Standard of driving in different parts of the UK

[FatboyKim]

In most large cities it seems, the driving standard is absolutely abysmal. I have no fear or anxiety whatsoever when it comes to driving in large cities (New York, Chicago, Tokyo, Paris etc.) but driving into London from the east (A12, A13, A406) plunges you headfirst into toxic cesspit of anger, impatience, and lack of manners and respect. The problem is endemic and obvious within the Asian and African communities, with many drivers sitting merrily in the outside lane of those roads at a steady 45-50mph completely oblivious to the increasing queue of traffic flashing their lights behind them in a desperate attempt to restore some vague lane discipline and move over to the left.

Manchester, Leeds and Bradford are hideous places to drive.

All of the above is not helped by the fact that visitors are allowed to drive unrestricted for 12 months on their non-UK licence before needing to apply for a UK provisional licence. One imagines that the standard to which drivers are assessed in certain countries is far lower than the UK.

Majority of drivers on the phones/texting as well. Is now the time for phone manufacturers being required to build in a feature which completely disables the phone when it's in motion?!

Edited by FatboyKim on Friday 27th May 14:07

[Bannock]

NGK210 said:

north London – especially north of the A406 – are either ultra aggressive and confrontational or alarmingly slow and breathtakingly inept.

This. In absolute spades. Especially the North West bit formerly known as Middlesex. The absolute platinum standard in ste driving in the UK. Little old ladies in S Class Mercs who can't see over the steering wheel are my favourite round that way.

I'm not quite sure where to recommend as good, to be honest, rural non-touristy areas are obviously more chilled as there is far less traffic.

Maybe people are better behaved in Wales and Scotland because the bizzies are so much more attentive. I'm often in both countries and I'm far more wary about speed for example than I am in England.

A bloke I know from Harrow (NW London) went ro Birmingham for University. Got pulled over by a copper first week there, this was in the days before regional number plates were easy to spot, rolled the window down and the copper sardonically drawls: "Lundun droiver, are we, Sir?"

[MC Bodge]

SkodaIan said:

I'd agree that Manchester is pretty terrible, and the M60 is by far the worst motorway driving in the UK, it's on a par with the Peripherique in Paris for people doing really dangerous aggressive manoeuvres, and much, much worse than the M25.

Really?

The roads around the outside of the Trafford Centre (it must draw nutters from around the region and beyond) do remind me of driving in Paris, but the rest of the area and the M60 is not like central Paris or the Peripherique (NB. the driving on the Antwerp ring road was surprisingly insane and cities in South America and SE Asia were nuts).

Maybe I have become de-senstised to it?... and I don't drive locally unless I really need to. That would be mental

[BckFlash]

The driving standards in Aberdeen, and the surrounding shire, have deteriorated dramatically over the past 2 years.

My driving standard is up there with the best of course... but the ineptitude of some folk on the road defies belief sometimes!

[DaveyBoyWonder]

Worked in Bradford - never experienced anything like it before or since and that includes spending time in Paris. It'd be a push to call it any kind of standard, its just there. People in cars with zero idea of what to do / how to use the roads...

[MC Bodge]

FatboyKim said:

Majority of drivers on the phones/texting as well.

This is very common, often accompanied by bone-headed driving.