John Davies is a senior corporate partner at leading commercial law firm Thrings. As a TBE columnist, John regularly addresses a topical news or business-related issue. This time he’s hot under the collar about other road users’ antics.
Hello everybody. Happy New Year and all that. I hope you had a good one and that 2020 brings you health, prosperity and happiness.
On that last limb, you’ll be relieved – and maybe not surprised – to know I’m still fairly crabby, so I thought I’d share my latest line of misery with you.
I should perhaps preface the following moanfest by acknowledging that during these times of heightened global tension, economic uncertainty across Europe, and of course the devastating fires being suffered by our cousins in Australia, I’m aware there are far bigger issues out there. So, yes, I accept my grumpiness is a little petty (or should that be extremely petty?) but here goes anyway.
Indicators on cars. We all have them. They’re pretty front and centre for drivers. So why do some people refuse to use them?
Idiots the lot of them. I recently found myself waiting at a busy four-exit roundabout on a main road. About two-thirds of my fellow motorists used their indicators, thereby allowing the rest of us to make sensible driving decisions. But the remaining third? Well, I’m sure you can guess.
What is wrong with these people? Do they think the rest of us have somehow mutated, expanding and enhancing the psychic possibilities of our frontal lobes? Well, spoiler alert: I’m neither Uri Geller nor Derren Brown, so I’d appreciate it if you’d simply lift your finger, poke the stalk and let me know where the hell you’re going because your mind bullets are missing the target, mate! How hard can it be? If you want to go left, pull the lever down and take away the mystery. You never know you might even enjoy the ensuing tick-tock sound, the one that nobody knows where it comes from.
While I’m on the subject, despite my miserable ramblings I’m a pretty polite and happy driver. I’ll always give you a cheeky flash or raise a hand to show you my appreciation when you’ve done something gracious on the tarmac. And why wouldn’t I? If you let me out or through, bless you; and the least you deserve is a smile and a friendly gesture.
But it’s a two-way street (if you’ll forgive the pun). I’ve got to be honest: when I’ve carried out an act of generosity on the highway I like an appreciative nod or a xenon blast to acknowledge it. Some people simply don’t give a horn’s toot, driving by as though their fellow road users owe them something. What is their problem? Come on folks, it’s common courtesy.
I’m actually getting a bit irritated writing this so I’d best stop now.
But if you’re reading this and you’re one of those non-indicating, flash-less, gesture-inhibited road users, why not make 2020 the year of change? Give the little stick a poke or raise a couple of happy fingers in acknowledgement. You’ll feel better for it…and so will I.
John Davies
t: 01793 412634
