My commutes are always an adventure
I’ve been commuting between Almere and Amsterdam for over 28 years now, and some stretches of road just never seem to get safer. The speed limits are clear, the lanes are marked, and yet people still drive too fast, follow too closely, or simply don’t pay attention. Over time, I’ve learned where the “hot spots” are – places where something stupid is almost guaranteed to happen at least once a week.
Since I drive a leased car, the financial side doesn’t worry me too much – any damage is handled automatically. I’ve had a few minor scrapes myself, mostly one-sided parking damage and similar things. Still, I installed a dashcam to capture the usual nonsense on Dutch roads. This year has been particularly bad, and depending on what happens, it can seriously raise the pucker factor.
Like this morning. I was merging from the carpool lane – which, despite its name, isn’t only for carpools – into the fast lane. It’s a spot where I’m always extra alert. I saw brake lights ahead and slowed down, but I couldn’t merge into the lane on my right because of traffic there.
Then I had to brake full force when two cars collided just one car ahead of me. As usual, driving too fast and too close together is a bad combination. I’ve seen five- or six-car pile-ups at this exact spot before.
I stopped just in time with a few meters to spare, but it’s always worrying because of the traffic behind you. In this case, a white van had kept a safe distance and was able to slow down in time. Incidents like this are excellent for the good old “pucker factor.”
Now, if you thought my morning was done after this hair raising incident: nope, around half a mile down the road I encountered this total idiot. It’s moments like these where I wish I was a cop or that there was a cop around.
Apart from theses incidents I have had a lot of other crazy ones. Like this one. It took place while I was about to turn into the parking lot of our office building in Amsterdam and a crazy cab driver decided he was in a hurry and just overtook on the same side I was pulling into. What a moron! He almost hit the curb.
And sometimes it happens to others like this kid on a fatbike. Fatbikes have become a huge issue in cities as they are electric, always go way too fast and the kids driving them are you dumb and don’t have any care in the world. In this case it was 100% the fault of the driver of the van; he needs to stop before the first give-way marking anyway. I saw some bits coming of the bike and I think the kid also lost his phone.
And then there are the people who have no clue how or when to merge… Like all these nitwits below.
Not paying attention I assume?
And then this gem…. Like how do they even have a driver’s license? This was a very close call, just check the car standing still! And – is it me, or are Audi drivers the new BMW drivers?
And the oldest one I recorded: I don’t know what this guy was doing, but he definitely was not paying attention the where he was going… Like how do you not see the road you are on?
These moments are exactly why I keep the dashcam running. Not because I expect to need the footage for insurance, but because it’s a reminder: no matter how carefully you drive, you can’t control everyone else on the road. All you can do is stay alert, keep your distance where possible, and hope the people behind you do the same.