The Front Row

[Lamby]

Good point Rich. I have only ever used the motorway when travelling to & from the airport to CVO. Knowing what I know about the N125 I will continue to use the motroway and pay a few Euros on the tolls for peace of mind. My only concern, how do I pay the toll when returning to the UK if the amount is not clarified for a few days after the journey and I'm in Manchester? Sorry, gone off on a different subject !!

[Michael Crane]

Slightly off topic:
This happened to me in Turkey in 1987.

We caught a local bus to Kalkan enroute to Xanthos. Our driver was a homicidal maniac . . . on speed! He drove the bus like he was Michael Schumaker going around the streets of Monte Carlo. He hurtled into the corners on the narrow mountain roads and braked (if at all) at the last possible minute. We, and the other six passengers aboard were convinced at each hairpin bend that we'd overshoot and be catapulted into the sea hundreds of feet below. It was a nightmare.

I can still see his mad staring eyes reflected in his rear-view mirror; they will be with me until the day I die. To this day I always check each bus and dolmus driver to ascertain that he isn't the same one that caused us so much distress back on that terrifying journey. No doubt he'd passed the Turkish driving test - if you can open the door and find the steering-wheel, you've passed!

Click to read the full report.

[TomUK]

At least one of their drivers is a maniac who suffers from regular bouts of road rage and drives at excess speed tailgating all who stand in his way.

Obviously Widge has been moved to post this, so something prompted him. Just puzzled as to how he knows that this driver suffers from 'regular' bouts of road rage. Has he come across him before, or does he mean regular bouts during this one incident?
Bruce W. reminds us how macho Portuguese drivers are - but didn't the lady say they were all ex-pats?
Last September, our shuttle transfer was in a 52-seater Transol coach, which as many will know, is a major coach operator in the Algarve. Our driver had his hand-held mobile phone to his ear the entire journey laughing and joking with whoever was on the other end. Even when we left the A22 near the end of the journey and joined the narrow suburban roads he continued nattering, only pausing to announce drop of points as we reached them. I'm not sure if talking on a mobile whilst driving is illegal yet in Portugal, but I would have thought it a bit risky with a coach load of passengers. Just another example of the 'interesting' driving standards in Portugal!

[shanagarry]

The MD of Front Line has missed a wonderful chance to put her company across in a caring and professional manner.

Her case was not helped by the intervention of pppp - who seems to have gone to ground now. Could it be they are one and the same person?

A simple "we're sorry you thought one of our driver's was driving aggressively - it is not our way of driving responsibly. The driver in question has been spoken to and we are satisfied this type of incident will not be repeated" or something similar would have taken care of the matter. I believe most people would understand that line and leave it there.

Instead - the lengthy defence ending with a threat of legal action suggests, to me at least, that there is substance in what had been alleged. I never use the 125 when going to/from the airport (something I do on average twice a week) and frequently see transfer mini-buses traveling at high speed on the motorway with passengers on board. What it must be like on the 125 does not bear thinking about. I'm confused as to why she mentions the use of expat drivers - what does that imply?

I don't understand the mentality of transfer companies in using the 125 when they could add the motorway toll to their fare or at least give the customer the option. I suspect most customers would prefer the comfort of the motorway at a sensible pace rather than the stop-start inconvenience of the 125. If it is congested now (April) what will the July/August rush bring - especially for early morning flights

[HampshireRich]

I don't understand the mentality of transfer companies in using the 125 when they could add the motorway toll to their fare or at least give the customer the option. I suspect most customers would prefer the comfort of the motorway at a sensible pace rather than the stop-start inconvenience of the 125. If it is congested now (April) what will the July/August rush bring - especially for early morning flights

My point exactly shanagarry - and surely it will save money on fuel as there will not be the stop-start as on the 125 and the customers will arrive at destination quicker.

[laserblazer]

Assuming that everyone on the bus is going from A to B. If you have some going to C, D & E as well, then the 125 might be the eaier option.

[shanagarry]

Assuming that everyone on the bus is going from A to B. If you have some going to C, D & E as well, then the 125 might be the eaier option.

I'm assuming (dangerous I know) that in this instance all the people are going to/from the Praia do Carvoeiro area - if not - I can see how that would change the dynamic. I see no sense in traveling all the way from Carvoeiro to Faro on the 125 - if for €5/€10 more you avoid the hassle

[Bruce Wallis]

Assuming that everyone on the bus is going from A to B. If you have some going to C, D & E as well, then the 125 might be the eaier option.

I'm assuming (dangerous I know) that in this instance all the people are going to/from the Praia do Carvoeiro area - if not - I can see how that would change the dynamic. I see no sense in traveling all the way from Carvoeiro to Faro on the 125 - if for €5/€10 more you avoid the hassle

Get on at Alcantrillia....its only 3-50 then

[shanagarry]

Get on at Alcantrillia....its only 3-50 then

I'm fairly sure transfer, private hire companies etc would charge more than €3.50 - even so, it's better than having to endure the 125 purgatory