(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

[amycooper.livejournal.com]

Those with no understand what those pretty lines are in the road for scare me.

[lovellama.livejournal.com]

I prescribe to 'the zipper way' of merging when a two lane goes down to a one lane. You go as far as you can in the lane that is closing, and then merge right before the lane begins to end. I don't agree, though, with people who zoom way ahead on the empty lane-that-is-ending- just because others have held up traffic trying to get over in the through lane meters before the lane actually ends.

It just seems wasteful to have everyone over in one lane as soon as the notices go up that a lane will be closing a two hundred meters ahead. Everyone proceed normally to the beginning of the lane closure and then merge! :)

[gategrrl.livejournal.com]

What are those pretty yellow grid boxes for? (person from the US talking here - I don't think we have those here)

[fledge.livejournal.com]

You could add people who insist on driving in the overtaking lanes on the motorway at less than the speed limit, when the lefthand lane is not particularly blocked and actually going at their preferred speed.

Am with you on all of those! And nowadays, a lot of people seem to be unable to use roundabouts at all.

[sg1scribe.livejournal.com]

You didn't mention my favourite, which is people who assume all other road users are psychic and so they, therefore, don't need to use their indicators

My second favourite group are the people who believe double yellow lines don't apply if they are just nipping in to the local newsagent for a packet of fags.