Driving standards...?
Discussion
I don't know, it's getting a bit scary out there, every time I go on a journey these days I seem to witness some sort of really serious accident. Some of these accidents are TBQH mind boggling, they leave me wondering how on earth they could have happened.
Things I've personally witnessed...a high performance Audi ploughing straight into the back of a stationary Mini Bus at what must have been well over 80mph.
Another one was a van that suddenly veered into the central reservation for no apparent reason, turned over and knocked another car off the road.
Another, I was driving in Kent recently on the M20, three BMW's (M3/M5's?) were racing and weaving violently in and out of heavy traffic. I just slowed right down thinking that there has to be an accident at some point, but luckily nothing happened.
But, what really gets me, big time, is when fellow road users shout abuse at "me" for slowing down and pulling over to offer help to victims of crashes, it really does obliterate my faith in human nature completely.
Things I've personally witnessed...a high performance Audi ploughing straight into the back of a stationary Mini Bus at what must have been well over 80mph.
Another one was a van that suddenly veered into the central reservation for no apparent reason, turned over and knocked another car off the road.
Another, I was driving in Kent recently on the M20, three BMW's (M3/M5's?) were racing and weaving violently in and out of heavy traffic. I just slowed right down thinking that there has to be an accident at some point, but luckily nothing happened.
But, what really gets me, big time, is when fellow road users shout abuse at "me" for slowing down and pulling over to offer help to victims of crashes, it really does obliterate my faith in human nature completely.
Edited by griff59 on Wednesday 12th December 11:49
This being PH, 50% of the first page will be people telling you either you are wrong or it's your fault somehow.
You are right though. Even the small subtleties of driving seem to be vanishing.
The thing I'm noticing is people no longer drive at a consistent distance from the kerb, but seem to veer towards the middle of the road and back, seemingly at random.
You are right though. Even the small subtleties of driving seem to be vanishing.
The thing I'm noticing is people no longer drive at a consistent distance from the kerb, but seem to veer towards the middle of the road and back, seemingly at random.
I don't know if driving standards have fallen or if its a Baader-Meinhof phenomenon. Accidents are holding pretty steady maybe up a hair this year.
The last example you mention is the one that concerns me. In my former life I had some dealings with international emergency services. Some countries have legislation that forces people to stop and help (Pedestrians and motorists) I always used to counter that we didn't need that in the UK and I meant it. Its a cause of great shame for me that I am no longer sure its the case.
The last example you mention is the one that concerns me. In my former life I had some dealings with international emergency services. Some countries have legislation that forces people to stop and help (Pedestrians and motorists) I always used to counter that we didn't need that in the UK and I meant it. Its a cause of great shame for me that I am no longer sure its the case.
Johnnytheboy said:
The thing I'm noticing is people no longer drive at a consistent distance from the kerb, but seem to veer towards the middle of the road and back, seemingly at random.
Potholes? Most of the roads round here require a choice between driving a slalom course or crashing through risking damage. 
Can't say I see accidents as such but I would confidently say that most of the drives I take, I will see someone do something stupid. Whether I'm directly involved or an observer.
Sense of entitlement and a lack of courtesy are two huge problems in my opinion.
Many drivers out there think that they their entitlement to do what they want somehow overrules the Highway Code, road markings and signage. In turn anyone who doesn't adhere to that, will be in the wrong. Take that muppet in the Evo that's doing the rounds on Youtube etc. Coming down the slip road, lorry can't move aside and despite the fact that it's not the Evo drivers right of way, he gets the ache with the lorry driver, brake testing etc etc. Regardless of the fact that the Evo driver has a give way marking to cross, well he should have been let in regardless of the practicalities because of his own self importance (and lack of anticipation).
Lack of courtesy is the other thing. Engineering a problem out of dogged stubbornness which we see so often on dash cam videos. Someone joining a roundabout before you but to your left, accelerate to cause a problem then kick up a stink. Someone accidentally in the wrong lane? Close that gap and make life difficult for them, then hit the horn and show them how angry you are. Alternatively, ease off let them change lanes and move on.
Combination of crap drivers, which is inevitable and then the self righteous lot who have developed their own code of right and wrong who are set out to teach the world! Bad combination.
Sense of entitlement and a lack of courtesy are two huge problems in my opinion.
Many drivers out there think that they their entitlement to do what they want somehow overrules the Highway Code, road markings and signage. In turn anyone who doesn't adhere to that, will be in the wrong. Take that muppet in the Evo that's doing the rounds on Youtube etc. Coming down the slip road, lorry can't move aside and despite the fact that it's not the Evo drivers right of way, he gets the ache with the lorry driver, brake testing etc etc. Regardless of the fact that the Evo driver has a give way marking to cross, well he should have been let in regardless of the practicalities because of his own self importance (and lack of anticipation).
Lack of courtesy is the other thing. Engineering a problem out of dogged stubbornness which we see so often on dash cam videos. Someone joining a roundabout before you but to your left, accelerate to cause a problem then kick up a stink. Someone accidentally in the wrong lane? Close that gap and make life difficult for them, then hit the horn and show them how angry you are. Alternatively, ease off let them change lanes and move on.
Combination of crap drivers, which is inevitable and then the self righteous lot who have developed their own code of right and wrong who are set out to teach the world! Bad combination.
Mobile phones. I saw a young lady texting with two hands at the wheel the other day....with a toddler strapped in the rear seat.
The law doesn't work as the penalties are not harsh enough. 6 pts, £500 fine and confiscation of the phone should be the minimum.
I know of two people (mates mum and friend of my mums) who have died as a result of phone users.
The law doesn't work as the penalties are not harsh enough. 6 pts, £500 fine and confiscation of the phone should be the minimum.
I know of two people (mates mum and friend of my mums) who have died as a result of phone users.
Alex_225 said:
Someone accidentally in the wrong lane? Close that gap and make life difficult for them, then hit the horn and show them how angry you are. Alternatively, ease off let them change lanes and move on.
Yes I see this more and more. It's the "Not getting in front of me mate" syndrome, but possibly caused in part by the people who will use a rat run to gain a few spaces in queuing traffic.Something I'm also seeing a lot of is people in lane one of a motorway using the on-slip at a junction to undertake a few cars, regardless of a) the legality of it and b) the traffic already using the slip road to join the motorway.
king arthur said:
Alex_225 said:
Someone accidentally in the wrong lane? Close that gap and make life difficult for them, then hit the horn and show them how angry you are. Alternatively, ease off let them change lanes and move on.
Yes I see this more and more. It's the "Not getting in front of me mate" syndrome, but possibly caused in part by the people who will use a rat run to gain a few spaces in queuing traffic.Something I'm also seeing a lot of is people in lane one of a motorway using the on-slip at a junction to undertake a few cars, regardless of a) the legality of it and b) the traffic already using the slip road to join the motorway.
The whole undertaking on slip lanes is definitely prevalent. The bulk of my driving is on the motorway, the South West section of the M25 being a big part. Obviously that section of road slows down frequently and you will often see people either squeeze around cars to get further along or actively move into the slip lanes to force their way in further along, even crossing solid white lines because they can see the traffic moving slightly quicker.
Graveworm said:
I don't know if driving standards have fallen or if its a Baader-Meinhof phenomenon. Accidents are holding pretty steady maybe up a hair this year.
The last example you mention is the one that concerns me. In my former life I had some dealings with international emergency services. Some countries have legislation that forces people to stop and help (Pedestrians and motorists) I always used to counter that we didn't need that in the UK and I meant it. Its a cause of great shame for me that I am no longer sure its the case.
I just can't drive by an accident knowing that the occupants of cars could be helped, it could mean the difference between life and death. I think we have to draw the line though, if it's not safe to go on the carriageway or if there's a major fire, or carnage, then just leave it to the emergency services. A policeman said to me that you have to make sure you don't ad another fatality to the incident, your own! The last example you mention is the one that concerns me. In my former life I had some dealings with international emergency services. Some countries have legislation that forces people to stop and help (Pedestrians and motorists) I always used to counter that we didn't need that in the UK and I meant it. Its a cause of great shame for me that I am no longer sure its the case.
The driver of the Audi was in shock and couldn't move, the front of the car was smoking and I just gently lifted him out and propped him up on the grass verge out of harms way in case the car burst into flames. I made sure the emergency services were on the way and I drove off. I would never stop, or do anything that I thought would put myself or others in any danger.
Normally others are there before I have had a chance to help, so I guess a lot of people have the same instinct.
I don't know about figures, but I'm only going from my experience, even my partner mentions it, she's noticed an increase not only in accidents, but blatant bad driving.
I must admit, that since I got my TVR I'm a lot more aware, generally, and my observation and concentration is higher, so maybe I'm noticing things more, but as far as serious accidents are concerned, they do seem to be a regular occurnace on recent journeys, much more than I used to experience them.
Edited by griff59 on Wednesday 12th December 13:12
Alex_225 said:
Can't say I see accidents as such but I would confidently say that most of the drives I take, I will see someone do something stupid. Whether I'm directly involved or an observer.
Sense of entitlement and a lack of courtesy are two huge problems in my opinion.
Many drivers out there think that they their entitlement to do what they want somehow overrules the Highway Code, road markings and signage. In turn anyone who doesn't adhere to that, will be in the wrong. Take that muppet in the Evo that's doing the rounds on Youtube etc. Coming down the slip road, lorry can't move aside and despite the fact that it's not the Evo drivers right of way, he gets the ache with the lorry driver, brake testing etc etc. Regardless of the fact that the Evo driver has a give way marking to cross, well he should have been let in regardless of the practicalities because of his own self importance (and lack of anticipation).
Lack of courtesy is the other thing. Engineering a problem out of dogged stubbornness which we see so often on dash cam videos. Someone joining a roundabout before you but to your left, accelerate to cause a problem then kick up a stink. Someone accidentally in the wrong lane? Close that gap and make life difficult for them, then hit the horn and show them how angry you are. Alternatively, ease off let them change lanes and move on.
Combination of crap drivers, which is inevitable and then the self righteous lot who have developed their own code of right and wrong who are set out to teach the world! Bad combination.
Sense of entitlement and a lack of courtesy are two huge problems in my opinion.
Many drivers out there think that they their entitlement to do what they want somehow overrules the Highway Code, road markings and signage. In turn anyone who doesn't adhere to that, will be in the wrong. Take that muppet in the Evo that's doing the rounds on Youtube etc. Coming down the slip road, lorry can't move aside and despite the fact that it's not the Evo drivers right of way, he gets the ache with the lorry driver, brake testing etc etc. Regardless of the fact that the Evo driver has a give way marking to cross, well he should have been let in regardless of the practicalities because of his own self importance (and lack of anticipation).
Lack of courtesy is the other thing. Engineering a problem out of dogged stubbornness which we see so often on dash cam videos. Someone joining a roundabout before you but to your left, accelerate to cause a problem then kick up a stink. Someone accidentally in the wrong lane? Close that gap and make life difficult for them, then hit the horn and show them how angry you are. Alternatively, ease off let them change lanes and move on.
Combination of crap drivers, which is inevitable and then the self righteous lot who have developed their own code of right and wrong who are set out to teach the world! Bad combination.
280E said:
An inability to keep close to the kerb on narrow roads - and general lack of positional accuracy regarding the car's width
This was I was referring to above. Though I'm increasingly thinking that some drivers' drifting about is sending a "you won't get past me" message. A recent trend round me seems to be moving to the right after merging or coming off roundabouts, as if to prevent a non existent car getting past. Also approaching roundabouts on the right and then getting to the left at the last moment, as if to prevent right turning cars getting next to you.
I don't know if driving standards are getting worse.
What I observe is that more people are driving fairly wide (by UK standards of recent decades) cars, very insulated from the outside, with little "feel" from the driving seat and often with tall rims/low profile tyres. Mobile phone use whilst driving is the norm, as is weaving about and failing to notice traffic lights changing.
Running wide on tight bends is common -turning in too early and tightly?
What I observe is that more people are driving fairly wide (by UK standards of recent decades) cars, very insulated from the outside, with little "feel" from the driving seat and often with tall rims/low profile tyres. Mobile phone use whilst driving is the norm, as is weaving about and failing to notice traffic lights changing.
Running wide on tight bends is common -turning in too early and tightly?
My wife texted me about a shock she got this morning: she stopped at a zebra crossing, fully marked with zig zags and beacons etc. The mother with pushchair she had stopped for stepped onto the crossing from the left and then stopped dead about half way across, staring wide-eyed to my wife's right...Mrs P looked right to see an Audi Q* (bigger then her Ateca, so probably a Q7) driven by another female, screech to a halt in the "wrong" lane. Overtaking a vehicle through the zig zags, which had obviously stopped at a crossing to let someone across, on totally the wrong side of the road. Well played, Audi driver!
I commmute between jcts 6 and 11 of the M6 daily and don't see that many accidents, considering.
I commmute between jcts 6 and 11 of the M6 daily and don't see that many accidents, considering.
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