Why do drivers speed up and close the gap when you try and change lanes?!!

Mr_Thrifty

timbotambo wrote: »

Oh and I drive a BMW lol!!

we all knew that...

hehe

Wongsky

Mr_Thrifty wrote: »

hehe come on, i bet nigel mansell is a brilliant driver on the roads. he has been the face of many safety campaigns. and even though he could go at 200mph i bet he drives at exactly 30mph in 30 zones and i bet he is very courteous and his attention is perfect. if every driver was like nigel mansell i bet there would hardly be any accidents on the road

Here's the thing about racing drivers - many have to "perform", somewhat like seals, for safety campaigns, as a punishment for some transgression, from their sporting organisartion.

And all I was trying to say is that I don't get the crossover between being very good at driving at the limit, to necessarily being a safer driver on the road - I'm just far from convinced that performance ability and technique is the cause of most crashes on road.

Mr_Thrifty

Wongsky wrote: »

Here's the thing about racing drivers - many have to "perform", somewhat like seals, for safety campaigns, as a punishment for some transgression, from their sporting organisartion.

And all I was trying to say is that I don't get the crossover between being very good at driving at the limit, to necessarily being a safer driver on the road - I'm just far from convinced that performance ability and technique is the cause of most crashes on road.

the link is the driver's attitude... nigel mansell stays calm and polite... i bet if some BMW driver cuts him up he doesn't drive up their backside flashing his lights and waving his fist...

the pro drivers know they can drive at 200mph and have nothing to prove to some boy racer, hence they are calm and collected and excellent safe drivers in the UK highways

also i think nigel mansell did the road adverts because he cares about road safety rather than as a punishment for something!

Wongsky

Mr_Thrifty wrote: »

the link is the driver's attitude... nigel mansell stays calm and polite... i bet if some BMW driver cuts him up he doesn't drive up their backside flashing his lights and waving his fist...

the pro drivers know they can drive at 200mph and have nothing to prove to some boy racer, hence they are calm and collected and excellent safe drivers in the UK highways

also i think nigel mansell did the road adverts because he cares about road safety rather than as a punishment for something!

You can think what you like, but I've seen him race and lose his cool. Didn't help that he had to run from the car, as Dennis Vitolo's car had landed on top of his - but all the same...

I suspect your views on racing drivers, are somewhat euphemistic - most of them have form for some on-road faux pas, I'm sure the Schumacher brothers have had the occasional transgression, seem to recall Vettel might have recently, Lewis Hamilton got his wrists slapped in Oz for showing off, fairly sure Damon Hill once got a highly publicised speeding ticket - as did the guy who appears to be your hero, in a Bentley, no less.

If you asked me who I thought was most likely uber-safe (or as safe as it gets) on road? I'd probably suggest a police advanced driving instructor.

Mr_Thrifty

Wongsky wrote: »

If you asked me who I thought was most likely uber-safe (or as safe as it gets) on road? I'd probably suggest a police advanced driving instructor.

How about Maureen from "Driving School"? Remember her?

Wongsky

Mr_Thrifty wrote: »

How about Maureen from "Driving School"? Remember her?

"Right turn, Clyde..."

NBLondon

Mr_Thrifty wrote: »

if every driver was like nigel mansell i bet there would hardly be any accidents on the road

Does that include the accent and the 'tache? Even some of the best drivers here would struggle

Seriously - not so. Mike Hailwood died in a car crash that all his skill couldn't avoid.

Wongsky

NBLondon wrote: »

Does that include the accent and the 'tache? Even some of the best drivers here would struggle

My favourite story about Mr-Tache-and-personality, was told by Professor Sid Watkins who rushed to a huge accident on a rainy track, worried that Mansell had not yet removed his helmet or exited the car which was sitting in a dangerous position. When he arrived, Sid related, Mansell was just watching the race. "Why didn't you take off your helmet and get out of the car?" Sid demanded, in a sort of exasperated manner.

Now imagine this, said in Mansell's brummie, if not slightly whining twang: "It's raining," said Nige.

jase1

Lum wrote: »

Thing is everyone has a different perception of what a safe gap is, especially those who drive older cars with poorer brakes.

So from the other person's perspective, they were driving along maintaining a safe stopping distance and some nob* in a BMW changed lanes at the last minute putting them at risk, so they responded by being an even bigger nob and trying to teach you a lesson.

Note: Not excusing or defending, just explaining.

OK so they want to keep a safer gap due to poor brakes, then at the first sign of irritation they tailgate?

That example would be the very definition of dangerous driving -- driving too close when they know fine well their vehicle isn't up to the task of stopping.

Bongles

Mr_Thrifty wrote: »

why would anyone deliberately be like that?? :-(

i always try to think that people are inherently good

if they're rude on the roads then probably something has upset them, it could be anything really

Yep, that.

Lum wrote: »

So from the other person's perspective, they were driving along maintaining a safe stopping distance and someone changed lanes at the last minute putting them at risk, so they responded by being an even bigger nob and trying to teach you a lesson.

Note: Not excusing or defending, just explaining.

Yep, and that too.

The thing that leapt out at me from the OP was:

timbotambo wrote: »

so I indicate and start to move over slowly.

I think you said later in the thread that all lanes were at similar speed. I'm not sure if it's what you meant but it reads as though you might have started to move over as soon as you signalled, rather than signalling and holding position, waiting for cooperation from the driver behind?

I think people are sometimes afraid of allowing the other driver in situations like this the chance to be cooperative, because of course that also allows them the chance to be uncooperative. But so what? If you signal and wait, and the driver behind speeds up to block you in, allow them past and see if the next driver offers cooperation. I find that while the first driver behind might sometimes react instinctively in what they perceive as their own self-interest and speed up, almost invariably the second driver behind, who has enough time to see the situation develop and play out in ahead of them and to consciously think about how to respond, chooses to cooperate, for which I'll thank them after I've moved out.