Britains Motorists - mostly stupid?

merlin · 9 Jan 2007 at 13:59

A survey carried out by a Broker reported the following :-

Britains drivers are woefully unprepared for driving in extreme weather.

The research found that UK's drivers were a danger to themselves when driving in poor conditions.

The survey revealed a startling lack of awareness: for example, some thought an electric mains battery charger would be of more use whilst stuck in a snow drift as warm clothing (where would you plug it into)?

Other findings included 15% of motorists have never driven in snow. Amongst 18 to 24 year olds that figure rose to 23%.

25% of drivers believed that in extreme heat, an overheated engine could be cooled down by turning the aircon on.

When driving through deep water 1 in five drivers said they would prefer to reverse through it, drive through it as quickly as possible or stop frequently to check the brakes were still ok.

1CE · 9 Jan 2007 at 14:01

merlin said:
25% of drivers believed that in extreme heat, an overheated engine could be cooled down by turning the aircon on.

LOL

Doesn't suprise me at all tbh!

Firestar_3x · 9 Jan 2007 at 14:07

I don't see anything wrong with those views tbh......

Hawk Tuah · 9 Jan 2007 at 14:09

When driving through deep water 1 in five drivers said they would prefer to reverse through it, drive through it as quickly as possible or stop frequently to check the brakes were still ok.

Why wouldn't you waste the opportunity of a free car wash. There's nothing like splashing a deep puddle so hard your entire car gets engulfed in the splash.

I do agree however than most motorists are quite naive. People learn to drive. They aren't taught anything about how the machine itself works.

Others are just thick.

branddaly · 9 Jan 2007 at 14:09

merlin said:
Other findings included 15% of motorists have never driven in snow. Amongst 18 to 24 year olds that figure rose to 23%.

And how can we be blamed for that? it doesn't snow very often.

Hawk Tuah · 9 Jan 2007 at 14:14

Plus its quite a glass is a half empty argument. You could also say that 85% of drivers have experienced snow driving, 4 out of 5 drivers knew how to tackly a deep puddle, 75% knew that aircon creates more heat in the engine bay, and apart from a few morons, most people knew that warm clothing was important if you're stuck in a snow drift.

agw_01 · 9 Jan 2007 at 14:20

lol

Saying that, some of the drivers I come across have absolutely no awareness in good weather so I'd hate to be around them in extreme conditions?

MrMatteh · 9 Jan 2007 at 14:31

...

as well as correct light usage, lane discipline and speed

ShakenNstirred · 9 Jan 2007 at 16:04

MrMatteh said:
...

as well as correct light usage, lane discipline and speed

yeah, I'm still seeing people driving around with there fog lights on after the fog we had a few weeks ago, to stupid to remember to turn them off

[TW]Fox · 9 Jan 2007 at 16:11

Most drivers are indeed stupid. Simply look at the gormless expression on most peoples faces as they sit in their Hyundai Getz's in traffic and you can tell.

Haircut · 9 Jan 2007 at 16:16

[TW]Fox said:
Most drivers are indeed stupid. Simply look at the gormless expression on most peoples faces as they sit in their Hyundai Getz's in traffic and you can tell.

The fact that they bought a Hyundai Getz should be evidence enough in those cases

Diesel · 9 Jan 2007 at 16:24

Haircut said:
The fact that they bought a Hyundai Getz should be evidence enough in those cases

I got my head bitten off on another forum for suggesting that buying a brand new Hyundai Getz wasn't perhaps the best thing to do with your money!

MrMatteh · 9 Jan 2007 at 16:24

i had someone the other day give way to me when they were on a roundabout...

there was no traffic either

:confused:

Nazbit · 9 Jan 2007 at 16:25

Thats epic

I can beleive it 100% though, which is a little worrying

hominid · 9 Jan 2007 at 16:47

I managed to cool my Fiat Uno down in slow moving traffic on the motorway on the hottest day of the year in 1996 by switching on the heater full blast. It wasn't comfortable for me but the car survived ok.

Not sure about Aircon though, but for people that have had older cars this is not a totally ridiculous responce to the question.

Moeks · 9 Jan 2007 at 16:55

hominid said:
Not sure about Aircon though, but for people that have had older cars this is not a totally ridiculous responce to the question.

Yes it is, the aircon uses some engine power to operate, the engine actually works harder when the aircon is operating, hence why fuel consumption increases when the aircon is on. It's a totally stupid answer, given by the usual sort of illogical, dumbass morons who aimlessly meander around our streets in their 'carefully chosen' 4 wheeled mediocrity-mobiles. Grrr, ./takes a sip of tea and holds the rant in.

It's not just most drivers though, it strikes me that 'most' people are just stupid. Don't let this offend anyone here though, OcUK is very much frequented by intelligent, thinking individuals not the usual gormless morons that are slowly but surely dragging down our once great nation.

AtomicBanana · 9 Jan 2007 at 17:09

I think most of that's a fair assumption (of how stupid the majority of people are) but I must agree the snow one seems harsh. I've only driven in snow once - I've not really been given much safe opportunity

Mr_Sukebe · 9 Jan 2007 at 17:12

Have to say that I'm not sure that people are simply morons (well some are, but that's a different discussion). My personal view is a serious issue with their ability to be "polite". For which read:
"I don't need to obey lane discipline, others can get stuffed"
"I'll sit in the middle of this box junction stopping you turning, cos I don't care"
"I like annoying you with my horn after you've cut me up, even though I couldn't be bothered to use it before hand to warn you that I was here"
"I don't care if you get blinded because I can't be bothered to turn off my fogs"

Jonny ///M · 9 Jan 2007 at 17:15

Moeks said:
Yes it is, the aircon uses some engine power to operate, the engine actually works harder when the aircon is operating, hence why fuel consumption increases when the aircon is on. It's a totally stupid answer, given by the usual sort of illogical, dumbass morons who aimlessly meander around our streets in their 'carefully chosen' 4 wheeled mediocrity-mobiles. Grrr, ./takes a sip of tea and holds the rant in.

It's not just most drivers though, it strikes me that 'most' people are just stupid. Don't let this offend anyone here though, OcUK is very much frequented by intelligent, thinking individuals not the usual gormless morons that are slowly but surely dragging down our once great nation.

Shoot me down for being wrong....but does having the heater on draw heat from the engine cooling bits....like the engine provides the heat so if your cooling down a radiator surely that gonna help somewhat in cooling the engine? Or is it just too little that the engine working harder negatest the point?

Moeks · 9 Jan 2007 at 17:29

Jonny ///M said:
Shoot me down for being wrong....but does having the heater on draw heat from the engine cooling bits....like the engine provides the heat so if your cooling down a radiator surely that gonna help somewhat in cooling the engine? Or is it just too little that the engine working harder negatest the point?

Yea, the heater uses engine heat, thus using the heater could indeed cool the engine down a bit. I've never actually heard of anyone doing this but in theory it seems plausible, hominid said he's done it anyway.

Britains Motorists - mostly stupid?

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