Fra_Diavolo

I think he has the made the required amends. I also agree with maitai that this site can be mighty rough on the boy.

janisj

Decent statement and does what it is designed to do.

But a tad disingenuous IMO when he says >> But I completely goofed up on this one. In the UK, the middle lane is for passing, not cruising — and now I know that . . .<< since he has been traveling to the UK/driving there for more than 25 years.

MmePerdu

Or as I suspect, it may be that he's traveled on UK roads with someone else driving and never paid much attention to the details. A case of an expert who doesn't know what he doesn't know.

Cowboy1968

Hugging the center lane is not allowed and a nuisance.
Using the "slow" lane to pass someone hugging the center lane is the worse offense, though. Just like those drivers in the video.
Anyone clear in his mind would use the "fast" lane to pass, as it is mandatory unless traffic was just crawling on all lanes.

MmePerdu

Precisely the same in the US in reverse, nothing new and he would have realized if he'd given it any thought or was actually the all-around expert he thinks he is. It was simple arrogance, apology or no apology.

phillyboy

A proper and sincere apology. As many others have pointed out, he is not to everyone's taste … I quite like some of his stuff, and don't care for some of his other stuff. But I think he is a well-meaning, honest guy with integrity. This thread is a classic example of piling on.

OReilly64

He would have lost 6 points off his UK licence if he had been caught on the phone -that is how serious thgis is. Aand a few hundred pounds fine for both that and straddling the middle lane.


Would he be forgiven if he had had a few pints in a pub and then driven? Same thing. We have had horrific accidents recently due to people being on their phones. His disingenuous 'cute' response does not address the severity of the crime.

suze

I do not find his statement either "disingenuous" or "cute".

There is nothing the man could say or do (even before this particular incident) that would please 80% of the people on Fodor's. Their minds are closed to him.

MmePerdu

I see no innate conflict between our statements. I also like some of his programs, not the style so much as to see places I don't know about and might like information. He's understandably popular and, so, successful. That, I believe, can lead to an arrogance that resulted in this incident. Not dishonest and yes, well-meaning, but nonetheless making false assumptions about his own knowledge, then acting on it. I don't see it as "piling on" but going deeper than the obviously likeable guy. That isn't all he is and now he's given us a glimpse of the inner Rick. And I suspect it's had an impact on his thinking. He'll be a bit smarter likeable guy.

OReilly64

It has nothing to do with him 'pleasing' people on Fodor's. That is completely irrelevant. It has to do with recognizing and abiding by the laws of the UK (and most other European countries) re use of phones and driving) and simple common sense.

maitaitom

When I was a kid (and sometimes an adult) if I made a mistake (which was often). my dad and I would chat, and I would (usually) say, "I'm sorry." Many times he'd put his hand in my shoulder and say, "OK, let's move on." Steves had a traffic violation and mispronounced a couple of names. It's not an international crisis. As my dad would say, "OK, let's move on."

suze

That is completely irrelevant.

Well it's gotten 92 comments then that are "completely irrelevant".

PatrickLondon

I do trust his future advice is going to refer prospective drivers in the UK to the source for what they need to be doing and not doing:

The Highway Code

OReilly64

Thank you Patrick!

MmePerdu

As I would say, "Feel free."

maitaitom

"As my dad would say, "OK, let's move on."

"As I would say, "Feel free."

Oh, so sorry, I forgot you guys were beating a dead horse.

MmePerdu

I'm always fascinated, well not exactly fascinated, when 1 participant tires of a thread and declares it ended.

phillyboy