Tuesday 28 February 2012

Friday - day of mayhem

What is it about Friday afternoon that sends everybody completely flaming nuts? I pulled out of the office and had 3 near death experiences in the following 5 minutes.

It started with a taxi driver being a bit too desperate for a fare - he changed lanes right into me without looking or indicating. His driving was so obnoxious that a bus driver pulled over in front of him and deliberately blocked him in. It was nice to know that I wasn't the only annoyed person on George St, and the side benefit was that the bus was so close to the taxi, it prevented me from stomping up to the driver's door and giving him a good thumping. I was literally boiling with rage at the close call.

About a minute later, I'm following a stream of traffic when a car coming the other way just decides to turn right across the stream - which meant turning directly into me. And he did it quickly too, leaving me no time to react. The only thing that saved me is that I was moving fast enough to get out of his way before he collected me.

At that point, I didn't think it could get any worse, but then not long after, a driver overtook me and then pulled over straight in front of me - again without indicating. It was just brake and swerve. I seem to have a sixth sense about these things, so I easily avoided another prang.

The traffic was no heavier than a normal work day. There was nothing wrong with the weather, and there were no road works. The problem was that drivers were just mental - fed up, aggressive and possibly drunk. Most days, my commute is pretty cruisey - low risk and no hassles. And then everything hits you at once.

4 comments:

Quickgarage said...

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Chris said...

I find Fridays can be little worse too for my commute. I don't know why. Maybe people are tired at the end of the week and just trying to get home as fast as they can? I commute on a folding bike, and sometimes on Fridays, I don't ride until I'm out of the city. I take my bike on the bus until I need to split off home, and then I ride. Traffic is much less bad that way.

1735099 said...

Friday was always a bad day at school - especially for kids with Autism.

cav said...

I sold my motor bike 10 years ago because it was only a matter of time before a car finally collected me from one near miss too many.

I think I sold it on a Friday.

About a year later I ran into the guy I sold it too and he informed me that he stacked it and wrote it off.

I'm pretty sure he said it was on a Friday.