Biggest Fear About Driving?

[Desiderata]

Triumph Man said:

underwhelmist said:

Triumph Man said:

Pan Pan Pan said:

nonsequitur said:

underwhelmist said:

nonsequitur said:

...along with 'Straight-lining at roundabouts? Be my guest.'

What's wrong with straight-lining roundabouts (when safe and appropriate)?

Is it ever safe and 'appropriate' ? Poor driving, plain and simple.

If a straight liner is lazy enough to straight line across a roundabout, they are probably also too lazy to use their mirrors properly, and see another driver who was in the offside lane turning right.

If there is no-one around (assuming obs done correctly) what issue is there in straightlining a roundabout? I completely agree that with people around it’s not a particularly sensible idea...

When I was doing my bike IAM training, advice was that straight-lining roundabouts (having made good obs and ensured it's safe) enabled you to keep the bike more upright and therefore stable. Can't see a problem with straight-lining if it's done properly and not out of laziness.

That was my thought - if there is no-one around who would be affected by your straightlining you can keep your vehicle a lot more stable. Agree though that doing it through laziness is something else entirely!

You have to bear in mind that more and more roundabouts are not marked off with separate lanes even if they are wide enough to contain several. If I come to a roundabout which is unmarked, if there is other traffic, I'll treat it as having lanes. If I am fairly sure it's clear, I'm quite happy straight lining it.

[Monkeylegend]

Mr Tidy said:

Monkeylegend said:

AMC243 said:

Took a moment for me to get used to the controls on my BMW. The control stalks reverting to their 'neutral' position as soon as I press them was surprising but I'd say I like them.

That is what has taken me a little while to adjust too but as you say once mastered I like it.

Yes, it took me a while as well!

But I have also discovered they can be coded so a light press on the indicator stalk results in only 3 flashes, which is just right for a lane change or when leaving a roundabout.

Mine already does that, you press it further past the resistance point if you want continous indication. You can then cancel that if you want by presing again lightly in the opposite direction, but go too far and you indicate continously the other way. That's the bit I had to get used too.

[nonsequitur]

underwhelmist said:

Triumph Man said:

Pan Pan Pan said:

nonsequitur said:

underwhelmist said:

nonsequitur said:

...along with 'Straight-lining at roundabouts? Be my guest.'

What's wrong with straight-lining roundabouts (when safe and appropriate)?

Is it ever safe and 'appropriate' ? Poor driving, plain and simple.

If a straight liner is lazy enough to straight line across a roundabout, they are probably also too lazy to use their mirrors properly, and see another driver who was in the offside lane turning right.

If there is no-one around (assuming obs done correctly) what issue is there in straightlining a roundabout? I completely agree that with people around it’s not a particularly sensible idea...

When I was doing my bike IAM training, advice was that straight-lining roundabouts (having made good obs and ensured it's safe) enabled you to keep the bike more upright and therefore stable. Can't see a problem with straight-lining if it's done properly and not out of laziness.

Even more hazardous on a motor bike I would say. Smaller, less visible.

[Triumph Man]

Monkeylegend said:

Mr Tidy said:

Monkeylegend said:

AMC243 said:

Took a moment for me to get used to the controls on my BMW. The control stalks reverting to their 'neutral' position as soon as I press them was surprising but I'd say I like them.

That is what has taken me a little while to adjust too but as you say once mastered I like it.

Yes, it took me a while as well!

But I have also discovered they can be coded so a light press on the indicator stalk results in only 3 flashes, which is just right for a lane change or when leaving a roundabout.

Mine already does that, you press it further past the resistance point if you want continous indication. You can then cancel that if you want by presing again lightly in the opposite direction, but go too far and you indicate continously the other way. That's the bit I had to get used too.

I discovered with our old office 1 series that you can also press the indicator stalk in the same direction as you just indicated it to cancel. I found that worked better as, like you say can happen, you don't then end up indicating the opposite way!

[nonsequitur]

Desiderata said:

You have to bear in mind that more and more roundabouts are not marked off with separate lanes even if they are wide enough to contain several. If I come to a roundabout which is unmarked, if there is other traffic, I'll treat it as having lanes. If I am fairly sure it's clear, I'm quite happy straight lining it.

Only 'fairly sure'?

[Monkeylegend]

Triumph Man said:

Monkeylegend said:

Mr Tidy said:

Monkeylegend said:

AMC243 said:

Took a moment for me to get used to the controls on my BMW. The control stalks reverting to their 'neutral' position as soon as I press them was surprising but I'd say I like them.

That is what has taken me a little while to adjust too but as you say once mastered I like it.

Yes, it took me a while as well!

But I have also discovered they can be coded so a light press on the indicator stalk results in only 3 flashes, which is just right for a lane change or when leaving a roundabout.

Mine already does that, you press it further past the resistance point if you want continous indication. You can then cancel that if you want by presing again lightly in the opposite direction, but go too far and you indicate continously the other way. That's the bit I had to get used too.

I discovered with our old office 1 series that you can also press the indicator stalk in the same direction as you just indicated it to cancel. I found that worked better as, like you say can happen, you don't then end up indicating the opposite way!

I will have to try that and report back. The trouble is the manual is so big nowadays that I can't be bothered to read it, all.

Cars are so complicated now anyway that even the simplest things seem to require so many steps to achieve, that nothing seems to stick in my brain any more.

That could be age related as well though

[underwhelmist]

nonsequitur said:

underwhelmist said:

Triumph Man said:

Pan Pan Pan said:

nonsequitur said:

underwhelmist said:

nonsequitur said:

...along with 'Straight-lining at roundabouts? Be my guest.'

What's wrong with straight-lining roundabouts (when safe and appropriate)?

Is it ever safe and 'appropriate' ? Poor driving, plain and simple.

If a straight liner is lazy enough to straight line across a roundabout, they are probably also too lazy to use their mirrors properly, and see another driver who was in the offside lane turning right.

If there is no-one around (assuming obs done correctly) what issue is there in straightlining a roundabout? I completely agree that with people around it’s not a particularly sensible idea...

When I was doing my bike IAM training, advice was that straight-lining roundabouts (having made good obs and ensured it's safe) enabled you to keep the bike more upright and therefore stable. Can't see a problem with straight-lining if it's done properly and not out of laziness.

Even more hazardous on a motor bike I would say. Smaller, less visible.

The point is I'm only straight-lining a roundabout if there are no vehicles nearby which are likely to be inconvenienced, or pose a risk. In traffic I wouldn't do it.

I'm not sure what to make of this outbreak of serious discussion. Have you lost your pun mojo?

[Chris32345]

Meeting several members you see on this forum on the road 🤣

[austinsmirk]

Bradford city centre and some of the surrounding suburbs

[Hfs1889]

I am scared stiff on large bridges (normally on motorways). I head straight for the centre lane of the road as I’m scared I’ll fall off and grab the wheel as tight as possible.

[anonymous-user]

None. Driving for me is always a joyful experience. Sorry ...

[Blib]

tommy1973s said:

None. Driving for me is always a joyful experience. Sorry ...

You don't live in London, do you?

[Randy Winkman]

I have an irrational fear of putting the wrong fuel in the car. A sort of OCD thing when I go to click the trigger on the pump. Odd because I'm not like that in any other part of my life and I've never got it wrong previously. So I've no idea where the fear came from and why.

[nonsequitur]

underwhelmist said:

The point is I'm only straight-lining a roundabout if there are no vehicles nearby which are likely to be inconvenienced, or pose a risk. In traffic I wouldn't do it.

I'm not sure what to make of this outbreak of serious discussion. Have you lost your pun mojo?

Out of 17,000 posts there have been a few serious comments over the months and years, can't remember exactly what they were though. But is better than , don't you think?

[Triumph Man]

underwhelmist said:

nonsequitur said:

underwhelmist said:

Triumph Man said:

Pan Pan Pan said:

nonsequitur said:

underwhelmist said:

nonsequitur said:

...along with 'Straight-lining at roundabouts? Be my guest.'

What's wrong with straight-lining roundabouts (when safe and appropriate)?

Is it ever safe and 'appropriate' ? Poor driving, plain and simple.

If a straight liner is lazy enough to straight line across a roundabout, they are probably also too lazy to use their mirrors properly, and see another driver who was in the offside lane turning right.

If there is no-one around (assuming obs done correctly) what issue is there in straightlining a roundabout? I completely agree that with people around it’s not a particularly sensible idea...

When I was doing my bike IAM training, advice was that straight-lining roundabouts (having made good obs and ensured it's safe) enabled you to keep the bike more upright and therefore stable. Can't see a problem with straight-lining if it's done properly and not out of laziness.

Even more hazardous on a motor bike I would say. Smaller, less visible.

The point is I'm only straight-lining a roundabout if there are no vehicles nearby which are likely to be inconvenienced, or pose a risk. In traffic I wouldn't do it.

I'm not sure what to make of this outbreak of serious discussion. Have you lost your pun mojo?

Somebody merged in turn correctly whilst he was sat in L1 a mile back and he's got a cob on about it.

[Triumph Man]

Randy Winkman said:

I have an irrational fear of putting the wrong fuel in the car. A sort of OCD thing when I go to click the trigger on the pump. Odd because I'm not like that in any other part of my life and I've never got it wrong previously. So I've no idea where the fear came from and why.

My dad borrowed my old Passat once (early B5 with mechanical diesel pump) and put a gallon of petrol in it before he realised. Brimmed the tank with diesel and it actually ran slightly better.... This was the depths of winter though.

I know what you mean about the fear - I have it sometimes where I have to doubly double check I haven't picked up the diesel pump by mistake for some reason...

[Monkeylegend]

Triumph Man said:

I discovered with our old office 1 series that you can also press the indicator stalk in the same direction as you just indicated it to cancel. I found that worked better as, like you say can happen, you don't then end up indicating the opposite way!

That works on mine as well, thanks for the tip, it is much easier than the way I was doing it, and foolproof.

[nonsequitur]

Triumph Man said:

Somebody merged in turn correctly whilst he was sat in L1 a mile back and he's got a cob on about it.

Pure corn.

[anonymous-user]

Everyone else!
That’s not to claim I’m the best driver in the world and everyone else is rubbish, but I always wonder what if the driver coming the other way is asleep / drunk / texting / suicidal etc etc .

[nonsequitur]

Cliffe60 said:

Everyone else!
That’s not to claim I’m the best driver in the world and everyone else is rubbish, but I always wonder what if the driver coming the other way is asleep / drunk / texting / suicidal etc etc .

It may be better to concentrate on your own driving Cliffe.