Is it really so difficult to follow lines on a road?

bitemebankers

muddyl wrote: »

Do you think they purposely buy these to put others at a disadvantage?

Is that what I said? No, it wasn't, was it.
I referred to selfishness, because I don't think these drivers even consider the needs or safety of others.

Would you choose to forgo a safety feature and put your children at higher risk for the sake of what you perceive to be selfishness?

I wouldn't want to use anything that made the roads significantly more dangerous for other users - particularly child pedestrians and car passengers - even if it made life marginally safer for my own kids.

Would you?

In that case, all hgv's, van's, busses etc should be banned as surely they are putting those in smaller vehicles at risk.

HGVs and buses are driven by specially-trained drivers and many vans are driven by professional drivers who do little else. All though the latter have an unfortunately reputation, most are actually damn good drivers.

4x4 drivers, on the other hand, are typically car drivers with small genitals and a unjustified sense of self importance.

bitemebankers

Strider590 wrote: »

Nah, most 4x4's have terrible driver/passenger protection when compared to the average family hatchback.......

Really? I'll take your work for that, Strider. It's certainly the case, however, that 4x4 owners frequently justify their ownership of these ridiculous vehicles on grounds of safety (think of the children!).

Strider590

muddyl wrote: »

Not everyone is in the situation of being able to do a lot of research or even knowing how or where to start. In that case third party information may be all they have to go on. In which case they believe they are making the best choice.
It may not be right, but they are doing their best.
But I also think it depends on situation. As stated, the crash ratings are usually worse than family cars. But what if you live somewhere thats hard to drive in the snow. In which case the best vehicle to be in may well be a 4x4. And im not just talking about living in the sticks. I live in a town, but have a good few steep roads around. In the snow only about 1/3 can get out of our street, and it gets worse on the next road.

Then stick winters tyre's on a Ford Focus and laugh as you pass the struggling fashion 4x4's on their skinny summer/sports tyre's.

I don't want to be taken out of context here and this is by no means aimed at any one person. Im all for people buying what they WANT, but making dumb excuses for it simply makes me lose all respect for them. The definition of "dumb" in this instance, is the willingness to spend silly money on something, based purely on what somebody else says, without actually sitting down and checking out the facts.

What more can I say?

muddyl

bitemebankers wrote: »

4x4 drivers, on the other hand, are typically car drivers with small genitals and a unjustified sense of self importance.

Ha, I love it.
Granted, a lot out there are, but to say they typically are is a bit out I think. In towns maybe, but go further afield and I think opt use the out of necessaty.

As for tan drivers. I drove van's for a few years and some of the people I worked with were down right scary. Its not theirs and its bigger them most vehicle's so they turn into bullies. Not all I agree, but a healthy amount.

muddyl

Strider590 wrote: »

Then stick winters tyre's on a Ford Focus and laugh as you pass the struggling fashion 4x4's on their skinny summer/sports tyre's.

I don't want to be taken out of context here and this is by no means aimed at any one person. Im all for people buying what they WANT, but making dumb excuses for it simply makes me lose all respect for them. The definition of "dumb" in this instance, is the willingness to spend silly money on something, based purely on what somebody else says, without actually sitting down and checking out the facts.

What more can I say?

I dont use winter tyre's, but I do swap both mine and the wife's car to tyre's that have a good tread pattern for the snow and drop the pressure. Makes a huge difference.
My wife's car cant get out normally, but makes it out with a little trouble after the swap.
Mine struggles a little before and has no problems after the swap.

vax2002

that crash test is between a 25 year old design landrover and a 5 year old renault, I suspect the technology barrier is as much to blame for the damage.
However as your brain would be hitting the front of your skull at 40mph, I dont think it would make that much difference what you are sat in.

pendulum

muddyl wrote: »

With regards to pulling out next to the vehicle that is blocking your view. I used to work in insurance and they call it shielding, and it invalidates your insurance as your pulling out without due care and attention.

I'm surprised nobody has called this rubbish yet...

Mark_Hewitt

Standard practice on a roundabout with a 2 lane approach and you've got someone to your right. If they go, you go.

brokenant

I don't think my 4x4 would be anywhere near the top of the list of my choice of vehicle, but some of us do need a 4x4 so don't have an option. Some of things I have to endure include;
£460 per year road tax.
Awful economy, averages 18mpg (with diesel at 141.9)
Corners like the QE2, the lag on the accelerator is horrendous.
0-60 in 13 seconds.
Tyres at £750 per set.
Last service cost £750.

I do however traverse muddy fields, travel down unmade farm tracks and regularly tow up to 2500kg so nothing else would do.
I do agree about people in so called chelsea tractors. The biggest load they carry comes in white plastic bags with Tesco written on them, and the nearest they get to off road is driving down a gravel driveway. They give the rest of us a bad name.
If you do see me driving down the road, mines the shogun splattered in mud with strands of hay sticking out the boot.

scooby75

Mark_Hewitt wrote: »

Standard practice on a roundabout with a 2 lane approach and you've got someone to your right. If they go, you go.

What?!?!? Are you serious? Are you saying that you would move off just because the driver to the right to you has even if you could not see what was approaching on the roundabout? If the driver next to you was a chancer, moved off when he shouldn't have, was hit in the side and shunted into you, who do you think will get the blame? I'll give you a clue - it's you and the driver next to you that you followed like a brainless sheep.