Over the past few weeks I've increasingly noticed a disturbing behaviour amongst drivers. Yes, there's always the idiotic speeders who feel that any road is a Formula One racetrack,
but that's not the problem - though I'd welcome speed cameras wherever it is thought they'll catch speeders. If you don't want to be caught don't speed.
There are also the huge number of drivers who seem unable to use their indicators to let others know their intentions and movements on the road and, more often than not, on roundabouts.
But again, this isn't the problem.
The worrying trend I've spotted is more and more drivers going later and later after traffic lights have turned red.
It is absolutely idiotic.
Sure, you may well be in a hurry to get somewhere, or you might even be late, but jumping red lights may well result in you arriving even later... or not at all!
At the moment there's an effective tv ad highlighting the dangers of trying to skip through a level crossing. Surely, jumping a red light is just as serious AND vastly more common an event.
Why do people do it? I'm guessing they think their lateness and inability to organise their life properly is more important than the safety of other road users, cyclists and pedestrians?
And that's part of the problem. Not only do these bad drivers risk their own safety, they risk the safety of others who are abiding by the law.
I think it's time for a clampdown.
I've never understood why all traffic lights aren't fitted with a speed/red light camera as a matter of course. This needs to be changed.
And let's not bother with a fine and a few points on the offender's driving license. That's hardly a deterrent. It needs to be real punishment. Licenses lost. Re-testing required. Long bans.
And don't go bleating about Big Brother. The safety of law-abiding road users and pedestrians is something that must be protected.
