Near misses - mod warning 22/04 - see OP/post 822

Annie get your Run

What Username Guidelines wrote: »

Maybe it’s just the weather and bank holiday, but this thread has quietened right down since the 1.5m ads on tv. I’ve had a couple of close-ish passes in the last week and maybe it’s jusg confirmation bias, but could it be working already? Have noticed more patience out there. I think.

I just can't be arsed posting about them any more! Yesterday evening two cars overtook me closely while we were all only meters from a junction with red lights, the 2nd guy then closed the gap to the kerb presumably so I couldn't get past him then :mad:. Having said that I think the people who 'didn't realise' they should give a bit more space probably are doing so now, but the ars*holes are still being ars*holes and I guess no advertising campaign is going to stop them!

Annie get your Run

homer911 wrote: »

Last night at the Northumberland Rd/Haddington Road junction a cyclist decided to "go" on the pedestrian lights, just as three pedestrians stepped into the road in front of him. Absolute disgrace and the reason why we collectively get such a bad name - cyclists are always jumping these lights but that was the worst I have seen


This morning at UCD/N11 another impatient cyclist decided he could cycle through a red light (parallel to N11) when the lights went green for traffic exiting UCD. The driver pointed at the lights and wagged his finger at the cyclist. Another example of bad behavior that could get the rider/pedestrian injured or killed - come one everyone, we have to do better than this, don't give the other road users an excuse!

Yesterday morning 6 (yes 6) cars broke the red lights from Conyngham Road heading to the city, I was coming from the PP waiting patiently for green, had to wait longer to let them through...Today a white coach broke the pedestrian lights at speed around Bachelor's Walk, a red van drove up the bus lane and then proceeded to break a set of lights, two cars blocked a yellow box at the junction of Castleknock Road and Hawthorn Lawn meaning other cars couldn't cross the roundabout.

I could go on......

Ray Bloody Purchase

Tuesday morning a Kia Sportage came very close to clipping me and yesterday morning a Qashqai did the same. Both of them in a massive rush to get stuck at the next set of lights/queue of traffic.

I just can't get over the use of these bloody SUVs for ferrying kids around in traffic.

PaulieC

Ray Bloody Purchase wrote: »

I just can't get over the use of these bloody SUVs for ferrying kids around in traffic.

Why ? What's wrong with driving an SUV ?

droidus

Whats right with it?

PaulieC

droidus wrote: »

Whats right with it?

It's a car. People use them for transport.

Ray Bloody Purchase

PaulieC wrote: »

Why ? What's wrong with driving an SUV ?

What is the point in possessing one in an urban environment?

PaulieC

Ray Bloody Purchase wrote: »

What is the point in possessing one in an urban environment?

A car ? or a small SUV ? I think your issue might be about the drivers of these cars that close passed you rather than the cars themselves ? It's not like the car models mentioned are actual SUVs. They are actually perfectly suited to an urban environment.

droidus

I disagree, they are far too large, they use more fuel because they are generally heavier (comparable to a contemporary saloon or hatchback), they are higher and are sold as offering 'a commanding view of the road' which has a negative effect on driver psychology, some models are extremely dangerous when it comes to reversing and lines of sight, and in many cases they trade the occupants safety for the safety of those in normal cars (another selling point) as in the event of an accident the disparity in size, weight and structure puts the normal car at a huge disadvantage, they also triple the risk of death if they strike a pedestrian and are more likely to kill children due to a combination of driving position and design.

All in all, they have no place in an urban setting and it is a victory for marketing that small trucks which are more likely to kill have somehow become an acceptable means of city transport.

Duckjob

droidus wrote: »

I disagree, they are far too large, they use more fuel because they are generally heavier (comparable to a contemporary saloon or hatchback), they are higher and are sold as offering 'a commanding view of the road' which has a negative effect on driver psychology, some models are extremely dangerous when it comes to reversing and lines of sight, and in many cases they trade the occupants safety for the safety of those in normal cars (another selling point) as in the event of an accident the disparity in size, weight and structure puts the normal car at a huge disadvantage, they also triple the risk of death if they strike a pedestrian and are more likely to kill children due to a combination of driving position and design.

All in all, they have no place in an urban setting and it is a victory for marketing that small trucks which are more likely to kill have somehow become an acceptable means of city transport.

I agree completely. They contribute to "king of the road" syndrome.

When visiting other european cities, particularly the ones in mediterranean countries I'm often struck by the lack of these ridiculous looking tanks clogging up the roads compared to here. People for the most part seem to be able to happily go about their business using regular cars.

droidus

Yup. and don't take my word for it - there's a ton of research on this, especially from the US and Australia, some of it is extremely shocking.

check_six

Ray Bloody Purchase wrote: »

What is the point in possessing one in an urban environment?

I heard someone mentioning chiropractor bill savings and a high boot loading area once as a real reason for getting one of these tractor things. Maybe I'm a bit stupid, but surely lifting something from the ground up to a *lower* boot loading area would be easier. Am I missing something really obvious about the laws of physics here? Maybe the sheer mass of these things changes the physical laws of the universe a bit like the weird stuff that happens near black holes?

An acquaintance once switched from a perfectly good saloon car to some kind of high end and very expensive 4x4 on the *assumption* that it would accommodate three child seats in the back. It didn't. They didn't think they could handle the practicality of a 'mom-wagon' people carrier, or the inexpense of getting the skinnier child seats that come with something like a Multi-Mac bench.

I suspect that the type of person who would go for one of these vehicles doesn't mind losing a lot of visibility out the back as they rarely bother to glance that way anyway, which is alarming considering that you do see a lot of them on school runs and supermarket carparks where rear visibility is actually quite useful/absolutely bloody critical.

As you can see, I'm not exactly enamoured with the all pervasiveness of these bloody monstrosity vehicles.

mr spuckler

Duckjob wrote: »

I agree completely. They contribute to "king of the road" syndrome.

check_six

droidus wrote: »

All in all, they have no place in an urban setting and it is a victory for marketing that small trucks which are more likely to kill have somehow become an acceptable means of city transport.

I'd thank this post twice if I could.

PaulieC

Great to see the tolerance towards others here in this forum. I hope we remember this the next time someone mouths off about bloody cyclists.

Let's not forget, the example of these huge metal beasts of cars were a Nissan Qashqai and Kia Sportage.

buffalo

PaulieC wrote: »

Great to see the tolerance towards others here in this forum. I hope we remember this the next time someone mouths off about bloody cyclists.

Let's not forget, the example of these huge metal beasts of cars were a Nissan Qashqai and Kia Sportage.

:rolleyes: Can you offer a reasoned rebuttal to the points argued above?

check_six

PaulieC wrote: »

Great to see the tolerance towards others here in this forum.

Looks like my suv-ophobia has spilled over into something more sinister.
The Fr. Ted line "I hear you're a racist now, Father." is starting to echo around my head!

PaulieC

buffalo wrote: »

:rolleyes: Can you offer a reasoned rebuttal to the points argued above?

No. I shouldn't need to. People have a choice as to what they buy to transport themselves around. It's nothing to do with me what other people drive, as long as they drive safely with respect to other people who use the roads.
I don't agree with driving large cars around the city myself, in fact I recently swapped out of a VW Passat to a seat Ibiza, but neither do I agree with forcing my opinions on others. Especially when the usual rhetoric is used (massive metal boxes, huge monstrosities, etc. etc.). It's not like this is the US where the SUVs are actually huge. We're talking about "SUVs" here that have a smaller footprint than most saloons.

Ray Bloody Purchase

I hope for a more inclusive world where SUV drivers can be accepted as normal people too.

12 element

buffalo wrote: »

:rolleyes: Can you offer a reasoned rebuttal to the points argued above?

To be fair a Qashqai is only 140mm longer and 100mm taller than a VW Golf
Potentially lighter than a Golf too depending on options.

check_six

Ray Bloody Purchase wrote: »

I hope for a more inclusive world where SUV drivers can be accepted as normal people too.

Some of my best friends are suv drivers.

*pins tyre-track pattern ribbon to lapel*

*single tear rolls down cheek*

droidus

Yes, people have choices, and the choices they make affect other people. There are design issues with SUV's (huge metal boxes, which are indeed present on irish roads), and even smaller hybrid vehicles which negatively affect other road users, the environment and society as a whole.

Can you make an argument as to why we should be tolerant of people who make choices which negatively impact other people?

Incidentally, there have been some studies in the US which show that discourteous drivers do tend towards these kinds of vehicles, so there is a chicken/egg situation here too.

Felexicon

Some strange thinking in here around SUV's. The whole "King of the Road" mentality is, in my experience, down to the individual and not the vehicle they drive. If you're a c&*t in a Polo you'll still be a c&*t in a Land Rover and vice versa.

I don't think I've had more close passes/near misses with SUV's compared to other vehicles.


Also I'd feel safer in a cardboard box than a Kia Sportage

droidus

To be fair they have been specifically marketed to appeal to this sentiment.

Felexicon

droidus wrote: »

Yes, people have choices, and the choices they make affect other people. There are design issues with SUV's (huge metal boxes, which are indeed present on irish roads), and even smaller hybrid vehicles which negatively affect other road users, the environment and society as a whole.

Can you make an argument as to why we should be tolerant of people who make choices which negatively impact other people?

Incidentally, there have been some studies in the US which show that discourteous drivers do tend towards these kinds of vehicles, so there is a chicken/egg situation here too.

I don't think you can compare your average Irish driver to their American cousins. Having had the pleasure of a 4 week road trip up the West Coast a few years ago I can tell you that our driving style is much less aggressive on this side of the Atlantic.

m5ex9oqjawdg2i

daragh_ wrote: »

Chap on a motorbike rides up at speed behind me. He can't get past as we are taking the lane to overtake. This makes him very unhappy so he sits on my wheel (half wheeling according to my fellow commuter) and starts revving like crazy.

Overtake complete I move left back to the middle of the lane, and he shoots past me, skimming me deliberately. 2 seconds later he's stuck behind a taxi and heading to the red lights at Booterstown. The cyclist behind me (who had a much better view of how dangerous this all was) catches up with him to have a word. Chap on the bike doesn't give a F**k, leans the bike towards him, revs at him etc. usual slagging match ensues as we all have to stop at 2 more sets of lights. He vanishes before I can find a Guard.

I had a very similar experience with a motorbike in the very same place a couple of years ago.

Commuting into town and there's a motorbike in the bus lane. A bus in front of him stopped due to the traffic there and the motorbike stopped for a couple of seconds. He then decided to use the cycle lane but didn't indicate or look behind him, just pulled right out in front of me. I had to break hard and my road bike skidded to a halt. I let out a shout and he lost his shít. Like completely went mental. He drove right beside me in the cycle lane pushing me to the side, lifted his visor and told me to stop, that he was going to fight me. He stopped his bike, then drove past myself and a group of other cyclists at high speed revving like a maniac. He could have easily killed somebody at that speed. It's unfortunate that this guy is still alive harassing people on the road. I would have zero pity to hear he hit a wall or tree at speed.

Felexicon

Charli Loose Snowball wrote: »

I had a very similar experience with a motorbike in the very same place a couple of years ago.

Commuting into town and there's a motorbike in the bus lane. A bus in front of him stopped due to the traffic there and the motorbike stopped for a couple of seconds. He then decided to use the cycle lane but didn't indicate or look behind him, just pulled right out in front of me. I had to break hard and my road bike skidded to a halt. I let out a shout and he lost his shít. Like completely went mental. He drove right beside me in the cycle lane pushing me to the side, lifted his visor and told me to stop, that he was going to fight me. He stopped his bike, then drove past myself and a group of other cyclists at high speed revving like a maniac. He could have easily killed somebody at that speed. It's unfortunate that this guy is still alive harassing people on the road. I would have zero pity to hear he hit a wall or tree at speed.

Jesus wept.

buffalo

PaulieC wrote: »

No. I shouldn't need to. People have a choice as to what they buy to transport themselves around. It's nothing to do with me what other people drive, as long as they drive safely with respect to other people who use the roads.
I don't agree with driving large cars around the city myself, in fact I recently swapped out of a VW Passat to a seat Ibiza, but neither do I agree with forcing my opinions on others. Especially when the usual rhetoric is used (massive metal boxes, huge monstrosities, etc. etc.). It's not like this is the US where the SUVs are actually huge. We're talking about "SUVs" here that have a smaller footprint than most saloons.

Does posting your opinions on a discussion forum count as 'forcing your opinions on others'?

As stated above, if such a driver hits a pedestrian, there's a higher likelihood of death or serious injury. That alone should warrant discouraging use in heavily populated areas. And as a frequent pedestrian, it's not 'nothing to do with me'.

average_runner

droidus wrote: »

Yes, people have choices, and the choices they make affect other people. There are design issues with SUV's (huge metal boxes, which are indeed present on irish roads), and even smaller hybrid vehicles which negatively affect other road users, the environment and society as a whole.

Can you make an argument as to why we should be tolerant of people who make choices which negatively impact other people?

Incidentally, there have been some studies in the US which show that discourteous drivers do tend towards these kinds of vehicles, so there is a chicken/egg situation here too.

I used to driver an Almera and now I drive a KIA Sportage. Sportage is alot better car for giving me a better view of the road, front, side and back!!


Actually in fairness, I have owned a polo, almera, passat, insignima and sportage. Sportage for me is the best of the lot for a better view of your surroundings

average_runner

buffalo wrote: »

Does posting your opinions on a discussion forum count as 'forcing your opinions on others'?

As stated above, if such a driver hits a pedestrian, there's a higher likelihood of death or serious injury. That alone should warrant discouraging use in heavily populated areas. And as a frequent pedestrian, it's not 'nothing to do with me'.

But you can refer that to everything if your not careful.