Rant: People who leave it until the last possible moment to change lane

Imy · 17 Jul 2012 at 11:20

So this morning's incident which made me :mad:

a bit.

I'm sat behind a taxi at the traffic lights in the 2nd lane. The lights go green and everyone moves off. The speed limit is 40mph but the taxi refuses to go over 30mph and a large gap starts to form in front. Another car in the 1st lane is doing the same thing a little further back so this taxi now has a huge gap in both lanes in front/side of him. If he wants to be in the 1st lane now is an ideal time to move over.

He doesn't however and I do want to be in the 1st lane by the time I reach the next set of lights 500m up the road so I move over in plenty of time and speed up (undertaking the taxi).

I eventually start to come up to other cars in front, meanwhile the taxi driver speeds up and decides he's going to barge his way back in front of me. I've barely left a gap in front as all the traffic is slowing down and suddenly this taxi moves over causing me to slam on the brakes and half way into his maneuver he decides to indicate. I give him a long beep and he shares his thoughts on that as he goes past me later on.

TLDR - cut up by taxi who leaves it until the last minute to change lane

It's not this one instance really; this is happening nearly every day now on my commute in various places. On some roads in particular, a few cars will try to do it all at the same time and I've seen so many near misses from people who do it with no idea of what's around them.

I am of course talking about times when drivers aren't trying to overtake but simply daudle along then at the last second change lane whether there's a space there or not.

/rant (better here than road rage)

Liquid_Entity · 17 Jul 2012 at 11:27

Taxi drivers are a law un to themselves, much like women drivers and young drivers.

Linkex · 17 Jul 2012 at 11:30

Part of the issue is that if you do indicate, some people will close the gap to stop you getting in. Not saying this excuses it, but it may be the thinking behing the indicate after moving part.

phil675 · 17 Jul 2012 at 11:31

Spastics the lot of them.

Yesterday on the M1 coming up to the M69 junction which is always rammed, an Audi S6 managed to negotiate his way from the far lane, 4 lanes over to the near lane in one fell swoop, almost hitting 4 cars, and back to the second lane. Really what's the rush, once you're past the M69 slip road you can go as fast as you like.

Saint · 17 Jul 2012 at 11:33

My pet hate is the drivers who sit in the middle or the RHS of the A roads, which prevent you from going past... Oh and they all tend to do 40/50mph.

rhysduck · 17 Jul 2012 at 11:35

Why do people find it completely impossible to know what lane to be in approaching and getting to the roundabouts? :mad:

Idiots.

Phemo · 17 Jul 2012 at 11:38

Agreed. Yesterday I had an interesting one at a roundabout where I was first at lights in the left lane ready to take the next turnoff. There was a van in the right lane waiting and indicating right.

However despite his indicating right and being in completely the wrong lane he still pulled into the left lane directly in front of me - while still indicating right! Don't understand how people can find roundabouts confusing, especially those people who clearly rely on driving for their jobs.

Just a good thing I see this kind of thing pretty often so know not to boot it immediately as the lights go green. I always expect some retard is going to do something stupid.

Imy · 17 Jul 2012 at 11:42

Depends on the time of day also as to how much it may annoy me. During the morning commute I'm pretty certain the drivers know perfectly well which lane they need to be in at the end of the current stretch of road. They've done the journey hundreds of times before and it's usually the same cars I see doing it. Then a few more join in, then a few more and gradually over time some junctions become massive hazards in the morning rush hour.

Trying to save fuel by driving slowly and at the same time being allergic to being overtaken is not really a good mix but something I see far too often nowadays

jas72 · 17 Jul 2012 at 11:51

rhysduck said:
Why do people find it completely impossible to know what lane to be in approaching and getting to the roundabouts?

Idiots.

hehe don't come to Belgium then.

There are two rules on Belgian roundabouts.

1st is if you are on a dual carriageway and you both get to the round about at the same time it is customary to cut up the person on the inside lane. This shows you are an Alpha male and you are faster away from a dead stop.

2nd once you are on the inside lane stay there! Do not under any circumstanes change lane or use your indicator when exiting.

If you obey these rules you'll be fine on Belgian roundabouts.

Another pastime is never to use the exit lanes on motorways just wait until 50 yards from the end of the exit lane to get from fast lane to the exit, cutting people up who are actually using the exit lane gets you bonus points.

Phemo · 17 Jul 2012 at 12:00

Can't say I've had any major problems driving in Belgium yet

I guess I've been lucky. In fact on the whole I've found general driving and lane discipline there is better than here, but they're still the odd few morons as you'd expect. That said, I've not really dealt with that many roundabouts there so it's probably only a matter of time.

Housey · 17 Jul 2012 at 12:04

The M1 is the worst coming North each night around rush hour. I spend my time in the inside lane and make so much progress it's unbelievable others don't see it, legally and without zooming in an out of gaps. People don't seem to appreciate that without proper lane control on a motorway they are restricting it's flow by 1/3 if people don't 'flow' around them.

Frozennova · 17 Jul 2012 at 12:06

I have a issue with being cut up on a particular roundabout about half a mile from my house.

The roundabout in question is marked left lane for turning left, right hand lane for straight over, however almost daily I come across some numpty that fails to read road markings and makes assumptions.

They usually look at me as if I'm the one in the wrong as well to top it off.

phil675 · 17 Jul 2012 at 13:35

People who go in the left lane but go all the way around to take the right exit make me rage.

Draeger · 17 Jul 2012 at 15:09

Natural selection will sorts these muppets out. It may take some considerable time but it happens eventually.

It all comes down to peoples attitude nowadays in relation to every facet of life including road use. Many people are simply ignorant, arrogant and couldn't care less about any other road user. That's it, plain and simple. Driving standards and attitudes to fellow road users are at absolute rock bottom these days.

ManLoveRulesOK said:
They usually look at me as if I'm the one in the wrong as well to top it off.

Apart from this lot - they are just plain thick and should really be pitied.

markweatherill · 17 Jul 2012 at 16:00

Well, once you're inside your car, who doesn't feel like the world revolves round them and they're going to demonstrate that fact at every opportunity? :mad:

Haggisman · 17 Jul 2012 at 16:05

Imy said:
I'm sat behind a taxi

I believe I have identified the cause of your problem sir.

Draeger · 17 Jul 2012 at 16:10

markweatherill said:
Well, once you're inside your car, who doesn't feel like the world revolves round them and they're going to demonstrate that fact at every opportunity?

Agreed, you used to hear something similar getting mentioned now and again, drivers being inside their own personal space inside their little metal cage, bubble, call it what you will and therefore feel like it's their own small moving area on the road and no one, no one dare get too close to it or by god they are going to fight tooth and nail for it.

But that has evolved and it's grown to be more than this now. It's just pure ignorance and a 'couldn't care about anyone else' mindset. As I already alluded to, it's present in all facets of life - pedestrians, drivers, cyclists as far as road users are concerned but it reaches deeper into everyday life too. You know the ones I mean - the people who block aisles in the supermarket and shoot you a sideways glance with disdain as you attempt to squeeze by but still don't bother to step aside to allow you to pass will undoubtedly drive/ride their chosen mode of transport in a similar, selfish and arrogant manner. :cool:

Hxc · 17 Jul 2012 at 16:11

People in Bristol are totally unable to use roundabouts. I swear to god.

BloodlessDawn · 17 Jul 2012 at 16:30

Pet hate = The people who cruise at 58mph, then when you go to overtake they speed up to stop you, causing you to actually need to get nearer 80mph before making any headway.

phil675 said:
People who go in the left lane but go all the way around to take the right exit make me rage.

100% agreed. That happens far too much near where I live. >_<
On the flip side; people who use the right hand lane to go straight across drive me up the wall (pun somewhat intended)...
The number of times I've had to beep both these types of drivers is ridiculous.

Basically, it's just people who use the wrong lanes for... anything?
If the lane says go straight over - then great! Do that. But if you're in a lane that says "Right Turn Only" and you try to go straight over? So help me god - I will have my vengeance.

It's like they actually want to kill someone by driving horrendously...

Barry_H · 17 Jul 2012 at 16:40

Draeger said:
the people who block aisles in the supermarket and shoot you a sideways glance with disdain as you attempt to squeeze by but still don't bother to step aside to allow you to pass will undoubtedly drive/ride their chosen mode of transport in a similar, selfish and arrogant manner.

I find that people get their act together, after bashed shins from your trolley.