Pet Hates

[gerrypm]

I don't know if anyone has any Pet hates when out motoring, just thought about this today, when got stuck in a traffic jam.

The person in front (I wouldn't say if the driver was male or female), but the driver held back leaving a 3 vehicle gap.

No wonder the queue was that long. If everyone did that, the tail back would enormous.

If I had a fast car I could nip in front, but I don't.

[NikpV]

actually this doesn't bother me very much, I have an auto galaxy so would rather be rolling slowly which is more likely if people weren't bumper to bumper.

 

I would have thought it would be safer with a buffer if somebody doesn't notice the hold up - back end shunt would be less severe.

 

of course causing problems with people pulling out across roundabouts etc would need to be taken into account ...

[El Dingo]

:lol: Front fog lights used when there isn't any fog...

[Justice]

Other drivers. :lol:

[mumof4]

drivers thinking that their indicator stalks are just for show and not to be touched.

[mumble_bee]

drivers thinking that their indicator stalks are just for show and not to be touched.

hear hear.

 

I really dislike ppl not obeying the speed limit, especially the lower ones.

[jkspoff]

People who don't know how to use a motorway ! i.e. sit in lanes 2 and 3 and not use lane 1. They don't realise these lanes are only for overtaking. Glad its now included in the driving test, now all we need to do is educate the older ones, by a quick flash ! :lol:

[johnb80]

A few interesting ones mentioned here already, a couple of comments which I have no doubt will get some people heated under the collar, chill and think about this a little.

 

1) Leaving a gap when in traffic queue's. If you don't your cooling system will be getting hot air from the car in front, your ventilation system will be dragging in the exhaust fumes (and heat). In the event of a shunt you don't have any buffer zone and should the car in front break down you aint going nowhere when everybody else sets off. I always leave a bit less than a cars length to guard against the above and in start/stop queues I try to keep rolling slowly, for some reason this sometimes iiritates the drivers behind who want to race off then jump on the brakes - crazy.

 

2) Motorway driving and lane changing. The Institute of Advanced Motorists have a slightly different take on lane useage. Consider - when you are actually on the motorway i.e. not joining or leaving whats the most dangerous part of the journey? - changing lanes! Therefore you should minimise the lane changes and thus improve the statistics. Here's how it works, join the motorway and stay in the left lane. When you want to overtake someone move out one lane to the right (if there is one and of course mirror, signal, manouvre). When you have overtaken the vehicle stay in that lane until 1) Someone is approaching to pass you or 2) you need to overtake another vehicle in which case you repeat the above. I personally don't stay in lane 3 ever because if something comes over the central reservation the first stop is lane 3. Many drivers simply don't use their mirrors enough and you see many that swerve all over the motorway demonstrating how ridiculous the highway code can be if taken literally. Common sense and courtesy is all thats needed.

 

My pet hates:-

People breaking the lower speed limits, i.e. 30, 40 & 50. Mums on the school run and baseball hat clad yobs with Corsa'a are the favourites here.

People driving round with their hi-intensity rear lights on when it isn't thick fog or falling snow. On the rare occasions I have used mine I treat them as main beam - when a car appears behind I switch them off.

Drivers sat right up my back bumper, I'm happy to pull over and let them pass, I go to too many accidents caused by this stupidity.

 

Let the flames begin :lol:

 

Regards - JB

[katman]

Motorway driving and lane changing

 

Have to say first that I dont have a great deal of experience on Motorways for the simple reason that our nearest ones are between 90 and 120 minutes away :lol:

 

Having said that, my comments are equally applicable to dual carriageway (not that there is a great deal of that in Norfolk either!)

 

1. People who come down the slip road FASTER than the traffic on the main carriageway and shoot straight across all lanes until they are up against the crash barriers. ( I think this must be caused by the magnetic bumpers on certain German cars which also get attracted to your rear bumper if they cant pass you)

 

2. People who dont adjust their speed to slip into a gap in the traffic on the main carriageway and end up coming to a standstill at the end of the slip lane.

 

3. When a dual carriageway or Motorway is fairly clear but people in the left hand lane of the main carriageway dont move to the right to allow joining traffic to flow in easier.

 

4. People who *might* give a single flash of the indicator once their vehicle is 90% of the way through their lane changing manoevure.

 

Therefore you should minimise the lane changes and thus improve the statistics

 

On the bit of the M25 with variable speed limits where it tells people to stay in lane the traffic does flow quite well until the plonkers start swapping lanes.

 

The fact that everyone drives two close also clogs the roads as people over react to brake lights and the traffic comes to a standstill for no apparent reasononly to be belting along at 70 within a couple of miles.

 

I seem to remember some road safety adverts on TV a loooong time ago, possibly mid to late 70s, aimed at motorway driving which said something along the lines of "one flash for each 10mph" so 7 flashes at 70mph.

 

Perhaps thats why they dropped the adverts..... its bad enough getting a single flash out of a BMW (except headlights) never mind 11 or 12 :D

 

Also, what happened to the adverts "Only a fool breaks the two second rule"

 

It realls scares me when you try that with other people and only manage to say "Only a" especially when its raining!!!!

 

People breaking the lower speed limits, i.e. 30, 40 & 50.

 

I would like to amend that statement to People DELIBERATELY breaking the lower speed limits, i.e. 30, 40 & 50.

 

There are times when we all inadvertantly travel on main roads at 35 in a 30 when traffic is flowing and we are concentrating on keeping the traffic moving but there are those who will always travel at 45-50 in a 30 if given half the chance.

 

Personally I hate those who will drive at 30 because the speed limit is thirty irrespective of the conditions eg bad weather, heavy traffic, parked cars, kids playing in the street etc. Common sense *should* tell people that 15-20 is more appropriate but some people seem not to care.

 

Another of my pet hates is the millions of pounds spent on safety railings and pedestrian crossings when most of the great unwashed are so ******* ignorant that they just ignore the lights or jump over the railings which would make things safe for them if used properly. Sods law says that in the event of an accident it would be the poor motorists fault :D

 

I think I had better shut up now. I'm 46 in four days time. Is it coincidence that BBC2 has just started another series of "Grumpy Old Men" ??? :D :D

[Scorpiorefugee]

Well said John and Katman.

 

If we tried we could make a list of hates that would go on for a very long time.

 

I think that it could all be simplified down to a few generalisations.

 

Bad attitude. Selfishness and arrogance. Anyone who thinks that he/she can break speed limits because they are a 'good' driver in a well equipped car is missing the point completely. Lorry drivers who compete for lead positions taking miles to overtake another are an absolute menace. However I have great sympathy for their problems in moving their huge loads over great distances and will always give them priority if I can anticipate their problem.

 

Education. We have the highway code, which no-one reads. I believe thai it should be compulsory for all TV stations to transmit 15second 'Ads' on driving safely free of charge as a small penalty for making money from filling our screens with other junk.

 

We, the majority, seem to be silently intolerant of those who treat the traffic laws with utter contempt. Perhaps we should become more vocal. We all have horns and lights. But first we need education and some publically specified driving standards!

 

Finally, I think that the manufacturers and law makers need to behave more intelligently. I always think if front fog lights as "I am a PRAT" lights. Most drivers haven't got a clue what they are for and use them because the must be there for some reason.. In fact, I have never found a single case where thay do anything useful, at least not since the pea soupers that we used to get in the 60s when the technique was to use fog lights instead of dipped headlights - not possible with many cars now!

 

So why is it common practice to arrange switches so that front fog lights, which can only ever have any value at night, must be switched on before the rear fog lights, which are an absolute menace when used in the dark? Maybe some idiot in Europe would like to justify that one!

 

I am a great believer in speed cameras but the shoud be hidden and mobile and USED INTELLIGENTLY!

 

Sorry, this is getting too long.

 

Next moaner please....

 

 

Ron.

[Masked Marauder]

Lorry drivers who compete for lead positions taking miles to overtake another are an absolute menace. However I have great sympathy for their problems in moving their huge loads over great distances and will always give them priority if I can anticipate their problem.

 

I have to agree with you. As a lorry driver this has been a problem for us as an industry since the introduction of speed limiters. You get two drivers who won't slow down for anyone side by side and there is an issue that then reflects badly on all lorry drivers.

 

Most of us either back off a few mph when someone is trying to pass us, or we back off a few mph rather than try to pass someone else. It adds very little to the journey time and reduces driver stress.

 

But there will always be the drivers who won't care about anyone but themselves and how quickly they can get there. And as this is usually a problem on dual carriageways they are usually speeding too, as the limit is 50MPH and the limiter is circa 56MPH. On the A14 the worst culprits are non-UK drivers who get fined heavily if they speed in their own country.

[Bigjeeze]

I agree with most of the above - but to be frank the real issue is that there are too many vehicles on the road nowadays and although it is not possible to reduce them - that it what we need to do.

My second gripe is the volume of safe, sensible I don't do it ever drivers who perpetually lecture us - show by example stop whinging.

 

Yes we do need more education, yes we do need more care on the road - but most of all what we need is common sense which just does not exist int he mass of the motoring public ( I don't excuse myself in any of this).

 

Manufacturers should stop producing cars that can do more than 90mph, that accelerate to 60 in under 10 seconds and also reduce the "I'm alright factor" by removing all the safety devices like air bags, seat belts and crumple zones - If we all felt a little more vulnerable perhaps we would take more care.

 

Oh and bring back hanging, sing the National Anthem in cinemas and send gunboats every time someone foreign johnny upsets us!. Why when I was a boy you could get a pound of bullseyes for 2 bob and the bulls for a quid....

 

Rule Britannia :angry:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

NB - Don't take this too seriously (Ihave to add this because there are so many prats who believe anything I say!)

[familyman]

:angry: when you'r in a 2 lane road on the outside lane at a junction controlled by traffic lights -lights turn green the person in front THEN decides to indicate right -really gets me annoyed , BIGJEEZE you forgot bring back the cane in schools (what kids need today is a good thrashing )and national service!

[NikpV]

NB - Don't take this too seriously (Ihave to add this because there are so many prats who believe anything I say!)

I think on here most have got the message :angry: :ph34r: :D

[katman]

NB - Don't take this too seriously  (Ihave to add this because there are so many prats who believe anything I say!)

Thanks Bigjeeze. You just reminded me about one more pet hate....

 

Parking Spaces for Prats

 

I have no objection to parking spaces for Disabled, Parent and child etc. The ones I am refering to are diagonal yellow squares usually found at busy road junctions.

 

Not only are the individual spaces too small even for a "Smart Car" but once three or four prats park there cars I find it has a seriously detrimental effect on the flow of other traffic resulting in the all too familiar gridlock.

 

Just in case anyone hasnt figured out what I am ranting about I believe the Highway Code refers to these particular parking spaces as Box Junctions :angry:

[katman]

:ph34r: when you'r in a 2 lane road on the outside lane at a junction controlled by traffic lights -lights turn green the person in front THEN decides to indicate right

Obviously you have an older vehicle that has the traditional "Self Cancelling Indicators" whereby straightening the steering wheel after turning the corner switches off the indicators.

 

What you were behind was a more modern vehicle designed for those who cant be bothered to operate the indicators as they are too busy talking on their mobile phone. To overcome this problem, car manufacturers are now fitting "Self Activating Indicators" which come on as you turn the corner :angry:

[gerrypm]

You know the moment when one lane is closed on the motorway, and the signs tells you in plenty of time 800yds - 600yds - 400yds - even after 200 yds there is always somebody who is so special and doesn't believe in waiting in the queue like the rest of the population,

and comes screaming down the motorway, then decides he needs to change lanes, when he can't travel any further. Expecting eveyone to let them in.

Do they do that in the queue at the supermarket ?

 

One friend who does this motorways, says that if the lane is empty, you should use it.

My own thoughts are, this practise slows the traffic down.

[Masked Marauder]

I agree with most of the above - but to be frank the real issue is that there are too many vehicles on the road nowadays and although it is not possible to reduce them - that it what we need to do.

My second gripe is the volume of safe, sensible I don't do it ever drivers who perpetually lecture us - show by example stop whinging.

 

Yes we do need more education, yes we do need more care on the road - but most of all what we need is common sense which just does not exist int he mass of the motoring public ( I don't excuse myself in any of this).

 

Manufacturers should stop producing cars that can do more than 90mph, that accelerate to 60 in under 10 seconds and also reduce the "I'm alright factor" by removing all the safety devices like air bags, seat belts and crumple zones - If we all felt a little more vulnerable perhaps we would take more care.

 

Oh and bring back hanging, sing the National Anthem in cinemas and send gunboats every time someone foreign johnny upsets us!. Why when I was a boy you could get a pound of bullseyes for 2 bob and the bulls for a quid....

 

Rule Britannia :ph34r:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

NB - Don't take this too seriously (Ihave to add this because there are so many prats who believe anything I say!)

Grandad! Is that really you grandad? :angry: :D

[Busman]

Theres a great big, usually 2 lane highway outhere which is not used for freight and hardly any passengers anymore mainly because of price they charge which was invented in this country adopted by just about every other country and successfully,oh yes nearly forgot to say as it used to be called British Rail.

[Masked Marauder]

It is at it's capacity for passengers and passengers pay more than frieght. In addition it is not really plausable to use it for most frieght.

 

I do 3 trips a night to pick up milk, that is 60 tonnes of milk moved from place of production to point of distribution in 8 hours. You can not do that by rail.

 

Everything now is done the cheapest way and rail is not it.

[Scorpiorefugee]

Re Gerry's comment about closed lanes, I believe that the advised procedure IS to use all lanes up to the filter.

 

I stay in the outside lane and match my speed to the next lane, even if that leaves a gap in front, and filter in one on one. It works beautifully and doesn't slow the traffic at all unless there is one dimwhit who can't understand the principle.

 

This is the sort of thing that needs to be explained to some drivers.

 

Question. What do queue jumpers have in common with computers?

Answer. The information has to be punched in!

[NikpV]

Re Gerry's comment about closed lanes, I believe that the advised procedure IS to use all lanes up to the filter.

 

I stay in the outside lane and match my speed to the next lane, even if that leaves a gap in front, and filter in one on one.

and MERGE IN TURN unfortunately the nearside lane usually interprets this as pushing in except where explicit signs are placed .... solution use more signs in these situations and the tailback becomes half the length but still takes the same time to get through - in theory :angry:

[Masked Marauder]

Or you use a big lorry and sit in the outside lane until the cones, going no faster than the inside lane.

 

Funny how the delays are half as long when they cone the inside lane off first.

[katman]

I stay in the outside lane and match my speed to the next lane, even if that leaves a gap in front, and filter in one on one. It works beautifully and doesn't slow the traffic at all unless there is one dimwhit who can't understand the principle.

Which comes back to the previously mention items

 

Lack of courtesy

 

Driving too close

 

Most people totally refuse to let anyone pull in even though the highway code says to give way to traffic from the right, they would rather bunch up and come to a complete standstill than possibly delay there journey by a few milliseconds allowing another vehicle to filter in by easing of the throttle and dropping back a few feet.

 

In the case of the 800...600...400...200 markings for a lane closure I would try to position myself in the correct lane as soon as it was safest to do so and once I reached the 200 marker would then move across if I hadnt already done so.

 

Your action fits in exactly with what should be done as you match your speed to slide in without any detrimental effects and you probably also indicate your intention to do so as well. I would have no problem with that whatsoever.

 

But if the left and centre lanes were already slowed to a crawl and 99.9% of the people had obeyed the signs and you came hammering down the outside right up to the cones and they tried to barge your way in I would think to myself...

 

OI !! No!!. That is not good driving you plonker and would do everything within my power not to let you in :angry:

 

It never ceases to amaze me how blinkered many drivers are and how they ignore 800..600...400...200 signs or a slow moving vehicle with flashing beacon until the last second. You then have to anticipate whether they will just pull out in front of you, slam their brakes on, or pile into the back of it.

 

Likewise when you try to let someone in from a slip road by adjusting your speed (when you cant move across to the next lane) and instead of them being aware of what you are doing they just keep slowing down until in the end you give up and carry on. Their loss not yours!!

[Bigjeeze]

Don't you just love starting a rant on here!!! :ph34r: :angry: :D