Being a passenger in a very badly driven vehicle

[robinessex]

As we know, PH'ers are known for the exemplary driving skills!! And as such, we get annoyed with all the vegetables we meet in our travels. I virtually never get the opportunity to be a passenger in one of the vegetables cars. Until a while ago. I was offered a cheaper than a taxi mini bus (private guy) to transport myself and family to the airport. To say this guy couldn't drive is an understatement. He was so completely disassociated from the task it was unbelievable. He made just about every mistake in the book, and include a few original ones. It would take me to long to describe them all, but it was so bad, I booked a 'proper' taxi for the return trip. I'm now a convinced devotee of ALL drivers being re-tested every 5 years. Have any PH'ers any experiences of being a passenger in a vehicle being driven by a complete mumpty? Do you grimace and bare it, or do you offer constructive advice, and, if so, how was it accepted. Did you up walking, either voluntary or by force!! Or do you now use the train/bus?

[Lawbags]

I've got out of taxis before because the drivers seem unable to drive.
I had one them change gear so early that the car kept cutting out, another go down the wrong side of the road at a junction...all sorts.

For people who drive all day, they don't seem too good at driving!

[m8rky]

I was asked to manage a company depot in an area I did not know well, the existing manager took me on a tour of the area in his BMW.
Absolutely appaling driver, speeding in built up areas, cutting blind junctions, one handed steering and not one single indication. After nearly mowing down an old lady that had dared to start to cross a side road we were turning in to with no indication I could contain myself no longer and told him he drove like a .
The return to the depot was a little awkwardly silent.

[yorkshireegg]

There are only a hand full of people I know that I am fully comfortable being driven by. Only one of those people inspires confidence at speed.
Perhaps it's the demographic of the people I know (mostly aged 19 - 28) but I still find myself being uncomfortable as a passenger with older people.

The biggest factors for me are following the car in front too close and braking too late. If I feel myself stabbing for an imaginary brake pedal then I know it's going to be an uncomfortable journey.

I'm too polite to say anything most of the time and just try to distract myself from impending doom but occasionally, if the standard of driving is particularly bad and I know the person well enough, I will say something.

[tuffer]

I regularly have to take Taxis in the Middle East, after that anything is acceptable.

[vx220]

The ones that #&@# me off are lorry drivers driving a car (I actually only know one lorry driver, hope he doesn't read this) because they (he) WILL NOT STOP FOR A ROUNDABOUT!!!
And the ones who despite being blissfully unaware of the things they narrowly miss and the drivers they impede and the laws they break still manage to notice my use of the imaginary brake pedal, and tell me I am making them drive badly by being scared!!!

I find myself with my eyes shut a lot of the time, out of politeness.

Everyone must think I have the worst car sickness in the world ever, as I constantly use that as an excuse...

[istoo]

lived in the far east for a while, and drove there the whole time... got to remember its a freestyle sport for some people... it took a while to adjust to sanity again.

[pad58]

This is why I hated hitch hiking in the early eighties as you where never sure what kind of driver you would get.
Like the 2ltr BMW driver.....a loon to say the least.

[skyrover]

try taking a taxi in China... I assure you nothing in the UK comes close.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XcP-ql5Rxy8

[Grimezy93]

One of my mates is 20 and drives a mk1 mx-5, he's constantly throwing it around blind bends in streets with cars parked down either side of it and then he has to reverse halfway down the street because he has about 3 cars coming towards him, in fact I don't think I've ever been in a car with him when he hasn't had to reverse at some point due to poor anticipation.

I've told him I don't think it's normal and that he shouldn't have to reverse in a normal street but he seems shocked by this and feels like he's doing nothing wrong.

Perhaps I'm too cautious though... After 2 years he's had about 3 accidents whereas I'm yet to have one *touch wood*

[jones325i]

I often travel with a colleague who has no anticipation skills at all. At least one emergency brake in lane 3 on every trip. I'm used to it now, so it rarely bothers me. There is the odd occasion where we get particularly close to a smash but the most I've done is quietly mutter a 'FFS'.

[V88Dicky]

tuffer said:

I regularly have to take Taxis in the Middle East, after that anything is acceptable.

I suffered the nightmare of a 45 mile taxi ride in the dead of night, from Dalaman Airport to Oludeniz (Turkey) back in July.

The knackered old Fiat was piloted by a driver who didn't speak English at all (not his fault I know), but nevertheless, wasn't sure where the resort was! And pretty much the whole journey, he had a Walkie-talkie in one hand and a mobile in the other, while chain smoking
Narrowly avoiding parked cars, motorcyclists and cyclists, almost colliding with a tourist coach in the mountains. To say I was a nervous wreck is an understatement.
It was only pure luck that I glanced to my right and noticed the hotel that I'd been looking for as we whizzed through a town. STOP!!!!!
Never been so glad to hand over £70

[Johnnytheboy]

I'm terrible for this. Being in a car with someone that doesn't leave themselves enough space has me pressing an imaginary brake pedal.

Also after one lengthy night-time minicab journey recently when the driver didn't use L1 at all, my OH said she could feel the waves of silent anger emanating from me.

[rosscobmw]

I got a taxi to the airport when i was working in derby, i think it was albatross or something. Anyway, Driving down the motorway the driver would accelerate to 75 then stomp the brake with his left foot down to 65, accelerate to 75 and do the same again. I was getting thrown around like a rag doll, im sure i still have the video somewhere of me filming his feet. Safe to say he didnt get a tip

[Art0ir]

After a few trips to North Africa and lots of taxi rides, UK drivers don't concern me much.

[krunchkin]

to add my agreement to the general direction of this thread - once you've been in a few cars and taxis abroad it makes the general level of UK driving look exemplary. A few highlights for me include the road between Marrakesh and Essauoria (where Martha Lane Fox had her life altering accident) - my colleague screaming in fear for the driver to slow down, Tuk Tuk rides in Sri Lanka with me screaming at the driver to stop, any kind of ride in a car in built up traffic in India, and any kind of travel around Beirut - to name but a few.

[Limpet]

I remember being driven through the streets of Paris by a taxi driver during the Euro 2004 football tournament, who was both eating his lunch, and sharing observation duties between the road, and a live France game on an ancient portable black and white TV strapped sideways on to the front passenger seat.

To say progress was erratic, and the odd near miss was involved would be a big understatement.

Jovial chap though.

Edited by Limpet on Monday 21st October 12:38

[Thehandshake]

tuffer said:

I regularly have to take Taxis in the Middle East.

I.e. East London?

[vrooom]

I went to sri lanka for honeymoon. that was a scariest taxi ride. There is no road rage if you cut off someone. they just shrugged.

[B5NXJ]

skyrover said:

try taking a taxi in China... I assure you nothing in the UK comes close.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XcP-ql5Rxy8

Christ!! he drives like I do on GTA V ..