To be honest, most drivers drive reasonably well but when the majority of my journeys to and from work have at least one "incident" I have to start thinking that there are quite a few selfish and/or incompetant drivers out there.
Here are a few of my pet hates, although the drivers vary in sex and age, in parentheses are the normal violators
1) Those that change lanes without indicating
(company car drivers)
2) Those that speed round roundabouts (strangely enough, MPVs)
3) Those that drive far too slowly for no reason (varies)
4) Those that drive an inch off your rear bumper (vans)
5) Those that speak on mobiles and drive with one hand whilst
wearing sunglasses on overcast days (yep, salesmen)
6) Those selfish gits that wait until the last second before
changing into the filter lane to come off motorways (varies)
7) Those that enter a roundabout in the wrong lane and change
without indicating whilst on it (Salesmen/Company car drivers)
8) Lorries that race each other on motorways, despite the fact
it takes several miles to pass each other. (erm - lorries)
9) Those that drive in spurts and slam their brakes on (small
cars or estates usually)
10)Those that block entire lanes whilst dropping off one child
100 yards from where they live (Landrovers, anyone?)
11)Those whose life will end if they don't weave to and fro
between lanes in heavy traffic to gain an extra 10 yards.
(10 year old GTIs, usually with c*** stickers)
And do you know what the worst thing is? You end up being so annoyed or upset that you have to clamp down on your own feelings to avoid acting the same afterwards!!
Argghhh!!!!
Dan
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Erm. If you do all 11 do they cancel each other out?
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Parp, Parp!
Note: All Toad posts come with an implied smiley.
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Makes you wonder why people drive at all if they let all that bother them. Was it Twain who said "don't complain about the world - it was there before you"?
Sangre, why not enjoy your own drive and chill - there may be people who don't care for your driving. After all nobody drives better than us - do they?
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Steve, my point is not "they're all b******s" just that a worrying percentage are - Even if it's 0.01%!!!
Also, my reaction is something I would rather temper. If you've something constructive to add?
Cheers
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I have got something constructive to add - enjoy your drive! Who are are these people stressing out - them or you?
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*sigh* As per my original post, "they" end up stressing me out. "They" will continue to drive in this manner and I don't want to continue being stressed out by it.
If you want to let me know how you have learned to cope with it, that's constructive.
Suggesting it's my driving that's at fault or wondering why I drive at all if i'm going to be upset with someone who drives in such a manner my life is literally at risk is unconstructive.
OK?
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Didn't say your driving was at fault - merely pointed out that "they" may have a different view of their driving against yours.
In terms of constuctive advice I'll stay with what I said, chill - you obviously think that is trite. But it is your freewill to decide how you are going to react. If you CHOOSE to be outraged/stressed by something you can't directly control - recognise that for what it is - your own decision.
I just believe that tradgedy notwithstanding, people are about as happy as they make up their minds to be.
I do 120 miles minimum per day on the road to hell - people do things all the time that I could choose to take exception to. But I can't be fagged to worry about it because it happened yesterday, and again today and sure as hell it will happen tomorrow.
You either think that it is constructive or not - again, your choice.
Keep safe.
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Steve, yep - I did find your original post to be trite as trite could be.
This one is more reasonable, however.
I don't think it's a conscious decision, more of a gut reaction.
What I've CHOSEN to do is drive a little bit more slowly and be less concerned by other people's thoughtlessness as short of changing colour, shreading my shirt and spinning their vehicle on their roof, those that drive badly will continue to drive badly and when they cause an accident it's best not to be involved directly in it.
Chill :)
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"those that drive badly will continue to drive badly and when they cause an accident it's best not to be involved directly in it."
My attitude entirely, get 100 yards ahead or stay 60 yards behind, but NEVER in close proximity.
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Totally agree Brian, it's bad enough that there is such thoughtlessness (not just on the roads of course) but to give them the satisfaction of winding us up - no chance.
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Worst of all are those who drive in bus lanes!
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Two ways of looking at that. Bus lanes are hell to a lot of motorists
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1. Dross Thumpy music with the windows open
2. Not wearing seatbelts
3. Baseball hats on back to front
Usually at a traffic lights near you and all at the same time!
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My pet hates:
There is a three-lane main road which I use each day. Left hand lane is a turn-only, and always stacks up a long way back.
I despise those drivers who go hammering down the centre lane, and force their way in. Not only do they stuff it for everybody waiting patiently in the queue, they also stuff it for everybody who is going straight, having to slam on brakes to avoid rear-ending them as they sit waiting for a gap.
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Brian W: You don't use the M25 much do you.
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Only when I need to.
But the Seven Sisters Road and the North Circular provide plenty of thrill and spills!
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I agree with Sangre. In fact the reason why he is being attacked for stating the obvious is that a majority of the people who access this site do in fact drive like he describes.
It takes REAL patience and MATURITY to drive sensibly, while trying to ignore the bizarre driving antics of the hoi polloi of other "drivers".
But then this is the result of a society where "being first", a diet of "Top Gear" and glossy car mags which emphasize "performance" and speed is the norm. All done from when we are all toddlers. In fact driving today is like driving with a road full of playground bullies. Sad.
But what really makes me laugh is the telegraph's "Ask Ripley" column. Here an ex-police driving instructor attempts to educate the readers of the Telegraph in improving their road skills, including the "reading of the road" and correct driving practices. But the fact is that the motoring section of the paper contains large Mercedes, BMW, Audi and Jaguar ads is simply laughable: They are driven by the most bigoted and agressive drivers of the lot. The chances of them listening to any of Ripleys advice is zero.
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Happens everywhere, wonder sometimes if the design encourages it. If you have exit lanes running side by side for too long it seems to promote "leaving it until the last minute" queue jumping. A couple of spots I know on the M25 where this arrangement has been changed (Reigate exit for one) gets over this by taking the traffic totally off well ahead of the junction. Seems to be better.
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Surely the fault is with the other end of the slip road where poor design is not letting traffic exiting the motorway integrate smoothly with local traffic, thereby creating the tailback which encourages queue jumping?
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I use these 'drivers' to keep my attention. Trying to figure out what is going to happen next by reading the small clues they always give away before they do something stupid. Congratulate myself every time I get it right, try and learn the pointers better if not.
Some people just do entirely unpredictable things though - and always seem oblvious - even if you 'point out' their transgression!
Richard
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Sangre
You list a lot of unpleasant practices that are not due to your driving and which are potentially life threatening. However getting angry is not the answer. Okay so that is trite and easy to say. But, if you are angry then you endanger yourself and others as you are not thinking as clearly as you should be.
It takes real effort to re-educate yourself not to get angry. I know as I used to get angry. Yes there are some really dangerous t***s out there. Accept the fact and drive defensively. Someone pulls in close, drop back. Someone tail gates, increase distance to car in front, or change lane. Move right and overtake someone, or move left to let him by. By all means give a little tut tut, but you know better and can respond by taking measures to protect yourself.
Let me give you an example. A car pulled in between me and the car in front leaving no room between me and him. I immediately dropped back to give me braking space. Lo and behold lead car does an emergency stop, car in front of me shunts him, I stop in time, move right and zoom off. Not rocket science, just common sense. And I had a smug grin on my face (pity about the lead car though).
Another example. BMW overtakes me on blind bend. I nearly p*** myself, and break sharply to reduce the time it takes for him to overtake me.
Sadly some t***s are just too good at dangerous driving and then you can only pray.
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Leif has got it exactly right. I've been driving regularly since 1957 and by luck and technique have not had a bump or accident or conviction of any kind. (Up to now)
What's the secret?,,
A great amount of luck to begin with.
Defensive driving exactly as leif describes.
Develop a placid and forgiving attitude to all what takes place around you whilst driving.
If you tend to get worked up and stressed at the constant aggression and lunacy which takes place around you on the road you will eventually finish up in Hospital with a stress/cardiac team working on you rather than by an accident.
Practise at staying kool (trendy word) and eventually it becomes second nature and other peoples antics means nothing.
Nothing will change so you either have to learn to cope or give up driving.
alvin
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Could be. But the longer the slip road exiting a motorway is accessible - the more tempting it is for people to leave it and cut in.
As for queues down the slip road I reckon that poorly phased lights often cause them.
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I choose to not wear a seatbelt, it's got nothing to do with anyone else. I suspect I drive a little more thoughtfully without this 'safety' aid. There is a theory that people expect a certain amount of risk, as you make things safer they compensate, and act more recklessly to make up the difference.
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Choosing not to wear a seatbelt has plenty to do with other people. What about the poor copper who has to extricate your face from the back of the car in front? He'd much rather be chatting with you on the verge while you wait for the tow truck. And whacking your head on a laminated windscreen even at thirty miles an hour doesn't do much for your ability to contribute to household income, either. Accidents happen, however "thoughtful" you are, and "private" decisions often have very public consequences.
Chris
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I choose to not wear a seatbelt, it's got nothing to do with anyone else. I suspect I drive a little more thoughtfully without this 'safety' aid. There is a theory that people expect a certain amount of risk, as you make things safer they compensate, and act more recklessly to make up the difference.
I always wear mine. But I drove a 7.5 ton lorry in summer hols from Uni and I was *very* careful because there was no seatbelt fitted.
I have much sympathy with your view. Of course if you crash you're f**ked!
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Parp, Parp!
Note: All Toad posts come with an implied smiley.
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"I choose to not wear a seatbelt, it's got nothing to do with anyone else"
Shame that the rest of us can't choose not to pay the proportion of our taxes which will pay for your long-term treatment on the NHS, and for your invalidity benefit, after you receive serious injuries, which would have been minimised had you been wearing a seatbelt.
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"I choose to not wear a seatbelt, it's got nothing to do with anyone else" Shame that the rest of us can't choose not to pay the proportion of our taxes which will pay for your long-term treatment on the NHS, and for your invalidity benefit, after you receive serious injuries, which would have been minimised had you been wearing a seatbelt.
Since his contention is that he's safer without the argument can be applied to you just as well.
There would be costs involved if you crashed because you were less careful due to wearing a seat belt...
There are no figures to tell us to what extent driving a car with seatbelt ABS and Airbag makes people *slightly* more reckless.
I've long subscribed to the view that roads would be safer if every car had a 10 inch metal spike at chest level protuding from the steering wheel.
However I always wear my belt. And an air bag would be nice - my door pillars/dashboard/steering wheel don't look like a good place to smack a head.
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Parp, Parp!
Note: All Toad posts come with an implied smiley.
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I've long subscribed to the view that roads would be safer if every car had a 10 inch metal spike at chest level protuding from the steering wheel. However I always wear my belt.
I think that you are 100% correct here and that most drivers seem to forget about mortality when they climb behind a wheel. I think that traffic cops probably are more down to earth havng picked up bits and pieces of people and have had 1st hand experience of people going thru windscreens etc..
I always wear my belt - call it force of habit or just a feeling of insecurity/nakedness.
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And no doubt when you get a ticket for it you will be asking how to avoid the fine.
Most multiple car accidents involve some drivers who weren't doing anything wrong or stupid.
Do you believe that you will be safer without your belt ?
Of course, its up to you, but I've worn once since before they were legal. I've walked away from an accident merely shaken up because I was wearing one. It would seem that is more likely to be the case then having one of the few accidents where getting trapped in your car is an issue.
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Ripley makes a scathing attack on a bloke in this week's Telegraph - apparently seatbelts crease the poor man's suit...
I ask you ...
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Dan
If you think being inconvenienced by these trangressions is bad, try actually committing a few and see how much more tense and stressed you become as you relinquish all control of your fate.
More sensibly, you can try to predict when they're going to do it and give yourself time and space to avoid the problem. Then when you get to your destination you can get satisfaction from thinking "19 people just tried various methods to kill me on the road today, and I foiled every last one of them."
GJD
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I was told many years ago to be very wary of a car whose driver is wearing a hat. The hat will either be:
A trilby or flat-cap worn by an old codger, (who learnt to drive in the war and has never taken a driving test)whose actions on the road are likely to be highly unpredictable.
OR
A baseball cap worn either the correct way round or back to front, by someone not yet old enough to vote (who leanrt to drive as part of his re-hab from the young offenders institute and has never taken a driving test), whose actions on the road are once again likely to be highly unpredictable because he's probabaly just nicked the car.
OR
Mr Plod in an unmarked car.
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A baseball cap worn........ back to front.
All this talk of baseball caps set me thinking. I wonder if there would be any money to be made from a baseball cap with the peak at the back. Then they wouldn't need to be worn back to front !!
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There are, of course, baseball hats with a peak back AND front! They were invented in Victorian times, made of tweed, and were called 'Deerstalkers' - I think!
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There are, of course, baseball hats with a peak back AND front! They were invented in Victorian times, made of tweed, and were called 'Deerstalkers' - I think!
Yes, I often wear one walking around the grounds of Toad Hall...
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Parp, Parp!
Note: All Toad posts come with an implied smiley.
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Doug - Just out of interest, do you wear a seatbelt as a rear seat passenger perhaps when sitting behind the driver or front passenger? I was just thinking of that advert where the woman is killed by her non-seatbelt wearing son in the back...
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I seldom drive as a passenger with others so the decision doesn't crop up that often, however I usually do wear a belt in other cars as a courtesy to the car owner.
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"There are, of course, baseball hats with a peak back AND
front! They were invented in Victorian times, made of
tweed, and were called 'Deerstalkers' - I think!"
Cool !!
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Pardon, M. L'Escargot, but I fear fashion has gotten ahead of us. True coolness now derives from said cap being worn either NNE or SSW. I know this because it's always on TV.
For all these comments in this column I must badger Growlette to get that precious little **s in gear and move ahead with the work on our net album. I guarantee that will show you things you did not believe were possible with traffic. We have some pretty ladies there at the mmo' all very tasteful, but only two or three motoring as yet.
The trouble is to take effective pics of a trafic jam that takes 45 mins to go 400 metres, you have to sit in it one to reach it!
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"Pardon, M. L'Escargot, but I fear fashion has gotten ahead of
us. True coolness now derives from said cap being worn either
NNE or SSW. I know this because it's always on TV."
Merci beaucoup for bringing me up-to-date. It appears that I need to either get out on the street more often or watch more TV instead of visiting The Back Room !!
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Getting back to thread.....
I don't believe anyone's mentioned the drivers that insist on doing 70mph on the outside lane of the motorway, even though the midle lane is clear, because it's 'the speed limit' and no one should be going faster than them.
Or the middle aged woman I came up to doing 55mph in the outside lane of a 70mph dual carraigeway (I should point out this was 9:30PM and the road was empty?!?
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"Or the middle aged woman I came up to doing 55mph
in the outside lane of a 70mph dual carraigeway (I should
point out this was 9:30PM and the road was empty?!?"
Whatisname Ripley recommends that you try not to get wound up about other motorists' bad driving, but concentrate instead on being a good driver yourself. And don't try to reprimand other motorists ~ that's the job of the police. I'm only telling you what Whatsisname Ripley says !!
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Or you could just undertake and concentrate on being a good driver once you get passed :-)
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Or you could just undertake and concentrate on being a good driver once you get passed :-)
Which is what I usually do !!
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If all 11 points mentioned stress you out you best get a pushbike or better still walk, the simple fact of life is we all make mistakes that's why we have accidents.
The problem will only get worse as traffic levels increase, not helped of cause by labours "traffic calming schemes".
Stress out sell the car.
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I think all 11 points mentioned can be solved if everyone just had a bit more courtesy towards other road users.
We aren't talking about making mistakes, we're talking about being aware about what's going on around you and being aware that other people are on the road besides yourself.
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What really gets me annoyed are these people who think the motorbike behind wants that cigarette ash flicked out of the car window, or worse, the hot dog-end. Then there's the passengers who lob their apple core out of the passenger window, or empty the ash-tray (muffled scream). Fortunately, the driver then washes his windscreen, with the washers that are set for 150mph+ speeds, thus washing the accumulated rubbish off the following bike. Lucky I'm forced to wear a helmet, so it all bounces off :-)
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