London driving

[alephnull]

London driving seems like a lottery to me...people are so pushy, there is just so much 6"-from-your-bumper tailgating and overtaking on lane merges I don't know how there aren't more accidents. I think I'm just going to avoid central london all together and go round the M25 then cut in - its just easier (if slower) and safer..

I'm practising my zen mastery of chilled out driving. If theres a dhead, just relax and get out of his way. He can dent someone elses car. Its just pretty frustrating how many dheads there are.

Anyone else of this view? Or am I just doing it wrong?

[Pothole]

just get in amongst it. There aren't many accidents because most people don't want to damage their car.

[Bowler]

alephnull said:

I'm practising my zen mastery of chilled out driving. If theres a dhead, just relax and get out of his way. He can dent someone elses car.

^^^^
This.

And it's not just London. There's a load of wkers on the roads and ultimately it ain't worth the grief getting in their way, for the sake of the 5 minutes extra that it will take you to get from A to B. You can always smile when you see them being pulled up by the Bibs or buried in the central reservation.....

[TAHodgson]

I also get this in Birmingham. Usually other lads my age in "Max power" corsas and such. But pretty much everyone tends to do it. And if behind me, get frustrated and start beeping and flashing if i'm not doing the same to the car in front. Idiots.

[sjg]

Go and see Delhi - London seems a model of patience and discipline in comparison!

It's fine really, average traffic speeds in central London tend to be low and generally all drivers are accepting of the fact it's going to take a while to get anywhere. Need good awareness of the signs to pick up which bus lanes are in action, which lane you should be in, what the speed limit is.

I see much more dangerous driving on the motorway and in the smaller towns to be honest - people who know exactly how long it takes them to drive to work do horribly random things when they hit traffic that will make them late.

[croyde]

London driving! I love it as long as it's not a weekend when all the berks are out on the road.

[TheInternet]

alephnull said:

I'm practising my zen mastery of chilled out driving. If theres a dhead, just relax and get out of his way. He can dent someone elses car. Its just pretty frustrating how many dheads there are.

In my experience people start to get wound up if you're too patient and considerate. There seems to be an expectation that you're going to get on with it the same as everyone else. Once you get used to it you may find yourself accidentally exporting the style outside of London such that everyone thinks you're an aggressive tit.

[EK993]

TheInternet said:

In my experience people start to get wound up if you're too patient and considerate. There seems to be an expectation that you're going to get on with it the same as everyone else. Once you get used to it you may find yourself accidentally exporting the style outside of London such that everyone thinks you're an aggressive tit.

Wise words. There just isn't the time to be polite and drive around in a namby pamby fashion, there's too much metal to shift around. Just drive with the mindset of take no prisoners and you will be fine and fit right in.

As an aside, I am used to driving in Central London, have done so for 20 years and it didn't phase me in the slightest. I now live in the US and drive in Manhattan from time to time. It's a whole different league of crazyness here. The yellow taxi drivers all have death wishes.

[Mr Will]

As a wise London driving instructor once said: "Always be ready to stop, never look like you are going to"

Once you are familiar with it though I think you'll find that most London driving isn't actually that pushy - just very decisive.

[Panayiotis]

Mr Will said:

As a wise London driving instructor once said: "Always be ready to stop, never look like you are going to"

Once you are familiar with it though I think you'll find that most London driving isn't actually that pushy - just very decisive.

Exactly, dont wait for someone to give you space, just take it. In London it's not called cutting someone off, it's called maerging.

The biggest problem with driving in Lodnon is not the other cars, nor even the bicycles, it's the stupid pedestrians, especially those that think it's smart to walk the streets with headphones on.

[Stu R]

London driving is kids stuff. I thought it was pretty bad when I first drove it at 17/18, but I've since driven in Italy, China, India, Dubai, etc. You soon appreciate it's comparatively easy going.

[Life Saab Itch]

You should try it in an artic lorry.

Cars have it easy.

[chard]

Keep you foot down and watch your front (London rules since I started driving in the 70's)

[PaulB81]

I drove through central London for the first time a couple of months back. It was a Sunday afternoon and I was right on the main shopping area. There were pedestrians everywhere! I found it quite stressful. The motorcyclists seemed pretty nuts too!!

[Regiment]

The taxis are the absolute worst, lane discipline is mortifyingly bad, especially at the large "roundabouts" in the centre. Had my mate in the passenger seat though that shouted abuse out the window at the taxis trying to ram me off the road, quite a weird experience.

[Mr Will]

Regiment said:

The taxis are the absolute worst, lane discipline is mortifyingly bad, especially at the large "roundabouts" in the centre. Had my mate in the passenger seat though that shouted abuse out the window at the taxis trying to ram me off the road, quite a weird experience.

When was the last time you saw a London taxi with a dent or even a scratch on it?

[jake15919]

Best thing to do is drive something old, a bit battered and tough looking like a Land Rover. People seem to realise that if they run into you you have less to loose so you don't get as much pushing in.

[Janesy B]

jake15919 said:

Best thing to do is drive something old, a bit battered and tough looking like a Land Rover. People seem to realise that if they run into you you have less to loose so you don't get as much pushing in.

I don't think it works, even when driving the world's ropiest transit, you still get knobbers in 7 Series etc wanting to barge you out of the way. It's every man for themselves in London.

[Life Saab Itch]

Mr Will said:

When was the last time you saw a London taxi with a dent or even a scratch on it?

I would say that that has more to do with other driver's reaction times than any Taxi driver's driving skills.

[Life Saab Itch]

jake15919 said:

Best thing to do is drive something old, a bit battered and tough looking like a Land Rover. People seem to realise that if they run into you you have less to loose so you don't get as much pushing in.

Unfortunately, "Paris Rules" don't work in London.