The standard of driving, especially in and around Belfast

Bigcammy

This should probably go in the Money Savers Arms, but I think it applies specifically to Northern Ireland and Belfast in particular.

What is it with drivers these days? I learnt to drive in the mid-eighties and my instructor taught me to be respectful of other drivers, to be cautious in traffic and to be safe at all times. All I see now are people with no patience or respect for others. In heavy traffic, red lights appear not to matter, nor does entering a junction when it's blatantly obvious that you are never going to get across it before the lights change, blocking a junction for traffic coming from other directions.

One of my pet hate junctions is Bridge End, where traffic coming off the Sydenham Bypass is constantly blocked by drivers from the Short Strand direction (not Short Strand drivers I hasten to add) crossing the junction and blocking right across the road because of the queue of traffic heading to the M3.

I'm only getting started, but will stop now before my blood pressure rises any more

SnowyOwl_2

My pet hates are the lack of use of indicators. I just don't understand why so many people don't bother with them, especially when they see that you are waiting for them to pass at a junction or a roundabout then they suddenly turn off.

The other one is people who drive to the shop and no matter how big or how empty the car park they still have to park right at the shop door, often causing an obstruction. The ones who park at petrol pumps when there is a rush on but then don't buy petrol/diesel are especially hard to fathom.

spike7451

SnowyOwl wrote: »

My pet hates are the lack of use of indicators. I just don't understand why so many people don't bother with them, especially when they see that you are waiting for them to pass at a junction or a roundabout then they suddenly turn off.

The other one is people who drive to the shop and no matter how big or how empty the car park they still have to park right at the shop door, often causing an obstruction. The ones who park at petrol pumps when there is a rush on but then don't buy petrol/diesel are especially hard to fathom.

Yep,like the Centra in Donaghadee!:mad: They'll park right next to the car at pump 1 & the shop wall,stopping cars going around them which means cars reversing out of the pumps instead of being able to drive forward,causing chaos.
I reckon they'd take their :exclamati car into the shops if they could!!!

And head lights!!! the amount of people over here driving around with misaligned or one on sidelight & the other one stuck on high! Especially those driving large jeep type cars that come right up behind you & blind you in the mirrors!! I drove all the way from Ards to the Dee with some :exclamati behind me blinding me!I had to drive with so I could'nt see in my mirrors cuz the :exclamati headlights were so blinding!!
Not to mention the idiots who drive with their front fogs on & sidelights,even tho it's illigal!!:mad:

Snoozle

I have a theory, its not scientific or backed up by research of any sort, but I like it! :rotfl:

I base it on my sister in law. She is one of those 'posh lady in an expensive car' type drivers. She drives everywhere about a foot behind the car in front, has multiple speeding tickets, only ever parks where it tells you not to, constantly uses her mobile phone whilst driving, to name but a few of her many irritating habits.

And she sees nothing wrong with this, because she is busy and has a very important job (in her eyes) and a child to look after, so she is always in a hurry (again, this is her interpretation). But she doesn't seem to be able to understand that this applies to about 90% of people on the roads - everyone is busy, everyone is in a hurry, everyone needs to get to work on time. She is so mind bogglingly self absorbed that the only person that matters is her, and she thinks her needs are more important than anyone else's.

I think there are quite a few others on the roads just like her......

jc2703

My pet hate is people who hang on to their place in a traffic queue like their life actually depended on it!! They wouldn't think of just holding their horses a minute to either let someone from the opposite direction turn right across them or let someone in from the left...madness!! Just to get where they are going three seconds quicker!

I have to say I moved to Belfast from England five years ago and driving over here is a Sunday stroll compared to there!

Golden_Anemone

Drivers who treat the overtaking lane as their personal space, at below or even at the speed limit. It's called the overtaking lane for a reason!

Drivers who when you do let them out of a side street don't signal thanks. They make me less inclined to do so again for others, I'm only human.

spike7451

Golden_Anemone wrote: »

Drivers who treat the overtaking lane as their personal space, at below or even at the speed limit. It's called the overtaking lane for a reason!

Drivers who when you do let them out of a side street don't signal thanks. They make me less inclined to do so again for others, I'm only human.

I always either flash my hazzards or give a quick wave in the mirror when someone lets me pull out.It's only courtesy &,like you,I feel the same.

tight_arze

Golden_Anemone wrote: »

Drivers who treat the overtaking lane as their personal space, at below or even at the speed limit. It's called the overtaking lane for a reason!
QUOTE]

This is top of the list of my driving pet hates. Regularly see this happening.

Old_Git

you should try Craigavon also known as roundabout city .I have never seen anyone use an indicator at the roundabouts

snowmen

people staying in the middle lane of the 3 lane sections of the m2 and the m1 even though the inside lane doesnt filter off for another couple of miles.

indicators - you can be sitting waiting to get out on a roundabout for ages while people turn off without indicating and then the time you pull out the non-indicator goes straight on.

x12yhp

Another one for the indicators! You should use them instinctively, if you don't then you are having to think either whether to use or not use them which not only distracts you from the road but also is prone to error (i.e. sooner or later you are going to move out without indicating when you really should have done so). There is never a time when it is bad to indicate.

The other one is more controversial - those who think that the laws of the road are wrong and thus break them. These are often the same people who then come online and complain when they get caught.