Spatial awareness
Author
Discussion

Garlick

Original Poster:

40,601 posts

262 months

Saturday 4th December 2010
quotequote all
As cars get larger, people seem to not have a clue how big their cars are.

Owners can't park tight to a wall/ other car without leaving a 4ft gap, they wait when approaching a parked car as if their car is as wide as an HGV and they don't seem capable of parallel parking if parking sensors aren't fitted.

I don't know, what's happening to our standards of car control?

baz1985

3,682 posts

267 months

Saturday 4th December 2010
quotequote all
Spatial

Mars

9,848 posts

236 months

Saturday 4th December 2010
quotequote all
I find the opposite is true. Larger car owners seem capable of overtaking parked cars in the road leaving small gaps, and only breaching the white line minimally and for only a short period.

Micras, Novas, Fiestas and the like need an entire car width gap between them and the parked car. And their owners seem obvlivious of any oncoming traffic as they swerve violently over to the right.

R1 Loon

26,988 posts

199 months

Saturday 4th December 2010
quotequote all
Kerbs & alloys don't mix is my guess for the parking bit. As for the not going through a gap wide enough for a bus, then that's the preserve of the incompetent, who also look at the front of the bonnet as they drive.

Garlick

Original Poster:

40,601 posts

262 months

Saturday 4th December 2010
quotequote all
baz1985 said:
Spatial
Abuse of powers.....

Biker's Nemesis

40,964 posts

230 months

Saturday 4th December 2010
quotequote all
I'm used too handling big things.

STW2010

5,887 posts

184 months

Saturday 4th December 2010
quotequote all
I agree. Tonight I saw some bloke trying to reverse park his Clio at the local co-op. I was parked in the space immediately oppposite waiting to pull out, and saw him go way over the lines and nearly hit the Audi parked up.

When I bought my BMW I was actually pleased that it didn't have parking sensors installed, as all it would mean is that I become used to them. The last thing I want is to be looking for future cars with the 'must have parking sensors' mentality- I prefer not to be so lazy

goldblum

10,272 posts

189 months

Saturday 4th December 2010
quotequote all
'I don't know, what's happening to our standards of spelling?'

STW2010

5,887 posts

184 months

Saturday 4th December 2010
quotequote all
Mars said:
I find the opposite is true. Larger car owners seem capable of overtaking parked cars in the road leaving small gaps, and only breaching the white line minimally and for only a short period.

Micras, Novas, Fiestas and the like need an entire car width gap between them and the parked car. And their owners seem obvlivious of any oncoming traffic as they swerve violently over to the right.
Because these are driven by new drivers or women

Garlick

Original Poster:

40,601 posts

262 months

Saturday 4th December 2010
quotequote all
goldblum said:
'I don't know, what's happening to our standards of spelling?'
No idea what you're on about smile

goldblum

10,272 posts

189 months

Saturday 4th December 2010
quotequote all
Garlick said:
goldblum said:
'I don't know, what's happening to our standards of spelling?'
No idea what you're on about smile
That was a bit shifty!

Bonefish Blues

34,237 posts

245 months

Saturday 4th December 2010
quotequote all
Mars said:
I find the opposite is true. Larger car owners seem capable of overtaking parked cars in the road leaving small gaps, and only breaching the white line minimally and for only a short period.

Micras, Novas, Fiestas and the like need an entire car width gap between them and the parked car. And their owners seem obvlivious of any oncoming traffic as they swerve violently over to the right.
These will be the same people as those in HA2 and its environs who believe that to drive to within 6ft of a parked car and then spear at 45 degrees across the road into your oncoming path to pass it constitutes something to do with driving.

Biker's Nemesis

40,964 posts

230 months

Saturday 4th December 2010
quotequote all
Mars said:
Micras, Novas, Fiestas and the like need an entire car width gap between them and the parked car. And their owners seem obvlivious of any oncoming traffic as they swerve violently over to the right.
You've not met me in a Micra then!!



Novas? Are you stuck in a late 80s early 90s time warp?

550Hep

3,135 posts

239 months

Saturday 4th December 2010
quotequote all
Garlick said:
baz1985 said:
Spatial
Abuse of powers.....
rofl

Jasandjules

71,857 posts

251 months

Saturday 4th December 2010
quotequote all
Garlick said:
As cars get larger, people seem to not have a clue how big their cars are.
Not as such. I find plenty of drivers can park lorries etc in small spaces and get them nice and close to the wall etc..

However, nine times out of ten a woman in a micra or a woman in a RR Sport, neither will be able to get their vehicle into a single space in the supermarket car park.

However I think overall driving standards have fallen dramatically and they are deteriorating on a weekly basis.....




Garlick

Original Poster:

40,601 posts

262 months

Saturday 4th December 2010
quotequote all
Agree about lorry drivers, they are legends.

MGB Boy

1,749 posts

196 months

Saturday 4th December 2010
quotequote all
Having passed my test just under a month ago I find my MGB hard to park, because it' too narrow.
That seems a contradiction but it's difficult to get it central because it 'isn't wide enough' hehe

I also have no idea where the front is and therefore end up about 2ft away from what ever is in front.

perdu

4,885 posts

221 months

Saturday 4th December 2010
quotequote all
MGB Boy said:
Having passed my test just under a month ago I find my MGB hard to park, because it' too narrow.
That seems a contradiction but it's difficult to get it central because it 'isn't wide enough' hehe

I also have no idea where the front is and therefore end up about 2ft away from what ever is in front.
You'll learn

and if you have only just passed you will have plenty of time

(try my Midget, even narrower. A sod when you try to park on the right hand side, maybe in France or Tesco) wink

Simbu

1,869 posts

196 months

Sunday 5th December 2010
quotequote all
I've begun to notice this more and more. Only earlier today i watched some idiot in his Q7 / X5 / other generic wker-wagon have to complete a 3 point turn to get around a 90 turn in a car park! I blame a few things:

- Huge cars becoming more common for carting 2.4 kids about.
- Parking assists meaning people don't care about how big their car is and their awareness of that - the "it'll bleep if i'm doing it wrong" mentality.
- A trend of car park planners trying to cram as many spaces into an area as possible to be cost efficient. The most efficient use of space is not necessarily the best.

Another of several examples that suggests the general standard of driving the in the UK isn't up to par sadly.

Mr Dave

3,233 posts

217 months

Sunday 5th December 2010
quotequote all
I drive a 5 series BMW and I can parrallel park in palces I shouldnt really fit, I can park it exactly where I want, can fit through narrow gaps and all sorts, not a problem.

I used to own a Seat toledo and I could not parrallel park it, I couldnt guess how long it was accurately even after 2 years, I was hopeless at driving it and stuff like reversing into a parking bay was avoided.

Every car I had before that I was fine in.

Dont know what it was about that car but I was useless at driving it.