What makes you nervous as a driver?

[Kentish]

I'm not a nervous driver but this morning I was being tailgated by a young man in a corsa who was looking down at his lap most of the time (probably texting or counting his pubes).

That did make me feel a little nervous and I was braking very gently and a long way in advance of needing to slow/stop.

I was relieved when he went a different way to me!

I think tailgaters are probably the worst IMHO.

How about you, what brings you out in a bit of a sweat?

PS
I train drivers and take out complete novices on dual carriageways and around busy roundabouts so very little will usually make me nervous

[Kentish]

CaptainSlow said:

When following erratic drivers that are constantly on the brakes, is a real pita especially when I'm checking Facebook.

Is that your way of saying that I shouldn't have braked gently in advance and just driven normally?

His insurance I guess but my car is 3 weeks old and didn't really want it rear ended!

[Kentish]

CaptainSlow said:

Kentish said:

Is that your way of saying that I shouldn't have braked gently in advance and just driven normally?

His insurance I guess but my car is 3 weeks old and didn't really want it rear ended!

No, don't worry I agree with you.

For me it's young girls, completely oblivious that they are morons and driving too fast and too close, attention on the radio, make up or mobile.

Young women are the worst offenders for tailgating; I just don't think they realise the limitations of tyre grip.

[Kentish]

Baryonyx said:

Twice in recent weeks I've had cars skidding to a stop towards me on single track roads. On both occasions, it's been soft roaders barrelling round a bend, seeing the lead car coming the other way and slamming the brakes to a stop when they realise they're about to either go head on or scrape down the side of the other car. Always ask 'what if?' when you approach the unknown, never drive into the void.

On the motorbike, it's drivers who pull out without looking or steam towards a junction, slam the brakes on and then look, giving the impression they're just going to come straight out.

These are 2 points I teach & perhaps over emphasise with my students.

Never drive at a speed that you can't see ahead to stop in time.

Always approach a give way at a sensible speed & the more closed the junction the slower they should arrive at the junction, perhaps stop early before the line & peep & creep forwards scanning carefully for anyone in the main road.