Strange driving annoyances
Discussion
When the car in front wants to stop and parallel park into a street parking bay, it sometimes causes crossed wires with the car behind. If I'm driving behind, it's normal to interpret the slowing with indicators as turning/pulling over, not that they need me to stop far enough behind them that they can reverse.
Nothing against them, just one of those little annoyances.
Nothing against them, just one of those little annoyances.
Evil.soup said:
Roger Irrelevant said:
Phantom braking - i.e. braking for no readily apparent reason. I say this because I had to follow my father-in-law for 20 miles or so yesterday. On a straight, wide, well-sighted bit of A-road road with virtually no traffic, no junctions, no rain, no nothing, and with him at no point exceeding the speed limit, he'd brake a couple of times every minute for no reason at all. Not always a little dab either, often enough that I - having learnt to leave a very big gap to cater for this strange behaviour - had to brake too. When I'm a passenger with him after a few miles I'm virtually chewing the interior fittings with frustration - it's just so weird.
My dad does the exact same thing, really puts you on edge as a passenger it has to be said!!
My FIL, God rest his soul, would do this.
Also, he just couldn’t figure out how to clear a foggy windscreen in wet conditions, the controls were often set to full face and full heat, with not a hint of AC (which was available). I remember nearly passing out when getting a lift through to Newcastle for a gig. One of the most uncomfortable 30 minute car journeys ever. Oh, and 40mph the whole way……
Evil.soup said:
Roger Irrelevant said:
Phantom braking - i.e. braking for no readily apparent reason. I say this because I had to follow my father-in-law for 20 miles or so yesterday. On a straight, wide, well-sighted bit of A-road road with virtually no traffic, no junctions, no rain, no nothing, and with him at no point exceeding the speed limit, he'd brake a couple of times every minute for no reason at all. Not always a little dab either, often enough that I - having learnt to leave a very big gap to cater for this strange behaviour - had to brake too. When I'm a passenger with him after a few miles I'm virtually chewing the interior fittings with frustration - it's just so weird.
My dad does the exact same thing, really puts you on edge as a passenger it has to be said!!V88Dicky said:
It must be a Dad / FIL thing
My FIL, God rest his soul, would do this.
Also, he just couldn’t figure out how to clear a foggy windscreen in wet conditions, the controls were often set to full face and full heat, with not a hint of AC (which was available). I remember nearly passing out when getting a lift through to Newcastle for a gig. One of the most uncomfortable 30 minute car journeys ever. Oh, and 40mph the whole way……
My parents have both departed, but my Dad loved driving in as high a gear as he could possibly get the car into and seemed to develop selective hearing as he could never hear the poor engine protesting. He'd also managed to inflict this concept on my mother who was told she had to drive by keeping the vacuum gauge (known as the economy gauge) out of the red. She was driving his Merc back to Cornwall with me in the passenger seat and attempted to join the uphill A30 at Okehampton at about 20 mph:My FIL, God rest his soul, would do this.
Also, he just couldn’t figure out how to clear a foggy windscreen in wet conditions, the controls were often set to full face and full heat, with not a hint of AC (which was available). I remember nearly passing out when getting a lift through to Newcastle for a gig. One of the most uncomfortable 30 minute car journeys ever. Oh, and 40mph the whole way……
Me "Mum put your foot down you're going uphill"
Mum "But your father says I have to keep the gauge in the white"
Me (alarmed at the 60mph closing speeds of traffic already on the dual carriageway) "Never mind about that PUT YOUR FOOT DOWN"
Mum "Don't you shout at me"
Me "Promise me you'll never do that again, you could have killed us both"
Stony silence for the next 10 minutes
JagYouAre said:
1. People who pull out in front of you when the gap is clearly not big enough (making you brake) and then proceed to drive at 20mph below the limit - extra points given when there is absolutely nobody behind you and they could have just waited a few extra seconds.
2. Similar to the phantom braking above, people who brake whenever a car comes past the other way, even on roads wide enough for three cars. Seems to happen especially at night - nervous driver I guess?
1. they do this to lorry drivers constantly, pull out in front in in their 200+hp cars and lurch up to about 15mph forcing the lorry to brake (bonus points if uphill and truck loaded) then when truck has lost its momentum they acelerate away quickly.2. Similar to the phantom braking above, people who brake whenever a car comes past the other way, even on roads wide enough for three cars. Seems to happen especially at night - nervous driver I guess?
The same mindless types come up a slip road matching exactly the speed of the truck doing 53mph in the inside lane and run alongside it making no alteration to their speed whatsover, truck can't pull out to let Mr Incompetent out though there isa large gap both in front of and behind said truck, eventually he runs out of acceleration lane so has to brake violently making an ever bigger drama and pull out behind truck...amazingly several hundred bhp then become available instantly and he overtakes with one or a combination of the following...coffee handshake blowing of horn in abject admission of total incompetence or the hard man stare. or for maximum points then brake checks truck...applause.
And no, for info when i pull out and there's vehicles approaching the car gets floored, i hate being inconvenienced so don't do so to others.
Similarly if someone lets me out i don't mess about and make them regret it, also never fail to acknowledge a common road courtesy, though one could be forgiven for thinking common courtesy is now an offence given how rare it is.
Wifey is just the same.
Edited by Smint on Thursday 14th October 13:15
Edited by Smint on Thursday 14th October 13:16
Edited by Smint on Thursday 14th October 13:17
Jazoli said:
Whut? By your diktat no-one would get let out of side roads ever, and surely its the 'bikers' responsibility to see what is happening in front of them?
I've managed to escape from many side roads in my time, largely without help. The whole country is not solid traffic 24/7 is it?People who reverse off their drive into traffic.
If someone wants to reverse off a drive in a quiet cul de sac, no problem. But when they live on a main road it's stupid. I appreciate that they probably arrived home in rush hour and thought "I'll drive straight on rather than sit and wait for a gap to reverse", but some are totally clueless when they reverse off again and just expect the traffic to part. If they'd reversed on they'd be able to drive swiftly off into a gap.
Due to the above, it annoys me when EV manufacturers put the charging port on the front of the car as it encourages reversing out.
Also, people who overtake cars pulling into side-turnings. You save about 2-seconds but confirm to the world you are a tosser. Invariably done by people who find the concept of a gearchange is worse than swerving into a head-on position with oncoming traffic.
If someone wants to reverse off a drive in a quiet cul de sac, no problem. But when they live on a main road it's stupid. I appreciate that they probably arrived home in rush hour and thought "I'll drive straight on rather than sit and wait for a gap to reverse", but some are totally clueless when they reverse off again and just expect the traffic to part. If they'd reversed on they'd be able to drive swiftly off into a gap.
Due to the above, it annoys me when EV manufacturers put the charging port on the front of the car as it encourages reversing out.
Also, people who overtake cars pulling into side-turnings. You save about 2-seconds but confirm to the world you are a tosser. Invariably done by people who find the concept of a gearchange is worse than swerving into a head-on position with oncoming traffic.
V88Dicky said:
It must be a Dad / FIL thing
My FIL, God rest his soul, would do this.
Also, he just couldn’t figure out how to clear a foggy windscreen in wet conditions, the controls were often set to full face and full heat, with not a hint of AC (which was available). I remember nearly passing out when getting a lift through to Newcastle for a gig. One of the most uncomfortable 30 minute car journeys ever. Oh, and 40mph the whole way……
My grandad used to do this. Have the heat and fans on full face for every journey, then open the windows as it got so unbearable.My FIL, God rest his soul, would do this.
Also, he just couldn’t figure out how to clear a foggy windscreen in wet conditions, the controls were often set to full face and full heat, with not a hint of AC (which was available). I remember nearly passing out when getting a lift through to Newcastle for a gig. One of the most uncomfortable 30 minute car journeys ever. Oh, and 40mph the whole way……
He was a farmer with a skoda felicia pickup which didn't get cleaned once in the 3 years that he used to keep them, the heat made it smell lovely.
Then when the windscreen didn't get any less foggy used wipe it with his cap!
HustleRussell said:
Pothole said:
HustleRussell said:
Annoying me lately is people waiting to join a road from a side road etc, you slow and give them a signal to let them out, but for some reason they aren't in fact ready to go. Sometimes they are inexplicably staring the other way at the car coming from the other direction which is miles away. I have seen people position their cars on petrol station forecourt exits which appears very much that they are intending to leave but they're just sat there doing something else, phone etc. Or they're just generally incredibly slow and ponderous, and they don't go thinking the gap isn't big enough when it very certainly is by the standards of 99% of people.
Unless you're in a line of very slow moving traffic, why the f
k are you doing this? There are lines across their lane for a reason. Take your priority and leave them to deal with getting out of the side road. I bet you don't check your mirror for bikers when you let them out either, do you?In the real world its called manners and happens all the time without anyone crashing and allows people to get on with their journey and makes us all just a little bit happier during their day.
I get the right of way thing but it annoys me when people turn right, across the front of me, when I am waiting to turn right out of a side road. Would it be too much trouble to let me out then turn in?
Also, people who park facing on coming traffic, then have to block both lanes when they pull out.
Also, people who park facing on coming traffic, then have to block both lanes when they pull out.
Weird one I've started to see quite a lot recently.
On roundabouts with lights. You're stopped behind the white line at a red light. However, Fangio in lane 2, is constantly creeping forward, with 3/4 of their car already over the white stop line, ready to launch just before the lights go green. What the eff is that all about? Do they not realise someone coming from the right might interface with their race car?
It really does seem idiotic to me!
On roundabouts with lights. You're stopped behind the white line at a red light. However, Fangio in lane 2, is constantly creeping forward, with 3/4 of their car already over the white stop line, ready to launch just before the lights go green. What the eff is that all about? Do they not realise someone coming from the right might interface with their race car?
It really does seem idiotic to me!
Little Pete said:
I get the right of way thing but it annoys me when people turn right, across the front of me, when I am waiting to turn right out of a side road. Would it be too much trouble to let me out then turn in?
Also, people who park facing on coming traffic, then have to block both lanes when they pull out.
Yes, this is one too! If people actually thought a bit more about traffic flow a lot of congestion could be avoided. It's all about "my right of way" for a lot of people. I'll normally pull out anyway if it's safe to, but then there's the ones that indicate at the last minute or not at all for extra bellend points Also, people who park facing on coming traffic, then have to block both lanes when they pull out.
donkmeister said:
Also, people who overtake cars pulling into side-turnings. You save about 2-seconds but confirm to the world you are a tosser. Invariably done by people who find the concept of a gearchange is worse than swerving into a head-on position with oncoming traffic.
Just for some balance with this, I have done this a few times when quite a long way from the side road the car in front slows down to a speed way below that which you could safely turn into the side road at and without even indicating.Only if there is no oncoming traffic though of course.
Evil.soup said:
Roger Irrelevant said:
Phantom braking - i.e. braking for no readily apparent reason. I say this because I had to follow my father-in-law for 20 miles or so yesterday. On a straight, wide, well-sighted bit of A-road road with virtually no traffic, no junctions, no rain, no nothing, and with him at no point exceeding the speed limit, he'd brake a couple of times every minute for no reason at all. Not always a little dab either, often enough that I - having learnt to leave a very big gap to cater for this strange behaviour - had to brake too. When I'm a passenger with him after a few miles I'm virtually chewing the interior fittings with frustration - it's just so weird.
My dad does the exact same thing, really puts you on edge as a passenger it has to be said!!MustangGT said:
My pet peeve at the moment is when the car in front suddenly stops to let oncoming traffic go round parked vehicles. It is your right of way!!
My wife used to genuinely believe that going round parked cars was done in turn, or on a first come, first served basis. She'd just barrel through when cars were parked on her side and wondered why people didn't acknowledge her thanks, or she'd wait while people come through on her right of way. Took a long time of pointing this out to get her round to the fact that cars parked on her side = other direction's right of way and vice versa.Another thing that she (and others) do that causes slight annoyance is coming to a complete stop at roundabouts where there is a clear view and nothing coming, or at least a plentiful gap.
Something that really winds me up.
When on a roundabout, let's say a mini-roundabout as the near misses are typically much closer than normal roundabouts, someone pulls out on you, you either give them the look of disgust or if it's really a close call sound your horn and they have the audacity to stick their fingers up at you or shake the bean can when they know they are in the wrong.
It's like why can't they just do the "I know you're there and I've cut you up but I'm not looking" blank stare or at least put their hand up to say sorry. I really do find it rage inducing!
When on a roundabout, let's say a mini-roundabout as the near misses are typically much closer than normal roundabouts, someone pulls out on you, you either give them the look of disgust or if it's really a close call sound your horn and they have the audacity to stick their fingers up at you or shake the bean can when they know they are in the wrong.
It's like why can't they just do the "I know you're there and I've cut you up but I'm not looking" blank stare or at least put their hand up to say sorry. I really do find it rage inducing!
Miserablegit said:
Those idiots who neither indicate nor choose a lane at a roundabout - dotted line perfectly between the wheels “will I go left or right…must hedge my bets- sit in the middle of this very wide lane”
Although this does at least indicate they are st drivers and care should be taken around them. This is preferable to the idiots who veer into the other lane on a roundabout as they take the direct line…
r Although this does at least indicate they are s
t drivers and care should be taken around them. This is preferable to the idiots who veer into the other lane on a roundabout as they take the direct line…Quite agree, esp when the roundabout has marked lanes going around. Would they be done for DWCA if they were in L1 on a DC veered across into you in L2 I mention this as, i did ask a Traffic lad a few years ago and his answer was, the lanes on a roundabout are advisory. but when given the DC situation he stopped dead in his thought.. he didn't think it would be a good idea to weave across lanes at all. so why do drivers do it on roundabouts?
I am NOT a driving God, but i do my best to improve my skills and following a rather severe IAM test at a certain manufacturers in Crewe 2hrs in a Seraph AM, then 2hrs in a Turbo R PM with different tutors driving around the area. i Got an IAM cert. Also got a pass on the Chauffeurs course, but with their strict marking on 'dry steering' and 'lap times' on a skid pan doing a figure of eight in both direction it was gutting to see that 2 dry steers less, and 3 secs quicker on the course it would have been a top rating.
But back to Roundabouts
i TRY to read road markings and signs in order to get ready to enter the roundabout and get into the correct lane i want to exit and normally the roundabouts are marked out very well.
On the course, and we had 1.5 days on driving theory before being let out on the road was that we agreed that 90% of drivers DO NOT understand what give way to traffic already on the roundabout As it was put by one chap thus 'I look upon a roundabout as a multi-lane one way system with all the exits on the left'. and asked if you were to approach such a system from one of those side roads and in front of you is a blue sign pointing left WHY indicate left. or even right? ( i know there are idiots who do try and turn right) and also IF you know that the exit you require is on your left why indicate right at anytime before indicating left
Do you drive along a straight road indication right to advise drivers wishing to join your road that you are carrying straight on? NO ad if you do not do they start to blow a gasket at you because of it? NO
YET why do drivers who wish to enter a roundabout go mental if in their opinion a right turn signal is required should you require the exit past theirs?
They should remember the first rule GIVE WAY to traffic on the roundabout, do they think it is an invitation to do a drag start in front of you?
Now the HC says indicate left as you pass the exit before you wish to exit. This is good advice, as by you indicating as you pass the 09.00 exit advise to any traffic waiting to join from 12.00 that they can prepare enter in front of you
The left hand turn on exit is the only signal ever needed on a roundabout
However observations as you drive on the roundabout is looking for front wheel direction, the fact there is a LH indicator and the wheels are still pointing right, is worth making a mental note a note to take evasive action should it be reqd
How many times have you seen a car with RH indicator going and then exiting left and v.v, and how many shunts have you seen when the driver entering assumes that it is safe to go?
Try not to be alongside any vehicle on a roundabout, give yourself some wriggle room esp artics with the smaller turning circle of the trailer
On entering even if you see a LH indicator wait until the driver commits the vehicle to exiting, and perhaps even then double check they may not make an ' OOPS wrong exit' move at the last minute just as you think it is all clear.
And straightlining, Great to make progress when it is clear that it does not inconvenience any other road user, otherwise stay in lane
I
I don't worry that i might lose 10 sec or so now and again when negotiating roundabouts, it is part of the learning experience, something that is not taught today that mow not taught today.. from how driving standards have declined over the years since i first went on the road, the Driving Scholl mantra is not. I will teach you how to become a competent driver and to take pride in what you do, more How quickly do you want a licence ,as i will just give you the basics to pass Next Learner lease
I am not a MLM or even an OLM nor a dodderer, tailgater or someone who drives with the non shall pass me tmatra.I leave good gaps between me and the car in front for those who wish to make progress to do so, o do not pull out od side turnng when i can se a car coming but the id bugger all behind him
I stick to speed limits by doing the posted speed as i pass the sign, and not apply power until i am level with the higher limit sign or NSL..However i will never hinder anyone coming upi behind me as soon as the NSL appears as a spot in the distance, but pull over as and when i think it is safe for him to carry on
And lastly pulling in after overtaking I look in the RVM and when i see both headlights in it, that is a safe enough distance tp get back into the LH lane. Oh No indicator as the HC says always drive onn the left
It has set me in good stead for over 40 years so i must be doing something right!
Grrbang said:
When the car in front wants to stop and parallel park into a street parking bay, it sometimes causes crossed wires with the car behind. If I'm driving behind, it's normal to interpret the slowing with indicators as turning/pulling over, not that they need me to stop far enough behind them that they can reverse.
Nothing against them, just one of those little annoyances.
But what would be the solution to this? Sounds like you are driving too closely behind and not paying attention?Nothing against them, just one of those little annoyances.
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