Motorway Driving Standards in the UK
Discussion
Maybe a bit of a rant, but recently drove around Europe for the first time (went out twice Aug & Sept), and found most countries lane discipline very good, it felt normal whilst driving France, Italy, Switzerland and Germany.
I came into the UK of the Tunnel and instantly was appalled at people sitting in the middle and overtaking lane without a care in the world. It seems as everyone thinks as long as there doing 70 they can sit in any lane they want to.
I have to say after driving in Europe, I knew UK motorway driving standards were bad but it highlighted how bad they really were. On route to work I see the bottom lane completely empty, however if I use it then move over into the middle lane, that would be seen as undertaking right?
I got into the habit even more in Germany of moving over after I had over taken right away, even if at 80mph or 170mph (autobahn), then pulling back out to over take the next car.
Maybe if the UK had no speed limit, people would move over because they know there is always someone faster, or maybe they just wouldn’t.
I think everyone in the UK should be made to drive in Germany then bring that home with them lol.
I also had a little look at the stats, I cant seem to find up to date stats on Autobahn de-restricted casualties, last I found was 645, they were eighth place for motorway deaths per distance travelled, behind Switzerland, Denmark, the Netherlands, the UK, Sweden, France and Ireland.
I dont think the new crush on the middle lane hoggers has had any influance, there still sat there in a world of there own causing traffic. We dont need more lanes on our motorways, we need better use of them.
Rant over.
I came into the UK of the Tunnel and instantly was appalled at people sitting in the middle and overtaking lane without a care in the world. It seems as everyone thinks as long as there doing 70 they can sit in any lane they want to.
I have to say after driving in Europe, I knew UK motorway driving standards were bad but it highlighted how bad they really were. On route to work I see the bottom lane completely empty, however if I use it then move over into the middle lane, that would be seen as undertaking right?
I got into the habit even more in Germany of moving over after I had over taken right away, even if at 80mph or 170mph (autobahn), then pulling back out to over take the next car.
Maybe if the UK had no speed limit, people would move over because they know there is always someone faster, or maybe they just wouldn’t.
I think everyone in the UK should be made to drive in Germany then bring that home with them lol.
I also had a little look at the stats, I cant seem to find up to date stats on Autobahn de-restricted casualties, last I found was 645, they were eighth place for motorway deaths per distance travelled, behind Switzerland, Denmark, the Netherlands, the UK, Sweden, France and Ireland.
I dont think the new crush on the middle lane hoggers has had any influance, there still sat there in a world of there own causing traffic. We dont need more lanes on our motorways, we need better use of them.
Rant over.
JayK12 said:
Maybe a bit of a rant, but recently drove around Europe for the first time (went out twice Aug & Sept), and found most countries lane discipline very good, it felt normal whilst driving France, Italy, Switzerland and Germany.
I came into the UK of the Tunnel and instantly was appalled at people sitting in the middle and overtaking lane without a care in the world. It seems as everyone thinks as long as there doing 70 they can sit in any lane they want to.
I have to say after driving in Europe, I knew UK motorway driving standards were bad but it highlighted how bad they really were. On route to work I see the bottom lane completely empty, however if I use it then move over into the middle lane, that would be seen as undertaking right?
I got into the habit even more in Germany of moving over after I had over taken right away, even if at 80mph or 170mph (autobahn), then pulling back out to over take the next car.
Maybe if the UK had no speed limit, people would move over because they know there is always someone faster, or maybe they just wouldn’t.
I think everyone in the UK should be made to drive in Germany then bring that home with them lol.
I also had a little look at the stats, I cant seem to find up to date stats on Autobahn de-restricted casualties, last I found was 645, they were eighth place for motorway deaths per distance travelled, behind Switzerland, Denmark, the Netherlands, the UK, Sweden, France and Ireland.
I dont think the new crush on the middle lane hoggers has had any influance, there still sat there in a world of there own causing traffic. We dont need more lanes on our motorways, we need better use of them.
Rant over.
So despite our poor motorway driving standards and the fact that you think we might benefit from no speed limit, UK motorways are still safer than autobahns...I came into the UK of the Tunnel and instantly was appalled at people sitting in the middle and overtaking lane without a care in the world. It seems as everyone thinks as long as there doing 70 they can sit in any lane they want to.
I have to say after driving in Europe, I knew UK motorway driving standards were bad but it highlighted how bad they really were. On route to work I see the bottom lane completely empty, however if I use it then move over into the middle lane, that would be seen as undertaking right?
I got into the habit even more in Germany of moving over after I had over taken right away, even if at 80mph or 170mph (autobahn), then pulling back out to over take the next car.
Maybe if the UK had no speed limit, people would move over because they know there is always someone faster, or maybe they just wouldn’t.
I think everyone in the UK should be made to drive in Germany then bring that home with them lol.
I also had a little look at the stats, I cant seem to find up to date stats on Autobahn de-restricted casualties, last I found was 645, they were eighth place for motorway deaths per distance travelled, behind Switzerland, Denmark, the Netherlands, the UK, Sweden, France and Ireland.
I dont think the new crush on the middle lane hoggers has had any influance, there still sat there in a world of there own causing traffic. We dont need more lanes on our motorways, we need better use of them.
Rant over.
Perhaps your perception of poor standards isn't what actually matters in terms of preventing accidents?
Devil2575 said:
So despite our poor motorway driving standards and the fact that you think we might benefit from no speed limit, UK motorways are still safer than autobahns...
Perhaps your perception of poor standards isn't what actually matters in terms of preventing accidents?
I didnt say we would benefit from no speed limit, i just wondered would it change people's mentality to not sit in overtaking or middle lane at the speed limit, or as i said maybe it wouldnt.Perhaps your perception of poor standards isn't what actually matters in terms of preventing accidents?
Can you provide me with numbers, would be interesting to see as i couldnt find any.
JayK12 said:
I didnt say we would benefit from no speed limit, i just wondered would it change people's mentality to not sit in overtaking or middle lane at the speed limit, or as i said maybe it wouldnt.
Can you provide me with numbers, would be interesting to see as i couldnt find any.
The autobahn's poorer safety record is down to things like badly designed junctions and higher average speeds making any accident that occurs more serious - it isn't much different from other European countries though. Can you provide me with numbers, would be interesting to see as i couldnt find any.
The UK's motorway safety record is actually excellent and largely down to pretty good road infrastructure - everything is very well signposted, junctions are generally pretty logical. They're excellent roads, ruined by the large numbers of idiots on them.
Here's some stats;
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Road_traffic_safety#K...
Stupid, ignorant behaviour on the roads mirrors the trend towards stupid, ignorant behaviour in Britain as a whole.
The yobs and morons are breeding faster than the intelligent people and are taking over. It's as though natural selection has gone into reverse.
The subject is undiscussable though because it's not PC to say so...
The yobs and morons are breeding faster than the intelligent people and are taking over. It's as though natural selection has gone into reverse.
The subject is undiscussable though because it's not PC to say so...
BGarside said:
Stupid, ignorant behaviour on the roads mirrors the trend towards stupid, ignorant behaviour in Britain as a whole.
The yobs and morons are breeding faster than the intelligent people and are taking over. It's as though natural selection has gone into reverse.
The subject is undiscussable though because it's not PC to say so...
It's not discussable because it's more of the same "world's going to hell in a hardcart" bThe yobs and morons are breeding faster than the intelligent people and are taking over. It's as though natural selection has gone into reverse.
The subject is undiscussable though because it's not PC to say so...
ks spouted by people who obviously aren't very clever themselves..Well. as someone who travels to Europe multiple times a year, I would put the UK down as about the least fun to drive in , Maybe is safer, but I prefer the madness of SIcily or the discipline of the Autobahn or just about anywhere where driving is fun. If I lived in the UK again I expect I would buy some white goods transports device. With all those cameras and more coming, inability to overtake , pursed-lip fanatical enforcers and reporters, its all a tedious bore. I know..twisty roads in the country for early morning runs, but that can be done anywhere......
Statistics aside, I have to admit my heart always sinks a little bit when I return from Europe, to the UK roads.
We spend most of our time in my job, on the roads of Europe and beyond, and on the whole I prefer being away.
I wouldn't always say the standards are better everywhere, but on the whole congestion seems less, and better progress is often made.
We spend most of our time in my job, on the roads of Europe and beyond, and on the whole I prefer being away.
I wouldn't always say the standards are better everywhere, but on the whole congestion seems less, and better progress is often made.
I spent 22 years commuting up and down the M5, finishing in 2008.
Then there were five years when I didn't commute.
I now drive up and down the M5 again, and there is absolutely no doubt whatsoever that during those five years there was a massive drop in standards.
For me the worst offence is speeding, with countless cars clearing exceeding 90MPH. I'm no slouch but those speeds are dangerous at peak times.
The other common offence is driving too close to the car in front. I never used to witness this too much, but now it's commonplace, no doubt combined with the above.
Pretty sad really.
Then there were five years when I didn't commute.
I now drive up and down the M5 again, and there is absolutely no doubt whatsoever that during those five years there was a massive drop in standards.
For me the worst offence is speeding, with countless cars clearing exceeding 90MPH. I'm no slouch but those speeds are dangerous at peak times.
The other common offence is driving too close to the car in front. I never used to witness this too much, but now it's commonplace, no doubt combined with the above.
Pretty sad really.
budfox said:
For me the worst offence is speeding, with countless cars clearing exceeding 90MPH. I'm no slouch but those speeds are dangerous at peak times.
Speeding is not dangerous, poor attention, lack of anticipation and lack of consideration are what causes problems. If everybody cooperated speeds could easily rise considerably and the roads would be safer.budfox said:
For me the worst offence is speeding, with countless cars clearing exceeding 90MPH. I'm no slouch but those speeds are dangerous at peak times.
Speeding is not dangerous, poor attention, lack of anticipation and lack of consideration are what causes problems. If everybody cooperated speeds could easily rise considerably and the roads would be safer.Totally agree JK,spent the last two weeks in Germany [its a regular trip these days] You get to notice the difference in driving standards just by driving off of the ferry/chunnel.The UK seems to have become a very 'angry' place to be now and seems to be getting worse.Not so much of a problem in the immediate future for us though!
Devil2575 said:
It's not discussable because it's more of the same "world's going to hell in a hardcart" bks spouted by people who obviously aren't very clever themselves..
I work outside the UK, i'm based in Romania. The traffic can be mad at times here too, but theres none of the aggression you see on UK roads, the pathetic blocking tactics, lane hogging, revenge on people wanting to make progress.ks spouted by people who obviously aren't very clever themselves..This countries driving standards are s
t. And its soul destroying, especially as all my toys are in the UK.Maybe you should spend some time (real time) driving in a foreign country Devil, before being rude to others who are expressing what I see from real experience as the way it is.
And this is a recent development, over the last ten years or so its become increasingly worrying. There is NO road education other than some silly big signs which light up and tell you something usually pretty irrelavant every now and then.
In the past we had tv adverts to educate, and parents too. This seems to be a thing of the past. You got single mum who doesnt know how to drive properly herself, kid popping, weed smoking on the internet all day with no job.
7mike said:
Belgium, Britain, they have at least two things in common, people moaning about driving there, and they both are 7 letter words beginning with B.BGarside said:
Stupid, ignorant behaviour on the roads mirrors the trend towards stupid, ignorant behaviour in Britain as a whole.
The yobs and morons are breeding faster than the intelligent people and are taking over. It's as though natural selection has gone into reverse.
The subject is undiscussable though because it's not PC to say so...
I'm with you.The yobs and morons are breeding faster than the intelligent people and are taking over. It's as though natural selection has gone into reverse.
The subject is undiscussable though because it's not PC to say so...
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