Is it obligatory for p*** poor drivers to have a dash cam fitted? Recent experience suggests that the two are inextricably linked and the worse the driver the higher the likelihood of them having a dash cam. Lane discipline, awareness and anticipation seem to go out of the window once they’re fitted.
Bit of a sweeping statement drd63. I make it a point to maintain lane discipline, signal my intentions, and generally drive safely with consideration for other road users. Admittedly there are some poor drivers, always has been, but to link them with dash cams is a bit of a stretch. Yes, I do have a dash cam and the merits are clear. If you drive safely and are not responsible for any incident, then instead of your word against someone else it is clear who is at fault. As per ORB and his incident. There used to be police patrols who would generally pick up such things as you mention, including obscuring the view with equipment, but sadly no longer. In general I think dash cams are a useful device and provide contemporary footage at any given point in your journey. Where is the harm?
Cheers Concrete
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Has anyone seen the many online videos of dash cam near misses and supposed poor driving? It seems to me that many of these recorded incidents are the fault of the car with the dash cam, as they accelerate too fast off roundabouts, don’t make any allowance for people being in the wrong lane and generally drive without any consideration for others, hence other cars getting in the way is inevitable. :
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Good point Johnnyrev, one wonders just how selective the footage being shown is in some cases, people taking roundabouts at stupid speeds and wondering why there's someone in the way, not helped by so many roundabouts and junctions being deliberately blind by foliage or fencing, you want to try getting 44 tons moving on a blind roundabout when some fool is coming round the corner at 50mph and you only have 10 or 12bhp per ton to make use of...course it would help if people used their indicators because A i'm not mystic Meg and B my crystal ball isn't working any more.
I wouldn't be without dashcams now.
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OK, so a bit of a generalisation but I purely on anecdotal evidence das cams seem to be attached to poorly driven vehicles. I’m sure this doesn’t apply to members of this forum but wasn’t there research to show that drivers with poor awareness and anticipation have more near misses than most but feel others are to blame, not them and therefore feel a dashcam protects them against others when in reality they are the problem.
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My one resounding argument against gun ownership which never fails to stun the admittedly few determined diehard (excuse the pun!) gun lobbyists I occasionally bump into is to ask: "Who in their right mind would let any of the large and growing community of brainless m****s currently driving around the place anywhere near a loaded weapon?"
And let's not forget that most of the aforementioned have actually taken lessons and passed a test at some point in their lives!
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My one resounding argument against gun ownership which never fails to stun the admittedly few determined diehard (excuse the pun!) gun lobbyists I occasionally bump into is to ask: "Who in their right mind would let any of the large and growing community of brainless m****s currently driving around the place anywhere near a loaded weapon?"
And let's not forget that most of the aforementioned have actually taken lessons and passed a test at some point in their lives!
The problem with weapons of any sort be it guns, knives or cars is that if some people have them, then they are going to use them.
With a car, for example, those who have loud exhausts are prepared to let the rest of us hear them, and some of those with fast cars and motorbikes are also prepared to speed/act stupidly.
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My one resounding argument against gun ownership which never fails to stun the admittedly few determined diehard (excuse the pun!) gun lobbyists I occasionally bump into is to ask: "Who in their right mind would let any of the large and growing community of brainless m****s currently driving around the place anywhere near a loaded weapon?"
And let's not forget that most of the aforementioned have actually taken lessons and passed a test at some point in their lives!
The problem with weapons of any sort be it guns, knives or cars is that if some people have them, then they are going to use them.
With a car, for example, those who have loud exhausts are prepared to let the rest of us hear them, and some of those with fast cars and motorbikes are also prepared to speed/act stupidly.
Over the last 40 years I have spent time with dozens of gun owners, target shooters, deer hunters and clay-pigeon shooters.
The only one who ever injured anyone with a gun was a chap who shot a hole in his own leg while trying a fast draw with his revolver.
The legal gun owners will have had to jump through a number of hoops to be issued with a Firearm Certificate, one of which is a probationary period of several months, during which other club members observe him (or her) and will advise the Old Bill if they have concerns about their suitability: driving tests only take an hour, then they are let loose..
(Note that this happened in the cases of the Hungerford and Dunblane shooters, but the proper action was not taken by the authorities).
I am only worried about the large number of illegal weapons held by those associated with the drugs trade and by terrorists.
Legislation does not control these, if a fanatic runs amok with a gun or other deadly weapon, as at London Bridge, guns are the only way to quickly stop the threat.
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drivers with poor awareness and anticipation have more near misses than most
It seems to be the norm now as most drivers round my way are the same, that includes idiots that take off corners and think they are driving in USA
though one car cutting a corner off, hit another car on my road on the bend last night and shouted and literally screemed at the driver who was on the correct side of the road
Luckily no one was hurt, but the driver in the wrong made a big fuss thinking they were in the right.
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... of course it would help if people used their indicators because A i'm not mystic Meg and B my crystal ball isn't working any more.
But then some indicators give a misleading message as well ....
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... of course it would help if people used their indicators because A i'm not mystic Meg and B my crystal ball isn't working any more.
But then some indicators give a misleading message as well ....
I thought the only purpose of an indicator light was to tell the other person that you might be turning?
An example,
Yesterday on Cowdray Avenue in Colchester, turning left by the Volvo dealer to go into the retail park was a jaguar waiting to come out. I had slowed ready to turn left, noticed him waiting, Flashed to say "I see you", but sensible man waited until i had actually stopped. The turning is actually a bit narrow,so I was doing myself a favour to have enough room anyway.
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Flashed to say "I see you"
Is that not confusing as most people I know flash headlights to say you are ok to make the manoeuvre or go, not I have seen you?
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In the US you could fire a warning shot across his bonnet (hood). Much less likely to be misunderstood.
Using "defensive ammo", naturally.
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Is that not confusing as most people I know flash headlights to say you are ok to make the manoeuvre or go, not I have seen you?
It may be OK if there is only one receiver of the signal. There's a junction near here with unquestionable road priorities signed and marked on the road, but drivers make up their own rules all the time. I'm amazed that the only 'event' I know of was an old guy driving out in front of a speeding fire engine, with predictable results. At least the top could be taken off his car almost immediately ....
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It may be OK if there is only one receiver of the signal.
I, and others, have flashed headlights once to let people reverse off of drives- pull out of side turnings and used the same signal to thank other drivers letting me through gaps in cars if there is no room for two way traffic- without any problems, but never flashed to say, I have seen you?
I admit there are drivers who make up their own rules all the time especially on roundabouts, and as mentioned some race onto them so fast sometimes anyone slow to get going gets in there way and often use the wrong lane and cut others up which really has got out of hand
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I, and others, have flashed headlights once to let people reverse off of drives- pull out of side turnings and used the same signal to thank other drivers letting me through gaps in cars
I often flash while passing a M'way slip road to invite drivers to join ahead of me, and sometimes to tell drivers of long vehicles they can pull in again. Not usually room for much doubt there.
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Perhaps i wasn't clear enough.
The "Flash" is to say ok I have seen you and it IS when I am stopped so that there is no doubt about my intentions.
I often get a thank you haz warning light or lights off and on from Truckers when letting them in. Sometimes it's hard for a 44 tonner to pull out. And generally if a bus is waiting to turn in front of me, I stop then flash, sometimes with a hand wave. Always get a wave back!
I am sure it is better to be careful and polite.
Edited by oldroverboy. on 14/12/2019 at 08:08
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I am sure it is better to be careful and polite.
Certainly is, but its become a dying art in that not many are now, they seem to barge in where they have no need and are generally annoying.
the amount of near misses that occur because drivers really are not looking at where they are going now has become ridiculous as they are looking elsewhere
Parents with children in the back and dogs that wander all over the place take the drivers attention away as well....
I must be getting old lol
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I know exactly how an accident is going to include me, and that is in cities when i am in the lorry people literally force their way in from the nearside, and seemingly are prepared to risk damage to their cars to do so, often enough the only time you know they are there is when the edge of bonnet appears above the lowest edge of the windscreen where they have literally put their drivers door so if i moved at all would hit their car...without getting into an argument with the pc crew the usual suspects performing this stunt can be guessed.
In theory it wouldn't matter too much because the camera in my vehicle works and there is a hidden second lens pointing rearwards on the nsf corner so would capture their stupid behaviour, but i have a good accident history due as much to luck as anything and wish to keep it that way, and don't want the hassle.
The lemmings of these people perform this exact maneuver at 50odd mph on crowded motorways where 6 of them attempt to force in where 4 would be a push, yes in the various mirrors i have dotted about the vehicle i can see them but with the best will in the world if some clown is determined to hit you then it's only a matter of time until they do as you can't be looking everywhere at once....now this is where it gets really interesting, i work for a respected long established company and the vehicles are generally pristine (so a good bet for honourable dealings, at least one way), i don't see people attempting these tricks where the vehicles are filthy unsignwritten or generally already battered, so maybe its a spin of form of cash for crash routine.
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, i don't see people attempting these tricks where the vehicles are filthy unsignwritten or generally already battered, so maybe its a spin of form of cash for crash routine.
ANOTHER reason not to wash, or paint, your vehicle.
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i don't see people attempting these tricks where the vehicles are filthy unsignwritten or generally already battered
That usually tells you the drivers really dont care about the motor so its not worth it to them trying
I watched a van this morning filthy dirty and couldn't even see the No/plate, driving like an idiot, best keep away from them me thinks....
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