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

[willobie]

Someone told me that they plan to extend the length of the driving test to an hour... (IMG:style_emoticons/default/blink.gif)

[Car Expert]

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...

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?

All vehicles should always keep to the inside lane unless they are overtaking (Highway Code). By all means, overtake the vehicles doing 50-60mph, but then you should go back onto the inside lane. Hogging the middle lane causes congestion and encourages undertaking. People don't realise that just because their speedometer says they're doing 70mph doesn't mean they actually are! When cars are tested, there are quite a range of actual speeds (e.g. 65-77mph) at which the car is actually travelling.

Car Expert

[BusyBee]

People don't realise that just because their speedometer says they're doing 70mph doesn't mean they actually are! When cars are tested, there are quite a range of actual speeds (e.g. 65-77mph) at which the car is actually travelling.
Car Expert

How do we know what speed we are travelling at then if the speedo doesn't match? It is confusing as sometimes our local roads have those emoticons which flash our approaching speed and show either a (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) or a (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif) (smileys obviously moonlighting from the AB forums on the quiet)! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)

When I thought I was doing a 30 or 40 mph they show a speed like 28 or 37mph. I suppose we naturally slow down a bit when we sneak a look at the speedo.

P.S. Motorway lorries should definitely stay in the Left lane and not be allowed to overtake - they end up two abreast in the Left and middle lane for miles because one can't get past the other. Utter chaos and stress for us car drivers. Here is an (IMG:style_emoticons/default/angry.gif) for tailgaters as well.

[Trebor]

All vehicles should always keep to the inside lane unless they are overtaking (Highway Code). By all means, overtake the vehicles doing 50-60mph, but then you should go back onto the inside lane. Hogging the middle lane causes congestion and encourages undertaking. People don't realise that just because their speedometer says they're doing 70mph doesn't mean they actually are! When cars are tested, there are quite a range of actual speeds (e.g. 65-77mph) at which the car is actually travelling.

So? If you're going faster than the inside lane, every half minute you have to move to the middle lane, overtake and then move in again. Which is surely much more annoying to everyone than if you stay in the middle lane allowing cars to overtake you on the right, and you to overtake lorries or caravans. I've never seen a situation where a middle-lane "hogger" has caused a particular problem...

[jacobvaneyck]

If you think it's bad here you should go to Italy. Crossings are literally decorations on the road. Nothing else. And everyone has a bump in their car.

[YetAnotherPianist]

Italy is quite manic for traffic. I was in a coach once in a traffic jam, and saw a car mount the pavement entirely to try and skip the queue; unfortunately, a bus stop got in his way (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif).

I don't think middle-lane drivers are too bad on busy motorways where pulling out is difficult and less general manœuvring increases predictability, reduces the likelihood of an accident etc. However, we do most of our motorway driving on the M74 when it's quiet - where one can drive along at 70 in the inside lane without seeing another car for a mile or so, other than the one which is 100m ahead sat in the middle lane (IMG:style_emoticons/default/blink.gif).

Just found this (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif):

http://www.lum.co.uk/mloc/index.html

[Trebor]

However, we do most of our motorway driving on the M74 when it's quiet - where one can drive along at 70 in the inside lane without seeing another car for a mile or so, other than the one which is 100m ahead sat in the middle lane (IMG:style_emoticons/default/blink.gif).

But then because the roads are empty that car's hardly causing any disruption. Yes, they may as well (and should) drift over to the left, but the fact they're not doesn't make any difference. Which is why I don't really care about them: if it's busy, them pulling in and out is far more annoying than staying put; if it isn't, then the annoyance they cause is minimal. In my humble opinion.

[YetAnotherPianist]

I'm not saying they're annoying, it just looks a bit silly (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif).

[Trebor]

I'm not saying they're annoying, it just looks a bit silly (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif).

Ah yes, doubtlessly (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

[willobie]

Someone told me that they plan to extend the length of the driving test to an hour... (IMG:style_emoticons/default/blink.gif)

Has anyone else heard this - or is my friend getting himself confused...?

[Oddball]

I haven't heard that...but I hope it's not true! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/blink.gif)

[Trebor]

I think it's one of those myths which go round every year (like they're going to raise the driving age to 18) but which never actually happen. Don't know though...

[peri busy]

I think it's one of those myths which go round every year (like they're going to raise the driving age to 18) but which never actually happen. Don't know though...

Ah now, there's an interesting one. Minimum driving age. To raise it - or perhaps have the restricted R period extended to 2 or 3 years. I would be in favour of extending it. Also a resit of the exam for current license holders every say 10 years? The car has to be fit for use i.e. MOT, why shouldn't the driver?

[Wobby]

I think it would be a bit harsh to point blame at all the newcomers to driving. Besides, wasn't there a study that showed that 3 out of 4 drivers that had at least 20 years experience driving would fail the driving test if they were to take it again. So perhaps 'drivers of yesterday' would be more appropriate. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/tongue.gif)

Raising the minimum driving age and extending the driving test is going to achieve very little, apart from poorer students, who are already having enough difficulty with University fees. Unless you want to raise taxes to cover the cost of an extended test. And why not add extra petrol costs into the faction?

I think the problem is the allowance for slip of standards when one becomes experienced on the road, which leads to overconfidence and a drop in overall driving standards. Once you've passed the driving test, you're free to do as you please - that's the attitude that goes, and sometimes it's the experienced drivers that revel in this. So I agree to the above point: the theoretical solution would be repeated testing of driving standards - though this would obviously be expensive. And on some of the points aforementioned, would you rather trade haste for safety? Although I do agree that there are occasions where driving too slowly is more dangerous - thus the minimum speed limit.

By the way, is it only me that notices the dreadful irony in how as a country we are meant to be 'over-PC', yet somehow the male discriminatory 'Sheila's Wheels' company eludes grasp? If it were theological or racial discrimination, I'm fairly sure there would be much more dispute.


~Wobby~

[captaintau]

Cyclists! Biggest danger on the roads.


Why don't they have to take a test like motorists?


I've nearly run a few down, ALWAYS because I'm at a traffic light, so they've decided that they'll be pedestrians and ride on the pavement, thereby avoid the traffic light. Once through said red light, they decide they'll be vehicles and go straight onto the road either into my path, since the light has changed or into the path of someone coming from 90 degrees to them.


Cycling on the pavement is ILLEGAL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


I've had to restrain myself from spinning-crescent kicking a few off their bikes from when they're ridden toward me at high speed ON THE ###### PAVEMENT!!!! On old person near me would no chance.


Yet they demand rights and I believe that a law was to be passed that essentially automatically blamed motorists in any situation where there was an accident between a motorist and a cyclist.


Oh yeah, and every Sunday near me they have cycling events. Suddenly riding in file or double-file or triple-file (I'm serious) is legal. My @r$e! Makes travelling all the more fun.


Please don't misunderstand me, I have nothing against "green" travel or anyone that wants to use cycling to get fitter, but really I'm yet to meet a cyclist that can actually ride safely. And I'm yet to see a cyclist pulled over by the police. Ban the lot of them, it'll make the roads a whole lot safer!



Back to topc if driving tests, I believe that our "basic" driving test is actually harder than most European countries' emergency services' advanced test. Don't know how true that is, though.