We went for a drive to one of those Sunday market thingies as her indoors was in the mood for a bargain; something along the lines of a fourth, or is it fifth? stainless steel colander or similar. However, upon arrival, we found the market to be closed. What to do? Keep going ‘till we found an eating establishment is wot we did and ate right well as well when we found one. We had side salads and she was hoping they would be served in disposable colanders but, alas, that was not to be.
The point of this post isn’t about closed markets, colanders or huge lunches but rather about close contact driving.
We set off awfully early, about ten thirty, and the roads were still quite slick after the overnight freeze and temperatures remaining at zero. This didn’t seem to deter my fellow following travellers from getting close enough to be able to read who manufactured my rear number plate and also enabling me to lip-read their conversation in my rear view mirror with ease. They seemed to be talking utter rubbish by the way. Hay, waaait a minute!! Was I lip-reading backwards?
Anyhoo, have you noticed this cosy closeness? Us over here seem to be driving ever closer to the vehicle in front. Me? I do attempt to keep a distance behind the guy in front consistent with the prevailing road and weather conditions. Let me read that last bit again….. Boy, does that sound good or wot?
We’re not quite at other countries levels of closeness yet, but I get the impression we’re fast getting there. Take Singapore for example.
It would appear there’s an unwritten law forbidding drivers to allow a gap to open up between vehicles on highways, during rush hours, that would allow a cigarette paper to be inserted. Or Vietnam where it seems actual vehicular contact must be maintained at all times and the use of signalling, rear view mirrors or looking anywhere other than straight ahead is, apparently, prohibited.
If you ever plan a holiday to Vietnam DO NOT tick the box for car hire. Even if the tick-box has the word ‘Complimentary’ after it. In fact don’t even plan on crossing a road during your stay….. More on this can be found back here.
Maybe It’s old style me but It just seems we’re getting too close for comfort. Especially in iffy conditions.
Quote; Dave Barry.
“The one thing that unites all human beings, regardless of age, gender, religion, economic status, or ethnic background, is that, deep down inside, we all believe that we are above-average drivers.”
??
“I hate when I'm set on running a yellow light and the person in front of me chickens out.”
2 comments:
Do what I do Mac - its usually a BMW or an Audi stuck up my rear end, so I slowly acellerate, faster and faster and let them push me along.. then when the speedo reads something like 100mph, stamp on the brakes, smoke the tyres then pull away again sharpish, all the time watching them in the mirror as they lurch forward to kiss the windscreen.
Ripper, I do the dab the breaks thing once in a while but the reaction I get would seem to signify that I'm the nutter not them for trying to incert themselves in my tail pipe at sixty.
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