Your top three driving pet hates...

[Deleted member 65149]

People who think it's THEIR right of way ALL the time regardless of give way signs or what side of the road the parked cars are on etc.
Some are oblivous idiots and others drive Range Rovers or VW Passat estates..

The side of the road that parked cars are on has absolutely nothing to do with "right of way". The available road is there for everyone to use. I hate the drivers who think that just because cars are parked on the opposite side of the road they shouldn't give way to oncoming traffic. It's good old fashioned courtesy to let others pull out to pass parked cars or they could be stuck there forever. Which leads on to my greatest driving pet hate: drivers who think that they're the only ones on the road and totally ignore the needs of others.

 

[AGordCL]

The side of the road that parked cars are on has absolutely nothing to do with "right of way". The available road is there for everyone to use. I hate the drivers who think that just because cars are parked on the opposite side of the road they shouldn't give way to oncoming traffic. It's good old fashioned courtesy to let others pull out to pass parked cars or they could be stuck there forever. Which leads on to my greatest driving pet hate: drivers who think that they're the only ones on the road and totally ignore the needs of others.

I quite agree with courtesy, I often give way to cars regardless of what side of the road parked cars are on, but there is a general rule, taught by driving instructors that if there are parked cars on your side of the road then you should give way..

Of course there's a point at which common sense must be applied so there aren't people waiting for long periods.

See; Passing Parked Cars

With regards to your pet hate, that's very similar to what I had written...

 

[brucemillar]

90 degree bends. I cant hold the vodka bottle and cap as well as steer.

 

[Deleted member 65149]

90 degree bends. I cant hold the vodka bottle and cap as well as steer.

Don't you have teeth?

 

[meeeb]

I quite agree with courtesy, I often give way to cars regardless of what side of the road parked cars are on, but there is a general rule, taught by driving instructors that if there are parked cars on your side of the road then you should give way..
See; Passing Parked Cars

With regards to your pet hate, that's very similar to what I had written...

That's the way I was taught also, but that was in the days when courtesy was the rule rather than the exception. The general rule I apply is that the vehicle which arrives first at the obstruction has precedence - not 'right of way' - but this has to be applied with common sense as the bloke coming the other way maybe a Me Me Me type.

 

[geraldrobins]

Manufactures could tell you that cup holders are intended to be used when the vehicle is stationary, but there's always plenty of plonkers to take things to the next level.

How do you drink responsibly whilst driving? Drinking whilst driving must be as distracting as using a mobile phone, maybe even more so at times by virtue of the action obscuring vision.

I have seen more than one goods driver steering with both elbows whilst pouring a hot drink from a flask.

Which brings me to one of my pet hates, a psychological condition called illusory superiority.

Guilty as charged. I keep my bottle of water in the cupholder.

 

[Giantvanman]

illusory superiority.

Illusory superiority refers to the cognitive bias with which individuals overestimate their own qualities and abilities, relative to others. This is evident in a variety of areas including intelligence, performance on tasks or tests, and the possession of desirable characteristics or personality traits.

Describes a good many drivers' belief about their own driving ability, I would say.

 

[Dieselman]

That's the way I was taught also, but that was in the days when courtesy was the rule rather than the exception. The general rule I apply is that the vehicle which arrives first at the obstruction has precedence - not 'right of way' - but this has to be applied with common sense as the bloke coming the other way maybe a Me Me Me type.

I do that and had a classic example last night.
A fairly narrow road that is a through route and always has parked cars irregularly parked both sides.
At one bottleneck I stopped and let about four cars through, even waiting for the last one.
This creates duplex flow, with traffic moving in both directions and using the passing places to best effect.

I could see a car coming down the road, but some distance away and with multiple areas for them to pull in, but realised the driver was speeding up to jam the bottleneck.

Too late, the C- Coupe was off and he then found the need to use the brakes rather sharply.

 

[bob6600]

In answer to the original question and in no particular order

1. Lane hoggers on m/way
2. HGV's on anything with more than one lane
3. Poor lane discipline, especially at roundabouts for example when drivers go straight on across 2 lanes, then look at you thinking you should move over

 

[meeeb]

I do that and had a classic example last night.
A fairly narrow road that is a through route and always has parked cars irregularly parked both sides.
At one bottleneck I stopped and let about four cars through, even waiting for the last one.
This creates duplex flow, with traffic moving in both directions and using the passing places to best effect.

I could see a car coming down the road, but some distance away and with multiple areas for them to pull in, but realised the driver was speeding up to jam the bottleneck.

Too late, the C- Coupe was off and he then found the need to use the brakes rather sharply.

I often wonder what thought processes and calculations, if any, are going on in their head. A lot of people seem unable to cope with any but the most straight forward of manoeuvres when it involves allowing others precedence. It's especially galling in this type of situation when you're one of a file of vehicles travelling in the same direction, when Mr Me comes the opposite way and, unlike yourself, instead of letting the file continue unhindered, has to try to break it up as you describe, so that he doesn't have to stop.

Now we're venturing into the realms of egocentrism.

It's amazing and fascinating how many of these psychological 'disorders' manifest themselves most in drivers.

 

[MCFastybloke]

Lane hoggers
Ass riders
those who believe the road is "mine"

 

[cass]

By that logic deaf people shouldnt be able to drive...?

Headphones in are most likely for hands free calls.

then they should get a good hands free kit or buy a merc with hands free,mine is great,easy to use & crystal clear.

 

[Deleted member 65149]

That's the way I was taught also, but that was in the days when courtesy was the rule rather than the exception. The general rule I apply is that the vehicle which arrives first at the obstruction has precedence - not 'right of way' - but this has to be applied with common sense as the bloke coming the other way maybe a Me Me Me type.

I agree with this order of precedence, being pleased to see the distinction from 'right of way'. I just wish that everyone else did too and didn't have the attitude that if the parked car (or whatever else) wasn't on the piece of road they wanted to use, then it wasn't an obstruction.

 

[Jagogen]

Here are mine:

People with poorly projected HIDs. You notice them miles away and the light of which is all over the place and yet they give you the proud look when they come closer to you
People with ancient sat Navs which they take ages to decide where they going and once they decide is definitely the wrong route and they switch to the right one at the very last moment.
L plate learners, You pull next to them, planning to show them how its done in the traffic lights. Then It turns out it was the instructor driving and he outpaces you

 

[johnsco]

My 3 pet hates ...

1. On my way out of Bradford down the M606 towards the M62, there is a 2+ restricted filter lane as you turn left onto the M62.
The disruption as they built it screwed my journey home for 18 months and now I can't use it

2. 80 per cent of the traffic wanting to turn left cannot use the 2+ lane and is snarled up waiting for the traffic lights at the roundabout at the bottom of the M606. The queue tonight was the whole length of the M606 and was blocking the ring road prior to getting onto the M606.

3. Half way down the M606 is an exit slip-road leading to the Euroway Trading Estate, and then a slip road further down which leads traffic from the Euroway up onto the M606.
Such is the nightly-frustration, that drivers leave the M606 and then pop up again 200 yards further down in order to gain a few car-lengths.
You can imagine the ill-natured pushing and shoving that then takes place.
BUT - Don't blame the victims !

What I am really saying is that whoever conceived of the 2+ lane in question is a sadistic, perverted, evil-minded son (or daughter) of a whore and deserves to be fornicated with the blunt end of a rag-man's trumpet.

 

[lordlee]

1. All Nissan Micra drivers
2. Middle Lane Morons
3. Foglights on when its not foggy

 

[johnsco]

Nissan Micra drivers are to be pitied .... Not hated !

 

[ItalianTuneUp]

1. Traffic 'calming' measures: road pinching, sleeping policemen
2. Overuse of traffic lights
3. Traffic lights on roundabouts...Traffic should flow on a roundabout, not bloody stop!
4. Over zealous parking wardens
5. Lack of lane markings when each side of the road is just about wide enough for 2 lanes...very dangerous
6. Middle lane hoggers that refuse to move in
7. People who fail to look before pulling into the next lane, and are doing 50-60mph, causing one to slam on the brakes suddenly, causing one to lose momentum. Why don't the morons pull out when it is safe to do so? Oh yes, cos they're morons.
8. So many pet hates, so little time, that will do for now.

Oh dear, that's more than 3, never mind...and I was just getting started.

Rant over, that feels better.

 

[bob6600]

Another one to add.....Taxi drivers....they seem to start-stop as they please and are not bothered if traffic can continue past them or not. They will happily pull out infront of you causing you to apply heavy braking. I know they are allowed 2 minutes on double yellows to alight passengers but have some common sense and don't block the road, pull over properly!

I nearly had a car go into the side of me once coming out of the local supermarket. There is a taxi rank that was full so another 3 cabs decided to extend the rank by parking on double yellows on the other side of the entrance to the car park. This caused a blind spot and I had to guess when it was clear. Well it wasn't and the car had to brake hard. They do it all day every day and nothing gets said to them.

Most have no consideration for other road users.

 

[Williamwoo]

Another one to add.....Taxi drivers....they seem to start-stop as they please and are not bothered if traffic can continue past them or not. They will happily pull out infront of you causing you to apply heavy braking. I know they are allowed 2 minutes on double yellows to alight passengers but have some common sense and don't block the road, pull over properly!

I nearly had a car go into the side of me once coming out of the local supermarket. There is a taxi rank that was full so another 3 cabs decided to extend the rank by parking on double yellows on the other side of the entrance to the car park. This caused a blind spot and I had to guess when it was clear. Well it wasn't and the car had to brake hard. They do it all day every day and nothing gets said to them.

Most have no consideration for other road users.

Agreed. Also, most of them seem to have no idea that the handy lever attached to the steering column makes those nice little orange lights near the corners of their car flash, thus giving other road users a clue as to their intentions.