Driving, what a chore

Soldato
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I only started driving in 2007 and have noticed the vast increase in congestion through the years.

My journeys on average take double the time they would've done in the past. Not to mention the fact that the entire central belt of Scotland seems to be in roadwork chaos from the Forth road bridge right the way through to Glasgow and every surrounding town.

With the congestion increases comes higher likelihood of accidents and breakdowns; I was sat in traffic for 2 this morning, one old timer breaking down in a Jazz and one more serious accident with a white van. I don't even commute in rush hour!!

I moved to a town that's right on the edge of the motorway, close to everything you could possibly want within 15 minutes including my family. Do I get to these destinations in 15 minutes? Do I ****. I'd move to the countryside if I didn't need to be so close to the motorway.

/RANT

I can't be the only one who dreads the thought of getting into the car nowadays? I love(d) driving :(
 
5 minute commute (if traffic is bad), generally quiet and enjoyable A/B roads in all directions, all amenities close by along said enjoyable roads. Never a chore :) (except for trying to leave the local retail park which has one of the worst traffic light + mini roundabout layouts I've ever seen, it's rage inducing every single time)
 
I only started driving in 2007 and have noticed the vast increase in congestion through the years.

My journeys on average take double the time they would've done in the past. Not to mention the fact that the entire central belt of Scotland seems to be in roadwork chaos from the Forth road bridge right the way through to Glasgow and every surrounding town.

With the congestion increases comes higher likelihood of accidents and breakdowns; I was sat in traffic for 2 this morning, one old timer breaking down in a Jazz and one more serious accident with a white van. I don't even commute in rush hour!!

I moved to a town that's right on the edge of the motorway, close to everything you could possibly want within 15 minutes including my family. Do I get to these destinations in 15 minutes? Do I ****. I'd move to the countryside if I didn't need to be so close to the motorway.

/RANT

I can't be the only one who dreads the thought of getting into the car nowadays? I love(d) driving :(

Dunno, automatic, massaging seats, double glazing, HK sound system and distronic plus keep me pretty happy about any congestion on the road :)

:D
 
My 25 minute journey took an hour this morning because of traffic. It wouldn't be so bad if peoples driving standards were up to scratch... Things would flow better.
 
According to ONS, road traffic (vehicle miles) in year to June was 1.6% higher than in September 2007. So it is higher, but not massively higher.

Obviously, vehicle miles are not the only factor in congestion but the increase in traffic is dwarfed in proportional terms compared to increase in number of rail passengers for example.
 
Dunno, automatic, massaging seats, double glazing, HK sound system and distronic plus keep me pretty happy about any congestion on the road :)

:D

Yep, I have all the mod cons, too (maybe not massage seats - would heated do? :p ) it's more to do with wasting time sitting there staring at taillights for hours on end and not being able to actually enjoy the roads. :(
 
Yep, I have all the mod cons, too (maybe not massage seats - would heated do? :p ) it's more to do with wasting time sitting there staring at taillights for hours on end and not being able to actually enjoy the roads. :(

You live within a trivial distance of some of the most stunning and empty roads anywhere in the Western world.

Stop moaning :p
 
I only started driving in 2007 and have noticed the vast increase in congestion through the years.

My journeys on average take double the time they would've done in the past. Not to mention the fact that the entire central belt of Scotland seems to be in roadwork chaos from the Forth road bridge right the way through to Glasgow and every surrounding town.

With the congestion increases comes higher likelihood of accidents and breakdowns; I was sat in traffic for 2 this morning, one old timer breaking down in a Jazz and one more serious accident with a white van. I don't even commute in rush hour!!

I moved to a town that's right on the edge of the motorway, close to everything you could possibly want within 15 minutes including my family. Do I get to these destinations in 15 minutes? Do I ****. I'd move to the countryside if I didn't need to be so close to the motorway.

/RANT

I can't be the only one who dreads the thought of getting into the car nowadays? I love(d) driving :(

I drove from Fife to the midlands a couple of weeks ago, and the traffic around Glasgow, and Scotland in general is not in the same league as the traffic on the M6 on the way back, around Liverpool, Manchester, Stoke, Birmingham...
 
The M5 and M6 are plagued with long-term roadworks though, as they upgrade large sections to smart motorways.

Personally i don't think smart motorways will do a great deal, ok it's an extra lane, but the smart motorway at J8 of the M6 still gets snarled up with traffic.
 
[TW]Fox;30100590 said:
Driving isn't a chore with the right car.
I differ in opinion. Sitting in traffic as per OP is wasted time in which you can't be productive, no matter what the car.
 
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What, so it's awesome sitting in slow moving traffic or a traffic jam as long as you have the 'right car'?

Mmkay.

He said it isn't a chore. Sitting in traffic doesn't feel like a chore to me, it's not awesome but it's certainly not a chore :confused:

How did you manage to twist that so badly?
 
He said it isn't a chore. Sitting in traffic doesn't feel like a chore to me, it's not awesome but it's certainly not a chore :confused:

How did you manage to twist that so badly?

I didn't twist it, he just wrote something particularly illogical.

How can sitting in traffic on a daily, or near-daily basis not be a chore? The OP is clearly referring to not enjoying driving on his daily commute due to the bad traffic conditions, and I fail to see how to see he could drastically change that by having a different car.
 
I didn't twist it, he just wrote something particularly illogical.

How can sitting in traffic on a daily, or near-daily basis not be a chore? The OP is clearly referring to not enjoying driving on his daily commute due to the bad traffic conditions, and I fail to see how to see he could drastically change that by having a different car.

I feel very relaxed on my commute. I am fully isolated from anyone, I am extremely comfortable and I am left to reflect on the day or the day ahead without any distractions whatsoever.

As I don't plan to live where I work a commute is obligatory to me and instead of reflecting at home I can do it in the car for half an hour.
 
I feel very relaxed on my commute. I am fully isolated from anyone, I am extremely comfortable and I am left to reflect on the day or the day ahead without any distractions whatsoever.

As I don't plan to live where I work a commute is obligatory to me and instead of reflecting at home I can do it in the car for half an hour.

That's fantastic, thanks for the info.
 
That's fantastic, thanks for the info.

You did ask how it can not be a chore and got a suitable response.

In a way I used to like my longer commute for that same reason. It wouldn't be preferable to my current commute but I rarely, if ever, felt it was a chore.
 
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