standard of british driving

[Chattonmill]

This is a joke thread isn't it ?

OP claims to have travelled the length of France at an average speed of over 100 Mph in a Transit van, towing a boat and then complains about the standard of driving in this country.

So everyone criticises the spelling and grammar. Am I missing something ?

Well I was just having a laugh, I thought that was obvious

 

[crockers]

Did you ever watch Twin Peaks...

Just going to have a damn fine cup of coffee and talk to the log...

 

[MBManInKen]

talk to the log...

That's no way to talk about the wife!

 

[neilrr]

Hang on .... i thought he was joking ....

You mean there was actually a van built with the 220 engine in it ?

Brilliant !! ... why don't companies do mad stuff like that any more instead of just sticking chequered tape on cars and transformer disguises ...[/QUOTE

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=JNvpoy6gO-4

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=MlxzhpVdXQM

 

[Dieselman]

That's no way to talk about the wife!

You've not met her....

 

[flango]

It's impossible to drive from Toulon to Calais in 7 hours, even with a car.

However, perhaps he meant Toulon-sur-Arroux in Burgundy? That's about 400 miles from Calais. Even that would be a big challenge in 7 hours, that's still an average speed of more than 57mph on a route that is not all motorway.

Assuming we are talking the Toulon near Marseille it must be the best part of 1200 Km back to Calais. Marseille to Calais takes me best part of 12 hours in a Subaru let alone a van. Not possible I'm afraid you would have to average 171 kph without stopping maybe it has a rocket powered motor or it's a new flying van like the Delorean out of back to the future? Which was also fantasy just in case anyone thinks otherwise

 

[Frank O' Phile]

Assuming we are talking the Toulon near Marseille it must be the best part of 1200 Km back to Calais. Marseille to Calais takes me best part of 12 hours in a Subaru let alone a van. Not possible I'm afraid you would have to average 171 kph without stopping maybe it has a rocket powered motor or it's a new flying van like the Delorean out of back to the future? Which was also fantasy just in case anyone thinks otherwise

You need a van like this

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=Q62JHD0nB8Q

Not sure of the tank range though.

p.s. didn't top ghia have a transit with a F1 benetton engine?

(checks grammar and speeling, yup ok.)

 

[crockers]

You need a van like this

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=Q62JHD0nB8Q

Not sure of the tank range though.

p.s. didn't the top Ghia have a transit with a F1 Benetton engine?

(checks grammar and speeling, yup ok.)

Just poor use of capitals..............or lack of...

 

[pipmk]

something needs to be done, this weekend I have been to the south of france and back, 7 hours from Toulon to Calais, 7 hours from Dover to Farnham, gridlocked, accidents, people not being able to drive, its rediculous, its like being in a third world country, I know that when I go to Austria and it snows 2 metres overnight nothing stops, everything carries on as usual, yet over here - no. Some of that is Austria being used to that kind of weather and the brits are not, the weather only happens here once every X years but if the test, and free refresher courses for people who have passed thier tests could include driving in snow, eg, how to handle a car thats getting away from you I think less accidents, less traffic which in turn leads to less accidents, less deaths, less stress on the emergancy services and the vicious cycle has less momentum, I was embaressed last night to be driving home, I had a transit van with no traction control and a trailer with a boat on it and I wasnt having a problem, I got into my CLK with a fixed MAF and option 488 `sporty tuning` and drove up some unkept roads to get out of work on weybridge then drove home on roads where I could not see the black stuff and I didnt crash, luck you may say, im the first to admit I would not consider myself an amazing driver, just above average but essentially I have driven on snow in Austria and Iceland with experts and a learnt a few things and if others could have that knowledge it would help in the rain and snow, some of you may also say most cars have ESP and dont slide, tell that to the guy in the beemer 1 series and new Jag XJ crabbing up the motorway sideways, clogging it up and generaly making a mess of it all because they were using too much throttle,

rant over, but clacket lane services did look like something out of a disaster movie yesterday, I as ok as I was prepared, food, water, fuel, warm clothes, boots, mobile phone with charger etc,

I've told you a million times not to exaggerate!

 

[WILDROVER]

Lived in the UK for 19 years, learned to drive and passed my test there.

Just come over here to Ireland and witness/experience the white knuckle ride of driving amongst people who are on their 14th provisional licence without ever having had any lessons in their life and you will forever appreciate the actual very high quality/standard of driving that exists in the UK.

There has never been a requirement for people to actually do a driving test over here - yes they do exist and the more responsible drivers take it. But if you cant be bothered you dont have to.

At one point years ago the Irish government issued a sort of amnesty and issued full licences to to people who had more than a certain number of provisionals WITHOUT having to do a test first.

You really only appreciate bad, and I mean dreadful, driving when you come to Ireland.

 

[shorty]

Not all Irish drivers are bad drivers . The law has also been changed to stop people driving on provisional licences .

 

[WILDROVER]

Not all Irish drivers are bad drivers . The law has also been changed to stop people driving on provisional licences .

Agreed, it would be a terrible generalization to say that ALL drivers here are bad ones.

But! I found when I came back here two years ago that the overall standard of driving here is truly, genuinely shocking.
Most of it is a matter of complete ignorance of the rules of the road. There is a huge number of people here that genuinely have no actual clue as to how a car should be driven on the public road (lane disipline, use of indicators, proper observation etc, etc, etc)

 

[shorty]

There is a few muppets on irish roads allright .Some people dont know when to use indicators and never look for bikes , I have been smashed up 4 times on bikes by car drivers not looking

 

[WILDROVER]

There is a few muppets on irish roads allright .Some people dont know when to use indicators and never look for bikes , I have been smashed up 4 times on bikes by car drivers not looking

The one that gets me is the drivers that sit in the outside lane of the M50/Dual carrigeways at 40mph with the inside lane clear because they have NO perception of the danger they are causing to themselves/other road users or the impact their (in most cases unintentionally) selfish behaviour is having on the conjestion on the roads.
Its all due to an almost complete lack of training.

 

[shorty]

This never really happens when im on the bike , nearly all cars will move over to let me past , but in the car they just sit there and there is little that can be done excpt under take them . This is usally when they decide to move over resulting in lots of braking and swerving !

 

[WILDROVER]

This never really happens when im on the bike , nearly all cars will move over to let me past , but in the car they just sit there and there is little that can be done excpt under take them . This is usally when they decide to move over resulting in lots of braking and swerving !

And any traffic cop would then do you for the illeagal undertaking manouvre and let the cause of the problem carry on their blissfully ignorant way to cause more carnage further down the road!!

 

[shorty]

And any traffic cop would then do you for the illeagal undertaking manouvre
Yea but only between 9 to 5 on a week day , there nowhere to been seen any othe time !

 

[NewMB]

Here's a good one that happened today:

Small street, some side exits from shops.

Suddenly this car come out from left. he Stops. I hit the brakes - HARD. Looks at me. I look at him. I drive past and see "L" and only one person driving it!!

Teacher.

Thumbs up is what he received from me.

Great that we have such good people setting us all an example of gooood driving.