Your bad driving encounters/irritations

[Rroff]

Yeah I agree that getting stuck behind someone doing 30-40 on NSL roads is annoying. But equally annoying are the B road tailgaters who think NSL means 60 is a target. Not saying this would be your friend.

This Looks like the typical B road with up to 60 being more of wishful thinking than reality. On the longer straights, yes but on the twisty bits not. So for me it’s more likely from 50 - 60 and slowing to 40 or less on the blind corners. This gives me a reasonable chance of picking up a tailgating moron.

I’m not slowing on those blind corners because my car can’t handle it, but because far too many times I have suddenly been faced with one or more of.

- Pedestrians
- Cyclists
- Farm traffic
- Oncoming traffic

I've no idea as to the standard of their driving - all I've ever seen of it is when they arrive or leave - but they are a stickler for the rules so probably do exactly what the highway code says to a T. I wouldn't hold back from criticising those who drive too quickly and tailgate people either personally.

Their route is a mixture of out of town A and B roads either side of there - with lots of open long sections as well as twisty bits - I drive the B3145 leg of it regularly and you won't be doing much more than 40 along that bit anyhow.

 

[ICDP]

Sounds like how most sensible people approach these B roads. I was trying to remember the last time I was on a rural B road and didn’t encounter one of the things I listed. I find the number of cyclists encountered rises exponentially with every coffee shop on that route.

 

[Rroff]

I was trying to remember the last time I was on a rural B road and didn’t encounter one of the things I listed.

Ultimately it is about using the correct speed for the limit and conditions - and I'm not going to criticise someone for going slowly if they aren't familiar with especially these kind of roads where you can have all kinds of things hidden around the next bend. But personally I have a very low opinion of people who won't do a best effort to make progress especially as I know many of them if the boot is on the other foot will be the first ones complaining if they are being held up. The funny thing was how worked up my acquaintance was about it as they are usually a very calm, formal, kind of person. (EDIT: I'm not 100% but I think it is the first time they've done any kind of regular real distance driving, that I'm aware of they mostly just do a couple of miles across town).

 

[Infidelus]

I'm aware of that however there are just over 51 million registered drivers in the UK so every 2 years, let's say that's half of that every year updating their licence records with updated sight tests.

Updating 21.5 million records yearly would be a monumental task, if you only took off xmas/boxing/ny's day that's over 70,000 records per day.

As mentioned by @ICDP:

That’s also why new government legislation mandates that opticians must tell the DVLA of any individual who fails an eye test with a serious eye condition.

I am making an assumption, but I presume this will be an automated system where there will be a portal for opticians to do this so the information is automatically there and flagged to DVLA when somebody fails an eye test. I can't see how they would do it even just for the over 70s otherwise. There again, consecutive governments have proven useless at pretty much everything they do so who knows.

 

[ICDP]

As mentioned by @ICDP:

I am making an assumption, but I presume this will be an automated system where there will be a portal for opticians to do this so the information is automatically there and flagged to DVLA when somebody fails an eye test. I can't see how they would do it even just for the over 70s otherwise. There again, consecutive governments have proven useless at pretty much everything they do so who knows.

I think resident is stuck in some bygone era where all this was a manual paper based process. In actuality it will be an automated system but would need to be setup with scripting etc. So your Optician software database will be setup to auto update a DVLA database tied to a unique ID.

It’s a fairly mundane setup and take almost zero admin once setup.

I work in a large NHS Trust IT department and we are forever integrating new systems.

 

[Siliconslave]

Had a very close bad driving encounter the other weekend when my 80 year of father in law managed to crash into our house

So yes, now 100% behind mandatory re-testing of people over a certain age. To be honest its partly our fault, we should have tried to get him off the road ages ago. He's been a liability driving for a long time, complaining about how all the drivers on the roads are idiots while pulling out in front of people, drifting between lanes and swerving around while messing with his sat nav

Took him to the garage to get a new tyre fitted and when we got back in the car to leave he put the automatic gearbox into drive rather than reverse, jerked towards the poor mechanic who nearly crapped himself, before trying neutral then drive.

After an interesting drive back to my house he parked in the drive and while I went inside he started messing around with the car. Somehow he reversed into a fence post then in a panic (??) put it in drive and floored it, he managed to drive about 15 meters through a 2m hawthorn hedge, curved right through 90 degrees and ran into the front of our house
Three weeks later and he's getting the car back and we've still got a hole in the front of the house, covered in plywood, and months of building work to look forward to - sure the insurance will pay for it but we've got to manage the damn thing, getting quotes for all the work etc.

In the mean time the rest of the family are refusing to get in the (courtesy) car until he gets an older driver assessment - but he's completely oblivious to the damage hes done and that hes really done anything wrong, still thinks hes a fine driver, it was just that his foot slipped - no recognition that he just didn't react in any way for around 15 seconds (we have video from the CCTV and dash cam)

 

[Shadowness]

Seems like indicating is becoming less and less of a thing these days. I don't mind it on big round abouts etc where it's pretty obvious where someone is going, but the little mini round abouts. Of even when you're waiting to turn out of a junction, and someone just turns in on that junction without bothering. Really doesn't take much effort!

 

[Haggisman]

In the mean time the rest of the family are refusing to get in the (courtesy) car until he gets an older driver assessment - but he's completely oblivious to the damage hes done and that hes really done anything wrong, still thinks hes a fine driver, it was just that his foot slipped - no recognition that he just didn't react in any way for around 15 seconds (we have video from the CCTV and dash cam)

Wow, if you can't get the keys off them, then I'd be telling them in no uncertain terms that they've got 24 hours to self-report to the DVLA or you're going to do it:

GOV.UK - Drivers Medical

contact.dvla.gov.uk

It's only a matter of time before they kill or seriously injure someone driving like that!

Seems like indicating is becoming less and less of a thing these days. I don't mind it on big round abouts etc where it's pretty obvious where someone is going, but the little mini round abouts. Of even when you're waiting to turn out of a junction, and someone just turns in on that junction without bothering. Really doesn't take much effort!

These people need to be shot. Along with those who cut corners, forcing you to emergency brake when approaching a give way line

 

[ICDP]

Had a very close bad driving encounter the other weekend when my 80 year of father in law managed to crash into our house

So yes, now 100% behind mandatory re-testing of people over a certain age. To be honest its partly our fault, we should have tried to get him off the road ages ago. He's been a liability driving for a long time, complaining about how all the drivers on the roads are idiots while pulling out in front of people, drifting between lanes and swerving around while messing with his sat nav

Took him to the garage to get a new tyre fitted and when we got back in the car to leave he put the automatic gearbox into drive rather than reverse, jerked towards the poor mechanic who nearly crapped himself, before trying neutral then drive.

After an interesting drive back to my house he parked in the drive and while I went inside he started messing around with the car. Somehow he reversed into a fence post then in a panic (??) put it in drive and floored it, he managed to drive about 15 meters through a 2m hawthorn hedge, curved right through 90 degrees and ran into the front of our house
Three weeks later and he's getting the car back and we've still got a hole in the front of the house, covered in plywood, and months of building work to look forward to - sure the insurance will pay for it but we've got to manage the damn thing, getting quotes for all the work etc.

In the mean time the rest of the family are refusing to get in the (courtesy) car until he gets an older driver assessment - but he's completely oblivious to the damage hes done and that hes really done anything wrong, still thinks hes a fine driver, it was just that his foot slipped - no recognition that he just didn't react in any way for around 15 seconds (we have video from the CCTV and dash cam)

That is diabolical and frankly needs to be taken beyond the asking stage. He might kill someone and needs to be stopped from driving. How will you feel if that were to happen?

Sorry if that sounds harsh but we had the same conversation recently about my wife’s mother, she keeps getting more scrapes “she never knew about” and her clearly impaired decision making while driving is shockingly bad. Even when she is a passenger she is pure panic just when another car comes near. My wife and I of course worry about her feeling isolated since her husband died a few years back.

But I pointed out that this is a selfish motive to let her keep driving. We don’t even like her driving our son home from school. If we won’t let her even chance driving our child then that is proof enough we are avoiding our obligations.

I feel your pain and totally empathise.

 

[jpaul]

In the mean time the rest of the family are refusing to get in the (courtesy) car until he gets an older driver assessment

will that be a driving instructor too ?

I'm willing to accept constructive criticism of my driving from parents, but the reverse doesn't seem true - becomes offended.
with bigger width of (oncoming) cars on the , road positioning and lack of assertiveness (compromising safety & allowing them to take too large a share of the road) , plus being in the right gear for safely negotiating
road bends are the most frustrating, some of which is not paying attention -
however I console myself when you see other younger drivers with same flaws.

 

[Siliconslave]

That is diabolical and frankly needs to be taken beyond the asking stage. He might kill someone and needs to be stopped from driving. How will you feel if that were to happen?
...
I feel your pain and totally empathise.

I totally agree, but its not the easiest thing to do in practice, they live nearly 200 miles away and as much as we can push, and report it seems to still be completely voluntary. I agree, he shouldn't be on the road any more, certainly not in a stupidly oversized volvo tank, but he won't listen and more worryingly doesn't think theres anything wrong. He's only agreed to the testing thing because hes not allowed to drive the (more local) grandchildren around, but i'm certainly not getting in the car with him again!

will that be a driving instructor too ?

I'm willing to accept constructive criticism of my driving from parents, but the reverse doesn't seem true - becomes offended.

Sister in law is sorting that side of things thankfully, but sounds like its with a specialist who can get their licence revoked if they fail which will be interesting.
Completely agree on the criticism thing, we all make mistakes and could be better, but the total lack of self awareness and unwillingness to take advise is insane

PS - was talking to my hairdresser about it this morning, she reported her Dad to the DVLA about 2 months ago as he has dementia and won't quit driving, they are still sitting on it and apparently haven't even contacted his GP for a medical opinion

 

[Resident]

That is diabolical and frankly needs to be taken beyond the asking stage. He might kill someone and needs to be stopped from driving. How will you feel if that were to happen?

We had a similar situation with my grandad. TBH it didn't take long, once reported, for him to be called in and he failed the cognitive tests and didn't get out of the car park on the practical side

Sister in law is sorting that side of things thankfully, but sounds like its with a specialist who can get their licence revoked if they fail which will be interesting.
Completely agree on the criticism thing, we all make mistakes and could be better, but the total lack of self awareness and unwillingness to take advise is insane

It's generally done by ROSPA and the revokation is immediate if they decide they can no longer drive.

 

[Richie]

*sigh* - I remember the good 'ol days where, if a mistake was made, the person who made the mistake apologised (hand up or similar obvious gesture) and everyone went on about their business. Now, it appears that "the best form of defence is attack" has taken hold and "apologies" take the form of 2 finger salutes or the ****** sign from the person making the mistake

EDIT: I didnt realise ****** (colloquial term for five finger shuffle) was censored.

 

[ICDP]

*sigh* - I remember the good 'ol days where, if a mistake was made, the person who made the mistake apologised (hand up or similar obvious gesture) and everyone went on about their business. Now, it appears that "the best form of defence is attack" has taken hold and "apologies" take the form of 2 finger salutes or the ****** sign from the person making the mistake

EDIT: I didnt realise ****** (colloquial term for five finger shuffle) was censored.

I have been driving 27 years and have always remembered this as typical driver behaviour. I even remember as a young kid watching Dave Allen do a stand up routine about how people totally transform from courteous and polite to aggressive morons when they get behind the wheel of a car.

I genuinely wonder if it’s pure revisionism that people think driving was always much nicer and friendlier back in the day. It’s just not my recollection at all.

 

[Richie]

I genuinely wonder if it’s pure revisionism that people think driving was always much nicer and friendlier back in the day. It’s just not my recollection at all.

Your recollection of your personal lived experiences and mine appear to be different, which is fine... But why are yours correct and mine are "pure revisionism" ?

 

[Rroff]

I've had my license nearly 25 years, did a lot of road trips with my parents - so going back about 40 years or so to my earliest memories of them, I don't remember it being significantly different at least in that time frame.

I remember several instances as a kid of aggressive and egotistical old drivers doing the 40MPH everywhere thing and getting mad if you overtook them.

 

[ICDP]

You do realise the word wonder implies “doubt”. I was not making a statement of fact, just “wondering” if people’s memories are as robust as they believe them to be.

 

[Rroff]

One of the big reasons behind why I got a dashcam was encountering stuff like this driving at night:

E-scooter rider died after riding on Newport dual carriageway in dark

The crash happened as the rider travelled down the middle of the lane on the dual carriageway.

www.bbc.co.uk

I don't think some people appreciate just how hard sometimes it can be to spot cyclists sometimes in the dark even when driving cautiously within stopping distance of what you can see in your headlights and just how mind boggling it is people will regularly ride in the dark with dark clothing and poor lighting, sure sometimes people might get caught out and not have hi-vis or whatever to hand, usually due to lazy complacency, but that doesn't change the circumstances.

 

[theone8181]

Wow, if you can't get the keys off them, then I'd be telling them in no uncertain terms that they've got 24 hours to self-report to the DVLA or you're going to do it:

GOV.UK - Drivers Medical

contact.dvla.gov.uk

It's only a matter of time before they kill or seriously injure someone driving like that!



These people need to be shot. Along with those who cut corners, forcing you to emergency brake when approaching a give way line

I've noticed people cutting the corners of junctions which is especially fun when you are pulling up to turn right.

 

[ICDP]

I've had my license nearly 25 years, did a lot of road trips with my parents - so going back about 40 years or so to my earliest memories of them, I don't remember it being significantly different at least in that time frame.

I remember several instances as a kid of aggressive and egotistical old drivers doing the 40MPH everywhere thing and getting mad if you overtook them.

Yeah, something similar here. I may “only” be driving 27 years and that includes my driving lessons, when I first started experiencing road rage directed at me. I suspect what Richie (and others) are seeing, is the fact there are a lot more cars on the road compared to any time before about 2000

1995: ~22 million
2000: ~27 million
2005: ~29 million
2010: ~31 million

2024: ~34 million

So an increase of angry motorists from 1995 - 2025 by about 50%. So I guess @Richie has a point, but people aren’t angrier, there’s just more of them.

I live in N. Ireland and with “only” 1.3 million cars on the road it may simply be less likely to run into angry people so often.

I was getting a Pod Point installed last month and the technician was a guy called Tim from the south east of England. He was commenting how much lighter traffic jams are here and how he thinks it makes life so much less stressful here and people are just more relaxed about life. He laughed when I said that on the worst days it takes me 1 hour to drive 18 miles to work. “3 hours to move a few miles on the M6 is a regular occurrence” was his response.