Why is driving such a chore,,,,

[JKD]

,,,, for some [lots !] of people ?!

Every day I drive, at all different times, all over SE London and large areas of Kent, and it's constant bad, terrible, awful [insert your own description] driving all around me. Don't get me wrong,,,, I'm no saint on the roads, but I'm courteous, cautious and constantly aware of my surroundings driving a Renault trafic van.

And it's consistently getting worse ! How I don't see numerous accidents every day is amazing ! Is there a reason for this ? At the end of the day, driving isn't rocket science,,,, or is it ?!

[TIGHTCHOKE]

Yes, it is terrible everywhere over the last five years or so.

People sit at junctions especially at traffic lights and almost seem surprised when the light goes GREEN. There is then a pause while they think what to do next.

I am also aware of the WOT, Wheels On Tarmac set up I am seeing so often now. Initially, apparently meant to make over taking a broken down vehicle in front of you easier.

It just causes more delay and puts vehicles further back from the junction.

[ditchman]

i drove long distances for the jobs i had going all over the UK.....driving during the day was a real PIA so i did all my driving late evening ?night ...i had a top car a volvo estate auto...(same the police had) it was all leather interior amd supremley comfortable and fast......

driving at night/eve...was a good wind down and really relaxing...used to love it...used to stop regulary for food and water etc

dont know what it would be like now...

[TIGHTCHOKE]

Early morning is the best time, but only the motorway service stations and a few large petrol stations on major junctions are open.

Interesting;

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c4gpkgly9qzo

[mellors]

Simple fact too many vehicles on the road. 

I spent 40 years on the road trucking all over the uk and Europe. 

Driving standards are awful how some get a license is beyond me just watch them try to park or negotiate roundabouts clueless. 

How some cope daily now i don't know the last couple of years so many road works round here but the roads get worse just dig holes patch em up pot holes every where. 

 

 

 

[JKD]

21 minutes ago, mellors said:

Simple fact too many vehicles on the road. 

I spent 40 years on the road trucking all over the uk and Europe. 

Driving standards are awful how some get a license is beyond me just watch them try to park or negotiate roundabouts clueless. 

How some cope daily now i don't know the last couple of years so many road works round here but the roads get worse just dig holes patch em up pot holes every where. 

 

 

 

Well I certainly agree with your first sentence 👍 Some of the worst driving I see is HGV's, artics,,,, some drive them like it's a car 🤬 The worst is French and Italian tagged vehicles, noticeably so, but many UK/British ones too !

I will add instances as the thread progresses, but just for now,,,, some days I get home after an hour or more driving from a job, and my jaws are aching from the laughing [and shouting] at the pee poor driving on the entire journey 😦🤣

[daveboy]

Anyone that drives faster than me is a lunatic, anyone that drives slower is an idiot.🤣

[Dougy]

I had 6 or 7 weeks driving to Brum Airport, M42 or A38 both as bad, journey time should be around 40 mins not just under 2 hours. 

Gave my notice in and retired 

[old'un]

36 minutes ago, daveboy said:

Anyone that drives faster than me is a lunatic, anyone that drives slower is an idiot.🤣

White van drivers are some of the worst offenders, driving and parking.

[DUNKS]

I dont think its just driving that has altered, its people that have altered and that affects driving and most other aspects of life today.

JMHO of course with 88 years of experience! 

[Old Boggy]

12 minutes ago, old'un said:

White van drivers are some of the worst offenders, driving and parking.

Fortunately the OP (JKD) drives a grey van

[30-6]

Come to Wales. I think if there was a theory test for what speed limits are on various roads, no-one would get 100% correct.

Too many unnecessary speed bumps and traffic lights. Various companies are digging up roads, and then few months later some other company will dig it back up.

Road closures and 4 way traffic lights make a short journey longer. People are so frustrated common sense and courtesy goes out the window.

[old'un]

11 minutes ago, Old Boggy said:

Fortunately the OP (JKD) drives a grey van

[old'un]

30 minutes ago, DUNKS said:

I dont think its just driving that has altered, its people that have altered and that affects driving and most other aspects of life today.

JMHO of course with 88 years of experience! 

88 years driving on the roads?

[DUNKS]

1 hour ago, old'un said:

88 years driving on the roads?

Seems like it. Three long roads on the estate I was born in. Not one car.

[JKD]

2 hours ago, Old Boggy said:

Fortunately the OP (JKD) drives a grey van

Just to be exact, it's silver 

2 hours ago, daveboy said:

Anyone that drives faster than me is a lunatic, anyone that drives slower is an idiot.🤣

😆🤣

I describe them as driving with lead shoes on, or driving in their slippers 😆

[chrisv]

5 hours ago, TIGHTCHOKE said:

Yes, it is terrible everywhere over the last five years or so.

People sit at junctions especially at traffic lights and almost seem surprised when the light goes GREEN. There is then a pause while they think what to do next.

I am also aware of the WOT, Wheels On Tarmac set up I am seeing so often now. Initially, apparently meant to make over taking a broken down vehicle in front of you easier.

It just causes more delay and puts vehicles further back from the junction.

The green light does seem to confuse some people!

Most of the junctions in this area are at the limit of their capacity due to additional housing in the last 10 years.

The traffic lights all have sensors in the road to monitor the length of the queue in each direction. So many people seem to be unable to grasp the idea that if they leave a gap over the sensor nearest the lights, even with a queue of 40 plus cars, the lights will change straight back to red. 
It seems to happen every morning on my way to work 😤

[TIGHTCHOKE]

I'm glad you've seen it and explained what is going on.

 

When I was taught to drive we pulled up to a foot off the bumper of the vehicle in front and even applied the handbrake, oh how things have changed.

[JohnfromUK]

1 hour ago, TIGHTCHOKE said:

the handbrake

The young don't probably even know what that is.  Apparently 'hand' brakes are now either a switch, or an 'American style' pedal operated thing.  Fortunately my cars are old fashioned and I still have a genuine hand brake.

Pulling away at a steep junction was always exciting in my original LandRover as the handbrake was at floor level, so to reach it you had to bend right down to the point where seeing out of the windscreen wasn't easy ........

[chrisv]

Tightchoke 

Sorry, my reply wasn’t very clear. It’s once the traffic has started moving that any long gap between the vehicles causes the lights to change to red.

Regarding gaps in the standing traffic, I used to do as you do and not leave a gap. Now, I tend to leave a bit of room so that I can adjust my position in case the inevitable emergency vehicle is trying to force its way through, as happened last night on my way home. Nobody could move anywhere, so the queue just sat there until the lights changed.