Country Lane W*nkers
Discussion
I moved out into the countryside recently. The house is a 10 minute drive from a main road and something has become apparent.
People are w*nkers.
Every time I'm driving through the lanes I'll meet a few cars coming the other way, normally, we both slow down, put our hand up to acknowledge each other and move by. That is, so it seems, unless the car coming the opposite way is either a new BMW, Audi or a Range Rover. If this is the case they show no sign of slowing down and tank passed whilst I've moved onto the verge. If I don't do move, there's going to be a collision at speed.
It happened 3 times yesterday, 1 Audi, 2 BMW's, the first BMW actually hit my wing mirror back against the door. That was the worst one, I'd moved right over as he was actually driving about a metre plus away from the hedge, looking straight ahead, no eye contact and was literally inches from writing off the side of the car. The t
t didn't move in at all, had masses of space on his left and kept going!
I think its time to get an old Hilux.
People are w*nkers.
Every time I'm driving through the lanes I'll meet a few cars coming the other way, normally, we both slow down, put our hand up to acknowledge each other and move by. That is, so it seems, unless the car coming the opposite way is either a new BMW, Audi or a Range Rover. If this is the case they show no sign of slowing down and tank passed whilst I've moved onto the verge. If I don't do move, there's going to be a collision at speed.
It happened 3 times yesterday, 1 Audi, 2 BMW's, the first BMW actually hit my wing mirror back against the door. That was the worst one, I'd moved right over as he was actually driving about a metre plus away from the hedge, looking straight ahead, no eye contact and was literally inches from writing off the side of the car. The t
t didn't move in at all, had masses of space on his left and kept going!I think its time to get an old Hilux.
My technique with these people is if someone is hammering toward me on a narrow or restricted road I simply stop which causes them to stop while I maneuver out of the way, I'll give them a smile and a wave of thanks for their patience. Doesn't look like you're doing anything ttty on purpose but it slows them down and inconveniences them.
tty on purpose but it slows them down and inconveniences them.Townies in the country have very poor spatial awareness because they rarely drive on narrow roads. If 2" from the hedge at the side is close to you, 2' foot may be close to a townie. They can be spotted easily as they drive in the middle of country lanes and swerve dramatically out of the way at the sight of oncoming traffic. RR drivers are slightly different as they generally drive with a greater sense of entitlement wherever they are, so the Hilux is possibly a good idea, old Discovery or even a Land Rover.
It's not limited to a specific make. Poor etiquette seems rife on the single track roads I use on my commute. A lot of people just seem completely pig headed and won't ever consider reversing, even if they'd just passed an enormous passing place. They just keep coming and expect you to move, even though it would be quicker for them in the long run to the be the first to yield.
EDIT: Although, the increased popularity of SUVs does seem to make it more of a problem. I don't have anything against them, but they do amplify the problems caused by people who already are completely useless at gauging the width of their car, when they are now more likely to be driving a wider vehicle.
EDIT: Although, the increased popularity of SUVs does seem to make it more of a problem. I don't have anything against them, but they do amplify the problems caused by people who already are completely useless at gauging the width of their car, when they are now more likely to be driving a wider vehicle.
Edited by Conscript on Monday 5th September 14:05
Dog Star said:
My technique with these people is if someone is hammering toward me on a narrow or restricted road I simply stop which causes them to stop while I maneuver out of the way, I'll give them a smile and a wave of thanks for their patience. Doesn't look like you're doing anything ttty on purpose but it slows them down and inconveniences them.
I'm going to give this a try, if there's a stand off, I'll pull the chainsaw out of the boot and fire it up whilst standing on the roof.tty on purpose but it slows them down and inconveniences them.Conscript][B said:
It's not limited to a specific make [\B]. Poor etiquette seems rife on the single track roads I use on my commute. A lot of people just seem completely pig headed and won't ever consider reversing, even if they'd just passed an enormous passing place. They just keep coming and expect you to move, even though it would be quicker for them in the long run to the be the first to yield.
EDIT: Although, the increased popularity of SUVs does seem to make it more of a problem. I don't have anything against them, but they do amplify the problems caused by people who already are completely useless at gauging the width of their car, when they are now more likely to be driving a wider vehicle.
I know, but just recently its been those makes more than others.EDIT: Although, the increased popularity of SUVs does seem to make it more of a problem. I don't have anything against them, but they do amplify the problems caused by people who already are completely useless at gauging the width of their car, when they are now more likely to be driving a wider vehicle.
Edited by Conscript on Monday 5th September 14:05
Agree with the SUV thing though.
Jasandjules said:
Don't worry, you will soon learn how to emergency stop whilst heading into a 90 deg blind corner due to a RR or A4 half in your road (well over the white line) coming around the corner too...
Already done, only it wasn't a car, but about 30 cows with no farmer to be seen. Once they passed, I carried on my way only for another emergency stop when 50 yards down the lane another cow walked straight out of a field into the road front of me. There was no warning as the fields hedge was a good 10 feet high. The farmer was actually in the field encouraging the cows out with no warning at all. Cars tend to bomb along this bit of road too, made me wonder if the cows are worth more with an insurance pay off than they are at market... Dog Star said:
My technique with these people is if someone is hammering toward me on a narrow or restricted road I simply stop which causes them to stop while I maneuver out of the way, I'll give them a smile and a wave of thanks for their patience. Doesn't look like you're doing anything ttty on purpose but it slows them down and inconveniences them.
As a regular driver (BMW, I hasten to add) of country lanes, this too is my approach.tty on purpose but it slows them down and inconveniences them.RowntreesCabana said:
Already done, only it wasn't a car, but about 30 cows with no farmer to be seen. Once they passed, I carried on my way only for another emergency stop when 50 yards down the lane another cow walked straight out of a field into the road front of me. There was no warning
You want a man waving a flag or blowing a whistle? Having grown up on an island where single track roads mixed with narrow B roads are rife. You learn to manage in such an environment, it makes you very spatially aware.
Now being a fully fledged "mainlander" its amusing as many people seem so timid on anything remotely narrow. I agree with the stance of stopping, slightly moving to block them, if it wasn't already obvious they are taking up too much room.
I've had to throw my own car up a muddy verge before, no damage done, purely because of 4x4 arse wipes barrelling around.
Now being a fully fledged "mainlander" its amusing as many people seem so timid on anything remotely narrow. I agree with the stance of stopping, slightly moving to block them, if it wasn't already obvious they are taking up too much room.
I've had to throw my own car up a muddy verge before, no damage done, purely because of 4x4 arse wipes barrelling around.
popeyewhite said:
You want a man waving a flag or blowing a whistle?
Don't be silly, but you'd normally have a couple of people doing this, one stood out on the road. Do you think its alright to have a stretch of road with a 60mph limit, and send a 1 tonne animal out on to the road from behind a hedge with no warning whatsoever?
RowntreesCabana said:
Already done, only it wasn't a car, but about 30 cows with no farmer to be seen. Once they passed, I carried on my way only for another emergency stop when 50 yards down the lane another cow walked straight out of a field into the road front of me. There was no warning as the fields hedge was a good 10 feet high. The farmer was actually in the field encouraging the cows out with no warning at all. Cars tend to bomb along this bit of road too, made me wonder if the cows are worth more with an insurance pay off than they are at market...
I greatly sympathise with you about the people driving the other way and not slowing down and/or repositioning on the road to make it easy and safe for you to pass each other.However, seriously, if you want to live in a rural area you need to get used the the idea that rural roads are just as much for agricultral use as any other purpose. Cows, sheep etc using the roads to move aroud is normal rural lane activity and must be anticipated.
RowntreesCabana said:
I think its time to get an old Hilux.
Get an old 4x4 with an utterly battered front bumper (preferably with the remnants of other car's paint on the front/sides). You soon discover that these people CAN actually pull in and give you plenty of room if they think you drive into people for a hobby. I have no problems in the Disco which sports the excellent half-battered bumper mod (available from all good farm yards) as outlined above and multiple dents on the bonnet for extra effect. Have a couple of 'one life live it', 'best 4x4xfar' and 'you are my crumple zone' stickers slapped across the front in gawdy colours - this further sends out visual signals that you may be a resident nutter/axe murderer/ armed-farmer type.
No problems when using this in my commute to work - which is 90% along single-track lanes. Happy stress-free motoring.
Along the same route in the MG ZT - the same people (some are locals and you recognise the cars after a while) will do pretty much as your post describes and my journey to work is often a full ten minutes longer due to people trying to strong-arm their way past you.
I bought a shed, and have never looked back. As long as I'm on the correct side of the road and have done all that is reasonable to allow two cars to pass, they can bounce into me all they like at their own cost. They never do, as they take one look at the dents and debris on it and choose to give way 
.
.Edited by 1Addicted on Monday 5th September 14:26
Lowtimer said:
I greatly sympathise with you about the people driving the other way and not slowing down and/or repositioning on the road to make it easy and safe for you to pass each other.
However, seriously, if you want to live in a rural area you need to get used the the idea that rural roads are just as much for agricultral use as any other purpose. Cows, sheep etc using the roads to move aroud is normal rural lane activity and must be anticipated.
I disagree completely. I've lived in the country pretty much my entire life, I grew up with loads of young farmers, my sister in law is a farmer. When you're moving cattle about on country lanes you should have at least two people for this very reason, and most do. You certainly don't purposely send a single cow out from a field on to a road like this with no visibility of oncoming traffic.However, seriously, if you want to live in a rural area you need to get used the the idea that rural roads are just as much for agricultral use as any other purpose. Cows, sheep etc using the roads to move aroud is normal rural lane activity and must be anticipated.
RowntreesCabana said:
Don't be silly, but you'd normally have a couple of people doing this, one stood out on the road.
Do you think its alright to have a stretch of road with a 60mph limit, and send a 1 tonne animal out on to the road from behind a hedge with no warning whatsoever?
Wait for the Herd of Deer to come bombing out the verge, cross the road in front of you, and disappear of into the next hedge.....Do you think its alright to have a stretch of road with a 60mph limit, and send a 1 tonne animal out on to the road from behind a hedge with no warning whatsoever?
And if only comes out in front, slow down immediately, 'cos the rest of them will be right behind :-)
Driving a low down sportscar with very little rearwards visibility it annoys me when other cars expect me to reverse if the passing point is closer to them than myself.
When faced with a singletrack road and oncoming traffic I always come to a stop in these situations so that if a collision does occur there's no ambiguity to who is at fault otherwise it will just go 50/50.
When faced with a singletrack road and oncoming traffic I always come to a stop in these situations so that if a collision does occur there's no ambiguity to who is at fault otherwise it will just go 50/50.
untakenname said:
Driving a low down sportscar with very little rearwards visibility it annoys me when other cars expect me to reverse if the passing point is closer to them than myself.
When faced with a singletrack road and oncoming traffic I always come to a stop in these situations so that if a collision does occur there's no ambiguity to who is at fault otherwise it will just go 50/50.
I'd imagine that would be very difficult to prove?When faced with a singletrack road and oncoming traffic I always come to a stop in these situations so that if a collision does occur there's no ambiguity to who is at fault otherwise it will just go 50/50.
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