I know the law !

[barry sheene]

Here's the scene 2 lane road onto 2 lane roundabout exiting to 2 lanes. Car on inside me on outside, we get onto the roundabout where matey proceeds to cut the roundabout straight (i.e in my lane) I stand on the horn as he squeezes me against the kerbing, he swerves away. We both pull up the the ped crossing after the roundabout (2 lanes) whereupon he launches into a tirade about 'I'm a barrister, you can't overtake on roundabouts I know the law rant' whilst I insist that there are 2 lanes and he shouldn't have cut me up. I _know_ I'm in the right.

Besides who's the professional motorist here

[M@H]

Indeed you are right, but that sadly doens't seem to matter these days.

Only this morning I was at a 3 lane roundabout entry, in the middle lane ready to go straight over, when the huge 4X4 towing a trailer in the RIGHT-hand lane, proceeded to pull off sharply beside me, and attempt to take the LEFT exit !!! .... the FR nearly had me.. scared the bejeasus out of me too !

[Mad Dave]

On a similar theme, a friend of mine was very nearly nerfed from his Benelli TNT by a fully liviered Police car yesterday, on the way back from Thruxton. Aforementioned Police car was travelling behind a driver at approx. 40mph. My friend indicated, made his checks and began carefully (it was a cop car remember!) overtaking the Police car - as he drew alongside the car's rear quarter, the driver suddenly indicated and began overtaking the car in front. He did both these things as one movement - very nearly colliding with my friend in the process.

Presumably they do not teach Police drivers about rear observation and blind spot checks! I'm amazed he wasn't expecting one or both of us to overtake anyway - we had both been behind him, headlights aglow, for about 10 minutes!

[s2rr Kitty]

Some people are just oblivious to the amount of road they use (hog) and to other people sharing that road.

We have a roundabout near us where this is a real problem, for some reason drivers find it impossible to use correctly, if you are turning right then you become invisible & end up being shoved into the roundabout. It's crap! lol

I meant to ask.... was he driving a Cayenne? or X5? just a thought!

>> Edited by s2rr Kitty on Monday 11th April 19:04

[barry sheene]

just makes me wonder if anyone has actually ever read the highway code .

It even shows you how to do roundabouts with pictures, just in case you're a bit thick or a barrister

[stooz]

so, someday he might be defending people that have been in that exact accident? scary.

However, does the highway code not "suggest" straight lining a roundabout?

of course, thats the nice pictures, I doubt many read the actual text that says "if the road is clear and its safe to do so..."

ooh, no: its changed since my 1980's copy..(that 50% of the country still think is current)


introduce retesting!! even if it is just a theory (make them re-read the code) test

[jacko lah]

barry sheene said:

I stand on the horn as he squeezes me against the kerbing, he swerves away.

I think you knew what he was going to do before he did it! If you had time to press the horn, you were not taken by surprise really ? Be honest NOW !!!

We all know that 100's of drivers cut roundabouts and if we chose to get along side them we all know the risk we take. No point in being right if you are dead !!

You'll know to be more careful next time !!!

[Stu 9-5]

LOUD pipes - save lives

Also, if you had time to join the R/B together, you should have used your superior power to weight ratio to gain an advantage, preventing the problem from happening in the first place.

An avoidable incident, better forward planning and more right wrist would have put you in a more beneficial position. Maybe some advanced training or trackdays to learn the capabilities of your bike are in order...

[barry sheene]

jacko lah said:

I think you knew what he was going to do before he did it! If you had time to press the horn, you were not taken by surprise really ? Be honest NOW !!!

Quite right , my biker 6th sense and predictive reasoning are quite well developed, but I was already alongside him before we entered the roundabout.

Being a biker of some 20+ years experience I fully expect this sort of behaviour from some car drivers, what I don't expect is a lecture on why I'm in the wrong when I'm not... especially from someone who should know the law, but obviously doesn't.




>> Edited by barry sheene on Tuesday 12th April 19:07

>> Edited by barry sheene on Tuesday 12th April 19:19

[barry sheene]

Stu 9-5 said:

LOUD pipes - save lives Also, if you had time to join the R/B together, you should have used your superior power to weight ratio to gain an advantage, preventing the problem from happening in the first place. An avoidable incident, better forward planning and more right wrist would have put you in a more beneficial position. Maybe some advanced training or trackdays to learn the capabilities of your bike are in order...

I have a very loud pipe, and I would have not been in a position to be shouted at if it were not for the ped crossing after the roundabaout (the lights were red)

He did try and outdrag me from the crossing, but I just laughed and disappeared.

[raged_out]

I would have been so tempted to turn round and say something like 'Oh your a barrister since when does that make you right'

[barry sheene]

Would have loved to have a conversation with him, but he was raging and ranting so much his face was going red and I couldn't get a word in so I held up two fingers to indicate that there were 2 lanes.

In retrospect waving 2 fingers at him probably wasn't a good idea

[iguana]

Something my old dad said to me many years ago when I was an impetuous risk taking petrolhead youth, was "Son its fine being in the right, but no point in being dead right"

I know its a bit corny, but as ive got older & particually on 2 wheels I always have that phrase in the back of my mind, esp if ive cut something a bit fine or someone is driving erraticly etc.

Doesnt stop me driving like a nob on occasion mind, & I do loose my rag a fair bit but im always more aware on the old 2 wheels & try & 2nd guess the goons.