An epidemic of insanely slow drivers
Discussion
Not so much insanely slow but generally slow progress yesterday.
I was stuck a few cars back in the tailback behind a lorry carrying an oversize load (static caravan) on the roads between Kidderminster and Telford. When the road was clear, the lorry made good progress, however everytime an oncoming lorry presented itself, the proceedings came to a grinding halt while the oversize load squeezed its way through.
The endless stop-start-stop-start-stop-start for mile after mile after mile got pretty infuriating by the end, especially as there was no way to overtake the lorry (as whenever the oncoming lane was clear of traffic, he straddled the white centrelines). What made the proceedings mostly annoying, were the number of big, empty laybys that were driven past, with no thought to perhaps pull in and let the endless jam of vehicles behind actually get on with their day.
I get that oversize loads are awkward and a different kettle of fish to unnecessarily slow car drivers, but even so, if you've got a tailback behind you that's over the horizon, just have the decency to pull over and let people past.
Tractor drivers could do with the same message being hammered into their tiny skulls.
I was stuck a few cars back in the tailback behind a lorry carrying an oversize load (static caravan) on the roads between Kidderminster and Telford. When the road was clear, the lorry made good progress, however everytime an oncoming lorry presented itself, the proceedings came to a grinding halt while the oversize load squeezed its way through.
The endless stop-start-stop-start-stop-start for mile after mile after mile got pretty infuriating by the end, especially as there was no way to overtake the lorry (as whenever the oncoming lane was clear of traffic, he straddled the white centrelines). What made the proceedings mostly annoying, were the number of big, empty laybys that were driven past, with no thought to perhaps pull in and let the endless jam of vehicles behind actually get on with their day.
I get that oversize loads are awkward and a different kettle of fish to unnecessarily slow car drivers, but even so, if you've got a tailback behind you that's over the horizon, just have the decency to pull over and let people past.
Tractor drivers could do with the same message being hammered into their tiny skulls.
Caddyshack said:
CT05 Nose Cone said:
Roundabout discipline seems to have fallen off the cliff recently, twice this week I've had to take avoiding action because people are incapable of staying within the lines and are oblivious to what they did wrong.
Yes, that is another regular area of poor driving. People seem to straight line them without any knowledge of you being next to them.Pica-Pica said:
Beeroklaunch said:
Try living in Wales.
Speed limits reduced to 20mph so people drive 15-17mph
??
Where is that precisely?Speed limits reduced to 20mph so people drive 15-17mph
??
Very little issues in Gwynedd.
Didn't realise how bad it was until fairly recently when I crossed over to Newtown, first time since the change.
Since then I've driven on a number of roads which cross the border repeatedly.
There were 20mph limits already on high streets, outside schools etc and they worked where they were appropriate.
The new blanket 30mph replacement is mental. It just doesn't work.
I feel taxi drivers deserve special mention on this topic. Just been driven home at 17-20mph in a 30 with braking for oncoming cars, and virtually to a halt for speed bumps (the square ones that you can take at a decent lick).
Last time I got a taxi he was doing 30 in a rural NSL in broad daylight. Whilst constantly dabbing the throttle on and off.
Both were driving a Prius. I get fuel economy and being conscious of wear and tear, and it pays to be cautious.....but it's like these guys can't drive!
Last time I got a taxi he was doing 30 in a rural NSL in broad daylight. Whilst constantly dabbing the throttle on and off.
Both were driving a Prius. I get fuel economy and being conscious of wear and tear, and it pays to be cautious.....but it's like these guys can't drive!
coppice said:
Not driven abroad much have we ? Try China ...
In China the issue isn't speed, in fact speeds are more relaxed than UK, but the issue is complete disregard for the "law" and incompetence. Seeing a whole family on one motorbike was astounding ...I'd better add that China is a huge country (like the size of Europe) so I can only refer to the small parts I've been to.
Pit Pony said:
Edited for potential accuracy.
What's worse? Going slightly less than the speed limit on a clear road or tailgating. I think it's the later. As do most of PH.
If someone is tailgating you in traffic, slow down and create a 4 second gap between you and the car in front (as explained in speed awareness course)
Feels like tailgating is at epidemic proportions in central Scotland. 60-65 in an NSL and there will still be at least one a few feet behind every trip into Edinburgh, that is unless they fly by on a blind brow or corner. What's worse? Going slightly less than the speed limit on a clear road or tailgating. I think it's the later. As do most of PH.
If someone is tailgating you in traffic, slow down and create a 4 second gap between you and the car in front (as explained in speed awareness course)
Last one was a middle aged blonde driving a Merdedes 4x4 while on her phone. She nearly ran into the back of us at the NSL roadworks. I nipped past the car in front so that she could run into him instead. Judging by their subsequent fitful progress, he began brake checking her. I don't think he thought that one through.
An indicated 26 in a 20 can elicit some lunging towards your bumper "No one does 20 here!" True, even I wasn't but these folks are usually doing nearer 40 just like they did when it was 30.
The Borders wide 20 limits are clearly a major irritant to many drivers - irritates me too, but back off ffs. I don't remember such regular aggression previously.
Caddyshack said:
CT05 Nose Cone said:
Roundabout discipline seems to have fallen off the cliff recently, twice this week I've had to take avoiding action because people are incapable of staying within the lines and are oblivious to what they did wrong.
Yes, that is another regular area of poor driving. People seem to straight line them without any knowledge of you being next to them.https://youtu.be/8m8FOxi0pi8
Zarco said:
I feel taxi drivers deserve special mention on this topic. Just been driven home at 17-20mph in a 30 with braking for oncoming cars, and virtually to a halt for speed bumps (the square ones that you can take at a decent lick).
Last time I got a taxi he was doing 30 in a rural NSL in broad daylight. Whilst constantly dabbing the throttle on and off.
Both were driving a Prius. I get fuel economy and being conscious of wear and tear, and it pays to be cautious.....but it's like these guys can't drive!
Funnily the few times I've been in a well driven taxi I've complimented the guy and given him a tip.Last time I got a taxi he was doing 30 in a rural NSL in broad daylight. Whilst constantly dabbing the throttle on and off.
Both were driving a Prius. I get fuel economy and being conscious of wear and tear, and it pays to be cautious.....but it's like these guys can't drive!
It's not often I get one at all, but it's even less often the driving isn't s
t.Used to commute through part of Glasgow every day and it was a rare day when one didn't do something totally f
king stupid in front of me, or try to it's best to cause an accident.It's one thing being s
te at the main skill in your job when you aren't a danger to everyone else, but a very different thing otherwise.Oh and on the topic - people who can't achieve the limit in good conditions when he road allows it (and happy to be generous there... so let's say 40 in a 60 on a straight road with no junctions) should have their license removed. You couldn't manage to get one if you drove like that on a test, so why should you keep it.
Zarco said:
I feel taxi drivers deserve special mention on this topic. Just been driven home at 17-20mph in a 30 with braking for oncoming cars, and virtually to a halt for speed bumps (the square ones that you can take at a decent lick).
Last time I got a taxi he was doing 30 in a rural NSL in broad daylight. Whilst constantly dabbing the throttle on and off.
Both were driving a Prius. I get fuel economy and being conscious of wear and tear, and it pays to be cautious.....but it's like these guys can't drive!
I've noticed that too. Gotta get that meter up. Note when they're empty they drive like Nigel Mansell on a coke binge. Last time I got a taxi he was doing 30 in a rural NSL in broad daylight. Whilst constantly dabbing the throttle on and off.
Both were driving a Prius. I get fuel economy and being conscious of wear and tear, and it pays to be cautious.....but it's like these guys can't drive!
I don’t do the miles anymore ( in England )!that I used to do, but I needed to go collect my youngest sons E46 330D Sport this morning. I was in my Navarra pick up, 170hp and it feels Quick, however, on a deserted rural road, I was stuck behind a total knob in an Audi who was just crawling along. It took probably 5 miles before I could finally get past him. In the summer I regularly ride the same route on my R1 or 1098S, it’s sheer bliss being able to over take @ will on a bike….
Tonight driving to work on the A11, pull up at Thickthorn roundabout to take the A47 towards Yarnouth. Both cars ahead of me were fairly new yet dribbled away from the lights about 5s after they turned green. No more than 30mph on the slip road FFS. A sensible gap opened between the two so I overtook on the slip road - cue much lights flashing (I simply used the additional space of lane 2 on the slip road) and merged at 70mph. I drive a 1.0 litre Fiesta for goodness sake, they should have left me miles behind but they're so incompetent they can barely manage 30mph. Sick of this slow progress for no good reason.
I wish these morons would have their licences taken away - they are clearly not up to standard.
Rant over.
I wish these morons would have their licences taken away - they are clearly not up to standard.
Rant over.
Uber drivers are by far the worst around here. 24mph everywhere on local roads (they go from 30-NSL). I'm quite happy to not let an Uber driver out because, more often than not, it'd actually preserve the flow of traffic not letting these idiots loose on the main roads.
I remember on one occasion nearly getting into an argument with my uber driver, who didn't appear to speak any English but though it wise to do 50mph in L3 of a motorway just before rush hour (i.e. fast-flowing traffic). He was getting irritated at other drivers expressing their disdain and slammed on his brakes to go from L3 to the sliproad when he realised he was adjacent to it.
I reported the driver but Uber's AI said that they'd "investigated" and found nothing wrong
I remember on one occasion nearly getting into an argument with my uber driver, who didn't appear to speak any English but though it wise to do 50mph in L3 of a motorway just before rush hour (i.e. fast-flowing traffic). He was getting irritated at other drivers expressing their disdain and slammed on his brakes to go from L3 to the sliproad when he realised he was adjacent to it.
I reported the driver but Uber's AI said that they'd "investigated" and found nothing wrong
Zarco said:
I feel taxi drivers deserve special mention on this topic. Just been driven home at 17-20mph in a 30 with braking for oncoming cars, and virtually to a halt for speed bumps (the square ones that you can take at a decent lick).
Last time I got a taxi he was doing 30 in a rural NSL in broad daylight. Whilst constantly dabbing the throttle on and off.
Both were driving a Prius. I get fuel economy and being conscious of wear and tear, and it pays to be cautious.....but it's like these guys can't drive!
It's not a new thing. Last time I got a taxi he was doing 30 in a rural NSL in broad daylight. Whilst constantly dabbing the throttle on and off.
Both were driving a Prius. I get fuel economy and being conscious of wear and tear, and it pays to be cautious.....but it's like these guys can't drive!
I remember visiting a friend just outside Nottingham in 1983. We had been to a club in Nottingham and got a taxi back. 5 miles down country lanes. He was driving on f
king side lights. Occassionally, he would put his dipped beams on, but turn them back to side lights before the next bend, or if there was a car coming the other way. Even I at 16 knew this was wrong. Having bought my dad a pair of Halford spotlights for his birthday and witnessed him using them properly on country roads. (It was like daylight in comparison)
After moaning earlier in this thread about people having forgot how to overtake I saw a nice overtake on a bust A road yesterday so there is still hope some drivers do still have the skills to make a quick safe overtake on a busy A road.
I’d guess people have not been taught how to safely over take in a skilful manner for a very long time now it’s just follow the leader and flash their lights when they do get over taken .
I’d guess people have not been taught how to safely over take in a skilful manner for a very long time now it’s just follow the leader and flash their lights when they do get over taken .
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