A frequent traffic offender

tomleonhart on 25/02/2014 - 08:59
Last edited 26/02/2014 - 09:12

Hi all,

So driving in Sydney is hectic, and it's even worse when there are people who ignore the traffic rules to their advantage.

Recently I've noticed that every time I stop on Kent street near Mascot, there are two lanes and the left lane is a "must turn left lane", go straight and right turn are on the right lane.

There is a huge number of traffic coming down Canal Road to turn left into Coward Street through Kent Street hence the left lane is dedicated to left turn vehicle only. There is always a guy who will drive on the "must turn left lane" and stop at the green left turn traffic light blocking traffic all the way; just so he can go straight and skip the traffic on the right. And yes, there are a lot of honking but he doesn't seem to care.

The first couple of times I thought the driver was just not familiar with the area. But counting in today, I've seen the same guy with the same car doing the same thing every morning.

What should I do to report this guy? OR we just have to put up with him?

Updated: Called Police Assistance Line and they said in these cases, you have to report to the local police station in person. They don't to it over the phone, so it seems we just have to put up with him.

Automotive

Comments

    • theStinge on 26/02/2014 - 07:49
      +1

      TL; DR

    • Baghern on 26/02/2014 - 10:04
      +2

      There's a reason its a coalition and not a single party. Its a party of that service the minorities, rich folk and farmers.

      They just pretend to service the nation.

      Right wing parties, have this delusional first year economics thinking that everything will fix itself in time.

    • Speckled Jim on 26/02/2014 - 10:54
      +4

      Sadly, this is the fate of our apathetic masses. They bought the lies hook, line and sinker. They say politics is just acting for ugly people, but what a cast!

      Abbott = GW Bush Lite
      Brandis = Cheney Lite
      Morrison = Rumsfeld Lite
      Pyne = Downer Lite
      Bishop = Thatcher Lite
      Hockey = Not-so-light Lite
      Mirabella = Crazy-bitch-without-a-seat Lite

      It's time for regressive policy, austerity, devolution, dumbing-down, ostentatious wealth, sabre-rattling and massive rorts that won't be revealed until few voters care.
      Didn't you miss it during those six years?

      I'm sure you know the saying: we get the government we deserve.

      • one man clan on 26/02/2014 - 11:53
        +7

        Actually we get the government the press decides we should have.

        • mangoss on 27/02/2014 - 21:33

          Well said

    • 2ndeffort on 26/02/2014 - 13:20
      +8

      How did this turn from a thread about a selfish driver into your deluded political diatribe, can we stick to the subject matter?

      • Speckled Jim on 26/02/2014 - 22:00
        -2

        Sure. Politics, race and I even threw religion into the mix.

        As we know, driving stories are BORING unless there's violent road-rage, a rollover, fatality, near-miss or fireball! Hasn't Youtube taught us anything?

    • Linkwick on 26/02/2014 - 17:23

      http://goo.gl/x7n3DQ

  • ctrlaltdel on 26/02/2014 - 07:40
    +2

    get one of those in-dash camera and capture the event. pass it to the cops and let them deal with it :)

  • Bill48 on 26/02/2014 - 07:48
    +8

    If police were out there looking to keep traffic moving instead of sitting in stationary cars with speed cameras fining breaches that neither endanger nor inconvenience anyone, they would be providing a real "service".
    A Police Service?

  • backpaqer on 26/02/2014 - 09:22
    +2

    What…like this?
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ox-WGgU2qeA&feature=youtu.be

    This has been viewed by the cops and the guy has been spoken to. Because he doesn't have any priors, they wont do anything this time…but now he is known to them and not likely to get off if he is reported again (or injures someone).

  • Baghern on 26/02/2014 - 10:01

    Considering its in a busy city location, I'd assume the police would respond to that notification and wait for the guy, or maybe they require multiple people to complain.

    • lookalive on 26/02/2014 - 11:30
      +2

      I'd assume the police would respond

      You know what they say about people who assume.

      • Baghern on 26/02/2014 - 12:48

        I'm basing it on the fact that I work in the city, the police do 'wait' at known trouble spots. Its not the actual problem they're concerned about, its the roll on effect; slower traffic, potential for accidents,

  • 2ndeffort on 26/02/2014 - 13:27
    +1

    The Swan St Bridge in Melbourne is notorious for similar behaviour. There is a lane that is always jammed heading across towards Punt Rd and the middle lane next to it (which also turns across the Swan St bridge) is dedicated to cars wanting to take the on-ramp for the Citylink tollway. There are always selfish morons that jump into the empty lane and then try to merge back into gridlock at the on-ramp, holding up all of the legitimate citylink users stuck behind them.

    What I notice often is that most people know this and the folks in the gridlocked lane subconsciously 'rally together' to block the other guy from getting across. I often see people edging forward to stop somebody from merging etc, normally for these type of morons. Often it leads to embarrassing scenarios with them caught in the middle of lanes with everyone tooting at them or them being caught in the intersection when light change etc. I always make it a point to toot if I get behind one of these guys, always get a laugh when they flick me the bird!

    • tomleonhart on 26/02/2014 - 13:53

      Good on ya. I didn't let the dick head merges in this morning as I was the first to go straight from my lane. Yes, I saw him again this morning !

      Feel good !

  • pebee47 on 26/02/2014 - 14:31

    He'd probably fit in with Perth traffic really well.
    Similar here, I drive to work same time each afternoon. Often see same woman crossing over traffic merge line when coming onto a freeway bridge from Curved access lane (so can't really see what's coming in other lane). A number of times nearly caused a pile-up on freeway - blissfully unaware (or couldn't care.
    Don't even think of starting me talking about inability to merge AARGH!

  • goosegog on 26/02/2014 - 17:07
    +1

    Perth traffic is dreadful with many drivers who do not deserve to have a license in the first place! Non caring & "I need to get to my destination a.s.a.p." mentality just causes more accidents & fatalities. I was a long time sales rep. driving often from Perth to Kalgoorlie, Esperance,Albany,Bunbury . The metro. area is awful -however, once on country roads mentality seems to change to be far more respectful to all other drivers. What is wrong with letting someone in who is trying to join the road you are on ? How much time would it take out of your busy schedule to allow this courtesy?

    • ilostnemo on 26/02/2014 - 17:23

      73/163 deaths on WAs roads were regional roads.

      The problem with letting someone in, is if everyone did it, we would all be a lot later.
      If I see that there is an accident and we are all forced to merge into 1 lane I have no problem, with letting people in. I do have a problem with idiots after seeing there is an accident race up to the end and then force there way in.

      GPS may be the cause of some problems I know that sometimes when I enter the Graham farmer tunnel it tells me to keep in the right lane, and immediately after exiting it tells me to get into the far left lane.

      I am a driver if I'm forced to merge into a lane I will try and take up both lanes while I merge to prevent idiots racing ahead and then trying to merge.

    • Speckled Jim on 03/03/2014 - 13:12

      We moved from Sydney to Perth in a bid to escape hours of commuting.
      A few years later, the resources boom took hold and Perth became choked. Housing also became much less affordable. Using some of our deposit savings, we moved to Tassie and settled here.
      No gridlock issues (yet). If there's a line of 10-12 cars waiting at the lights we have a "whinge" and a giggle.
      But bad drivers are everywhere — there's no escaping that :/

      • Baghern on 03/03/2014 - 16:31

        The more free you are… the worse the driving.

        You come across more bad drivers in Sydney because there are more of us…

        But proportionally I'd say Sydney has much better drivers, because we're forced to be.

  • zooter on 26/02/2014 - 21:51
    +2

    Surprised nobody has suggested bikies given that it's a very popular option here

  • MATTDAMON on 27/02/2014 - 13:20
    +1

    Eh, dont worry about it OP, no point getting your panties in a bunch over something so minor, yes its annoying as shit, but once you report it there isnt much you can do past that. Yes you could waste your time and money recording it, but its up to the police to then action on it, which they wont because they have better things to do.

    Plenty of bigger issues out on our roads.

  • joannatan on 28/02/2014 - 02:11

    take video and photo load to youtube and post it in here, let see if it is going viral

  • Satellite on 28/02/2014 - 02:45

    record on ur mobile camera next tym .. show it to police as evidence…..make sure u capture the registration plate…

    • Ughhh on 28/02/2014 - 06:19

      While driving? I think the police will start asking about your driving habits than there's other driver.

  • kungfupanda on 28/02/2014 - 08:02

    Report to Current Affair or Today Tonight… Get the news crew to film the action.
    Perhaps the news will stop him :)

  • MementoMori on 28/02/2014 - 10:02

    "Updated: Called Police Assistance Line and they said in these cases, you have to report to the local police station in person. They don't to it over the phone, so it seems we just have to put up with him."

    Or…. you could go down to the local police station in person? :)

  • Mojorisin2016 on 28/02/2014 - 22:34
    -1

    My biggest gripe is that this delays other drivers and adds to the frustration. I feel there maybe many drivers that then take undue risks to make up for time, depending on their level of frustration, especially if they've just been at the receiving end, from another selfish moron a little earlier, thus POTENTIALLY causing accidents!
    Another thing it does is encourage other drivers to follow suit…..it's always easier to do the wrong thing. Especially when others are doing it to their advantage, without getting caught.

    In the past, I have overtaken such offenders, and then slowed them down,. On one occasion, I've also done an "Axel Foley" from Beverly Hills Cop i.e. Pretended that my car has stalled, and then drove off at the last minute, JUST managing to not "jump" the light. Luckily, I did not inconvenience other innocent drivers, either, as I only had one car behind me, in the same lane - the moron's car.

    I feel very strongly when people disobey road rules, or drive selfishly…..hence the venting of some spleen,

    • MustResistPurchase on 28/02/2014 - 22:55
      +1

      I have overtaken such offenders, and then slowed them down,. On one occasion, I've also done an "Axel Foley" from Beverly Hills Cop i.e. Pretended that my car has stalled, and then drove off at the last minute, JUST managing to not "jump" the light. Luckily, I did not inconvenience other innocent drivers, either, as I only had one car behind me, in the same lane - the moron's car.

      I don't think taking the law into your own hands is any better than what they are doing.

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