Have driving standards deteriorated during lockdown ?

motorguy

JamoLew said:

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

I'm with you on this.

I've had people pull out in front of me on roundabouts, etc and theres even less people using indicators now.

And pedestrians seem to think they're immortal now too.  In our local small town if someone decides they want to cross the road they seem to believe any traffic will stop so they dont bother looking.  I think some people will find out the hard way thats not the case.

Initially i also thought there would be more opportunities to get a bit of speed up on the country roads near us but far too many clueless walkers and cyclists wobbling about so if anything i'm driving slower than previously.

Also its nice to get out of the house on essential journies so driving a bit slower elongates that time.

Takmon

Ganga said:

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.

Someone claiming to accurately judge a cars speed by observing it is flaky at best but saying you know a car is doing 60 just from the sound of it is bordering on the ridiculous!. 
I remember one of your kind when i was younger and had a loud exhaust on my car when i was driving through a town at below the 30 mph speed limit and this man was frantically waving his arms at me to slow down simply due to the noise of my car he must have thought i was going fast. 

twopenny

Definitely more impatient. During lockdown people having to walk in the road to social distance they were so angry because they were going to fast to make allowances - but it wasn't their fault, it was everyone else.

Today my first trip of 8 miles I was concious of walkers, horses and bikes on our narrow roads so stayed alert lol and to speed limit. Even in a village with 30 and cameras I got a queue behind me up my bumper.

No hope for social distancing when they can't leave the required distance behind a car. If they get closer they will get there quicker?

They should have been grateful. I know where the cameras are and the random police stops. Saved them a good bit of money.

Supersonos

twopenny said:

Even in a village with 30 and cameras I got a queue behind me up my bumper. 

You should try going at 20 in a 20. 

Ganga

Takmon said:

Ganga said:

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.

Someone claiming to accurately judge a cars speed by observing it is flaky at best but saying you know a car is doing 60 just from the sound of it is bordering on the ridiculous!. 
I remember one of your kind when i was younger and had a loud exhaust on my car when i was driving through a town at below the 30 mph speed limit and this man was frantically waving his arms at me to slow down simply due to the noise of my car he must have thought i was going fast. 

Yes you are probably right ,i have only been driving for just over 50 years so what would i know , of course the guy could have been waving at you for making far too much noise but why would you care.

MinuteNoodles

Driving is a perishable skill, you don't use it it degrades.

Ganga

MinuteNoodles said:

Driving is a perishable skill, you don't use it it degrades.

You honestly believe this ?

Mercdriver

MinuteNoodles said:

Driving is a perishable skill, you don't use it it degrades.

Driving, no, concentration and consideration, yes.

Ganga

Mercdriver said:

MinuteNoodles said:

Driving is a perishable skill, you don't use it it degrades.

Driving, no, concentration and consideration, yes.

Now that i agree with ,but its funny how some younger people never ever get to an acceptable standard although can pass their driving test!

Mercdriver

Ganga said:

Mercdriver said:

MinuteNoodles said:

Driving is a perishable skill, you don't use it it degrades.

Driving, no, concentration and consideration, yes.

Now that i agree with ,but its funny how some younger people never ever get to an acceptable standard although can pass their driving test!

That's because they are taught to pass a test, not to drive.  But not only that, too many don't realise that when they pass the test, they need the humility to realise that they are only just starting to learn.