Biggest Fear About Driving?
Discussion
Planet Claire said:
There has been one time where I woke up bolt upright having this nightmare just before I "crashed" into car in front. I thought that kind of thing only happened in films.
when I was 18 driving our work van I fell asleep on the motorway and woke up to completely stationary traffic which I was heading towards at 60mph...I stamped on the brakes and was literally 3cm away from the car at the back
god was looking down on me that day for sure and it was a lesson!
Clem Fandago said:
Something I never used to be aware of until recently:
Driving on a dark country road with fields/woods either side, I find myself contemplating what would happen if a Stag (deer variant, not the beetle) ran out into the road.
That would make a serious mess and are often spotted round my way (Suffolk).
Happened to me a few years back, coming home from work at about 6.00 pm in November so dark, up near Audley End House. Driving on a dark country road with fields/woods either side, I find myself contemplating what would happen if a Stag (deer variant, not the beetle) ran out into the road.
That would make a serious mess and are often spotted round my way (Suffolk).
Just pootling along at 40 or so then BANG! This great big f
king creature is just the short bonnet (VW Polo) distance away from me on my side. No running out into the road, it must have just leapt from the side of the road and down in front of the car.I do remember the yelping sound I made.
Stopped as did the car behind and we got the fair sized deer to the side of the road, trying to calm the poor thing down and we saw a bone sticking out of one of its legs. Went back to the car to pick up a phone to call police or vet or somebody, then the deer just upped and leapt over a hedge. Thanked the other driver, drove home and had a drink.
Freaked me right out, especially when you start to think what might have been by going a little faster.
About £1400 damage to the front/wing of the car.
Om said:
My biggest fear is simply not being allowed to.
Handed my licence in 3 times because of epilepsy. A years 'ban' goes quickly. Handed my licence in in june last year because of a fit. Changed medication and waiting to be allowed to drive again. I wouldnt of used it much anyway in the past year as it happens.
The fact that a larger and larger percentage of drivers think giving way is optional now. The following happens to me on pretty much a daily basis now.
1)People pulling left on to a main road forcing you to slow down.
2)People pulling right onto a main road and forcing the left lane to stop.
3)Not giving way to the right on a roundabout.
4)Trying to bully their way down a narrow road when there are parked cars on their side.
5)Overtaking stationary buses whilst forcing cars on the other side of the road to stop.
Unfortunately it seems to be drivers of prestige SUVs who are mostly to blame for this.
If you dare to sound you horn to indicate that they made a mistake you will get a mouthful of abuse and road rage driving.
My biggest fear is that one day one of these idiots will hit me and then swear blind it was all my fault.
1)People pulling left on to a main road forcing you to slow down.
2)People pulling right onto a main road and forcing the left lane to stop.
3)Not giving way to the right on a roundabout.
4)Trying to bully their way down a narrow road when there are parked cars on their side.
5)Overtaking stationary buses whilst forcing cars on the other side of the road to stop.
Unfortunately it seems to be drivers of prestige SUVs who are mostly to blame for this.
If you dare to sound you horn to indicate that they made a mistake you will get a mouthful of abuse and road rage driving.
My biggest fear is that one day one of these idiots will hit me and then swear blind it was all my fault.
vixen1700 said:
Happened to me a few years back, coming home from work at about 6.00 pm in November so dark, up near Audley End House.
Just pootling along at 40 or so then BANG! This great big fking creature is just the short bonnet (VW Polo) distance away from me on my side. No running out into the road, it must have just leapt from the side of the road and down in front of the car.
I do remember the yelping sound I made.
Stopped as did the car behind and we got the fair sized deer to the side of the road, trying to calm the poor thing down and we saw a bone sticking out of one of its legs. Went back to the car to pick up a phone to call police or vet or somebody, then the deer just upped and leapt over a hedge. Thanked the other driver, drove home and had a drink.
Freaked me right out, especially when you start to think what might have been by going a little faster.
About £1400 damage to the front/wing of the car.
I drive through a very steep sided but only maybe 6ft deep cutting on my way to work. Not long ago I was nosing carefully up here (it's very narrow and twisty) and a deer bounced down into the lane from above and left, landed about six feet in front of my bonnet, then bounced back up to the right without pausing.Just pootling along at 40 or so then BANG! This great big f
king creature is just the short bonnet (VW Polo) distance away from me on my side. No running out into the road, it must have just leapt from the side of the road and down in front of the car.I do remember the yelping sound I made.
Stopped as did the car behind and we got the fair sized deer to the side of the road, trying to calm the poor thing down and we saw a bone sticking out of one of its legs. Went back to the car to pick up a phone to call police or vet or somebody, then the deer just upped and leapt over a hedge. Thanked the other driver, drove home and had a drink.
Freaked me right out, especially when you start to think what might have been by going a little faster.
About £1400 damage to the front/wing of the car.
I jumped out of my skin!
vixen1700 said:
The stupidity of others. Generally rushing with kids on board or rushing past cyclists on the wrong side of the road. See that a lot.
And it's not a small number either - too many people in too much of a rush; and drive on 'autopilot'....Good driving requires full concentration.Other drivers and their propensity to pay more attention to their mobile phones than the road ahead.
Attended an RTC last year where two cars had a head-on at a closing speed of close on 100mph. Thankfully both were walking wounded.
The driver of the car which had veered into the opposite carriageway initially said he had sneezed, which had caused him to change lanes. Examination of the victim's dashcam footage showed a very slow and steady drift across into the opposing lane which was clearly down to inattention rather than some sudden lane change. In spite of the fact the victim slowed substantially, she had nowhere to go to avoid him and sounding the horn didn't bring him off Facebook (or whatever it was) until they impacted.
I have to drive this section of road several times a week and it scares the bejesus out of me at something similar happening to me on that stretch or any other stretch of road for that matter.
Attended an RTC last year where two cars had a head-on at a closing speed of close on 100mph. Thankfully both were walking wounded.
The driver of the car which had veered into the opposite carriageway initially said he had sneezed, which had caused him to change lanes. Examination of the victim's dashcam footage showed a very slow and steady drift across into the opposing lane which was clearly down to inattention rather than some sudden lane change. In spite of the fact the victim slowed substantially, she had nowhere to go to avoid him and sounding the horn didn't bring him off Facebook (or whatever it was) until they impacted.
I have to drive this section of road several times a week and it scares the bejesus out of me at something similar happening to me on that stretch or any other stretch of road for that matter.
Not a fear as such but more an anxiety even though I hate using that word in this context, but I find I'm most "on edge" when driving something either so slow that you feel you're a mobile roadblock and everybody hates you and motorway slip roads on joining trunk roads is a sweaty palm experience.
The fleet at work have just fitted driver tracking devices, a bank of LEDs that goes into the red if you're being a bit heavy handed... however it's borderline dangerous as even the slightest throttle application has it rocketing towards the red and keeping it in the green results in snails pace acceleration, so between the constant distraction and the stress of being subjected to glacier grade speed increases as a 44ton wagon looms into the mirrors, is rather unpleasant.
I've since taken to covering the LED unit, turning the patronising voice right down and the radio up and just driving and not worrying about it and I definitely feel more relaxed as a result. Though I hasten to add I don't drive fast, but being forced to travel at such a low pace that it makes you feel very uncomfortable be it due to a lack of power or by driver monitoring, isn't good.
Aside for that, being a passenger doesn't sit well with me either... more so if the driver isn't very attentive, aware or in control. In fact, I don't remember the last time I was a passenger.
The fleet at work have just fitted driver tracking devices, a bank of LEDs that goes into the red if you're being a bit heavy handed... however it's borderline dangerous as even the slightest throttle application has it rocketing towards the red and keeping it in the green results in snails pace acceleration, so between the constant distraction and the stress of being subjected to glacier grade speed increases as a 44ton wagon looms into the mirrors, is rather unpleasant.
I've since taken to covering the LED unit, turning the patronising voice right down and the radio up and just driving and not worrying about it and I definitely feel more relaxed as a result. Though I hasten to add I don't drive fast, but being forced to travel at such a low pace that it makes you feel very uncomfortable be it due to a lack of power or by driver monitoring, isn't good.
Aside for that, being a passenger doesn't sit well with me either... more so if the driver isn't very attentive, aware or in control. In fact, I don't remember the last time I was a passenger.
I don't think I have any specific fears about driving, apart from not being able to!
With almost 40 years of experience now I've seen an awful lot of nasty accidents and if I thought about all the possibilities I'd never get in the car again.
I once saw what happens when a horse and rider slides down a bank onto a passing mini and another where an MGB had pulled out on a motorcycle and been t-boned. So much claret it's terrifying, but best not to think about it and just drive to the best standard that I can.......... while still having fun of course!
Generally, too many drivers not paying attention, using mobiles and lacking consideration.
Mr Tidy said:
Monkeylegend said:
Blib said:
Biggest motoring fear? Monkeylegend.
Fearless and harmless, I just blend into the background without being noticed.Not many can do that driving a BMW
easytiger123 said:
As I get older, driving at night on minor roads with the glare of oncoming headlights making it difficult to feel as confident as I used to.
That's a bit scary - hopefully you'll get an eye-test or avoid minor roads at night, rather than brake heavily at every corner!
. 
Biggest fear? Good one!
For me its wrong way drivers - usually on a fast single carriageway road without a divider. Car strays to the wrong side of the road and suddenly you have a massive accident!
The not-so-funny aspect to this is that my son actually wrote off his car the other day due to this exact scenario. His girlfriend was driving and someone strayed over the line. She over corrected to avoid a head-on and ended up spinning off the road and rolling the car. All OK and the car stood up extremely well, but it is so common here that its shocking - distracted drivers! Stop checking your phone while driving people!
For my wife, its slightly different - people throwing things off a bridge! She had an instance many years ago on the M11. Someone threw some bricks off a bridge in front of the car in front of her. Car in front ended up crashing and seriously injuring the driver. She narrowly missed the rocks / bricks but was OK. Seriously shaken up and it took a couple of years for her to be comfortable driving under footbridges when people were on them.
For me its wrong way drivers - usually on a fast single carriageway road without a divider. Car strays to the wrong side of the road and suddenly you have a massive accident!
The not-so-funny aspect to this is that my son actually wrote off his car the other day due to this exact scenario. His girlfriend was driving and someone strayed over the line. She over corrected to avoid a head-on and ended up spinning off the road and rolling the car. All OK and the car stood up extremely well, but it is so common here that its shocking - distracted drivers! Stop checking your phone while driving people!
For my wife, its slightly different - people throwing things off a bridge! She had an instance many years ago on the M11. Someone threw some bricks off a bridge in front of the car in front of her. Car in front ended up crashing and seriously injuring the driver. She narrowly missed the rocks / bricks but was OK. Seriously shaken up and it took a couple of years for her to be comfortable driving under footbridges when people were on them.
Monkeylegend said:
Mr Tidy said:
Monkeylegend said:
Blib said:
Biggest motoring fear? Monkeylegend.
Fearless and harmless, I just blend into the background without being noticed.Not many can do that driving a BMW
Skyedriver said:
ChocolateFrog said:
, wouldn't fancy a head on with another vehicle, especially if it was my fault.
With all due respect, I suggest a head on with a truck, whether your fault or not will end with a similar resultVery nice NP police, saidas no onw was hurt and i owned up ( Whta else could i do) !!!) i would only pay 350 dollars!!! Wrote the car off and was on the edge of a 500ft drop.
But getting back. Yep blind corners. Years ago i was gently, and i honestly mean gently negotiating a narrow lane that was on a hill (i was going down) at the point of inevitability a BR lorry come around the corner uphill at a speed i never knew they could do.
I wish i had a dashcam then. Still slow down to a crawl even now
off_again said:
For my wife, its slightly different - people throwing things off a bridge! She had an instance many years ago on the M11. Someone threw some bricks off a bridge in front of the car in front of her. Car in front ended up crashing and seriously injuring the driver. She narrowly missed the rocks / bricks but was OK. Seriously shaken up and it took a couple of years for her to be comfortable driving under footbridges when people were on them.
This one resonates with me, slightly different circumstances. I Was driving on the M8 in the Sighthill area of Glasgow in an old mk2 Mondeo when a traffic cone landed a few feet in front of the car from a pedestrian bridge. I swerved to the right then ragged the car along the armco to such an extent that I had to get out of the passenger side.I drove home to Newcastle with my fingers latched onto the steering wheel like a limpet. Still makes me nervous.
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