Improve your driving so I can stop swearing

[leelive]

"You Bloody Idiot" drivers who don't indicate when turning and stop when approaching an empty roundabout are going to have to be called "You Bonehead" instead from now on.

My 2 year old daughter picked up my phrase and called my 4 year old son it yesterday!! Made me laugh... but wasn't proud of it.

Can you improve your driving so I can stop swearing?

Lee

[Corabar Steve]

Isn't it in the Highway code to stop when approaching a roundabout?

I'll let you have non-indicating turners though. Especially those in the right hand lane at traffic lights

[BeerFunk]

Haha, yes well if you don't swear the rage could build up further I think - you have to vent your frustrations somehow! Perhaps substitute other words for the swear words?

[DeckstarDeluxe]

Its only when I have someone driving with me I realise how much swearing I do when driving!

[hammy]

Isn't it in the Highway code to stop when approaching a roundabout?


No as a roundabout has only a give way marking so you dont have to stop

[Corabar Steve]

Wasn't sure, & don't have a copy handy. I only tend to stop if there is other traffic around anyway. (or occasionally if I don't know the road)

[pagan_flame]

Isn't it in the Highway code to stop when approaching a roundabout?

I'll let you have non-indicating turners though. Especially those in the right hand lane at traffic lights

If you stopped at an empty roundabout on the driving test, that would be faulted - and a fail if someone behind has to brake hard as a result.

However, signalling is not a legal requirement, and of course many drivers don't do it if they don't have to... Road position should always be taken as the reference, as not only do people turn without signalling, they signal without turning too!

P-F
DSA Approved Driving Instructor

[hammy]

Ahh now, Signalling on exiting a roundabout may not be a legal requirement and you will fail your test if you dont do it.

[pagan_flame]

Ahh now, Signalling on exiting a roundabout may not be a legal requirement and you will fail your test if you dont do it.

If there were no other vehicles at the roundabout, it would only be a minor fault, not a fail... Then we get on to mini roundabouts... The law says Thou Shalt Drive Around It, but practicality means you can't!

[pagan_flame]

While we're here - new, and legal, motorway fun: what to do with the Centre Lane Owners Club? With them in lane 2 at a steady 65? Overtake on the inside? Nope, that's not legal. Drive behind them flashing your lights and honking the horn? Nope, that's Road Rage or a Road Rage trigger depending on what happens next...

So - circle them til they get the message... Overtake on the right as normal, then come back across to the left lane.

Then slow down so they pass you... Then overtake them again on the right, come back to left lane... Repeat at leisure, passes the time very effectively!

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

Overtake on the inside? Nope, that's not legal.

Out of interest, how would that work then? If you are driving in the inside lane and going 70 miles per hour, surely you aren't breaking any laws?

I've always wondered what the situation was with that.

[katman]

Out of interest, how would that work then? If you are driving in the inside lane and going 70 miles per hour, surely you aren't breaking any laws?

I've always wondered what the situation was with that.

That was always my interpretation. There is something in the highway code that says you mustnt pass on the inside unless the traffic is moving in lanes and your lane is moving faster.

I always took that to be if I was already in the inside lane and there was slower traffic to my right it was OK to do so but...

IF I was in the centre lane, moved left, passed on the inside, then moved right into the centre lane again that would be undertaking and illegal.

Of course, as most of the roads round here have only one lane in each direction the situation doesnt occur very often !!!

[hammy]

Out of interest, how would that work then? If you are driving in the inside lane and going 70 miles per hour, surely you aren't breaking any laws?

I've always wondered what the situation was with that.

Your not breaking any law, I am at the moment doing my cpc which is now the law for lorry drivers, this question comes up many a time and the answer is

" If you continue to do the same speed and not accelerating to undertake them then you are doing nothing against the law, However if you have to speed up to undertake or undertake then join the overtaking lane (middle lane) then you ARE breaking the law".

[pagan_flame]

And of course it depends on the interpretation of the Officer watching you - lorries going past on the inside of a CLOC Member would get no response, while someone lane splitting at 85 because you're only doing 75 will get the blue lights on straight away...

[Kernow]

Aren't LGVs subject to a 60 mph maximum on a motorway :confused:

[BVD]

While we're here - new, and legal, motorway fun: what to do with the Centre Lane Owners Club? With them in lane 2 at a steady 65? Overtake on the inside? Nope, that's not legal. Drive behind them flashing your lights and honking the horn? Nope, that's Road Rage or a Road Rage trigger depending on what happens next...

So - circle them til they get the message... Overtake on the right as normal, then come back across to the left lane.

Then slow down so they pass you... Then overtake them again on the right, come back to left lane... Repeat at leisure, passes the time very effectively!

I was under the impression there is no law that prohibits the passing of another vehicle on the inside.

However it can be construed as dangerous driving if one were to pass on the inside and then pull out into the middle lane. If one were to remain in the inside lane after under-passing for some distance then no offence would have been caused.

As an example, would every car that passed other cars whilst on the inside lane during a bit of traffic congestion be guilty of an offence? If yes then there are thousands doing so and getting away with it each hour.:)

Steve

[Richie]

Personally I think everyone should have to pass their test again every 5 - 10 years.

[hammy]

Aren't LGVs subject to a 60 mph maximum on a motorway :confused:

yes but we are restricted to 56mph, you wouldnt believe how many middle lane charlies dong 50mph


I was under the impression there is no law that prohibits the passing of another vehicle on the inside.

However it can be construed as dangerous driving if one were to pass on the inside and then pull out into the middle lane. If one were to remain in the inside lane after under-passing for some distance then no offence would have been caused.

As an example, would every car that passed other cars whilst on the inside lane during a bit of traffic congestion be guilty of an offence? If yes then there are thousands doing so and getting away with it each hour.:)

Steve

urrm read my post :D


Personally I think everyone should have to pass their test again every 5 - 10 years.

totally agree

[funkymook]

While we're here - new, and legal, motorway fun: what to do with the Centre Lane Owners Club? With them in lane 2 at a steady 65? Overtake on the inside? Nope, that's not legal. Drive behind them flashing your lights and honking the horn? Nope, that's Road Rage or a Road Rage trigger depending on what happens next...

So - circle them til they get the message... Overtake on the right as normal, then come back across to the left lane.

Then slow down so they pass you... Then overtake them again on the right, come back to left lane... Repeat at leisure, passes the time very effectively!

Good luck with winding complete strangers up like that (I bet you double check they look harmless before you do!) - personally I just get on with my journey!

[Excalibur]

Personally I think everyone should have to pass their test again every 5 - 10 years.


totally agree

Bog off you two, I had enough trouble passing mine the first time. ;) And unless they introduce a test specifically for White Van Man ( driving with one arm out of the window, bullying other road users, disregard for signs, etc ) then I don't have a hope in hell of ever passing again.

[katman]

unless they introduce a test specifically for White Van Man ( driving with one arm out of the window, bullying other road users, disregard for signs, etc ) then I don't have a hope in hell of ever passing again.

I thought they already had done so. The standard of lots of drivers on the road these days would seem to indicate they are driving to a different set of rules than the ones in force at the time of my test (1977) .... and not for the better either :(

[BeerFunk]

The standard of lots of drivers on the road these days would seem to indicate they are driving to a different set of rules than the ones in force at the time of my test (1977) .... and not for the better either :(It's difficult to judge it as there are obviously a lot more vehicles on the road now, but if you look at the statistics, the UK has a superb record in terms of accidents/deaths on the road, when compared to other countries in Europe.

Of course, that's just one example, but the grass is greener and all that :)

[Excalibur]

I thought they already had done so. The standard of lots of drivers on the road these days would seem to indicate they are driving to a different set of rules than the ones in force at the time of my test (1977) .... and not for the better either :(

Don't get me started, I may never stop!

1) Those folk who think you can psychically guess which exit they're coming off the roundabout at, cos they're not using indicators.
2) The folk who come round the roundabout, and are surprised to find that a van and trailer weighing five and a half tons can't accelerate as quickly as their firebreathing lightweight.
3) The ones who overtake in an unsafe place/manner, and then fail to obey White Van Man's Holy Grail: Conservation of momentum. If you've overtaken me like a numpty, it behoves you to stay clear of me, or play dodgems, the choice is yours.
4) Just cos we're all going the same way on a motorway, your mirrors aren't redundant.

More as I think of them.

[katman]

2) The folk who come round the roundabout, and are surprised to find that a van and trailer weighing five and a half tons can't accelerate as quickly as their firebreathing lightweight.

The problem is that so many modern cars are lightweight and fuel injected and seem to take great delight in trying to get round a roundabout as fast as possible even from a standing start.

My Galaxy weighs around 2 tons and it takes a lot of effort from a 2 litre engine to get it moving from a standstill. I have had people pull onto a roundabout at the OPPOSITE entrance and be upto me just as I reach the centre of said roundabout !!!

Remember the safety ads on TV.... "Only a fool breaks the two second rule" ... I recite that quite a lot especially when I think I am too far back from the car in front but usually find that I am the correct distance. Then I try the same looking at some of the bunched up cars in the other lane.....
"Only a" "Only a" "Only" but of course the cause of accidents is always blamed on the weather or some other feeble excuse rather than the true cause!!!

[Corabar Entertainment]

Yeah... but have you noticed that when you try your best to leave a gap, some silly bugger always jumps in to your lane in to the gap you've left?

[katman]

Yes but not having ABS makes me drop back again. LOL

[DeckstarDeluxe]

Yeah... but have you noticed that when you try your best to leave a gap, some silly bugger always jumps in to your lane in to the gap you've left?

Because I've become a tight fisted git since going full time and only going 56mph tops I actually dont mind motorway driving nearly as much as I use to.

[DJ Paulie]

Motorways here have only 2 lanes (some parts have 3) & our max speed limit is 120kmh. Taxi drivers are the worst, they think they can just stick thier hazards on and stop for a fare ! I don't think they've actually heard of the highway code or they have a different version.

[Kernow]

Motorways here have only 2 lanes (some parts have 3) & our max speed limit is 120kmh. Taxi drivers are the worst, they think they can just stick thier hazards on and stop for a fare ! I don't think they've actually heard of the highway code or they have a different version.

What's a motorway :confused: :confused:
The only blue lines on the map in Cornwall are rivers :eek:

;)

[Disco Dave]

I will try to use my indicates more now :D

[katman]

What's a motorway :confused: :confused:
The only blue lines on the map in Cornwall are rivers :eek:

;)

Just like Norfolk :(

[pagan_flame]

Personally I think everyone should have to pass their test again every 5 - 10 years.

Ahh that old chestnut. Will never happen. Why? Glad you asked... ;)

So you take your test again and fail on mirror checking or something trivial... have to wait 6 months or more before you get another test date... lose your job / house / wife in the meantime... who are you going to vote for next time elections come around? Not the party who made you do your test again!


Good luck with winding complete strangers up like that (I bet you double check they look harmless before you do!) - personally I just get on with my journey!

I haven't found that many Gangstas / Maniacs / Psychos driving at 65 in the middle lane... but lots and lots of wrinkled fists being waved / headlights flashed just after I've done a perfectly safe overtake on single carriageway roads when they're doing 40 for no reason.

But if you want to really experience Road Rage on a daily basis, just put an L plate on your car, stick to the speed limits and drive like you're on a driving test - just watch the angry faces in your mirror! See if you can effectively check your blindspots at the traffic lights when moving off before they honk their horn and drive around you...