I can’t really put up the post I wrote for this week at the moment, the timing for it
just doesn’t seem right.
So I got nothing in hand… nothing.
So here’s an off-the-cuff rant which does something I haven’t done
before. Repeat myself. This post is in danger of practically duplicating an earlier post I did
(in April of this year, in fact). And, wait, stop the presses. Just as I went
looking for when I did that recent (probably identical) post, I find that I’ve written
on this bugbear of mine three times before. Count them, three!
So what do it again, Ken? Why not leave it alone.
Three reasons, really.
Reason One is the main one, this shit is driving me crazy now.
Reason Two: It’s my blog, suck it up.
Reason Three: You don’t actually think anyone reads this stuff, do you?
So here it is.
Imagine you are driving at night and you are on that road that runs from
Perth to Melbourne. In the middle of the Nullarbor plain. One of the great
desert areas in the world, one of the great straight stretches of road. Imagine
you have to turn right up a side road. (There’s nothing up the side roads, Ken,
it’s a feckin’ desert). Just… imagine, okay? Your eccentric pal lives up there
in a tent and you're going to visit him for his birthday. Okay? Imagine.
Here’s the thing. The road stretches for miles and miles straight in
front of you and behind you too. There’s nobody in the world except for you and
the road and the darkness. You are totally alone.
You come to the junction and you slow and you turn right. You are off to
see your friend.
Off you go.
Stop.
No. No. Bloody No.
You didn’t bloody put your bloody indicator on. You absolute twat.
But, but, but…
But nothing mate. Out there in the dark there was a gentle Aboriginal
man, walking home along the side of the road. Your unexpected right turn nearly
killed him, nearly wiped him off the planet. Because you didn’t know he was out
there in the dark, without a reflective arm band on. But mostly, mostly, because
you didn’t put your indicator on.
You were lazy.
You were distracted.
There was a good song on the radio.
You didn’t think there was any point in putting your indicator on.
The world of considerate driving has gone to hell in a hand basket. My rough
estimate is that about 40% of drivers in my town and county no longer bother their
holes to put their indicator on when they make a turn. Another 5% put the
indicator on after they’ve gone around the corner, for fuck’s sake.
Always.
Always.
Always put your indicator on. No matter if you’re out on the Nullarbor
with a care package for
your pal in the tent. No matter if you’re on some country lane. You
never know who is looking to you for some clue as to which way you are intending
to go. Your indicating that intention could save their life.
So, please, please, I’m begging you (you bastards) go back to using
your indicators at all times. What are you doing not using them anyway? Are you
trying to save on the little bulb or something?
We need a Road Safety Authority telly advert for this, to try to get us
back to showing a little consideration out there on the roads.
Can I suggest a slogan or two? You can have them for free, if you like.
1)
Show a sign of life before you end up looking for a
sign of life.
or
2)
Put your indicator on, you bastard.