Returning home after a mountain bike ride, Andy B approached a roundabout. We love these in the UK (it seems). Simply put, you come to a junction, with a circle in the middle. You give way to the right, and proceed carefully.
But they’re super simple to use! Indicate on your approach, and as long as nothing comes from your right, you have right of way (and of course, the British drive on the correct side of the road – the left – hence giving way to the right!).
Anyway, having indicated which way he intended to go, Andy B reached the roundabout and a motorbike, coming the other way, stopped – as it should, because Andy B had right of way.
So he carried on, turning right. At which point the biker screamed various unpleasant words we won’t repeat here, as Andy carried on his journey.
But here’s the thing, and the important lesson.
The biker was right to stop, as Andy had been clearly indicating on his approach to the roundabout. But Andy B didn’t indicate as he was going around the roundabout due to some serious potholes for all to see. Plus, the motorbike had already stopped and Andy B had eye contact with the rider!
As a trucker and biker, Andy B is especially careful on the road, and knows the rule of the road better than most – having driven professionally for well over a decade.
And the biker, who was shouting, was actually committing a plethora of crimes in doing so. He was breaching the peace with his shouted profanities; acting in an aggressive and threatening manner with a vehicle; he had his helmet propped open (another offence).
And that last one is key! Because when you prop your helmet open, you have limited vision. VERY limited vision, which is one reason why it is an offence to ride like that on a public road (ie the front part of the helmet, not just the see through plastic part we call a visor in the UK).
Due to the offence he was committing, he actually couldn’t see Andy B properly.
Which is a lesson for us all isn’t it? We can be so quick to make judgements of people, but sometimes we do so even though we know we don’t have all the facts.
So, next time you’re about to start proclaiming your judgements against someone in public, make sure you have all the facts, and don’t break the law whilst pointing the finger at someone!
And what does the bible say about all this?
Well it reminds us that before we take the speck out of our brother’s eye, we should take the plank out of our own. And perhaps, ensure we can see what we’re judging…
Andy B
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