Have driving standards deteriorated during lockdown ?

JamoLew

Is it just me, or does it seem that a good majority of drivers have just plain forgotten how to drive ?
Factor in pedestrians/joggers in the middle of the road and cyclists who last rode a bike 20 years ago and the road just seems a much more dangerous place to navigate

facade

Just you I guess, I can't imagine how standards could be any lower than before the lockdown

Green_hopeful

We have lots of people speeding on our residential street. Going really fast. 

Mercdriver

People are assuming it's only going to be them on the road.  Even more than normal.

peter12345678910

I drive every day being a key worker. And my driving has  worsened being so few cars ....just being more carefree and easy going....but not driving faster, but other cars are driving faster. Perhaps cops will be more hesitant to stop other drivers is a notion why.

But the air is better to breathe and being less cars lowers the probability of accidents.

pogofish

I’m noticing that the quieter roads mean that a lot of drivers are going faster than normal esp approaching junctions or roundabouts - Not that they were that much bothered by speed limits before all this.

I’ve also not seen a traffic car doing speed checks in my road since all this began but they were regular visitors before. 

missile

Excluding those making essential journeys, perhaps it is the less caring members of society who are out on the roads? 

Stay at home & the Highway Code do not apply to them.

SallyDucati

I live in a semi rural village and the speed of people going down the lane through it has definitely increased.  At least until enough of us complained and the police did a few speed traps.   (due to the pavements not being on both sides all the way along you have to cross it at a pedestrian so speeding makes in unsafe)

Ganga

We live in town and have or used to have dedicated bus only links in the villages ,these were opened up to the public as people complained they had to drive for an extra couple of minutes to circumvent these restrictions ,we have a one near us and the last couple of weeks someone has been driving through the narrow section of road at great speed, i have not seen them but have heard the car and it sounds like it is doing about 60 mph ,it is a 30 mph limit and the road is narrowed so pedestrians can cross safely, it is also restricted to one direction having priority, absolute madness by the driver but as has been said there appears to be little or no police vehicles/speed traps on the roads now.

Supersonos

Speeding is socially acceptable and following the speed limit is "sad" and "old woman" driving.  I regularly get comments from people about the fact I stick to the speed limit.

Speed cameras are bright yellow and sign-posted to give you a good chance to slam on the brakes and not get caught, if there's a camera van, passing motorists will flash and wave to warn you, it's legal to have apps on your phone that warn you of the location of speed cameras.  Even if you get caught, the fines are relatively low and a lot of people just get offered a speed awareness course.  Eveything tells motorists and breaking the speed limit isn't really that big of a deal.

I'm not surprised more people speed and sometimes I wonder if I should do so myself, because the chances of getting caught are minimal, the fines are pocket money and I'd get to places a lot quicker.

maisie_cat

No pavements here, and the drivers are driving much much faster, the problem with only being able to exercise from home means that you are also taking your life in your hands walking along the road.