Common sense is the knack of seeing things as they are, and doing things as they ought to be done.
Then again, maybe not...
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A question for BIBs here:
Do fewer people pull out when you're in the works vehicle?
I certainly noticed a difference after I fitted a white, full fairing to motorbike.
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Do fewer people pull out when you're in the works vehicle?
nowadays the blue lamps on the roof are considerably thinner than they used to be (means you can go faster as well...:-)....), many cars are silver (so blend in well with the other silver cars) and the sign on the bonnet is flat, so not that easy to read at a distance
so to answer the question 'no, it's not as it used to be'
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Westpig, are you saying fewer people would pull out when you were more easily identifiable?
If so, perhaps the psychologists here could explain why?
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I was on the M1 last night around 8pm, very light traffic - what motorways are about. Foot down, cruise on site sit and enjoy!
The traffic officers were out and about, I suspect on training runs as the same cars passed me a couple of times at very high speed and I saw them doing similar on the southbound carriageway.
On the first occasion they weren't going breakneck, probably about 90, but in the mirror I only say a Volvo approaching. It was quite close before I noticed the roof mounted lights as from a distance they look like no more than an empty roof bar cycle carrier.
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WP, I thought your company cars were surrounded by a best behaviour bubble, or is observation so poor these days?
Edited by Old Navy on 15/06/2009 at 13:32
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best behaviour bubble
it's still there....but not as it used to be. I think a generation of drivers have grown up without the respect for your elders or respect for authority etc...and are just as likely to 'test' your limits i.e. carry on as they usually do and see if you'll react, then when you do become all 'angry teenager'.
Then there's generally increased levels of 'lack of awareness'. My theory for that is:
- increased road signage, so it blurs and no one takes any notice
- lower and lower speed limits on roads that don't warrant it, so people are tempted to ignore them...then they ignore the ones they really ought to obey and don't get into the habit of changing their driving style for the conditions.
- general 'nanny state' stuff i.e. not encouraging people to think for themselves
you'd be amazed how many people in a 40mph limit on a three laned dual carriageway will overtake you at 60mph (despite the fact from the rear you look like a great big mobile belisha beacon)...'because they always travel at that speed on that road' and don't even think to slow down...until their satnav pings at them at the next camera. Can you imagine what their reaction (or lack of it) would be like in an emergency? We have created automotive drones.
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>>Can you imagine what their reaction (or lack of it) would be like inan emergency? We have created automotive drones.
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If many people cant or dont see you in a marked car they must drive in their sleep. I check all cars around me for extra rear view mirrors, radio aerials, two occupants, maybe in dayglo, not that I have a guilty conscience of course. :-)
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I certainly noticed a difference after I fitted a white full fairing to motorbike.
I may have mentioned this before, but a few years ago a motorcycling journalist did this same experiment. Did the same journey on three seperate days, first with a stock unfaired bike, secondly with same bike with white fairing, third day with bike and rider looking as close as possible to the "real thing" without risking a charge of impersonation.
First day, he was cut up about a dozen times, second one or two, third not at all. The conclusion he drew was that motorists do see bikes but simply don't bother; a trifle unkind perhaps but I can see where he was coming from.
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Perhaps we should have more 'STOP' signs in place of 'give way' signs at T-junctions. I've noticed that in the Isle of Man nearly all junction signs are 'stop', and also in France, more 'stop' than 'cedez le passage', in Ireland more 'stop' than 'yield'.
If people actually have to stop then there's less of a chance of the people using 'lazy keep going' manoevre! It is an offence if one fails to come to a complete stop at a stop sign.
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The lazy keep going is actually now taught to learners! The police driver I spent time with was appalled as there are a lot of junctions where you really cannot see properly and it explains why this is on the increase. If I see a smallish car roll up to a junction quickly then I expect they are just going to keep going and pull out at some mad speed. I think it is totally unsafe and the most you should do is to keep rolling in first gear unless the junction design lets you see quite a way down the road in both directions. Also this rolling method means you can't look to your left properly and make sure there isn't someone overtaking or other obstacle in your path.
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Perhaps we should have more 'STOP' signs in place of 'give way' signs at T-junctions.
the trouble with that is it punishes the good driver.... the good driver with plenty of vision will have dealt with the Give Way sign properly. If you now put a Stop sign there, the good driver will comply, but will be inconvenienced.
The poor driver or 'couldn't care less' driver is just as likely to use the Stop sign as a Give Way anyway
...and with decreased Traffic police on our roads, who is going to ensure there's an even playing field?
it's the same principle as putting up a fence or foliage at the approach to a roundabout. The good driver slows down because they can't see much...and is often inconvenienced in the process...whereas the dope or the 'don't care' carries on regardless, causing more danger than before
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also a lot of people still think the limit on a de restricted single carriageway is 50mph (and maybe soon will be!) so ironically they think you are driving badly as you are trying to overtake them and they are driving "correctly" at the speed limit.
ignarance creates frustration and potential danger.
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I had a similar problem yesterday on a winding road in Hampshire. Got stuck behind someone doing 30 mph on a road signed as 50 mph. Lots of traffic - so could not risk overtaking.
Fortunately it was a sunny day in God's Own County, so I just enjoyed the countryside.
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I notice this in Cheshire too. Sometimes they pull out in front then don't even make the effort to accelerate at all. Then they wonder why you're up their bumper. I don't lift off, usually cover the brake until I see them twitch when they've just realised I'm right on them. Then I slow down to their speed. Hopefully they then realise they made a mistake and won't do it again. It would be polite to lift off earlier and give them room but then how would they learn to judge? They do that to an hgv and they'll be wiped out so I think it is better to make sure they get feedback. If I pull out too close then I make sure I nail it to get up to a decent cruising speed asap. If they're on my bumper then I usually wave to at least acknowledge I could have done things better.
If they did this on a driving test then they would fail so I am surprised most drivers are so accommodating to this behaviour. Pulling out making someone alter their path or speed is an automatic fail, or at least was.
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Teabelly - had a situation a few weeeks ago where a slip road had been made into a Give Way as one lane of the dual carriageway was closed.
Car took it still to be a slip road and pulled out. I had lifted off and was losing speed, but still caught up and was in a cars length doing about 30- the driver of the other car thanked me by slamming on the brakes!
If you see an old Astra Estate diesel with 'I'd Rather be Fishing' in big white letters (not a sticker, actual letters!) on the back window keep well back - the driver is an obvious nutter.
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I think I've seen that astra!! A slip road is still a give way so the pink fluffy dice had to give way to those on the carriageway anyway. Shame there wasn't a plod car around.
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OP: "Am I right in thinking this is bad driving on their part or am I just being grumpy?"
Er... yes, and yes.
Of course it's bad driving - a question of "brain disengaged" or "couldn't be bothered to look and think" or "total disregard for others".
You are being grumpy and are entitled to be.
It gets on my wick as well, especially the bit about the empty road behind. The driver concerned deserves to be reminded of his/her shortcomings, as other posters have said, but in the interests of blood pressure and avoidance of road-rage I feel the best policy is to do a minimum of anything that could be construed as aggressive.
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I'm with teabelly on this. It really makes me wonder when some goon pulls out in front of me and then mimses along, totally oblivious to my prescence.
Mind you, there seems to be a section of the driving community around where I live that seems to believe that it's my fault that they've pulled out in front of me. I tend to do what teabelly does, and quite a few people seem to take exception to this and make abusive gestures towards me, or even jab the brakes on! Totally brain dead muppets, who are too stupid to stop and think about their actions.
It's a good job that I don't let myself get too wound up by these buffoons, especialy as I drive for a living!
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Also if you don't scrub off too much speed then you can sometimes overtake them if there is a handy straight. Often you are past them before they're even out of second gear!
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I notice this in Cheshire too. Sometimes they pull out in front then don't even make the effort to accelerate at all. Then they wonder why you're up their bumper. I don't lift off usually cover the brake until I see them twitch when they've just realised I'm right on them. Then I slow down to their speed. Hopefully they then realise they made a mistake and won't do it again.
I do exactly what teabelly does.
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A view from the other car...
When I am pulling out from a T junction with limited visibility, what really gets my goat is:
A) I check the road is clear, pull out and accelerate.
B) Once I am committed, idiot going well over the speed limit hoves into view in rear view mirror
C) I accelerate as much as possible (as I've seen the so and so)
D) The guy (for it is always a male) then proceeds to drive right up my rear to punish me as the previous post recommends.
My view is that people who drive rather too quickly always find this happens to them and, oddly enough, they never think that their own speed is a contributing factor.
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>> people who drive rather too quickly always find this happens to them
No Canuck. Unless you are half-witted you can always tell the difference between someone pulling out of a difficult intersection and doing their best to get out of the way, and someone waddling moronically into the path of an approaching vehicle and proceeding at a sullen mimse.
There are, I assure you, many of the latter sort. However I cannot be alone in feeling glad that you aren't one of them.
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When younger women do this they always mess with their hair in the rear view mirror before accelerating away, it drives me insane
Edited by Dox on 15/06/2009 at 16:35
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When younger women do this they always mess with their hair
I think that's fair enough - we can't have dishevelled looking women driving about on main roads. :)
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I think London roundabouts are the test
if you pull out in front of someone (as you invariably have to) and 'get on with it', then no one really minds
if however, you pull out and then faff, you're going to wind someone up
so the answer is ' be aware and get a move on with it, so you don't inconvenience anyone else'...somewhat similar to what the Highway Code says
now if we could get that standard applied to all driving...we'd be laughing
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A view from the other car... When I am pulling out from a T junction with limited visibility what really gets my goat is: A) I check the road is clear pull out and accelerate. B) Once I am committed idiot going well over the speed limit hoves into view in rear view mirror C) I accelerate as much as possible (as I've seen the so and so) D) The guy (for it is always a male) then proceeds to drive right up my rear to punish me as the previous post recommends. My view is that people who drive rather too quickly always find this happens to them and oddly enough they never think that their own speed is a contributing factor. Hmmm. I'd like you to re-read my post please, and tell me where I state that I'm driving over the speed limit.
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It drives me mad! I moved out into the country 9 years ago having lived in the city before that, and here in the sticks it seems that more people do this, and as you are travelling faster than in an urban area it's more dangerous. The worst place near me is a large prison, where staff (easily identified by uniform) usually come straight off the car park and onto the road without stopping. They look briefly and then just come out, even when there's no-one behind the approaching car
At other times i sometimes think it could be due to poor eyesight (frightening!) or a total lack of awareness as the offending driver seems unaware that you are suddenly 3 feet off their back bumper!
grr...
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Is this also a relatively new phenomena or is it me?
When vehicles are stationary for something like a level crossing to which there may be a junction prior to the crossing or there are short traffic light filter lanes ahead vehicles, providing there are no oncoming vehicles cars, will overtake long queues of traffic on the opposite side of the road in order to turn into the junction or on the filter lane.
Perhaps this is an indication of the growing impatience we are all having with increased traffic and increase in traffic reduction/calming methods.
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Is this also a relatively new phenomena or is it me?
I don' think it is, FC, just that there are a lot more cars around so its more noticable... that, combined with people wanting to get there before they have set off!
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It drives me mad! I moved out into the country 9 years ago having lived in the city before that>>
Not yet acclimatised?
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SQNot yet acclimatised?
Aye....another year and he'll be on "Good Morning" terms with the locals.
Edited by Dynamic Dave on 16/06/2009 at 01:47
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Aye....another year and he'll be on "Good Morning" terms with the locals.
yeah, right in front of the towny tourist who JUST WANTS HIS PAPER, COULD YOU PLEASE JUST GET ON WITH IT....(despite me growing up in a rural area)
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