Southampton and Hants road users

[downfader]

Metallic blue Jag, mid to late 40s white male driver, portly and slightly unkempt even in a suit. 6.50am

Reg: 0007 AGA (does not come up on any of the databases, illegal plates?)

I have just posted this on stopSMIDSY, this one is an angry little man who responds with verbals when you ask politely for 3 feet next time he passes a cyclist.Happened on the Queensway general area in the city centre. My report was as follows, and the cam goes back on my person tomorrow:

Riding up between the parked cars, I ride out of the doorzone for obvious reasons. A blue Jag went to overtake me, by about 5 miles an hour more in speed but around 3 inches distance from my body/handlebars. I use a "pushing hand" signal with my right hand to motion that he should have given more space. He pulls right without indicating into the rightturn lane to head on to Queensway. I sit behind until green.

After turning He then pulled into a parking bay outside the convenience store on Queensway so I ride further out, sure enough he flings the door open as I pass. I say, politely and with no swearing "3 feet next time please mate!" His reply was "GO F*** YOURSELF!!"

I shouted back "Be a Gentleman, no need for that!" I then realised I had the perfect opportunity (and witnessed as the shop was staffed and being used) to a) take the car details, and b) ask the driver for an apology, hoping that him seeing me face to face would issue a change of heart.

As he came out I said "A simple apology would have sufficed, there was no need to be rude." Again, he swears at me, I'm not intimidated by him due to my towering over the guy, but his driving did shake me up a little. He gets in his car and I say "Fine, I'll take down your licence plates," him now stuttering out excuses with the "at the end of the day, no where near you, mate" line.

After that I had a polite word with the staff member in the shop and asked if he was a regular, thinking I might encounter him again. Unfortunately he does not know him as a regular, and the staff member acknowledged that I looked a little shaken. I thank him and set on my way into work.

 

[dand_uk]

Sounds like one more idiot on the roads of Southampton. Great!

I have witnessed poor driving in the centre when on my bike and on foot. As some of the roads are quite wide you get idiots flooring it and then slamming on the brakes at the next T junction.

Think i've given up on talking to drivers, I feel like it's a lost cause.

 

[downfader]

Sounds like one more idiot on the roads of Southampton. Great!

I have witnessed poor driving in the centre when on my bike and on foot. As some of the roads are quite wide you get idiots flooring it and then slamming on the brakes at the next T junction.

Think i've given up on talking to drivers, I feel like it's a lost cause.

I mostly gave up, but here I had the perfect opportunity as I passed. It was his attitude that made me stop. I've done that before when someone has given lip and confronted them (it helps being a big lad) and have been issued an apology.

I also got pulled out on by a Neighbourhood Warden van driver this afternoon. Have just added that to stopSMIDSY and sent an email to the council. I know atleast the council will have a polite word. I had to grab both brakes and shout "STEADY ON!" at him, he made no attempt to stop, that was the RAB at the bottom of Queensway too.

 

[PpPete]

Sounds like one more idiot on the roads of Southampton. Great!

I have witnessed poor driving in the centre when on my bike and on foot. As some of the roads are quite wide you get idiots flooring it and then slamming on the brakes at the next T junction.

Think i've given up on talking to drivers, I feel like it's a lost cause.

Sadly it's not only car drivers of Southampton who display less than adequate road sense.

Driving today along the Mountbatten Way (nasty big dual carriageway - various slip roads to RABs etc - but at least it has separate cycle lane (not of ideal design - but at least not shared with peds and continuous so it is possible to cycle safely along that route without mixing it with potentially 50 mph traffic)
I pulled up at one of the roundabouts in centre lane, plenty of space either side, to wait for lights. Cyclist pulls up on my left and tries to squeeze into same lane by positioning himself about 3 inches from my front wing.

Given his destination exit he could just as easily have taken up primary in the LH lane (empty when he pulled up beside me), or waited behind the other traffic in centre lane (about 3 cars back ) but no, he chooses to put himself in a position of almost maximum vulnerability to being sideswiped by any motons less aware than myself.

Utterly baffling behaviour...

 

[downfader]

Sadly it's not only car drivers of Southampton who display less than adequate road sense.

Driving today along the Mountbatten Way (nasty big dual carriageway - various slip roads to RABs etc - but at least it has separate cycle lane (not of ideal design - but at least not shared with peds and continuous so it is possible to cycle safely along that route without mixing it with potentially 50 mph traffic)
I pulled up at one of the roundabouts in centre lane, plenty of space either side, to wait for lights. Cyclist pulls up on my left and tries to squeeze into same lane by positioning himself about 3 inches from my front wing.

Given his destination exit he could just as easily have taken up primary in the LH lane (empty when he pulled up beside me), or waited behind the other traffic in centre lane (about 3 cars back ) but no, he chooses to put himself in a position of almost maximum vulnerability to being sideswiped by any motons less aware than myself.

Utterly baffling behaviour...

I suppose when you're on a bike they might relate a little more if you say "look, dont do that because". I have given my advice/opinion to one or two cyclists in the past when I've seen stuff like that.

I know that road, used to ride on it before the cyclepath. The cyclepath is still pretty poorly signposted even now. So I can see how someone might end up on the road and not know of the options

 

[Trevrev]

That could be a company car belonging to A.G Axtons and sons, a fruit and veg wholesaler in Albert Road.
All their company vehicles, including vans and lorries have personalised plates, all ending in AGA.

 

[downfader]

That could be a company car belonging to A.G Axtons and sons, a fruit and veg wholesaler in Albert Road.
All their company vehicles, including vans and lorries have personalised plates, all ending in AGA.

Interesting. I have had the feeling I'd seen the Jag before but wasnt sure. I know where AG Axtons is so might have a quiet look. Most of their lads (in the vans etc) seem alright on the roads ime.

 

[BSRU]

Are you sure it was a Jag,
when I searched for OO 07 AGA I found this:

Registration: OO07AGA Description: Bentley Continental GT Body Type: Coupe Colour: Blue

 

[downfader]

Are you sure it was a Jag,
when I searched for OO 07 AGA I found this:

Registration: OO07AGA Description: Bentley Continental GT Body Type: Coupe Colour: Blue

Again, interesting. His plates did strike me as ambiguous to say the least. I was sure it was a Jag, but that Bently model does have a similar grill. Loverly, loverly looking car.

Looking at this:
http://www.whatcar.com/car-reviews/bentley/continental-gt-coupe/summary/25226-4
It does fit the description.

I think that might be the model.

 

[ufkacbln]

I love prat plates like thisComplain to the Police that the plate is difficult to read and in a font and spacing that is illegalI have done this with great effect, and it has two brilliant advantagesFirstly the thought that the plates they paid a fortune for are no longer looking the way they wanted, and secondly the fact that a new pair of plates fitted is about £30 which is about the same as a spot fine!

 

[dand_uk]

Again, interesting. His plates did strike me as ambiguous to say the least. I was sure it was a Jag, but that Bently model does have a similar grill. Loverly, loverly looking car.

Looking at this:
http://www.whatcar.c...summary/25226-4
It does fit the description.

I think that might be the model.

Google is your friend...

is this the one??

 

[BSRU]

Google is your friend...

is this the one??

Excellent, Google Streetview is so useful.

 

[Dave Davenport]

Are you sure it was a Jag,
when I searched for OO 07 AGA I found this:

Registration: OO07AGA Description: Bentley Continental GT Body Type: Coupe Colour: Blue

Where did you search for the reg, only plod never traced the driver that knocked me off and left the scene a few weeks ago because they couldn't trace the reg. I'd do some research myself if there's a way.

 

[ufkacbln]

Oh dear..... An awful lot of illegal parking there! Perhaps a few complaints about pavement obstruction, and let them know why?

 

[downfader]

Google is your friend...

is this the one??

Wrong colour, but doesnt mean there isnt another used by the same firm. It may even just be an out-of-towney though. I had a quick scan of Flickr and previous adverts for cars for sale last night and didnt find it. My guess if it was sold through the dealer

Oh dear..... An awful lot of illegal parking there! Perhaps a few complaints about pavement obstruction, and let them know why?

It gtets a bit like that around there. Not much traffic though, and lots of company emplyees making quick stops for picking up and dropping off.