An Increasing Problem

[BSRU]

Witnessed some disgusting behaviour yesterday by one driver who decided the 30mph limit was a minimum speed limit and not a maximum.


View: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DNZylxdFrcY


Saw an even worse one this morning on the same stretch of road. Mr WVM about a metre from the car in front while travelling at 30mph on wet roads. Mr WVM then decides to use the two lane RAB ahead to overtake the troublesome car which used the correct lane to turn left unlike Mr WVM.

Where are the traffic police when you need them, oh wait are there any traffic police

 

[Jimmy Doug]

I see this sort of driving almost every day here. I'm sick of it. There's a really dangerous road on my way to work where this sort of behaviour is common. Every year people get killed on it. This week alone there have been 10 accidents and one fatality. The police's response: nothing - apart from the usual thing in France which is to post themselves on the least dangerous roads to check your papers are in order.

 

[Boris Bajic]

I do see speeding drivers, but they are increasingly rare.

I'm not sure why, but it may be fuel cost. I don't believe for a moment that it's some sort of social conscience. I'm not sure any of us have one of those.

These days I do 65-75 on Motorways and dual-carriageways. That used to put me at the back of the pack and most cars would pass me.

These days, I get held up at those speeds.

Similarly, on single-carriageway rural A-Roads (most of my driving) I used to get cars lining up behind me when I droive at the limit. No I find myself looking like Mr toad for doing 60 in a 60. I often do less and still have to back off the noise when I see a car ahead.

One place (and this may fit BSRU's model) where I find motorists do still take the Mickey is in a 30. I now use 3rd to make myself slow down, particularly where a village puts 400 yards of 30 in a long stretch of NSL. Those of us who do 30 (or less) in a 30 will very quickly get a pile of vehicles behind them - sometimes rather closer than they might be.

I don't know why this is, but it might just be that today's cars are just strolling at 60, so 30 seems like a crawl. As someone who learned to drive in a 435cc Citroen 2CV, I see 30 as an achievement.... But my very modest modern econobox will bimble along happily at 100 all day.

I agree that there are few traffic cars, but in my area there are a lot of cameras and those speed-warning matrix boards. i do think they work and I do think things are not as bad as they might be.

I might add that I don't drive or cycle in Swindon, but that's not for traffic-safety reasons.

 

[BSRU]

I agree that there are few traffic cars, but in my area there are a lot of cameras and those speed-warning matrix boards. i do think they work and I do think things are not as bad as they might be.

I might add that I don't drive or cycle in Swindon, but that's not for traffic-safety reasons.

No cameras in Swindon all of them, including red light jumping cameras, have been turned off.
Even though I spend twelve to fourteen hours a week on a bike I very very rarely see traffic police, I think four this year all within a two week period. I see the two bicycle officers more than I see traffic cars.

 

[Ian Cooper]

LOL, if I were that first driver, I wouldn't have pulled over for him. I'd have taken as much of the lane as possible and slowed to 20mph. That really sends these idiots' blood pressure through the roof.

 

[Col5632]

LOL, if I were that first driver, I wouldn't have pulled over for him. I'd have taken as much of the lane as possible and slowed to 20mph. That really sends these idiots' blood pressure through the roof.

I love doing that Had a twat this morning who decided to do 30+ at a mini roundabout and just not give way to his right, i went a different way to him and i ended up in front of him further down the road

 

[BentMikey]

LOL, if I were that first driver, I wouldn't have pulled over for him. I'd have taken as much of the lane as possible and slowed to 20mph. That really sends these idiots' blood pressure through the roof.

I'd have been tempted to also, but I have to admire that driver for following best practice. No escalation, no winding up of an already dangerous and irrational driver behind him.

Then again, sometimes I wish I had a tow hitch on my car.

 

[Leedsbusdriver]

I also practice defensive driving.If i have an idiot inches from my back bumper when i'm driving my car i just pull over and let them go.
My philosophy is that it's better to have an idiot driver in front of you rather than behind you,and anyway 9 times out of 10 all they achieve is getting to the next queue or red traffic light a few seconds earlier.

 

[gaz]

If I get someone tailgating me on a road where they can't overtake, I do the following.

• turn side lights on
• slow down gradually untill I can see they are just stairing at me in rage.
• turn rear fog lights on (looks like brake lights) and accelerate away.
• Watch the monkey hit the brakes as you leave him for dust.

If there is space for them to overtake then obviously the best course of action is to let them pass (as said above) it is better to have an idiot infront of you rather than behind.

 

[BentMikey]

I've taken to hitting the windscreen washer. I think someone on here gave me that tip. It's great for getting people to back off since the spray goes on their windscreen, and it's relatively non-confrontational. Works best of all on an open convertible, LOL!

 

[sidevalve]

The trouble with " getting your own back" tactics is how far do you go, and if you do get involved in an accident do you relly want to get involved in the hassle and the grief of sorting it out, dealing with the insurance, securing witnesses, poss finding a hire/loan car. Then there is the problem of arguing with the insurance about a no claims bonus [not as simple as it may seem] and the definite likelyhood of future increased premiums. It may be fine for you to say "Oh well I'll use the bike" but does this include everybody in the family for every school run,shopping trip B&Q garden kit collection etc. Remember WVM and his like may well be in a company vehicle and really not care about insurance or repairs.
Leedsbusdriver is right, this is no macho trip, just get out of the way and let the loonys get on with it.

 

[Nigel-YZ1]

I'd say the vast majority on my drive to work are speeding. They know that they can get away with limit+10mph permanently.
Tailgating round here is rife. Both grown ups and Corsa-weenies.

I just stick to the limit and ignore them. I'm driving an NCAP 5 rated car with more airbags than Baywatch, so let them do what they like. Tossers!

 

[gary in derby]

me, i tease them a bit by slowing down to 20mph then as they moe to overtake i speed up again then when they are really about to blow, you know when they are trying to mate with your exhaust pipe. its time to hit the brakes. have had one guy lock his wheels and end up in the ditch. i stopped of coarse and said did you see that kid chasing his ball? lol

 

[BSRU]

I would have laughed my head off it it turned out that the car in front was one of the unmarked traffic cars that sometimes visits Swindon .

 

[HLaB]

I recently got a Yaris and cars do seem to tailgate me a bit; I've often tried the slow down thing but they often don't overtake just drive closers to me, it can be the same on the bike and you've got to literally dive into a hedge before they overtake! With the Yaris I also bought a sat nav and noted the car speedo is 4mph slower than the gps, so maybe when I think I'm doing 29mph, I am crawling along at 25mph.