Road rage; is it getting worse?
Discussion
I'm unfortunate to work in a business park just off the A34, where it appears every other day someone decides to liven up the commute by having a crash.
My journey to work is only around 14 miles but it takes easily an hour each way, with by far the worst part being getting out of the business park itself. People using the wrong lanes on roundabouts, lack of indication and my personal pet hate, those who beep if the person at the front of a queue hasn't moved off within 0.000001 of a second of the light going green. Only once have I had anything happen to me, after letting 3 cars pull into a school driveway as the road ahead was at a standstill the meathead in the car behind decided to get out and punch on my window as "He had somewhere to f**king be".
Another thing that seems to be happening regularly is people immediately assuming that because I'm young and in a 'yoofs car' I by default think that a race through a built up area is a grand idea and proceed to overtake and fly off into the distance. Morons.
My journey to work is only around 14 miles but it takes easily an hour each way, with by far the worst part being getting out of the business park itself. People using the wrong lanes on roundabouts, lack of indication and my personal pet hate, those who beep if the person at the front of a queue hasn't moved off within 0.000001 of a second of the light going green. Only once have I had anything happen to me, after letting 3 cars pull into a school driveway as the road ahead was at a standstill the meathead in the car behind decided to get out and punch on my window as "He had somewhere to f**king be".
Another thing that seems to be happening regularly is people immediately assuming that because I'm young and in a 'yoofs car' I by default think that a race through a built up area is a grand idea and proceed to overtake and fly off into the distance. Morons.
HayesEK said:
my personal pet hate, those who beep if the person at the front of a queue hasn't moved off within 0.000001 of a second of the light going green.
If you are at the front of the queue you need to have first engaged and have the car starting to move just before the light goes from amber to green so you cross the line as you get the green. This assumes you have already checked it is safe to proceed. I don't expect drivers to tear off at high speeds, but I do expect any competent driver to be able to observe, predict and be prepared to move on when possible. It is all about efficient use of a limited resource, by wasting it you deny others access.
The above is a deliberately composed, opposing, view to your statement to show how what can seem reasonable to one person is not to another.
I no longer live in the UK; but I go back often enough. There aren't enough roads, and far too few new roads have been built. The rail network is also badly congested. (And there aren't enough runways at the airports: London is short of around 7 new runways at the various London airports, but that's another issue). Britain is slipping behind.
Anyway, I was just thinking the other day that driving has become an exercise in restraint - if traffic's heavy, then staying cool and calm, or otherwise, if the roads are empty, then not enjoying myself too much...
Anyway, I was just thinking the other day that driving has become an exercise in restraint - if traffic's heavy, then staying cool and calm, or otherwise, if the roads are empty, then not enjoying myself too much...
HayesEK said:
I'm unfortunate to work in a business park just off the A34, where it appears every other day someone decides to liven up the commute by having a crash.
My journey to work is only around 14 miles but it takes easily an hour each way, with by far the worst part being getting out of the business park itself. People using the wrong lanes on roundabouts, lack of indication and my personal pet hate, those who beep if the person at the front of a queue hasn't moved off within 0.000001 of a second of the light going green. Only once have I had anything happen to me, after letting 3 cars pull into a school driveway as the road ahead was at a standstill the meathead in the car behind decided to get out and punch on my window as "He had somewhere to f**king be".
Another thing that seems to be happening regularly is people immediately assuming that because I'm young and in a 'yoofs car' I by default think that a race through a built up area is a grand idea and proceed to overtake and fly off into the distance. Morons.
One of my favourites was a traffic diversion, due to a collapsed sewer under the main road, taking traffic round back streets and under this railway arch where traffic can only fit through in single file. People were queuing due to the traffic coming the other way trying to work its way past parked cars but people in the queue were stopping directly under the arch. This meant people coming the other way couldn't get through and, in turn, they were blocking traffic going in our direction where the parked cars were ahead. My journey to work is only around 14 miles but it takes easily an hour each way, with by far the worst part being getting out of the business park itself. People using the wrong lanes on roundabouts, lack of indication and my personal pet hate, those who beep if the person at the front of a queue hasn't moved off within 0.000001 of a second of the light going green. Only once have I had anything happen to me, after letting 3 cars pull into a school driveway as the road ahead was at a standstill the meathead in the car behind decided to get out and punch on my window as "He had somewhere to f**king be".
Another thing that seems to be happening regularly is people immediately assuming that because I'm young and in a 'yoofs car' I by default think that a race through a built up area is a grand idea and proceed to overtake and fly off into the distance. Morons.
https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@53.736554,-2.498382...
I held back and left the archway clear so the traffic could clear and the knob behind in an old green BMW 3 Series Convertible started sounding his horn and raging at me because he couldn't think beyond the desire to move three feet further up the road.
When I was a child my mum used to drag me off to church every Sunday. It was obviously full of people playing the good Christian act. A few years later when I was working in a supermarket cafe I would encounter the same people. They didn't recognise me, but I recognised them. Some were incredibly rude and took things like the soup they wanted not being available as a personal affront to make an almighty big deal over.
A number of customers were quite happy to treat me and other staff in the cafe like dirt because we were just people working in a customer service role who weren't in a position to answer back. Whatever crumby jobs they had and whatever failures they'd suffered in life, they could make themselves feel big by pushing us around. Most people working there at the time were students who've gone on to be lawyers and surgeons and suchlike, but these idiots just assume people doing shop work are stupid and that's their career for life because they can't do anything better.
Many people are polite when sucking up, when they feel it will advance their lot or when they're fearing comeback but rude when they feel they can get away with it without retaliation. You get aggression on the road and on the Internet and I believe everyone should do a stint in a customer service role so they learn the importance of politeness and respect to others.
ash73 said:
One solution is more flexible working times, and a change in attitudes; it's daft everyone rushing to get to their offices by 9am, then all rushing home at the same time. If I leave home after 9am my journey time is halved, and I'm much fresher when I get there, but everyone moans that I'm late (while sitting there eating their breakfast).
Is it really still a big insist with employers to be in an office for 0900?Any i've worked in in the last 20 years have been flexi start and finish times.
daemon said:
Any i've worked in in the last 20 years have been flexi start and finish times.
Yep - most places I have worked have core hours of 10-4 but are flexible outside that.Problem is - attitudes of work colleagues and managers.
Even if you get in at 7am and leave at 4 (and therefore do an hour more than your contracted hours) - all the people that didn't rock up until 9:45 will whinge that you are a "part timer" and make snide comments about you leaving early - even though they'll be out the door like a stabbed rat at 5:46 having only just covered their contracted hours.
Moonhawk said:
daemon said:
Any i've worked in in the last 20 years have been flexi start and finish times.
Yep - most places I have worked have core hours of 10-4 but are flexible outside that.Problem is - attitudes of work colleagues and managers.
Even if you get in at 7am and leave at 4 (and therefore do an hour more than your contracted hours) - all the people that didn't rock up until 9:45 will whinge that you are a "part timer" and make snide comments about you leaving early - even though they'll be out the door like a stabbed rat at 5:46 having only just covered their contracted hours.
It used to be that road rage/aggressive driving came from the usual cliched sources. E.g., white van man, boy racer, sales reps, etc, etc.
These still exist. However, it seems that everyone's at it now. In the last few months, I've noticed a trend for small cars, often driven by young girls, to fly around with a kind of "f
k you" mentality. Lots of blaring of the horn, tailgating, weaving in and out of traffic. Not good
These still exist. However, it seems that everyone's at it now. In the last few months, I've noticed a trend for small cars, often driven by young girls, to fly around with a kind of "f
k you" mentality. Lots of blaring of the horn, tailgating, weaving in and out of traffic. Not goodMy problem is I expect high standards of everyone, so I'm disappointed / frustrated when someone does something I'd never do.
Certain things are certainly on the increase:
- approaching a roundabout and choosing the shortest queue (even switching across 2 lanes like the Evoque I saw this evening) only to pull away and cut up other cars to get back in the right lane
- random lane changes on roundabouts - do lane markings mean nothing any more?
- pulling out from side streets no matter what is coming or how big the gap, relying on someone else avoiding the accident
One last thing, whenever I pip someone for not moving off when the lights change, it's usually because they're clearly using a mobile phone. A natural pause; a few seconds to gather thoughts I can handle but not idiocy.
Certain things are certainly on the increase:
- approaching a roundabout and choosing the shortest queue (even switching across 2 lanes like the Evoque I saw this evening) only to pull away and cut up other cars to get back in the right lane
- random lane changes on roundabouts - do lane markings mean nothing any more?
- pulling out from side streets no matter what is coming or how big the gap, relying on someone else avoiding the accident
One last thing, whenever I pip someone for not moving off when the lights change, it's usually because they're clearly using a mobile phone. A natural pause; a few seconds to gather thoughts I can handle but not idiocy.
It's just too many people trying to use the roads it breeds the me first attitude.
I was also a nightshift worker for many years and suddenly confronted with the daytime rush hours, i never knew how overcrowded things had become.
Anyone see the chaos and miserable crowds when the tube drivers had a 1 day strike recently?
The game truly is up for the UK all it needs now is another recession (due before 2018 based on historic economic norms) or a big economic hit and there will be serious social unrest.
I noticed the level of agressive / inconsiderate driving vastly increase post 2008 recession, i can see it on the faces of the ragers they are clinging on by their fingernails, living on credit cards, tax credit top ups and hoping not to get laid off, these are the ones who bought into the "house prices only ever go up" meme and maxed out on a 6x income mortgage during the liar loan years in the run up to 2008 maybe a bit of negative equity.
On the driving instrutor / lessons thing ALOT of people went into driving instruction (usually self employed so can work 16hrs ) after losing their jobs in the recession, its a bit like those jobs that everyone can do if they dont have trade or professional qualifiction like taxi driving / couriering / pizza delivery etc hence i think there has been a bit of an explosion in numbers, whereas in the past there was a good level of respect tollerance and patience for a learner driver on a lesson if there is a sudden explosion in numbers and they are all over the place then i can see those levels falling.
I was also a nightshift worker for many years and suddenly confronted with the daytime rush hours, i never knew how overcrowded things had become.
Anyone see the chaos and miserable crowds when the tube drivers had a 1 day strike recently?
The game truly is up for the UK all it needs now is another recession (due before 2018 based on historic economic norms) or a big economic hit and there will be serious social unrest.
I noticed the level of agressive / inconsiderate driving vastly increase post 2008 recession, i can see it on the faces of the ragers they are clinging on by their fingernails, living on credit cards, tax credit top ups and hoping not to get laid off, these are the ones who bought into the "house prices only ever go up" meme and maxed out on a 6x income mortgage during the liar loan years in the run up to 2008 maybe a bit of negative equity.
On the driving instrutor / lessons thing ALOT of people went into driving instruction (usually self employed so can work 16hrs ) after losing their jobs in the recession, its a bit like those jobs that everyone can do if they dont have trade or professional qualifiction like taxi driving / couriering / pizza delivery etc hence i think there has been a bit of an explosion in numbers, whereas in the past there was a good level of respect tollerance and patience for a learner driver on a lesson if there is a sudden explosion in numbers and they are all over the place then i can see those levels falling.
Edited by razor04 on Tuesday 28th July 01:20
Edited by razor04 on Tuesday 28th July 01:21
It's just too many people trying to use the roads it breeds the me first attitude.
I was also a nightshift worker for many years and suddenly confronted with the daytime rush hours, i never knew how overcrowded things had become.
Anyone see the chaos and miserable crowds when the tube drivers had a 1 day strike recently?
The game truly is up for the UK all it needs now is another recession (due before 2018 based on historic economic norms) or a big economic hit and there will be serious social unrest.
I noticed the level of agressive / inconsiderate driving vastly increase post 2008 recession, i can see it on the faces of the ragers they are clinging on by their fingernails, living on credit cards, tax credit top ups and hoping not to get laid off, these are the ones who bought into the "house prices only ever go up" meme and maxed out on a 6x income mortgage during the liar loan years in the run up to 2008 maybe a bit of negative equity.
http://news.sky.com/story/1526211/sky-poll-many-pe...
On the driving instrutor / lessons thing ALOT of people went into driving instruction (usually self employed so can work 16hrs ) after losing their jobs in the recession, its a bit like those jobs that everyone can do if they dont have trade or professional qualifiction like taxi driving / couriering / pizza delivery etc hence i think there has been a bit of an explosion in numbers, whereas in the past there was a good level of respect tollerance and patience for a learner driver on a lesson if there is a sudden explosion in numbers and they are all over the place then i can see those levels falling.
I was also a nightshift worker for many years and suddenly confronted with the daytime rush hours, i never knew how overcrowded things had become.
Anyone see the chaos and miserable crowds when the tube drivers had a 1 day strike recently?
The game truly is up for the UK all it needs now is another recession (due before 2018 based on historic economic norms) or a big economic hit and there will be serious social unrest.
I noticed the level of agressive / inconsiderate driving vastly increase post 2008 recession, i can see it on the faces of the ragers they are clinging on by their fingernails, living on credit cards, tax credit top ups and hoping not to get laid off, these are the ones who bought into the "house prices only ever go up" meme and maxed out on a 6x income mortgage during the liar loan years in the run up to 2008 maybe a bit of negative equity.
http://news.sky.com/story/1526211/sky-poll-many-pe...
On the driving instrutor / lessons thing ALOT of people went into driving instruction (usually self employed so can work 16hrs ) after losing their jobs in the recession, its a bit like those jobs that everyone can do if they dont have trade or professional qualifiction like taxi driving / couriering / pizza delivery etc hence i think there has been a bit of an explosion in numbers, whereas in the past there was a good level of respect tollerance and patience for a learner driver on a lesson if there is a sudden explosion in numbers and they are all over the place then i can see those levels falling.
Edited by razor04 on Tuesday 28th July 01:20
Edited by razor04 on Tuesday 28th July 01:44
Edited by razor04 on Tuesday 28th July 08:58
Moonhawk said:
Even if you get in at 7am and leave at 4 (and therefore do an hour more than your contracted hours) - all the people that didn't rock up until 9:45 will whinge that you are a "part timer" and make snide comments about you leaving early - even though they'll be out the door like a stabbed rat at 5:46 having only just covered their contracted hours.
I'm in at 7, out at 4, which gives me an hour's overtime/additional flexi every day, yet I still get my request to use the flexi as leave one day per fortnight questioned, every time, by my boss who turns up at 9.20 every day.
This country really is a f**ker for snide comments re working hours.
I had to have a chat with one of my team the other day because she was late a few days running. One of the things I told her was that the people who will notice and complain also won't notice that she was here until 7pm the night before, or worked through her lunch hour.
Many years ago I had a boss who commuted from Basingstoke to Enfield so had agreed with his boss he'd start later and work later. Trouble is he would regularly have a team meeting starting at 6 with the rest of us who'd been there since 8:30 or 9!
It's a two way street but too many people only see it one way.
I had to have a chat with one of my team the other day because she was late a few days running. One of the things I told her was that the people who will notice and complain also won't notice that she was here until 7pm the night before, or worked through her lunch hour.
Many years ago I had a boss who commuted from Basingstoke to Enfield so had agreed with his boss he'd start later and work later. Trouble is he would regularly have a team meeting starting at 6 with the rest of us who'd been there since 8:30 or 9!
It's a two way street but too many people only see it one way.
V8 Fettler said:
The current lack of meaningful investment in the UK road network is a nonsense given the tax take from road users and the importance of roads to the economy.
But doesn't everyone see there is no point investing it wouldn't matter the game is up, there are too many people the infrastructure is swamped. No ammount of investment will
fix this problem.
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