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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To think these speeding drivers are selfish scum?

63 replies

strruglingoldteach · 24/10/2013 07:26

And to not be able to understand how they can do it?

Two weeks ago there was a fatal accident about 50 metres from my home. A pensioner was killed as she crossed the road. The driver was arrested for careless driving and being unfit due to drink/drugs. I don't know if he was charged.

The accident happened shortly before the school run and dozens of families had to walk past the scene, with the poor lady's body still there, just covered with a blanket. Terribly distressing for all concerned and my heart just goes out to her family.

What I can't get my head around is the utter selfishness of the twats who I still see speeding down the same stretch of residential road.How the fuck can they justify it to themselves? They're literally speeding right past an accident sign and the piles of flowers- they can't not know.

I usually go past quite early, so still dark- maybe they're assuming no one will be crossing at that time? I'm pretty sure I'm NBU, but can anyone explain why people think this is ok?

OP posts:

Svrider · 24/10/2013 07:33

Yanbu
I'm so sorry about the old lady :(
I live on a 30mph zone
Most drivers are doing around 45mph
They will not slow down at all
I've sometimes been caught out getting 3 young DC across the road
They can see I'm struggling
They can see I have 3dc
Still, no slowing down
Bastards

There was a fatal accident a few years ago where a little girl had dropped her toy, and went back into road to get it. The twat of a driver drove straight into her

IneedAsockamnesty · 24/10/2013 07:36

Because people always tend to have a 'it will never happen to me' mentality.

Only sometimes it does and even when it does its still not them its usually someone else they hurt or kill or maim.

Cunts

IneedAsockamnesty · 24/10/2013 07:37

Oh and as a mum whose child was run over yes I do think cunts is an acceptable word to use to describe people who do this

TheWomanTheyCallJayne · 24/10/2013 07:39

I agree and I don't think punishments are hard enough
If you go out wielding any other weapon you get far longer sentences than if you go out throwing around a few tons of metal recklessly

Original poster

strruglingoldteach · 24/10/2013 07:54

Sockreturningpixie I'm so sorry to hear about your daughter.

It makes me so angry.

OP posts:

Bearfrills · 24/10/2013 08:00

YANBU and they are selfish cunts.

A few years ago we were hit by a speeding driver. We were almost stationary, indicating to pull in. She was going 70 in a 30 zone and turned fully around in her seat to talk to her child in the back of the car (the fact she was speeding with her child in the car made it worse). She hit our car hard enough to send it up onto the opposite pavement, her own car went onto the other pavement and sheared off a concrete filled metal post. Our car was a total write-off, chassis snapped, frame twisted, etc. I injured my back (thankfully not seriously) which is "healed" but still spasms now and again. I also had a miscarriage two days later (which at that stage of pregnancy, pre-12wks, could have happened anyway but I'll always wonder if the two were connected).

She had to pay £200-and-something to go on a speed awareness course. And that was it. She was more worried about what her husband was going to say about what she'd done to the new car.

Bastards. Every single one of them.

DevilsRoulette · 24/10/2013 08:06

I am too good a driver to have an accident.

That's their mentality. And while they think that, they'll carry on being stupid.

BrigitBigKnickers · 24/10/2013 08:15

Yanbu I am a stickler for speed limits. So is my learner driver DD who is not far off passing her test. Doesn't stop twat BMW drivers sitting on our arses when either of us are doing 30mph in a 30mph limit zone. bad enough doing it to me but when the driver is clearly a learner and they are so close you can see the whites of their eyes in the rear view mirror... Twats.

One over took us doing 30 a few weeks ago and nearly took out a cyclist travelling in the other direction. Knob.

KCumberSandwich · 24/10/2013 08:16

A car has the potential to be a lethal weapon, to echo the PP if you ran around the street wielding a Kitchen knife you'd be arrested and- even if you didn't hurt anyone.

If you are using a vehicle irresponsibly and dangerously the consequences should be the same.

The amount of little memorials, flowers etc on the roads surrounding my village is unbelievable- and most of them are caused by selfish bastards who can't wont keep to the speed limit, overtake recklessly etc. i'm sad to say that friends in my age group still drive so dangerously, despite a horrible accident where some peers were killed when we were at secondary school.

people never learn, its one of the most selfish things you can do.

YANBU

BringBackBod · 24/10/2013 08:16

YANBU
Travelling at just a few extra mph could be the difference between life and death for the person who has been knocked down.
Drivers should know this by now, but some idiots still carry on regardless.

Stinkyminkymoo · 24/10/2013 08:36

YANBU, I have this through my village, it's a 30, there's no pavement and there's a tricky S bend at one end. People constantly speed through and either drive right up behind me to attempt to intimidate me or flash at me to speed up I just slow down even more and once crept through the village at approx 10mph.

The worst I ever had was when I had my newborn pfb dd in the car and this woman sped up behind me and was flashing at me to hurry up. When I got to the S bend, I stopped the car and got out to remind her that this was a 30mph zone, that I had my baby in the car and to be more respectful when driving. She had her own toddler in the car and just grinned inanely at me. I could have murdered her there and then and chucked her body in the duck pond for her disgusting attitude.

I genuinely find mothers with children the worst offenders here

MrPricklepants · 24/10/2013 08:41

YANBU. I live near a 30mph road but people regularly charge down it a 50mph. It is very frustrating and the police and council don't seem to be doing anything about it. I have to admit if I'm alone in the car and can see a car driving fast at enough distance for me to pull out I will pull out and proceed to drive at 25mph as they flash away, gesturing to me and once when I stopped at a traffic light I got out to remind the idiot behind me te speed limit was 30mph.

Fleta · 24/10/2013 08:59

YANBU

I would be in favour of far, FAR harsher penalties for speeding drivers

3asAbird · 24/10/2013 09:00

my dd2 4 was nearly knocked over in september.

we were waitng to cross at crossing at 3.10 school comes out at 3.30lollipop man had no started.

was just about to cross but bin lorry uphead stopped i couldent see so crept out just me both kids one hand each. she paed bin lory then came onto our side of road knocking side of dd clipping her shoulder and knowcked her scooter flying she then drove on a bot saw cooter fly into d thourght she had hit her and came screeching halt.

She was a mother going to another school I was so upset luckily a&e opposite school checked over not a scratch to her.

Police were not interested.

I dont really think our council care theres school travel commitee none of the area ie 2miles has one zebra or light crosssing.

1 has a narrow hill and bend and they come speeding round the bend.

They used ou school rd as cut through to motorway and ring rd.

im really goig to kick off this year as worry its even worse by the preschool.

I know its not speeding but parking so close to juction line really pissing me off and parking on pavements..

fluffyraggies · 24/10/2013 09:11

We have a 3 mile lane out of our village to the main road. Very twisty turney, and lots of blind bends. There are bits where you can safely get up to 50, but it's a safer and more comfortable ride (ie: not having your passengers face pressed against their window on the bends) at 45ish.

And yet every morning without fail, i have some twat up my arse on this lane who clearly think i should be going faster and clearly think driving so close i cant see their lights is going to speed me up.

WRONG.

I want a little light up sign for the back of my car saying:

THE CLOSER YOU DRIVE - THE SLOWER I GO

(PS i'm a BMW driver - we're not all twats )

WowOoo · 24/10/2013 09:11

They are selfish, reckless feckers and simply don't care about anyone else.

Everyone has these horror stories.
Sorry about that poor old lady.

I've noticed when the police are parked near our speeding hotspots the idiots all slow down. I'd love it for them to be there more often. I know it's not practical.

In a close call I witnessed recently two young men were laughing after they'd had to stop for the lollipop lady. It made me so cross. Ha ha, I had to slam on the brakes to avoid a family with three kids. Wtf?

PumpkinPie2013 · 24/10/2013 09:17

YANBU and sorry to those who have been injured

I live in a village and regularly see people speeding on a stretch outside a primary school at pick up/drop off time when there are people trying to cross the road with children (there isn't a crossing).

Also my Nan lives on a very busy main road and uses the crossing to cross to the post office etc. The number of times cars have gone speeding through and not been able to stop when they see the lights changing is shocking (they could stop if not speeding). Thing is, my Nan is 80 and slow on her feet plus her eyesight isn't what it used to be so she can't hurry up

She's also had people pip at her when she's crossing because she hasn't made it across before the flashing amber light comes on and some people seem to think it's their right to speed off as soon as the amber light flashes

It makes me so angry! It's not hard to stick to the limit but there are some incredibly selfish people out there.

AKAK81 · 24/10/2013 09:49

I'm confused by the OP - surely it's the drink/drugs/careless driving that is the cause of the fatality you mention not exceeding the speed limit. Unfortunately people have been brainwashed into the 'speed kills' mentality and assume that if they're not speeding then they're driving well. This is simply untrue. More people are killed on UK roads by failing to look properly than by exceeding the speed limit. A much more holistic approach needs to be taken with regard to road safety. Unfortunately speed cameras are unable to enforce other aspects of poor driving so the crap drivers are never forced or incentivised to improve. I can tell you now that I'd much rather passenger with an advanced driver exceeding the speed limit with 100% concentration than some yummy mummy with no interest in cars or driving who is distracted by her screaming brats in the back whilst driving at the speed limit.

fluffyraggies · 24/10/2013 09:57

More people are killed on UK roads by failing to look properly than by exceeding the speed limit.

But AKA it's human nature to be distracted. Even the most sensible and conscientious driver must admit to the occasional time when they have had to glance down away from the road for some reason.

The point about speed limits in certain areas is that driving more slowly gives you more time to slow down in the event of something crossing your path.

TheWomanTheyCallJayne · 24/10/2013 09:59

And if you hit someone while doing 28 they have more chance of survival than if you hit them doing 58

Andro · 24/10/2013 10:05

YANBU...and if you're DUI as well as speeding that should (imo) bring an immediate dangerous driving charge (death by dangerous driving if someone is killed). I also think that the penalties for death by dangerous driving should bring a lifetime ban from driving.

AKAK81 · 24/10/2013 10:09

I don't think anyone suggests it's a good idea to speed through 30 limits however concentrating only on speed is simply not the answer. I'd like to see more difficult driving tests with a night time and longer national speed limit sections plus compulsory skid pan testing. There are people out there who simply do not have the competence to be on the road. Driving is a privilege with a lot of responsibility not a right.

Backinthering · 24/10/2013 10:12

AKAK81 you're the petrol head who likes to do 160 on the autobahn aren't you?

ifyourehoppyandyouknowit · 24/10/2013 10:13

Could you ask your council to install a speed camera or one of those light up signs that tells you how fast you are going? People are arseholes, there's just no excuse for speeding.

AKAK81 · 24/10/2013 10:15

Back - yes where it's legal and safe to do so.

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