Positive article in local press yesterday

[KB_S1]

just to give some glimmer of hope to us all.

I noticed a 'Road safety' article in the Oban and automatically thought 'oh no here we go, too fast yada yada'. But no, it was a good article.
Main summary was the head of local trafpol saying that they would be focussing their attention this summer on pulling over drivers who are driving slowly and causing a que!
they have identified the large tailbacks on the twisty roads as the biggest danger as drivers get bored, frustrated and inattentive and also attempt silly o/takes.
They will pull drivers causing a hold up into laybys to disperse the q and explain to the driver the problem they are causing and how to alleviate, such as using laybys and easing off at the start of straights!

Hopefully not just PR bluff but the start of a return to real road safety measures

[hedders]

They would have to somehow make it illegal in order for it to have any effect.

Evne then, I can't see how they can have speed cams telling you not to go above forty and cops telling you not to go below 35 (for example)

[havoc]

hedders said:

They would have to somehow make it illegal in order for it to have any effect. Evne then, I can't see how they can have speed cams telling you not to go above forty and cops telling you not to go below 35 (for example)

No, they never did before. They just need to adopt a consistent message. And that is "pay attention to what's around you or get off the road!!!"

[ewenm]

hedders said:

They would have to somehow make it illegal in order for it to have any effect. Evne then, I can't see how they can have speed cams telling you not to go above forty and cops telling you not to go below 35 (for example)

There's a bit in the highway code about making sure you're not hoplding up a long line of traffic and pulling over somewhere sensible if you are. I'd imagine there would be no ticketing, just a quiet word about observation and politeness.

[Don]

KB_S1 said:

just to give some glimmer of hope to us all. I noticed a 'Road safety' article in the Oban and automatically thought 'oh no here we go, too fast yada yada'. But no, it was a good article. Main summary was the head of local trafpol saying that they would be focussing their attention this summer on pulling over drivers who are driving slowly and causing a que! they have identified the large tailbacks on the twisty roads as the biggest danger as drivers get bored, frustrated and inattentive and also attempt silly o/takes. They will pull drivers causing a hold up into laybys to disperse the q and explain to the driver the problem they are causing and how to alleviate, such as using laybys and easing off at the start of straights! Hopefully not just PR bluff but the start of a return to real road safety measures

This matters a great deal in Scotland. All those single track roads down which the locals want to 40 to 50 and the tourists don't feel comfortable doing 25...TOURISTS: Pull over.

*Mostly* the tourists DO pull over. Which is great as although I'm not as quick as the residents I CAN take advantage of to make some progress.

If only this excellent habit from the Highlands could transplant itself to the South!

[KB_S1]

hedders said:

They would have to somehow make it illegal in order for it to have any effect. Evne then, I can't see how they can have speed cams telling you not to go above forty and cops telling you not to go below 35 (for example)

they are not intending on prosecution, just good sensible advice and positive measures.
All these roads are NSL, but you often have tourists driving at an average of 30. and the ones in camperwagons are worse.

[james_j]

KB_S1 said:

just to give some glimmer of hope to us all. I noticed a 'Road safety' article in the Oban and automatically thought 'oh no here we go, too fast yada yada'. But no, it was a good article. Main summary was the head of local trafpol saying that they would be focussing their attention this summer on pulling over drivers who are driving slowly and causing a que! they have identified the large tailbacks on the twisty roads as the biggest danger as drivers get bored, frustrated and inattentive and also attempt silly o/takes. They will pull drivers causing a hold up into laybys to disperse the q and explain to the driver the problem they are causing and how to alleviate, such as using laybys and easing off at the start of straights! Hopefully not just PR bluff but the start of a return to real road safety measures

It's a blooming miracle! How long has it taken for this to finally sink in? I hope this outbreak of common sense spreads. Excellent!

[Don]

KB_S1 said:

All these roads are NSL, but you often have tourists driving at an average of 30. and the ones in camperwagons are worse.

Blimmin' city folk on holiday in the dormobile. Nowhere to get to in any sort of hurry. Scared shitless because there isn't a white line painted down the middle of the road.

GET OUT OF MY WAY!

[silversun]

KB_S1 said:

I noticed a 'Road safety' article in the Oban and automatically thought 'oh no here we go, too fast yada yada'. But no, it was a good article. Main summary was the head of local trafpol saying that they would be focussing their attention this summer on pulling over drivers who are driving slowly and causing a que! they have identified the large tailbacks on the twisty roads as the biggest danger as drivers get bored, frustrated and inattentive and also attempt silly o/takes. They will pull drivers causing a hold up into laybys to disperse the q and explain to the driver the problem they are causing and how to alleviate, such as using laybys and easing off at the start of straights! Hopefully not just PR bluff but the start of a return to real road safety measures

Impressed. BiB should do this everywhere, IMO. Maybe people will learn that they aren't the only people using the roads and they can't force everyone else to do their speed.

[turbobloke]

Road safety article mentioned by KB_S1 said:

They will pull drivers causing a hold up into laybys to disperse the q and explain to the driver the problem they are causing and how to alleviate, such as using laybys and easing off at the start of straights

The educational and training role of skilled trafpol has been underplayed and undervalued in the last decade, this has to be a move in the right direction.

[7db]

[Alice Cupra]

ewenm said:

There's a bit in the highway code about making sure you're not hoplding up a long line of traffic and pulling over somewhere sensible if you are.

And I think I'm right in saying there is a charge of "Driving without due consideration for other road users" which may be used in certain circumstances?

[BigBob]

Don said:

KB_S1 said: All these roads are NSL, but you often have tourists driving at an average of 30. and the ones in camperwagons are worse. Blimmin' city folk on holiday in the dormobile. Nowhere to get to in any sort of hurry. Scared shitless because there isn't a white line painted down the middle of the road. GET OUT OF MY WAY!

Don't tar us all with the same brush mate. I regularly drive a 27ft motorhome and am fed up of being stuck behind somebody doddering along causing a tailback.

All the drivers behind me assume I'm at the head of their queue and I end up having to slam the anchors on to leave them back in when they realise there are 4 or 5 cars in front of me and they ain't got enough road left to overtake. Really p!ss3s me off sometimes.

On the original topic - well done to the BiB up there for a 'sensible' bit of policy.




BB

[Hollywood Wheels]

I visit Oban twice a year, it's my favourite place on this planet, simple as that. The sheer frustration i get from people doing 40-50mph on roads just made for hooning is unbelievable. God i miss that place so much it hurts....

HW

[vipers]

Cant think of the road number now, but its between Inverness and Applecross, single track, but with loads of PASSING PLACES, and as far as I recall (havnt been there for about 15 years), signs saying to pull over and let others pass.

Although you would think it bloody obvious wouldn't you, then again perhaps not.

[Don]

BigBob said:

Don't tar us all with the same brush mate. BB

To be fair - my bro drives a Motorhome and they CAN be driven considerately. So good on you for doing it. Sorry.

Whether its a dormobile/RV/Smart/Porsche its the act of driving in an NSL at 30mph, building up a queue of ten cars and doing nothing about it that's inconsiderate...not what the vehicle is.

[7db]

Isn't it also a case of the driver of the second vehicle in the queue who either can't or won't pass or drop back who is acting inconsiderately in the case of a queue building up?

Slower moving traffic is a fact of life on roads - this is not a problem if people allow overtakng to happen naturally and safely.

[BigBob]

7db said:

Isn't it also a case of the driver of the second vehicle in the queue who either can't or won't pass or drop back who is acting inconsiderately in the case of a queue building up? Slower moving traffic is a fact of life on roads - this is not a problem if people allow overtakng to happen naturally and safely.

Very true - Even in the M/home I can very often easily and safely pass 1 slow(ish) vehicle in front - particularly as I'm sat a fair bit higher than a car driver and can see the road further ahead. What I can't do is accelerate that quickly, so every overtake must be planned in advance - something we should all do anyway.

Totally agree with what you say about 2nd car etc. Trouble invariably comes when I 'collect' 2, 3, 4 or 5 cars in front of me meaning that, even with pre-planning, there just isn't enough visible road for me to drop back to give me room to build up speed AND clear the cars in front.

Invariably someone 'stuck' behind me assumes I'm the cause of the hold up, can't see past me because they are too close, dives out to overtake and realises that it's not just one vehicle he needs to pass but a 'train'.

Even that isn't a problem as long as they react sensibly and filter back in in front of me (I tend to leave enough room for 'clowns' anyway) but most of the time they'll panic and dive in, hitting the brakes TOO hard at the same time taking all my braking space.



BB

[autismuk]

hedders said:

They would have to somehow make it illegal in order for it to have any effect. Evne then, I can't see how they can have speed cams telling you not to go above forty and cops telling you not to go below 35 (for example)

A few years back here, the local trafpol pulled some old biddy doing 25mph on the road - I *think* they gave her a roadside test, decided she was unfit and had her stopped from driving (do not recall the exact details !).