(no subject)

[graculus]

Driving an 84 mile round trip to work and back every day, I get to observe all kinds of wonderful driving behaviour. Sometimes I really wonder how/if some of these people actually passed their test in the first place.

My personal favourite behaviours are as follows:

the road narrows down to one lane further on but the guy in the big car insists on passing everyone who is being sensible and merging in turn, only to want to shove in right where the diminishing lane ends

people who insist on getting overexcited when you're keeping to the speed limit. This is particularly appropriate on roads where the limit is 60. I had one lot of muppets getting all bent out of shape at me the other day on a dual carriageway and when I finally pulled over to let them pass, the passenger insisted on doing what can only be described as a bad sea-lion impersonation while hanging out of the window. At 60 mph. A genuine candidate for the Darwin awards, I think.

pulling out on a roundabout while driving a 4x4 (an SUV to my transatlantic chums) just far enough that people driving other cars can't see past you and they definitely can't see over you, so they're forced to either trust that you're going to pull out sensibly when there's nothing coming (unlikely) or wait till you've gone...

people who think that 'give way' actually means 'please muscle your way into traffic ignoring the fact that other people actually have the right of way because you're a guy/driving a big car/driving a white van/you're just so cool everyone should get out of your way'

people who think that the white lines on the road at roundabouts and other kinds of junctions are there just for decoration and wander all over the place. Also applies to people who don't know what those pretty yellow grid boxes are for...

I'm sure there are more, but those are the top contenders at the moment...

Comments

[rhade-rad.livejournal.com]

There are also those who remember they are supposed to indicate but only do so AS they start to manoeuvre. So they haven't caught on to the principle of "signalling your intention".

My personal bugbears are:
people who cut into to your sensible reaction space not, in my case as a biker, riding on the bumper of the car in front. Two seconds gap.

and car drivers who drive on their brakes so every few seconds a red light flashes without any apparent justification.

Also don't like cars who ride right on my back wheel. Not sensible, please tell your friends, as the power:weight ratio and gearing on motorbikes means they have very efficient engine braking, so we can slow quite quickly without any signal. Though I do tend to touch the rear brake if I think someone is too close.