A Frustrating Encounter: Is Blocking Traffic for Card Payments Acceptable?
Earlier today, I encountered a rather infuriating situation that I believe deserves some attention. Just twenty minutes ago, during what should have been a routine drive back home, I found myself stuck behind a black cab that had stopped directly in the middle of a busy road to process a card payment. My baby was in the back seat, crying, and I couldn’t help but feel the mounting frustration of the moment.
The taxi initially halted for a passenger to pay but, after waiting for about a minute, it became evident that the transaction was taking longer than expected. Instead of pulling over to a safer location, the driver decided to inch forward only to come to a stop again, still obstructing traffic in the middle of the lane. Cars were lining up behind me, and we all began honking our horns, yet the driver remained unfazed.
This experience raised significant questions in my mind about the acceptability of such behavior on the roads. Is it actually permissible for drivers to stop like this for a card payment? Or is there an unspoken rule that allows this sort of inconvenience to slip through the cracks unnoticed?
I’ve shared the dashcam footage from my car to provide some context, but I would love to hear your opinions on this matter.
How would you have handled this situation? Is there a protocol in place for situations like these, or does it simply boil down to individual driver etiquette? Your thoughts would be greatly appreciated!