Is anyone else terrified of driving or perhaps people?
Discussion
I used to love driving no matter the route, traffic, type of car or road. From a 3 cylinder small hatch to an MX5 to a V8 estate, from the M25 to a random single track lane in the highlands. I still do enjoy driving, especially some of the older cars I have owned, more-so when the conditions are good and the traffic is low.
Now I don't want to make this thread into another "driving standards" thread as I know the poor and dangerous driving standards of others are the main cause of my fear. However I am terrified of the general public on the road and it just seems to be getting worse, I have about 10 stories from the last month alone and me and my partner only do about 5000 miles a year.
It has crossed my mind that I am the problem which is why I am asking you lot if it's just me or does anyone else worry an awful lot more than they used to when they get in a car or in my case when they think about driving somewhere? I am considering getting rid of my older car for fear of my life, it has a pretty poor safety rating by modern standards and I'm sure a collision with someone watching the snooker on their phone while pulling out in front of me would probably kill me.
I love driving and I'm not sure I am ready to give it up entirely yet, and I'm really not sure I'm ready to drive a Volvo for the rest of my life.
Am I alone and if not how have you dealt with it?
I'm thinking at least a safer car with 7 airbags would put my mind at rest somewhat, something not too fast but still fun like a GT86 perhaps.
Now I don't want to make this thread into another "driving standards" thread as I know the poor and dangerous driving standards of others are the main cause of my fear. However I am terrified of the general public on the road and it just seems to be getting worse, I have about 10 stories from the last month alone and me and my partner only do about 5000 miles a year.
It has crossed my mind that I am the problem which is why I am asking you lot if it's just me or does anyone else worry an awful lot more than they used to when they get in a car or in my case when they think about driving somewhere? I am considering getting rid of my older car for fear of my life, it has a pretty poor safety rating by modern standards and I'm sure a collision with someone watching the snooker on their phone while pulling out in front of me would probably kill me.
I love driving and I'm not sure I am ready to give it up entirely yet, and I'm really not sure I'm ready to drive a Volvo for the rest of my life.
Am I alone and if not how have you dealt with it?
I'm thinking at least a safer car with 7 airbags would put my mind at rest somewhat, something not too fast but still fun like a GT86 perhaps.
A GT86 is not where I would be looking if I didnt feel safe on the roads. Compared to modern cars theyre small and low down, making the non-observant drivers youre worried about more likely to not see you. They don't feel particularly sturdy around you either, they are an awesome car to drive though.
As a side point, I'm quite a tall broad guy, and when I had mine after a while I had a bit of a realisation that if I had a crash and I ended up upside down I'm not sure I would be able to get out of it, and quite honestly that did frighten me a little bit.
As a side point, I'm quite a tall broad guy, and when I had mine after a while I had a bit of a realisation that if I had a crash and I ended up upside down I'm not sure I would be able to get out of it, and quite honestly that did frighten me a little bit.
The more years spent driving, the more silly things and mistakes you see. I think it's natural.
I recently had someone pull out in my lane into the space I was occupying while doing 70 on a motorway. Luckily there was enough space on the central reservation to avoid him and I just about managed to get my car back on the tarmac with no damage done. For a few months after that I was nervous about passing people, always wondering if they would not see me and pull out into me. It's not that driving standards had got worse, or the roads were any more dangerous now, I had just experienced a bit more.
I recently had someone pull out in my lane into the space I was occupying while doing 70 on a motorway. Luckily there was enough space on the central reservation to avoid him and I just about managed to get my car back on the tarmac with no damage done. For a few months after that I was nervous about passing people, always wondering if they would not see me and pull out into me. It's not that driving standards had got worse, or the roads were any more dangerous now, I had just experienced a bit more.
eldar said:
The UK has just about the safest roads in the world. Drive defensively and sensibly, no problem.
Yeah, this. expect the unexpected, especially when it comes to multi lane junctions, roundabouts, and traffic lights. i find defensive driving, giving yourself and people space, not sitting in peoples blind spots and so on is key.incidentally, where do you live, and what kind of accidents have you seen?
i dont like driving my manual sportscar through towns and cities - doesnt like stop start, doesnt have good visibility either to see or be seen. much more suited to open country roads. but the daily driver, no problem with stop start or visibility, helps its a slightly larger automatic.
Tam_Mullen said:
A GT86 is not where I would be looking if I didnt feel safe on the roads. Compared to modern cars theyre small and low down, making the non-observant drivers youre worried about more likely to not see you. They don't feel particularly sturdy around you either, they are an awesome car to drive though.
As a side point, I'm quite a tall broad guy, and when I had mine after a while I had a bit of a realisation that if I had a crash and I ended up upside down I'm not sure I would be able to get out of it, and quite honestly that did frighten me a little bit.
Good point, I am also tall and wide so maybe I'll avoid the GT86 as I had the same thoughts as you about when thinking about a newer MX5.As a side point, I'm quite a tall broad guy, and when I had mine after a while I had a bit of a realisation that if I had a crash and I ended up upside down I'm not sure I would be able to get out of it, and quite honestly that did frighten me a little bit.
Not sure there is much else that is lightweight and fun with a decent safety rating other than those two. A good hot hatch I suppose.
I'm not scared of other drivers as I assume they are poor and will not see me, so as advised by others defensive driving is key.
I would happily drive something with a poor safety rating as I will actively avoid contact with others. You can definitely over worry about these things.
I also work on the basis that I am an at best average driver, so I don't develop over confidence. It's part of growing up I guess, realising you are not as good as you think you are, so adjusting accordingly.
It is also worth considering the impact of social media, including forums, as we now all share and reinforce the idea that everything is getting worse. It seems a fair amount of silly or arrogant things, but rarely so I see something outright dangerous in the roads (including motorway driving, Leeds/Leicester/Nottingham/Sheffield). But according to PH, it's the wild west out there and you are likely to die every time you drive.
I would happily drive something with a poor safety rating as I will actively avoid contact with others. You can definitely over worry about these things.
I also work on the basis that I am an at best average driver, so I don't develop over confidence. It's part of growing up I guess, realising you are not as good as you think you are, so adjusting accordingly.
It is also worth considering the impact of social media, including forums, as we now all share and reinforce the idea that everything is getting worse. It seems a fair amount of silly or arrogant things, but rarely so I see something outright dangerous in the roads (including motorway driving, Leeds/Leicester/Nottingham/Sheffield). But according to PH, it's the wild west out there and you are likely to die every time you drive.
As you are using words like 'fear' and 'terrified' about your driving experience, have you considered an advanced driving course - IAM or ROSPA - or if you have done it before a refresher?
I can agree that the standard of driving on the roads can be very poor (and feels to be worse than I recall), however I don't generally feel afraid when driving. Perhaps some additional tuition/mentoring may help you address your perceptions of driving today and give you some pointers on observation/defensive driving to help ameliorate your concerns?
I think a Volvo would be just a sticking plaster - go sporty and drive around other people's problems.
I can agree that the standard of driving on the roads can be very poor (and feels to be worse than I recall), however I don't generally feel afraid when driving. Perhaps some additional tuition/mentoring may help you address your perceptions of driving today and give you some pointers on observation/defensive driving to help ameliorate your concerns?
I think a Volvo would be just a sticking plaster - go sporty and drive around other people's problems.
brillomaster said:
eldar said:
The UK has just about the safest roads in the world. Drive defensively and sensibly, no problem.
Yeah, this. expect the unexpected, especially when it comes to multi lane junctions, roundabouts, and traffic lights. i find defensive driving, giving yourself and people space, not sitting in peoples blind spots and so on is key.incidentally, where do you live, and what kind of accidents have you seen?
i dont like driving my manual sportscar through towns and cities - doesnt like stop start, doesnt have good visibility either to see or be seen. much more suited to open country roads. but the daily driver, no problem with stop start or visibility, helps its a slightly larger automatic.
Live in the North East so a pretty low volume of traffic for the most part compared to the rest of the country and in the last year significant accidents of memory:
- Child ran over on the pavement outside my house as a vehicle reversed into her while she waited to be picked up.
- 30-40 mph smash on a roundabout as a car a few in front of me pulled out straight into another car for some reason
- 50mph+ rear end to a vehicle just behind me in L1 as the traffic had stopped but L2 was moving at 30-40, the car in L1 didn't even look like they tried to use the brakes.
Loads of stuff in the years prior as well.
Come across a fair few crashes when just driving but haven't witnessed them happening as such.
In the last month and generally all the time and increasing constantly:
- Many lane cut ins and changes that are not safe.
- Loads of tailgating (not to me, I stick in L1 90% of time these days)
- Many people pulling out junctions not looking effectively especially in car parks and busy areas.
- As a passenger I see many people with youtube on their phone mounted on their dash/window.
- People sitting in my blind spot for no reason, truck in coming up in L1 a mile away they are in L2 and I obviously want to go past the truck. Cruise control set so not me changing speed.
- As a pedestrian multiple people running red lights
- Most people seem in a rush to go everywhere, 80mph down country lanes seems normal to them.
It's definitely worse the further South I go until you cross the channel, Europe and Scotland seem great in comparison.
I think the saying "expect the unexpected" is exactly the problem, I am constantly doing that and it doesn't help that it seems to be the only way to actually drive now. I shouldn't have to worry about someone coming through a red light when mine is green but for some reason I do. I am usually okay when in the car and deal with everything fine, maybe with a few words muttered under my breath, but I get home and think about how close to a big accident we came and I get anxious about it, think about chopping in the "fun" car and ensuring whatever the next car we get has a good safety rating at least. I am 100% less worried about the modern cars we own, knowing that they will stand up in a crash.
Saudade said:
I have about 10 stories from the last month alone
Are these 10 stories incidents where you’ve nearly had a crash with someone, or where you’ve observed two other cars crashing / nearly crashing?Hate to say it, but if it’s 10 incidents involving you, then you might be the problem and it might be time for a course on defensive driving… That or you live in a crash for cash hotspot!
You can help yourself massively by changing the way you drive. Watch any dash cam channel and you'll see clip after clip of poor observations, road manners and general all round poor driving. Learn to spot the signs of someone driving poorly, give them space and you'll have no problems. While I do think the driving standards have got worse since I started driving, I'm not by any means afraid to drive on the roads.
If you think driving is fearful in this country try being a cyclist! The pathological hatred is over-the-top intense in this dump of a place. You get deliberately attacked for no reason other than you want to cycle on roads many entitled motorists deem to be theirs alone.
But...it doesn't stop me. Nor should driving because of the poor standards of others stop you. As others have already highlighted: drive defensively and be constantly aware - as one should be anyway.
Drive defensively, treat others as potential idiots behind the wheel. I also find driving with my headlights on at all times, gives me better road presence to the masses, on the roads these days too.
I gave up road cycling due to the lack of awareness on the roads now, its shocking and disgraceful in all honesty - but that is for another thread.
I gave up road cycling due to the lack of awareness on the roads now, its shocking and disgraceful in all honesty - but that is for another thread.
Edited by 7 5 7 on Monday 19th February 09:26
Forester1965 said:
People now have so many distractions in their cars that lack of attention is a real problem.
I wouldn't be surprised if the average number of collisions per mile has actually increased over the past 20 years whilst KSIs have decreased due to better vehicle safety.
This is why I hate driving modern cars. Driving something quite from the VW group the other day and I wouldn't say I could safely change the blowers in the car without being distracted from actual driving with their bloody tablets to control everything. Just give me a button I know where it is and something physical to touch so I know I've executed it, not a Menu I need to read and scroll through on a tablet.I wouldn't be surprised if the average number of collisions per mile has actually increased over the past 20 years whilst KSIs have decreased due to better vehicle safety.
I think you are worrying perhaps more than you need to although it's wise to remain cautious as there are a hell a lot of cretinous drivers out on the roads.
It does vary depending on where you're driving. Head toward the South East, especially inside the M25 and driving styles definitely change. More aggression, more, 'me first' and impatience for sure. I lived there for 40 years until I moved last Autumn. But I wouldn't say it was terrifying, you just have to assume people are idiots and see if they prove you right.
It does vary depending on where you're driving. Head toward the South East, especially inside the M25 and driving styles definitely change. More aggression, more, 'me first' and impatience for sure. I lived there for 40 years until I moved last Autumn. But I wouldn't say it was terrifying, you just have to assume people are idiots and see if they prove you right.
Forums | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff