Is it me or have driving standards dropped ?
Discussion
I've been out on the roads quite a lot over the last week, first time I've been anywhere really for a while, months - in England anyway.
In all times and places, it seems to me that the standard of driving - and particularly motorway driving has plummeted sharply.
Whereas huge bunches doing 70mph were quite rare, this now seems to be the norm : almost empty lane one, plodders panicking in lane 2, lane 3 going from 65-75 mph almost solid traffic. A bit like rush hour. Except all the time !
I don't *think* it's purely down to vehicle numbers. Traffic is definitely moving slower, with a consequent increase in traffic density.
In all times and places, it seems to me that the standard of driving - and particularly motorway driving has plummeted sharply.
Whereas huge bunches doing 70mph were quite rare, this now seems to be the norm : almost empty lane one, plodders panicking in lane 2, lane 3 going from 65-75 mph almost solid traffic. A bit like rush hour. Except all the time !
I don't *think* it's purely down to vehicle numbers. Traffic is definitely moving slower, with a consequent increase in traffic density.
Driving standards in this country are apalling imo. People seem to have a lack of common sense and alot of drivers have no awareness at all of what's around them. People don't bother indicating as it's too much effort and they can't strain their eyes to use the rear view mirror. Compared to the standards I witnessed in Germany it's embarrassing.
I completely agree.
I nominate Warrington, where I live now to have the worst standard of driving I have seen from any place I have lived.
There are tons of roundabouts on the outskirts so you would have thought that people would get used to know how they work. I would say that an estimate of one in five drivers who intend to turn right at a roundabout do not indicate *and* use the left hand lane on approach...
There is more of a hint that the local BiB and driving instructors estimat that more than 10% of cars on the local roads in some areas are driven by a driver who has never passed a test, and thus are uninsured...
I nominate Warrington, where I live now to have the worst standard of driving I have seen from any place I have lived.
There are tons of roundabouts on the outskirts so you would have thought that people would get used to know how they work. I would say that an estimate of one in five drivers who intend to turn right at a roundabout do not indicate *and* use the left hand lane on approach...
There is more of a hint that the local BiB and driving instructors estimat that more than 10% of cars on the local roads in some areas are driven by a driver who has never passed a test, and thus are uninsured...
attitude is now at a silly level.pesty said:
I drive past Wolverhampton I swear to god no one who lives there has a bloody licence.
Wolverhampton is bad (I know, I have to go there once a month for work ;-) ).
However Trowbridge is worse... EVERY roundabout I was on I came across some moron at one of the exits look, see me coming...then STILL pull out into/in front of me, causing me to brake and swerve.
What is it about these people?? Do they think you're going to stop for them and wave them across??
jazzyjeff said:
Wolverhampton is bad (I know, I have to go there once a month for work ;-) ).
I find anywhere within ten miles of Faversham in Kent really bad.
Time after time after time I've been there, and I've been appalled at how the locals behave behind the wheel.
Ok driving around while on the hand held mobile phone,
lousy lane discipline [ DRIVE LEFT YOU MORON ], driving with broken lights, not indicating while pulling out, driving under the influence of Anthony Eden, ...
justinp1 said:
I nominate Warrington, where I live now to have the worst standard of driving I have seen from any place I have lived.
There are tons of roundabouts on the outskirts so you would have thought that people would get used to know how they work. I would say that an estimate of one in five drivers who intend to turn right at a roundabout do not indicate *and* use the left hand lane on approach...
I'm not sure Warrington is any worse or better than anywhere else, it seems to have its fair share of idiots trying to drive in your boot, 40mph everywhere dawdlers and cretins that can't indicate / decide which lane they want to be in but no more than any other places I've lived.
Maybe its just the number of roundabouts means you're bound to encounter people that can't use them properly more often. There certainly seem to be enough roundabouts near me
Driving standards may seem poor compared to say Germany, but they're significantly better than some other European countries and far far ahead of some places. We're definitely standing still at best though, where others are improving.
Most of my driving is on motorways, and I can confirm that the highway code does not exist.
Drivers just don't give a monkeys anymore and just drive the way they want to regardless of other road users.
The main problem is lane discipline or lack of it, and drivers that think it is their right to pull out on you just because they think you are driving too fast. In bad weather you get the morons in lane 3 driving slowly so that they will have nobody in front of them causing spray on their windscreen, but this just causes people to undertake in lanes 1 and 2.
Maybe this free for all is not such a bad thing though, as it is very rare to see an accident in my direction of travel on the motorways, but maybe that is just luck.
>> Edited by ledfoot on Sunday 30th October 00:58
Drivers just don't give a monkeys anymore and just drive the way they want to regardless of other road users.
The main problem is lane discipline or lack of it, and drivers that think it is their right to pull out on you just because they think you are driving too fast. In bad weather you get the morons in lane 3 driving slowly so that they will have nobody in front of them causing spray on their windscreen, but this just causes people to undertake in lanes 1 and 2.
Maybe this free for all is not such a bad thing though, as it is very rare to see an accident in my direction of travel on the motorways, but maybe that is just luck.
>> Edited by ledfoot on Sunday 30th October 00:58
jaker said:
I agree, driving standards are falling...
my personal view is that scameras are at least in part to blame, making everyone nervous and hesitant.
however, you should try driving in Istanbul!!
There is a school of thought partly championed by one J Clarkson Esq is that driving standards are dropping because an increasing numbers of the population believe that behaviour that was typical at home in Istanbul is also transferrable to the Aldwych, or Stoke newington or wherever.
I don't necessarily support that opinion but sugest its more a case of that people are afraid of getting nicked because of the lack of traffic units... sorry smacked wrist.... road policing units.
Driving standards are indeed abysmal and difficult to say whether thay are falling. What is noticeable is that somebody doing it right REALLY stands out.
most of my daily commute is on the A14 dual carriageway, and to be honest appart from the odd exception i find the morning and evening traffic to be generally ok, as these drivers are commuters and generally know how to drive on a dual carriageway/motorway without causing accidents.
quite often i pop into work on a saturday morning until lunchtime for a spot of overtime, and the journey home from work is an absoloute NIGHTMARE!
you get all the numptys who never go further than the end of their village decideing to go out shopping, and still driving like they are in their village, just bimbling along, pulling out without looking, god its awful!
quite often i pop into work on a saturday morning until lunchtime for a spot of overtime, and the journey home from work is an absoloute NIGHTMARE!
you get all the numptys who never go further than the end of their village decideing to go out shopping, and still driving like they are in their village, just bimbling along, pulling out without looking, god its awful!
Reading this post I am mindfull of an article I read many years ago about research done with rats by Manchester University.
Given space in living conditions they lived harmoniously no problems. Introduce lack of space and overcrowding then they became fractious and belligerent.
Do you see any correlation through increased numbers on the roads?
dvd
Given space in living conditions they lived harmoniously no problems. Introduce lack of space and overcrowding then they became fractious and belligerent.
Do you see any correlation through increased numbers on the roads?
dvd
eccles said:
most of my daily commute is on the A14 dual carriageway, and to be honest appart from the odd exception i find the morning and evening traffic to be generally ok, as these drivers are commuters and generally know how to drive on a dual carriageway/motorway without causing accidents.
quite often i pop into work on a saturday morning until lunchtime for a spot of overtime, and the journey home from work is an absoloute NIGHTMARE!
you get all the numptys who never go further than the end of their village decideing to go out shopping, and still driving like they are in their village, just bimbling along, pulling out without looking, god its awful!
Yes, I think rush hours are much safer than being out during the rest of the day or at weekends. Perhaps only intelligent people drive long distances to work?
Don't forget, though, that more traffic means more idiots even if the proportion hasn't increased. And given the focus on speed as the only measure of safe driving, it's not surprising that other things have slipped.
I also think there's a vicious circle effect. Focusing only on speed, coupled with snooping from hidden cameras, inhibit people from learning to drive well. Thus the authorities believe it to be necessary to further reduce speed limits to offset the effects of bad driving. I'm sure there's a virtuous circle effect to be had if only someone was as brave here as they have been in US, Italy, Austria, etc, but that would go against the nanny state (no smoking, no drinking, no speeding).
justinp1 said:
I completely agree.
I nominate Warrington, where I live now to have the worst standard of driving I have seen from any place I have lived.
There are tons of roundabouts on the outskirts so you would have thought that people would get used to know how they work. I would say that an estimate of one in five drivers who intend to turn right at a roundabout do not indicate *and* use the left hand lane on approach...
There is more of a hint that the local BiB and driving instructors estimat that more than 10% of cars on the local roads in some areas are driven by a driver who has never passed a test, and thus are uninsured...
True und perhaps Warrington ist in central position for Manchester und Liverpool chavs.
As far as drop in standards... it seem to corelate to decreased BiB und increased scams in these areas.
Also find worse driving in scam infested areas - people are not looking for hazards - only yellow ones as they always brake for the scmaera regardless of legality or illegality
und so long as they do 30 mph - it just does not matter if they narrowly miss the cyclist or the pedestrian. 
I was taught to evaluate each drive from start of driving - und driving standard in Germany ist prescribed und precise.
. Und am "natural" anyway 
But have always applied a COAST model anyway - was how I was taught in first place. I find too - further North better the overall standard but then ist not so dense. Carlisle und Penrith are busiest towns here und we get the impatience setting in there und of course Kendal's one way system ist enough to make Job a little ratty
Peter Ward said:
I also think there's a vicious circle effect. Focusing only on speed, coupled with snooping from hidden cameras, inhibit people from learning to drive well. Thus the authorities believe it to be necessary to further reduce speed limits to offset the effects of bad driving. I'm sure there's a virtuous circle effect to be had if only someone was as brave here as they have been in US, Italy, Austria, etc, but that would go against the nanny state (no smoking, no drinking, no speeding).
I think this is spot on, it's just what I was going to say.
Idiots thinking speed limiting is the tool to use.
Utter small-minded buffoons.
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