Are the 42/42ers the worst kind of drivers in the world?

[jon-]

Yes, it's time for that thread again.

I've no problem following someone driving at 42 mph on an NSL road. Fine, if they don't feel safe controlling their car at 60, then it's better for the rest of the world if they drive more slowly.

So, continuing on the theme they have limited car control and / or reaction times, why the fk to they then either stay at 42 mph once the speed limit changes to 30, or even speed up.

This is further compounded if you've managed to overtake them in the 60 area. If the 30 area is long enough they will ONE HUNDRED PERCENT come and sit 2 feet off your rear bumper because you're now going too slowly.

So not only do they kill people in the 30 areas, they crash into you, cause global warming, make little kittens cry and are generally the worse peopledrivers in the world.

Unless someone else has a worst kind of driver?

I'm pretty sure Hitler was one of those drivers.

[TurboHatchback]

I have a theory: Many people over a certain age require reading glasses to see close things but when they wear them they cannot see far away things. Thus they can either see their instruments or where they are going but not both. As they cannot actually read how fast they are going they stick to what feels to them like a 'safe' speed.


Disclaimer: This hypothesis is based on wild assumptions and no actual evidence whatsoever.

[simo1863]

I don't get it either.

The only reasoning I can see is that they must feel all warm and secure when they are surrounded by buildings and pedestrians and so speed up.

Or maybe it's practical thinking; 'look at all these buildings to cushion me in a crash and all the people around that would be able to help.'

[boz1]

TurboHatchback said:

I have a theory: Many people over a certain age require reading glasses to see close things but when they wear them they cannot see far away things. Thus they can either see their instruments or where they are going but not both. As they cannot actually read how fast they are going they stick to what feels to them like a 'safe' speed.


Disclaimer: This hypothesis is based on wild assumptions and no actual evidence whatsoever.

I actually think there may well be considerable truth in this. Think about how prevalent reading glasses are and how most are bought off-the-shelf from at Boots or similar because it's cheaper and they "just need them for reading".

So they're not a proper prescription and they're certainly not multi-focals, so there's no way they can be suitable for general usage, certainly not for driving. But equally, if you need glasses to read a book, you very likely can't read the dashboard without them.

And we all know that if you slow down from 60mph, 30mph 'feels' very slow. Without a speedometer you'd think you'd either been going too fast beforehand or were too slow now, so subconsciously you'd make that differential smaller. Ergo, the 42mph driver.

[ferrariF50lover]

You obviously have a better class of moron where you live. Down here, all we have are 42/22ers who seem utterly incapable of anything. That said, they're usually fairly adept at flashing their lights when being overtaken, which seems odd.

Simon.

[The Wookie]

No, the worst drivers are those who sit in the outside lane doing 65 next to whatever car they're not-overtaking then speed up to 90 when they could move over.

fking hate the fking s. Kill them, kill them all!!

[Dracoro]

TurboHatchback said:

I have a theory: Many people over a certain age require reading glasses to see close things but when they wear them they cannot see far away things. Thus they can either see their instruments or where they are going but not both. As they cannot actually read how fast they are going they stick to what feels to them like a 'safe' speed.


Disclaimer: This hypothesis is based on wild assumptions and no actual evidence whatsoever.

May all be true, however they should then get appropriate glasses (bifocals, whatever) or stay off the roads. If you can't see ahead then you should not be on the road, if you cannot read your instruments you should not be on the road. Get glasses that can do both and you can be on the roads (and drive properly!).

Personally, I don't think glasses is the real reason (as they would still slow down for the 30s which they don't). I think they're the same morons that middle lane drive - they just get up a "comfortable" speed (and middle lane) and stay there until they have to stop - absolutely NO adaptation to the road traffic/conditions. Basically they do not think about their driving.

Edited by Dracoro on Friday 21st February 10:25

[99t]

ferrariF50lover said:

..42/22ers who seem utterly incapable of anything. That said, they're usually fairly adept at flashing their lights when being overtaken, which seems odd.

Yes I overtook a 42er in a country lane NSL, on a decent length straight with clearly sighted bends at either end and not another vehicle in sight.

Said 42er started sounding their horn quite literally the second I pulled out to start the overtake, so clearly were watching me so the "startled / woke up" argument doesn't wash.

Horn sounding lasted the duration of the overtake and was accompanied by light flashing afterwards. Utterly, utterly baffling behaviour...

[jon-]

The vision idea has legs, but as I find this scenario worst during the winter, I was assuming it was something to do with street lighting VS no lighting.

[Beau Nash]

Good idea about vision but I don't think it's the reason.

Assuming that their distance vision is either corrected optically or doesn't need correcting, the dashboard is only (I estimate) 0.75m to 1m away. This would require a reading correction of +1.50 dioptres to +1.00 dioptre (if they have no accommodation at all). This isn't enough to completely blur the speedo. They should certainly be aware of which direction the pointy speedo thing is pointing even if the numbers are slightly blurred.

My favoured explanation is that they're idiots.

[aka_kerrly]

TurboHatchback said:

I have a theory: Many people over a certain age require reading glasses to see close things but when they wear them they cannot see far away things. Thus they can either see their instruments or where they are going but not both. As they cannot actually read how fast they are going they stick to what feels to them like a 'safe' speed.


Disclaimer: This hypothesis is based on wild assumptions and no actual evidence whatsoever.

That's actually a very good point.

According to the DVLA if you need glasses you have less than 6/12 vision and read a number plate from 20m. As you say in less you have varivocal I'd be surprised if you can indeed read individual numbers on a speedo and be comfortable reading signs in the distance.

I can't find a stat from the UK but in the USA 75% / 225mil where some kind of glass/contact lens to improve vision and 60% opt for glasses - if it's broadly the same in the UK you'd expect to see a lot more people driving with glasses.

Perhaps it's because for most people in less you are required to by work, when would you have a eye test other than when you already know your vision has deteriorated or is progressively getting worse?!

[J4CKO]

Are these the same people that brake for corners when there is no need or brake for cars coming the other way, was behind one the other car, it was comical, some people just dont seem to have the motor and spatial awareness skills to control a tonne plus of motorised metal.

Oh, and he braked all the way down a massive hill.

[ManOpener]

As others have pointed out, the vision idea has some issues. If that were the case, why is the only time they aren't driving at 42 when they pull out into the middle of a wide single-carriageway A-road to try and block a perfectly safe, legal overtake whilst speeding up to match the car passing them? I suppose it could be coincidence, but then why has it happened three times in as many miles? It isn't a case of them noticing how slowly they're driving, because they immediately resume driving just as slowly once they make the life of the driver behind them so unbearable they turn off into a lay-by to gas themselves.

I think they must all just be s.

[anonymous-user]

The reason for the 40mph driver is quite simple, they don't think about the drive at all and are fully in auto pilot mode. When I drive I give it my full attention, check the dials, mirrors etc regularly and drive according to the road/conditions. These people are thinking about other things and might as well be a passenger in the vehicle.