OVER the past few weeks it has become increasingly obvious that a vast majority of drivers and cyclists are totally unaware on the highway code. In addition this collection of road users are unaware of common courtesy.

Inside one week I was bullied almost in to the roadside barrier on the by-pass, by some idiot driving a red Maestro as he attempted to overtake in the face of oncoming traffic and when there was nowhere for him to go.

The second incident happened in the Punch Bowl area of Atherton. Whilst driving from Leigh to Atherton, I was forced to brake sharply as a red Peugeot did a U-turn in front of me. This was extremely stupid and very dangerous (at least to myself and the cars behind me). The car occupants just laughed and continued on their way.

Neither of these incidents happened in the dead of night, but in broad daylight - the first at around 6pm and the other at 11.30am.

As a single and disabled driver, I am not about to confront these morons. However, I think that it is now past time that the police were given sufficient funding in order to allow them increased man power, and hopefully they will then have no excuses as to why they cannot patrol the streets.

Then perhaps people will be able to feel safe when they actually try to use the public thoroughfares, without the fear of inconsiderate and dangerous road users. I have to say (although I doubt it is true of all) that the drivers and passengers of these cars were young men (and I use the term loosely) in their late teens to early 20s. I doubt that they had passed their test, as their standard of road sense was non-existent. Unless that is, you drive with the "I'm all right Jack, get out of my way" attitude.

I mentioned cyclists earlier, and this is for the adult who should know better, who was rising his bike on Tuesday, May 13 at around 9.50pm along Chapel Street, approaching the Spinning Jenny pub.

In future while riding in the dark ensure that: a) you have proper lights, b) you're not wearing mostly dark clothing, plus when you decide to change your road position, it would be safer to look behind you (as drivers do) and then signal your intentions. To do what you did, which is to just move over and expect all behind to be telepathic, is dangerous and stupid. Unless you like to collide with cars and possibly end up in the cemetery.

I doubt that things will improve on the roads, so maybe I should start to drive like all the rest, and don't give a thought to the other road users or my own safety, still if I was to start doing that you can guarantee that there would be a police car about to catch me.

It is people like the ill-mannered, inconsiderate, degenerates mentioned that are the true cause of road rage, and far too often the victims are the law abiding people like myself.

Concerned Motorist

(name and address supplied)

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.