How do you cope with slow, dawdling, indecisive drivers?
Discussion
If on a stretch of road, all the vehicles ahead of a particular vehicle, have disappeared off into the distance. whilst behind a huge queue of vehicles has built up. then the driver of that particular vehicle is driving at an inappropriate speed for that section of road.
If they have a mechanical problem which requires them to go slowly and are trying to reach the next nearest layby, they should at least be using their hazard flashers, as they do represent a roads hazard.
If they are deliberately driving slowly, and have not used their mirrors, to see the huge queue of vehicles which has built up behind them, then perhaps they should not be on the roads at all?
This type of selfish, arrogant, (I will do what I want without any regard for those around me, even though I am being a complete a*se) behaviour, does constitute a roads hazard.
If they have a mechanical problem which requires them to go slowly and are trying to reach the next nearest layby, they should at least be using their hazard flashers, as they do represent a roads hazard.
If they are deliberately driving slowly, and have not used their mirrors, to see the huge queue of vehicles which has built up behind them, then perhaps they should not be on the roads at all?
This type of selfish, arrogant, (I will do what I want without any regard for those around me, even though I am being a complete a*se) behaviour, does constitute a roads hazard.
jools182 said:
I'm not saying anyone should race around with their arse on fire, or break speed limits, but the driving standards here are shocking. People don't pay attention to anything around them, drive at the same 25mph in 30 and 40 zones, there is no flow to traffic at all, just constant start stop
I know where you are coming from but don't forget those are limits not targets.Pan Pan said:
This type of selfish, arrogant, (I will do what I want without any regard for those around me, even though I am being a complete a*se) behaviour, does constitute a roads hazard.
Driving slowly should never be hazardous in itself because other drivers should drive at speeds appropriate to their sight-lines. However, it certainly can provoke other bad drivers to do stupid things.I've nothing against people driving slowly, but if you're moving markedly slower than other traffic (whatever vehicle you're in) you should periodically pull over to let people past; sadly very few people in any form of vehicle seem to do this.
james_gt3rs said:
Traffic lights have a lot to do with it I think. On my commute there's a chains of lights where if you are slow through the first one you'll get caught by the next one. The other day I was second in the queue, outside lane (2 lanes). The person in front set off slower than the person in left hand lane (normally that lane would drive quicker and make it through) so we all had to stop at the next lights 
I involuntarily raised my fist a bit and they saw that in the mirror, hope they realise how many people they hold up each day.
Oh god that. I involuntarily raised my fist a bit and they saw that in the mirror, hope they realise how many people they hold up each day.How is it possible for a modern small car to be out accelerated by a heavily laden artic truck? How do they manage it? Then you are stuck at the next lights when you need not have been. Oh and it'll be a 40 limit but they'll panic brake to from 35 to 25 for a speed camera, thus again missing the "green wave".
Just have to let them get on with it and wait.
If I win a big euromillion jackpot though I will be having adverts during Easterdalestreet pointing out what a bunch of utter tossers people who drive like that are, and that their family should shoot them.
Pan Pan said:
If they have a mechanical problem which requires them to go slowly and are trying to reach the next nearest layby, they should at least be using their hazard flashers, as they do represent a roads hazard.
kambites said:
Driving slowly should never be hazardous in itself because other drivers should drive at speeds appropriate to their sight-lines. However, it certainly can provoke other bad drivers to do stupid things.
I've nothing against people driving slowly, but if you're moving markedly slower than other traffic (whatever vehicle you're in) you should periodically pull over to let people past; sadly very few people in any form of vehicle seem to do this.
I agree with most of what you've said, but raise you the obligatory ph extreme:I've nothing against people driving slowly, but if you're moving markedly slower than other traffic (whatever vehicle you're in) you should periodically pull over to let people past; sadly very few people in any form of vehicle seem to do this.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-506094/Wom...
I agree tha all drivers have to be responsible for their own speed, and their own actions, but would argue that it is reasonable to have an expectation of other drivers to drive in a certain manner, given that they have presumably achieved a certification to be able to do so.
The speed limit IS a target. It is the speed at which you should be driving if the conditions mean that it is safe to do so. Driving below the speed limit when the speed limit would be a safe speed is bad driving.
You can receive a fixed penalty notice for driving too slowly. I would say that 25 in a 40 is worthy of a fine, to be honest.
A lot of people also do not seem to know how to use their gears, which is why most drivers are faster in automatics than manuals. "Push loud pedal hard to go faster" seems to be about as much as people can understand. It explains why a lot of vans seem fairly quick - they are automatic, have a throttle pedal that requires fairly little pressure to acheive 90% or so of full throttle and so dont need much thought to make go. The failure to use gears is why the driver who brakes down to 25 takes about a week to get back up to 40. 25mph in 4th gear isnt much fun for most cars.
You can receive a fixed penalty notice for driving too slowly. I would say that 25 in a 40 is worthy of a fine, to be honest.
A lot of people also do not seem to know how to use their gears, which is why most drivers are faster in automatics than manuals. "Push loud pedal hard to go faster" seems to be about as much as people can understand. It explains why a lot of vans seem fairly quick - they are automatic, have a throttle pedal that requires fairly little pressure to acheive 90% or so of full throttle and so dont need much thought to make go. The failure to use gears is why the driver who brakes down to 25 takes about a week to get back up to 40. 25mph in 4th gear isnt much fun for most cars.
Discoyou - The Code states that hazard flashers must only be used when stationary, but how many times have you seen them used on moving vehicles, on motorways, for example when a hazard presents itself, and drivers are trying to provide a warning for following traffic? I see this practice on a regular basis, and it seems to be quite effective.
Well... on one hand, Welcome to Britain.
The way to deal with it often is to set off earlier and listen to something more relaxing on the stereo.
What else can you do about it, realistically?
Human beings are creatures of habit and often quite aside from the benefit of more buffer time you find that you miss a load of people who leave the house at the same time as you used to (not too early though, then you run into people late for work half an hour earlier!)
On the other hand I agree with you on some points.
I think people's basic unwillingness to pull over compounds the problem of people thinking that driving 49 everywhere is the "right" way to drive nowadays.
People must know they're dawdling. Nothing in front, huge queue behind.
Why not just pull over?
169. Do not hold up a long queue of traffic, especially if you are driving a large or slow-moving vehicle. Check your mirrors frequently, and if necessary, pull in where it is safe and let traffic pass.
They should do a PSA advertising this. "PULL OVER, SOME PEOPLE HAVE LIVES TO GET TO".
The way to deal with it often is to set off earlier and listen to something more relaxing on the stereo.
What else can you do about it, realistically?
Human beings are creatures of habit and often quite aside from the benefit of more buffer time you find that you miss a load of people who leave the house at the same time as you used to (not too early though, then you run into people late for work half an hour earlier!)
On the other hand I agree with you on some points.
I think people's basic unwillingness to pull over compounds the problem of people thinking that driving 49 everywhere is the "right" way to drive nowadays.
People must know they're dawdling. Nothing in front, huge queue behind.
Why not just pull over?
169. Do not hold up a long queue of traffic, especially if you are driving a large or slow-moving vehicle. Check your mirrors frequently, and if necessary, pull in where it is safe and let traffic pass.
They should do a PSA advertising this. "PULL OVER, SOME PEOPLE HAVE LIVES TO GET TO".
Horse Pop said:
People must know they're dawdling. Nothing in front, huge queue behind.
You've already given them waayyyy too much credit.They are not thinking about anything like that. Mirrors are for looking in when reversing, if at all. Nobody infront...but why would there be. I wonder what's on the other radio station, where did I put that pen I liked etc etc
DevonPaul said:
Tyre Tread said:
All of those saying turn up the music and sit back and relax: Please would you mind leaving a gap in the train of cars that you're in so I can leapfrog and overtake you and the dawdler and enjoy the rest of my commute.
Last night I was 6 cars back from the front of a queue being held up by an HGV that was slowing to 15mph at times on hills on an NSL B road - Behind the HGV were an Audi TT (immediately behind the HGV) and a Subaru Imprezza (One car behind the Audi TT) - not one of these cars made a move to pass where it was perfectly safe to do so. Rqually there was no space between cars for me to lepfrog into.
You need more horsepower Last night I was 6 cars back from the front of a queue being held up by an HGV that was slowing to 15mph at times on hills on an NSL B road - Behind the HGV were an Audi TT (immediately behind the HGV) and a Subaru Imprezza (One car behind the Audi TT) - not one of these cars made a move to pass where it was perfectly safe to do so. Rqually there was no space between cars for me to lepfrog into.
The art of driving or making progress is a dying one these days.
Cotty said:
jools182 said:
I'm not saying anyone should race around with their arse on fire, or break speed limits, but the driving standards here are shocking. People don't pay attention to anything around them, drive at the same 25mph in 30 and 40 zones, there is no flow to traffic at all, just constant start stop
I know where you are coming from but don't forget those are limits not targets.Although they are only suggested limits, the limits on some motorway exit bends can safely be exceeded by 25% by any decent driver.
For the indecisive drivers I just hang back until an overtaking opportunity arrives which is usually in a mile or two.
Mr2Mike said:
swisstoni said:
OP should leave 5 mins earlier. Then all the other drivers will get miraculously better.
Doesn't work, you'll just get caught behind a different set of people with minimal driving ability. "Leave earlier" is very easy to say, but just not possible in many situations.In a 30, I try to go 30, regardless of the person in front of me. I've not touched bumper to bumper yet... but got close enough that my girlfriend starts hitting me. I tell her when I enter red, it puts me in a state of 'ultra awareness' and to be fair it does feel like that. Sorry if that makes me a bad person.
I'll try to overtake of course, if possible.
I'll try to overtake of course, if possible.
Overtake as soon as I get the opportunity, if they want to flash theirlights or try and speed up and block me, then good luck to them. Ditherers cause delays and frustration, and delays and frustration cause drivers (following the dawdlers) to make rash decisions.
There should be more come-back on drivers who are maliciously slow, or too incompetent to keep up with traffic, at the speed limit. Yes it's a limit, but to drive at 50% of the limit is, IMO, being deliberately obstructive. For example, 50mph in L1 of a 2 lane NSL DC, where limited HGVs are foced in to L2, should carry a points penalty.
Still yet to see Plod pulling over MLMs or people that are seemingly such a poor driver that they can't keep speeds up, despite working on the roads and seeing tens of thousands of passing motorists every day.
There should be more come-back on drivers who are maliciously slow, or too incompetent to keep up with traffic, at the speed limit. Yes it's a limit, but to drive at 50% of the limit is, IMO, being deliberately obstructive. For example, 50mph in L1 of a 2 lane NSL DC, where limited HGVs are foced in to L2, should carry a points penalty.
Still yet to see Plod pulling over MLMs or people that are seemingly such a poor driver that they can't keep speeds up, despite working on the roads and seeing tens of thousands of passing motorists every day.
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