Inept drivers

[viv1969]

Why do folk get upset when someone is driving close behind....if you concentrate on what is in front you should not have to worry what is behind. By all means look behind but no need to panic.

Why are you quoting me for that? I was in no way talking about people driving behind me. Read it again. :shrug:

 

[Russ77]

Why do folk get upset when someone is driving close behind....if you concentrate on what is in front you should not have to worry what is behind. By all means look behind but no need to panic.

Simple.... because you are relying on the person behind you concentrating on what's happing in front of you, if they're not then they're likely to go into the back of you.

Forgetting injury, you've then got the inconvenience of having your car off the road and having the delight of dealing with your insurance company.

Let's not forget what we were all taught as learners "Only a fool breaks the two second rule" (not forgetting that it should be around 4 seconds in wet conditions and more when it's ice/snowy although you do have to apply a little common sense too).............. Not really that difficult to do is it?

 

[PatrickO]

I reckon that is China and not Vancouver.

(even the exif says so!)

I think you are right lol. But my point still stands.

Why do folk get upset when someone is driving close behind....if you concentrate on what is in front you should not have to worry what is behind. By all means look behind but no need to panic.

I don't "panic" or get "upset" when someone is driving close behind, but it does annoy me as it's a dangerous way to drive. Had that this morning. On a wet road a van was quite literally 5 feet behind me at 40mph. Not much you can do except hope that the driver is concentrating and not busy on his mobile.

 

[stupar]

Really not a valid comparison. In Canada there are 20 cars per kilometre of road. In the UK there are 77! In addition countries where heavy snow is frequent (more than once or twice a year) it is economic to spend the money to gear up for snow clearing etc.

Here's one of Vancouver:

.

My picture involved sticking my tongue firmly into my cheek :shrug:

 

[Photodiva]

Can't believe this muppet.
http://metro.co.uk/2013/01/21/snow-...ing-along-m4-motorway-in-south-wales-3359877/

 

[new2me]

Can't believe this muppet.
http://metro.co.uk/2013/01/21/snow-...ing-along-m4-motorway-in-south-wales-3359877/

would the snow be sitting there at 70mph? mine blew off at less than 30 this morning

 

[viv1969]

would the snow be sitting there at 70mph? mine blew off at less than 30 this morning

Hmmm into the car behind you perchance?

I know people joke about it, but you see this kind of thing SO much.

 

[Garry Edwards]

Good point Garry, I cannot remember ever using 4 wheel drive on anything other than off road.

Well, it's handy to have drive to the front wheels when really needed, but back into 2WD ASAP - it's better to have a car that steers than a car that grips but doesn't steer

 

[u8myufo]

Ok I get the fact there is snow about. I really do, but why does the fact that people can see snow out of their windows cause them to lose the ability to drive?

We have moderate snow here in staffordshire, but the main roads are abslutely clear, no a drop of snow on them and zero ice because its been quite mild over the last 24 hours.

Driving conditions on main roads is just like it would be had it rained overnight, the roads are a little wet, thats it. So why on earth did it just take me 2 hours to do a 15 minute journey to the train station with my sister. In fact not even that, as soon as I hit stoke we had to turn around as it was complete gridlock.

WHY!!!!! Road conditions are fine, there isn't even any need to drive more slowly, what causes people to drive so poorly when there is nothing wrong with the roads? stupid people with their stupid poor driving skills.

Annoyed.com

why can't they just stay in the "the roads are a bit wet" group?

firstly it isn't below freezing.

Secondly the conditions are fine, they really are. I've just been out in them I should know.

As for why set out? She needed to get a train from stoke station. No we didn't leave at rush hour. We left at 6.45am a long way before rush hour. It would have been fine too if people drove to the conditions rather than driving thinking there was 4 foot of snow on the road and a ton of ice.

I guess I find it even more frustrating because I actually learnt to drive in the snow, my first 2 weeks driving was in snowy conditions and I also lived in canada for a year with real snow

Yup

conditions are absolutely fine.

Back roads as always require some more careful driving but all main roads are fine and dandy

yup.

On driving back from near milton back to Leek the leek road was backlogged from cobridge right up to past endon. Thats about 6 miles give or take

I was looking at these people thinking, why are you still all waiting? Sure there will be some percentage of the people in their cars who don't have a choice, but the majority are going to spend 3 hours getting to work, get there at midday, then at 2pm think, "it's going to take me 3 hours to get home, i better leave now" was it really worth spending 6 hours in your car for 2 hours in the office?

turn around and go home as we did, leave the roads for the people who literally have no choice whatsoever

as I said. There are some that dont have a choice but plenty that do. Leave the roads for those who do not have a choice.

Indeed, although I would expect that that was offset by the volume of traffic actually dropping due to people deciding not to go out.

Tons of schools here are closed for example which means a dramatic reduction in traffic volume

rush hour here is usually around 7.45am

You can get from leek to stoke in 20 mins at 7.30am even on a term time monday usually.

half speed?

that would have been a dream. Think 15 mph on a 60mph road and you are more in the right region.

Then its a knock on effect, by the time i hit the busier areas its much later than it was planned and people leaving earlier and all driving like numptys equals gridlock.

of course you should pay attention to what is behind tom, have you passed your driving test?

If you have to do an emergency break and they are too close you can get rear ended and end up injured.

If anyone is too close to me i pull over and let them by.

great contribution

It`s ok Joe, you are allowed to access the classifieds now
Btw did your Sister make her train on time?

 

[LCPete]

I think you are right lol. But my point still stands.



I don't "panic" or get "upset" when someone is driving close behind, but it does annoy me as it's a dangerous way to drive. Had that this morning. On a wet road a van was quite literally 5 feet behind me at 40mph. Not much you can do except hope that the driver is concentrating and not busy on his mobile.

I do get a bit wound when someone probably irrationally so I really hate people who do that

 

[Byker28i]

great contribution

And sarcasm is the lowest form of wit

I thought it quite in incise actually as to be honest it's just another no-ones as good as joe thread and joe is always right.

There's nothing you can do about other drivers on the road apart from drive defensively. The will always be a mix of people's skills, plus a mix of experience.

 

[Byker28i]

For people who you think are too close behind there's not a lot you can do other than leave a decent gap in front then use that space if you see someone sliding towards you

 

[LCPete]

[/FONT]2]Simple.... because you are relying on the person behind you concentrating on what's happing in front of you, if they're not then they're likely to go into the back of you.

Forgetting injury, you've then got the inconvenience of having your car off the road and having the delight of dealing with your insurance company.

Let's not forget what we were all taught as learners "Only a fool breaks the two second rule" (not forgetting that it should be around 4 seconds in wet conditions and more when it's ice/snowy although you do have to apply a little common sense too).............. Not really that difficult to do is it?

yep completely agree It's happened to me three times over the years I've had to brake and the muppet behind couldn't stop as they were driving too close

 

[Russ77]

yep completely agree It's happened to me three times over the years I've had to brake and the muppet behind couldn't stop as they were driving too close

I know the answer is "well it's their fault by default" and whilst that may well be the case, it's still aggro that isn't of you're own doing, plus you could end up with whiplash or worse.

 

[u8myufo]

For people who you think are too close behind there's not a lot you can do other than leave a decent gap in front then use that space if you see someone sliding towards you

Also what a lot of people do not realise, is that side mirrors are designed so that when you look in them they make things look a lot closer than they actually are.

 

[LCPete]

I know the answer is "well it's their fault by default" and whilst that may well be the case, it's still aggro that isn't of you're own doing, plus you could end up with whiplash or worse.

Yes I've been lucky and not hurt
once it happened when the wife and I was on our motorbike could have been nasty but we were lucky and ok
The woman who did it then tried to deny responsibilty !

 

[Russ77]

Also what a lot of people do not realise, is that side mirrors are designed so that when you look in them they make things look a lot closer than they actually are.

And the award for the most patronising post of the day goes to.......

When I can't see the headlights of the car behind in my rear view mirror it's a sure sign they're too close to me, at pretty much any "normal" driving speed.

 

[u8myufo]

And the award for the most patronising post of the day goes to.......

When I can't see the headlights of the car behind in my rear view mirror it's a sure sign they're too close to me, at pretty much any "normal" driving speed.

My apologies I did in fact mean the Rear view mirror, but what I am saying is that I can be following at a safe distance behind a car and the idiots start to hit the brake lights for you to back off.

 

[tiler65]

If you are worried about those behind you....move out of their way....simples.

 

[viv1969]

On the M20 on an almost daily basis you'll experience, or at least see, a European truck drive literally a couple of feet away from the boot of the car in front; and yes, when it's my boot I have been known to either tap the brake or (if on an incline) slow down so that they lose enough speed to have to crawl.

Let the beatings begin..........

 

[joescrivens]

If you are worried about those behind you....move out of their way....simples.

thats exactly what I do. But you are questioning why people would be worried - not what they do once they get worried

 

[viv1969]

If you are worried about those behind you....move out of their way....simples.

If you are in lane one of a motorway, where do you suggest moving to????

 

[tiler65]

If you are in lane one of a motorway, where do you suggest moving to????

The only time it would bother me is if there was an emergency vehicle wanting to pass me....so I would move to another lane....and then move back to the lane I need to travel in. (as per HC recommendations)

 

[LCPete]

If you are worried about those behind you....move out of their way....simples.

What do I do when I'm in a 30 in town sticking to the speed limit and some moron is tailgating me 2 feet off my bumper ? Can't always just move over

 

[viv1969]

What do I do when I'm in a 30 in town sticking to the speed limit and some moron is tailgating me 2 feet off my bumper ? Can't always just move over

I suspect Tom will suggest you deploy your go-go gadget wheel extenders, thus enabling the car behind you to safely pass beneath you

 

[LCPete]

I suspect Tom will suggest you deploy your go-go gadget wheel extenders, thus enabling the car behind you to safely pass beneath you

 

[srichards]

What do I do when I'm in a 30 in town sticking to the speed limit and some moron is tailgating me 2 feet off my bumper ? Can't always just move over

I just put the washers on. When they get water on their screens from my washers they then realise they're too bloody close.

 

[Musicman]

firstly it isn't below freezing.

You do know that black ice can form when the ambient temperature is above freezing, don't you?

The air temperature (which is what the Met Office publish and your car temperature sensors will indicate) is not necessarily a guide - the road itself may still be below zero, freezing any moisture in the air (which may be above zero C) or which is already on the surface from snow or rainfall.

Especially if you're driving about in the morning and there has been a prolonged period of cold weather, the ground may well still be at overnight temperatures - i.e. below freezing.

edit: The general rule of thumb is that black ice may form when the air temperature is at or below 4 C.

 

[PatrickO]

If you are worried about those behind you....move out of their way....simples.

Unfortunately tailgaiting is so common that if I pull over every time then I'd never get to my destination. Tailgaiting is the normal way of driving for many drivers - they do it without thinking.

 

[srichards]

You do know that black ice can form when the ambient temperature is above freezing, don't you?

The air temperature (which is what the Met Office publish and your car temperature sensors will indicate) is not necessarily a guide - the road itself may still be below zero, freezing any moisture in the air (which may be above zero C) or which is already on the surface from snow or rainfall.

Especially if you're driving about in the morning and there has been a prolonged period of cold weather, the ground may well still be at overnight temperatures - i.e. below freezing.

edit: The general rule of thumb is that black ice may form when the air temperature is at or below 4 C.

I never knew that.

Grit would stop/reduce the chance of black ice though?

 

[Musicman]

Grit would stop/reduce the chance of black ice though?

Well, it should, more so if it's put down before ice has a chance to form.

You have to be confident that all of the surface you're driving over has been effectively gritted/salted and is still in that state, though.

 

[joescrivens]

You do know that black ice can form when the ambient temperature is above freezing, don't you?

The air temperature (which is what the Met Office publish and your car temperature sensors will indicate) is not necessarily a guide - the road itself may still be below zero, freezing any moisture in the air (which may be above zero C) or which is already on the surface from snow or rainfall.

Especially if you're driving about in the morning and there has been a prolonged period of cold weather, the ground may well still be at overnight temperatures - i.e. below freezing.

edit: The general rule of thumb is that black ice may form when the air temperature is at or below 4 C.

The road conditions were absolutely fine. I drove on them so I know because I saw them with my own eyes - all of this theory is all well and good but I was there and know that it was fine.

 

[Paul_W]

What do I do when I'm in a 30 in town sticking to the speed limit and some moron is tailgating me 2 feet off my bumper ? Can't always just move over

sorry. i was thinking of the situations when the car i am following is only doing 12mph and this is normally on roads with a higher than 30mph limit.

have no problems with people doing 30mph if that is the limit for the area

 

[LCPete]

sorry. i was thinking of the situations when the car i am following is only doing 12mph and this is normally on roads with a higher than 30mph limit.

have no problems with people doing 30mph if that is the limit for the area

Know what you mean it is frustrating when people do that fart about doing about 15 mph when its perfectly safe to do the limit

 

[gm43uk]

Saw an idiot a couple of years ago, his car was covered in snow and he had cleared and area about the size of a letterbox on his windscreen to see through.

He was at the side of the road discussing the matter with a pair of cops when I saw him.

 

[Marc]

The other day, I was sit in my brand new car outside the yard whilst the missus nipped in to bring in and feed the horse. The road is a shortish country road, covered in snow having never seen a gritting lorry and required a speed of approximately 5mph to negotiate it safely.

As I sat there, i noticed, in my mirror, an Audi A3 which appeared to be going a tad more than 5mph. As it got closer, I could see it wasn't exactly keeping very straight. In fact it was sliding from one side of the road to the other. It managed to get past me ok and, as I watched it continue it's rather slidy journey, I was finally able to ungrit my teeth and start breathing again!

 

[Slimbert]

I was finally able to ungrit my teeth and start breathing again!

There's got to be a joke somewhere in there about you having false teeth.....too tired to come up with it at the moment though!

 

[viv1969]

Joe, I notice that you longer felt the road conditions with your own eyes

 

[joescrivens]

Joe, I notice that you longer felt the road conditions with your own eyes

 

[u8myufo]

There's got to be a joke somewhere in there about you having false teeth.....too tired to come up with it at the moment though!

I was wondering why his wife would want to try and get the horse in the car to feed it