Drivers Today, Do you notice a deterioration in standards? Options

[peri busy]

OK, call me old fashioned.... but I think the standard of driver today is generally poor OR I must have been in a coma when the government changed the rules of the road.

A selection of my latest examples... ok?

Give way = drive on, at a snail's pace, forcing the free flowing traffic on the main road to break heavily - then continue on merrily at 20 mph. This works really well at a split junction or a crossroads.

National speed limit = maximum 40 mph here folks - the longer the queue behind you the better, and the longer you can hold the queue gets you bonus points too!

Indicators = eh??????

Roundabouts = (IMG:style_emoticons/default/blink.gif) don't care what I do so long as I get off where I want to

Pedestrian crossings = aren't those stripey decorations pretty - what's that woman with the pram looking at me like that for?

Dual carrigeways = this is as much fun as bumper cars folks (indicators?)

Parking bays = Ah sure, just use as many spaces as you like, crooked parking is fashionable, and a trophy score down the next vehicle will do nicely too.

Disabled Parking Bays = Free parking!!!!!!! And not far to walk my perfectly healthy b**ks**e into the offlicence.

Seatbelts and Child Car restraints = they are for nerds. My two year old can get a much better view of the ditch when I crash - which won't be my fault of course.

Mobile phones = I trained with the russian circus in how to steer my car blindfolded, whilest reciting poetry and with just my pinky finger on the wheel! IIIII can multitask!

So a few of what appear to be the modern rules of the road here.

Feel free to add on your own.

[Car Expert]

Middle lane hogs (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif)

Vehicles who indicate to move into your lane on the right on a motorway when you're about to overtake it

Lorries who overtake on a dual carriageway up a hill (even though one may be 2mph faster than the other), causing a long queue of cars in the outside lane

Car Expert

[SarahSax1986]

My biggest beef is with those who don't indicate and then swurve to hit you/beep/hand gesture/shout abuse/give dirty looks when you cross the road (IMG:style_emoticons/default/dry.gif)

[Oddball]

I've heard they're thinking of upping the hours spent with an instructor to 120 hours - I don't know how true this is, but if it is, that's an awful lot of money...but then, hopefully it'll raise the standards a bit. Maybe.

[superpyroman]

I've heard they're thinking of upping the hours spent with an instructor to 120 hours - I don't know how true this is, but if it is, that's an awful lot of money...but then, hopefully it'll raise the standards a bit. Maybe.

What be the current rule?

[Car Expert]

Just thought of a couple of others:

People who leave their indicator on without realising

Drivers who hold a map in their lap whilst driving (like I saw one middle lane hog do last weekend (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif))

Car Expert

[nicki_flute]

I've heard they're thinking of upping the hours spent with an instructor to 120 hours - I don't know how true this is, but if it is, that's an awful lot of money...but then, hopefully it'll raise the standards a bit. Maybe.

Yes, my instructor also told me they were thinking of doing something like that...I think that's how it is in Europe, where in some countries the driving test includes motorways and you have to have at least 50 hours or something.

To be honest, yes there are bad drivers, but I don't think you can stigmatise a certain group (not saying you are), as I seem to come across bad drivers of all ages, both male and female.

I think changing the driving test might not necessarily help, it's just like passing through hoops and I know plenty of people who drive really badly despite passing their tests...

[Robodoc]

A couple of old quotes:

Q Who has right of way at a roundabout?
A ME!!!

Q What do two white lines down the middle of the road mean?
A A challenge!!

[Oddball]

I've heard they're thinking of upping the hours spent with an instructor to 120 hours - I don't know how true this is, but if it is, that's an awful lot of money...but then, hopefully it'll raise the standards a bit. Maybe.

What be the current rule?

Your instructor takes you through the practical and theory. You take your theory test first, and if you pass, you can take your practical test: your instructor will let you know when you are ready. If you then pass the practical, that's it...

[nicki_flute]

Yes, there isn't a fixed number of hours. Theoretically you don't even need to have had any lessons...

[Oddball]

No, my mate Barney had about 3 lessons, did his theory, then took his practical the next week. Passed first time, 1 minor. Though he'd driven before.

[Trebor]

Middle lane hogs (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif)

We're lazy. If we're in the middle lane doing 70 (ish), then you can't really complain...

[Scaramouche]

Middle lane hogs (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif)

Hard not to sometimes. When one is on a motorway, the vehicles on the inside lane are doing about 50-60mph, ones in the outside lane are flying miles past the speed limit. Where are the vehicles wanting to stick to the speed limit supposed to go?

Vehicles who indicate to move into your lane on the right on a motorway when you're about to overtake it

What is wrong with that? There may be a gap after the overtaking car and the vehicle is indicating for the benefit of the drivers behind.

[jennthesaxplayer]

OK, call me old fashioned.... but I think the standard of driver today is generally poor OR I must have been in a coma when the government changed the rules of the road.

A selection of my latest examples... ok?

Give way = drive on, at a snail's pace, forcing the free flowing traffic on the main road to break heavily - then continue on merrily at 20 mph. This works really well at a split junction or a crossroads.

National speed limit = maximum 40 mph here folks - the longer the queue behind you the better, and the longer you can hold the queue gets you bonus points too!

Indicators = eh??????

Roundabouts = (IMG:style_emoticons/default/blink.gif) don't care what I do so long as I get off where I want to

Pedestrian crossings = aren't those stripey decorations pretty - what's that woman with the pram looking at me like that for?

Dual carrigeways = this is as much fun as bumper cars folks (indicators?)

Parking bays = Ah sure, just use as many spaces as you like, crooked parking is fashionable, and a trophy score down the next vehicle will do nicely too.

Disabled Parking Bays = Free parking!!!!!!! And not far to walk my perfectly healthy b**ks**e into the offlicence.

Seatbelts and Child Car restraints = they are for nerds. My two year old can get a much better view of the ditch when I crash - which won't be my fault of course.

Mobile phones = I trained with the russian circus in how to steer my car blindfolded, whilest reciting poetry and with just my pinky finger on the wheel! IIIII can multitask!

So a few of what appear to be the modern rules of the road here.

Feel free to add on your own.

I failed my Driving Test first time! Call it unlucky, but I DESERVED to fail. It did me good! I could manuover a car, but it was lack of experience and rushing to where I wanted to be, is what I failed on.

As for the rules, I reckon they are as up-to-date as they need to be, with increasing traffic etc. If anything, the roads need to be better in turn for driving standards to improve.

[nicki_flute]

No, my mate Barney had about 3 lessons, did his theory, then took his practical the next week. Passed first time, 1 minor. Though he'd driven before.

Woah (IMG:style_emoticons/default/blink.gif)