I'm appalled, if the bloke's wife had a heart condition then he shouldn't have overtaken in the first place.

Shouldn't these magic totems be fitted at the factory as standard then?

The very first point I put to the police (I should make it clear the chap cut me up when pulling in resulting in me having to brake). Apparently she was familiar with her husbands style of driving and therefore not alarmed by it. Mine on the other hand - pull out nice and early (indicating), accelerate past and pull in when several car lengths ahead and continue to enlarge the gap - seemed to upset her


Apparently her 'condition' (I use inverted commas - read on) was stable although certain incidents were always likely to upset that stability. I did ask what her exact condition was and was told it was none of my business. When I told the officer it was my business as her condition was one cause of them sitting in front of me handing out a caution I was told in no uncertain terms to accept the caution or be charged with dangerous driving. As I had 2 witnesses in my car I said to the constable that I would like to report the other driver for cutting me up and was told if I did so I would be charged with dangerous driving - accept the caution and let that be the end of it.

Karma:

Several months later I was driving home from Forres to Elgin when I saw a car pull in sharply when overtaking another on the long straight just west of Alves. The overtaking driver clipped the front offside with his rear nearside and both cars ended up in the trees but fortunately a swathe had been cut along the verge a few years back and momentum was lost before the cars hit them. I stopped and checked both cars - one had a family of 4 in it (2 x parents and 2 x kids aged about 9-12) and the other had punter and wife. Myself and two other drivers helped the family who were in a far worse state that Mr & Mrs Heart Condition. When the emergency services arrived I told them about her heart condition and continued to help the family but was told later by the ambulance crew that she told them she had no heart condition

As I was directly behind the incident I was a witness for the prosecution. The chap was summoned to court and elected to be tried under the Sheriff (no jury). I had previously told the Procurator Fiscal about my incident and it was decided if I took the stand not to mention it (unless asked) but another motorist had come forward when he learned of the accident and told the police that this chap had a history of cutting cars up. The chap already had 9 points on his licence and, after being found guilty, had another six added which took him over the 12 points and his license was taken away. He was also banned from driving for 6 months.


Nope - because as with a lot of automotive things it doesn't apply to everybody and even when it does it's discretionary.

Al

Which is sort of my point. It doesn't apply to everybody, and even those who do display it often don't have a child on board. It's like driving with L plates on your car, when in reality you're merely to lazy to remove them. So, on that basis, why shouldn't we all display these magic signs, if they're use isn't governed by the presence of a child? Or at the very least, make their display without a child on board an offence as it is with other markings?

I hate Baby On Board signs. It seems to give the driver extraordinary powers of absolute self belief that they have right of way and that their style of driving is okay for them but not okay for others to copy. I also recall an incident whereby a fireman lost his life trying to rescue a non-existent baby because of this BOB sign.

IMO there should be some kind of automated system onboard whereby the car will only start if the baby is in the car seat which is adequately secured, and lights up or displays a BOB sign. If there's no baby in the car seat, an override button has to be pressed and deactivates the light for the duration of the journey. My head's a bit messed up from lack of sleep and recent family bereavement but basically the sign/light isn't displayed unless there really is a baby in the car.

I know I shouldn't, but I tend to assume such signs refer to the driver of the vehicle...

I understand where you're coming from. However, if everybody was to use them all the time it would lessen their effectiveness (boy who cried wolf and all that) and I agree, when not carrying a child their use should be discouraged, but to make it an offence I think would be taking it too far.

And I do wish you would stop calling them 'magic signs' They are just signs that are available for those wishing to advise others that they are carrying a precious cargo (to them) Fortunately, one of the few remaining freedoms allowed in today's society is how we choose to interpret those signs and react accordingly


There will always be irresponsible drivers on the road and injuries or something more serious to those involved in their rescue when things go wrong. Speaking of irresponsible drivers, my current pet hate is that my car seems to be invisible to other drivers - when I honk my horn at those pulling out in front of me as I'm passing a junction, I get a strange quizzical look or a shake of the fist/finger etc as if it's my fault


My sign was amended by my wife so it read: CHILD(S) on Board..... and below that.... (One Driving)

Al

I hate people who break the rules but honk when they think you've done the same.

Yesterday, went to get some petrol. On the return journey, it's a 40mph dual carriageway with three lanes in either direction. Up ahead is a roundabout with a dual carriageway on three other exits. On approach to the roundabout, the left lane is for left turn only. The middle is for left or straight ahead. The right is for right turn only. I moved from the right hand lane to the middle after overtaking someone who was travelling considerably slower than 40mph for no good reason. I'm in the middle lane and need to turn left. As I proceed rather aggressively, the car in the left lane decides to go straight ahead, misses me and then honks their horn at me. Had I not been aggressive in moving off, he would have hit me.

There's a general tendency for most people these days - me included - to use their horns as methods of rebuking other road users, rather than as warning devices.



I think it's also illegal, under the The Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations 1986.

spent the last six and a half hours with no electrickery.

I can count the number of times I've had to use my horn on both hands. Ditto with flashing lights.

If I can (apparently) expect better treatment from the law for simply displaying a small yellow sign in the back of my car, regardless of whether or not I'm actually carrying a child, then why shouldn't I?
There are numerous signs displayed in the back of cars, and if they're not in the Highway Code as being recognised, required signage (like carrying gas cylinders or L plates) then I fail to see why the law should look upon them favourably.
If I was to carry a sign in the back of my car saying 'Spectacle wearer - please pass with care' should I suddenly expect everyone to give me more space and consideration?
If a BOB sign is displayed, I'm not going to modify my driving style simply for that fact. If I'm going to overtake, I'll do it when it's safe to do so, giving you as much space as we both safely need, I'm not going to tailgate you, and I'm not going to cut you up at the roundabout. I'll let you out at a junction if the flow of traffic allows me to without being a nuisance. Why? Because I'm not a [LIFTED].
Equally, I don't expect you to be driving like you own the road, simply because you're displaying the BOB sign.

That's why I don't drive in the UK. You all rude peeps Lights are useful to express yourself.

I have one (kind of - it's Winnie The Pooh teddy thing that says baby on board given as a gift) but can assure you it has not affected my driving one iota.

I put it in the car as a) it was a gift and b) in the hopes that of someone is prone to tailgating they might just notice the sign and think 'I'll back off a little bit then'*

* it doesnt work. I was on the A453 the other week and a woman in a blue Focus was right up my arse

Baby on board stickers make me want to drive up people's arses more than I would normally just to wind them up.