It’s not as simple as that, is it? …

Comment posted A85 Connel to Dalmally closed in both directions by Robert Wakeham.

It’s not as simple as that, is it? Aren’t people usually referring to the stretch from Perth to Inverness, where part of the problem seems to be the way that the road switches repeatedly between single and dual carriageways.

Robert Wakeham also commented

  • What have these got to do with a closure of the A85 – binary notation or a school quiz? (answer: nothing)
  • Presumably they weren’t, but the criticism of bikers is fair comment – some of the ‘bike packs’ that come out in good summer weather do behave like absolute lunatics, without any doubt whatsoever. So, of course, do some car drivers.
  • True, some drivers behave like lunatics, but not true that ‘it’s not the road that’s dangerous’ – there are places in Argyll where the road configuration is very clearly unsafe. And what’s this about ‘you cannot have accidents if the road has no vehicles on it’ – do you think roads are for decoration only? – this reminds me of days gone by in the Middle East, when there were suspicions that strangers were sometimes found guilty of causing accidents on the principle that if they hadn’t been there the driver on the wrong side of the road would still be alive.
  • This is when the failure to improve extensive lengths of the A816 Lochgilphead – Oban road to a reasonable standard just adds to the problems.

Recent comments by Robert Wakeham

  • Walsh to lead all but Lib Dems, Conservatives and George Freeman
    Talking of Conservatives, and bearing in mind the ornithological wonders of this part of the world, has anyone yet spotted a swivel-eyed loon? – or is it an imaginary creature?
  • First Minister’s choice not to condemn mob behaviour proves Farage point
    Farage was in Edinburgh to raise the profile of UKIP – don’t underestimate wee Nige.
  • Walsh to lead all but Lib Dems, Conservatives and George Freeman
    This reads uncannily like a description of Tommy Sheridan’s erstwhile political buddies – although they, thank goodness, have never managed to grab the reins of power.
  • Finally, SNP Government delivers a passenger ferry capable of seeing off Western Ferries
    There’s a quite accurate measure of economic activity if you look around at where tower cranes signify construction in progress, and there are more in London than in the whole of the rest of Britain. Last autumn at a do in London I suggested to a senior Canary Wharf construction executive that London was increasingly behaving like a separate ‘city state’, with an economy that operated independently to that of the rest of Britain.
    He was dismissive of this idea, but I’m not so sure.
  • Amazon given government grants
    It’s worse than that – Amazon has been instrumental in destroying many small bookshops, which being ‘captive’ local businesses paid national and local taxes and employed local people. I doubt that they qualified for much in the way of government financial help at all, but I do know that they became browsing places for Amazon customers who – once they’d decided what they wanted – went on line to buy from good old Amazon.

    The really grotesque icing on the cake is that – while multinational sharks like Amazon, Google and Starbucks are free to claim, quite legally, that technically they make little or no profit in Britain – Britain has at the same time, by reason of the culture of business deregulation, become the country of choice for the world’s most corrupt, least transparent companies.
    No exaggeration – just read the 6-page feature ‘Where there’s muck there’s brass plates’ in today’s ‘Private Eye’.

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26 Responses to It’s not as simple as that, is it? …

  1. I am surprised that there are not more serious accidents on the A85 from Tyndrum to Dalmally as motor bikers seem to think that they are a law unto themselves.
    Whilst driving on this stretch of the A85 especially during the summer months I see motor bikers weaving amongst the traffic and overtaking on blind corners. It is no wonder that this road is often closed due to accidents.
    With any road it is not the road that is dangerous it is the people using it that cause the accidents. You cannot have accidents if the road has no vehicles on it.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0

    • True, some drivers behave like lunatics, but not true that ‘it’s not the road that’s dangerous’ – there are places in Argyll where the road configuration is very clearly unsafe. And what’s this about ‘you cannot have accidents if the road has no vehicles on it’ – do you think roads are for decoration only? – this reminds me of days gone by in the Middle East, when there were suspicions that strangers were sometimes found guilty of causing accidents on the principle that if they hadn’t been there the driver on the wrong side of the road would still be alive.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0

    • Presumably they weren’t, but the criticism of bikers is fair comment – some of the ‘bike packs’ that come out in good summer weather do behave like absolute lunatics, without any doubt whatsoever. So, of course, do some car drivers.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0

  2. Regardless of whom was to blame, one of my colleagues was involved in this accident. Let’s pray that both drivers recover from this tragic incident. My thoughts are with you both.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0

  3. People say that the A9 from Perth to Thurso is a killer road but this is only because motorists take un-necessary risks to try to reach their destination a few minutes earlier.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0

    • It’s not as simple as that, is it? Aren’t people usually referring to the stretch from Perth to Inverness, where part of the problem seems to be the way that the road switches repeatedly between single and dual carriageways.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0

  4. Most people wrongly assume that it is the stretch from Perth to Inverness but there have also been serious accidents on the Inverness to Thurso section.
    I could have just mentioned Perth to Inverness but no doubt someone trying to clever would have stated that the A9 started in the City of Perth and finished in Thurso.

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    • That’s an unfair question for the rest of us since Bobby Wakeham has a permanent direct link to Wikipedia (how else can he authoratively comment on so many issues?).
      Anyone back to Stirling for me now (oops).

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  5. Mel.
    It is a trick question, but if you have never been to the City of Perth then it is unlikely that you will know the answer.

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  6. Mel.
    On the front page of today’s Dundee Courier there is an article headed “Games move, but it’s only by Inches”
    Perth Highland Games are moving from the South Inch to the North Inch because of the summer deluge.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0

    • Ah right! It’s a play on words. I can’t quite get the hang of the limey sense of humour, but full marks for what is clearly a very funny joke. Got any others?

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