike was still on!!

dave

Originally posted by Skatiechik
Unless its something big like a cow or a deer. Will do a lot of damage to your car.

Next time a cow or deer jumps in to the road in the centre of Sheffield in rush-hour traffic by all means stop.

Originally posted by nick2
Your not supposed to stop for animals, you're supposed to run them over.

Nonsense. If you hit a dog for example, driving off is a form of hit and run.

Whether you're meant to for wild animals is another matter, but I always slow down or swerve to miss any animals. I once accidentally went over a bird and I felt awful.

you'll feel worse if you swerve to avoid it, loose control and kill someone who was walking on the footpath.

Originally posted by t020
Nonsense. If you hit a dog for example, driving off is a form of hit and run.

Whether you're meant to for wild animals is another matter, but I always slow down or swerve to miss any animals. I once accidentally went over a bird and I felt awful.

Originally posted by nick2
Next time a cow or deer jumps in to the road in the centre of Sheffield in rush-hour traffic by all means stop.

You never said Sheffield city centre.

"hit and run" on a dog ?

Originally posted by Cyclone
you'll feel worse if you swerve to avoid it, loose control and kill someone who was walking on the footpath.

Perhaps swerve was the wrong word. What I meant was that if I see something in the road I will slow down and if it still doesn't move I will make sure my tyres don't go over it. Obviously if something runs out at speed then madly swerving to avoid it will probably cause more problems, but then again it might happen as a reflex reaction.

i don't think that anyones suggesting that you should accelerate towards someones pet dog and treat it as a target.
But if an animal runs into the road and you can't safely (this is a personal subjective judgement of course) avoid it, then you should hit it. You shouldn't compromise your own or someone elses safety for the sake of an animal.
Swerving to avoid a cow would probably be sensible, as hitting it would surely compromise your own safety unless you were driving a truck.

You're right about reactions though, you brake and swerve by instinctive if an obstacle appears, by which point it's a bit late to thing oh it was only an 'insert cute animal'. Taking the time to identify it could mean that you go 'splat' "oh dear, that one was actually a child"...

Originally posted by Cyclone
i don't think that anyones suggesting that you should accelerate towards someones pet dog and treat it as a target.
But if an animal runs into the road and you can't safely (this is a personal subjective judgement of course) avoid it, then you should hit it. You shouldn't compromise your own or someone elses safety for the sake of an animal.
Swerving to avoid a cow would probably be sensible, as hitting it would surely compromise your own safety unless you were driving a truck.

You're right about reactions though, you brake and swerve by instinctive if an obstacle appears, by which point it's a bit late to thing oh it was only an 'insert cute animal'. Taking the time to identify it could mean that you go 'splat' "oh dear, that one was actually a child"...

My driving instructor never told me ANYTHING about hitting animals, so i've always, wherever safe, tried my best to avoid hitting any animal.

I've hit a pheasant at 45mph, it walked out of the way, but at the last minute, changed its mind and walked in front of me again!

As for running red lights, it's become an epidemic recently. It can't be condoned but it's not surprising given the sheer number of lights installed in the last few years.

Some also have ridiculously long red periods (crossings over Arundel Gate for example) making it more likely for drivers to chance it.

Another daft one is if you're heading out of Broomhill along Fulwood Road, the last light at the junction of Fulwood/Manchester road cycles to red for no reason at all. For some reason it's not linked to the crossing request button, so even if no one is waiting to cross it goes red. All just adds to the frustration.

didn't you read the highway code yourself?

Originally posted by dinp
My driving instructor never told me ANYTHING about hitting animals, so i've always, wherever safe, tried my best to avoid hitting any animal.

I've hit a pheasant at 45mph, it walked out of the way, but at the last minute, changed its mind and walked in front of me again!

Originally posted by Cyclone
didn't you read the highway code yourself?

It seems not that particular bit! :(

Originally posted by Dirk Diggler
Erm isn't that what it was like during the Bus Drivers strike a couple of months ago?

I seem to remember the road's being bliss back then :thumbsup:

You can't really count the bus-drivers strike as that was a temporary strike and there was no big rush of people giving up the busses for good and buying cars.

If the busses were taken off the road permenantly then a lot of people who currently use the bus would buy cars and drive to work and the net result would be a hell of a lot more cars on the roads.

It's my feeling that people who own cars generally don't use busses as they've already invested money in the car, road tax, insurance etc so spending more money on bus fares is not worthwhile as it only offsets the cost of petrol and parking.

This is an argument that cannot be won from either side.
There will always be public transport with buses so you can't prove what would happen if they left and neither can I.

However the strike was a great time for driving in Sheffield :P

Just to start evryone of on another pet hate of mine.



People who still drive while on the phone.

Originally posted by uncleheed
Just to start evryone of on another pet hate of mine.

People who still drive while on the phone.

Yeah, agreed. I saw one today. His driving was definitely suffering. He hit the kerb as he turned into a side road.

I can understand why the police aren't interested in people reporting these incidents, it ends up as your word against theirs and is a waste of everyone's time, but it would be nice if there was someway of reporting them.

Originally posted by Skatiechik
Unless its something big like a cow or a deer. Will do a lot of damage to your car.

How about if you are driving a tank ... I mean a Volvo? ;)

Originally posted by ptigga
I can understand why the police aren't interested in people reporting these incidents, it ends up as your word against theirs and is a waste of everyone's time, but it would be nice if there was someway of reporting them.

It shouldn't be too difficult. Record the time of the incident and contact the mobile operator to check if there was a call in progress at that time.

Then prove it was the person driving and not a third party!
Unless the police are there to see it or it was caught on camera (the video kind) then there would be no way to actually prove it.

Re the dog RTA situation and a little more :

Reportable accidents

Section 170 Road Traffic Act 1988 states:

1) Owing to a presence of a mechanically propelled vehicle on a road, an accident occurs by which -

a) personal injury is caused to a person, other than the driver of that mechanically propelled vehicle or

b) Damage is caused -
i) to a vehicle other than that mechanically propelled vehicle or a trailer drawn by that mechanically propelled vehicle, or
ii) to an animal other than an animal in or on that mechanically propelled vehicle or a trailer drawn by that mechanically propelled vehicle, or
iii) to any property constructed on, fixed to, growing in or otherwise forming part of the land on which the road in question is situated or land adjacent to such land.........

blah blah blah....

Animal as defined by the act means Horse, Cattle, Ass, Mule, Sheep, Pig, Goat and Dog

The reason Dog is still included is that it is to do with ownership but mainly at the time the act was introduced, dogs needed to be licensed. They no longer need to be licensed and as regards this the act is out of date. Dog accidents still need to be reported, but it is a little redundant, ie whats the point if there is no accurate license database to maintain..?? The only way to address this is by parliament amending the act....but again it comes down to cost and time etc.

Sorry to bore you all with this minor point of law.....

Originally posted by f_g
it really ****** me off when busses decide to stop to pick people up in bus lanes! it clearly says motorbikes can use it aswell :D
sorry babe. bikes cant use bus lanes. not in this city....yet. i've heard of a few cities trying it out.

Originally posted by dinp
The only eye contact I had was when the smarmy git, knowing full well he was holding up traffic by intentionally walking slow, looked at me as if to say 'i'll take as long as I damn well like'.

The lights were on green and he was only halfway across.
I tend to find that 12000 revs with the clutch pulled in makes them move a little quicker :-)

Originally posted by fredsredhat
I tend to find that 12000 revs with the clutch pulled in makes them move a little quicker :-)

My 1.1 fiesta has a loud engine as it is and I didn't wanna make a fool of myself by SOUNDING fast when I am in fact NOT :D