What is it with Russian drivers???

[BigsimonY]

Why are eastern European countries such crap drivers, its probably been asked before. There driving skills seem to be abnormally awful.

[carreauchompeur]

It's mainLy exposure- I think dash cams are an insurance requirement over there so you see disproportionately more videos of crazy Russkies.

[Matt UK]

Drink driving is still rife.

[Matt UK]

Drink driving is still rife.

[Limpet]

carreauchompeur said:

It's mainLy exposure- I think dash cams are an insurance requirement over there so you see disproportionately more videos of crazy Russkies.

I think there's definitely some truth in that, but a lot of the stuff you see on these videos is more outrageous than anything I've witnessed here in 22 years of driving 20-40k a year. People go for gaps that don't exist, drive through red lights, overtake on the pavement or verge, and completely ignore traffic lights. It's also the complete nonchalance with which both drivers and pedestrians react to these crashes. I watched a Lada swerve in front of a lorry, get clouted, and pushed sideways up the road for 100 metres or so. The passenger can be seen clearly from the lorry dash-cam. Completely deadpan in expression, she calmly reaches for the grab handle, with the front of a lorry inches from her head ploughing the car down the road.
Similarly, during/after a multi vehicle pileup at a pedestrian crossing. The pedestrians dodge the wreckage, walk around the carnage and continue their journey with barely a backward glance. It seems quite normal.

Edited by Limpet on Monday 2nd June 09:27

[skyrover]

Limpet said:

I think there's definitely some truth in that, but a lot of the stuff you see on these videos is more outrageous than anything I've witnessed here in 22 years of driving 20-40k a year. People go for gaps that don't exist, drive through red lights, overtake on the pavement or verge, and completely ignore traffic lights. It's also the complete nonchalance with which both drivers and pedestrians react to these crashes. I watched a Lada swerve in front of a lorry, get clouted, and pushed sideways up the road for 100 metres or so. The passenger can be seen clearly from the lorry dash-cam. Completely deadpan in expression, she calmly reaches for the grab handle, with the front of a lorry inches from her head ploughing the car down the road.
Similarly, during/after a multi vehicle pileup at a pedestrian crossing. The pedestrians dodge the wreckage, walk around the carnage and continue their journey with barely a backward glance. It seems quite normal.

Edited by Limpet on Monday 2nd June 09:27

Russians have a very low life expectancy compared to western nations.

This crosses all aspects of society, including alcohol and substance abuse, poor healthcare and low wages.

As a result it's a far "harsher" society than ours, where you will find people take more risks and life is somewhat "cheaper"

This, along with the sheer quantity of dash cam's out there increase our exposure.

[mwstewart]

It is on the whole a developing country. They have a lot of poverty related and social issues to resolve, so I don't think driving is really at the top of the list. That comes when a country is pretty well sorted in other areas.

[Countdown]

That's how people drive when there aren't any enforcements/sanctions.

The majority of car owners in the UK would face significant problems if they didn't comply with the law. Remove the threat of sanctions and people quickly resort to driving like selfish nobs.

[Dog Star]

I think it's something different - it's a totally different mindset.

There seems to be a total disconnection of the ability to assess risk and actions vs consequences.

[V8mate]

Dog Star said:

I think it's something different - it's a totally different mindset.

There seems to be a total disconnection of the ability to assess risk and actions vs consequences.

I think your initial premise is right, but not your deduction, IMO, of course.

I think life remains cheap in Russia, and the competitiveness which comes from the survival of the fittest is the natural instinct.

People drive with the same attitude that they live: 'I know where I'm going and nothing will stop me getting there; because sure as eggs is eggs, no-one is going to give me a helping hand en route'.

[Du1point8]

Dog Star said:

I think it's something different - it's a totally different mindset.

There seems to be a total disconnection of the ability to assess risk and actions vs consequences.

You still talking about russians or women drivers...

(lights blue torch paper... can now be seen running off to the hills to hide)

[Pesty]

said:

I think there's definitely some truth in that, but a lot of the stuff you see on these videos is more outrageous than anything I've witnessed here in 22 years of driving 20-40k a year. People go for gaps that don't exist, drive through red lights, overtake on the pavement or verge, and completely ignore traffic lights. It's also the complete nonchalance with which both drivers and pedestrians react to these crashes. I watched a Lada swerve in front of a lorry, get clouted, and pushed sideways up the road for 100 metres or so. The passenger can be seen clearly from the lorry dash-cam. Completely deadpan in expression, she calmly reaches for the grab handle, with the front of a lorry inches from her head ploughing the car down the road.
Similarly, during/after a multi vehicle pileup at a pedestrian crossing. The pedestrians dodge the wreckage, walk around the carnage and continue their journey with barely a backward glance. It seems quite normal.

Edited by Limpet on Monday 2nd June 09:27

I like that about slavic , eastern europeans/russians. Dont go waving their arms about screaming and squeeling

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=IhqUUBF_W6w

can you remember that commet looked like a missile they carried on.

1 drink, 2 amount of cameras. Can you imagine if africa, asia, south america had them all fitted? There are plenty of east asian ones around but they cant get shown on youtube

[danjama]

Is it possible that they are, on average, less intelligent?

[Cheburator mk2]

danjama said:

Is it possible that they are, on average, less intelligent?

You seem to share the same opionion as that Austrian chap, forgot his name... I think he dabbled with being an artist for a while...

[Lost soul]

Pesty said:

said:

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=IhqUUBF_W6w

The old boy takes it in his stride

"cor blimey I 've only just lit this fag up"

[aka_kerrly]

To be fair in some of those Russian videos the road layouts look terrible with upwards of 4 lanes of traffic to cross and a lack of traffic light discipline.

[Cotty]

carreauchompeur said:

It's mainLy exposure- I think dash cams are an insurance requirement over there so you see disproportionately more videos of crazy Russkies.

But they must have been having the accidents in the first place, for the insurance companies to insist on dash cams.

[iloveboost]

skyrover said:

Russians have a very low life expectancy compared to western nations.

This crosses all aspects of society, including alcohol and substance abuse, poor healthcare and low wages.

As a result it's a far "harsher" society than ours, where you will find people take more risks and life is somewhat "cheaper"

This, along with the sheer quantity of dash cam's out there increase our exposure.

I agree. They seem to have more political corruption and more organised crime/hate than us as well. Plus guns seem to be easily available which isn't great. Largest arms producer in the world still I think.

[iloveboost]

Cotty said:

But they must have been having the accidents in the first place, for the insurance companies to insist on dash cams.

It was to reduce the car insurance fraud that was occurring. There's some in this country but in Russia it got so bad that the insurance companies insisted they needed video evidence of the crash to consider paying out.

[Funk]

They just don't seem to even look half the time, they just go/pull out into traffic. Also seem to be driving far too fast for the conditions half the time, many are probably drunk and I'm sure that when they can see an accident happening that they'll be able to claim for, they just let it happen in order to get a payout/new car etc.