British People Can't Drive . . .

[VCDHunter]

. . . can your countrymen ?

I've just spent another afternoon in rush hour traffic and the standards of driving are pathetic. The sheer inability of people to indicate, keep up with the flow of trafffic, get in the right lane or understand right of way never ceases to amaze me everyday. Also what's with these stupidly large vehicles people seem to enjoy so much today - ******* enormous jeeps, which by the way have obviously never so much as parked on a grass verge let alone been "off road" - and those poxy "people movers" that seem to be used primarily to transport a person rather than a bunch of em. I'm all for fuel price rises if it gets these fuckers out of my way.

Next time : Truckers - Are they all a bunch of c***s or what ?

[indolikaa]

I live in a very rural area, so there really isn't a speed limit that's enforced. And most drivers out here are pretty good about being courteous. Turn signals and functioning brake lights are the norm, and most people won't chase your speed when you try and pass them.

What they DON'T do particularly well out here is YIELD to faster traffic.

We've got a lot of dickheads around here who think it's perfectly OK to drive their overloaded truck 35 MPH on a 65 MPH highway, even when they're in a stretch of highway that's 'No Passing' for several miles. The shoulders are wide enough to let people around, they just don't feel like they have an obligation to do it, seeing as they pay taxes like everybody else. I've watched with amusement a pickup truck come over the Show Low ridge with no less than 50 cars bringing up the rear.


Now Phoenix is another matter entirely. The last time I was down there I was having to maintain a 90 MPH speed just to stay in the fast lane. And I got passed by two people in the carpool lane. There are no traffic rules in Phoenix, it's every man for himself.

[Capmaster]

Of course you English can't drive. You start out on the wrong side of the road It can only go downhill from there

As Indolikaa can attest, Albuquerque has some of the worst drivers. You have little old men dottering along in the left (fast) lane at 55 in a 65 zone, with only their hats showing above the wheel. And you have the moron lane-surfers who don't see anything wrong with changing lanes 134 times each mile they drive, seeking that ever-elusive "faster than anyone else" lane.

And most of the drivers here haven't yet figured out what that little chrome-tipped stick is on the steering column. They use it to hang their beer-holders or their chewing tobacco. Most folks out here just slow down and turn, without a thought for the drivers behind them wondering if they're going left, right, or straight up

I've often fantasized about mounting a retracting .50 caliber machine gun on the roof of the car and going out in a blaze of glory, gunning down any and all who would pull in front of me and slow to a crawl, or slow down without signaling a turn. I'd get a couple hundred of them before the cops put a stop to my rampage

[indolikaa]

I can attest to the drivers in Albuquerque.

[curryman]

Have a bad day, did we VCD, that's it you let off some steam, and yes there are some pretty dodgy drivers out there.
Worst ones are those that do something wrong and then look at me as if I was in the wrong, makes me so mad

[northcat_8]

Cap...I understand completely....one of my "road rage" fantasies is for those people who find it necessary to come to a dead stop before turning...that sets me off everytime....I just wish I had a big old oak bumper bolted on my truck so I could just bust their ass at 60 mph...them Muther F***ers....

I am a self confessed road rager.

Another thing that pisses me off are those jackasses in the fast lane driving the speed limit...I know it's already been mentioned but those inconsiderate bastards need their nuts shoved in their ears. 99% of the time they are just over there do-da-ing it, not paying attention...tra-la-la down the ******* road...GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR

I need to go take my medicine now........

[Capmaster]

Cap...I understand completely....one of my "road rage" fantasies is for those people who find it necessary to come to a dead stop before turning...that sets me off everytime....I just wish I had a big old oak bumper bolted on my truck so I could just bust their ass at 60 mph...them Muther F***ers....

I am a self confessed road rager.

Another thing that pisses me off are those jackasses in the fast lane driving the speed limit...I know it's already been mentioned but those inconsiderate bastards need their nuts shoved in their ears. 99% of the time they are just over there do-da-ing it, not paying attention...tra-la-la down the ******* road...GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR

I need to go take my medicine now........

Other drivers put your shorts in a twist, do they?

I forgot to mention the ones who are carrying on an involved conversation on their cell phones while trying to maneuver through traffic. They weave in and out of their lanes and usually go too slow

[northcat_8]

I forgot to mention the ones who are carrying on an involved conversation on their cell phones while trying to maneuver through traffic. They weave in and out of their lanes and usually go too slow

Those cell phone bastards...I don't like them either....when you are behind them do you ever think..."man, if I just had my 30-06 with me I could shoot that speaker right off the side of his face" or ever think about shooting the driver side mirror off of their car?

Yea, I get twisted about it, it makes me mad everyday from the people who haven't figured out how to merge at a speed over 6 mph to the jackass who hurries to pull out in front of me and drives 55, just to turn half mile up the road.

I was seeing an anger management therapist for a while but that MFer kept pissing me off too :P

[flaninacupboard]

i did a 400 mile round trip this weekend - set off at 3:45 am, lovely. quick journey, no hassle - bliss. stopped for a kip and to buy some supplies. started back at about 2pm. utter chaos. caravans, buses, lorries, the WORST is those godamned 4x4's!!! They're too tall, i can't see over them to the road signs. they're too wide - i live in the country and if you have to pass one on a road you have to find a ******* passing place
And coaches! jesus. i was sitting behind about twelve cars in the right hand lane, and a coach. left lane was clear except a lorry ~ half mile ahead. this pisses me off, why are these twelve cars in the right hand lane - they're NOT OVERTAKING ANYTHING. so i pull into the left lane, get up to the speed limit and cruise past the dozen cars. the coach has now closed from 500m behind the lorry to 450m. i pull alongside the coach, and wait for it to pass the lorry. then i see a hill. now, the lorry was doing 60mph, the coach was doing probably 60.1mph. so i go up to 70, indicate and move into the right. at this point the coach slams on his brakes and honks his horn at me..........ok.
i wanted to stop and shout at the mofo, but i think it was a coach of football fans

Edit:
i forgot, the 4x4's are all driven by mothers driving their kids to school. this REALLY takes the piss, the town i live can't be more than 2 miles across, all the kids in the school come from the town. i sometimes get stuck behind a mumx4, they drop off their spawn, wave out the window at them, drive two streets and pull onto their driveway. god damn they're lazy kids! every day i drive past a girl in a wheelchair headed to school, she manages!
and they stop in the ******* "SCHOOL! DON'T PARK HERE! CHILDREN CROSSING!" zones!

example of mums with no sense:




She dropped her darling kiddywinks off, parking on the narrowest part of the road. then she fucked off somewhere. this is just outside where i work.

[VCDHunter]

I forgot to mention the ones who are carrying on an involved conversation on their cell phones while trying to maneuver through traffic. They weave in and out of their lanes and usually go too slow

Those cell phone bastards...I don't like them either....when you are behind them do you ever think..."man, if I just had my 30-06 with me I could shoot that speaker right off the side of his face" or ever think about shooting the driver side mirror off of their car?

******* mobile phones is another of mine - is it me or did everyone see the outlawing of driving whilst using a mobile phone carte blanche to use their phone whilst driving. I swear it wasn't too bad before they outlawed it.

I am off down my brothers now where I pass 7 speed cameras, at least 10 speed humps and god only knows how many of those traffic calming measures - guaranteed NOT to keep me calm - on my way down there !

@Cap - I am right with you on the machine gun idea, I have suggested it myself to a few passengers.

[andyp1]

My biggest gripe and I see it a lot , is women in the passenger seat of some crappy van with a small child on there knee.
I always think to myself 'I'd love to be a copper right now and book them'
I don't think there is any excuse for it. If they haven't got enough seats they should take a bus or something.

I think the sort of person who has a child on their knee in the front of a car , is the sort of person who will always blame someone else if their child gets hurt.

[Doramius]

example of mums with no sense:




She dropped her darling kiddywinks off, parking on the narrowest part of the road. then she fucked off somewhere. this is just outside where i work.

AH-HA-HA!!

Looks like that bus was 'setting a standard'. And looks like someone was parking the wrong direction in the street, too.

I've driven all over the US (including AK, HI, puerto Rico and other US areas), Mexico, Canada, and parts of Europe and Australia and this is what I've found.

Guys have high insurance because we don't have enough sense to not drive while intoxicated. If you completely remove drinking from the picture (and there are factual statistics to prove this) women are incredibly horrible drivers.

Teenage drivers, you need to start viewing driving as a privledge that needs respect. I've had 3 rear endings where I've sucked out over $22k in damage costs from your parents and caused one of you to lose your license after you had it suspended from an accident only 2 months earlier.

Old people should not be behind the wheel, especially if they cannot see over it. I think there should be a mandatory eye test every year and a mandatory written test every 3 years after the age of 60. My parents who are both older than that age agree with the testing part. The also say old people shouldn't be driving anything over 2 tons in total weight.

Brits (no offense) put the steering wheel on the other side and drive on the right side of the road. You too Aussies(and pave more roads). Percentage wise you have more accidents than any other countries relating to blind spots on the left side of vehicles. You're about equal with everyone else with accidents on the right side.

Candians, pretty good drivers, but get a little more used to converting KPH and MPH. Mexicans, PAY ATTENTION and respect other peoples property. A Siren means pull to the right if you can or stay still if the ROW (right of way) vehicle can make it on the left. If the intersection has cleared, you have right of way to move if the damn fire truck is blaring its horn at you to move, since it can't get around.

People on Cell phones, get a hands free, or just don't use it while driving.

California, A stop sign means STOP, make sure the intersection is clear and WAIT for the right of way traffic to proceed.

Utah, What's with pacing speed with the car to your right or left? Don't Wolf Pack. Left lane is for passing cars(you too NV, AZ, NM, CO, CA, ID).
Once you pass a car, get back right. If you're going to get in front of another car going faster than you to pass a butt slow vehicle, speed up and pass quickly, don't take 15 minutes to pass.

For you old people, again, Go at least the speed limit or up to 5mph above the limit (or roughly close to traffic movement if speeds are much faster) or get in the right lane.

General public, Make sure all of your headlights, tail lights, back-up & turn signals are all working. It's okay if one goes out now and then and you replace it, but when you brake and the only indication is half of a Brake light bar in your rear window, you really need to replace the bulbs. And don't be towing trailers unless you know how to maneuver with it and pay attention to blind spots. Also, don't back up if you've gone just a little too far into the intersection. If you're not too far, it's no biggie and pedestrians can take an extra 5 or 6 steps. If you're way too far into the intersection, you might as well complete the move because everyone's waiting for you and you'll still get the ticket regardless. If you're in a turn lane, take it. Don't back up and get out and hold up traffic trying to maneuver into the correct lane. You made a mistake, buck up to it, and fix it at another intersection or turn into a parking lot and then come back out the way you need to go. Don't cause accidents because your a forgetful idiot.

Alaska, remove your chains when there is no snow on the ground. I had 3 cracked windshields in a 4 month period. My comprehensive only covers 1 a year.

And Hawaii....., what the hell do you need an interstate for?

[flaninacupboard]

Looks like that bus was 'setting a standard'. And looks like someone was parking the wrong direction in the street, too.

I've driven all over the US (including AK, HI, puerto Rico and other US areas), Mexico, Canada, and parts of Europe and Australia and this is what I've found.

Brits (no offense) put the steering wheel on the other side and drive on the right side of the road. You too Aussies(and pave more roads). Percentage wise you have more accidents than any other countries relating to blind spots on the left side of vehicles. You're about equal with everyone else with accidents on the right side.

what the hell?! how did you not DIE on our roads? we drive on the left hand side, that's why the wheel is on the right hand side.....

and the stupid woman was parked on the left side of the road so that's ok, just chose a crap spot to do so.

[Doramius]

The reason you drive on the left side of the raod is because the steering wheel is on the right side. That's why I say swap it around. I honestly had no problems checking blind spots and making it through traffic. But some people obviously aren't used to it even when it's their own country. I watched tons of people and very few checked over their left shoulder for traffic when I was coming up on them. I got cut off a bunch of times and watched many others get cut off by people like that.

[D_Knife]

In my area the police are trialling an interesting idea
I live in Brisbane but work in Ipswich (about 30km west)

The cops are using un-marked vehicles driving the motorway along the motorway taking photos of people using mobiles and stupid behaviour - it's part of their stop the accidents on the motorway plan - there is at least 1 accident per day on the Ipswich Motorway.

It's actually great - you have some idiot driving along at 75kph in a 100kph zone "chatting" on the phone - the cop cruises up next to them, leans out the window takes a snap, drops back a bit and gets a second shot of the licence plate - bingo a fine in the mail a couple of days later.

They can't legally fine you for speeding - the lawyers jumped on that quick smart but they will fine you for going to SLOW, apparently it counts as inciting dangerous driving in others - very cool as well

I don't have to speed to work - I leave home, take a nice pace at the speed limit to get to work at exactly the right time to start on time. I get just under an hour cruising in comfort with my music on, the air-con set comfortably and now - less dickheads to deal with

[reboot]

It takes you "just under an hour cruising in comfort with my music on, the air-con set comfortably" to go 30km?

[D_Knife]

yeah all up - most of the time is taken at the start and end of the journey though - the time on the motorway is only around 10-15 minutes.

In a previous job I used to spend more time going from one side of the city to another, actually now that I say that, it kinda sounds a bit wierd - but hey it's the most relaxing drive I've had to work!

[tweedledee]

Brits (no offense) put the steering wheel on the other side and drive on the right side of the road. You too Aussies(and pave more roads). Percentage wise you have more accidents than any other countries relating to blind spots on the left side of vehicles. You're about equal with everyone else with accidents on the right side.

I don't understand this statement about the blind spots. Why would there be a difference between the USA and Britain or Australia?

[offline]

She dropped her darling kiddywinks off, parking on the narrowest part of the road. then she fucked off

Good one Flan! Here in Oz she would have come back to a
sideswiped mess and the bus driver would have F'd off

@ Doramius, I would have thought that there is no difference
between driving on the left or the right. I've driven on
both sides and never had a problem until I drove in
Asia where in some places there are no "sides" .

Worst ones are those that do something wrong and then look at me as if I was in the wrong, makes me so mad

I think a lot of people who can drive well, push their cars further
to the limit than the average driver, and can never find fault with
themselves. My driving skills are most average but I tend to
drive carefully in a defensive manner. I have friends who are
excellent drivers in terms of skill, but push it to the edge and
constantly yell abuse at other road users, forgeting that they
themselves are adding to the problem.

In America and the UK , is there a particular type of car people
associate with bad driving? Here in Australia it used to be Volvo's
but now Magna's seem to have the worst reputation.

[energy80s]

White van man ???

[flaninacupboard]

people in BMWs have no manners (cut you up, don't indicate or say thanks if you let them through) and people in the new rovers (the ones that look like cheap jag rip offs) are arrogant sons of bitches (overtake for no good reason, always assume it's their right of way, screech away from traffic lights).
I had a rover overtake me on a thin country road, limit is 60. i was probably doing 65. so he goes past, doing about 70. pointless and dangerous overtaking on a thing bendy road. so i stick behind him, SOB dropped back down to 60, then 50 for the bends! pussy! so we carry on for a few miles, me right on his bumper. i can tell where he's going (big village with lots of rich wankers) and there's a shortcut on an old road, i peel off and take it, get up to about 75 (this road is fairly straight) and pull into the village about 100yds ahead of him. 20mph seems reasonable, residential area, double parked cars - nowhere to overtake. someone decided to honk and flash at me - how interesting.

offline, take another look at the pics, she's missing a wing mirror

Edit:
just seen in another thread energy works in an OB van! he IS a white van man!

[offline]

offline, take another look at the pics, she's missing a wing mirror

missed that. A small price to pay for such silly parking.

- nowhere to overtake. someone decided to honk and flash at me - how interesting.

Nice revenge!
Once I used to have to travel 800klms each week to work. I was
given air tickets but I asked for petrol money instead as I like
to drive - especially in the dark. I used to get these friggen idiots
with misaligned over bright headlights burning the crap out of
my eyes. One trip I borrowed a tricked up rover which had a
truck alternator, 2 truck batteries and a huge bank of 4WD arc lights.

After a couple of hours, exhibit number one comes up behind me
with his headlights in my eyes and I slow letting him pass. Waited
a few seconds then wam with the arcs. Night turns into day and
the guy almost skids to get off the road. Another flick and the
darkness swallows me up. I did this about half a dozen times
on the 11 hour trip

[flaninacupboard]

haha, nice one. sounds like Riff going on a vampire hunt

[/obscure reference]

I like night driving, you can see people coming, and if you can't then you do that bend at 90 8)

[pacmania_2001]

In my area the police are trialling an interesting idea
I live in Brisbane but work in Ipswich (about 30km west)

The cops are using un-marked vehicles driving the motorway along the motorway taking photos of people using mobiles and stupid behaviour - it's part of their stop the accidents on the motorway plan - there is at least 1 accident per day on the Ipswich Motorway.

It's actually great - you have some idiot driving along at 75kph in a 100kph zone "chatting" on the phone - the cop cruises up next to them, leans out the window takes a snap, drops back a bit and gets a second shot of the licence plate - bingo a fine in the mail a couple of days later.

They can't legally fine you for speeding - the lawyers jumped on that quick smart but they will fine you for going to SLOW, apparently it counts as inciting dangerous driving in others - very cool as well

I don't have to speed to work - I leave home, take a nice pace at the speed limit to get to work at exactly the right time to start on time. I get just under an hour cruising in comfort with my music on, the air-con set comfortably and now - less dickheads to deal with

Ah the good old Ipswich Motorway. I have to travel on it at least 3 days a week to go to Uni and the amount of bad drivers on it never ceases to amaze me. No matter what time of day you are on it you can bet it will always be congested and slow down to 60-80km.

I haven't seen those cops in the unmarked cars you are talking about though. I normally don't have a problem with the police on the motorway because I know all the spots they like to put speed cameras and radar traps at and know when to slow down.

Here in Australia it used to be Volvo's but now Magna's seem to have the worst reputation.

Magna's and Camry drivers are the worst. Hyundai drivers, despite driving the least powerful cars seem to always be going the fastest.

[Doramius]

Brits (no offense) put the steering wheel on the other side and drive on the right side of the road. You too Aussies(and pave more roads). Percentage wise you have more accidents than any other countries relating to blind spots on the left side of vehicles. You're about equal with everyone else with accidents on the right side.

I don't understand this statement about the blind spots. Why would there be a difference between the USA and Britain or Australia?

I'm not exactly sure why the statistics show that. It may have something to do with being right handed, maybe there's more traffic, or it might have something to do with the different ways the road is set up. There was no real explanation that I noticed. I just saw the factual statistics showing that more accidents occur with vehicles driving on the left side of the road with the steering wheel on the right that related to blind spots. Again, I had no real problem drivving in Europe, but I saw a lot of people who just didn't pay attention to the road or cared who was around them.

A blind spot accident would be an accident where someone hit something without noticing something was there until it was hit. Think of backing up into a car without looking behind you. You didn't check behind you so that would be considered a blind spot. Accident statistics come from the insurance companies and police reports.

[flaninacupboard]

no, that's shit driving - i'll admit there's plenty of that. when our system is just the reverse of your it's illogical to attribute left hand driving as the problem. could be roundabouts, i bet there's loads of those at the magic roundabout near craigtucker

[Doramius]

In most states, and some cities elsewhere, roundabouts are outlawed or they don't make them. Supposedly they are supposed to maintain traffic flow, but have caused more accidents and traffic related problems than a standard lighted intersection. Like I said, in previous emails, it's just what the statistics are related too. I just think it's because people weren't paying attention. I've had 3 car accidents in my life. First was because a DUI drove into my lane and clipped my tail. Guy lost his license over that one. Second a deer ran into the road and practically jumped on my hood. Third was a sink hole that sucked my car into it while waiting at a stop sign.(that was a bit scary)

[flaninacupboard]

we have roundabouts everywhere here, most junctions are slightly too big to be uncontrolled, but big enough that lights would just piss everyone off.

[tweedledee]

the problem. could be roundabouts, i bet there's loads of those at the magic roundabout near craigtucker

This is the magic roundabout

[stiltman]

the problem. could be roundabouts, i bet there's loads of those at the magic roundabout near craigtucker

This is the magic roundabout

Are those parking spot towards the center???