The Brits - Definately some of the worst drivers in Europe
Discussion
I have to disagree with the OP.
Being born near Milan I have first-hand experience of the cut-throat antics of Italian drivers. Mind you the French don't give a f
k about their cars and the Germans are meisters of tailgating.
The Brits, in my view, very civilised, with the exception of some van drivers and the Tdi brigade
Being born near Milan I have first-hand experience of the cut-throat antics of Italian drivers. Mind you the French don't give a f
k about their cars and the Germans are meisters of tailgating. The Brits, in my view, very civilised, with the exception of some van drivers and the Tdi brigade
Drivers are shocking for middle lane hogging in the S of France and Liguria, however this is not for the resaon you think........The real problem is the fastest drivers (the plus 130kph brigade) who dont seem to be able to read the road ahead in the slightest and hate to drop a kph in the interest of other road users. Bottom line these drivers will not pull out in to a clear lane, to let you either on to the motorway or past a truck. So the reason people just plod along in what ever lane they chose is also down to the barge driving gods doing the very same just at much quicker speeds. After years of living here I have realised that although most are lovely people, in general they drive/park without any consideration of others, its like they are in a bubble.
The problem here in the UK seems to be down to lazyness, and a lack of consideration for other motorists.
It's funny timing on this thread but yesterday I had to drive a few miles across the city and it was a particularly stand-out drive for the sheer amount of lazy driving - mostly people failing to use indicators, terrible lane discipline around roundabouts and so forth.
It's funny timing on this thread but yesterday I had to drive a few miles across the city and it was a particularly stand-out drive for the sheer amount of lazy driving - mostly people failing to use indicators, terrible lane discipline around roundabouts and so forth.
Motorway driving in western Europe is actually quite an enjoyable experience.
I'm with the OP. By and large, standards in western Europe are much higher than the UK.
After 2 weeks driving across France, Italy and Switzerland my greatest annoyance was experienced back on the A2 after returning to the UK - MLMs everywhere, 60mph in lane 2 (with lane 1 empty) etc.
The French are very good at d/cs imo. Understand the concept staying over unless overtaking. Also on regular roads, very keen to overtake (although sometimes it's a fine line).
In Italy, the motorways are somewhat odd in that owing to the minimum speed limits, lane 1 is essentially a lorry lane, 'normal' drivers in 2, and anyone who wants to go quick in 3. I will say that once an overtake is done in 3, people generally move over back into lane 2. Not so common in the UK.
In other respects the Italians are somewhat more dubious, it appears that traffic lights are advisory rather than mandatory!
Tailgaiting is worst in Germany. That's probably partly to do with the speed difference, you can be overtaking a car at 90mph in lane 3 and someone will be on you in seconds travelling 120+, flahes of full beam etc.
I'm with the OP. By and large, standards in western Europe are much higher than the UK.
After 2 weeks driving across France, Italy and Switzerland my greatest annoyance was experienced back on the A2 after returning to the UK - MLMs everywhere, 60mph in lane 2 (with lane 1 empty) etc.
The French are very good at d/cs imo. Understand the concept staying over unless overtaking. Also on regular roads, very keen to overtake (although sometimes it's a fine line).
In Italy, the motorways are somewhat odd in that owing to the minimum speed limits, lane 1 is essentially a lorry lane, 'normal' drivers in 2, and anyone who wants to go quick in 3. I will say that once an overtake is done in 3, people generally move over back into lane 2. Not so common in the UK.
In other respects the Italians are somewhat more dubious, it appears that traffic lights are advisory rather than mandatory!
Tailgaiting is worst in Germany. That's probably partly to do with the speed difference, you can be overtaking a car at 90mph in lane 3 and someone will be on you in seconds travelling 120+, flahes of full beam etc.
Have to say I disagree too. Lane discipline is depressing in the UK, but find yourself on a congested road (far less common) on the continent and levels of cretinism are similar.
Also, I find UK drivers to have some semblance of driving ability, whereas on the continent many drivers seem to weave about without any mirrors or indicators, seemingly oblivious to the world around them. These people exist in the UK, but they stand out like a sore thumb and aren't the norm.
Germany the quality of drivers seems to be equivalent or higher with better lane discipline, but they're very agressive.
Also, I find UK drivers to have some semblance of driving ability, whereas on the continent many drivers seem to weave about without any mirrors or indicators, seemingly oblivious to the world around them. These people exist in the UK, but they stand out like a sore thumb and aren't the norm.
Germany the quality of drivers seems to be equivalent or higher with better lane discipline, but they're very agressive.
From my observations the UK doesn't seem any worse than other countries. The difference is that our roads are so much busier, busy motorways and D/Cs abroad are just as much a scrum as they are over here, conversely, quiet roads are normally pretty good over here, as they are abroad.
The Wookie said:
Germany the quality of drivers seems to be equivalent or higher with better lane discipline, but they're very agressive.
That was the case before the wall came down, now the standard of driving had deteriorated.Belgium is pretty bad, Parisiennes are trully awful (don't bother engagging your handbrake when you park) and southern Italy is a no go area.
cptsideways said:
Having just arrived back from a transcontinental European jolly the UK is catergorically dire when it comes to general driving standards.
I drive thousands of miles a year for work in the UK & obviously one just gets used to it? However upon arriving back in the UK it suddenly becomes apparent just how bad the standards are over here.
In our 2000 mile journey I think I can only think of three occasions where expletives were used to describe the drivers across Europe, yes thats 3 counts of "bad driving" spotted in 2000 miles. I think we lost count at 300 in the 200 miles of driving from Dover to home.
You would think we had descended into a 3rd world country if it was'nt for the new cars!
On the contrary... UK drivers are some of the best in Europe... we just have the worst/most crowded roads in Western Europe.I drive thousands of miles a year for work in the UK & obviously one just gets used to it? However upon arriving back in the UK it suddenly becomes apparent just how bad the standards are over here.
In our 2000 mile journey I think I can only think of three occasions where expletives were used to describe the drivers across Europe, yes thats 3 counts of "bad driving" spotted in 2000 miles. I think we lost count at 300 in the 200 miles of driving from Dover to home.
You would think we had descended into a 3rd world country if it was'nt for the new cars!
http://www.abd.org.uk/safest_roads.htm
Road fatalities per 100,000 population = lowest in Europe
Deaths per billion vehicle-km = lowest in Europe
Motorway usage = Highest in Europe
The Solution?
Build more Motorways
Decky_Q said:
When I was in Korea I borrowed my friends 50cc scooter and when I asked about rules of the road and how I should drive in the massive constant stream of bikes and scooters he said 'think like a fish'.
Thailand + motorbike + motorway = 
I don't think I've ever felt such fear in my life since.
And I fell off two or three times round some mointain bends. I blamed the rain (obviously). Still got a couple of scars to show for it.
matthias73 said:
Just got back from canada. I dont think its the driving, just so many people driving at once, compared to over there
jbi said:
On the contrary... UK drivers are some of the best in Europe... we just have the worst/most crowded roads in Western Europe
rsv gone! said:
The issue with the UK is the roads are so damned crowded - especially when you've just popped over on a ferry from Northern France
^^^ All these people have hit the nail squarely on the head.Turbo Harry said:
Lane discipline is bad in the UK, almost everything else is good.
Go for a fly drive to Palermo and you'll never complain about British driving standards again.
This. Lane discipline is where we really struggle in the UK. That and the use of roundabouts...Go for a fly drive to Palermo and you'll never complain about British driving standards again.
Can't comment on Palermo specifically but driving in Rome is probably the worst experience I've ever had. NYC runs Rome very close too.
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