Why am I always stuck behind a numpty?
Discussion
I dont consider myself any sort of high calibre driver but am pretty decisive, much more than the average it seems. As I approach a roundabout, when it is my turn i am invariably able to drive straight across with no delay, no braking or interference with others. I am constantly bewildered as to what held others up, people seem to sit waiting for gaps you could take a roadtrain through. Do others find the same. When approaching rounabouts on a fast A road I also align behind an HGV as they almost never stop, just look well ahead and plan the manouvre.
The reason you get held up behind numptys all the time, is very simple. Allow me to elaborate. For years now, the driving standards in this country have dropped through the floor, possibly due to having to relax the standards to allow some people who come to this country to get through our driving test, but dropped they have. I look at it like this, driving instructors no longer teach people to drive, they teach them to steer, thats why so many people have no idea how wide their vehicle is, or how to gauge approaching vehicles speed at junctions roundabouts etc, hence why you have noticed the numptys, but also why lorry drivers tend not to stop, they can anticipate the gap,and are far more skilled at driving than the average person. Most people these days want an engraved invitation to move, even if the way is clear, or the lights have turned green.
Thankyou4calling said:
I dont consider myself any sort of high calibre driver but am pretty decisive, much more than the average it seems. As I approach a roundabout, when it is my turn i am invariably able to drive straight across with no delay, no braking or interference with others. I am constantly bewildered as to what held others up, people seem to sit waiting for gaps you could take a roadtrain through. Do others find the same. When approaching rounabouts on a fast A road I also align behind an HGV as they almost never stop, just look well ahead and plan the manouvre.
I think the answer is because most other drivers on the roads are numtpies.Was helping my Dad move house today - driving a luton loaded with furniture (including breakables so driving carefully) behind a Yaris who on approaching an empty roundabout decided it would be a good idea to stop and make sure the coast was completely clear. Meanwhile I was looking ahead of the car at the empty roundabout only to look up and see the f*cktard stopped dead for no apparent reason - had to slam on hard - luckily no damage to the van contents but you've got to ask yourselves what the f
k is going through these "drivers" heads!! Rant over 
k is going through these "drivers" heads!! Rant over Coming out of my village there's a fork in the road which is controlled by traffic lights - right lane to turn right, left lane to go straight - simple right? Wrong! - every couple of days I see someone stopped at a green light to go straight ahead because they're looking at the red light to turn right. Is it me or is it getting worse and worse? I've been driving nearly 8 years and definately have seen a general decline in driving standards over the last few years 
Now that the night commute home is dark the traffic going into my town is significantly heavier at one point. 2 mini roundabouts. Now it's dark, there is always a massive queue. Happens when it rains heavy too.
Visibility is reduced, headlights dazzle, people get nervous.
To be honest i'd rather people take longer negotiating junctions, hazards etc. Standards have defiantly slipped but my instructor always taught me that everyone else on the road is the worse driver in the world. Give them plenty of space, plenty of time and don't pressure them by driving too close. That's how accidents happen or tempers rise. Probably why on balance, if you are involved in a non fault accident you are a higher risk in general.
Just today someone merged into my lane on a complicated roundabout. But i'm aware so i never travel side by side, leave gaps and don't start shaking my fists, flashing and beeping when it happens. Leaving plenty of space in front reduces the margin of error.
And when I'm out of traffic and on an open road, then i can have some fun.
Visibility is reduced, headlights dazzle, people get nervous.
To be honest i'd rather people take longer negotiating junctions, hazards etc. Standards have defiantly slipped but my instructor always taught me that everyone else on the road is the worse driver in the world. Give them plenty of space, plenty of time and don't pressure them by driving too close. That's how accidents happen or tempers rise. Probably why on balance, if you are involved in a non fault accident you are a higher risk in general.
Just today someone merged into my lane on a complicated roundabout. But i'm aware so i never travel side by side, leave gaps and don't start shaking my fists, flashing and beeping when it happens. Leaving plenty of space in front reduces the margin of error.
And when I'm out of traffic and on an open road, then i can have some fun.
Edited by briers on Friday 12th November 21:06
W7NNS said:
Was helping my Dad move house today - driving a luton loaded with furniture (including breakables so driving carefully) behind a Yaris who on approaching an empty roundabout decided it would be a good idea to stop and make sure the coast was completely clear. Meanwhile I was looking ahead of the car at the empty roundabout only to look up and see the f*cktard stopped dead for no apparent reason - had to slam on hard - luckily no damage to the van contents but you've got to ask yourselves what the fk is going through these "drivers" heads!! Rant over
Whilst ranting about the other driver makes you feel better there's only one vehicle you are in control of. When you say you were looking ahead at the roundabout, presumably that means looking to the right. Perhaps next time the numpty up front is making a decent living out of whiplash claims, you're making yourself an easy target. Personally, I make a point of focusing on the vehicles ahead on approach to roundabouts until they are clearly moving off. Even better I time my approach so that they're gone when I get there. k is going through these "drivers" heads!! Rant over Was on the A3 today, fairly heavy traffic but was flowing well. Both lanes doing 45-50mph (this was in the 50mph zone). Suddenly the outside lane grinds to a halt, the inside lane still flowing. I just manage to glimpse what's going on ahead - some idiot has stopped dead(!) in the outside lane and is indicating left to take a junction, obviously coming off the inside lane. Eventually the inside lane slows a bit too (guessing it's rubbernecking) and the idiot gets let through. I cannot understand the mindset of such people.
7mike said:
W7NNS said:
Was helping my Dad move house today - driving a luton loaded with furniture (including breakables so driving carefully) behind a Yaris who on approaching an empty roundabout decided it would be a good idea to stop and make sure the coast was completely clear. Meanwhile I was looking ahead of the car at the empty roundabout only to look up and see the f*cktard stopped dead for no apparent reason - had to slam on hard - luckily no damage to the van contents but you've got to ask yourselves what the fk is going through these "drivers" heads!! Rant over
Whilst ranting about the other driver makes you feel better there's only one vehicle you are in control of. When you say you were looking ahead at the roundabout, presumably that means looking to the right. Perhaps next time the numpty up front is making a decent living out of whiplash claims, you're making yourself an easy target. Personally, I make a point of focusing on the vehicles ahead on approach to roundabouts until they are clearly moving off. Even better I time my approach so that they're gone when I get there. k is going through these "drivers" heads!! Rant over 
W7NNS said:
7mike said:
W7NNS said:
Was helping my Dad move house today - driving a luton loaded with furniture (including breakables so driving carefully) behind a Yaris who on approaching an empty roundabout decided it would be a good idea to stop and make sure the coast was completely clear. Meanwhile I was looking ahead of the car at the empty roundabout only to look up and see the f*cktard stopped dead for no apparent reason - had to slam on hard - luckily no damage to the van contents but you've got to ask yourselves what the fk is going through these "drivers" heads!! Rant over
Whilst ranting about the other driver makes you feel better there's only one vehicle you are in control of. When you say you were looking ahead at the roundabout, presumably that means looking to the right. Perhaps next time the numpty up front is making a decent living out of whiplash claims, you're making yourself an easy target. Personally, I make a point of focusing on the vehicles ahead on approach to roundabouts until they are clearly moving off. Even better I time my approach so that they're gone when I get there. k is going through these "drivers" heads!! Rant over 
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