One single thing that makes you think "knob" Vol 3
Discussion
Trabi601 said:
Idiots on the M25 ignoring the red X lane closure sign, causing chaos and an hour delay for everyone else. A special place in hell is reserved for those who deliberately move into the lanes with a white arrow to designate an upcoming lane closure, then charge right down to the cones, ignoring the red cross, just to get a few minutes jump on everyone else..
That's the PH definition of "merge in turn" 
Not car related, but the thing which made me think "knob" last week was on our day out at the zoo last week. The couple nearby had two young kids who were clearly getting restless and starting to play up, but the "powerfully built/company director" type dad was more interested in getting the perfect shot with his fancy camera than helping his missus out with the kids. Eventually she ended up taking them off somewhere (I assume the play area) while he was still messing around with his camera. He eventually turned around and took him a minute to realise they had gone, then proceeded to call her and berate her for walking off without him!
And also, have I missed something, because at what point did it become popular for everyone to have camera's with massive zoom lenses. In the case of the guy above I'm not quite sure what the benefit of attaching a 6 foot zoom lense is when taking a photo of something 6 1/2 foot away!
Don't get me wrong, I know that there are plenty of keen photographers who have a need for this type of kit, but it seemed like every other person was carrying one of these ridiculously oversized things. Is it another way to show people how successful you are, alongside the lease spec faux by faux?
And also, have I missed something, because at what point did it become popular for everyone to have camera's with massive zoom lenses. In the case of the guy above I'm not quite sure what the benefit of attaching a 6 foot zoom lense is when taking a photo of something 6 1/2 foot away!
Don't get me wrong, I know that there are plenty of keen photographers who have a need for this type of kit, but it seemed like every other person was carrying one of these ridiculously oversized things. Is it another way to show people how successful you are, alongside the lease spec faux by faux? It's a popular hobby, I must admit I've done it before at a Zoo, and the images you can get with even modest zoom are very nice.
Blanchimont said:
Special mention to the dosey old bint in the Honda CRV driving at 25mph in a 60 limit B Road. I get that not everyone is Colin McRae, but slowing every time a car, or a leaf or a twig appeared in the opposite lane. No opportunity to overtake either. Grr.
Frightening, isn't it? People who do this are obviously so out of their depth driving a road which needs care it makes me wonder how little skill they have in an equally challenging, pedestrianised 30mph zone at school kicking-out time.ashleyman said:
Parked in a public parking bay this morning outside a house on a public street. You get where this is going right...
Got back to my car 2 hours later to find it completely blocked in. I was on the end bay (the red square) and was behind a Mini (the green square). I got back to find a car parked in the blue square about 15 cm away from my bumper. The mini was also too close so I was stuck.
Took a guess that the car who had come and blocked me in belonged to the house I was parked in front of. Knocked on the door, asked if it was his and then got told to move it. He didn't look very happy.
It's a shame that when I park in that road, it's obvious where I'm going or next time I'd be tempted to block him and disappear for 2 hours as payback.
Did the mini move or did you park too close to it?Got back to my car 2 hours later to find it completely blocked in. I was on the end bay (the red square) and was behind a Mini (the green square). I got back to find a car parked in the blue square about 15 cm away from my bumper. The mini was also too close so I was stuck.
Took a guess that the car who had come and blocked me in belonged to the house I was parked in front of. Knocked on the door, asked if it was his and then got told to move it. He didn't look very happy.
It's a shame that when I park in that road, it's obvious where I'm going or next time I'd be tempted to block him and disappear for 2 hours as payback.
yellowjack said:
Thereby demonstrating that the "seems a bit pointless" bit was sound in both theory and practical application.
There's a 40mph dual carriageway section near me with a roundabout at both ends, along with PeLiCon crossings, with further traffic lights and roundabouts a short distance away. I'm regularly passed (me at an indicated 43/44mph) by tools who "weren't going to plod down this road" behind me. Quite often I roll up at the roundabout directly behind them, and regularly end up passing them as they are queuing for the busier exit while I can roll up to the line in the lane 2/right turn exit.
Pointless morons, pointlessly making the daily journey to work more dangerous and less efficient for everyone. So how does "having the more powerful car" work out for you on busy commutes?
"PeLiCon"There's a 40mph dual carriageway section near me with a roundabout at both ends, along with PeLiCon crossings, with further traffic lights and roundabouts a short distance away. I'm regularly passed (me at an indicated 43/44mph) by tools who "weren't going to plod down this road" behind me. Quite often I roll up at the roundabout directly behind them, and regularly end up passing them as they are queuing for the busier exit while I can roll up to the line in the lane 2/right turn exit.
Pointless morons, pointlessly making the daily journey to work more dangerous and less efficient for everyone. So how does "having the more powerful car" work out for you on busy commutes?
ashleyman said:
Hackney said:
Did the mini move or did you park too close to it?
The mini had been moved closer... I was parked with my wheels just inside the bay and the mini was at least 1.5ft in front of my car. When I got back it was about 15 cm away and the other car was the same on the rear.ashleyman said:
The mini had been moved closer... I was parked with my wheels just inside the bay and the mini was at least 1.5ft in front of my car. When I got back it was about 15 cm away and the other car was the same on the rear.
This is why I fitted a tow bar and bull bar to my old Vitara. I used to live somewhere people used to park to get to the local station. 99% of people gave me ample room after this, the other 1% gained new dents in their bumpers.Countdown said:
Trabi601 said:
Idiots on the M25 ignoring the red X lane closure sign, causing chaos and an hour delay for everyone else. A special place in hell is reserved for those who deliberately move into the lanes with a white arrow to designate an upcoming lane closure, then charge right down to the cones, ignoring the red cross, just to get a few minutes jump on everyone else..
That's the PH definition of "merge in turn" (APIS, the Ghostbusters of the highway.)
Plant life in a BMW 1 Series & the Idiot driving instructor who obviously wasn't paying attention when his pupil put herself in the M25 only lane @ A1/M25 South Mimms junction earlier.
Lights changed & the poor girl obviously panicked a bit & stalled, Mr I'm so important in my 1 series then leans on horn & tries to manoeuvre around them but is too close to effect it.
He eventually makes it, still sounding horn & goes powering through a well red light & narrowly avoids being T boned by cars coming off the opposing light & immediately has to brake because he's joining the queue to go round to the already blocked Essex bound M25.
Pupil had her act sorted on the next change & made good her error. I just cruised past Mr 1 & went up onto westbound M25!
Bonus Knob points for You Mr 1 for all of that & you Mr Instructor, that junction is actually extremely well signed.
I hope the young lady gets herself another instructor pronto.
Lights changed & the poor girl obviously panicked a bit & stalled, Mr I'm so important in my 1 series then leans on horn & tries to manoeuvre around them but is too close to effect it.
He eventually makes it, still sounding horn & goes powering through a well red light & narrowly avoids being T boned by cars coming off the opposing light & immediately has to brake because he's joining the queue to go round to the already blocked Essex bound M25.
Pupil had her act sorted on the next change & made good her error. I just cruised past Mr 1 & went up onto westbound M25!
Bonus Knob points for You Mr 1 for all of that & you Mr Instructor, that junction is actually extremely well signed.
I hope the young lady gets herself another instructor pronto.
On the way to work last week i had a Mini behind me. She was wandering all over her lane, mostly nearly clipping the nearside verge. Then one minute she would be tailgating me, the next she was miles behind. This was a straight bit of road and I was doing a steady 60mph. I've never seen such a lack of car control.
That was until this morning when on the same stretch of road I was behind a Zafira who was wandering around. Only this time he seemed to favour wandering towards oncoming traffic then abruptly correcting his position. Probably faffing about with satnav or his phone, but just poor careless driving.
And the other classic was in a massive Tesco Extra car park. I watched some sort of people carrier take several attempts to squeeze in between two cars. Only 90% of the car park was empty, including the row of spaces they had chosen to park in. This was all so they could be 3 spaces away from the shop when there were masses of empty spaces no more than 10 spaces away from the shop.
That was until this morning when on the same stretch of road I was behind a Zafira who was wandering around. Only this time he seemed to favour wandering towards oncoming traffic then abruptly correcting his position. Probably faffing about with satnav or his phone, but just poor careless driving.
And the other classic was in a massive Tesco Extra car park. I watched some sort of people carrier take several attempts to squeeze in between two cars. Only 90% of the car park was empty, including the row of spaces they had chosen to park in. This was all so they could be 3 spaces away from the shop when there were masses of empty spaces no more than 10 spaces away from the shop.
A maddle aged chavified 3 Series driver, was behind him for about 10 minutes driving through town, about 5-6 junctions going left and right, he didn't indicate once, that didn't make me think knob too much, but then honked at someone because they didn't set off 0.1 seconds after the light turned green, then floored it into the distance on a busy 30 road.
Two very special cyclists today. I can only think the sun had got to them and addled their brains.
First one was on a mountain bike who whizzed down the inside of a line of traffic, through the red light, bunny hopped onto a pedestrian refuge, went down a one way "up" lane, bunny hopped onto the pavement and carried on at unabated speed. (In secret I was quite impressed with his bike handling skills).
Second one was on a road bike and clearly on a Strava mission as the red lights at the major intersection didn't cause him to break his rhythm. Even the motorbike in front of me tooted his horn.
First one was on a mountain bike who whizzed down the inside of a line of traffic, through the red light, bunny hopped onto a pedestrian refuge, went down a one way "up" lane, bunny hopped onto the pavement and carried on at unabated speed. (In secret I was quite impressed with his bike handling skills).
Second one was on a road bike and clearly on a Strava mission as the red lights at the major intersection didn't cause him to break his rhythm. Even the motorbike in front of me tooted his horn.
ch108 said:
On the way to work last week i had a Mini behind me. She was wandering all over her lane, mostly nearly clipping the nearside verge. Then one minute she would be tailgating me, the next she was miles behind. This was a straight bit of road and I was doing a steady 60mph. I've never seen such a lack of car control.
That was until this morning when on the same stretch of road I was behind a Zafira who was wandering around. Only this time he seemed to favour wandering towards oncoming traffic then abruptly correcting his position. Probably faffing about with satnav or his phone, but just poor careless driving.
And the other classic was in a massive Tesco Extra car park. I watched some sort of people carrier take several attempts to squeeze in between two cars. Only 90% of the car park was empty, including the row of spaces they had chosen to park in. This was all so they could be 3 spaces away from the shop when there were masses of empty spaces no more than 10 spaces away from the shop.
I have to say, the lack of basic car control one often sees on the roads is staggering.That was until this morning when on the same stretch of road I was behind a Zafira who was wandering around. Only this time he seemed to favour wandering towards oncoming traffic then abruptly correcting his position. Probably faffing about with satnav or his phone, but just poor careless driving.
And the other classic was in a massive Tesco Extra car park. I watched some sort of people carrier take several attempts to squeeze in between two cars. Only 90% of the car park was empty, including the row of spaces they had chosen to park in. This was all so they could be 3 spaces away from the shop when there were masses of empty spaces no more than 10 spaces away from the shop.
ch108 said:
On the way to work last week i had a Mini behind me. She was wandering all over her lane, mostly nearly clipping the nearside verge. Then one minute she would be tailgating me, the next she was miles behind. This was a straight bit of road and I was doing a steady 60mph. I've never seen such a lack of car control.
Gotta catch 'em all 
The driver of white transit van YT62JYW this morning on the M25
I approached him in lane 4 as he was in lane 3 with a Skoda really close behind him. Nothing in lane 2 or 1
As I passed I saw he was holding a phone above the steering wheel so he could see it.
I continued past and eased off, he passed me as we got to the Potters Bar junction, still on the phone (I'd first seen him at the A1 exit).
I let him pass me, then pulled out and passed him, making sure I slowed as I got level, at which point the phone was dropped (eventually) and the gesticulating and shouting began.
You sir, are an absolute knob.
ETA I'm pretty sure he started to film me / photograph me after that, god knows what he'd do with that.
"Police please, yes a Saab driver distracted me while I was on the phone this morning....."
I approached him in lane 4 as he was in lane 3 with a Skoda really close behind him. Nothing in lane 2 or 1
As I passed I saw he was holding a phone above the steering wheel so he could see it.
I continued past and eased off, he passed me as we got to the Potters Bar junction, still on the phone (I'd first seen him at the A1 exit).
I let him pass me, then pulled out and passed him, making sure I slowed as I got level, at which point the phone was dropped (eventually) and the gesticulating and shouting began.
You sir, are an absolute knob.
ETA I'm pretty sure he started to film me / photograph me after that, god knows what he'd do with that.
"Police please, yes a Saab driver distracted me while I was on the phone this morning....."
ch108 said:
On the way to work last week i had a Mini behind me. She was wandering all over her lane, mostly nearly clipping the nearside verge. Then one minute she would be tailgating me, the next she was miles behind. This was a straight bit of road and I was doing a steady 60mph. I've never seen such a lack of car control.
That was until this morning when on the same stretch of road I was behind a Zafira who was wandering around. Only this time he seemed to favour wandering towards oncoming traffic then abruptly correcting his position. Probably faffing about with satnav or his phone, but just poor careless driving.
At least 90% of the times I see that sort of poor driving, the idiot behind the wheel is fiddling with their phone, and glancing up occasionally to look at the road / their surroundingsThat was until this morning when on the same stretch of road I was behind a Zafira who was wandering around. Only this time he seemed to favour wandering towards oncoming traffic then abruptly correcting his position. Probably faffing about with satnav or his phone, but just poor careless driving.
AW111 said:
At least 90% of the times I see that sort of poor driving, the idiot behind the wheel is fiddling with their phone, and glancing up occasionally to look at the road / their surroundings
It is chuffing annoying, and so easily spotted - chin down, eyes down as they update their status/search for the "like" button for the latest cat photo etc. I cannot understand the mental process that leads people to think that replying to a text/tweet/Facebook (other social media sites are available) can't wait until they are not behind the wheel of a tonne and a bit of metal.Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff