The Psychology of Making Progress...
Discussion
Why is it that you feel like you're making progress when your overtaking everyone while doing 70, but when you're sat in a line of cars doing 80, not passing anyone, frustration builds?
I contend that part of the psychology of making progress is more about passing other drivers than getting to the destination in a given timeframe.. this is nowhere more the case that where a 'pleasure' drive is concerned - i.e. that weekend blast - you'll only end up back at home but you'll drive like your arse is on fire until you get there
Or is it just me?
Edited to say one reason I like to put as many cars behind me as possible is that at any moment, one of them could do something daft like slow down or observe a speed limit - or worse still, let in 10 other cars which could do the same..
Also, moderate motorway traffic (on the M3 anyway) tends to coagulate into groups of vehicles and if you can cut a swathe through a 'clump' of traffic, you'll soon find yourself ahead of the group and you'll have a mile of empty road in front of you until you get to the next lot, where the same will occur.. why is this?
I contend that part of the psychology of making progress is more about passing other drivers than getting to the destination in a given timeframe.. this is nowhere more the case that where a 'pleasure' drive is concerned - i.e. that weekend blast - you'll only end up back at home but you'll drive like your arse is on fire until you get there
Or is it just me?
Edited to say one reason I like to put as many cars behind me as possible is that at any moment, one of them could do something daft like slow down or observe a speed limit - or worse still, let in 10 other cars which could do the same..
Also, moderate motorway traffic (on the M3 anyway) tends to coagulate into groups of vehicles and if you can cut a swathe through a 'clump' of traffic, you'll soon find yourself ahead of the group and you'll have a mile of empty road in front of you until you get to the next lot, where the same will occur.. why is this?
Very true Bodo.. we all have our own preferred pace and being behind someone who doesn't want to keep that pace is frustrating - especially when they appear to have opaque mirrors.
Bodo said:well, I'm more relaxed when no-one is driving in front of me. Maybe it's that I can then drive as slow/as fast as I want?
It might only be an extra 3 or 4 mph that you want to do - 'so what's the point in getting wound up?' some would ask... Well it's not rational is it? The subconscious is at play.
But also, on a traffic strategy level, your road position and attitude can (without necessarily increased risk) influence whether other drivers will pull out in front of you and obstruct your progress.
If the driver in front of you doesn't know this, he might be happy sat at 90, but if he's not looked far enough ahead to know that there's a guy doing 65 in lane two that'll need to move out soon, he's not going to adjust his road position accordingly. As a consequence he'll either have to pass the car at 90 when it's in it's reaching the point of having to brake for the HGV in front, or end up stuck behind the guy who's no intention of exceeding 65 even in the outside lane. Whereas what he could do is to get ahead of Mr 65mph early to be able to slow to 75 or so before the action starts.
(some of) those who've driven with me notice that I can make good progress through traffic without being agressive. (although that urge is still strong sometimes..)
Edited (again?) to say that I've probably not explained some of what I mean very well & I'm bound to be called a fcuking dangerous lunatic in the next 10 posts but hey, bite me. MadCop is probably going to slay me if he reads this but rather than that he should contact me to arrange a bit of a drive round and I could then learn from the master
>> Edited by CarZee (moderator) on Wednesday 26th March 19:33
CarZee said:
It might only be an extra 3 or 4 mph that you want to do - 'so what's the point in getting would up?' some would ask... Well it's not rational is it? The subconscious is at play.
It isn't rational at all. When driving to uni, I have to drive a straight country road without bends for 8km. Speed limit is 70kph (yes-
). When there's no car in front of me, I'm driving 70...90. When there's a car in front of me driving 100, I'm driving 100 as well. When there's a car driving 80, I feel uncomfortable, and I have to overtake it, when it's possible.
On dual carriageways or Autobahn, I'm absolutely happy to cruise along with cars in front of me, as long there's no traffic in the overtaking lane. Sort of claustrophobia?
Bodo said:
1
Funny that. I'm only relaxed when there's no one behind me. Gotta have someone to catch, overtake and leave behind.
And whilever no-one's behind me, it means there's no plod following either.
Agreed CarZee.
I'm sure those of a petrolhead disposition derive pleasure from planning and executing overtaking manouevres in order to make progress (whatever the speed), whereas Joe Numpty just needs his vehicle as a means to get from A to B. I think it comes down most of us being frustrated racers.
This attitude isn't necessarily at odds with the BiB; I understand Madcop is happy through driver training to help people make faster, safer progress on the roads.
I'm sure those of a petrolhead disposition derive pleasure from planning and executing overtaking manouevres in order to make progress (whatever the speed), whereas Joe Numpty just needs his vehicle as a means to get from A to B. I think it comes down most of us being frustrated racers.
This attitude isn't necessarily at odds with the BiB; I understand Madcop is happy through driver training to help people make faster, safer progress on the roads.
CarZee said: ...
(some of) those who've driven with me notice that I can make good progress through traffic without being agressive. (although that urge is still strong sometimes..)
Edited (again?) to say that I've probably not explained some of what I mean very well & I'm bound to be called a fcuking dangerous lunatic in the next 10 posts but hey, bite me. MadCop is probably going to slay me if he reads this but rather than that he should contact me to arrange a bit of a drive round and I could then learn from the master
>> Edited by CarZee (moderator) on Wednesday 26th March 18:37
missed that part when I replied.
I don't feel any aggression by being disturbed by the one in front of me. I did that when I had a fresh driving license, but I've learned that aggressions don't mix with driving a machine when I watched aggressive drivers as a passenger. I was quite embarrassed
The only disadvantage in making swift progress is a sort of mobility-enviousness by other drivers, but thats another psychological issue.
>> Edited by Bodo on Wednesday 26th March 18:48
CarZee said:Therein lies the advantage of using a daily hack that even asylum seekers wouldn't even be envious of
Bodo said: The only disadvantage in making swift progress is a sort of mobility-enviousness by other drivers, but thats another psychological issue.
So do I, at least for the 2CV
I meant the mondeo driver, who takes amiss, when you're going faster than himm - even when he's driving at silly slow speeds. It's the same type who dips his headlights when I pass a traffic light at 'yellow'.
What do they think? "I would have stopped at that yellow lights, so he's an evil delinquent"
sad gits!In my experience the very worst drivers I know are also the fastest to criticise others. I wonder what the psycology is there?
Re the initial post. Most of us enjoy driving because of the freedom it gives. If you're sat behind someone an aspect of that freedom is removed as you can't suddenly stick your mitt down if you feel like it. Same applies to cars behind if you're worried about
.
Re the initial post. Most of us enjoy driving because of the freedom it gives. If you're sat behind someone an aspect of that freedom is removed as you can't suddenly stick your mitt down if you feel like it. Same applies to cars behind if you're worried about
.
SpoonMan said:
Bodo said:
1
Funny that. I'm only relaxed when there's no one behind me. Gotta have someone to catch, overtake and leave behind.
And whilever no-one's behind me, it means there's no plod following either.
personally I cannot stand being overtaken - people usually never get the chance to, but yesterday a BMW 530 tds passed me on the motorway at speeds I just could not attain (not for want of trying
)in the mini and was I pissed? I had a crap day at work!!Hmmm.. I find that a little odd, but then I take the view that if someone wants to go faster than me (not very often!) then fair play to them & I'll let them past, unless they've already shown that they'll be a pain in the ass if I do let them past.
minimax said:personally I cannot stand being overtaken - people usually never get the chance to, but yesterday a BMW 530 tds passed me on the motorway at speeds I just could not attain (not for want of trying
jeremyc said: Agreed CarZee.
I'm sure those of a petrolhead disposition derive pleasure from planning and executing overtaking manouevres in order to make progress (whatever the speed), whereas Joe Numpty just needs his vehicle as a means to get from A to B. I think it comes down most of us being frustrated racers.
I just love getting behind joe/doris micra, double declutch to 3rd and blasting past with a text book (madcop stylee) manoevre - sometimes I even slow down just so I can drop into 3rd!
Does that make me a bad person?
CarZee said:Hmmm.. I find that a little odd, but then I take the view that if someone wants to go faster than me (not very often!) then fair play to them & I'll let them past, unless they've already shown that they'll be a pain in the ass if I do let them past.
minimax said:personally I cannot stand being overtaken - people usually never get the chance to, but yesterday a BMW 530 tds passed me on the motorway at speeds I just could not attain (not for want of trying
I don't mean I won't let them past, nothing of the sort - sorry! what I mean is I get frustrated with the lack of power available to me..... usually they're waving as well cos they think they've pulled one over one me -
it's like when you come off a roundabout & accelerate hard & the person in the inside lane races you then starts to pull away - I can hardly contain the urge to drive straight to the garage & get them to make me go faster!
edited to say> just envy I suppose - not the car, the speed!
>> Edited by minimax on Thursday 27th March 09:44
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