Tuesday 22 September 2009

Road hogs

I wonder what the female version of one of these is called a road sow? Recently I seemed to have been accosted by a series of road traffic offences. My regular readers will know my feelings on using a hand held mobile phone. I find this offence very irritating because hands free devises are so cheap and easy to fit. This offence seems to be growing over here in Newton I noticed a big increase recently. I wonder if the public could have a telephone number to call so that reg number and time of offence could be recorded.
In Sandwell we have a lot of mini cabs that are licensed by the local authority. Many of these are silver coloured of one shade or another. I think at one time the Council wanted them all silver. These vehicles seem to have a set of rules all of their own. They are not fitted with signal mechanisms or if they are they never use them and they seem to ignore all other road users. I notice a lot of them seem to be immigrant drivers but surely they should and must follow the same road rules as the rest of us. A couple of days ago I was about to overtake one of these mini cabs who was looking at his satnav when suddenly he turned right with no signals. You all know I’m a quiet modest man not known for outbursts of rage but after a long blast on the horn this nutter still did not recognise that he had almost caused a serious accident. Throwing out of fag ends is another activity that annoys me along with folks who empty their ash trays in the road.
The worst offender this week though has to be the young lady who was combing her hair with one hand looking in her driving mirror which was moved so that she could see what she looked like and puffing up her hair with the other hand whilst driving on a duel carriage way at 50mph.
To me there seems to be a campaign to get older drivers off the roads but I’d settle for the lot I described being banned forever.

11 comments:

Bob Piper said...

Cllr Keith Davies wanted to smarten up Sandwell Taxi Cab drivers by introducing a 'dress code'.

I rather crudely pointed out that a copy of the f'in Highway Code would be more useful in my experience!

Bob the Black Country Brummie said...

No furthr comment is necessary.

Fat Prophet said...

that's a shame I was going to!!!

Bob the Black Country Brummie said...

FP the Cllr mentioned lives in my ward and is known to me.

Fat Prophet said...

I thought you meant nobody else could make a comment - not that you were commenting on the councillors remark

Bob the Black Country Brummie said...

Good to see your writers block has lifted FP. I better on comment further or I'll get sued but suffice to say I'm not a fan.

Fat Prophet said...

Many years ago a minister in the Congregational church that I knew who worked in Birmingham and was involved with a number of projects bought a redundant black cab. I asked him what on earth made him buy such a thing and he said it was quite simple - he could drive like an absolute prat and no one would bother because they would think he was a taxi driver - some things don't change eh??

Bob the Black Country Brummie said...

nice one FP

margaret macklin said...

Bob -on a more serious note.a friend of mine was picked up by a private hire in Birmingham late at night.The chappy stopped in half way home and demanded 20 pounds there and then or he would put her out in Newtown.She phoned her husband and the driver was persuaded to take her home.He then demanded 17 pounds (still above the price).Husband phoned the private hire company and surprisingly the company would not give drivers number.Birmingham ,I'm told have not followed this up.Sandwell to my experience do a really good job with taxi licenses and have "undercover" inspectors.Having a uniform or uniformly cloured car i think helps with recognition and trust.I would get into a taxi registered in Sandwell but not Birmingham.Their driving skills and knowledge of the area are another thing altogether.Is it not part of the license application?

Bob the Black Country Brummie said...

The wife claims to have seen a mini cab use his right indicator and actually turn right. Could this be a figment of her imagination?

Fat Prophet said...

The company I work for provided transport for a group of us to go to Birmingham earlier this year. The driver spoke very little English got totally lost in spite of his sat nav - didn't seem to understand turn left or turn right - and I have to say it was the most horrendous journey I have even been on.
I was tempted to suggest he was driving on someone else's licence - we certainly won't be using that company again.