UK Highway Code in 100 Words
Safe Speed is one of our favorite monomaniacal websites, dedicated as it is to fighting the good fight against the UK's superabundance of speed cameras. Saying that, crusader/publisher Paul Smith takes semi-regular excursions off-topic to address wider road safety issues. PR546 (but who's counting?) criticizes The Highway Code for ballooning to 133 pages, as the weightier tome causes "essential safety messages to get lost." In its stead, Smith proposes a 100-word code, as follows: "Drive on the left. Make sure you can see and be seen. Keep a constant look out all around. Be aware of signs and regulations and why they are there. Be predictable. Recognise and anticipate danger and keep clear space from it. Always ensure that you can stop within the distance that you know is clear. Develop your skills. Give courtesy, co-operation and space to others. Don't obstruct them. Never take risks, drive unfit or compete with others. Safety is paramount and far more important than priority. Take personal responsibility for your safety and the safety of those nearby. Enjoy."
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Re Kevin, Years ago when I was a kid, my father was driving in Boston when the car in front of him stopped in the middle of the street--suddenly--to let a passenger off. My father jammed on the brakes, came to a complete stop. The car behind us slammed into us, pushing us into the original idiot. They sued us for hitting them. (I don't remember what happened with the suit.) The passenger--who went nonchalantly on her way, claimed she had whiplash. Congrats, Kevin. Well done.
Kevin- Under the law, I thought if you rear ended somebody, 99% of the time you were traveling too close to them and it's therefore your fault. You are supposed to leave enough space between you and the car in front of you to stop if they slam on thier brakes. Granted, in the real world, if you leave that much space, a lot of time other cars will slip into the gap, but that doesn't change the law.
Cavendel: I smell class action...