Every now and then I take a late night drive out to keep my battery charged. Last night I was following a Police car on a 40mph limit road, and I noticed another car coming up behind. A little further on, the speed limit changes to 30mph, and the Police car and myself started to slow. About 200yds into the 30 limit, the car from behind passed us both at around 45mph. The driver of the Police car must have seen him coming because the blues lit up as matey passed, and I don't know if he panicked, but he swerved in front of the Police car, and braked hard to a standstill, causing the Police driver into an emergency stop. I slowed, passed them, and stopped. I walked back but was advised they required no witness, so I then drove off. I would have loved to have been a fly in the hedge to witness the ensuing conversation.
Total Stupidity
-
02-05-26 22:34@Rolebama I wonder how many collisions are caused solely by driver impatience? 😏 -
03-05-26 12:21And yet, we are told that not making progress is a fail in the driving test!
In Rolebalma's post, it sounded like simple speeding but I am surprised at the police, putting the blues on as the offender was passing was very likely to produce the reaction it did.
I think, there are four main types of speeders.
1) I know better than the speed signs, their only for those who cant judge for themselves, people like me who can really drive we know when to slow etc.
2) Yes, I saw the sign but I am in a hurry, no one will notice.
3) Just doing what everyone else is doing, and keeping to a speed limit would mean I would have to concentrate!
4) What speed limit, I didn't see one?
@NMNiel Rather than 'impatience' I would substitute 'selfishness'.
Reminds me of a sermon by the Vicar of mirth, the sermon began with, "My flock, you whom I have fleeced so often. We are all on this Earth to help others, what on Earth the others are here for I do not know!" -
03-05-26 13:24
It's certainly a fault, but only a fail if it's judged actually or potentially dangerous. Or habitual. -
03-05-26 18:08@Beelzebub
My brother failed for giving way at a double zebra crossing (i.e. it had a very small island in the middle where pedestrians could stand) because the pedestrian was crossing from the other side of the road and had not reached the island
Apparently you only give way to pedestrians on or just about to enter a zebra crossing ... with the island acting as a sort of "reset" zone meaning treat it as two separate crossings
I understood the logic, especially very long crossings or ones with significantly sized islands, but it definitely was not dangerous ... habitual would have to be inferred, because he only did it once (and did not have another similar opportunity to either repeat the mistake or prove un-habitual) -
03-05-26 18:17@olduser
r.e. "selfishness"
I don't tend to get angry at the wheel but the one thing that does annoy me is "mister/misses average" ... drive at 40mph in the NSL zone and 40mph through the village
It grates me because driving below the limit on a NSL road suggests awareness of their own safety and so driving at a speed they feel is within their ability (fair enough)... in a village the limit is very much more there for the safety of others so they make the decision to disregard it and continue to choose a speed based on ensuring only their own safety
Double standards!Last edited by Drivingforfun; 03-05-26 at 18:22.
-
03-05-26 19:17They are the ones that worry me, I suspect the are not really paying attention to the world around them, I think they would say something like, "we don't go fast so we are safe and not a danger to, anyone, what village with a speed limit sign?"
If anything passes them they behave as though they were not aware anything was behind them, as though keeping the car on the road is all they are thinking about.
But I see many people driving in long streams of traffic who look as though they are doing similar, leave driving to the car in front, i'll just follow the bumper, and react to it's brake lights.
I think some people do that on fast roads!Last edited by olduser; 03-05-26 at 19:21.
-
04-05-26 05:33
Yes. the Highway Code (and the law) is clear. A central refuge means there are two separate crossings, and there would have been two pairs of beacons to make it clear.
Stopping for no reason would be regarded as potentially dangerous.. -
04-05-26 20:12
I was taught to look a few yards away from zebra crossings and be mindful that someone walking toward it might be about to cross. If someone is 3 seconds away on a pavement or 3 seconds away on an adjacent zebra, what difference would that make?
I know the technicality is "car has priority unless pedestrian puts a foot on the zebra" but rightly or wrongly my driving instructor told me that was a tad aggressive and to err on the side of courteousnessLast edited by Drivingforfun; 04-05-26 at 20:15.
-
05-05-26 16:27@NMNeil Personally, I do think that thoughtlessness comes into a lot of bad driving, (when it affects others), mixed with a tad of selfishness and a smidgen of ignorance.
-
05-05-26 16:32@Drivingforfun Where I live, one of the busier approach roads is a 40mph road, changing to a 30 when you get to the residential area. I have lost count of the times I have been in a convoy doing 25/30 in the 40 limit, but on hitting the 30, they accelerate to 40. All the 30 limit for quite a large area is relatively straight roads, never mind the kids.
-
06-05-26 08:22@olduser @Rolebama It's definitely interesting to try to ascertain the thought (or lack of, as the case might be) that goes behind these behaviours. I think Olduser is right and it's rarely a conscious malicious thought that they're better or more important. I'm aware we have many inherent biases bot don't apply them overly consciously. I guess a good example is almost everyone will state that "most drivers are stupid", which to hold true over a population would necessitate many people putting themselves in that group
-
08-05-26 12:21I am not sure stupid is the best word perhaps thoughtless is a better choice.
To drive we learn a set of automatic actions involved in driving such that we don't have to think about these actions we just get on and perform them as required making driving an automatic process.
Herein is the danger, this level of automaticity allows drivers to drive without actively paying attention, we can think of other things, and still keep moving.
Far too many do, the phone, the music, a difference at work, whats for tea, etc. all take precedence over looking where they are going.
This obviously is very dangerous, if we forget to turn on the observation, and planning functions.
But that demands most of our brain capacity to process the ever changing stream of information, done properly it's a full time job!
Yet, without that level of attention we can only start to react to a situation after it has started! -
08-05-26 13:00I used the word stupidity for a few of the reasons I think this incident took place.
First, because he deliberately exceeded the speed limit.
Second, he did not see a fully logoed and striped Police car in front of me. (The road is not straight and there was ample opportunity for him to see it.)
Thirdly, he pulled to the other side of the road to overtake, with no indication of his intent.
Fourthly, cutting in on the car he had just overtaken, and braking heavily, causing the Police car to emergency brake.
Fifthly, obviously paying no attention to his surroundings or any heed to consequences of his actions.
Or maybe he was drunk, which, in my eyes, is also stupid.
