Comments on Ken Armstrong Writing Stuff: Indicators and Roundabouts

I had to take a written test to get a New Jersey D...

2009-10-15T17:39:00.223+01:00

I had to take a written test to get a New Jersey Driver's license. I'm assuming a roundabout is a traffic circle, which are common in Jersey. The official rule in the manual was, "common sense prevails" Really, common sense...on the highway....in New Jersey. Hmmm

We have very few roundabouts here for which I am r...

2009-10-15T05:48:59.735+01:00

We have very few roundabouts here for which I am really glad. I can see myself getting trapped in one of those and never heard from again. You may think I'd eventually run out of gas... but then I'd just have to get some other nice soul to push the car around for me.

Being nice is a curse.

Bad driving seems somewhat universal, but the real...

2009-10-14T17:57:36.338+01:00

Bad driving seems somewhat universal, but the real question on my mind is: "What the hell is a wally?"

:)

No, it was the swimming ad 'Learn to swim, young m...

2009-10-11T12:02:49.452+01:00

No, it was the swimming ad 'Learn to swim, young man' as well as 'Joe and Petunia call the lifeguard' that I remember best, as well as all the awful 'Charley says' films – God, I hated him.

I managed to find an 'Amber Gambler' ad for you but nothing for 'Big John'.

My ad would be: "You don't need FOG LIGHTS in Wes...

2009-10-11T05:10:52.370+01:00

My ad would be: "You don't need FOG LIGHTS in Western Australia you stupid idiot!"

I mean... when do we EVER get fog??

Occasionally we might get mist, but you still have at least 50m visibility.

ARGHHHHHH!

And it is not MORE SAFE to have an extra bright light on the back of your car.

In fact it's hynotic to the drivers behind you!

Belief!!

Hi Pam: Newhart is funny - he keeps it so deadpan....

2009-10-10T23:48:48.495+01:00

Hi Pam: Newhart is funny - he keeps it so deadpan. :) I'm off now to check that public service ad resource.

Catherine: I agree with you on this - we seem particularly dreadful on these points.

Hope: No roundabouts, eh? I quite like roundabouts, they bring out the best and worst in people, which is always fun.

Susan: It's funny, isn't it? :) I know this lady myself so it's not one of those apocryphal stories either.

Vincent: We *all* wish you could drive mate. :)

Delphwynd: Thanks for your kind note - the picture is even more splendid on your blog than it is on flickr where I found it today.

And how patient you are with me, particularly if you thought I didn't credit you at all for the super picture. I did hotlink the image directly to your flickr account when I did the post and have now added a second link beneath. I always contact the owner of any photo I use via the flickr mail system but I was on the run today and didn't get to you before you got to me, sorry about that.

I really appreciate the kind way you've approached this - let me know if I can do anything else for you. Good post too! :)

Hi there, I agree entirely with your post - have ...

2009-10-10T21:31:55.896+01:00

Hi there, I agree entirely with your post - have had cause to rant about this myself in the past. In fact it's the reason I created the image you picked for your post, which I'm more than happy for you to use.

Please though, as it was issued under a Creative Commons license in which one of the stipulations is that you - "...must give the original author credit.", can you do so? Much appreciated, happy blogging, and watch out for those non-indicative drivers!

I just wish I could drive.

2009-10-10T20:26:03.537+01:00

I just wish I could drive.

ROFL at the woman who couldn't turn off the rounda...

2009-10-10T19:42:14.530+01:00

ROFL at the woman who couldn't turn off the roundabout... MIGHT BE my sister!! lolol She drove all the way from Shannon Airport to our house (five hours) without stopping at a single stoplight because (she says) she didn't see them. Her friend/passenger said she didn't want to be a 'backseat driver' so didn't say anything. WTF?

Hope's right, it's universal. Except for us of course.

[a] I'm glad we don't have these forms of evil roa...

2009-10-10T17:17:03.968+01:00

[a] I'm glad we don't have these forms of evil roadways...because folks here have a hard enough time driving in straight lines.

[b] Lack of indicator light usage [known here as turn signals] is universal in it's stupidity.

[c] Our State Highway Dept. adopted this slogan years ago and we're beat over the head with it, especially during holidays...and holidays with extra alcohol.
"Highways or Dieways. The Choice is Yours."

[d] If our slogan was true, we'd be legally allowed to push cars off the road who fail to signal or forget to turn the danged thing off after 2 miles.

Happy driving! ;)

Ken, I hate to say it, but up here in the north, i...

2009-10-10T15:58:32.105+01:00

Ken, I hate to say it, but up here in the north, it's the drivers from the Republic who get cursed at all the time, for not knowing how to use their indicators or go round a roundabout. Of course, that's because a lot of them are from Donegal, which didn't really have any roundabouts until 10 years ago.
We have plenty of very bad drivers of our own too, though. Maybe they can show some of those helpful public information ads all over the island?

Funniest thing ever on driving was Bob Newhart's '...

2009-10-10T15:03:55.131+01:00

Funniest thing ever on driving was Bob Newhart's 'Driving Instructor' - it's on iTunes, still brilliant.

As for public service ads, you can still see them on http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/films/ My personal favourite is the Coastguard one with Joe and Petunia. :)