Hi everyone, Rikki here with you. I'm going to start this newsletter on a different note to usual but bare with me and hopefully you'll understand.On Tuesday evening, I was working in the office a bit later than usual, and left around 7pm. As always I took my normal route home but that evening I had an experience I don't believe I've ever had before – at least not that I remember. I had just turned off the Mullaghbane Road onto the main Portadown-Armagh Road, heading towards Portadown. Picture the scene: the roads were wet, it was raining (as it has done most of the week) and everyone was being a little more careful than normal on the roads. Everyone that is, except for the driver of a black Range Rover Sport, that was using the road as his own personal race track!Needless to say, he slammed on his brakes as he realised how close he was to my car, which obviously infuriated him, as he proceeded to blare his car horn at me and flash the lights in a manner I can only describe as road rage!Now, I'd like to assure readers that this was not aided by any sharp and late turn offs on my part, as I was already out on the main road and had driven for a good 500 metres, and as I turned out of my junction there was no sign of this 4x4.This driver then proceeded to drive extremely close to the back of my car and I could tell from looking in my mirrors it was obvious he wanted to overtake me. Anyone who knows this stretch road will know that there is a solid white line on either side for a good distance. I might also add, to my memory, this is a 60mph road; I was cruising at 55mph and there was a car and trailer in front of me.My point, to this driver I'd like to say, you had no idea if I was an elderly person, scared of driving in the dark, afraid of the wet roads and rain. You did not know what circumstances I was in and neither did you care!When I was 19 years old (seems a lifetime now), I was in a freak car accident caused by a lorry driving too close to me and not paying attention; my car veered off the road, down a bank where it rolled three times and thankfully I escaped with a broken arm and minors cuts and bruises. The lorry driver, thankfully, admitted fault a number of months later.Back to the current day and my message to the 4x4 driver: please, please have more consideration for your fellow road users. Your life is no more important than mine or anyone else's. If I choose to obey the law and drive with due care and consideration, that is my choice. Equally, you have your own free will and choices but I ask you to consider this: if I had been an elderly person that you driving scared and you had caused an accident could you live with it?Your 15 minutes too late in this world could result in someone else's 50 years too early in the next! Please be careful.Ok, so down to business - here's some of the up coming events over the next few weeks:
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Your 15 minutes too late in this world could…
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Hi everyone, Rikki here with you. I'm going to start this newsletter on a different note to usual but bare with me and hopefully you'll understand.On Tuesday evening, I was working in the office a bit later than usual, and left around 7pm. As always I took my normal route home but that evening I had an experience I don't believe I've ever had before – at least not that I remember. I had just turned off the Mullaghbane Road onto the main Portadown-Armagh Road, heading towards Portadown. Picture the scene: the roads were wet, it was raining (as it has done most of the week) and everyone was being a little more careful than normal on the roads. Everyone that is, except for the driver of a black Range Rover Sport, that was using the road as his own personal race track!Needless to say, he slammed on his brakes as he realised how close he was to my car, which obviously infuriated him, as he proceeded to blare his car horn at me and flash the lights in a manner I can only describe as road rage!Now, I'd like to assure readers that this was not aided by any sharp and late turn offs on my part, as I was already out on the main road and had driven for a good 500 metres, and as I turned out of my junction there was no sign of this 4x4.This driver then proceeded to drive extremely close to the back of my car and I could tell from looking in my mirrors it was obvious he wanted to overtake me. Anyone who knows this stretch road will know that there is a solid white line on either side for a good distance. I might also add, to my memory, this is a 60mph road; I was cruising at 55mph and there was a car and trailer in front of me.My point, to this driver I'd like to say, you had no idea if I was an elderly person, scared of driving in the dark, afraid of the wet roads and rain. You did not know what circumstances I was in and neither did you care!When I was 19 years old (seems a lifetime now), I was in a freak car accident caused by a lorry driving too close to me and not paying attention; my car veered off the road, down a bank where it rolled three times and thankfully I escaped with a broken arm and minors cuts and bruises. The lorry driver, thankfully, admitted fault a number of months later.Back to the current day and my message to the 4x4 driver: please, please have more consideration for your fellow road users. Your life is no more important than mine or anyone else's. If I choose to obey the law and drive with due care and consideration, that is my choice. Equally, you have your own free will and choices but I ask you to consider this: if I had been an elderly person that you driving scared and you had caused an accident could you live with it?Your 15 minutes too late in this world could result in someone else's 50 years too early in the next! Please be careful.Ok, so down to business - here's some of the up coming events over the next few weeks: