PLEASE slow down (West Lothian especially)

[cameron_leask]

Those of you that know me will know that I live on a country road (national speed limit B road) near Linlithgow. My house is at the end of a reasonably straight half-mile stretch which has a number of houses on it and accordingly the road is marked as 40mph limit for the half-mile around the houses. Fair enough.

Since I moved here I've come to realise that a lot of local car-fans don't pay too much attention to the speed limit. There are plenty that do it in all sorts of cars but I can tell from the exhaust notes that this includes one or two Subaru drivers. While I would prefer that they didn't pretend that my street was the knockhill home straight (I reckon that speeds of 80 or 90mph past my front door are not uncommon from these drivers), my attitude to the matter has been pretty much to ignore it and get on with my own life.

That all changed tonight.

I left home earlier and headed up towards the other end of the 40mph limit. The guy that lives at the other end of the 40mph stretch (fortunately, I do not know him) was standing in front of his house and as I passed (at 40mph) he was waving his fist and making v-signs at me. Initially I drove on but TBH I was too curious and wanted to know what he thought was wrong, so I turned and went back to see what the trouble was. Pulling up, I wound down my window and politely asked him whether there was a problem.

He ran over to the car and thrust his fist through the open window, screaming and shouting (drunk) about how I did 90mph past his house, didn't I know it was a 40mph limit, effing and blinding... etc you get the picture. I dodged the fist (fortunately) and by this point a couple of his friends had appeared from the house and started to pull him away from my car. As you can imagine I was "rather keen" to point out that I lived locally and experience the same problems as him with speeding motorists, but (of course) he was in no mood for listening to me, and after a couple of minutes of remonstrations I was persuaded to leave by one of his pals.

As I turned the car I could see the chap being spoken to by his pals and as I left I heard him shout an apology of sorts at me so I stopped again while he told me that my car was very similar to the cars that do 90mph past his house.... etc etc etc.

Now, while I don't like people trying to attack me, I can sort-of understand where he's coming from on this. So here's my plea.

PLEASE adhere to signposted speed limits, particularly in areas which have houses or other hazards nearby. Even though you can see the road is clear, even though you know the cops never put speedtraps there, even though it's only half a mile's worth and barely worth the effort, even though it's late at night and there won't be any wee kids chasing footballs across the road or dogs running about, please remember how distinctive and memorable your cars are. Loud exhaust systems have positive and negative qualities, but late at night at twice the speed limit it's the negative ones that people remember.

And so, because of a minority of drivers (at least one Subaru driver amongst them) my neighbour now seems to think that all Subarus are driven by ignorant neanderthals and I -so very nearly- was physically assaulted.

The threat of physical violence to anyone, as a direct consequence of the irresponsible behaviour of speeding, passing, unnamed motorists, is unnacceptable, and complaining about my neighbour's behaviour won't do anything when clearly the real cause of the problem is the behaviour of those local motorists who see fit to flaunt the speed limits in a built-up area.

And I wouldn't want to think that this sort of thing would ever happen again to me, any of my family or friends, ever again. Just because we were driving a Subaru?! Dear God, no.

Please slow down and drive with consideration.

Thanks.

[wrxmania]

I always slow down for these limits - it is a shame it is affecting local people and yourself.

I live in West Lothian but I am never near those roads so I feel my conscience is clear

It is a good point that is made - the roads are not a rally track - although a rally track would be good

Brian

[west lothian scooby]

i think we should organise a drive-by for this guys house on our next jaunt, i'm sure he would love between 30 - 50 subaru's going past his house.

grant , a.k.a. squirrell, will you make a mental note to include this road on our next jaunt.

stevie

[cameron_leask]

LOL. I don't want to seem rude but please don't, unless you intend to drive past quietly and at 40mph.

I really, really don't want to ever relive last night's events.

[22B]

[higgy]

He ran over to the car and thrust his fist through the open window, screaming and shouting (drunk) about how I did 90mph past his house, didn't I know it was a 40mph limit, effing and blinding... etc you get the picture -_____(quote)

i hope you get a proper apoligy from this guy or we might just have a large driveby

simon