Cut other drivers some slack - it won't hurt!

[duckers26]

Just been on a short journey with a colleague from Upminster to Romford which is about 4miles. Colleague has never done this journey before so has her sat nav and everything set up ready to go. What shocked us both was how rude and unhelpful other drivers were during our journey, deliberately blocking lanes and being generally aggressive. It's worth remembering that the car in front that's being a bit hesitant may be doing so because they're trying to follow the new route and concentrate on the traffic.

Also a lot of the lanes used for certain turns are local knowledge rather than highways code policy so it would be interesting to see all these brilliant drivers try and do the same thing in an area they did not know. There were just so many situations that could have been avoided with a little patience but it seems most people were too inconsiderate to help their fellow drivers. Several pieces of car related abuse on way (white rrs) and she was very stressed by the time we arrived and has had to take refuge in cafe Nero!

[PaulB81]

I'm guessing she is hot otherwise this thread would have been how some women drivers are too nervy and hesitant

[Nimbus]

satnav for a 4 mile journey ?

Perhaps preparing for the journey might have included looking at a map, rather than staring at a little screen and making last minute lane changes when the box beeped ?

[Torquey]

Good point. Maybe a quick look at a map before setting off might be a better approach in a situation like this.

[buggalugs]

I agree with the OP, if everyone was that tiny bit more accepting on the roads it'd be a much nicer place.

I let idiots people in all the time... mostly cause I know it'll probably me me taking the piss next time

[Pannywagon]

I don't know what Sat Nav she's using but every one I've experienced gives 2-3 warnings before you reach a junction.

Usually like this:

"in 600 yards take the right lane"

"In 300 yards take the right lane to follow the A***"

"In 150 yards..."

"Turn right to follow the A***"

Seems pretty simple.

[thinfourth2]

If you want to see a look of utter confusion

let someone out of a sidestreet in london

[motco]

Pannywagon said:

I don't know what Sat Nav she's using but every one I've experienced gives 2-3 warnings before you reach a junction.

Usually like this:

"in 600 yards take the right lane"

"In 300 yards take the right lane to follow the A***"

"In 150 yards..."

"Turn right to follow the A***"

Seems pretty simple.

Except that sometimes the satnav says 'bear right' at what has become a bend in the main road...

[B16JUS]

as above too many people rely on a sat nav rather than common sense.

i get anoyed with people keep slowing down with indicator on and then speeding up as they dont know what 300 yards is or too busy looking at the screen rather than the road ahead.

Sorry but it sounds like i would have been one of the impatient drivers

[marsred]

Nimbus said:

satnav for a 4 mile journey ?

Perhaps preparing for the journey might have included looking at a map, rather than staring at a little screen and making last minute lane changes when the box beeped ?

In OP's defence, whilst I don't use sat nav (not a fan) even studying a map won't tell you about the odd local quirks of lane usage, especially during a rush hour where queues can form way before lanes split etc.

The problem is that every nano second counts and their nano second is far more important than yours.

[buggalugs]

anonymous said:

[redacted]

That's exactly it! When I feel like being a dick aggressive to another driver, I try to imagine them as my mum, and it's suddenly a lot less stressful. I still get past/overtake people etc. but just do it without being pointlessly intimidating.

[Alfanatic]

buggalugs said:

anonymous said:

[redacted]

That's exactly it! When I feel like being a dick aggressive to another driver, I try to imagine them as my mum, and it's suddenly a lot less stressful. I still get past/overtake people etc. but just do it without being pointlessly intimidating.

OP has a good point, and I'm going to try the imagine its my mum advice next time someone does something completely unimportant to me, intentionally or not. A lot more tolerance is needed on the roads, and I'll be the first to admit that I could show more too.

Otherwise, the roads are going to end up like a PH thread.

[redgriff500]

I used to drive to new areas every day as part of my job - what's the big deal ?

If you can't drive, get off the bloody road.

[Pannywagon]

motco said:

Except that sometimes the satnav says 'bear right' at what has become a bend in the main road...

Which would require the use of eyes.

[g3org3y]

Pannywagon said:

motco said:

Except that sometimes the satnav says 'bear right' at what has become a bend in the main road...

Which would require the use of eyes.

But if you see this, be concerned.

[SD1992]

I always try to be considerate to other drivers - it takes almost no time off my journey and makes everyone else's a lot less stressful!

I remember driving into Edinburgh for the first time, relying on sat nav and my mate with a map in the passenger seat.

That was a stressful experience! If you suddenly ended up in the wrong lane by accident then it was the devil's own job trying to get in to the correct one!

The way I see it, if everyone lets one car out at a time then everyone's trip will go much more smoothly!

[oldcynic]

redgriff500 said:

I used to drive to new areas every day as part of my job - what's the big deal ?

If you can't drive, get off the bloody road.

Likewise, I've driven all over the UK trying to get as close as possible to town & city centre addresses I've never visited before. However I haven't always managed to be in the 'locally accepted' correct lane (which doesn't always connect with the paint on the road). As a way of life I got used to being patient and agressive assertive to correct these mistakes but that doesn't mean everyone is so confident.

Should we be removing about 80% of people from the country's roads because they can't magically drive perfectly in heavy traffic in an unfamiliar area, or should we all just get along and help each other out occasionally because there's a fair proportion of people on the road who don't actually want to be there. Look at how many cars arrive at the station in the morning where the guy gets out and the wife / gf moves to the drivers seat to continue the journey - man doesn't trust wife, or wife doesn't actually want to drive if she can help it?

I will now make a concerted effort to assume my mother is in the other car, it will make the whole tolerance thing more palatable (and no, she doesn't want to drive either. But sometimes she needs to.)

[thinfourth2]

redgriff500 said:

I used to drive to new areas every day as part of my job - what's the big deal ?

If you can't drive, get off the bloody road.

Why is your presence on the road more important then anyone elses?

[hunt_the_fox]

I'm glad that this thread has popped up, I'm not a very patient driver and need to be reminded from time to time that I need to chill out a bit. This thread has been such a reminder.

[bobr]

PaulB81 said:

I'm guessing she is hot otherwise this thread would have been how some women drivers are too nervy and hesitant

The OP holds the bat in the other hand, so to speak.