Where’s the courtesy?

Is it my imagination or is there no longer any courtesy on our roads?

There are rules of the road, but they don't apply to some young mothers, boy racers and even the cocky women who think fluttering their eyelashes will stop traffic wardens writing them a ticket.

But they forget everyone can take a photo of them parking in an unauthorised place which is allegedly admissible in a court and can be used towards a prosecution. Today it's all ‘me, me, me’, their journey is more important than yours.

Disabled bays are just another parking space for the ignorant, who always have an excuse. It's either ‘I was only in the bank a few minutes’, or ‘My granddad got the badge in his pocket’. Or even, ‘Didn't you see my hazards lights were on?’

I've seen cars parked in bus bays, with hazard light flashing, as if that gives them a carte blanche reason to be there.

Then there's the woman who pulled into a disabled bay so her son could get a bag of chips. Or the guy who parked in the disabled bay, while he chose his wallpaper and paint. Again, leaving his hazard lights flashing.

People think that if they leave their hazard lights flashing it's okay to break the law.

But hazard lights are not there to be used while parking somewhere you shouldn't, they have a significant purpose and it's not peace of mind while you commit an offence of obstruction.

I've seen traffic wardens waiting to give the offenders a warning as to the consequences that are attached to parking in disabled bay. But as soon as you mention they've failed to display a badge, their language would make your ears melt and insults always include your parentage, birth, age, the fact that you are disabled.

One female even threatened to knock me down and beat me with my own stick in a doctors’ car park after I ask her to move out of the disabled bay she was occupying without a badge.

She was wrong and she knew it, so she spewed out all the usual offensive and abusive remarks, before it was ‘poor me ‘and the crocodile tears started, looking for solace from anyone who passed by when she realised I was immune to her abuse.

Then her parents arrived with the usual gestures and bravado, once safely inside their car.

As I am getting older and a little less mobile, I chose to take photos of the car registration and where parked, so it can be given to the right people who will act on the information supplied.

C Goodall Lime Grove, Portsmouth