How do you cope with slow, dawdling, indecisive drivers?
Discussion
Dr Doofenshmirtz said:
Laser Sag said:
Dr Doofenshmirtz said:
This - absolutely 100%. It is the ONLY way...or walk, or take the train (but then people still get in your way).
Motorcycles really are the only way. Unless it's snowing, or forecast to snow, I'll be on the bike. Completely stress free and overtaking all you poor sheep who haven't discovered the better way.
20 years ago I would have agreed with this but I see too many idiots in cars/vans etc that don't have any awareness of what is going on around them that I just wouldn't contemplate a return to two wheelsMotorcycles really are the only way. Unless it's snowing, or forecast to snow, I'll be on the bike. Completely stress free and overtaking all you poor sheep who haven't discovered the better way.
You can usually spot them a mile off.
goldblum said:
GC8 said:
goldblum said:
GC8 said:
Rovinghawk said:
The longer we dwell on our misfortunes, the greater is their power to harm us. Voltaire.
Corrected. 
Still relevant even though it doesn't quite fit in now.
With a little lateral thinking Im sure that the OP can take something from it.
My Driving instructor taught me on the first lesson- assume every driver is an idiot until proven otherwise.
27 years of driving and i still remember that and it works well.
I was taught "roadcraft" and lane positioning as part of my lessons, being Assertive and not Aggressive etc. Visibility is the most important thing in most driving situations, especially overtaking.
And always give yourself a "plan b" - what if that car brakes suddenly? What if someone walks out in front of you? etc. Basically always be prepared to stop and give yourself enough space.
Anyone passed recently to know if they teach this kind of thing nowadays?
27 years of driving and i still remember that and it works well.
I was taught "roadcraft" and lane positioning as part of my lessons, being Assertive and not Aggressive etc. Visibility is the most important thing in most driving situations, especially overtaking.
And always give yourself a "plan b" - what if that car brakes suddenly? What if someone walks out in front of you? etc. Basically always be prepared to stop and give yourself enough space.
Anyone passed recently to know if they teach this kind of thing nowadays?
I think we lose perspective when on the road, that dawdler becomes the end of the world when in reality its a couple of minutes tops, we get all irate, make rash, possibly dangerous decisions and then arrive home all stressed and mostly just plonk in a chair and watch crap on telly.
Sometimes the type of obstruction will annoy us, the make of car, the type of driver, it may be a pushbike or a Horse box but how often is it a life or death situation, how much is irrational, sometimes I think some people are looking to be offended or wronged in some way, sometimes it is ego taking over.
Part of driving is accepting that using the roads involves other people who may frustrate but it comes with the territory, either get used to it or perhaps hang up your driving gloves.
Sometimes the type of obstruction will annoy us, the make of car, the type of driver, it may be a pushbike or a Horse box but how often is it a life or death situation, how much is irrational, sometimes I think some people are looking to be offended or wronged in some way, sometimes it is ego taking over.
Part of driving is accepting that using the roads involves other people who may frustrate but it comes with the territory, either get used to it or perhaps hang up your driving gloves.
Laser Sag said:
Dr Doofenshmirtz said:
Laser Sag said:
Dr Doofenshmirtz said:
This - absolutely 100%. It is the ONLY way...or walk, or take the train (but then people still get in your way).
Motorcycles really are the only way. Unless it's snowing, or forecast to snow, I'll be on the bike. Completely stress free and overtaking all you poor sheep who haven't discovered the better way.
20 years ago I would have agreed with this but I see too many idiots in cars/vans etc that don't have any awareness of what is going on around them that I just wouldn't contemplate a return to two wheelsMotorcycles really are the only way. Unless it's snowing, or forecast to snow, I'll be on the bike. Completely stress free and overtaking all you poor sheep who haven't discovered the better way.
You can usually spot them a mile off.
GC8 said:
SMIDSY is real! Easily avoided by moving your head as you look (and looking again as you pull out, too), but I suppose that you have to be aware of the phenomenon before you can actively counter it.
I agree, it's absolutely real, but I think drivers are much better trained now, they know it's a possibility and appreciate the consequences better. In the old days many drivers simply didn't bother to look properly and pulled out willy-nilly. In fact, they'd often pull out even if they saw you coming because bikers were considered to be scum and deserved everything they got - you'd probably get two fingers into the bargain. These days people know that a bike can do serious damage and that, instead of being ridden by a oik. it may be the, frighteningly expensive, chosen transport of a high powered solicitor etc. People have changed!
Jagmanv12 said:
OK, imo the limits are set to the lowest skilled driver and are easily reached by most reasonably skilled drivers. The limits are usually set too low. The exception being outside schools, etc.
Although they are only suggested limits, the limits on some motorway exit bends can safely be exceeded by 25% by any decent driver.
The other issue is the 30mph limit was set in 1930 when cars had poor brakes, bad handling etc. The 70mph limit was set in 1965 also not the height of vehicle excellence in the handling and braking stakes. Although they are only suggested limits, the limits on some motorway exit bends can safely be exceeded by 25% by any decent driver.
The cars have moved with the times but people have not, especially a lot of the older generation who remember those times and cars. My first car was an Austin A30 1954, I now have a Lotus Elise so I know what a car of that era drove like compared to a modern car. My current car can accelerate, brake and corner much much better than my first car. But some people can't get their head around that, "you went round that corner much too quickly". No I went round the corner at least half the speed the car is capable of going round it safely.
Mr Snap said:
Been biking since the early 70's and have never taken a car test. IMHO the quality of car driving has improved enormously in this time. Very rare these days to have someone actually try to 'take you out' (which really used to happen), block overtakes or go for a SMIDSY. Maybe I've just got better at spotting them coming but I feel safer now than ever before.
You have done well but I think from the improved driving part of your post you must ride on different roads to me LOL.This time of year a large percentage of drivers can't even be bothered to clear their windows of frost or mist let alone bother to look out for other motorists, motor cyclists etc.
took me a few seconds to work out SMIDSY must be getting old.
Wait for a safe opportunity. Check your mirrors and entrances and exits further up the road and then pagger the throttle into the floor past them and empty the ashtray out the window and flick them the v's.
Or
Let them get on with it. You never know they might have just had a big lunch.
Or
Let them get on with it. You never know they might have just had a big lunch.
Disco You said:
Maximum attack mode as soon as the other direction is clear.
This.I had a Micra pull out in front of me the other day and it proceeded to dawdle along at 25mph in a 40. We then went down a modest hill and of course the Micra's brake lights were on all the way down (bluerinse driver was covering the pedal).
I dropped to 2nd gear and gave it the beans and passed it as soon as the road straightened a little.
A little childish of me perhaps, but god, I couldn't take another second of it.
I never really noticed how few people pay attention when driving until I got a motorbike. (Maybe because I wasn't paying attention...) I imagine a lot of the automatons I see on the road won't have noticed the bike overtaking them.
Strangely the only people who react to me over taking are stationary drivers.
Strangely the only people who react to me over taking are stationary drivers.
That is stress for you, it a hard lesson but you have to learn not to beat yourself up over things you can do nothing about.
You can't stop people driving slowly or stopping for a reason you can't fathom or just being pillock's, these things just happen but how you react to it is something you can control.
You can't stop people driving slowly or stopping for a reason you can't fathom or just being pillock's, these things just happen but how you react to it is something you can control.
GrizzlyBear said:
For goodness sake, just stay back and let them get on with it. They are probably going slow for a reason; looking for an address etc.
You will just put yourself in an early grave getting annoyed about things like this.
True, I must Learn to keep a lid on it sometimes.You will just put yourself in an early grave getting annoyed about things like this.
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