People who dont know how to use anything In their car

demanufactured

You know the type..
Driving round with fog lights on

Full beams on all the time

Windows fogged up apart from a patch they have wiped in front of them...

Seriously , I think some people get into the car , and press every button they can until the funtion they want comes on.

I have been in cars with people who didnt even know how to turn on the fan.

It should be a part of the driving test that drivers should be at lease able to identify where certain functions are.


I drive from Athlone to Galway and back for work everyday , the amount of people who try to burn your eyes out with their full beams on is astonishing.

You flash them to alert them , they either leave them on or flick them off and back on again.

/rant

Saucy McKetchup

It is part of the driver test

Heroditas

I got a lift from someone in work a couple of weeks ago. We were driving through Strawberry Beds and after they commented on how dark the road was and how difficult it was to see anything, I said "ah put on your full beams and you'll be fine".
I was greeted with "how do I do that?"

Scary stuff

Corkbah

there should be a competency test - road users could report a licence plate - multiple different reports of a particular licence plate would result in fines and repeat offenders have to rest the driving test.

I can't understand why there isn't a proper system to report other drivers - I'm aware there is a traffic hotline thingy - but I've never known it to be taken seriously - often the gardai deem it unnecessary to enforce the law on "trivial" matters such as the winky one eyed drivers.

whats needed is proper enforcement of the law - no exceptions (i.e. gardai cannot wipe away fines etc and everyone is even before the eyes of the law)

if someone is driving in a bus lane … a fine is issued - doesn't matter if there was no bus in it or if the driver was taking a left at the lights and wanted to skip the traffic …. I've often jumped in the bus lane to do this and know its wrong - but I still do it, I'm making a conscious effort to change this but its difficult when you see 10+ other vehicles get ahead of you in traffic because they did this….and at no risk of getting pulled up by the gardai !

Pro Hoc Vice

Corkbah wrote: »

there should be a competency test - road users could report a licence plate - multiple different reports of a particular licence plate would result in fines and repeat offenders have to rest the driving test.

I can't understand why there isn't a proper system to report other drivers - I'm aware there is a traffic hotline thingy - but I've never known it to be taken seriously - often the gardai deem it unnecessary to enforce the law on "trivial" matters such as the winky one eyed drivers.

whats needed is proper enforcement of the law - no exceptions (i.e. gardai cannot wipe away fines etc and everyone is even before the eyes of the law)

if someone is driving in a bus lane … a fine is issued - doesn't matter if there was no bus in it or if the driver was taking a left at the lights and wanted to skip the traffic …. I've often jumped in the bus lane to do this and know its wrong - but I still do it, I'm making a conscious effort to change this but its difficult when you see 10+ other vehicles get ahead of you in traffic because they did this….and at no risk of getting pulled up by the gardai !

Nothing stoping any person prosecuting any other person for a summary offence in the District Court.

Did not know there was a law against winky one eyed drivers. But in relation to road traffic offences over 233,000 cases brought before the DC in 2012, 147,000 different drivers. 48,000 fines, 4,000 prison.

swarlb

infosys wrote: »

Nothing stoping any person prosecuting any other person for a summary offence in the District Court.

Did not know there was a law against winky one eyed drivers. But in relation to road traffic offences over 233,000 cases brought before the DC in 2012, 147,000 different drivers. 48,000 fines, 4,000 prison.

4000 people were put in prison in 2012 for road traffic offences !!!! I didn't think we had that much spare room.

Cabaal

Wife got a lift to work from a women a few years back, car died on the road mile down the road.

Turned out the car had run out of petrol, women driving it had seen the low fuel light for about a week before had but didn't know what it meant so she kept driving,
:rolleyes:

Wife couldn't believe that somebody could be driving and could allow such a thing to happen, shocking stuff imho

Mc Love

Add not knowing where the indicator stalk is and that there is one!

Zcott

Relevant:

Kenny Logins

A woman I worked with years back once arrived back late after lunch one day. I was later told by one of her passengers that she had realised after 10 minutes that she had been pumping the brake pedal in an attempt to start the car.

I still haven't a clue what the problem was.

Shane Fitz

Mc Love wrote: »

Add not knowing where the indicator stalk is and that there is one!

Ah there is a difference in not knowing and not caring!

Yakuza

Saucy McKetchup wrote: »

It is part of the driver test

There's a huge cohort of drivers on Irish roads that never had an official lesson or did a driving test. My father (in his late 60s) got his licence in the 60s as part of an "amnesty" - (Irish solution to an Irish problem - the queues were too long so to shorten them they just gave everyone a licence) and there may have been one or two more amnesties since.

djimi

Yakuza wrote: »

There's a huge cohort of drivers on Irish roads that never had an official lesson or did a driving test. My father (in his late 60s) got his licence in the 60s as part of an "amnesty" - (Irish solution to an Irish problem - the queues were too long so to shorten them they just gave everyone a licence) and there may have been one or two more amnesties since.

The amnesty thing was tiny in fairness; something like 60k licenses handed out at the time, which accounts for a tiny percentage of the number of licensed drivers (something like 1.5m I think at the moment).

djimi

Its the little things that I wonder about. People turning their fans to "off" and then wondering why their windows are fogging up or why they are falling asleep at the wheel.

The one that gets me is people who drive around with their windows frosted up. How hard is it to go out with a bottle of luckwarm water in the morning and throw it on the windows?

Saucy McKetchup

Yakuza wrote: »

There's a huge cohort of drivers on Irish roads that never had an official lesson or did a driving test. My father (in his late 60s) got his licence in the 60s as part of an "amnesty" - (Irish solution to an Irish problem - the queues were too long so to shorten them they just gave everyone a licence) and there may have been one or two more amnesties since.

That's no excuse for a person not learning the basic secondary controls of a vehicle, it's more stupidity than anything else

corktina

djimi wrote: »

The amnesty thing was tiny in fairness; something like 60k licenses handed out at the time, which accounts for a tiny percentage of the number of licensed drivers (something like 1.5m I think at the moment).

tiny indeed compared to the legions who just got in a car and drove it and still didn't get round to doing a test. Driving lessons are very recent and still not considered essential

rizzodun

My next door neighbour bought a new car 3 months ago, still hasn't figured out that her rear foglight is on constantly.

I don't see why people don't spend a few minutes in their driveway figuring out what all the buttons and lights on the dash do and mean when they change cars. I can't see why people don't figure out the foglight thing though, the light on the dash is the same for every car.

Saucy McKetchup

corktina wrote: »

tiny indeed compared to the legions who just got in a car and drove it and still didn't get round to doing a test. Driving lessons are very recent and still not considered essential

I never had a driving lesson and still passed my test first time, common sense goes a long way, there're also should be an aptitude test before allowing someone get in a car

Renegade Mechanic

djimi wrote: »

Its the little things that I wonder about. People turning their fans to "off" and then wondering why their windows are fogging up or why they are falling asleep at the wheel.

The one that gets me is people who drive around with their windows frosted up. How hard is it to go out with a bottle of luckwarm water in the morning and throw it on the windows?

I know someone who boiled a kettle before pouring that on her windscreen...

TheBody

Yakuza wrote: »

There's a huge cohort of drivers on Irish roads that never had an official lesson or did a driving test. My father (in his late 60s) got his licence in the 60s as part of an "amnesty" - (Irish solution to an Irish problem - the queues were too long so to shorten them they just gave everyone a licence) and there may have been one or two more amnesties since.

My Dad got his diving licence due to a postal strike. As the years rolled on and he renewed his licence, through various mistakes, he ended up with a licence to drive every class of vehicle, up to and including an artic lorry!! He has never drove anything but a car!!

TheBody

Renegade Mechanic wrote: »

I know someone who boiled a kettle before pouring that on her windscreen...

I know LOADS of people that do that!

Renegade Mechanic

TheBody wrote: »

I know LOADS of people that do that!

Jesus!!!:D Its only a matter of time then!

djimi

Saucy McKetchup wrote: »

I never had a driving lesson and still passed my test first time, common sense goes a long way, there're also should be an aptitude test before allowing someone get in a car

The fact that people can pass the test without taking a lesson says more about the standard of the test than it does about the person themselves in fairness!

djimi

Renegade Mechanic wrote: »

I know someone who boiled a kettle before pouring that on her windscreen...

Ha yeah theres always a few geniuses alright!

TheBody

Renegade Mechanic wrote: »

Jesus!!!:D Its only a matter of time then!

I know. Hope they have windscreen cover in their insurance!!

dr.fuzzenstein

Zcott wrote: »

Relevant:

http://youtu.be/LuDSHnVxX-c

If I tried I couldn't get that more wrong!

Fixed:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LuDSHnVxX-c

Yakuza

Saucy McKetchup wrote: »

That's no excuse for a person not learning the basic secondary controls of a vehicle, it's more stupidity than anything else

Agreed, but I was pointing out the basic controls being part of the test now is not relevant for a good chunk of the driving population that never did a test or did an old one.

HeidiHeidi

rizzodun wrote: »

My next door neighbour bought a new car 3 months ago, still hasn't figured out that her rear foglight is on constantly.

I don't see why people don't spend a few minutes in their driveway figuring out what all the buttons and lights on the dash do and mean when they change cars. I can't see why people don't figure out the foglight thing though, the light on the dash is the same for every car.

This is a HUGE bugbear of mine - my car has foglights that actually have to be switched on, and the default setting is off, every time you knock off the engine it reverts to off - can't understand why all cars don't have the settings like this instead of a button that can be left on for the lifetime of the car :eek:

corktina

boiling water on the windscreen isn't a problem, as it is instantly not boiling water when it hits the ice and little different from warm water

dr.fuzzenstein

rizzodun wrote: »

My next door neighbour bought a new car 3 months ago, still hasn't figured out that her rear foglight is on constantly.

I don't see why people don't spend a few minutes in their driveway figuring out what all the buttons and lights on the dash do and mean when they change cars. I can't see why people don't figure out the foglight thing though, the light on the dash is the same for every car.

There should be a red light of equal brightness to the rear foglight on the dash.
Or better still a powerful laser focused directly on to the eyes.
The really thick still won't get it, but at least they will drive the car to the garage and tell the mechanic that this light is annoying them and how to get rid of it. But some very @special@ drivers would still drive not notice anything.
I saw a guy driving around with his rear door open, I ran after the car, yelling at him to stop, which he did.
When I told him his rear door was open, he barely reacted, but did get out to close it. He seemed to think that was no big deal.
Scary.
What annoys me, is the people who have unwittingly turned on their rear wiper 6 months ago and it still scrapes over and back, even though the motor is nearly burnt out and the rubber is hanging down in tatters.

Mint Sauce

HeidiHeidi wrote: »

This is a HUGE bugbear of mine - my car has foglights that actually have to be switched on, and the default setting is off, every time you knock off the engine it reverts to off - can't understand why all cars don't have the settings like this instead of a button that can be left on for the lifetime of the car :eek:

My fogs will only come on, when the lights are on, and will automatically switch off when the the lights are switched off.

If the one eyed cars were bad enough, now you are seeing them with one working dip on one side, and one working fog on the other.

I wont even start up a car, if I dont know at least how the switch the lights on and off, and the wiper and indicator stalk operation. Or if the revervese gear operation is a push down gear stick, or pull a tab to ingage.

teddansonswig

corktina wrote: »

tiny indeed compared to the legions who just got in a car and drove it and still didn't get round to doing a test. Driving lessons are very recent and still not considered essential

Lessons are now essential , you have to have hours logged to get your test!

djimi

Mint Sauce wrote: »

My fogs will only come on, when the lights are on, and will automatically switch off when the the lights are switched off.

I think the only car Ive owned that doesnt do this is my current car, and that doesnt even have fog lights, just the JDM yellow lights on the front.

corktina

teddansonswig wrote: »

Lessons are now essential , you have to have hours logged to get your test!

I know that, but people only do the lessons because they have to rather than because that's what a sensible person does. I wonder how many people have found a way round this with a friendly driving instructor?

teddansonswig

corktina wrote: »

I know that, but people only do the lessons because they have to rather than because that's what a sensible person does. I wonder how many people have found a way round this with a friendly driving instructor?

driving instructors have to pay their bills to… so i doubt that its a serious problem.

rizzodun

A guy I used to work with borrowed a workmates car to take a run down to the shop, 5 minutes later the car owner got a call, yer man was still stuck in the car park because he couldn't find reverse (push down, left and up), needless to say he didn't live that one down for a long while.

Mint Sauce

rizzodun wrote: »

A guy I used to work with borrowed a workmates car to take a run down to the shop, 5 minutes later the car owner got a call, yer man was still stuck in the car park because he couldn't find reverse (push down, left and up), needless to say he didn't live that one down for a long while.

I have done this a well. Was trying out a new Mitsi Evo and went to do a 3 pt turn before heading back, fortunately didn't have to make the call, and road was quiet. Hence my ealier comment of now being sure how to find reverse before heading off.

djimi

rizzodun wrote: »

A guy I used to work with borrowed a workmates car to take a run down to the shop, 5 minutes later the car owner got a call, yer man was still stuck in the car park because he couldn't find reverse (push down, left and up), needless to say he didn't live that one down for a long while.

I think we have all fallen foul of that one in fairness :pac:

Some manufacturers seem to make a game out of it to see how best they can trick people with reverse gear...

debabyjesus

corktina wrote: »

boiling water on the windscreen isn't a problem, as it is instantly not boiling water when it hits the ice and little different from warm water

I don't know about that. Too fast of a change of temperature and the glass will crack. If this is the case, why do windscreens crack if someone pours water thats too hot on it? Maybe on a windscreen thats already chipped its a bad bad idea.

corktina

but the point is the water cools quicker than the ice heats . Boiling water + ice has to result in water cooler than the boiling water (which in reality is less than boiling anyway since the kettle was turned off a while back)

(disclaimer: it may be a different situation if there is a chip on the windscreen)

djimi

The reason I wouldnt throw boiling water on the windscreen is because it could crack (I have seen it happen). It might have been down to a flaw/crack, but either way there is no need to use boiling water when lukewarm water will do the same job and is a lot safer.

Supergurrier

corktina wrote: »

but the point is the water cools quicker than the ice heats . Boiling water + ice has to result in water cooler than the boiling water (which in reality is less than boiling anyway since the kettle was turned off a while back)

(disclaimer: it may be a different situation if there is a chip on the windscreen)

Thermal shock would be why i would use only lukewarm water.

Eventually the glass will crack from the almost instantanious change of extreme temperature

biko

A man I know drove his car for 11 years without knowing the steering wheel could be adjusted.

V Eight

Supergurrier wrote: »

Thermal shock would be why i would use only lukewarm water.

Eventually the glass will crack from the almost instantanious change of extreme temperature

Thermo Nuclear War would be a factor also.

dudara

djimi wrote: »

The reason I wouldnt throw boiling water on the windscreen is because it could crack (I have seen it happen). It might have been down to a flaw/crack, but either way there is no need to use boiling water when lukewarm water will do the same job and is a lot safer.

I can't even be arsed with water - there's an ice-scraper kept permanently in the driver's door pocket. Nice foam handle so it's not too cold!

Harcrid

I know I will probably have to revoke my man card after saying this but I get pleasure sitting down to read the manuals of my new cars every time I get one, just to make sure I know what every button does and make sure I am not missing out on some cool hidden feature.... :-)

whippet

I still can't use the voice control in my car ... Every time I try to do s

passive

whippet wrote: »

I still can't use the voice control in my car ... Every time I try to do s

He typed this using the voice control...

Bpmull

I done my driving test near 2 years ago and got asked about nearly every secondary control. I dont know how anyone would sit in a car or any vehicle and drive it around not having a clue how to use most of the secondary controls. Whenever I change my car I make sure I am familiar with all the controls which I normally know them all as its not exactly rocket science and I'm sure most drivers know them but there seems to be always the few. Also when I change my car I always read through the manual and I normally learn something new as every car has a few tricks that wouldn't always be obvious.

Renegade Mechanic

corktina wrote: »

but the point is the water cools quicker than the ice heats . Boiling water + ice has to result in water cooler than the boiling water (which in reality is less than boiling anyway since the kettle was turned off a while back)

(disclaimer: it may be a different situation if there is a chip on the windscreen)

I mean they boil the kettle prior to lashing the windows. They dont even make a cup of tea with it beforehand! But I think once the second has passed whereby the ice or frost has absorbed the heat of the water boiled only 20 seconds earlier, all thats left is the window which heats up too quickly, the layers expanding at different rates which causes the cracking. Its by no means an instant consequence but they do crack.

wonski

djimi wrote: »

I think we have all fallen foul of that one in fairness :pac:

Some manufacturers seem to make a game out of it to see how best they can trick people with reverse gear...

Happened to me when swapped cars with a friend on one day. Took me 10 minutes to figure out BMW reverse gear. Those diagrams on the stick didn't help. In my defence I figured it out meself, without calling for help:D