What causes people to drive like ******s?
Discussion
Anyone care to explain?
This morning on the way to work there was a chap in a white Leon, hood up and vaping (as they do). He overtook me and the car behind me whilst stationary at a red light to go through them and up the next street. The lights then went to green and I saw him at the lights ahead of me and he was in the right only lane. So what did he do? He floored it and went left cutting up a van and then sped off down another street.
On a daily basis I use a filter lane and also on a daily basis there is one person in the left lane who will not let me or any of the cars in the right hand filter lane in because we're all "pushing in" so they sit within inches of the car ahead of them to stop us moving over.
Another regular thing round here is the local VAG driving yoofs who tailgate excessively but in a 30mph area when there is a car ahead of you and you can't go anywhere faster!
I am convinced the standard of driving is getting worse in the UK. Most drivers are turning into w
kers!
This morning on the way to work there was a chap in a white Leon, hood up and vaping (as they do). He overtook me and the car behind me whilst stationary at a red light to go through them and up the next street. The lights then went to green and I saw him at the lights ahead of me and he was in the right only lane. So what did he do? He floored it and went left cutting up a van and then sped off down another street.
On a daily basis I use a filter lane and also on a daily basis there is one person in the left lane who will not let me or any of the cars in the right hand filter lane in because we're all "pushing in" so they sit within inches of the car ahead of them to stop us moving over.
Another regular thing round here is the local VAG driving yoofs who tailgate excessively but in a 30mph area when there is a car ahead of you and you can't go anywhere faster!
I am convinced the standard of driving is getting worse in the UK. Most drivers are turning into w
kers! People seem to be increasingly aggressive. I don't know why. If you make a simple mistake, like getting in the wrong lane when you're somewhere unfamiliar, people go out of their way to stop you getting back on track. I remember driving to Sheffield for the first ever time and finding myself in the right lane when I needed to be in the left lane as the road split and the left lane was going where I wanted but the right went somewhere else. I checked my mirrors and noted a Micra in the left lane, but far enough back that I could slot into the gap in front of it without being pushy, indicated left and then watched as the Micra accelerated furiously into the gap to ensure that I couldn't change lanes. I ended up having to go the wrong way and on a complete detour to get back where I needed to be.
Tailgating is a massive issue these days too. Usually (in my experience) it's twunts in SUVs, but also Minis seem to be bad for it and all sorts of random vehicles and people - not just male executives in German saloon cars. The other day I was being tailgated by a woman in her 50s or 60s in a Suzuki Swift! Citroen DS3s always seem to be up my arse too. Often as not I've got someone up my arse because I'm going a bit on the slow side, not because I'm dawdling, but because the car in front of me is dawdling, so I'm being punished for a hold up that's being caused by someone else. I'd love tailgating to be "driving without due care and attention", six points and a fine equal to a month's gross salary. I'd be most gratified to drive the unmarked police car used to catch them!
Tailgating is a massive issue these days too. Usually (in my experience) it's twunts in SUVs, but also Minis seem to be bad for it and all sorts of random vehicles and people - not just male executives in German saloon cars. The other day I was being tailgated by a woman in her 50s or 60s in a Suzuki Swift! Citroen DS3s always seem to be up my arse too. Often as not I've got someone up my arse because I'm going a bit on the slow side, not because I'm dawdling, but because the car in front of me is dawdling, so I'm being punished for a hold up that's being caused by someone else. I'd love tailgating to be "driving without due care and attention", six points and a fine equal to a month's gross salary. I'd be most gratified to drive the unmarked police car used to catch them!
MitchT said:
. I ended up having to go the wrong way and on a complete detour to get back where I needed to be.
Why not do that in the first place? Surely it's less stressful for all concerned? A lot of people seem to have tunnel vision mentality, "Oh, I'm in the wrong lane and absolutely must get to the right lane regardless who I cut up in the process otherwise the world will end". I think there is an element of people just being w**nkers. Let's be honest there are people out there who don't care who they are obnoxious to, they'd rather walk into you than mind other people, let a door close in your face rather than hold it open etc. I'm sure there is an element of that mentality on the road and certainly the Leon driver in the first post probably falls into that category.
Another part of the problem is general ignorance combined with the 'I'm more important mentality'. People don't understand the Highway Code and get into habits which in the end they believe are completely right and will not hear otherwise.
For example I live in quite a hilly area but do you think people know how to give way on a hill? Often cars parked both sides and I am aware that you should give way if you have vehicles parked on your side of the road but also if there are cars parked both sides, drivers should give way to those coming up the hill. Of course people don't do that. Like the woman who had stopped to let once car through and I continued up the hill accordingly, she decided that it wasn't my turn and shoved her way through. Then looked utterly baffled that I'd dared to go through.
Unfortunately unless people are regularly educated because people think they know it all they won't be told otherwise and are never wrong. People get into their head things they think are 'facts' when they're not.
Another part of the problem is general ignorance combined with the 'I'm more important mentality'. People don't understand the Highway Code and get into habits which in the end they believe are completely right and will not hear otherwise.
For example I live in quite a hilly area but do you think people know how to give way on a hill? Often cars parked both sides and I am aware that you should give way if you have vehicles parked on your side of the road but also if there are cars parked both sides, drivers should give way to those coming up the hill. Of course people don't do that. Like the woman who had stopped to let once car through and I continued up the hill accordingly, she decided that it wasn't my turn and shoved her way through. Then looked utterly baffled that I'd dared to go through.
Unfortunately unless people are regularly educated because people think they know it all they won't be told otherwise and are never wrong. People get into their head things they think are 'facts' when they're not.
Lopey said:
Why not do that in the first place? Surely it's less stressful for all concerned? A lot of people seem to have tunnel vision mentality, "Oh, I'm in the wrong lane and absolutely must get to the right lane regardless who I cut up in the process otherwise the world will end".
Because I didn't have a clue where I was and there was bags of room to change lanes - He was at least a car length behind our car and the traffic was moving slowly so it wasn't like plonking myself a car length in front of someone else at 30-40mph - certainly not an issue of cutting anyone up. Ironically, if I'd just moved over without indicating the whole thing would have been a non-event but I wanted to be polite. More fool me! Less stress? Erm ... No. Going the wrong way would have caused me stress because I didn't have a clue about the road layouts and there didn't seem to be anywhere that I could legally stop to get my bearings. There'd have been zero stress had he just continued as is but instead he caused stress for himself by being aggressive and stress for me by forcing me to go the wrong way in a completely unfamiliar place. I get what you're saying about cutting people up but there was more than enough room to change lanes without cutting anyone up.Edited by MitchT on Tuesday 21st February 10:11
I had it yesterday. A46 towards Coventry. We were approaching a junction. A fiesta with a couple of lads in it came roaring up beside me to my right, overtook me, cut in front of me whilst undertaking the car they had been approaching in the right hand lane, then cut back in front of him.
All to get to a set of traffic lights which were on red.
I glided past in the L/h feeder Lane.
All to get to a set of traffic lights which were on red.
I glided past in the L/h feeder Lane.
Lots of factors:
- Complete lack of understanding of physics. Lots of people genuinely don't understand that driving 6" behind someone at 70mph is dangerous.
- Sense of self importance.
- Increasingly stressful and time pressured lifestyles. If you are in a hurry or a bad mood then you're more likely to drive like a tt.
- Prevalence of drink and drugs. People are rarely good drivers when off their tits.
- No police presence. If there's no consequence (right up to the moment you're killed) then where's the deterrent or education?
- Some people are just knobs.
TurboHatchback said:
Lots of factors:
Me too. I'm especially wary of Peugeots/people carriers/SUVS/pick ups in this respect.- Complete lack of understanding of physics. Lots of people genuinely don't understand that driving 6" behind someone at 70mph is dangerous.
- Sense of self importance.
- Increasingly stressful and time pressured lifestyles. If you are in a hurry or a bad mood then you're more likely to drive like a tt.
- Prevalence of drink and drugs. People are rarely good drivers when off their tits.
- No police presence. If there's no consequence (right up to the moment you're killed) then where's the deterrent or education?
- Some people are just knobs.
GravelMachineGun said:
Anyone care to explain?
This morning on the way to work there was a chap in a white Leon, hood up and vaping (as they do). He overtook me and the car behind me whilst stationary at a red light to go through them and up the next street. The lights then went to green and I saw him at the lights ahead of me and he was in the right only lane. So what did he do? He floored it and went left cutting up a van and then sped off down another street.
On a daily basis I use a filter lane and also on a daily basis there is one person in the left lane who will not let me or any of the cars in the right hand filter lane in because we're all "pushing in" so they sit within inches of the car ahead of them to stop us moving over.
Another regular thing round here is the local VAG driving yoofs who tailgate excessively but in a 30mph area when there is a car ahead of you and you can't go anywhere faster!
I am convinced the standard of driving is getting worse in the UK. Most drivers are turning into wkers!
You are in the right hand filter lane and want to turn left? Please tell that I am mistaken.This morning on the way to work there was a chap in a white Leon, hood up and vaping (as they do). He overtook me and the car behind me whilst stationary at a red light to go through them and up the next street. The lights then went to green and I saw him at the lights ahead of me and he was in the right only lane. So what did he do? He floored it and went left cutting up a van and then sped off down another street.
On a daily basis I use a filter lane and also on a daily basis there is one person in the left lane who will not let me or any of the cars in the right hand filter lane in because we're all "pushing in" so they sit within inches of the car ahead of them to stop us moving over.
Another regular thing round here is the local VAG driving yoofs who tailgate excessively but in a 30mph area when there is a car ahead of you and you can't go anywhere faster!
I am convinced the standard of driving is getting worse in the UK. Most drivers are turning into w
kers! TurboHatchback said:
Lots of factors:
Many, maybe a majority, of drivers, seem only to have a steering wheel and an accelerator with occasionally gears and brakes. Everything else, including other motorists, are an inconvenience.- Complete lack of understanding of physics. Lots of people genuinely don't understand that driving 6" behind someone at 70mph is dangerous.
- Sense of self importance.
- Increasingly stressful and time pressured lifestyles. If you are in a hurry or a bad mood then you're more likely to drive like a tt.
- Prevalence of drink and drugs. People are rarely good drivers when off their tits.
- No police presence. If there's no consequence (right up to the moment you're killed) then where's the deterrent or education?
- Some people are just knobs.
It's because there are too many cars on the road.
Look how few cars there are in Norway, and how docile they drive. Look at the UK roads 25 years ago. When there's not enough space people become more and more aggressive. With the population of Manchester being imported year on year, things are only going to get worse.
I am so glad I don't have to commute.
Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff