Russian drivers - I don't get it
Discussion
Not a new topic and we've all wasted 5mins on YT looking at car crash compilation #1045..
But seriously, what is it with these guys? They seem to find accidents where they simply don't exist, some of them ridiculous.
So what is it?
They just have more dashcams to upload and actually all nations have as many daft crashes?
Poor road layouts?
Poor training?
Different attitudes to risk?
And before we trot out the stereotype that they are all pissed on Vodka, I'd have a hard time buying that. I know a few and less than half of them actually drink Vodka.
Although some stereotypes seem to run true - one of them is a very nice looking lady and also a spectacularly bad driver - to the point that whilst living in London she sold her car and uses public transport instead.
But seriously, what is it with these guys? They seem to find accidents where they simply don't exist, some of them ridiculous.
So what is it?
They just have more dashcams to upload and actually all nations have as many daft crashes?
Poor road layouts?
Poor training?
Different attitudes to risk?
And before we trot out the stereotype that they are all pissed on Vodka, I'd have a hard time buying that. I know a few and less than half of them actually drink Vodka.
Although some stereotypes seem to run true - one of them is a very nice looking lady and also a spectacularly bad driver - to the point that whilst living in London she sold her car and uses public transport instead.
In theory, the rules for driving in Russia are the same as in Europe, but they are rarely observed by drivers and are not consistently enforced by the authorities. Compared to western standards, Russian motorists generally drive fast, aggressively and dangerously, with little respect for traffic signs or other road users. There are five times the number of fatalities in road traffic accidents compared with the world’s safest countries, so a lot of care is needed. Some Russians drive without a licence, as paying the fines can be cheaper than getting one, so drivers have inadequate training. Vehicles can be in hazardous condition, adding to the seriousness of the situation on the road.
http://russia.angloinfo.com/transport/driving/
http://russia.angloinfo.com/transport/driving/
I'm addicted to these vids. There seems to be a recurring theme of absolutely no awareness of what others on the road are doing, almost like they are wearing blinkers. Changing lanes? Why bother looking, turning across lanes? Why bother looking, driving across a cross roads, why bother slowing down..,and so it goes on.
Matt UK said:
And before we trot out the stereotype that they are all pissed on Vodka, I'd have a hard time buying that. I know a few and less than half of them actually drink Vodka.
Sorry, but you might need to rethink this. According to the World Health Organisation only Belarus, Moldova and Lithuania have a higher rate of alcohol consumption than the Russians. They really do drink a lot, and a lot of the alcohol they consume is spirits.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alcohol_consumption_i...
If you think Russia is bad, try going to Cairo... 3 lane motorways... No probs... we can have 5 cars abreast in such shocking conditions that you can't understand how some actually still move.
Break down on said motorway... no probs... just park up where you are and get under the hood to fix it, don't care that everyone else is going past at 60mph.
Any crash is put down to Gods will.
Indication is indicate for fraction of second, beep horn, then move over without looking.
Truly a f
king scary place to get in a taxi.
Break down on said motorway... no probs... just park up where you are and get under the hood to fix it, don't care that everyone else is going past at 60mph.
Any crash is put down to Gods will.
Indication is indicate for fraction of second, beep horn, then move over without looking.
Truly a f
king scary place to get in a taxi.soad said:
BMW M5 LAST ILLEGAL Street Racing RUSSIA DRIFT
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A4917-j_Ky0#t=35
That's Georgia, not Russia.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A4917-j_Ky0#t=35
IME of driving through Russia, I would say the stereotype is based on some facts.
One night we were camping in the mountains next to a nice river, waiting for the border crossing into Mongolia to open. Bunch of us parked up, around a campfire (tents up etc), drinking and generally enjoying ourselves. Early evening a truck decided to drive off the road and flip, two drivers in it.
Both got out, one fully conscious other partially. Fully conscious guy just sprinted into the wilderness, partial guy soon followed once he had recovered from the shock I guess. Both stank of booze and weed.
At this river place, there were some locals further up. They arrived at dusk, and were doing much the same as we were, drinking/chatting/singing etc. They were all drinking heavily, and at around midnight decided to drive home. Weaving as they drove out of the campsite, they went on their merry way. Apparently that's normal.
That was just one night, had several similar experiences, and until that trip i'd never seen a lorry on its side. Think I stopped count after seeing 25 in a week.
One night we were camping in the mountains next to a nice river, waiting for the border crossing into Mongolia to open. Bunch of us parked up, around a campfire (tents up etc), drinking and generally enjoying ourselves. Early evening a truck decided to drive off the road and flip, two drivers in it.
Both got out, one fully conscious other partially. Fully conscious guy just sprinted into the wilderness, partial guy soon followed once he had recovered from the shock I guess. Both stank of booze and weed.
At this river place, there were some locals further up. They arrived at dusk, and were doing much the same as we were, drinking/chatting/singing etc. They were all drinking heavily, and at around midnight decided to drive home. Weaving as they drove out of the campsite, they went on their merry way. Apparently that's normal.
That was just one night, had several similar experiences, and until that trip i'd never seen a lorry on its side. Think I stopped count after seeing 25 in a week.
SuperchargedVR6 said:
Is some of it down to 'cash for crash' scams? There's an awful lot of worthless Ladas involved in these crashes, usually bashing into pretty decent cars.
Id say its more down to corruption. Caught by the police? Bribe your way free and carry on so theres no fear of consiquence or deterrence.Du1point8 said:
If you think Russia is bad, try going to Cairo... 3 lane motorways... No probs... we can have 5 cars abreast in such shocking conditions that you can't understand how some actually still move.
Break down on said motorway... no probs... just park up where you are and get under the hood to fix it, don't care that everyone else is going past at 60mph.
Any crash is put down to Gods will.
Indication is indicate for fraction of second, beep horn, then move over without looking.
Truly a fking scary place to get in a taxi.
Yup agree, if "x" cars will physically fit in the width of a road, then that's how many will be driving side to side at 60, 80, 100km/h IN THE CITY. Where the traffic is flowing, that is. It is difficult to find a car that has not got beat up sides. Thing is, cars don't rust there, so after any accident they are simply mashed into an approximate "previous" shape and kept running.Break down on said motorway... no probs... just park up where you are and get under the hood to fix it, don't care that everyone else is going past at 60mph.
Any crash is put down to Gods will.
Indication is indicate for fraction of second, beep horn, then move over without looking.
Truly a f
king scary place to get in a taxi.Horns? What happened since the last time I was there? They were an essential feature of driving. Basically they drive like they are surrounded by a forcefield, using the horn to announce their presence within a certain radius to which other drivers are expected to react.
Coming out of a side road? Hand on horn around 3 secs before getting to the intersection, no need to slow down, just shoot out, other drivers will have heard you and moved over to the opposite side of the road without slowing down.
It actually works. But if you drive anything other than a 1976 Fiat or Peugeot, then do like the locals do and only use your own car in the evenings, when things quieten down - relatively of course, horns are a 24hr background cacophony.
I don't know why it is, but they do drive very badly.
One of my best memories of Moscow was on a 4 lane motorway at about 5am in driving snow with visibility down to almost nothing. I was doing about 50 and struggling to see (in a Volvo XC90, so a fairly appropriate car).
The motorway was almost empty and suddenly an old Daewoo with cardboard as a back window overtook me on the hard shoulder/verge doing about 90 with a space saver front tyre.
I really don't know why they drive like that.
One of my best memories of Moscow was on a 4 lane motorway at about 5am in driving snow with visibility down to almost nothing. I was doing about 50 and struggling to see (in a Volvo XC90, so a fairly appropriate car).
The motorway was almost empty and suddenly an old Daewoo with cardboard as a back window overtook me on the hard shoulder/verge doing about 90 with a space saver front tyre.
I really don't know why they drive like that.
soad said:
BMW M5 LAST ILLEGAL Street Racing RUSSIA DRIFT
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A4917-j_Ky0#t=35
Didn't that guy bin it into a tree and die? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A4917-j_Ky0#t=35
Have you seen the compensation-desparate pedestrians who dive onto the bonnets / windscreens of cars?
Now THAT's entertainment. There was one recently where the guy was so determined he jumped onto the bonnet of a car which had managed to stop in time and then proceeded to headbutt the windscreen until it smashed. I kid you not.
Now THAT's entertainment. There was one recently where the guy was so determined he jumped onto the bonnet of a car which had managed to stop in time and then proceeded to headbutt the windscreen until it smashed. I kid you not.
996TT02 said:
Yup agree, if "x" cars will physically fit in the width of a road, then that's how many will be driving side to side at 60, 80, 100km/h IN THE CITY. Where the traffic is flowing, that is. It is difficult to find a car that has not got beat up sides. Thing is, cars don't rust there, so after any accident they are simply mashed into an approximate "previous" shape and kept running.
Horns? What happened since the last time I was there? They were an essential feature of driving. Basically they drive like they are surrounded by a forcefield, using the horn to announce their presence within a certain radius to which other drivers are expected to react.
Coming out of a side road? Hand on horn around 3 secs before getting to the intersection, no need to slow down, just shoot out, other drivers will have heard you and moved over to the opposite side of the road without slowing down.
It actually works. But if you drive anything other than a 1976 Fiat or Peugeot, then do like the locals do and only use your own car in the evenings, when things quieten down - relatively of course, horns are a 24hr background cacophony.
You say drive in the evenings, but you have to be aware that headlights are optional there!Horns? What happened since the last time I was there? They were an essential feature of driving. Basically they drive like they are surrounded by a forcefield, using the horn to announce their presence within a certain radius to which other drivers are expected to react.
Coming out of a side road? Hand on horn around 3 secs before getting to the intersection, no need to slow down, just shoot out, other drivers will have heard you and moved over to the opposite side of the road without slowing down.
It actually works. But if you drive anything other than a 1976 Fiat or Peugeot, then do like the locals do and only use your own car in the evenings, when things quieten down - relatively of course, horns are a 24hr background cacophony.
rohrl said:
Matt UK said:
And before we trot out the stereotype that they are all pissed on Vodka, I'd have a hard time buying that. I know a few and less than half of them actually drink Vodka.
Sorry, but you might need to rethink this. According to the World Health Organisation only Belarus, Moldova and Lithuania have a higher rate of alcohol consumption than the Russians. They really do drink a lot, and a lot of the alcohol they consume is spirits.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alcohol_consumption_i...
Then I went out into the towns.... Many stores had people buying 500ml of vodka at 10-12am. Not just 1-2, but of the 30 we visited over a weeks stay, vodka was the primary purchase. The stores were basically 20% vodka, 20% dried fish, 20% beer and the rest some staple foods.
Going to dinner and doing business also involved vodka. Usually if there were 5 of you in the restaurant, you would keep toasting til the bottle was gone. Then the next bottle appeared... and the next and sometimes the next.
Anyway this thread is not about alcohol consumption in Russia, but my experience is that the average Russia can and does drink copiously
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