Uncategorized RoadWhinge on 01 Feb 2007 04:17 pm
Traffic Filters: Threat to World Peace.
I mean it. More tempers fray at those spots where two lanes of traffic filter into one lane than anywhere else on the face of the planet.
There is a place in Dunstable on the A505 where two lanes filter into one as one heads into the town centre past Wickes and Sainsbury’s. I endure this dreadful spot every day on my way to the office, and have seen untold mayhem, carnage and screaming grotesque death caused by the filter there.
Ok, the screaming death bit was a slight exaggeration, but it really does bring out the worst in some people - including me.
The principle that one needs to observe in order for traffic lane filtering to work smoothly and without violence couldn’t be simpler: each car in lane 1 allows one car from lane 2 to filter in front of him. They alternate: one car from lane 1 goes through then one car from lane 2, then another from lane 1 and then another from lane 2 etc etc etc.
How much simpler does it need to be?
But one of two things will always happen:
1) Driver in lane 1 drives right up the arse of the car in front of him leaving about 1cm space between them. He’ll be damned if he’s letting anyone in front of him. This knobhead makes enemies of the driver of the car in front (to whom he is driving too close), and of the driver in the car beside him, who just wants to be allowed to take his place in the flow of traffic.
2) The alternative scenario is that a driver in lane 2 has seen the car in front of him successfully move over in front of a considerate lane 1 driver who is allowing him to filter. Ah ha! he thinks. I’ll have some of that… and he promptly tries to barge across in front of that same considerate car instead of waiting his turn and filtering in behind it.
These rude and obnoxious people make me *so* mad. I make it policy not to chicken out. I WILL filter as is my right according to the rules I set out above. If I am in lane 1 then I will let one car filter across in front of me. If I am in lane 2 I will filter across in front of the first car that doesn’t already have a lane 2 vehicle filtering in front of it.
I will give no quarter and take no prisoners. Anyone stubborn enough to push it and call my bluff will get a dented car.
You have been warned. That is all.
Grrrr…
on 02 Feb 2007 at 12:25 pm 1.NB said …
I was reading through your blog and I can’t help but notice that you seem to be a very uptight driver. I heard on the news today that road rage affects 8 in 10 drivers - are you one of the 10?
on 02 Feb 2007 at 1:00 pm 2.RoadWhinge said …
YES!!!!
on 04 Feb 2007 at 4:41 pm 3.Adam said …
The A505 traffic filter is indeed a complete git. I think the reason it gets so congested is that it’s the quickest route out of Luton…