Health problems kept me off the road for ten years however, a year
ago I was well enough to start burning the old rubber again, so I got
me and my wifey a new car, and the two of us took to the highways
and byways of Glasgow.
Now in that gap of ten years I've noticed a huge increase in traffic levels on
all roads (which is only to be expected), but with driving standards that have
changed dramatically within, and around, the outskirts of that grand old city
of ours.
Roundabouts are a complete "every man for himself" joke, with incredible
aggressive "driver movement".
Aaaand what the hecks happened to "vehicles approaching from the
right on roundabouts have
right of way"!!!!
Sheesh you take your honds in your life goin' roon they things, and the
bigger the roondabout the worse it seems to be.
There is one big issue that really puzzles me though ....on dual carriageways,
the majority of drivers, when approaching the afore-said
roundabout, and whose
exit from the roundabout will be second or third, for some reason, slip into the
outside lane of the dual carriageway a mile or two before the actual roundabout itself.
This practice is routinely carried out even though the inside lane may be free
of cars, or lorries, which results in a line of traffic screaming up the outside
lane until that is, wan oh the derr devils says tae himsel, tae hang wae this, so
he/she (more he's than she's actually) decides to jump into the inside lane and
ends up "under-taking" the entire line of drivers, including the heed bummer
at the head of the fiasco.
I thought perhaps this action must be a new recommended driving manoeuvre by
the safe driving experts and as such, would be stated in the Highway Code,
but naw, it isnae in therr at-aw. Ahm still ferr puzzled wae that wan.
Speed is another big issue, speed limits appear to be totally ignored by, again,
the majority of drivers, (equally he's and she's this time) and the ironic thing is that
when these drivers approach Speed Traps (or accident preventers as I like to call them)
these very same drivers slow down to 20mph instead of the 30mph that's permitted,
resulting in tale-backs.
The worlds gone mad......maaaaaaaad I tell ya.
I will say though in closing, that I'd probably never have noticed these changes
in driving standards but for the decade of my non-driving, and no doubt I'd be
driving as everyone else does....with aggression.
Thinks....Naaah, nah ah widnae drive as if a've a bomb stuck up ma elkibeyond,
ah value ma life tae much.
Hah, that's made me feel better. (there's mair, but ah'm keepin ma gob shut noo)
Thanks for reading
cashmagiro