Be honest! Have you ever....

LASTOLITE

LASTOLITE

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Bill
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Yes
made life difficult for another road user by...

Watching him/her in the left lane of a motorway waiting until YOU know they need to pull out and instead of moving over or giving them a courtesy flash to allow them to overtake the car/lorry you speed up and keep them there behind the lorry until YOU have sauntered by, even slowing up once they are boxed in so it prolongs the situation? You will instinctively know if you have done this.

Forcing them to the side of the road / small gap because you are driving a larger vehicle and can force your way through a group of parked cars even though they had arrived before you and started the maneuver through the parked cars.

Just NOT said thanks, by way of a raised hand, nod of head or even a simple smile? they all work and serve to make the journey just that little bit sweeter.


I realise most of this stuff seems silly and in the grand scheme of things inconsequential. Personally I find that this small stuff if done, or avoided by individuals can make a bad day a little better and a good day much sweeter. From my experience on the morning run It seems to me that blatant meanness is on the up and common courtesy and kindness are declining, well on the road anyway. This is not a rant just an observation of a current trend I seem to be seeing more of.
 
Not guilty on all counts. I know what a pain in the bum those things are, so make an effort to avoid doing them.

And yes, observing proper lane discipline and then having to slow for a lorry because a middle lane moron is sitting level with my rear wheel preventing me from overtaking is very annoying, particularly when they have been able to see for 1/4 mile that I need to pull out, I am indicating to pull out and the lane to the outside of them is clear so they could let me pull out. I've been up and down the M4 every weekend recently, and again later today so I'm sure it will happen to me again, multiple times.

I'm sure no-one on TP does this, of course.
 
I like to think of myself as a considerate driver to other road users, but we all mess up at some point. Although I can think of many times I've made other people lives on the road a misery, and on purpose. Mostly towards the people that hog the middle lane on motorways or people in a mad rush and driving dangerously by overtaking on roundabouts...
 
Do it all the time, but as a trucker if I was to be polite for every inconsiderate, selfish, ignorant brain dead driver out there, I would get no work done.

Size really does matter ;)
 
See also, Matt's thread about poor parking .... I just think people are getting less courteous and more arrogant in their behaviour towards others generally, not just when they're in charge of a motor vehicles (large or small). I don't know if people just aren't taught basic good manners these days or whether there are certain folks out there who genuinely think they're in some way "above" the rest of us and that they can simply behave like boorish morons and that's OK ... because they are who they are and they'll do what they like. I'll just continue to try to be as courteous to others as I can ... whether driving, walking round a supermarket or doing any other normal everyday activity where I'm forced into contact with other people. I just do this for my own self respect ... if other people want to behave like complete £$%^@£! s then that's their problem. Rise above it ......
 
Quicksnapper said:
See also, Matt's thread about poor parking .... I just think people are getting less courteous and more arrogant in their behaviour towards others generally, not just when they're in charge of a motor vehicles (large or small). I don't know if people just aren't taught basic good manners these days or whether there are certain folks out there who genuinely think they're in some way "above" the rest of us and that they can simply behave like boorish morons and that's OK ... because they are who they are and they'll do what they like. I'll just continue to try to be as courteous to others as I can ... whether driving, walking round a supermarket or doing any other normal everyday activity where I'm forced into contact with other people. I just do this for my own self respect ... if other people want to behave like complete £$%^@£! s then that's their problem. Rise above it ......
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Agreed, but some people do seem to adopt a much more aggressive persona when they're behind the wheel, as if they're compensating for something missing in their lives. I used to have a work colleague who had some problems, and he was embarrassing to be with. He never missed an opportunity to sneer at or belittle a sales assistant, waitress or anyone else if he thought he could get away with it, because they were in no position to retaliate. Much the same thing.

My wife is petite, courteous and softly spoken; and it's appalling how many people think this means she's "weak" and will just back down if they're loud and obnoxious. They usually discover that it's not the case...
 
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I'm pretty sure I caused an argument on here before with this but my pet hate is when people don't move over to let others join the motorway safely. If the right hand lane is free I will move over if someone is joining and I find it pretty annoying when others don't. One simple move can make life easier for both vehicles.

In general I don't intentionally make things awkward for others but I did snap yesterday and refused to move for someone on the single track road I live on. Not their fault but I counted 9 vehicles that I had already pulled over for prior to meeting them, including 5 builders vans in a convoy, so I wasn't reversing for number 10.
 
Julie1979 said:
I'm pretty sure I caused an argument on here before with this but my pet hate is when people don't move over to let others join the motorway safely. If the right hand lane is free I will move over if someone is joining and I find it pretty annoying when others don't. One simple move can make life easier for both vehicles.
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And then there are those joining a motorway who now expect it regardless of what you're driving - I often drive a van towing a heavy car trailer, or a 7.5 tonne truck, both of which are hardly nimble vehicles.

Even in car, several times people have almost wiped me out because some dopey idiot has spotted someone joining the motorway and has veered into the lane I happen to be quietly going about my business in legitimately, without looking to make sure it was safe to do so. Mirror - Signal - Manoeuvre.

I think its safest to assume that the highway code guidance will be observed and not to expect anything else.

259
Joining the motorway. When you join the motorway you will normally approach it from a road on the left (a slip road) or from an adjoining motorway. You should:​
    • give priority to traffic already on the motorway
    • check the traffic on the motorway and match your speed to fit safely into the traffic flow in the left-hand lane
    • not cross solid white lines that separate lanes or use the hard shoulder
    • stay on the slip road if it continues as an extra lane on the motorway
    • remain in the left-hand lane long enough to adjust to the speed of traffic before considering overtaking.
Click to expand...
 
andrewc said:
Mirror - Signal - Manoeuvre.
Click to expand...
BTW That's Manoeuvre - (signal optional) - Mirror to see what carnage you have caused behind you ;)

  • check the traffic on the motorway and match your speed to fit safely into the traffic flow in the left-hand lane
The broken line on the access slip is there purely for decoration, or so it seems these days,
sure, I'll move over if its safe to do so, and I can, without inconveniencing anyone else by doing so,
but if not then I'll stay where I am.

And no, to the person on the M11 the other day, I cannot go "vertical" just because you couldn't be arsed to look where you were going, or what
was coming up along side you on the motorway!
If you had spent more time looking over your shoulder and checking your mirrors, than your phone, you would have seen that the outside lane was "full"

Its not top gun, "fly-by" request denied, the patten was most certainly full!
 
I'm with Andrewc on that one. I've had it when in the middle lane they the person in the left lane all of sudden shot to the right, I assume to be kind but actually causing an issue elsewhere. The rules are clear and simple.

But in regards to the OP. I'm sure I've been guilty of not greeting/acknowledging/thanking at some stage or some time. I especially don't do that when I'm on my side with right of way anyway. I find it just too "British" to thank someone else for sticking too the rules. Now if they do something extraordinary then yes that will deserve a wave. And if they are gorgeous and blonde with some buttons undone I might even smile :)
 
dejongj said:
I find it just too "British" to thank someone else for sticking too the rules. Now if they do something extraordinary..
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You mean like sticking to the rules? ;)
 
Cobra said:
BTW That's Manoeuvre - (signal optional) - Mirror to see what carnage you have caused behind you ;)
Click to expand...

Sure you're not thinking of Johannesburg? Signalling is to indicate what you've just done, as if anyone really cares. Speed limits and red lights are, sort of, recommendations. Not sure who has right of way at the circle (small, flat, roundabout)? No problem, just ignore everyone else and drive straight over it. Stopped by the police? "Sorry officer, how much is the bribe...I mean the spot fine"? :D
 
MartynK said:
Sure you're not thinking of Johannesburg? Signalling is to indicate what you've just done, as if anyone really cares. Speed limits and red lights are, sort of, recommendations. Not sure who has right of way at the circle (small, flat, roundabout)? No problem, just ignore everyone else and drive straight over it. Stopped by the police? "Sorry officer, how much is the bribe...I mean the spot fine"? :D
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When I was in Cape Town, took me ages to work out who had right of way at the "4 stops."
 
Generally considerate, however if some numpty is so crap at reading the road far in front and finds themselves trundling up behind a lorry...... well look further ahead and plan what you are going to do. I was taught by Ex Traffic cop and told to always watch as far ahead as possible and always have an exit / plan B in case "someone in front "f***ed up"
 
LASTOLITE said:
made life difficult for another road user by...

Watching him/her in the left lane of a motorway waiting until YOU know they need to pull out and instead of moving over or giving them a courtesy flash to allow them to overtake the car/lorry you speed up and keep them there behind the lorry until YOU have sauntered by, even slowing up once they are boxed in so it prolongs the situation? You will instinctively know if you have done this.....
Click to expand...

Don't deliberately try and stop someone pulling out but I'm amazed at people's inability to "pre-plan" overtakes. Having a car with a very weak engine (peug 107) means you either pre-plan or NEVER get to overtake!
 
M.S.M is old hat.
These days it's taught M.S.P.S.L.M. :-)
 
LASTOLITE said:
Watching him/her in the left lane of a motorway waiting until YOU know they need to pull out and instead of moving over or giving them a courtesy flash to allow them to overtake the car/lorry you speed up and keep them there behind the lorry until YOU have sauntered by, even slowing up once they are boxed in so it prolongs the situation? You will instinctively know if you have done this.
of.
Click to expand...

Ive only ever done that to people t***tishly trying to overtake me on the inside - under usual circumstances i'm a very courteous driver, but if i'm overtaking a stream of lories at ahem 70(because obviuiously i wasnt doing 85 or anything constable) ... and you want to go faster than that use lane 3, thats what its there for, if you try and go inside of me in the decreasing gap in lane1 you have only yourself to blame if you get boxed in and have to slow down.

Ditto for courtesy at merges - usually i'm happy to open up a gap and merge in turn, but if mr road captain decides to cut down the whole queue and push in at the front, I probably won't let him (and may well deliberately close the gap so he has to sit there like an impotent lemming while car after car goes past
 
Quicksnapper said:
See also, Matt's thread about poor parking .... I just think people are getting less courteous and more arrogant in their behaviour towards others generally, not just when they're in charge of a motor vehicles (large or small). I don't know if people just aren't taught basic good manners these days or whether there are certain folks out there who genuinely think they're in some way "above" the rest of us and that they can simply behave like boorish morons and that's OK ... because they are who they are and they'll do what they like. I'll just continue to try to be as courteous to others as I can ... whether driving, walking round a supermarket or doing any other normal everyday activity where I'm forced into contact with other people. I just do this for my own self respect ... if other people want to behave like complete £$%^@£! s then that's their problem. Rise above it ......
Click to expand...

Cant say fairer than that -

A bunch of balanced postings,

On balance today I have had nothing but well mannered drivers and every time I gave way to oncoming traffic, I got a thanks........Maybe its a Saturday thing, during the week people are stressed more maybe? No time to pay any attention to those little things...? who knows?

dejongj said:
But in regards to the OP. I'm sure I've been guilty of not greeting/acknowledging/thanking at some stage or some time. I especially don't do that when I'm on my side with right of way anyway. I find it just too "British" to thank someone else for sticking too the rules. Now if they do something extraordinary then yes that will deserve a wave. And if they are gorgeous and blonde with some buttons undone I might even smile :)
Click to expand...

LOL, I can pop a wig on for you and unbutton a few ..........I mean if it get you being nice....
 
As a cyclist....car drivers scare me, Quite A Lot of the time.
 
dejongj said:
Lol no reward for doing what they should do anyway.
Click to expand...
But don't you think that its common courtesy to acknowledge someone if they say, give way even if it its your "priority"
say in a line of parked cars? I always do.

Decca said:
As a cyclist....car drivers scare me, Quite A Lot of the time.
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Unfortunately the reverse is also true, both cyclists and car drivers think that they are invulnerable.
 
big soft moose said:
....

Ditto for courtesy at merges - usually i'm happy to open up a gap and merge in turn, but if mr road captain decides to cut down the whole queue and push in at the front, I probably won't let him (and may well deliberately close the gap so he has to sit there like an impotent lemming while car after car goes past
Click to expand...

There are times when people zip merge a ridiculously long time before the actual merge point. I've seen cases where a lane is signed as "closed 800 metres ahead" and everyone has gone like a lemming into the lane which is not to be closed, meaning the queue often backs up far longer than is needed and possibly blocks a junction unnecessarily.
 
boliston said:
There are times when people zip merge a ridiculously long time before the actual merge point. I've seen cases where a lane is signed as "closed 800 metres ahead" and everyone has gone like a lemming into the lane which is not to be closed, meaning the queue often backs up far longer than is needed and possibly blocks a junction unnecessarily.
Click to expand...

Tbh I often find the opposite to be true...the queue being caused by those waiting until the last possible yard to get over (and of course those braking to allow them to do so).
 
When I passed my test the 3 C's were printed on the back of my licence -- "Care, courtesy, consideration." That's the way I've tried to be for the last 37 years. That's the main reason why I've never been charged with any driving offences. But like everybody else, I've had my moments.

Coming up to Xmas, at 3.30am in freezing conditions, I lost control, struck an oncoming artic and went through a drystone wall. Now I'm being done for reckless. All things considered, I'm left with less respect for The Law. It's too black and white, and pleading "not guilty" can be another slippery, damaging road.

You won't find a better example of the Law of the Jungle than on our roads. Human nature means we're all guilty. But that's never a good reason to be reckless.
 
viv1969 said:
Tbh I often find the opposite to be true...the queue being caused by those waiting until the last possible yard to get over (and of course those braking to allow them to do so).
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Which is actually what the Highway Code says to do

Rule 134

You should follow the signs and road markings and get into the lane as directed. In congested road conditions do not change lanes unnecessarily. Merging in turn is recommended but only if safe and appropriate when vehicles are travelling at a very low speed, e.g. when approaching road works or a road traffic incident. It is not recommended at high speed.
 
I'll admit to deliberately boxing people in. Normally it's because they boxed me in a few minutes earlier without any awareness that they were doing it.

I like to think of it as educational.
 
Tigger.ufo said:
Which is actually what the Highway Code says to do

Rule 134

You should follow the signs and road markings and get into the lane as directed. In congested road conditions do not change lanes unnecessarily. Merging in turn is recommended but only if safe and appropriate when vehicles are travelling at a very low speed, e.g. when approaching road works or a road traffic incident. It is not recommended at high speed.
Click to expand...

I don't see merging prior to the lane actually being closed could be deemed as "unnecessary".
Time after time I see folks hairing right up to where the cones begin to close the lane and then forcing others to brake when they force their way over.
 
viv1969 said:
I don't see merging prior to the lane actually being closed could be deemed as "unnecessary".
Time after time I see folks hairing right up to where the cones begin to close the lane and then forcing others to brake when they force their way over.
Click to expand...

It is unnecessary because by moving over early they are actually causing the traffic in that lane to be more congested and slower. You can either have one lane with a queue of 200yds or two lanes of 100yds, same amount of vehicles. The problem with unbalancing the queues is that people then get the arse whichever queue they are in!

The IAM explains it a bit better, and advocates fair play to all.

Roadworks misery and the congestion that goes with them could be radically reduced, according to the IAM ( Institute of Advanced Motorists ), if UK motorists take on board new advice in the Highway Code published today (28 September 2007).

For the first time, the Highway Code has a rule on “merging in turn” under the section on lane discipline (Rule 134; Highway Code 2007).

“We are pleased to see this as we believe it will ease many pinchpoints at roadworks,” said IAM Chief Examiner Peter Rodger.

“Too often we see a long, empty lane leading up to roadworks, doing nothing, because drivers have been told to get in lane too early. Then there is a tension with people perceived as ‘pushing in’. The new recommendation to merge in turn in the Highway Code will encourage drivers to use all the available lanes – right up to the lane closure – and could make roadworks less of a problem,” he said.

“It will avoid frustration and mean everybody gets through the restriction that much quicker.”

Mr Rodger, a former Metropolitan Police driving instructor, said that the IAM had long campaigned for merge in turn recognition in the Highway Code.
“We are convinced everybody will get through sooner if they merge in turn. If drivers try it, encouraged by the Highway Code, it could be the end to the ‘I’m first, you’re next’ attitude that slows everybody down.

“We now need to see this initiative supported by physical ‘merge in turn’ roadside signs as well, because we know many drivers don’t bother with the Highway Code once they have passed their test.”
 
Which is fine.....except when the brainache in question hairs right up to the closure at 50-60, slams his anchors on, and then forces his way over, and that's what I'm saying I see often.
This forces people to brake sharply which then has a knock on effect to the following vehicles.
The above from Mr Rodger is all well and good if people are driving correctly, which we all know is rare.
 
The merge in turn has always got my back up and I've tried both approaches to it. There was a thread a while back where someone tried to justify lorry drivers blocking the lane that would be closed 800 yards(or is it meters?) further on and in doing so create one long queue that could well reach back to another junction/roundabout, while there is a long clear stretch of road perfectly usable and lawfully available.
 
viv1969 said:
Which is fine.....except when the brainache in question hairs right up to the closure at 50-60, slams his anchors on, and then forces his way over, and that's what I'm saying I see often.
This forces people to brake sharply which then has a knock on effect to the following vehicles.
The above from Mr Rodger is all well and good if people are driving correctly, which we all know is rare.
Click to expand...
Idiots will do idiotic things whatever the circumstances.
 
viv1969 said:
I don't see merging prior to the lane actually being closed could be deemed as "unnecessary".
Time after time I see folks hairing right up to where the cones begin to close the lane and then forcing others to brake when they force their way over.
Click to expand...

I'd rather see people use both lanes up to the cones and 'zipping' together.

Nothing worse than a dual carriageway with a 3 mile queue in the inside lane and an empty right hand lane.

It's doubly annoying when you want to turn off at the next junction which is a mile before the lane closure.
 
new2me said:
The merge in turn has always got my back up and I've tried both approaches to it. There was a thread a while back where someone tried to justify lorry drivers blocking the lane that would be closed 800 yards(or is it meters?) further on and in doing so create one long queue that could well reach back to another junction/roundabout, while there is a long clear stretch of road perfectly usable and lawfully available.
Click to expand...

We had a long running set of roadworks on a dual carriageway.

HGVs would sit in the right hand lane preventing cars from using that lane.

I need to use the right hand lane. Not to bomb up and merge but to exit to the right, across the opposite dual carriageway before the lane closure.
 
I understand what you are saying Viv, but the lane not being used to its capacity enables the brainache to do that.

More people being educated stops that happening, because the two lanes become equal traffic flows better.

Life would be so much better if enough people in the inside lane can drive up to lane closures with plenty space to the car in front, and allow people to move over to their lane in turn and with ease, AND enough people in the outside lane can reduce their speed to match those in the inside lane before indication their intention and moving into the available space as they approach the end of their lane. With both lanes of drivers cooperating like this there will be no need for any to slow to any less than the traffic flow within the roadworks section. Nobody will need to brake, thereby causing the domino effect behind.

It needs people in BOTH LANES to have some common sense. At the moment they're mostly as bad as each other. :rolleyes:
 
I agree that's what should happen Heather, but it's never going to happen.
 
Cobra said:
But don't you think that its common courtesy to acknowledge someone if they say, give way even if it its your "priority"
say in a line of parked cars? I always do.
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Yes it can be courteous. However people shouldn't get uppity about it when I or anyone else forgets to do that. I thought that is what this thread is about to acknowledge we sometimes don't do something.

I feel at times that if you don't acknowledge people for something they should do anyway they get all upset. It is like they are little children requiring constant praise and acknowledgement. I think it is much better to praise exceptional behaviour. But hey ho I've become too British and do acknowledge too often for my liking.

So yes it can be courteous, but when you don't it isn't discourteous if you understand what I mean. Yet somehow it feels like other drivers have some entitlement to be acknowledged.
 
dinners said:
We had a long running set of roadworks on a dual carriageway.
HGVs would sit in the right hand lane preventing cars from using that lane.
I need to use the right hand lane. Not to bomb up and merge but to exit to the right, across the opposite dual carriageway before the lane closure.
Click to expand...
Those self proclaimed "knights of the road" can be annoying, can't they ;)

I must confess, I curse people who instantly hit the right hand lane of a dual carriageway after a roundabout when the inside lane is clear ... and then feel embarrassed when I see they are doing so to take an upcoming right turn :naughty:
 
dejongj said:
But hey ho I've become too British and do acknowledge too often for my liking.
Click to expand...
Our job is done here, another convert :D
Actually a Polish vet I know, once observed "the trouble with you British is, you are too f*****g polite"
I guess we do seem like that to a lot of other "cultures" but it doesn't make it / us wrong. Or does it?
 
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