Grr! Rude dangerous drivers!

Jamie-b

Anybody noticed some people go beyond inconsiderate to downright dangerous when you are a Learner in their haste not to get stuck behind you (even if you are doing the speed limit!).
Today I was turning left onto a main road. There is a feeder lane where you speed up and then slot in. The guy behind me speeding up too, pulled out and undercut me even though I was indicating and had moved about a foot into the lane.
I stayed where I was and he sped off, so started to slowly move in more, almost half into lane another car speeds up and squeezes by me. Had I not seen her I would have bashed into her. I saw her in the mirror and honestly couldn'e out what she was doing because it didnt even cross my mind anyone would do that.

af_thefragile

I ocassionaly get people getting into a functioning bus lane to try to undertake me and get ahead of me. I feel its very dangerous as a lot of time you don't expect anyone to suddenly come in front of you from a bus lane during the middle of the day.

And then I get vans tailgating me because I'm doing 62-65kmph on a 60kmph road and no one seems to take kindly of people who stick to speed limits. The general notion seems to be that you're supposed to be going 20kmph over the speed limit or else you'll have people tailgating you and overtaking you all the time.

Anyway, I don't care about these people anymore. I just stick to my lane and drive the way I find comfortable. If anyone want's to overtake me, I just let them overtake. If anyone beeps at me for being a little slow of the traffic lights, I just ignore them and do things the way I find comfortable.

I'm driving by the rules. If any one drives stupidly and crashes into me, its going to be their fault.
Which is what I advise you to do as well. Just stick to the rules. If there's ever an accident, it won't be your fault as you were driving by the rules and it was the other person who was reckless and impatient to have caused the crash.

Jamie-b

I'm driving by the rules. If any one drives stupidly and crashes into me, its going to be their fault.
Which is what I advise you to do as well. Just stick to the rules. If there's ever an accident, it won't be your fault as you were driving by the rules and it was the other person who was reckless and impatient to have caused the crash.

Problem is it would legally be my fault if I pulled put into the lane and hit one of them. I could say I was out first but it would be me the learners word against hers, she already in the lane! I think this is the way it works anyway

ha-ya-said-what

Jamie-b wrote: »

Problem is it would legally be my fault if I pulled put into the lane and hit one of them. I could say I was out first but it would be me the learners word against hers, she already in the lane! I think this is the way it works anyway

Correct, it's no different than a roundabout you have to give way to traffic already on the road, if you hit her/she hit you then it would be said you weren't giving way, didn't anticipate her speed to negotiate moving out & that you hadn't enough speed built up to move into the lane.

Just get your speed up quick while watchin the road in your mirrors to get it to the point where a gap will arrive & you can just slot in with the flow, once your at the right speed you can get in no problem without cars going past you as the man behind you got out before you & on past you & another woman past you it would appear to me you hadn't enough speed built up to proceed to pull out.

If your not at a speed to move in & match the flow then infact you become the dangerous driver as your coming in at the slower speed & not anticipating the speed of the cars behind you, which could cause them to have to brake all of a sudden & cause a collision.

Don't mean to rant but I see far to many drivers every day trying to get into the lane & pulling right in infront of us & forcing us to brake!

af_thefragile

Jamie-b wrote: »

Problem is it would legally be my fault if I pulled put into the lane and hit one of them. I could say I was out first but it would be me the learners word against hers, she already in the lane! I think this is the way it works anyway

In that instance, yeah, you do need to look out for drivers before you pull in. That is how you should normally drive anyway.

If a driver while trying to undertake you crashes into you, then it'll be his fault. But if you were changing into a left lane and ended up crashing into a speeding car in that lane, then it'ld be your fault as you didn't observe properly before you changed lanes.

I had this scare myself once. I was changing into a left lane on a dual carrageway and there was a car just in my blindspot, I was about to switch lanes when my mate warned me in time and I stopped the maneuver.
Since then I got myself one of those blindspot mirrors so that I can see any car coming towards me before I pull into the left lane.

ha-ya-said-what is right about how you should change lanes. It takes a bit of practice to do this efficiently. You can't just pull into a gap in the lane. You have to indicate well in advance and then match your speed first to that of the cars in the lane you're pulling into and then look for a gap to pull into.
And always quickly check your blindspot before you switch lanes. Or get yourself one of those mirrors like me!

Jamie-b

Hi guys, I understand how to speed up to feed in, which I did, but the first boke behind me in the feeder lane also pulled out and then floored it past me. Since I was pulling into the lane at the time I did have to slow a little so he would go on and I could slot in just behind him .The girl just sped past - even if I was slower than her which I may have been and that is m,y fault, I wouldnt attempt to pass a car in front already half in the lane and have never had anyone else do that.
Both were breaking the speed limit- I was behind them on a good straight road 100k limit and could see them ahead. I was doing 100 on the button and they left me for dust. 10 minutes later man no. 1 was pulled over by the guards:D I presume it was speeding

What is a blindspot mirror and where do I get one? I understand you can see the blindspot (duh!) but where on the car does it go?

af_thefragile

Jamie-b wrote: »

Hi guys, I understand how to speed up to feed in, which I did, but the first boke behind me in the feeder lane also pulled out and then floored it past me. Since I was pulling into the lane at the time I did have to slow a little so he would go on and I could slot in just behind him .The girl just sped past - even if I was slower than her which I may have been and that is m,y fault, I wouldnt attempt to pass a car in front already half in the lane and have never had anyone else do that.
Both were breaking the speed limit- I was behind them on a good straight road 100k limit and could see them ahead. I was doing 100 on the button and they left me for dust. 10 minutes later man no. 1 was pulled over by the guards:D I presume it was speeding

What is a blindspot mirror and where do I get one? I understand you can see the blindspot (duh!) but where on the car does it go?

This thing: http://www.halfords.ie/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_storeId_11101_catalogId_15551_productId_170315_langId_-1_categoryId_212357

You can stick it on the side mirror. It takes a little time getting used to as at first its a bit confusing seeing two images of the same thing. But after a while you get used to it and can very clearly see any car coming past in the lane which you wouldn't normally see in your side mirror (you'ld have to look over your shoulder to see the car).

Mint Sauce

one occassion was turning right off a regional road into a side/residential road, was stopped, indicater on, waiting for traffic to clear, had my biting point, and was relasing the hand break to make the turn when road cleared

suddenly i was overtaken on the right by another car who also wanted to turn into the same road, would have hated to think if i was already turning and he crashed into my side

:mad:

also on a national road, had a clear view of the road ahead, along with traffic approaching on side roads, flat feilds and no buildings to obstuct views, etc. the lorry coming out of the side road on my left mustn't of had the same view as he pulled on the carriage way in my path

:eek:

there are really some inpatient drivers out there, granted i'm only learning, but even i can regonise stupity and dangerious driving going on

pog it

af_thefragile wrote: »

I'm driving by the rules. If any one drives stupidly and crashes into me, its going to be their fault.
Which is what I advise you to do as well. Just stick to the rules. If there's ever an accident, it won't be your fault as you were driving by the rules and it was the other person who was reckless and impatient to have caused the crash.

Hear Hear. I am of the same mind these days.

I'm not learning to drive, I'm driving 3 years, but I am getting fed up with drivers who are crossing over the middle white line so that they can get around bends faster. There have been times I have had to slow down to accommodate this or stick even closer to the left than I had been. (I try to keep into the left for good driving position anyway).

My new plan is simple. I will be staying on my side of the road. If some idiot has crossed over the white line, I am no longer braking/moving to accommodate them if it comes to that.

A tip is a tip and it will be their fault if it happens.

How else are we going to teach reckless drivers a lesson and tell them it's not good enough?

daveharnett

Jamie-b wrote: »

What is a blindspot mirror and where do I get one? I understand you can see the blindspot (duh!) but where on the car does it go?

No need. If your mirrors are adjusted properly, the blind spots on a car are non-existent/tiny.

Most people set up their mirrors so that a third of the view is taken up by the side of the car. In effect, the mirrors are pointing straight backwards.

Instead, you should barely be able to see the side of your car at the very edge of the mirror. This way the mirror is actually pointing toward the adjacent lane.

Use the center mirror for what's behind you, the side mirrors for what's on your shoulder.

pog it wrote: »

My new plan is simple. I will be staying on my side of the road. If some idiot has crossed over the white line, I am no longer braking/moving to accommodate them if it comes to that.

A tip is a tip and it will be their fault if it happens.

How else are we going to teach reckless drivers a lesson and tell them it's not good enough?

Utter utter nonsense.

You are not a driving instructor, a garda, or batman. Some people are bad drivers. You can't change that, and you can't let it wind you up to the point where it effects your driving.

Good drivers plan for and anticipate other road users' mistakes, carelessness and recklessness, and make everyone's journey safer by allowing for them.

pog it wrote: »

A tip is a tip and it will be their fault if it happens.

And finally... There's every chance the 'plan' you describe won't result in a 'tip', but instead result in the other car swerving late, and ending up in a tree to your offside, or backwards into the car behind you.

pog it

If only it was a 'bad driver' who just didn't know any better.

I am fed up braking or moving in and swerving in myself for them.

If you can't stay on your own side of the road you should not have a licence or be allowed to drive.

Bonito

You always get it. I took my L plates down a couple months after I started driving. Why? Because I was sick and tired of idiots seeing my L plates and pulling out in front of me at the last minute and cutting me up all the time and nearly causing accidents.

We were all a learner at one point. Idiots.

daveharnett

Bonito wrote: »

You always get it. I took my L plates down a couple months after I started driving. Why? Because I was sick and tired of idiots seeing my L plates and pulling out in front of me at the last minute and cutting me up all the time and nearly causing accidents.

We were all a learner at one point. Idiots.

Agreed, L plates can have the opposite of the desired effect - some people are less considerate rather than more.

I don't think it's just the L plate though - in combination with a micra/yaris/fiesta it's a lunatic magnet, whereas on a golf/focus/astra it's not so bad.

af_thefragile

daveharnett wrote: »

Agreed, L plates can have the opposite of the desired effect - some people are less considerate rather than more.

I don't think it's just the L plate though - in combination with a micra/yaris/fiesta it's a lunatic magnet, whereas on a golf/focus/astra it's not so bad.

L plates are also a garda magnet.
At every checkpoint while the gards only check the tax, insurance, NCT of other cars, they come along and ask me for my license and all.

A couple of times I didn't have my L plates on (sorry, but they were old and kept falling off and I didn't bother sticking them on properly) and I went through checkpoints and breath tests without any problems. No one asked me to show my license and all.

ha-ya-said-what

af_thefragile wrote: »

L plates are also a garda magnet.
At every checkpoint while the gards only check the tax, insurance, NCT of other cars, they come along and ask me for my license and all.

A couple of times I didn't have my L plates on (sorry, but they were old and kept falling off and I didn't bother sticking them on properly) and I went through checkpoints and breath tests without any problems. No one asked me to show my license and all.

They will always ask for license as it's law to carry one & if you don't have one well then it's more fun for them then. If they let you on through & don't look for it or ask anything well then they're looking for someone or something in particular or it's more so a haulage checkpoint cos they are cracking down like made on the lorries.

I've L plates on any car I drive & they never stop me or even look at me, granted if I was on my own they'd have me pulled over in a flash!

And Pog it ... Me I only pull over on hard shoulder if I'm driving a bit slower than the limit cos I don't know the road, if the limit is 80 & I'm doing 80 then I don't pull over cos I can see from my mirror that the road traffic is moving & well behind me, I'm not causing a tail back it's just one twit likes to think he/she is important & not keeping a safe distance from me when they can see for miles ahead that they will not get a break in the flow to over take & there is no suitable gap infront of me for them to pull into lane even if they did manage to overtake me. I will however always, always pull over & allow a clear over take without crossing the line for a motorbike, cos you never know what could decide to speed up or not see them over take & come flying in their direction & yes the bikers always achknowledge me for it.

daveharnett

ha-ya-said-what wrote: »

And Pog it ... Me I only pull over on hard shoulder if I'm driving a bit slower than the limit cos I don't know the road, if the limit is 80 & I'm doing 80 then I don't pull over cos I can see from my mirror that the road traffic is moving & well behind me, I'm not causing a tail back it's just one twit likes to think he/she is important & not keeping a safe distance from me when they can see for miles ahead that they will not get a break in the flow to over take & there is no suitable gap infront of me for them to pull into lane even if they did manage to overtake me.

my brain hurts.

ha-ya-said-what

daveharnett wrote: »

my brain hurts.

Small cranium ... big mandible