Are drivers from some places just more stupid?

[HF2300]

Don't know what Randochap thinks, but I found Canadian drivers much more civilised and relaxed when I was over there. Might be 'cos the roads are so much emptier.

Round here the aforementioned insane overtakes, right lane hogging and optional indication all seem to be pretty standard.

 

[downfader]

I dont think its anything other that a problem of the whole uk, in then same way as some numpty cyclists seem to be...

I can only speak for my own area of southampton where I see drivers doing all sorts of naughty things - eventually its the cyclist or pedestrian, or some other poor driver that seems to pay for some pillocks mistake (like thursday evening going home on a bus and seeing the aftermath of a pedestrian who's tried to cross a busy road and ended up under a drivers wheels - the road is notorious for drivers not liking pedestrians crossing, some even speeding up)

The typical behaviour of drivers here includes: parking on pavements (majority), red light jumpers (minority), amber chasers (majority), speeding (majority), parking in disabled.... I could go on.

 

[PBancroft]

[gross generalisations]
Snowy roads in expensive areas are hilarious, with the rear-wheel-drive Mercs and BMs flooring it trying unsuccessfully to get up the hills. It's like they're shouting "DON'T YOU KNOW HOW MUCH I EARN?????!!!!" to Mother Nature.

I've seen that. A sight like it will brighten up any winter.

 

[HF2300]

[gross generalisations]
In parts of Birmingham everyone drives with their front fog lights on permanently.

Oh yes, they do that round here as well.

...It's like they're shouting "DON'T YOU KNOW HOW MUCH I EARN?????!!!!" to Mother Nature.

 

[downfader]

Snowy roads in expensive areas are hilarious, with the rear-wheel-drive Mercs and BMs flooring it trying unsuccessfully to get up the hills. It's like they're shouting "DON'T YOU KNOW HOW MUCH I EARN?????!!!!" to Mother Nature.

LOL saw that myself when it got REALLY icy last year. The guy was flooring it going nowhere and spinning 180 degres half way up a hill.

 

[wafflycat]

Hah! Wait until you cycle in some bits of King's Lynn!

Seriously - Norwich has some bad driving right now.

Mind you, get out of the city and get out into the lanes and you'll find a lot of courtesy given.

As for King's Lynn, I actively avoid cycling there. Really. I'd sooner cycle in London, Paris, Cambridge, Norwich... but I *loathe* cycling in KL.

 

[thomas]

Mind you, get out of the city and get out into the lanes and you'll find a lot of courtesy given.

I've not found the lanes to be bad. Usually cars know they can't fit past and when there's a passing place I slow down in it and signal people past.

It's just in the town and on busier roads that there seems to be a higher proportion of stupidity than back home.

 

[ComedyPilot]

I figure you can't take the UK out of the driver!

I'll bet he complains about anything French too, despite living there!

Can't please some people.

 

[Bollo]

I can only speak for my own area of southampton where I see drivers doing all sorts of naughty things - eventually its the cyclist or pedestrian, or some other poor driver that seems to pay for some pillocks mistake (like thursday evening going home on a bus and seeing the aftermath of a pedestrian who's tried to cross a busy road and ended up under a drivers wheels - the road is notorious for drivers not liking pedestrians crossing, some even speeding up)

Just wait until the new Ikea opens, then central Southampton will just be one big car park and nobody will be running anyone over.

 

[Bollo]

Mind you, get out of the city and get out into the lanes and you'll find a lot of courtesy given.

Most of my distance is on the single lane country roads and things are definitely more civil. The etiquette is a little different and there has to be a bit of give-and-take on both sides. I'm happy enough to pull in to give a farm truck a bit room to get past, especially if he's got 2 tons of cow crap on the wagon.

 

[Gerry Attrick]

Its surprising how different areas of the country develop different driving styles. The speciality of Hampshire seems to be the very optional use of indicators. At my mum and dad's in Lincolnshire the insane overtake is king (the A15 is like wacky races) while my London sis-in-law won't consider driving in anything other than the offside lane of any road, irrespective of speed or traffic conditions

Fully agree with your observations on Lincolnshire drivers. Vast majority completely oblivious of cyclists, and the remainder seem to be determined to wipe us out. As I have posted previously, Norfolk drivers generally much more considerate, and the only times I have been carved up there were by tourists in motorhomes or towing *spits disapprovingly* caravans.

 

[thomas]

Fully agree with your observations on Lincolnshire drivers. Vast majority completely oblivious of cyclists, and the remainder seem to be determined to wipe us out. As I have posted previously, Norfolk drivers generally much more considerate, and the only times I have been carved up there were by tourists in motorhomes or towing *spits disapprovingly* caravans.

It seems to be more around the busier parts of Norwich. However, there are many patient drivers, just they blend together and the bad ones stick out.

 

[Rhythm Thief]

Seriously - Norwich has some bad driving right now.

Mind you, get out of the city and get out into the lanes and you'll find a lot of courtesy given.

I was over there last Friday, collecting 15 tons of grain from a farm just north of Norwich. needless to say, I was courtesy itself to the three or four cyclists I saw while I was going round Norwich ring road.

 

[thomas]

I was over there last Friday, collecting 15 tons of grain from a farm just north of Norwich. needless to say, I was courtesy itself to the three or four cyclists I saw while I was going round Norwich ring road.

Might of seen me actually haha. Can't remember what day it was, but yesterday or friday I went around a short bit of the ring road to get somewhere!

 

[Dirtyhanz]

widnes and runcorn i need not say any more