Biggest culprits - inconsiderate drivers?

Strider590

almillar wrote: »

What Gloomendoom said. Remember in all situations - you should not cause another driver to change their course or speed. If Cornucopia pulls out in front of someone to make an overtake, and that person has to slow down, that's bad driving. Note no mention of speed in that sentence.

What about when you pull out into a perfectly safe gap, but the car behind accelerates up to your back end in an attempt to "create" a situation out of nothing?

Happens A LOT around here!

Only yesterday I pulled out of a junction, got up to the 40mph speed limit in no time at all (even went slightly over), car behind accelerated hard up behind me, hit the brakes and started gesturing, but then when the road turned from 40 to a 50, he carried on at 40 while I disappeared into the distance.

I dunno, perhaps they think nobody notices them punch the accelerator?

almillar

What about when you pull out into a perfectly safe gap, but the car behind accelerates up to your back end in an attempt to "create" a situation out of nothing?

That's a completely different situation, and of course is bad driving on the part of the driver behind. Unless of course, you actually misjudged it all and they've cruised up behind you at a constant speed...

Cornucopia

So, what is the maximum speed for which I should (allegedly) give way to a speeder? 100mph? 125mph? What about 160mph?

Strider590

almillar wrote: »

That's a completely different situation, and of course is bad driving on the part of the driver behind. Unless of course, you actually misjudged it all and they've cruised up behind you at a constant speed...

I think that's what they want you to think, I personally think it's some sort of ego/superiority thing, you got ahead of them and they need a way to prove to themselves that they are superior.

I have a very good sense of speed, in estimating the speed of other vehicles and in picking up the body language of a car and how it's being driven.

However when the limit is 40 and you reach 40 before the other driver is anywhere near you and THEN they still keep coming, you know they're just being an idiot. Especially when you later get to a 50/60 limit and they stay at 40.

almillar

All of those speeds. In fact, the higher the speed they're doing, the more I would implore you to stay out of the way! Your question shows you are missing my point. You have no idea exactly what speed you, or other drivers are doing, unless you've got a calibration certificate for your speedo. Even if you do, you shouldn't obstruct other drivers. You're not in charge of their speed. You're in the inside lane, and someone is driving slower than you (which is their right, BTW, as long as they're not dangerously slow). You should plan an overtake, including finding a gap. If there isn't one, you don't overtake.
Yes, you might have to slow down. Maybe if you had anticipated better, you wouldn't have to.
You want to drive round at exactly 70 everywhere. Everyone 69 and below isn't driving 'sensibly, safely and legally' in your words. Everyone from 71 upwards, according to your potentially inaccurate speedo is a speeder and deserves to be blocked.
Can't you see that this intolerant attitude is no good on our roads?

Tobster86

utopia_11 wrote: »

BMW drivers usually are the worst in my experience. But not the majority of BMW's that are rep mobiles/eco boxes. I mean the select few with their high powered 6 cylinder engines or the M cars are usually the worst of them all.

I disagree with this. I notice far more inconsiderate behaviour from four cylinder 1 & 3 series; i.e. those who wanted a BMW but couldn't afford a proper one. This is especially noticeable on the bicycle when the larger and larger-engined ones seem to give me more than average space and courtesy.

But then again I drive an 8 cylinder one, so maybe my observations are somewhat subject to confirmation bias!

Strider590

Tobster86 wrote: »

I disagree with this. I notice far more inconsiderate behaviour from four cylinder 1 & 3 series; i.e. those who wanted a BMW but couldn't afford a proper one. This is especially noticeable on the bicycle when the larger and larger-engined ones seem to give me more than average space and courtesy.

But then again I drive an 8 cylinder one, so maybe my observations are somewhat subject to confirmation bias!

Yep, the one's in the cheaper variants seem to have a point to prove.
Drivers of the top end models have a "better than you" attitude, but people in the lower end models try too hard to have that same attitude.

utopia_11

Tobster86 wrote: »

I disagree with this. I notice far more inconsiderate behaviour from four cylinder 1 & 3 series; i.e. those who wanted a BMW but couldn't afford a proper one. This is especially noticeable on the bicycle when the larger and larger-engined ones seem to give me more than average space and courtesy.

But then again I drive an 8 cylinder one, so maybe my observations are somewhat subject to confirmation bias!

If you look at it statistically 90% of the BMW's out there on the roads are entry level/4 cylinder 318/320/118 etc. (or as you say the people who want the badge but cannot afford a proper BMW) hence the probability of coming across an inconsiderate BMW driver is likely to be one with an entry level/small engine'd BMW.

Maybe you're right. To be honest the last few M3's and 3 litre 3 series I've seen were actually going slower than traffic.

PS: which model BMW do you drive?

Cornucopia

almillar wrote: »

All of those speeds. In fact, the higher the speed they're doing, the more I would implore you to stay out of the way!

More nonsense - the roads are there for everyone. I'm not about to be dictated to by another driver who is breaking the law.

Your question shows you are missing my point.

No. I disagree with you. My question was aimed at teasing out exactly how daft your world-view is. You think I should anticipate that someone maybe half a mile behind me (assuming I can even see them) is doing, say, 120mph before I commence a lawful overtaking manoeuvre?

You have no idea exactly what speed you, or other drivers are doing, unless you've got a calibration certificate for your speedo.

This isn't about 1 or 2mph. Not even about 5 or 10. It's about the difference between 65-70 and 90+.

You want to drive round at exactly 70 everywhere. Everyone 69 and below isn't driving 'sensibly, safely and legally' in your words. Everyone from 71 upwards, according to your potentially inaccurate speedo is a speeder and deserves to be blocked.
Can't you see that this intolerant attitude is no good on our roads?

I find that when someone resorts to putting words into someone else's mouth, then that's a good indication they are losing the argument.

I haven't even mentioned people driving slowly. I haven't talked about "blocking", either. I am talking (once again) about a legitimate overtaking manoeuvre on a 2-lane motorway, where there is a line of lorries, and the nearest car behind me is maybe a quarter-half a mile away.

People need to drive at a safe speed according to the prevailing conditions, including the speed of the traffic around them. If they end up getting "blocked" temporarily by someone who is driving diligently within the law, then it is their own fault. They should (of course) have seen the hazard well in advance and adjusted their speed accordingly.

utopia_11

Strider590 wrote: »

Yep, the one's in the cheaper variants seem to have a point to prove.
Drivers of the top end models have a "better than you" attitude, but people in the lower end models try too hard to have that same attitude.

I've noticed there is a sense of mutual respect amongst the higher end bigger engine BMW drivers. A BMW driver in a 335i /M3/545i wouldn't even bother looking at a 320d pulling up next to them at the traffic light. Conversely, you'll almost always find the BMW driver in the 'lesser poor mans' BMW peering over to the otherwise indifferent higher model BMW driver as if to try and gain the acceptance from them.