Morning all,

It's rant o'clock I'm afraid. Me and some friends went out to Hadfield in Derbyshire at the weekend for some league of gentlemen related antics and I am absolutely astounded at the sheer mind boggling irresponsibility of some of the a***holes on the A57.

We got passed by a guy on a bike, doing a wheelie at speed - if you are reading this, then sir, you are an a***hole.

Us and three other cars got passed by a peugot 406 travelling at speed on a winding stretch of the road. You sir, are also an a***hole.

And to the two oncoming vehicles overtaking a line of traffic who I had to slow down for just so they could complete their outrageously stupid manouvre - you people are the biggest f***witted a***holes I have ever had the misfortune to encounter.

Why can't people realise that this life is too short as it is and that they'll be a long time dead and that there's no need whatsoever to drive like Stirling moss?

i wouldnt mind if they only damaged themselves but somehow in these situations they tend to escape unharmed and kill someone innocent!

The funniest thing I've ever seen was on the snake pass, beyond Ladybower, heading in the direction of Glossop.

If you drive the road a lot, you will know where I mean.

There's a little farmhouse on the left hand side of road, that's built into the hill. Because of it's position on the hill, it's roof is the only part visible from the road.

One day, when I was going to my parents, there was a car sticking out of the roof of the house. All you could see was the back wheels and the boot, the rest was inside the house.:suspect:

I nearly had to pull over, it made me laugh so much.

I felt for the poor people whose house it is though. Imagine having that disturb your breakfast. Highly inconvenient.
:rant:

i hate driving along this road.. all along it there a gaps in the fencing/bushes where cars have gone over the edge! there are some idiots that go stupid speeds. i also notice a lot of bikers seem to go a little crazy on this road:loopy: :loopy:

I have the opposite problem. I find the people driving it at 40mph to be a hazard as I have to find a space to overtake them since it's such a ridiculously low speed to drive that road at.

Originally posted by Cyclone
I have the opposite problem. I find the people driving it at 40mph to be a hazard as I have to find a space to overtake them since it's such a ridiculously low speed to drive that road at.

the first time i was on that road i drove at that speed. the reason: i do not know the road well enough and i value my life! enough said!

Originally posted by Cyclone
I have the opposite problem. I find the people driving it at 40mph to be a hazard as I have to find a space to overtake them since it's such a ridiculously low speed to drive that road at.

You shouldn't really generalise.

There are stretches where its quite safe to get up to 60mph, but others where even 40 might be too fast.

As I'm sure you're aware, you should always drive at a speed that is appropriate to road and traffic conditions, and driving too slowly can sometimes cause as many problems as driving too fast.

Originally posted by Cyclone
I have the opposite problem. I find the people driving it at 40mph to be a hazard as I have to find a space to overtake them since it's such a ridiculously low speed to drive that road at.

They are only a hazard becasue you make them one!

What happened to passive* driving?

*not sure this is the correct term, I'm sure Saxon can let me know if it's not.

Originally posted by Saxon
You shouldn't really generalise.

There are stretches where its quite safe to get up to 60mph, but others where even 40 might be too fast.

As I'm sure you're aware, you should always drive at a speed that is appropriate to road and traffic conditions, and driving too slowly can sometimes cause as many problems as driving too fast.

quite. People driving inappropriately slowly are (in my experience) a problem on that road, as there are only at best 3 or 4 places where you can safely overtake.

I love that road, the Snake Pass is one of the few roads left without speed cameras and humps every 2 secs that make you drive at walking pace!
I used to drive it quite regularly and know it like the back of my hand. It is perfectly safe to overtake on this road - IF YOU KNOW WHAT YOU ARE DOING!

There are just too many idiots who simply have no idea how to drive at speed, it's just a shame they can't learn the hard way without involving other innocent drivers...

I always remember a close shave I had on a right hand bend when a motorbike came round the corner far too fast. He couldn't take the corner and had to cut straight in front of me instead, luckily I missed him.. but even more fortunately he just managed to stop before going over the edge of a very long drop! His partner(?) on the bike gave him a right rollicking for that one...

as a spinal injury nurse for 16 years
it never surprises me of the stupidity of bike AND car drivers on the snake

believe me, I tend to amble along the road even though I know it like the back of my hand

my advce.slow down

Originally posted by liencam
They are only a hazard becasue you make them one!

What happened to passive* driving?

*not sure this is the correct term, I'm sure Saxon can let me know if it's not.

that's not right at all. Most people wish to drive at a speed approriate to the road and conditions. Someone driving significantly below this speed causes an obstruction and is just as dangerous as someone speeding. I don't overtake inappropriately, although it probably does my blood pressure no good. But some people won't be as patient as me and will overtake when they shouldn't.

This combination of someone driving too slowly and someone else being impatient is dangerous.
If you aren't capable of driving at or near the appropriate speed for a road then you probably shouldn't be driving. You would certainly fail your driving test for inapproriate use of speed.

But one person's idea of an appropriate speed for the road may not be someone else's. You don't know how well they know that road, or whether it's their first time along it. And older people may well drive slower because their reaction times may not be as good. Surely people should drive at the speed they feel is appropriate, not what the person behind them feels is appropriate. Probably having you up their exhaust pipe doesn't help either. A bit of patience and consideration for other road users wouldn't go amiss.

Originally posted by Cyclone
that's not right at all. Most people wish to drive at a speed approriate to the road and conditions. Someone driving significantly below this speed causes an obstruction and is just as dangerous as someone speeding. I don't overtake inappropriately, although it probably does my blood pressure no good. But some people won't be as patient as me and will overtake when they shouldn't.

This combination of someone driving too slowly and someone else being impatient is dangerous.
If you aren't capable of driving at or near the appropriate speed for a road then you probably shouldn't be driving. You would certainly fail your driving test for inapproriate use of speed.

Whilst what you are saying is partly correct, I don't entirely agree with you. And I am not a slow driver.

If I'm driving fast, but come up to a car driving slower than me, I will slow down, and wait for an approriate passing place. This, I believe, is the way we should all drive.

Patience is an important thing in driving, and it is something we are all grateful for when we are new to the roads.

I was travelling over the Woodhead pass on Saturday afternoon after being at the airport.

Bikers and cars alike were speeding through Tintwhistle and to my Joy.......Found that the idiots that had overtaken me at speed ended up in an accident which blocked off the pass.

As we were awaiting the police to sort out an alternate route for us all.....Some bikers decided that it was time to ride on the wrong side of the road......What they didn't bargain for were the police cars that were travelling towards us......nearly causing another accident....

From what I have seen of bikers with their general disregard for other road users and their blatant breaking of all the rules of the road like overtaking over double solid white lines...I am surprised that the death toll for these idiots isn't a lot higher.

Originally posted by Delboy3
I was travelling over the Woodhead pass on Saturday afternoon after being at the airport.

Bikers and cars alike were speeding through Tintwhistle and to my Joy.......Found that the idiots that had overtaken me at speed ended up in an accident which blocked off the pass.

As we were awaiting the police to sort out an alternate route for us all.....Some bikers decided that it was time to ride on the wrong side of the road......What they didn't bargain for were the police cars that were travelling towards us......nearly causing another accident....

From what I have seen of bikers with their general disregard for other road users and their blatant breaking of all the rules of the road like overtaking over double solid white lines...I am surprised that the death toll for these idiots isn't a lot higher.

Come on Del, don't be a plonker all your life! ;)

The accident was clearly caused by someone driving too slowly....;)

Originally posted by metalman
But one person's idea of an appropriate speed for the road may not be someone else's. You don't know how well they know that road, or whether it's their first time along it. And older people may well drive slower because their reaction times may not be as good. Surely people should drive at the speed they feel is appropriate, not what the person behind them feels is appropriate. Probably having you up their exhaust pipe doesn't help either. A bit of patience and consideration for other road users wouldn't go amiss.

Did I say that I drive dangerously close, or are you jumping to wild conclusions.

There are a group of drivers who drive everywhere at 40 mph, be the speed limit 60 or 30. I've followed drivers up the A57 at 40mph, where even if you are not familiar with the road it is clearly safe to travel at the speed limit (traffic and weather conditions permitting).
Whilst a driver will go slower on an unfamiliar road, particularly around blind corners and the like, it's not the corners that become frustrating. It's when they travel from corner to corner without ever going above 40, and leave me stuck behind them because it's not safe to overtake.

Just a couple of things...

a) the snake pass is also on a hill and we don't all have GT engines so acceleration is often limited.

b) knowing the road like the back of your hand doesn't mean you know what else is on it round the next bend... If you go round a bend with 20 yards view ahead you WILL crash when you find a car that's broken down on it whether you know that road or not... I remember distinctly being told by every driving instructor I knew that you drive according to the conditions of the road, not because some stupid idiot wants to pass and thinks your cars backside is the place to sit...


I'll grant you there are plenty of Sunday drivers on that road from time to time but if you're really in a rush, use the motorway and get the speed demon out of your system... There's only about 4 places I can think of that you'd want to be doing 50mph, let alone 60 on the A57..

Well yes, it is frustrating, and I've been in that same situation many times, but while there are plenty of rules that stop you driving over a certain speed, I don't think there's a rule that says you have to drive anywhere near the maximum available speed (unless I suppose you are trundling along at about 10 mph and could be booked for causing an obstruction).

I've also been in the situation where I've been driving along at what I consider to be an appropriate speed (sometimes because of the conditions, sometimes because of the speed limit) and some idiot has come up behind me, driving about 2 inches away from my rear bumper, gesticulating rudely at me to get a move on. Apologies for accusing you of tailgating, but I really do hope you're not one of those!

what's the problem going over the snake at 40? People are in too much of a rush.

Seeing everything as an impedance or an obstruction, instead of an opportunity....

Originally posted by Phanerothyme
what's the problem going over the snake at 40? People are in too much of a rush.

Seeing everything as an impedance or an obstruction, instead of an opportunity....

...an opportunity to overtake you mean? ;)

the snakes a nice bit of road some people do it for the fun - when i first went on the snake and was slow i indicated to let other people pass me when it was safe to do so. Whats the point in holding other road users up we are all in a rush sometimes,

Originally posted by Martin_s
Just a couple of things...

a) the snake pass is also on a hill and we don't all have GT engines so acceleration is often limited.

b) knowing the road like the back of your hand doesn't mean you know what else is on it round the next bend... If you go round a bend with 20 yards view ahead you WILL crash when you find a car that's broken down on it whether you know that road or not... I remember distinctly being told by every driving instructor I knew that you drive according to the conditions of the road, not because some stupid idiot wants to pass and thinks your cars backside is the place to sit...


I'll grant you there are plenty of Sunday drivers on that road from time to time but if you're really in a rush, use the motorway and get the speed demon out of your system... There's only about 4 places I can think of that you'd want to be doing 50mph, let alone 60 on the A57..

Sorry, I meant the A57 from Junc 31 towards Worksop, forgetting that the snake is the same road.

I presume when we talk about the snake pass we are meaning the section from the ladybower to glossop, rather than literally just the pass itself, in which case it's not all on a hill, and half of the hill is downwards.

Phan - most people drive to get from A to B, which means they want to do it as quickly as is safely possible.

metalman - causing an obstruction is 40mph when conditions allow 60 (IMO), 10mph should see your license taken off you.

No i'm not. I don't tailgate, I certainly don't wave any limbs. All I do is wait until I can and then overtake, but it doesn't make me any less frustrated, it just means that i'm polite enough not to be offensive about it.

Originally posted by Cyclone
Phan - most people drive to get from A to B, which means they want to do it as quickly as is safely possible

the quicker you go the less safe it is.

Originally posted by Cyclone


metalman - causing an obstruction is 40mph when conditions allow 60 (IMO).



And how on earth would you police that one? How would you counter the defence that the person thought that they were driving at an appropriate speed for the road? You'd never allow tractors or articulated lorries then? Or people out for a leisurely sightseeing drive? It's quite simply an unenforceable idea - there are much worse things that people do on the road than go too slowly, I'd sooner see them pulled over for these offences first.

Originally posted by metalman
And how on earth would you police that one? How would you counter the defence that the person thought that they were driving at an appropriate speed for the road? You'd never allow tractors or articulated lorries then? Or people out for a leisurely sightseeing drive? It's quite simply an unenforceable idea - there are much worse things that people do on the road than go too slowly, I'd sooner see them pulled over for these offences first.

lorries and tractors have different speed limits and different appropriate speeds. Most minor traffic offences are not policed well, but it would be relatively straighforwards for a police car to pull someone over and tell them that they were driving too slowly and causing an obstruction. It may well be that a ticking off would be sufficient in most cases.
The defence that they "thought" it was appropriate is never good enough, at least not if the police are accusing you of speeding or dangerous driving. The word of two police officers is considered sufficient for a conviction in most cases. They are also considered to be capable of judging speed without the use of technological aids.

the quicker you go the less safe it is.


unless you are going 20mph trying to be as safe as possible and someone comes round the corner doing 60 and crashes straight into the back off you.

Originally posted by f_g
unless you are going 20mph trying to be as safe as possible and someone comes round the corner doing 60 and crashes straight into the back off you.


well if she'd been doing 20 you wouldn't be in such bad shape would you?

In fact you wouldn't have a collision at all!

The quicker you go the less safe it is.

Originally posted by Martin_s
knowing the road like the back of your hand doesn't mean you know what else is on it round the next bend... If you go round a bend with 20 yards view ahead you WILL crash when you find a car that's broken down on it whether you know that road or not...

Very good point. I drive on the Woodhead Pass every couple of months, and despite knowing the route reasonably well, I will always slow down on the blind bends, giving me enough room to stop safely in case of an incident just around the corner.



Originally posted by Martin_s
I'll grant you there are plenty of Sunday drivers on that road from time to time but if you're really in a rush, use the motorway and get the speed demon out of your system... There's only about 4 places I can think of that you'd want to be doing 50mph, let alone 60 on the A57..

Another good point.

Fellow Sheffielders, if traffic on the A roads between Sheffield and Manchester is moving too slow for your liking and / or blood pressure, then please feel free to shoot up the M1 towards Leeds, and back down the M62 to Manchester. Not only will you be able to drive at safely at speeds of 70 mph and above, but you'll be leaving the A roads safer for the rest of us :)

and if you only feel capable of ever reaching 2/3rds of the speed limit on most roads, stay at home, we'll all be much safer and our blood pressure will be lower.

Phan - in the example it clearly wouldn't be safer for the 20mph driver, as travelling at a reasonable speed there would have been no accident either.
Inappropriate speed is dangerous, that's both two fast and two slow.

Originally posted by Cyclone
and if you only feel capable of ever reaching 2/3rds of the speed limit on most roads, stay at home, we'll all be much safer and our blood pressure will be lower.

Most roads? Tut tut :nono:

With that sort of attitude, I will now consider it my duty to drive at 40 mph on every A road...just to stop you taking a corner at 100mph and killing yourself ;)

Originally posted by Cyclone
and if you only feel capable of ever reaching 2/3rds of the speed limit on most roads, stay at home, we'll all be much safer and our blood pressure will be lower.

That says more than I ever could about the attitudes to driving that contribute to road accidents.

If sitting behind a slow vehicle makes you uptight (raises your blood pressure, aggravates you) then it would be far safer for the rest of us if you stayed off the roads.


Phan - in the example it clearly wouldn't be safer for the 20mph driver, as travelling at a reasonable speed there would have been no accident either.[/B]

In the example above, consider the slower car to slow for a reason , rather than just a desire to wind up motorists behind them. Does driving at 60 into the back of it constitute a fault on the part of the slower driving motorist or the one that piles into the back of him because he didn't see him in time?

I would say that the fault lies with both, although taking a blind corner at that speed is definitely not good driving.

Abdul - what are you on about, 100mph???

I sometimes wish that I were a traffic cop, i'd love to pull people up for driving too slowly in addition to the ones who drive too fast.

Phan - if it were safe and acceptable to drive like that, you would not be able to fail your driving test for inapproriate speed, only for excessive speed.

The Snake is definetly a 'drivers' road. The twists and turns are very challenging.

The problem is that it is a major artery between Sheffield and Manchester, and it is still nothing more than a country lane. If you go on the Woodhead you're stuck behind lorries struggling to do 40mph.

The only other alternative to getting between Manchester and Sheffield in under two hours is to go right up the M1 to Leeds and then across the M62 (not counting the road through Huddersfield).

People who over-take on dangerous bends deserve to get injured. They are willingly risking the lives of the innocent people, families, young couples, mothers, fathers, grandparents, good-hearted citizens ect. ect. that are travelling the in opposite direction. It is the most mindless and selfish form of driving that exists, and there's no excuse for it.

However there is another type of driver that makes the Snake Pass dangerous, to a lesser extent, and that's those people who insist on crawling along far too slowly. Drivers like this frustruate other drivers, who may be on their way to work, or trying to get to Manchester airport, and then they take stupid risks trying to get past.

I respect the arguement that if you don't know the road you may want to take it steady, but if you have a line of traffic building up behind you then the safest thing to do is pull over and let them past. So many drivers just keep tootling along, totally oblivious while ten cars angrily follow them!

Originally posted by JBee
However there is another type of driver that makes the Snake Pass dangerous, to a lesser extent, and that's those people who insist on crawling along far too slowly. Drivers like this frustruate other drivers, who may be on their way to work, or trying to get to Manchester airport, and then they take stupid risks trying to get past.

Spot on.

There are plenty of lay-bys on the Snake, a bit of courtesy by pulling in would be nice for those who want to go a bit faster than 40mph.

Originally posted by alchresearch
.
The only other alternative to getting between Manchester and Sheffield in under two hours is to go right up the M1 to Leeds and then across the M62 (not counting the road through Huddersfield).

You can always go via Castleton, or turn left just before Hope and take the A623 to Chapel-en-le-Frith. That'll bring you out just beyond Glossop. Not the fastest route by any means, but well inside 2 hours (probably around 1 hour).

Originally posted by f_g
the snakes a nice bit of road some people do it for the fun - when i first went on the snake and was slow i indicated to let other people pass me when it was safe to do so. Whats the point in holding other road users up we are all in a rush sometimes,

This is a good comment from a nice considerate driver. Why can't we all just give and take? Some people are in a rush, some people need to get to work, some people may be on their way to the airport, and other people may just want to take it steady and enjoy the beautiful views.

So if the slower ones pulled over occasionally to let traffic pass, or indicated like f_g, and the faster ones waited until this opportunity without tailgating or overtaking dangerously, then we'd all be happy.

Well, most of us. I suppose there will always be a few idiots out there.

The only other alternative to getting between Manchester and Sheffield in under two hours is to go right up the M1 to Leeds and then across the M62 (not counting the road through Huddersfield).

Not the only other alternative - the train takes about 50 minutes. Maybe try that if you're getting seriously stressed out by people driving faster/slower than you think they should.

Never understood this "driving slow is dangerous". If someone is driving slowly in front of you and you get impatient and take a risk, it's your impatience and risk taking that's dangerous.

Just because they're going slower than you'd like, it doesn't give you the right to risk other road users' lives. You can't push the responsibility onto the slower drivers. If you overtake dangerously, then it's your driving that's dangerous. Just because you might feel 'encouraged' to drive dangerously by the slower driver, it doesn't make it their fault.

I've no problem with moving over and allowing myself to be overtaken on the Snake, and agree that we should show consideration to other road users, even if they want to drive faster than we do.

The Snake is not the place to drive like a chav. Not only is it full of traffic, cyclists, animals and narrow blind corners, it's also subject to some hefty subsidence. I drive it regularly and there are a fair few evil bumps and drops that just appear almost over night.

If you want to have fun in your car, might I suggest a track-day. Or better yet, the urge to race can be satisfied very nicely (and cheaply) by regular go-karting sessions.

Originally posted by alchresearch
The only other alternative to getting between Manchester and Sheffield in under two hours is to go right up the M1 to Leeds and then across the M62 (not counting the road through Huddersfield).

I seem to manage to get from Sheffield to Runcorn in 90 minutes with no problems.

It shouldn't take 2 hours to get to Manchester from Sheffield, even allowing for a bad day in Glossop.

Originally posted by liencam
I seem to manage to get from Sheffield to Runcorn in 90 minutes with no problems.

It shouldn't take 2 hours to get to Manchester from Sheffield, even allowing for a bad day in Glossop.

i've never made it in less than 2 hrs in rush hr, 1:15 at weekends.

Originally posted by Cyclone
I would say that the fault lies with both, although taking a blind corner at that speed is definitely not good driving.

Abdul - what are you on about, 100mph???

I sometimes wish that I were a traffic cop, i'd love to pull people up for driving too slowly in addition to the ones who drive too fast.

Phan - if it were safe and acceptable to drive like that, you would not be able to fail your driving test for inapproriate speed, only for excessive speed.
there are a multitude of good reasons to slow down - with due care and attention, naturally. Reasons could range from mechanical failure, wildlife, being plunged into sudden darkness when going into a vegetation tunnel etc etc.

there are fewer good reasons to speed up (on snake pass), unless you are stationary (but there are a lot of good and unavoidable situations that lead to stationary cars).

So you should be driving as if you expect a stationary car to be around every blind brow and bend. Theoretically.

Originally posted by Phanerothyme
So you should be driving as if you expect a stationary car to be around every blind brow and bend. Theoretically.

I do drive like this, and the faster you're going the less time you'll be on the wrong side of the road whilst overtaking! ;)

Originally posted by Cyclone
i've never made it in less than 2 hrs in rush hr, 1:15 at weekends.

You must be unlucky then.

Do you now about the short cuts both ways in Glossop? They're not great, but do help.

Originally posted by liencam
You must be unlucky then.

Do you now about the short cuts both ways in Glossop? They're not great, but do help.

I only did the commute for a fortnight a while ago, but never had a problem in glossop. Tintwhistle upto the M67 can take an hour on it's own though.

Fair enough, but if you need to know the shortcuts, ask.

Well I tend to drive quite quickly when it is possible, practical and safe, but I have a very, very simple rule.

I always, always drive with the assumption that I might meet myself coming in the opposite direction.

It kind of tempers the enthusiasm and ups the safety margins.

I used to drive over the Snake all the time, so much so that it got too familiar. One day, I had just come down past the Snake Inn and I rounded a corner at 40, only to see sheep in the road and I ended up rolling the car. Only luck saw me embed it in a wall rather than go down a ravine. So, that was a lesson to me, and now I do not go fast on that road, because if you do one day you will possibly die.

Getting up to 50, or even towards 60 on a quiet day, is safe enough on the straight past Ladybower, bearing in mind to look out for the blind Bamford junction, and for the car park. 40 is OK on the rest, and 30 is advisable on the tight corners near the Snake Inn and the summit. That's what I stick to nowadays, and if I can let tailgaters past then I do, if not, then it's up to them, but I can only concentrate on driving one car.

The road is rutted, has blind bends, and is full of hazards such as livestock, tractors, people turning into tracks, cyclists, and so on, so it deserves respect. It won't be long before there is a speed limit imposed on the Snake, as Derbyshire County Council seem to be putting them on a lot of their winding roads, and traffic enforcement must be a lot cheaper than scraping up the remains of frequent traffic accidents.

It's never took me more than about 1 and a half to two hours to get from Sheffield to Liverpool. It doesn't matter how fast you go on the Snake, the traffic round Manchester will level out your time in any case.

Originally posted by Mathom
It's never took me more than about 1 and a half to two hours to get from Sheffield to Liverpool. It doesn't matter how fast you go on the Snake, the traffic round Manchester will level out your time in any case.

From Sheffield to Liverpool in 1.5 to 2 hours has been my experience too, although I find that taking the M67, M60S and M62 makes up for any delays on the Woodhead or Snake Passes.

And I have BP Ultimate Unleaded to thank for that :D

I've said it before on here. The Snake is a pain and a shambles, and so is the Woodhead too. What is needed is a motorway linking SY and Manchester, saving time, improving infrastructure and boosting the economy.

And before the Swampy brigade has a go at me: I love the Peaks, but I want wealth, too. And if it wasn't for human interference, the hills would still be full of trees.

Originally posted by fhain29
I've said it before on here. The Snake is a pain and a shambles, and so is the Woodhead too. What is needed is a motorway linking SY and Manchester, saving time, improving infrastructure and boosting the economy.

It'll be interesting if the 'supercity' is ever built between Liverpool, Mancland, Sheff, Leeds and Hull.....

...but it wont be of course.

Originally posted by Tony
Well I tend to drive quite quickly when it is possible, practical and safe, but I have a very, very simple rule.

I always, always drive with the assumption that I might meet myself coming in the opposite direction.

It kind of tempers the enthusiasm and ups the safety margins.

That's a very good idea Tony, all drivers should take heed of that.

I'm really glad this post is on the forum and I hope lots of drivers are reading it - if not replying. Even if we can all take away with us the advice above it might make the Snake a safer road.

Just to add a moment of recollection to this thread...

Yesterday I nearly killed someone... I nearly killed them because the driver in front of me was indicating (with plenty of notice) that he wanted to turn right... so naturally being in the main lane I opted to indicate left and enter the bus lane to go round him... The EMPTY (I'd checked) bus lane... The person I nearly killed was the driver of the Ford Sierra type car that decided to boost his car from 2 feet behind me in the same lane, into the bus lane without indicating, warning (and most likely without thought either), hitting around 50 or 60 mph as he undertook, zomming around me... Through a zebra crossing and across the path of an oncoming car as he headed up Carter Knowle Road.

I only just avoided completing my own maneuver into the left lane because I had this niggle, despite checking my wing mirror. This "itch" that made me hesitate about .5 of a second... If I hadn't, my left front wing would have gone through the driver side door of his vehicle and probably killed him and the passenger behind him... Oh and let's not forget the fate of the people at the zebra crossing who would have undoubtedly ended up in the path of his by then uncontrolled vehicle and very dead too.

So to the idiot driving along Abbeydale road yesterday evening around 7:45pm be thankful you're alive you moron... You nearly died...

.. and if anyone thinks I'm overreacting just a tad here, trust me it would have ended up with multiple deaths.. No question.. it wasn't his driving skill that saved the day it was pure bloody luck and a gut feeling.. Nothing more.