Not a rant but just an observation over the last couple of years that drivers really dont like using the brake pedal.
I see so many more fast overtaking manoeuvres where the car on the opposite side of the road have to slow or stop to avoid a collision? No one sits patiently behind a vehicle/cyclist and overtake safely?
Just my imagination or is this worse than its ever been?
I'd say theres less overtaking on single carrigeway roads than in previous years. Its almost seen as a crime to do it in this country - in a lot of other countries its far more widely practiced. I think part of this is due to lorries routinely ignoring the 40mph limit and instead going at 60 to improve traffic flow
Yes worse than ever , driving to llandegla a couple of weeks ago , came over the crest of a hill, to find a white Audi with bikes on the back overtaking a horse box and 4 cars up hill I had to slam on to get out of his way, its a narrow country road with farms and bikers , horse riders all over the place plus cars, tractors etc, people are becoming complete morons...its only a couple of miles to the dual carriage way 10 mins tops to wait and then do it safely.
was marshalling at a race yesterday - despite having significant signage out , high vis on and visibly signalling for the cars to slow down for the highly visable cyclists infront of them, they would do 60 right up till they were almost ontop of the bikes , realise that it was a blind corner and stick the car on its nose at the last minute
seems to me folks drive their car looking at the end of the bonnet !
Its a tough one this.
There seem to be more and more people taking risks by overtaking where they can't see properly etc as highlighted above, i've had it happen to me a few times over the last 6 months alone.
However, as posted above, there does seem to be a hatred of anyone overtaking in this country. On the way to North Wales a few weeks ago I was overtaking a coach, very straight piece of road with clear visibility and I had completed the overtaking manouvere about 10 seconds before the car coming in the opposite direction reached us yet they still felt the need to flash their lights and beep at me as they went past as if it was illegal to overtake!
The other frustration about driving is this country is those people who don't want to overtake (no issue with this) but don't leave a gap for others to overtake. That is why you have such huge queues behind every caravan on its way to Wales.
The worst are those who speed up as you try to overtake them.
The worst are those who speed up as you try to overtake them
They should be shot. One of the most dangerous type of drivers on the road.
If you ever drive a small truck with air brakes you will realise how much car drivers rely on panic braking to get themselves out of trouble. driving a truck requires much more concentration and reading the road; you even begin to appreciate road warning signs.
As someone with a foot in both camps I think its more an issue of many drivers just not reading traffic/road conditions ahead rather than not knowing how to opperate their brakes, in fact there seems to be an over-reliance from the majority of driver on stamping on the brakes at the very last second rather than actually preparing for upcoming cyclists/traffic/corners/etc by letting the speed drop off and gearing down earlier...
I'm not sure it's even about speeding in many cases but a sort of "digital" attutude to contolling a car; you are either accelerating or braking as hard as possible, there is no comprehension of any sort of middle ground....
There's nothing wrong with overtaking on a clear section of road where you know yuo can get past some doddering fool cleanly but by the same token there's certainly no shame in hanging back from those "50/50" overtakes with partial visibility for oncoming traffic...
IMO the difference in arrival time between driving the same 20mile route (along single lane A-roads) in a more relaxed manner Vs applying a disproportionate sense of urgency is probably about ~15seconds max, I see the same nobbers burning an extra £2.37 more fuel along the same stretches of road as me most days and the net benefit is being 1 car ahead at the next set of lights...
Failure to anticipate seems to be on the increase, and it doesn't seem to cross people's minds to slow down. I had someone flash their lights at me last night as they pulled out to overtake a coach on a dual carriageway, after I'd indicated and overtaken them when they were a good 200 metres behind the coach. Did they think I was supposed to wait and let them out? I hadn't boxed them in, I wasn't speeding and the difference in my speed and theirs and that of the coach allowed plenty of time for me to pass safely. The rule of the vehicle behind having right of way doesn't appear to exist, but people seem to think you have to let them out first. And don't get me started on middle lane muppets on motorways who speed up and slow down will nilly.
Failure to anticipate seems to be on the increase, and it doesn't seem to cross people's minds to slow down.
I do think that people are blinkered in from getting from A to B. I too am a car driver and in my youth I was a bit on the accelerator but my brain has now taken over 
I agree that you should overtake where you can but not at the expense of safety. I don't care if people overtake with room and enough speed. Some drivers are scared to overtake (hence middle lane driving) and other who should calm it down. 15 seconds on a journey makes not difference etc.
People in life are not very self aware in or out the car and I think its a symptom of that?
Can't say I have noticed any appreciable deterioration in driving skills in general in the last 12 years of daily cycle commuting and general road riding. But I have noticed an increase in 'car driver's are all out to kill us' threads on here.
smell_it - prob as more commuters/road riders around these days as well as many more cars?
The worst are those who speed up as you try to overtake them.
prob as more commuters/road riders around these days as well as many more cars?
Aye, but this does not necessarily suggest a deterioration of skills, just increased incidents due to higher numbers. Who is to say cyclists aren't getting worse as well as drivers; I predict future carnage!
I nearly had a head on with a police van on Pitch Hill. He was trying to overtake a cyclist on a blind bend on a singletrack road with a queue of cars behind him. I had to drive up a banking to avoid him. He didn't even stop. He was going far too quickly to be able to stop without taking evasive action. If he had swerved to the left he would have flattened the cyclist. The cyclist had nowhere to go as the road has steep tall verges on both sides. Luckily he swerved towards me and I was going slowly enough to take evasive action and drive up the banking, almost rolling the car. Wish I had the chance to get his reg number.
I do try and avoid using the brakes within reason as it makes for good fuel economy, and is a mechanically sympathetic way to drive. This involves leaving plenty of room in front of you, driving at a speed appropriate for the conditions, and having a good sense of awareness and anticipation.
this
The other frustration about driving is this country is those people who don't want to overtake (no issue with this) but don't leave a gap for others to overtake
and this
when you overtake them and attempt to pull back in because something is coming the other way close the gap.
are my two pet hates on the road.
Also monospeeders do my biscuit in.
Or the drivers who sit right up your chuff, but won't overtake, even when you slow down to >30mph in a national.
What about the "you must brake when you are being over taken" knobbers.
Whats that about? I nearly clipped the back of someone the other week. Sitting well, in the right gear with a surplus of power, on a road i know well. Around a left hander theres a straight, mirror, indicate power on. I don't think my front wheel was over the white line before they hit the brakes. Why?? there was only about another 3/4 of a mile of clear road ahead........
I think the general standard of drivers is about the same as ever, but the void between the can and can't is getting bigger.
paul (1k miles a week for work)
Can everyone please relax
Is it any wonder there is so much rage on the road
You must log in to post.
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
