best bit of driving ive ever seen (can you feel the sarcasm?)

drcook · 07-11-2006, 09:54 AM

ok, heres a pearler...

was travelling west on the m4 about 6pm last night, when as approaching the northern road overpass i noticed a black lexus and another car just infront of him slowing down to walking pace in the fast lane. I was also in the fast lane (had just passed a car in the centre lane), thought WTF, is something on the road?. Then the cars come to a complete stop. Zero speed....in the fast lane....on a freeway...

I slow suddenly (dont have much of a choice), look in my blind spot, have to let the car i just passed repass me before i can change into the centre lane.

As i drive (im now accelerating back from a standstill) past these two i notice what the car infront was. i will give you 3 guesses:

a.) a car built be the worlds biggest car maker, sold worldwide as the 4 cylinder equivalent to the avalon (sorry, aurion)
b.) a car that carries badges such as altise, sportivo and grande.
c.) a toyota camry.

so, what were they doing?.
well, the camry driver was turned around looking back at the lexus driver and giving him 'unappreciative gestures' while the lexus driver was ushering him to get out of the way. as the camry driver decides enough fun has been had, he accelerates, moves over to the middle lane, lets the lexus through, then jumps back in the fast lane(!), to give the lexus a few flashes of the high beam!.
I can only assume that because said camry wouldnt get out of the fast lane, the lexus has given him abit of the old nose to tail slipstream manouvere, so the camry in all his wisdom has thought: what a great idea, this i'l teach him. i'l just stop.

Brilliant.

fiery · 07-11-2006, 09:57 AM

And times like these there is never a copper to be found

:

What an idiotic thing to have done!!! Geez, some people shouldn't have a car let alone a licence

:

sfr rob · 07-11-2006, 10:03 AM

This should be in the: what not to do on a freeway section of the forums :hihi:
I Thought 50y.o+ camry drivers were bad enough when they sit on 85kmh in the right hand lane.

Scott · 07-11-2006, 10:11 AM

I guess from your story that the Lexus wanted him out of the right lane and had given him a few flashes of the lights. I think flashing of the lights is about the best way to move people...... allthough some just think you are being a *****. A quick flash just seems less offensive than using the horn.

In all my driving, it seems that flashing of the lights to make a point is most common in Melbourne. It is pretty common there whilst Brisbane for example there is just constant blaring horns everywhere.

Dilan · 07-11-2006, 10:34 AM

I always give a quick flash of the lights! The driver in the Camry was just a ****er. But stereotypes are bad mmmkay?

drcook · 07-11-2006, 10:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dilan

I always give a quick flash of the lights! The driver in the Camry was just a ****er. But stereotypes are bad mmmkay?

was i stereotyping? :P

stereotypes happen for a reason!

Scott · 07-11-2006, 10:38 AM

doesn't everyone type with two fingers?

:

Ives · 07-11-2006, 10:46 AM

That's the first time i read about something like that. A lot of drivers today are unbelievable (in a worst way).

FordFan86 · 07-11-2006, 10:54 AM

I had someting similar to this a few nights ago.. I was driving home from work at about 9:40, I was in the right hand lane... Traffic was clear in the left so I moved over (as you do), easily leaving 2 car lengths between the guy behind me. There was a car coming up going a few k's slower than the 80k limit, the who I just pulled infront of pulls out into the right hand lane and keeps moving... I finally catch up to the dude infront of me, indicate to get back into the right lane (After checking blind spot and being able to see BOTH the other guys lights in my side mirror) I pull over... and the ****** flashes me?!?! I almost got out at the set of lights up ahead... I left it, he caught up as I got a red light 5 mins ahead... in an 80k zone I was going 60 in the left lane and him VERY slowly creeping up in the right hand lane... I gave him a look over... he didn't budge his head, both hands on the wheel and just keep looking straight... was a dude in his 40's with an older lady in the passenger seat... in a VP...
sick mate.
*******.

merlin · 07-11-2006, 11:11 AM

He came to a complete stop in the right lane of the M4? Sorry but WTF? Multiple people could have been killed because of this dimwit, hope someone got his rego.

GXL078 · 07-11-2006, 11:36 AM

I was stopped, waiting to turn right onto roundabout at Prospect HWY exit from the M4 heading west towards Blacktown. You know the one where the corner seems to come up too quick for some people (hence the banged up gaurdrail). I hear a screech of brakes and look in the mirror to see a light truck with a green P Plate totally out of control and heading sideways towards me. I don't know how he missed but I told him what I thought of his driving. The number plate was ULTMTE look out for him.

Also saw an accident outside Westpoint. Two cars had had a minor bump and they just left them side by side in taking up TWO of the three lanes. All of the traffic had to get into one lane to get past them. Both drivers were out of their cars and both were standing in the middle of the road talking on mobile phones.

You have to realise that most of these Camry drivers would have been lucky to have owned a COW (or a CANOE in the case of the truck driver) where they came from.

Falcon Freak · 07-11-2006, 11:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by merlin

He came to a complete stop in the right lane of the M4? Sorry but WTF? Multiple people could have been killed because of this dimwit, hope someone got his rego.

Exactly! If I saw the incident I would have taken his rego number and reported him to the police. Somebody could have been killed if they ran into stationary cars on a freeway.

And so the breakdown of society continues....

FF

GXL078 · 07-11-2006, 11:44 AM

They stop all along the M4 to have "family meetings".

Walkinshaw · 07-11-2006, 11:51 AM

Did you get the plates of this camery. Bitching on forums is all well and good, if people start ringing in to traffic police regarding matters like this and make sure you get a report number, the police may actualy target these things. (well mabey not, seing it doesnt rake in the cash)

Perana · 07-11-2006, 11:54 AM

Having seen some pretty bad driving on Saturday (not to mention dangerous and nearly accident causing) It's great when an unmarked cop car see's and pulls them over ;)

To that ***** i hope she got reamed.

drcook · 07-11-2006, 01:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by merlin

He came to a complete stop in the right lane of the M4? .

a...complete....STOP

drcook · 07-11-2006, 01:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Walkinshaw

Did you get the plates of this camery. Bitching on forums is all well and good, if people start ringing in to traffic police regarding matters like this and make sure you get a report number, the police may actualy target these things. (well mabey not, seing it doesnt rake in the cash)

i actually couldnt get the plate because the lexus was RIGHT behind him, and as i passed the canary i was too busy speeding back up (so i didnt get tail ended) to look back at his front plate.

if i'd been the lexus i would of followed him home. not done anything after that. just followed him home and played with his head.

You Yangs · 07-11-2006, 06:56 PM

Stopping on the M4 happens all the time in peak hour trying to exit at Russell st Emu Plains sometimes you can queue back over the river bridge in the breakdown lane,also happens to a lesser extent at the Northern rd exit. Both these are just as dangerous as stopping your Camry in the right lane but do you think the pollies will fix it quickly? No they play pass the parcel each saying its not their problem.

new2ford · 07-11-2006, 08:18 PM

The stereotyping argument is a hard one to run but I've always thought there's some correlation between the quality of a car's design (as opposed to its construction) and the intelligence of its buyers. There are thinking people's cars and there are cars for people who don't think. This guy is obviously stupid beyond belief (as befits his car) but the only thing that doesn't add up is..... aggressive Camry driver? Mostly they seem so doped out I wonder if they're not on some illicit substance. Maybe this one was on ice.

Pity you couldn't get his plate drcook, he deserves to lose his licence. Wasn't it also raining out there last night?

Keepleft · 07-11-2006, 08:28 PM

On that M4, if its three lanes, be in the left lane as a matter of course. The middle lane is not the left lane.

I'd have jailed the Camry driver 12 months on this evidence, all things being equal.

Question: Once stopped - DID the Lexus driver switch on the hazard warning lights????

DID the lead vehicle, the Camry????

I want that action ingrained in people, crash scenes etc, - its in ALL our handbooks to do so.

Scott · 07-11-2006, 08:53 PM

And I'd have thought the Camry badge would have been warning enough.... I live and learn.

Smoked · 07-11-2006, 09:12 PM

Typical Camry driver, totally removed from reality.

Bill_R · 07-11-2006, 09:17 PM

Both drivers were possibly in error here. I'd book them both after hearing both sides of the story. They'd at least both be booked for stopping on the motorway/freeway.

There is no excuse for stopping in the overtaking lane at all. it would violate stop on a motroway/freeway laws as well as being classed as dangerous driving.
If the Lexus driver was tailgating in an attempt to get the Camry driver to move over or speed up then he or she is a fool. In a situation like this you slow down, increase the distance between you and the car in front and move over into the left (middle in this case) lane yourself. You don't attempt to intimidate another driver or try to force a driver whose skill level and judgement you don't know to do what you want them to.
Now, if the Camry wasn't overtaking in the overtaking lane then they are certainly in the wrong. That's irrespective of the speed they are doing. There is no law (AFAIK) that you need to do the speed limit in the overtaking lane - only that you only use that lane for overtaking. If the case is that the Camry was not overtaking then the Lexus is also guilty of the same by travelling in the overtaking lane behind the Camry while not overtaking.

Both of them are sensless idiots that need a long period of no license before they might learn a lesson and learn what driving is all about instead of what seems to be a "king" (make that kid) of the road mentality.

ltd · 07-11-2006, 09:24 PM

Saw a similar thing happen on parramatta rd ashfield today, and the consequences were an overturned hilux and a 3 times over written off camry station wagon.

Guy in a Hilux 4wd gets a blow out and stops in the middle lane. Car behind (older style camry - not curried (equivalent to rice maybe?)) has no time to stop and goes up the back then into a power pole. Hilux flips on its side, Parramatta road closed. Thank God nobody was killed.

Similar thing happened to me on the M5 a couple of months ago in the E-tag lane. Guy in a camry goes down the right lane (a 70km/h no stopping zone), realises he doesn't have a tag and then stops, reverses and can't understand who is shouting at him on the PA system that is fixed along the distance of the concrete barriers. A semi almost ran up the back of him. Got his licence plate, called the cops (so did the m5 people) and half an hour later he was arrested for reckless behaviour, licence cancelled on about 8 charges. Apparently, it happens often with a certain section of the community who can't read the yellow signs that say do not stop, do not reverse.

As for the degradation of our society as mentioned in an earlier post; has anyone else noticed how fewer and fewer people indicate to change lane anymore?

new2ford · 07-11-2006, 09:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Keepleft

Question: Once stopped - DID the Lexus driver switch on the hazard warning lights????

Poor guy was probably too traumatised to think of that on the spot but it would have been a good - and essential - thing to do in that circumstance. (I hope you wouldn't want him to also run back down the road and put his triangle out though Keepleft!)

It raises that issue of Australian driver attitudes again. I assume the Camry driver was probably doing the Camry thing and sitting in the right lane and the Lexus came up and did the European thing and flashed his lights. In Europe the Camry driver would move over without taking offence. In Australia the Camry driver has a hissy fit and stops dead, placing himself and everybody else in the position of being annihilated in a 110kph multi-car pile up in the rain.

Include psychological tests in driver training?

Edit: Bill R saw your post - I'm assuming certain things but if the Camry driver then got behind the Lexus and flashed him it rather looks like the Camry driver got upset at being flashed at. I know its made by Toyota but I'd class a Lexus as the car of choice of moderate people who can think a bit, possibly less likely to be a tailgater.

Keepleft · 07-11-2006, 09:38 PM

Quote:

new2ford wrote: Poor guy was probably too traumatised to think of that on the spot but it would have been a good - and essential - thing to do in that circumstance. (I hope you wouldn't want him to also run back down the road and put his triangle out though Keepleft!)

NOT in that circumstance - of course no, BUT - if the event then unfolded into a crash, AND if it is safe to do so, then yes absolutely, AND just like Europe, I *will* mandate come hell or high water in parliamentary l.a.w - that the triangle must be used, and vest must be worn by the roadside, timeframe 3 - 12 years.

The ASHFIELD example above highlights the triangle requirement further, its not a high-speed road, but busy. I'd wonder if the lead vehicle had hazards on too!?

Snipped observations, agreed.

Quote:

Include psychological tests in driver training?

PART of the National Driver Training Scheme, intended to weed-out certain character traits. Program adopted from EU, further developed here (or dumbed down:-). The graduated licensing system you see unfolding throughout Australia is part of that process, P1, P2 log hour uniformity etc.

ltd · 07-11-2006, 09:39 PM

Actually, this has prompted me to ask another question. We have all been subjected to right lane hogs who as far as the "ignorance is bliss" scale is concerned; measure orgasmic, but how many of us have ever seen anyone get pulled over for this law?
I mean, we can make as many new laws as we like but unless they are enforced they are useless. The number of P platers I've seen with turbo wrx's, Holden SS and HSV's, Nissan GTR's and the like is astonishing. They still brandish the P plates and yet there is never any policing of this so called law. The guy killed last night, if that VL was a turbo (as reported on sunrise) then what would the P plater be doing driving it. Isn't this part of the new law to protect P platers from themselves? Farken Stoopid as far as I'm concerned - especially since the policeman has been replaced by a camera that will solve all of the traffic woes. Morris Dilemma needs to remove his head from shiek taj's *** in his Lakemba electorate and not be afraid to lose the muslim vote by getting police to solve these problems. My 3 cents (yeah, there was more than 2 in that).

Tles · 07-11-2006, 09:41 PM

Sept/Oct Girl on Melbourne road driving along in OT lane 3of3 Princes Hwy Melb to Geelong when her bonnet flies up. Stops and Gets out, runs to emergency lane where another car stops to help her out. Man & wife have to stop hard to avoid rear ending her car but get hit from behind by empty AVGAS Tanker. They do not escape instant fireball which also burns truck, but truckie Ok. As Ok as can be expected anyway. Girl on mobile screaming. Freeway blocked rightly for 6 hours......

Please take note of responsibility to all other road users and their families.

Keepleft · 07-11-2006, 09:43 PM

LTD - Its the same old thing - "police numbers" - NSW *NEEDS TO DO, AND MUST* remove the NSW Police FORCE - Traffic Branch from LAC's. No ifs, no butts. The NSW HWP must be back on the road patrolling, this means spending much more on fuel to target lousy and dangerous behaviour, and if necessary done via an increase in existing driver fines.

Quote:

Caseterritory wrote: Sept/Oct Girl on Melbourne road driving along in OT lane 3of3 Princes Hwy Melb to Geelong when her bonnet flies up. Stops and Gets out, runs to emergency lane where another car stops to help her out. Man & wife have to stop hard to avoid rear ending her car but get hit from behind by empty AVGAS Tanker. They do not escape instant fireball which also burns truck, but truckie Ok. As Ok as can be expected anyway. Girl on mobile screaming. Freeway blocked rightly for 6 hours......

Please take note of responsibility to all other road users and their families.

I can find out through the channels and know this crash - but I'll ask did ANY of the vehicles, particularly the girl - switch on the hazards?? I know she now faces serious charges, but we cannot directly discuss the case in personal detail.

Yellow_Festiva · 07-11-2006, 10:04 PM

Yeah I think everyone "wishes they were a cop" every now and again when they see some of the stupid shjt that happens on the road every day.

Driving home from Cowra in the rain one night an ********* decides to tailgate me for 40km with his high beams on. it seems that doing 100km/h in a 100km/h zone was not good enough for him.

Funny thing was he was in a fully loaded ute, every time an overtaking lane appeared it was on an incline so he never passed me. but sure enough as soon as the road flattened he would speed up and try and force me to go faster.

Now i know this sounds bad, but had i been alone i would have probably slowed down and stopped to see what his problem was.....

eventually got to bathurst, the same fool pulls up next to me and stares straight ahead, even though he knew i was leaning across the passenger seat just waiting for him to give me an excuse to get out of the car and "discuss" the fact i wasnt going fast enough for him.

what a to55er....

Oh and regarding the reporting to the police, apparently they need 2 or 3 separate people reporting the same incident in the same detail to make a move.