They don’t know they’re born. Now, in my day …

For a goodly while now, Germany have had what they call the Zipper Rule (actually, they call it the Reißverschluß, ‘cos they speak German over there).

The basis of this is that when two lanes are merging into one, or even two roads converge at an intersection, the RULE states that right of way alternates. Thus, when two lanes merge into one, they look like a zipper (or “zip” as we say).

Why oh why can’t we adopt this rule? With miscreants being shot if they flout this law?

Guess who got stressed this morning by some idiot pushing through, when it was clearly ‘my turn’ to converge?

Another thing that really irks me is that pedestrians seem to love to just step off the pavement into the road. They show a complete disregard for traffic of all types.

The other day, a teenager was cycling very slowly up the middle of the main road, talking to his mate on the other side of the road. He wasn’t looking at the traffic, he was on his mobile phone, and he was just being plain stoopid!

When I was a kid, we had the Green Cross Code, and even better the Green Cross Code Man, played by Dave Prowse.

After Dave Prowse retired from being the Green Cross Man, we had Job Pertwee, who was hardly a reasonable replacement.

We’ve recently had an update on the mobile phone and driving laws. All well and good, although there are still a lot of people around here on the phone whilst driving.

What about pedestrians? Should be no problem, but what about when they step off the pavement into the road (and into the path of a cyclist, for instance!)? What can we do about that? Nothing.

Except some cyclists (no names, no pannier bag) should “MIND OUT” in a very loud voice, and then offer some comment on the pedestrian’s level of intelligence.

Shoot ‘em, I say.

Wny oh why don’t drivers indicate any more? I can understand that the little light flashing on and off might use a bit more battery power, and hence fuel for the engine to recharge it, not not much. Is it the noise it makes? Does it disturb them, or interfere with their mobile phone conversations? Or is it that it just doesn’t matter any more?