Your top three driving pet hates...

[ItalianTuneUp]

I haven't noticed the syndrome being restricted to white vans.

Many vehicles, including cars, are driven by people who don't own them, e.g. sales reps. etc., and who ostensibly have little if anything to lose if the car they are driving is damaged. It's not their pride and joy, and presumably not their financial loss - no claims discount etc??

I've never driven a company car so I don't know if there are any incentives to drive these vehicles safely, carefully, and within the law? Or whether on the contrary there are punitive consequences from employers if deadlines aren't met?

You're right, it's certainly not restricted to white vans, but they are notorious for tailgating, and yes, investment in something expensive tends to make people more careful, as any ensuing loss would be theirs. There is a reason why hire cars are renowned for being the fastest cars to drive ;-)

 

[MancMike]

Probably because a. It's too much hassle to garage the car every time it's used, or b. Because the garage is being used to store household junk?

He said drive, not garage.

 

[Deleted member 6183]

He said drive, not garage.

And I'm as guilty as anyone about garage junk. Currently have 2 tons of logs assorted other ****e and a car - of which you could just about make our a rear quarterlight if you squint.

 

[geraldrobins]

I haven't noticed the syndrome being restricted to white vans.

Many vehicles, including cars, are driven by people who don't own them, e.g. sales reps. etc., and who ostensibly have little if anything to lose if the car they are driving is damaged. It's not their pride and joy, and presumably not their financial loss - no claims discount etc??

I've never driven a company car so I don't know if there are any incentives to drive these vehicles safely, carefully, and within the law? Or whether on the contrary there are punitive consequences from employers if deadlines aren't met?

I have driven my own car for work and business for the past 9 years but prior to that I had the use of a company car for about 30 years. I don't recall many of my colleagues having more accidents or bumps with their company vehicle than others with their own vehicles. Most people look after the car they have been allocated and take a pride. There are exceptions of course but then some people seem to abuse their own cars. Of course not having to worry about fuel, tyre and brake replacement costs, can and probably does encourage more spirited driving.
Regarding accidents with company cars, there can be more inquisitions with some companies and difficult explanations to do than just having to tell the wife, or husband. Abuse of a company car or any other company property is of course a disciplinary offence.

 

[ItalianTuneUp]

He said drive, not garage.

Oops, you are so right, thanks!

My point on garage junk is still valid though...so many garages full of stuff that should really be thrown away as some (most?) seems to be junk and no longer needed, hence being there.

 

[ItalianTuneUp]

And parked on the roadside during the day and on the drive at night smacks of convenience, but what do I know?

Or another possibility: showing off a nice car to the neighbours by parking it on the street...keeping up with the Jones's syndrome?

 

[MancMike]

I know, I've got a garage too, and I have so many tools, lifting gear, compressor, etc that I can barely get the car in there. I make special effort when I'm to do some work on the car, but it's far too much effort every night to put the car in the garage...

 

[thedruid]

My current pet hate has only recently started. Since October when I got my E coupe I have realised that most other drivers don't have the ability to stay on their own side of the road when driving around the estate I live in. This allows me to test the efficiency of my brake regularly. Its funny but it never happened when they had a 12 year old Scooby heading towards them.

 

[Piff]

I have driven my own car for work and business for the past 9 years but prior to that I had the use of a company car for about 30 years. I don't recall many of my colleagues having more accidents or bumps with their company vehicle than others with their own vehicles. Most people look after the car they have been allocated and take a pride. There are exceptions of course but then some people seem to abuse their own cars. Of course not having to worry about fuel, tyre and brake replacement costs, can and probably does encourage more spirited driving.
Regarding accidents with company cars, there can be more inquisitions with some companies and difficult explanations to do than just having to tell the wife, or husband. Abuse of a company car or any other company property is of course a disciplinary offence.

I'm with all of the above. I worked for a regional firm and shortly after writing off my own car they issued me with a small van initially then a car (we are going back to Morris Marina days here). A few years later The Ital had replaced the Marina and one morning I managed to plant mine into the back of a stationary lorry, writing off the Ital.
Severe telling off & demotion to an old Marina. I think I was the straw that broke the camels back. Company staff policy re-written to make it clear to all staff that any future damage to company cars would result in withdrawal of the privilege.

 

[johnsco]

Severe telling off & demotion to an old Marina. I think I was the straw that broke the camels back. Company staff policy re-written to make it clear to all staff that any future damage to company cars would result in withdrawal of the privilege.

On the subject of pet hates ..... I once had the privilege of owning a Mark 1 Marina.

 

[Bogatyri]

clown who go past on mway and then pull in front to quick!

 

[davidjpowell]

clown who go past on mway and then pull in front to quick!

Don't suppose your hogging the middle lane needlessly at this point?

 

[ItalianTuneUp]

Driving on French motorways...drivers aggressively tailgating and leaving their overtaking indicator on for ridiculous amounts of time...they need a brake light coming on suddenly to make them think what they're doing...just a dash button to put the brake light on briefly without engaging the brake

 

[Deleted member 65149]

And parked on the roadside during the day and on the drive at night smacks of convenience, but what do I know?

Or another possibility: showing off a nice car to the neighbours by parking it on the street...keeping up with the Jones's syndrome?

Or at the other end of the scale they're so ashamed of their cars they don't want them parked on their drive! Seriously though, your first paragraph covers it for most I suspect. Except it's more a case of laziness than convenience!

Having spent over £40k on my car I prefer to put it away in my garage when not in use, so most of my neighbours probably have no idea what I own (unless they spot me cleaning it on the drive).

 

[Dieselman]

Driving on French motorways...drivers aggressively tailgating and leaving their overtaking indicator on for ridiculous amounts of time...they need a brake light coming on suddenly to make them think what they're doing...just a dash button to put the brake light on briefly without engaging the brake

The french and Germans use a flashing indicator to alert you they want you to move over and let them past.

Have you thought about moving over so they don't have to have their indicator on for ridiculous amounts of time?

 

[Bogatyri]

Don't suppose your hogging the middle lane needlessly at this point?

Don't suppose you being a **** needlessly at this point?

 

[AMGeed]

Don't suppose you being a **** needlessly at this point?

Mmmm, 3 months a member and being rude unnecessarily isn't going to win you friends

 

[ItalianTuneUp]

The french and Germans use a flashing indicator to alert you they want you to move over and let them past.

Have you thought about moving over so they don't have to have their indicator on for ridiculous amounts of time?

I don't consider their aggressive tailgating & indicating necessary when there's only 2 lanes, you're overtaking a line of trucks, you're doing 130/140 kmh and there's nowhere else for you to go.

You've never seen this happen to yourself in France then?

Thanks for the information on why they use their indicators though, I would never have guessed it if you hadn't pointed it out.

 

[WDB124066]

I hate people coming up behind me on the open road. If that happens it means they are going faster than me, in which case I slow up a bit, move left and let them through so I can be on my way and they can be on theirs....I just have to tell myself they are on their way to a genuine emergency and they have to get through. Works every time = NO STRESS!

I expect the same from others and I think the Continentals do as well to be frank.

 

[ItalianTuneUp]

Lol