What was your last driving mistake
Discussion
Nearly colliding with a oncoming car that was on the wrong side of the road whilst it was overtaking a parked van the other morning.
It was only when I'd regained my composure and was trying to make sense of why the other driver was apparently suicidal I saw that the van belonged to a Road Working Contractor. Standing in front of the van, and completely obscured from my perspective, was a chap with a Stop / Go Board with which I would have stopped immediately had I been in possession of X-Ray vision.
Returning home later and wondering why there wasn't another person, with another Stop / Go board, present I realised that I had exited the road from my village, joined the main road and covered several hundred yards in the middle of the previously unsigned traffic control. There were no indications anywhere or advanced notice that the mobile works were going to occur nor anyone at the end of the road equipped to deal with three way traffic.
However, I should have been more attentive and viewed the parked up van with far greater suspicion than I did.
It was only when I'd regained my composure and was trying to make sense of why the other driver was apparently suicidal I saw that the van belonged to a Road Working Contractor. Standing in front of the van, and completely obscured from my perspective, was a chap with a Stop / Go Board with which I would have stopped immediately had I been in possession of X-Ray vision.
Returning home later and wondering why there wasn't another person, with another Stop / Go board, present I realised that I had exited the road from my village, joined the main road and covered several hundred yards in the middle of the previously unsigned traffic control. There were no indications anywhere or advanced notice that the mobile works were going to occur nor anyone at the end of the road equipped to deal with three way traffic.
However, I should have been more attentive and viewed the parked up van with far greater suspicion than I did.
My main point with this thread was just to get people thinking about their own driving - if everyone took some time to think about their own driving (which is all each of us is really in control of) our roads could become nicer places to be! So thanks to all who've replied so far 
vikingaero said:
Thinking about it. Nothing. Really. I prefer to drive early to avoid traffic so as a consequence I reduce my exposure to other traffic. I subscribe to the rule of ghosting - minimising inconvenience to others unless inevitable. Maybe once or twice I should have let people out.
This reply made me think about little mistakes that I'm less aware of making. Most of my specific mistakes I can recall involved some sort of emotional reaction (anger, shock etc), but after thinking about it I know I do: speed creep (if not using cruise control); misjudging relative speed when overtaking on a motorway (and either moving in to let someone past who doesn't pass in time OR taking too long myself to get past whatever I was overtaking); changing routes to avoid traffic and hitting worse traffic; getting stuck in the wrong lane (usually only on unfamiliar roads with busy traffic); not leaving enough distance between myself and the car in front. ghost83 said:
On back lanes towards Brid fin my golf gti I was making very swift progress and it was icy I rounded a bend and hit ice my arms crossed as the wheels turned and I was heading for a brief 2 seconds towards a hedge at around 60-80mph
Not good!
I lifted the car and it’s diff gripped and I rode it out
"A dab of oppo and I was away. The road to Brid is a b*tch and I spanked it" https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/imgs/2.gifNot good!
I lifted the car and it’s diff gripped and I rode it out
No heroics in my sad tale, and all at low speed. Roundabout, where my exit lane was chock full but moving intermittently. Decided the queue was going to move and clear the lane, but no. Someone ahead stopped. Bugger. Cue Golf approaching at speed, wanting to pass through. Now hemmed in. Much waving and shouting. Me: silent and contemplative. Driver then got out and started to move towards me, still bawling and gesticulating. At which my Boxer dog in the back started to get very, very vocal. Rare, but he meant it! Mr Cross retreated, and contented himself with a little wheelspin as a gap opened. Memo to self: never assume.
I hit a large rock in a car park. I was looking at the space i was going to reverse into, and just didn't expect the rock! Fortunately not too fast, so only some plastic bumper damage - which I won't repair until i have to.
When younger, I expect generally being a little aggressive against those I perceive as being wrong. Similar to the OP, but now I think I am very forgiving, as it doesn't matter really!
When younger, I expect generally being a little aggressive against those I perceive as being wrong. Similar to the OP, but now I think I am very forgiving, as it doesn't matter really!
Coming off a roundabout in the wet onto a dual carriageway which has a sight left hand curve to it. Felt the back end go, attempted to steer into it but far too late to save it and the car did a graceful 360 degree spin.
Luckily didn't hit anything. But I did find myself stalled on the inside lane (having entered the DC on the outside). Car finally fired up after a lot of cranking and I gingerly drove home. Phoned up a mobile tyre fitter and got 4 rainexpert tyres fitted the next day!
Luckily didn't hit anything. But I did find myself stalled on the inside lane (having entered the DC on the outside). Car finally fired up after a lot of cranking and I gingerly drove home. Phoned up a mobile tyre fitter and got 4 rainexpert tyres fitted the next day!
cholo said:
Other day, start of a long journey, accidentally pressed the button for the Christmas CD.
Kids wouldn't let me turn it off.
2 hours of jingle bells/When Santa got stuck up the chimney.
Big Mistake.
Kids wouldn't let me turn it off.
2 hours of jingle bells/When Santa got stuck up the chimney.
Big Mistake.
Trying to set off, forgetting that I still had the handbrake engaged.
Edited by AppleJuice on Monday 22 January 11:44
Pulling into a bay at McDonald's with a fence in front of it. It was icy. I braked. The car didn't stop as quickly as I had intended. Hit the fence (at like 5mph) and scraped the underside on the very raised kerb the fence was sat on top of. Result - front bumper slightly popped off, and front undertray broken. Oops.
Jag_luvver said:
vikingaero said:
Thinking about it. Nothing. Really. I prefer to drive early to avoid traffic so as a consequence I reduce my exposure to other traffic. I subscribe to the rule of ghosting - minimising inconvenience to others unless inevitable. Maybe once or twice I should have let people out.
This reply made me think about little mistakes that I'm less aware of making. Most of my specific mistakes I can recall involved some sort of emotional reaction (anger, shock etc), but after thinking about it I know I do: speed creep (if not using cruise control); misjudging relative speed when overtaking on a motorway (and either moving in to let someone past who doesn't pass in time OR taking too long myself to get past whatever I was overtaking); changing routes to avoid traffic and hitting worse traffic; getting stuck in the wrong lane (usually only on unfamiliar roads with busy traffic); not leaving enough distance between myself and the car in front. Don't get me wrong, I make mistakes, we all do, but it's about driving to reduce them. Everyone should learn to Ghost - it's inevitable that your presence will stop cars joining roundabouts or coming out of junctions, but Ghosting is about not being a t
t and making a U-turn and inconveniencing 20 cars who have to stop for you.Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff