Shipley

I know its a well discussed topic but the driving standards in this country are truly appalling.

I don't have much of a commute but it never ceases to amaze me how many people want to drive exclusively in the fast lane....or just pull out without really noticing how fast you are approaching.

What's surprising is more and more it seems to be young girls in tin cans (saxo / fiesta type things) who do it. I used to think that in the main women drivers were safer on the roads (less mach arrogance etc.)

Todays little expert sat in the fast lance of a DC, at 50 in the pissing rain...texting

Glad I don't have a long commute

Kiwi-S2000

I think you can blame the driver training people receive.

When they are learning to drive, they are not tought the rules of the motorway, things like left hand laning discipline and general driver courtesy for the motorway.

I personally think this is a big failing in the system

Kiwi

GREGSTERWIZ

Partly

But no amount of tuition or training can compensate for stupidity

Which is what is described by Shipley

Attitudes need to be changed and some people just don't give a feck or are so moronic so as not to care

Nottm_S2

good point Kiwi.

I recently did my bike test. To get on the road you need a provisional licence and to do a cbt. there is no highway code training at all.

having said that, safety wise i dont think we're that bad in this country, i do 150 miles round trip commute and i've only seen 1 accident where the car in front of me rear ended the one in front of him. lane discipline is all about people
1. Not paying attention
2. Not wanting to get stuck in another lane

todays luxo barges encourage this imho. when i'm in the s the steering is constantly communicating with me, keeping my attention, in our vectra i'm totally isolated, banging out a bit of stereophonics and cruising along and my reactions are probably that much slower plus my lane discipline may suffer as my mind wanders

motorways are ****ing dull places to be

Nick Graves

The phenpmenon of young girls who are all attitude and no brains is one I have noticed too.

So have insurance companies, apparently; It used to be young blokes who were trouble, but its ladettes whose claims are actually increasing the fastest.

gaddafi

earlier today, I very nearly got the new rear bumper I've been after for a while

(the current one has some scratches on it)

my money is on a girl crashing into the back of me

a year ago it would have been a guy

either way it's a certainty before long

it's quite beyond me why people in shitboxes want to run the risk of tailgating

Gazzer

One word: OBLIVIOUS

People just don't know you are there or what to do. No Trfpl, so there's your reason.

Harsh

There are so many reasons why driving standards are slipping.

initial training,
the current situation (i.e. people having their minds elsewhere),
fear of being in the 'slow' lane and getting left behind or boxed in,
attitude...lots of that around
and finally, stupidity....the entire population seems to be getting dumbed down.

the lowest common denominator seems to also be the most prolific.



we need selective birth control


(goes to put on flameproof suit!)

LTB

Here's a daft idea - less scameras, more traffic cops.

Et voila, standards increase over night, but where's the cash in that idea ?

GREGSTERWIZ

Not much chance of that

There will be more Traffic Wombles (Highways Agency) though on the motorways

Wouldn't be surprised if they are given more of an enforcement role in the future