Selfish, arrogant, inconsiderate drivers now a majority?
Discussion
What is it about cars, that makes ordinary, otherwise law-abiding, normal people, become inconsiderate, arrogant t
ts behind the wheel of a car?
There are hundreds of examples all over PH, but my spleen needs to be vented over the behaviour of the fkwits who pass through rural villages at silly speeds, chucking McDonalds wrappers and coke cans out of the window, en-route...
Before you all tell me I should be on Mumsnet, I don't have kids and probably wouldn't mind a few of the noisier ones being removed from the gene pool (especially as it's approaching the time of year the little scrotes set off fking fireworks at random). However, for the 3rd time this week, I've nearly had the front of my car taken off by some commuter, hand holding his mobile phone, as he drives through a 30 limit at speeds visibly in excess of the NSL!!!! Past solid brick walls, with gateways in them, only about 18" of pavement not facilitating exiting householders to check the road before they creep out - does anyone here think that is OK? Really?
It takes about 90 seconds to drive through this village at 30 mph, so how fking important do you have to think you are, such that 45 seconds of your time is more valuable than the risk of killing someone (or something), a 28 day driving ban and a 3-figure fine, or writing yours and my car off and losing your NCB in the process?
I was waiting for a lift recently and stood watching traffic for about 30 minutes (he was very late) and I reckon less than 25% of people driving past were within 5 mph of the speed limit! Probably more shocking was the fact that almost half were way way over the limit - and probably hadn't slowed down at all, from the 30 signs about 1/4 mile behind them. Interestingly, there was more than one of the really fast ones displaying PH stickers... (wish I'd had a camera with me).
I'm not at all self-righteous about speed on NSL roads, and accept that some speed restrictions appear a bit unnecessary, but, is it really worth all the risks to save a few seconds of your time? I think the longest village in England is only 2 miles long, or something, so we are talking 1 or 2 minutes maximum time saved, here...
How about having a bit of respect for everyone else and being a bit considerate - you never know whose house you are passing
Just as an aside, many of the 120 kph limits on the German autobahns have little to do with safety: They are there to keep the noise down as you pass through urban areas
ts behind the wheel of a car?There are hundreds of examples all over PH, but my spleen needs to be vented over the behaviour of the f
kwits who pass through rural villages at silly speeds, chucking McDonalds wrappers and coke cans out of the window, en-route...Before you all tell me I should be on Mumsnet, I don't have kids and probably wouldn't mind a few of the noisier ones being removed from the gene pool (especially as it's approaching the time of year the little scrotes set off f
king fireworks at random). However, for the 3rd time this week, I've nearly had the front of my car taken off by some commuter, hand holding his mobile phone, as he drives through a 30 limit at speeds visibly in excess of the NSL!!!! Past solid brick walls, with gateways in them, only about 18" of pavement not facilitating exiting householders to check the road before they creep out - does anyone here think that is OK? Really? It takes about 90 seconds to drive through this village at 30 mph, so how f
king important do you have to think you are, such that 45 seconds of your time is more valuable than the risk of killing someone (or something), a 28 day driving ban and a 3-figure fine, or writing yours and my car off and losing your NCB in the process?I was waiting for a lift recently and stood watching traffic for about 30 minutes (he was very late) and I reckon less than 25% of people driving past were within 5 mph of the speed limit! Probably more shocking was the fact that almost half were way way over the limit - and probably hadn't slowed down at all, from the 30 signs about 1/4 mile behind them. Interestingly, there was more than one of the really fast ones displaying PH stickers... (wish I'd had a camera with me).
I'm not at all self-righteous about speed on NSL roads, and accept that some speed restrictions appear a bit unnecessary, but, is it really worth all the risks to save a few seconds of your time? I think the longest village in England is only 2 miles long, or something, so we are talking 1 or 2 minutes maximum time saved, here...
How about having a bit of respect for everyone else and being a bit considerate - you never know whose house you are passing
Just as an aside, many of the 120 kph limits on the German autobahns have little to do with safety: They are there to keep the noise down as you pass through urban areas
I don't think it's just a thing that happens in cars, in my opinion the selfish/arrogant/inconsideracy of the general population has been on the rise in the last 10 years. It's mostly an attitude of "What's in it for me?" IME.
As far as driving standards goes, for once I think Clarkson nailed it - if you have no interest in it, you have no motivation to do it well. Every morning I commute with folks completely unable to deal with a NSL single-carriageway properly - they consistently drive much slower than conditions allow, almost stop for very reasonable bends, then blast through a congested 30 zone at 40-45mph, getting right up your chuff and waving if you slow down.
As far as driving standards goes, for once I think Clarkson nailed it - if you have no interest in it, you have no motivation to do it well. Every morning I commute with folks completely unable to deal with a NSL single-carriageway properly - they consistently drive much slower than conditions allow, almost stop for very reasonable bends, then blast through a congested 30 zone at 40-45mph, getting right up your chuff and waving if you slow down.
Edited by Krikkit on Wednesday 9th October 11:16
I believe it was all that namby-pamby "enabling" and "empowering" sh*t they taught in schools which put self, self, self over respect for others.
Then again, maybe it has always been that way, there are just more people so more inconsiderate people as a percentage.
There has always been pond life who use and abuse rather than seeing the bigger picture.
Then again, maybe it has always been that way, there are just more people so more inconsiderate people as a percentage.
There has always been pond life who use and abuse rather than seeing the bigger picture.
There's a short stretch of dual-carriageway near me which terminates at a mini-roundabout and feeds into a Tesco store. The left hand land is clearly signed as access to the store only; the right hand lane is the through route over the roundabout and, at peak times, traffic backs up heavily in this lane..
Never ceases to amaze (and irk) me just how many people bomb down the deserted left hand lane before trying to simply barge their way in at the roundabout to go straight on - to me, that's no different to someone shoving their shopping trolley in front of you after you've been queueing at the tills for the past 10 minutes. In the store, never likely to happen..
Funny how people change when they encapsulate themselves in a tin box, though..
Never ceases to amaze (and irk) me just how many people bomb down the deserted left hand lane before trying to simply barge their way in at the roundabout to go straight on - to me, that's no different to someone shoving their shopping trolley in front of you after you've been queueing at the tills for the past 10 minutes. In the store, never likely to happen..
Funny how people change when they encapsulate themselves in a tin box, though..
I definitely agree with the above assessments in that I really don't think it's just driving. It's a general, across the board thing.
Through my work I come into quite personal contact with lots and lots of people. The older ones aged 65 plus are still (for the most part) polite, decent and resonable people. Below that age the rate of arrogance, lack of manners and down-right rudeness increases and continues so down to the very young adults in increasing measure. Below about 40 years I say this 'type' is now by far in the majority!
It's one of the main reasons we're planning to up-sticks and leave.
Through my work I come into quite personal contact with lots and lots of people. The older ones aged 65 plus are still (for the most part) polite, decent and resonable people. Below that age the rate of arrogance, lack of manners and down-right rudeness increases and continues so down to the very young adults in increasing measure. Below about 40 years I say this 'type' is now by far in the majority!
It's one of the main reasons we're planning to up-sticks and leave.
derin100 said:
I definitely agree with the above assessments in that I really don't think it's just driving. It's a general, across the board thing.
Through my work I come into quite personal contact with lots and lots of people. The older ones aged 65 plus are still (for the most part) polite, decent and resonable people. Below that age the rate of arrogance, lack of manners and down-right rudeness increases and continues so down to the very young adults in increasing measure. Below about 40 years I say this 'type' is now by far in the majority!
It's one of the main reasons we're planning to up-sticks and leave.
Sadly, I agree and is one of the reasons I have also spent the last few days Googling property outside the UK...Through my work I come into quite personal contact with lots and lots of people. The older ones aged 65 plus are still (for the most part) polite, decent and resonable people. Below that age the rate of arrogance, lack of manners and down-right rudeness increases and continues so down to the very young adults in increasing measure. Below about 40 years I say this 'type' is now by far in the majority!
It's one of the main reasons we're planning to up-sticks and leave.
Trying not to be a grumpy old man about it, but I really do think there is a massive social problem developing - rapidly...
derin100 said:
I definitely agree with the above assessments in that I really don't think it's just driving. It's a general, across the board thing.
Through my work I come into quite personal contact with lots and lots of people. The older ones aged 65 plus are still (for the most part) polite, decent and resonable people. Below that age the rate of arrogance, lack of manners and down-right rudeness increases and continues so down to the very young adults in increasing measure. Below about 40 years I say this 'type' is now by far in the majority!
It's one of the main reasons we're planning to up-sticks and leave.
Do you live in a big city, by any chance? Through my work I come into quite personal contact with lots and lots of people. The older ones aged 65 plus are still (for the most part) polite, decent and resonable people. Below that age the rate of arrogance, lack of manners and down-right rudeness increases and continues so down to the very young adults in increasing measure. Below about 40 years I say this 'type' is now by far in the majority!
It's one of the main reasons we're planning to up-sticks and leave.
I've certainly experienced my fair share of close encounters over the years, but I agree there's definitely an air of "invincibility" on the roads at present, probably more-so than in previous years. Maybe it's drivers' perspective that "because everyone else does it, they can get away with it too," be it speeding, lack of indicating, incorrect lane positioning etc.
That Clarkson quote mentioned does sum it up fairly well, funnily enough. People who have no interest in something generally want to get it over and done with as quickly as possible, in order to move onto something they perhaps enjoy doing more...whatever that may be. It definitely is a danger on the roads and it harms those who generally pay due care and attention to the traffic conditions and laws. It's a shame, but I can't see such "unfortunate" practises ceasing anytime soon.
That Clarkson quote mentioned does sum it up fairly well, funnily enough. People who have no interest in something generally want to get it over and done with as quickly as possible, in order to move onto something they perhaps enjoy doing more...whatever that may be. It definitely is a danger on the roads and it harms those who generally pay due care and attention to the traffic conditions and laws. It's a shame, but I can't see such "unfortunate" practises ceasing anytime soon.
Impasse said:
Sounds like your village needs speed cameras, pinch points, speed bumps and a twenty limit. A perfect solution.
No, no, no, no, nooooo....So the noise doubles or trebles (from braking and accelerating), my own cars get wrecked in the process (as if the potholes aren't bad enough already), and, at night, it becomes the real life equivalent of GTA5 for the chavs in their s
tbox 'slammed' Saxos? No thanks!kambites said:
derin100 said:
I definitely agree with the above assessments in that I really don't think it's just driving. It's a general, across the board thing.
Through my work I come into quite personal contact with lots and lots of people. The older ones aged 65 plus are still (for the most part) polite, decent and resonable people. Below that age the rate of arrogance, lack of manners and down-right rudeness increases and continues so down to the very young adults in increasing measure. Below about 40 years I say this 'type' is now by far in the majority!
It's one of the main reasons we're planning to up-sticks and leave.
Do you live in a big city, by any chance? Through my work I come into quite personal contact with lots and lots of people. The older ones aged 65 plus are still (for the most part) polite, decent and resonable people. Below that age the rate of arrogance, lack of manners and down-right rudeness increases and continues so down to the very young adults in increasing measure. Below about 40 years I say this 'type' is now by far in the majority!
It's one of the main reasons we're planning to up-sticks and leave.
just a guess, but you live in the south? and by south i mean south of bedfordshire/hertfordshire.
whenever i head down any further than that i'm always struck by how horrible the driving standards are, the general lack of consideration for other road users, and the might-is-right rule.
much more pleasant up north, though in peak times it gets worse. never like the south though.
whenever i head down any further than that i'm always struck by how horrible the driving standards are, the general lack of consideration for other road users, and the might-is-right rule.
much more pleasant up north, though in peak times it gets worse. never like the south though.
Well if your mate had driven faster to pick you up, he wouldn't have been 30 minutes late!
TBH you are dead right though.
The quiet lane, that we live on, joins the main road through the village at a T-junction, with very little visibility each way and just after a bend.
Despite this cars fly down the road and someone is going to be killed there one day as they join the main road.
The number of fast food boxes and bags thrown out of passing car windows is really a problem too.
TBH you are dead right though.
The quiet lane, that we live on, joins the main road through the village at a T-junction, with very little visibility each way and just after a bend.
Despite this cars fly down the road and someone is going to be killed there one day as they join the main road.
The number of fast food boxes and bags thrown out of passing car windows is really a problem too.
Different regions seem to have different standards. Cannot agree about the north being better - try Bradford every day.
Last week on holiday in Aberdeenshire and can honestly say never came across a speeding problem, no indicators so generally good driving standards including farmers stopping at let you past.
And no speed bumps as well. Bliss.
Last week on holiday in Aberdeenshire and can honestly say never came across a speeding problem, no indicators so generally good driving standards including farmers stopping at let you past.
And no speed bumps as well. Bliss.
I'd say a minority in general but venture out in commuting traffic and the story is different! The one thing that has always annoyed me has been the way most motorists suddenly want to kill anyone who enters a roundabout, I mean what is the point of speeding up when you see a car in your path....can you not see how if you backed it off the roundabout would flow as intended and everyone could be a little less stressed?
It is the inevitable outcome of the nanny state society we are increasingly living in. If you treat people like children by creating 1000's of lowest common denominator laws, they start acting like children.
We need to get rid of 90% of the laws in this country and give people individual responsibility for their actions.
We need to get rid of 90% of the laws in this country and give people individual responsibility for their actions.
I (like to think that) I slow down through rural villages. I like to drive quickly or 'spiritedly'. Country lanes are one of the few places you can actually have fun on the UK road network, but it amazes me the amount of people who do 45mph everywhere. 30mph rural village? 45mph. Long straight corner with lots of good visibility? 45mph max, being sure to tap the brakes all the way round the bend. Car coming the other way, on the other side of the road? Better had brake.
It is very unusual, the parts of these peoples' journeys where they are at most risk to themselves and others is often completed well above the speed limit, but the bits where they could and should actually go faster they often don't...
It is very unusual, the parts of these peoples' journeys where they are at most risk to themselves and others is often completed well above the speed limit, but the bits where they could and should actually go faster they often don't...
Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff