Are there now noticeably more aggressive & arrogant drivers?

Peter Flynt

I don't know whether it is the heat these days or whatever but I'm noticing a lot more aggressive driving by car users on the roads these days.....Are you?

They also happen to be driving more expensive and luxurious cars, as if to show off. . . Sign of Celtic Tiger part 2?

Stuff like undertaking at speed, smirking drivers, not allowing people to pull in/out. . . . I'm sure the cyclists could add to this?

ConnyMcDavid

Haven't seen the aggression. I think the lack of letting people out is due to an increase in people chancing their arm which I have seen an increase. Cars pulling out onto the road from the right trying to force someone to let them in while blocking oncoming traffic.

For example, long queue to go straight and cars take right turn lane while indicating right but at the end they cut in, skipping a long line.

Definitely increase in self centred driving, lack of indicators breaking red lights, stopping in yellow boxes or cycle lanes.

But why do anything differently, who's going to stop them?

OldMrBrennan83

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Peter Flynt

ConnyMcDavid wrote: »

Haven't seen the aggression. I think the lack of letting people out is due to an increase in people chancing their arm which I have seen an increase. Cars pulling out onto the road from the right trying to force someone to let them in while blocking oncoming traffic.

For example, long queue to go straight and cars take right turn lane while indicating right but at the end they cut in, skipping a long line.

Definitely increase in self centred driving, lack of indicators breaking red lights, stopping in yellow boxes or cycle lanes.

But why do anything differently, who's going to stop them?

The old reliables I suppose were always there but I'm coming across a heck of a lot more dangerous driving with, in particular, undertaking at speed. This has happened to me a couple of times over the past few weeks and I'm no slow or dangerous driver.

In one particular incident a car yesterday nearly caused an accident when undertaking me as it did so near a barrier and in my lane. A speeding ambulance had passed nearby just moments earlier and I wondered if they were following it?

But I'm definitely noticing more nastier/selfish stuff. . . . . . .

TheQuietFella

Coming out of Cork today by the Silversprings and a young female driver came down the slip road without even the slightest look over her right shoulder with the road ahead reduced to just one lane and with an army of red cones placed across it but I assumed that she assumed she had the right of way but I gave a little toot upon which she came to her senses!

fxotoole

Definitely more aggressive driving out there, but it’s been going on much longer than the current heatwave, so it’s not down to the heat

sonyvision

I think it is the lessor traffic on the roads and a total disrespect for other road users is on the increase.

The M50 is worse then ever before! Every day something happens travelling 3 junctions.

Last week driving through a housing estate over speed bumps, some gob****e over took me and the car infront, only to not stop at the red light.

This morning again in a 50 zone car behind me decides to hell with the bus lane, undertakes me and nips back in..

I need to get myself a dashcam some of the stuff is harf to believe!

eagle eye

I've had three very close calls in the last couple of months. This morning a guy decided to overtake a car coming towards me and I had to break and swerve to avoid him. About two months ago I came over the brow of a hill to see a car in my lane attempting to overtake numerous cars, again coming against me. I honestly thought my life was over that time. The third one was a guy driving straight out of a side road in front of me, I had to break to a stop to prevent a crash.
I've seen lots of other stuff too like cutting across a lane when turning right on numerous occasions, pulling out in front of cars from a parking space without an indicator, in fact you'd swear that indicators were very expensive to use because a lot of people only put them on for the briefest of moments before they turn off or out onto a road.

I live in a rural area.

Chiparus

As a cyclist actually no, much more civility , less close passes.
As a motorist - about the same, was the victim of some road rage last week, but went to the guards so hopefully will not run into that individual with that attitude again.

dudara

There’s more traffic on the roads, and hence more congestion. Combine the two and you probably will get more aggression or stupid driving

harr

Don’t know about aggression but definitely the standard of driving has gone down hill and I have just noticed this in the last 6 months or so.
A lot more drivers on phones and a lot more impatient drivers leading to a lot of drivers taking huge risks in overtaking or chancing pulling out at junctions when it’s not safe to do so ...
Only today I noticed two novice drivers not even slow down approaching roundabouts , straight into it at speed even though they hadn’t right of way and with a number of cars already on roundabout....

fritzelly

If you've got a dash cam be sure to post the vids over at
https://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2057839970

Very little fear of being caught or even when the garda see them they're not that interested. e.g. today van parked on double yellow lines on main road stopping other traffic, garda car passes, not a bother on them - shoulda been screaming at them to move. If you keep getting away with the small things you eventually end up doing worse things.

OldMrBrennan83

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fritzelly

Patww79 wrote: »

This post has been deleted.

Don't listen to him, they're not bad (most of the time)

thebaz

Peter Flynt wrote: »

Stuff like undertaking at speed,

When I learnt to drive undertaking was illegal - now it seams the norm in Dublin - Taxis and buses (Air coaches) travelling on inner lanes at speed - plus with bus lanes, cycling lanes and wider footpaths (ridiculously wide ) have made the roads become too narrow - I drive and cycle.

magicbastarder

Chiparus wrote: »

As a cyclist actually no, much more civility , less close passes.

actually, i had my worst day on the bike today in a long time in terms of idiot stunts by drivers - a close pass by a dump truck (less than 50cm gap), a close pass by an SUV driver in a bus lane they should not have been in, a dublin bus driver pulling onto a roundabout in front of me (the one on the north side of the east link), a driver cutting across in front of me with a second to spare, even though the road behind me was empty. and a couple of other less obvious incidents.

last week, an angry nordie builder basically challenged me to fisticuffs because i gave him a 'what was that for' throw of the hand when he overtook me around a blind bend.

on the flipside, today i found the arm of my glasses i snapped off a couple of days ago at the top of newtownpark avenue. that makes everything alright. even though the chances of me reattaching them are nil.

magicbastarder

thebaz wrote: »

When I learnt to drive undertaking was illegal - now it seams the norm in Dublin

again, a story from a cycle - i recently found myself on the N2 for about 100m; i entered it on the road down from the snailbox, was leaving it on the dulleek road, so i sat in the hard shoulder for a bit waiting for the gap in the traffic - and got quite a start when i realised there was a car barrelling towards me (in the hard shoulder) doing nearly a ton (km/h wise); obviously saw the car in front indicating right and promptly slid into the hard shoulder rather than wait for the car in front to get into the right hand turn filter lane.

was one of the most 'oh ****, this is it' moments i've had on the bike.

Peter Flynt

Very interesting to read the comments.

I'm driving a long time on streets of Dublin and I'm noticing a lot of speeding in residential areas and disrespect towards other road users much more frequently to the point that I'm noticing it more frequently now whereas in the past ten years or so .... it might be once in a while.

I'm coming to the conclusion that this is related to the upturn in the economy. All of these arrogant road users are driving flashy, speedy cars. The drivers themselves are not your archetypical late teen but seem to be middle aged guys in BMWs, Audis, etc....

whisky_galore

ConnyMcDavid wrote: »

Haven't seen the aggression. I think the lack of letting people out is due to an increase in people chancing their arm which I have seen an increase. Cars pulling out onto the road from the right trying to force someone to let them in while blocking oncoming traffic.

For example, long queue to go straight and cars take right turn lane while indicating right but at the end they cut in, skipping a long line.

Definitely increase in self centred driving, lack of indicators breaking red lights, stopping in yellow boxes or cycle lanes.

But why do anything differently, who's going to stop them?

Indicating is seen as optional by many, usually though not always, at the luxury car end of the spectrum. It's like people get their full licence and drive whatever fcukin way they like afterwards.
Phone use is of epidemic proportions and some drivers seem to drive half asleep, unaware of their surroundings. A lot of arm-chancing at lights. Speeding in urban areas, esp outside my house, usually the boy racer and flash car fraternity.
There was at least one crash per week on my usual route during wintertime and when the schools were open.

Drivers seem to think a nod, wave, beep or flash is all that’s required to overdo it on the courtesy instead of just obeying the rules and driving accordingly.

Idiots slowing down to 50kph to let other people pull out onto 80kph roads instead of letting them wait until it’s safe to do so, looking for the gratifying hand raise or flash of the hazards, it’s the motoring equivalent of thanks whoring on boards.

Dizzy idiots behind the wheel, oblivious to the fact they’re inconveniencing others and behaving unpredictably, annoying those who just drive ‘by the book’.

They’re usually the ones you hear whinging about ‘aggressive middle aged men in flashy cars’ too.

Moronic whataboutery. Get a move on.

blackvalley

Ah yes here we go again . Another thread for" really good drivers ". Must be a fantastic feeling to drive perfectly all the time while watching "other drivers " make all those dangerous mistakes and driving badly.
One question to all those who complain of being undertaken. Why were you undertaken ?. Would it be anything got to do with you hogging the overtaking lanes while the driving lane was empty. Just asking like

Peter Flynt

blackvalley wrote: »

Ah yes here we go again . Another thread for" really good drivers ". Must be a fantastic feeling to drive perfectly all the time while watching "other drivers " make all those dangerous mistakes and driving badly.
One question to all those who complain of being undertaken. Why were you undertaken ?. Would it be anything got to do with you hogging the overtaking lanes while the driving lane was empty. Just asking like

Thread is not about dangerous mistakes and driving badly.

Read the thread title.

kaymin

Peter Flynt wrote: »

Thread is not about dangerous mistakes and driving badly.

Read the thread title.

That's the problem. People undertake you and you complain that they're driving aggressively but it doesn't dawn on you that you're hogging the middle or overtaking lane. Why is there such difficulty to move into the left lane unless you're overtaking?

Peter Flynt

kaymin wrote: »

That's the problem. People undertake you and you complain that they're driving aggressively but it doesn't dawn on you that you're hogging the middle or overtaking lane. Why is there such difficulty to move into the left lane unless you're overtaking?

Undertaking is dangerous driving so quit trying to justify it.

I never once claimed I was on a motorway. I was overtaken by a guy in the same lane on the N3 in busy traffic. . . there happened to be just enough space for him to speed ahead as the road opened out

kaymin

Peter Flynt wrote: »

Undertaking is dangerous driving so quit trying to justify it.

I never once claimed I was on a motorway. I was overtaken by a guy in the same lane on the N3 in busy traffic. . . there happened to be just enough space for him to speed ahead as the road opened out

How does that happen? One lane on the N3 isn't wide enough to fit two cars side by side. So you were overtaken not undertaken?

Rubberchikken

The heat isnt to blame.
There have been crappy drivers on our roads for ages. The proliferation of audis,bmws, and other crap cars with equally poor, rude, entitled muppets driving them is reducing whatever is left of civility and law abiding to zero.
Its best to ignore them.

Peter Flynt

kaymin wrote: »

How does that happen? One lane on the N3 isn't wide enough to fit two cars side by side. So you were overtaken not undertaken?

One of the outer lanes ends and merges with the inner lane after the traffic lights.

Thread is generic and not about my personal particular incident.
I was just giving an example.

screamer

Nah there's always been a fleet of A grade A hole aggressive drivers out there. I commuted to Dublin and back daily for years and TBH came to call Mercs, Beemer and Audi's cocks cars, cause they were usually driven by right aggressive pricks.

kaymin

Peter Flynt wrote: »

One of the outer lanes ends and merges with the inner lane after the traffic lights.

Thread is generic and not about my personal particular incident.
I was just giving an example.

Okay, but if they're overtaking you using the narrowing outer lane then it doesn't sound like they've broken any rules.

And if drivers switched back to the left lane as a matter of course then they would rarely if ever experience being undertaken. Consideration for other drivers will generally minimise the chance of encountering aggressive drivers who tend to be just frustrated at the lack of consideration.

sandyxxx

.....I’ve noticed an overtaking style of accelerating towards the car in from before aggressively applying brakes in order to bully cars from the overtaking lane,.....now I’m fully aware cars shouldn’t be hogging the lane but it occurs when a series has of cars are passing slower moving traffic in the left lane and car after car is pressured into moving left.....it’s bizarre,and must be quite sore on brakes as well,.....Audi’s and Beemers seem to be the main offenders!

blackvalley

Peter Flynt wrote: »

Thread is not about dangerous mistakes and driving badly.

Read the thread title.

You are actually correct about the title .

"Are there now noticeably more aggressive & arrogant drivers?"
The sub title of course is
" Unlike us non aggressive drivers who do everything correctly ":D

Ginger83

I came to a roundabout today where the M3 meets the N3. A lady in an audi estate approached at speed in the left lane, cut through the roundabout in the right lane and back out of it into the left hand lane......like WTF???

magicbastarder

my wife was learning to drive a year or two back. a few times, she'd drive out to where she'd need to get to, with me accompanying her, and i'd drive home and wonder 'why are there so many drivers being assholes?' before realising i'd forgotten to take down the L plate.

no matter what speed i was doing, there were *far* more stupid overtakes. i'm not talking about double the norm, i'd bet it was four or five times as many. so many drivers out there simply cannot deal with being 'stuck behind' a learner driver, even if the learner driver is driving at the speed limit.
the number of miles she drove, vs. the number of stupid and dangerous stunts people pulled, when the L plate was up was really eye-opening.

Autochange

Too many people driving slow in the morning when people are in a rush to get to work. Driving well below the posted limit causing backlogs of cars. Get moving or get out of the way.

Dravokivich

Autochange wrote: »

Too many people driving slow in the morning when people are in a rush to get to work. Driving well below the posted limit causing backlogs of cars. Get moving or get out of the way.

It's generally better to slow down when there's a higher volume of traffic. That's the expectation behind using variable speed limits. And something that's been called for a lot on the m50 within this forum recently. (Although for the most part I find a high majority of people on the m50 are well able to adapt without the need to post variable speed limits)

Autochange

Dravokivich wrote: »

It's generally better to slow down when there's a higher volume of traffic. That's the expectation behind using variable speed limits. And something that's been called for a lot on the m50 within this forum recently. (Although for the most part I find a high majority of people on the m50 are well able to adapt without the need to post variable speed limits)

Im talking about country roads. If its the motorway i will undertake or overtake anyone going too slow. No problem

Peter Flynt

One of the most interesting things I see is on the quays in Dublin.

Yesterday, a Sunday, and the bus lanes are available for all to use.
But what do most drivers do?
They follow the leader and don't bother their arses to read the road signs.

Then when they've been overtaken they seem to get all angry and refuse to let the driver who has overtaken them some leeway. . .

magicbastarder

Autochange wrote: »

Too many people driving slow in the morning when people are in a rush to get to work. Driving well below the posted limit causing backlogs of cars. Get moving or get out of the way.

too many people not leaving early enough for work in the morning, and having to rush and getting unnecessarily worked up over people who left on time, and not in such a rush.

dr.fuzzenstein

magicbastarder wrote: »

too many people not leaving early enough for work in the morning, and having to rush and getting unnecessarily worked up over people who left on time, and not in such a rush.

I agree that rushing is useless and achieves nothing.
But as a general point, nothing irritates me more than the 60k brigade. Drivers who drive everywhere at 60 km/h, be that country road, main road or town.
Quite frankly if someone isn't capable to cruise along at a relaxed 100 and thinks it's some kind of warp speed and their car will explode, they should consider walking or taking the bus.

98q76e12hrflnk

dr.fuzzenstein wrote: »

I agree that rushing is useless and achieves nothing.
But as a general point, nothing irritates me more than the 60k brigade. Drivers who drive everywhere at 60 km/h, be that country road, main road or town.
Quite frankly if someone isn't capable to cruise along at a relaxed 100 and thinks it's some kind of warp speed and their car will explode, they should consider walking or taking the bus.

You'll find the speed limit is usually 50k in thoses areas :rolleyes:

whomitconcerns

Reading this thread there's a lot of aggression pinned on undertaking... It's not allowed by law but if there is space for another car on your left to pass safely.. You are in the wrong in 100% of cases. The M50,n7,n4 etc..... Particularly bad.

It may not be legal but since some of you are complaining about it.. You are causing it...

Peter Flynt

whomitconcerns wrote: »

Tagging this thread there's a lot of aggression pinned on undertaking... It's not allowed by law but if there is space for another car on your left to pass safely.. You are in the wrong in 100% of cases. The M50,n7,n4 etc..... Particularly bad.

It may not be legal but since some of you are complaining about it.. You are causing it...

Overtaking on the left is allowed if the car in front is turning right.

Overtaking on the left under any circumstances on a motorway is very dangerous . . . and stupid.

Your "you made me do it" excuse won't wash.

whomitconcerns

I don't think any of the previous posters were complaining that they were overtaken on the left while stopped... Not what we were discussing.

And the latter point..I already said it's illegal. However it's not necessarily dangerous or stupid depending on the circumstances on the motorway. But your correct that it's no excuse if your caught.

Proper enforcement and automatic fines for incorrect lane usage would that.

Reati

Peter Flynt wrote: »

Overtaking on the left under any circumstances on a motorway is very dangerous . . . and stupid.

I drive on American roads several times a year due to work and I for one can tell you it's far from stupid or dangerous. It's stupid and dangerous it's not allowed to be honest. It happens everyday on my drive to work and home again. And it's due to middle lane hoggers. And because it's not allowed here people don't look left when merging as they don't ever think a car will be there.

As a side note: Right on red (or left on red for us) is another favorite of the roads over there I wish we added here. (i.e you can drive through a red if turning right as your on the right as long as you fully stop first and nothing is coming)

kaymin

Peter Flynt wrote: »

Overtaking on the left is allowed if the car in front is turning right.

Overtaking on the left under any circumstances on a motorway is very dangerous . . . and stupid.

Your "you made me do it" excuse won't wash.

Says the person who admitted undertaking on the left lane down the quays and complains about someone being aggressive because they overtook him towards the end of an overtaking lane.

You seem like the sort that refuses to budge from the fast lane because you're doing the speed limit.

eagle eye

Peter Flynt wrote:

Overtaking on the left under any circumstances on a motorway is very dangerous . . . and stupid.

I overtook in the left lane on a motorway this morning in a safe and secure manner. There was a truck doing 90 kmph in the right lane and no traffic visible in the left lane.

blazard

Peter Flynt wrote: »

I don't know whether it is the heat these days or whatever but I'm noticing a lot more aggressive driving by car users on the roads these days.....Are you?

They also happen to be driving more expensive and luxurious cars, as if to show off. . . Sign of Celtic Tiger part 2?

Stuff like undertaking at speed, smirking drivers, not allowing people to pull in/out. . . . I'm sure the cyclists could add to this?

that applies to cyclists/pedestrians/people in general lately

firstlight

Undertaking is only made dangerous by the fact people can't and don't use their mirrors
I am not suggesting swerving in and out of traffic,like said above cruising at 100 and slipping past a car doing 80 In wrong lane
Middle lane hoggers doing 80 clicks in a 100 zone should be in left lane and if their not should expect to be undertaking by trucks buses and other traffic
When u usually are beside them they speed up anyway,then slow again.
Use to drive me crazy but you become immune to it
If you can't drive 100 or 120 on a dry road you should not be driving
I am not suggesting speeding undertaking,just sticking to the speed limit
Just my 2 cents

dr.fuzzenstein

Brayan Large Teacup wrote: »

You'll find the speed limit is usually 50k in thoses areas :rolleyes:

That's exactly my point.
Some, mostly older, drivers drive everywhere at 60k.
The actual speed limit doesn't matter.
Used to be a bigger problem before motorways.
These guys don't do motorways. Or if they do they drive at 80 in the right hand lane.
But of course they're following the RSA mantra.
Doesn't matter what else, as long as you're driving slow, you're safe.

Wishbone Ash

firstlight wrote: »

....I am not suggesting speeding undertaking,just sticking to the speed limit....

Why should anyone have to drive at the speed limit? It's the fastest speed permitted - not the speed everyone should be travelling.

Weather conditions, traffic conditions and the vehicle I'm driving will dictate the speed I travel at.

Reati

Wishbone Ash wrote: »

Why should anyone have to drive at the speed limit? It's the fastest speed permitted - not the speed everyone should be travelling.

Weather conditions, traffic conditions and the vehicle I'm driving will dictate the speed I travel at.

You're strawmaning the point as no one thinks or said you have to drive posted speed limit constantly but to spell out the issue most people are taking about for you. If everyone else is doing 100/120 around you and you are doing 65 in middle or right lane causing people to undertake because you won't move then you are an unsafe and ignorant driver.