An epidemic of insanely slow drivers

[zarjaz1991]

SJfW said:

Until they decide at that exact moment that now is the time they desperately need to try and speed up and pace match you.

Well fine, if for any reason I can't outpace them, I'll slow down and let them go. They can think they have "defeated" me which I don't care about because either way they've got out of my way.

We're usually talking quite clear three lane motorways here, unless they've got a decent car I'll be able to then do a proper overtake on them them if I need to. If they HAVE got a decent car it's unlikely they can drive it properly anyway if they're behaving like this, and the car's "body language" will tell you that.

In most cases they're so gormless they don't notice I'm doing it until it's way too late and I'm gone.

Like any driving manoeuvre, it's a judgement call based on what you've got in front of you.

Scott

[TriumphStag3.0V8]

At the weekend, I was in a small convoy (two 4x4s, both towing cars on trailers) heading to Wales. We got held up at a busy roundabout where there was not an opportunity for us to go together, so I went ahead as it was a mile of dual carriageway up to the motorway from the roundabout, and I could drive slowly, allowing the other 4x4 to catch up.

So off I went..... 50mph dual carriageway. Light traffic going that particular direction from the roundabout. I did 30mph waiting to see the other 4x4 appear behind me. What happened.....
EVERYONE going in that direction just sat behind me, doing 30 in a 50, lane 2 completely empty. Not one car tried to overtake. Not one!

What is wrong with people????

[Wardy78]

robinessex said:

I did a SAC once.. About 75% on the course wouldn't pass a driving test now. Some were so driving illiterate, I'm surprised they managed to get to the course without having an accident. Two of the ladies leaving couldn't even get out of the car park, claiming there wasn't enough room. Everyone else managed it ok.

I did one, got nabbed at 53 on a section of dual carriageway that is 50mph for a mile between two 70-limit sections, dangerous bd I am, I'm lucky not to have been just shot on sight.

Anyway..... The course was fine. Covid times so all online. Consisted of a lot of pictures/question of roads and their signs, nothing taxing in the slightest. I was the only one that got 100%. But the surprising thing was that everyone else got way less than 50%!

Things like the NSL sign. Photo of a road with a lot of street lamps asking what speed limit. Photo of a clear single carriageway with no lights or markings. etc etc.

Some didn't get a single question correct. The biggest surprise was the lack of surprise from the instructor??


This is why I think every driver should be made to resit (or sit, I never took it) the theory test every 5 years. It would remove a huge swath of st drivers from our roads AND/OR generate so much revenue from the 'driving without.....' fines that the country wouldn't be (as) bankrupt.

[zarjaz1991]

Wardy78 said:

I did one, got nabbed at 53 on a section of dual carriageway that is 50mph for a mile between two 70-limit sections, dangerous bd I am, I'm lucky not to have been just shot on sight.

Anyway..... The course was fine. Covid times so all online. Consisted of a lot of pictures/question of roads and their signs, nothing taxing in the slightest. I was the only one that got 100%. But the surprising thing was that everyone else got way less than 50%!

Things like the NSL sign. Photo of a road with a lot of street lamps asking what speed limit. Photo of a clear single carriageway with no lights or markings. etc etc.

Some didn't get a single question correct. The biggest surprise was the lack of surprise from the instructor??


This is why I think every driver should be made to resit (or sit, I never took it) the theory test every 5 years. It would remove a huge swath of st drivers from our roads AND/OR generate so much revenue from the 'driving without.....' fines that the country wouldn't be (as) bankrupt.

This doesn't surprise me either.

I have always had the advantage that I am a b, what we today call "neurodivergent" but it's actually high functioning aspergers.

As a child I was fascinated by roadsigns, speed limits, street lights, road markings and all that sort of stuff. I was even given a copy of the highway code as a birthday present, I was ten! And what's more I found it fascinating, seeing all these signs I'd never come across before (Minimum speed limit being one, I've still never seen one!). My dad was helpfully very accommodating when he took me on any trip anywhere, putting up with my endless questions about road signs etc, which, fair play to him, he usually managed to answer correctly! I must have driven him insane...

Anyway the upshot of that was that the theory test at 17 was the biggest piece of p*ss I'd ever done. By this point the hazard stuff etc was obvious to me and the only thing I had to "learn" was stopping distances. I remember my mum telling me to make sure I revised ahead of it and I was just, "seriously??"

Actual physical test was harder, of course, but to this day I struggle to understand why people don't get road signs, limits and suchlike. I get they're not silly geeks like me, but if you are driving it's literally your job to know.

Scott

[Wardy78]

zarjaz1991 said:

Wardy78 said:

I did one, got nabbed at 53 on a section of dual carriageway that is 50mph for a mile between two 70-limit sections, dangerous bd I am, I'm lucky not to have been just shot on sight.

Anyway..... The course was fine. Covid times so all online. Consisted of a lot of pictures/question of roads and their signs, nothing taxing in the slightest. I was the only one that got 100%. But the surprising thing was that everyone else got way less than 50%!

Things like the NSL sign. Photo of a road with a lot of street lamps asking what speed limit. Photo of a clear single carriageway with no lights or markings. etc etc.

Some didn't get a single question correct. The biggest surprise was the lack of surprise from the instructor??


This is why I think every driver should be made to resit (or sit, I never took it) the theory test every 5 years. It would remove a huge swath of st drivers from our roads AND/OR generate so much revenue from the 'driving without.....' fines that the country wouldn't be (as) bankrupt.

This doesn't surprise me either.

I have always had the advantage that I am a b, what we today call "neurodivergent" but it's actually high functioning aspergers.

As a child I was fascinated by roadsigns, speed limits, street lights, road markings and all that sort of stuff. I was even given a copy of the highway code as a birthday present, I was ten! And what's more I found it fascinating, seeing all these signs I'd never come across before (Minimum speed limit being one, I've still never seen one!). My dad was helpfully very accommodating when he took me on any trip anywhere, putting up with my endless questions about road signs etc, which, fair play to him, he usually managed to answer correctly! I must have driven him insane...

Anyway the upshot of that was that the theory test at 17 was the biggest piece of p*ss I'd ever done. By this point the hazard stuff etc was obvious to me and the only thing I had to "learn" was stopping distances. I remember my mum telling me to make sure I revised ahead of it and I was just, "seriously??"

Actual physical test was harder, of course, but to this day I struggle to understand why people don't get road signs, limits and suchlike. I get they're not silly geeks like me, but if you are driving it's literally your job to know.

Scott

And I'm struggling to of roads signs that are not just either self-explanatory or downright bleeding obvious. My daughter is 16 (and also neurodivergent, Inattentive ADHD for her). She is starting the process to learn to drive and I'm asking her about road signs all the time. Very few she doesn't get automatically.

[zarjaz1991]

Wardy78 said:

And I'm struggling to of roads signs that are not just either self-explanatory or downright bleeding obvious. My daughter is 16 (and also neurodivergent, Inattentive ADHD for her). She is starting the process to learn to drive and I'm asking her about road signs all the time. Very few she doesn't get automatically.

Yeah. I think neurodivergent types may be better at this type of thing. Wish her all the best with this and tell her my story if it helps because it sounds like she's going to p*ss the theory test and I think if you do that you find the physical test much easier and you're a better driver for it. That's my thinking. I bet she turns out to be a good driver.

Scott

[theplayingmantis]

Wardy78 said:

robinessex said:

I did a SAC once.. About 75% on the course wouldn't pass a driving test now. Some were so driving illiterate, I'm surprised they managed to get to the course without having an accident. Two of the ladies leaving couldn't even get out of the car park, claiming there wasn't enough room. Everyone else managed it ok.

I did one, got nabbed at 53 on a section of dual carriageway that is 50mph for a mile between two 70-limit sections, dangerous bd I am, I'm lucky not to have been just shot on sight.

Anyway..... The course was fine. Covid times so all online. Consisted of a lot of pictures/question of roads and their signs, nothing taxing in the slightest. I was the only one that got 100%. But the surprising thing was that everyone else got way less than 50%!

Things like the NSL sign. Photo of a road with a lot of street lamps asking what speed limit. Photo of a clear single carriageway with no lights or markings. etc etc.

Some didn't get a single question correct. The biggest surprise was the lack of surprise from the instructor??


This is why I think every driver should be made to resit (or sit, I never took it) the theory test every 5 years. It would remove a huge swath of st drivers from our roads AND/OR generate so much revenue from the 'driving without.....' fines that the country wouldn't be (as) bankrupt.

53 in a 50? I'd be keen to see evidence of this. Thanks

[theplayingmantis]

zarjaz1991 said:

Wardy78 said:

And I'm struggling to of roads signs that are not just either self-explanatory or downright bleeding obvious. My daughter is 16 (and also neurodivergent, Inattentive ADHD for her). She is starting the process to learn to drive and I'm asking her about road signs all the time. Very few she doesn't get automatically.

Yeah. I think neurodivergent types may be better at this type of thing. Wish her all the best with this and tell her my story if it helps because it sounds like she's going to p*ss the theory test and I think if you do that you find the physical test much easier and you're a better driver for it. That's my thinking. I bet she turns out to be a good driver.

Scott

Everyone is neurodivergent now. It's an excuse for poor behaviour in most cases. This iisnt aimed at you, it's a general observation. I'm also high functioning spergs, I take a keen interest in things like signs as well, have to have one of everything, and I have trouble focussing on certain things as I get easily bored, and my intense fads pass into disinterest after an intense burn typically, but on the most part it's a load of utter nonsense and people who just need a smack and to be shouted at to pay attention or not being a dick, for example in class is labelled neuro diverse.

Again it's an easy cop out for poor behaviour and a general lowering of standards, and the desire to label everyone and for bad parents to have an excuse.

And this isn't to take away from those who actually have these conditions in a truly life limiting way and not just as an excuse.

But this is OT.

[matchmaker]

GeniusOfLove said:

Mr Tidy said:

king arthur said:

I'd blame stop/start technology for that. It encourages you to leave the engine off until it's time to move. You then dip the clutch and put the car in gear after the lights have changed instead of before. This may take one or two extra seconds over having the engine running and the car already in gear. Multiply that by the ten cars in front of you and that's why fewer cars are making it through the lights now.

TBF stop/start isn't as much of a problem as tw*ts messing about on their phones meaning sometimes nobody makes it through the lights.

I drive cars with stop start all the time and it hasn't made me pull of from the lights as if I recieved notice of the light change via 2nd class post, as so many of our mouth breathing fellow citizens do.

It's not that deep; they're slow thinking, slow reacting Morlocks and it extends into every aspect of their lives.

I'm the same. My car is an auto, has stop start, auto hold and an electric handbrake. If I'm stopped at lights for any length of time I'll put it in neutral and apply the handbrake. It's simply a matter of watching the lights and other traffic. Into drive, handbrake off and the engine starts and I'm ready to go. Not exactly rocket science.

Edited by matchmaker on Friday 26th September 11:58

[Heaveho]

I'm starting to notice a thing where the driver in front slows almost to a total stop when turning left, having already arrived at said left turn at a speed where slowing down any further is completely unnecessary. Compounded when it's a traffic light junction with a short light. I shouldn't, but I've become compelled to lean on the horn in this situation, to the point where I've now started working my way through the vehicles I own retrofitting twin horns to get my point across.

Edited by Heaveho on Thursday 25th September 21:15

[The0perator]

theplayingmantis said:

zarjaz1991 said:

Wardy78 said:

And I'm struggling to of roads signs that are not just either self-explanatory or downright bleeding obvious. My daughter is 16 (and also neurodivergent, Inattentive ADHD for her). She is starting the process to learn to drive and I'm asking her about road signs all the time. Very few she doesn't get automatically.

Yeah. I think neurodivergent types may be better at this type of thing. Wish her all the best with this and tell her my story if it helps because it sounds like she's going to p*ss the theory test and I think if you do that you find the physical test much easier and you're a better driver for it. That's my thinking. I bet she turns out to be a good driver.

Scott

Everyone is neurodivergent now. It's an excuse for poor behaviour in most cases. This iisnt aimed at you, it's a general observation. I'm also high functioning spergs, I take a keen interest in things like signs as well, have to have one of everything, and I have trouble focussing on certain things as I get easily bored, and my intense fads pass into disinterest after an intense burn typically, but on the most part it's a load of utter nonsense and people who just need a smack and to be shouted at to pay attention or not being a dick, for example in class is labelled neuro diverse.

Again it's an easy cop out for poor behaviour and a general lowering of standards, and the desire to label everyone and for bad parents to have an excuse.

And this isn't to take away from those who actually have these conditions in a truly life limiting way and not just as an excuse.

But this is OT.

It does seem that everyone needs a crutch of some kind, something that makes life difficult for them so they can have an excuse for fails or bad behaviour, its not just just neurodivergence but anything. It does seem a lot of people act poorly and wont take accountability for their actions then hide behind their crutch and unfortunately this is the latest one... and its bad because those who genuinely do suffer are tarred with the same brush.... its just a lack of accountability.

[Wardy78]

theplayingmantis said:

Wardy78 said:

robinessex said:

I did a SAC once.. About 75% on the course wouldn't pass a driving test now. Some were so driving illiterate, I'm surprised they managed to get to the course without having an accident. Two of the ladies leaving couldn't even get out of the car park, claiming there wasn't enough room. Everyone else managed it ok.

I did one, got nabbed at 53 on a section of dual carriageway that is 50mph for a mile between two 70-limit sections, dangerous bd I am, I'm lucky not to have been just shot on sight.

Anyway..... The course was fine. Covid times so all online. Consisted of a lot of pictures/question of roads and their signs, nothing taxing in the slightest. I was the only one that got 100%. But the surprising thing was that everyone else got way less than 50%!

Things like the NSL sign. Photo of a road with a lot of street lamps asking what speed limit. Photo of a clear single carriageway with no lights or markings. etc etc.

Some didn't get a single question correct. The biggest surprise was the lack of surprise from the instructor??


This is why I think every driver should be made to resit (or sit, I never took it) the theory test every 5 years. It would remove a huge swath of st drivers from our roads AND/OR generate so much revenue from the 'driving without.....' fines that the country wouldn't be (as) bankrupt.

53 in a 50? I'd be keen to see evidence of this. Thanks

Not quite sure what evidence you'd want 3 years after the event?

Here's the email to show I completed the course?

[Wardy78]

zarjaz1991 said:

Wardy78 said:

And I'm struggling to of roads signs that are not just either self-explanatory or downright bleeding obvious. My daughter is 16 (and also neurodivergent, Inattentive ADHD for her). She is starting the process to learn to drive and I'm asking her about road signs all the time. Very few she doesn't get automatically.

Yeah. I think neurodivergent types may be better at this type of thing. Wish her all the best with this and tell her my story if it helps because it sounds like she's going to p*ss the theory test and I think if you do that you find the physical test much easier and you're a better driver for it. That's my thinking. I bet she turns out to be a good driver.

Scott

Thank you. We'd considered getting her to do an auto-only test because of her challenges, but put her on the Young Driver courses to see how she'd cope with a manual, and she's taken to it easily.

...and I hope you're right, she's my taxi from the pub for the next few years if so

[Wardy78]

theplayingmantis said:

zarjaz1991 said:

Wardy78 said:

And I'm struggling to of roads signs that are not just either self-explanatory or downright bleeding obvious. My daughter is 16 (and also neurodivergent, Inattentive ADHD for her). She is starting the process to learn to drive and I'm asking her about road signs all the time. Very few she doesn't get automatically.

Yeah. I think neurodivergent types may be better at this type of thing. Wish her all the best with this and tell her my story if it helps because it sounds like she's going to p*ss the theory test and I think if you do that you find the physical test much easier and you're a better driver for it. That's my thinking. I bet she turns out to be a good driver.

Scott

Everyone is neurodivergent now. It's an excuse for poor behaviour in most cases. This iisnt aimed at you, it's a general observation. I'm also high functioning spergs, I take a keen interest in things like signs as well, have to have one of everything, and I have trouble focussing on certain things as I get easily bored, and my intense fads pass into disinterest after an intense burn typically, but on the most part it's a load of utter nonsense and people who just need a smack and to be shouted at to pay attention or not being a dick, for example in class is labelled neuro diverse.

Again it's an easy cop out for poor behaviour and a general lowering of standards, and the desire to label everyone and for bad parents to have an excuse.

And this isn't to take away from those who actually have these conditions in a truly life limiting way and not just as an excuse.

But this is OT.

I agree in part, but I don't think it's driven solely by parents. School are complicit as well as they want max numbers of SEN students.

[Gad-Westy]

Heaveho said:

I'm starting to notice a thing where the driver in front slows almost to a total stop when turning left, having already arrived at said left turn at a speed where slowing down any further is completely unnecessary. Compounded when it's a traffic light junction with a short light. I shouldn't, but I've become compelled to lean on the horn in this situation, to the point where I've now started working my way through the vehicles I own retrofitting twin horns to get my point across.

Edited by Heaveho on Thursday 25th September 21:15

I have to admit, I'll sometimes be very slow turning into a street that has lots of parked cars causing a width restriction. Too many people blindly turn into those and block oncoming traffic. But I guess you're not really talking about that kind of scenario. But either way, can't see what air horns are going to achieve I'm afraid.

[zarjaz1991]

Wardy78 said:

Thank you. We'd considered getting her to do an auto-only test because of her challenges, but put her on the Young Driver courses to see how she'd cope with a manual, and she's taken to it easily.

...and I hope you're right, she's my taxi from the pub for the next few years if so

lol! Yeah still plenty of call for manuals and it sounds like she clearly has that skill as a natural. The signs are all good, she's going to be great at it. She might even end up "one of us" and become an enthusiast.

Scott

[Granadier]

Wardy78 said:

theplayingmantis said:

zarjaz1991 said:

Wardy78 said:

And I'm struggling to of roads signs that are not just either self-explanatory or downright bleeding obvious. My daughter is 16 (and also neurodivergent, Inattentive ADHD for her). She is starting the process to learn to drive and I'm asking her about road signs all the time. Very few she doesn't get automatically.

Yeah. I think neurodivergent types may be better at this type of thing. Wish her all the best with this and tell her my story if it helps because it sounds like she's going to p*ss the theory test and I think if you do that you find the physical test much easier and you're a better driver for it. That's my thinking. I bet she turns out to be a good driver.

Scott

Everyone is neurodivergent now. It's an excuse for poor behaviour in most cases. This iisnt aimed at you, it's a general observation. I'm also high functioning spergs, I take a keen interest in things like signs as well, have to have one of everything, and I have trouble focussing on certain things as I get easily bored, and my intense fads pass into disinterest after an intense burn typically, but on the most part it's a load of utter nonsense and people who just need a smack and to be shouted at to pay attention or not being a dick, for example in class is labelled neuro diverse.

Again it's an easy cop out for poor behaviour and a general lowering of standards, and the desire to label everyone and for bad parents to have an excuse.

And this isn't to take away from those who actually have these conditions in a truly life limiting way and not just as an excuse.

But this is OT.

I agree in part, but I don't think it's driven solely by parents. School are complicit as well as they want max numbers of SEN students.

Someone close to me works for CAMHS, and even a lot of their clinicians privately agree that self-labelling neurodivergence is way out of hand, it's become almost fashionable

[wazztie16]

Gad-Westy said:

Heaveho said:

I'm starting to notice a thing where the driver in front slows almost to a total stop when turning left, having already arrived at said left turn at a speed where slowing down any further is completely unnecessary. Compounded when it's a traffic light junction with a short light. I shouldn't, but I've become compelled to lean on the horn in this situation, to the point where I've now started working my way through the vehicles I own retrofitting twin horns to get my point across.

Edited by Heaveho on Thursday 25th September 21:15

I have to admit, I'll sometimes be very slow turning into a street that has lots of parked cars causing a width restriction. Too many people blindly turn into those and block oncoming traffic. But I guess you're not really talking about that kind of scenario. But either way, can't see what air horns are going to achieve I'm afraid.

Wish the driver who nearly crashed head on into me earlier because they turned a blind corner (give way) too quickly and ended up on the wrong side of the road due to parked cars had slowed down a bit...

I'm with Heaveho on this.

[DKS]

Wardy78 said:

I did one, got nabbed at 53 on a section of dual carriageway that is 50mph for a mile between two 70-limit sections, dangerous bd I am, I'm lucky not to have been just shot on sight.
Things like the NSL sign. Photo of a road with a lot of street lamps asking what speed limit. Photo of a clear single carriageway with no lights or markings. etc etc.

Some didn't get a single question correct. The biggest surprise was the lack of surprise from the instructor??


This is why I think every driver should be made to resit (or sit, I never took it) the theory test every 5 years. It would remove a huge swath of st drivers from our roads AND/OR generate so much revenue from the 'driving without.....' fines that the country wouldn't be (as) bankrupt.

I got caught at 69 on a DC in a large van (speedo showed 63, knew it wasn't worth arguing) and on the course was staggered at the complete lack of knowledge. One guy said the road with streetlights (and no repeaters) looked like a 40 because it was "kinda main road looking". I was baffled. One girl was clearly doing the course on her phone and despite the course presenter saying they must be satisfied you're paying attention, the constant wiggling of her screen made it obvious she was typing almost all the time. She had to be pushed to contribute, too. Didn't deserve her license IMO.

[the cueball]

Heaveho said:

I'm starting to notice a thing where the driver in front slows almost to a total stop when turning left, having already arrived at said left turn at a speed where slowing down any further is completely unnecessary. Compounded when it's a traffic light junction with a short light. I shouldn't, but I've become compelled to lean on the horn in this situation, to the point where I've now started working my way through the vehicles I own retrofitting twin horns to get my point across.

Edited by Heaveho on Thursday 25th September 21:15

Isn't think after the update in the highway code that now makes car drivers to blame if some idiot walks out into the road and gets hit?

I've started to slow right up when I see anyone at a junction I'm going into as I just don't trust they've seen me and won't cause an issue... haven't slowed to a total stop mind you..