[Travel] Has the general standard of driving gone down since Covid

[Flounce]

I am finding Audi drivers are the guys speeding at a good 20+ over the speed limit. However, there are also a determined hardcore of older drivers who travel at 10-20 below the speed limit, and effectively form mobile roadblocks that impatient drivers then behave dangerously to try and get around and get on with their day.

I would personally like to see driving tests every three years from 75 onward, and I’d also like to see driving seen as more of a privilege than a right.

I’m all in favour of lifetime bans for those who are travelling at 90+ on public roads, as well as anyone who kills or seriously injures others as a result of dangerous driving. If nothing else it will reduce congestion and improve takeup of public transport.

I have not yet reached your 75 year old threshold but I would not be against what you suggest. At least you’ll then find out if you are still the great driver you’ve always thought you were since you passed your test! I suggest many would fail. In fact I reckon most people would fail if they took their daily driving habits to another test five years after they passed

 

[BBassic]

I started learning to drive last year so my frame of reference is possibly a bit skewed but I've been astounded at some of the actions on the road.

Tailgating, lack of indicator usage, speeding, dangerous over-takes.

And the impatience people have with learner drivers specifically is mad.

 

[RandyWanger]

Anyone blamed all the foreigners yet? As I had immigrants on my bingo card.

 

[METALMICKY]

How about people in supermarket car parks failing to observe the directional arrows?

And don't get me started on people parking in kids parking bays with no child in sight. Not such an issue now but when my twins were younger those wide bays were a godsend when you are dealing with shopping, double buggies/prams and manoeuvring the kids out of their car seats.

 

[MJsGhost]

Some people's brains don't seem to be wired in a way that lets them easily plan ahead/start preparing for something they will (or might) have to do soon and they just react to a prompt when it's in front of them.

This makes them struggle to adjust speed or start a manoeuvre early for the least impact on other drivers (e.g. sudden changes of lane or heavy braking that would have been avoided with a bit of forethought/preparation). Hazard perception is also poor as they are just looking at, and responding to what is right in front of them in a given moment rather than anticipating risks.

See also:

• Queuing for ages, yet only rummaging around for means of payment once they have been served and they are asked for the money
• Finding a pan and putting on the kettle at the time they needed to be actually putting the veg into a boiling pan of water
• Only starting to think about what to order in a restaurant when the waiting staff come over to ask (when the menu has been sat in front of them for 10 mins)

These people are inevitably running late more often than others, which probably doesn't help with driving as they are perpetually in a rush.


*** Disclaimer *** Any similarity to behaviours exhibited by my other half are purely coincidental *** Disclaimer ***

 

[WATFORD zero]

40+ years >1.5 million miles, a 1st in my advanced driving test, two accidents.
One when someone bumped me up the rear at a roundabout, one when someone hit my car parked outside of my house (I was in bed asleep).

1. Retest every 10 years for every driver. If you fail you get 3 months to pass before you lose your licence.
2. Retest every 5 years over 60, every 3 over 70.
3. All restests should be full tests, to the same standard new drivers need to get on the road.
4. Mandatory Black boxes for all new/young drivers, with limits on young passengers.

A couple of observations
Never let you out at Junctions when queuing traffic - Women driving wankpanzers who stare at the bumper of the car they are stuck behind
Most aggressive drivers - Men in their 50s and 60s
Tesla or wankpanzers now seem to be the car of choice for ****s, taking over completely from BMW's, Audis, White vans, etc etc
Everyone makes mistakes, putting your hand up and acknowledging it is the least you should do.

 

[jcdenton08]

Anyone blamed all the foreigners yet? As I had immigrants on my bingo card.

Actually yes, and they made a good point. The point being that driving licenses are much easier to obtain in many other countries.

In 2023, London had the highest accident rate, with 2.76 accidents per 1,000 people. (https://www.thetimes.com/article/be...gyll-and-bute-are-most-dangerous-tlrwv8g26?ut - paywall)

Over 40% of London residents are born abroad (https://migrationobservatory.ox.ac.uk/resources/briefings/migrants-in-the-uk-an-overview/)

Scotland is the lowest with 1.32 accidents per 1000 people, and has a well-below UK average foreign migration level of 7.2%.

So there’s an argument, however flimsy, that can be made.

 

[RandyWanger]

Actually yes, and they made a good point. The point being that driving licenses are much easier to obtain in many other countries.

In 2023, London had the highest accident rate, with 2.76 accidents per 1,000 people. (https://www.thetimes.com/article/be...gyll-and-bute-are-most-dangerous-tlrwv8g26?ut - paywall)

Over 40% of London residents are born abroad (https://migrationobservatory.ox.ac.uk/resources/briefings/migrants-in-the-uk-an-overview/)

Scotland is the lowest with 1.32 accidents per 1000 people, and has a well-below UK average foreign migration level of 7.2%.

So there’s an argument, however flimsy, that can be made.

Not surprised. The Indian driving test is the easiest. They only have to drive in a straight line, turn left, and stop after 50 yards in order to pass.

Legally you're supposed to get a UK driving licence after 1 year, but I guess the home office do not know who's here and for how long.

Assume a taxi / uber needs a UK licence though?

 

[jessiejames]

Some people's brains don't seem to be wired in a way that lets them easily plan ahead/start preparing for something they will (or might) have to do soon and they just react to a prompt when it's in front of them.

This makes them struggle to adjust speed or start a manoeuvre early for the least impact on other drivers (e.g. sudden changes of lane or heavy braking that would have been avoided with a bit of forethought/preparation). Hazard perception is also poor as they are just looking at, and responding to what is right in front of them in a given moment rather than anticipating risks.

See also:

• Queuing for ages, yet only rummaging around for means of payment once they have pbeen served and they are asked for the money
• Finding a pan and putting on the kettle at the time they needed to be actually putting the veg into a boiling pan of water
• Only starting to think about what to order in a restaurant when the waiting staff come over to ask (when the menu has been sat in front of them for 10 mins)

These people are inevitably running late more often than others, which probably doesn't help with driving as they are perpetually in a rush.


*** Disclaimer *** Any similarity to behaviours exhibited by my other half are purely coincidental *** Disclaimer ***

Reason why hazard perception should be taken out the system you fail this for seeing the hazard early, most lorry drivers would fail this as they are looking at hazard in advance. On the test you have to spot the hazard as it happens. On a recent DCPC course we had an ex police officer, he was saying that he could tell what type of driver you were at a speed awareness course. Basically after watching a 5 minute clip he asked who spotted between 4 and 8 hazard, these would be your normal car driver between 8 and 15 lorry and coach drivers, seen in advance because of their hight and able to react accordingly.
15 and above 1 even saw 40 hazards they had been in a severe accident. He admitted that there was no right or wrong answer.

 

[Sussexscots]

Middle lane drivers on the A/M23 and M25 doing 60mph.There is usually a huge bunch of frustrated drivers behind them.

Indeed. Lack of proper lane discipline is hugely frustrating.

I learned my lesson. My instructor said 'You can't expect people to wait around on you. You'll know next time'.

I chuckle now, remembering his words, largely for the reasons you describe.

 

[MJsGhost]

Reason why hazard perception should be taken out the system you fail this for seeing the hazard early, most lorry drivers would fail this as they are looking at hazard in advance. On the test you have to spot the hazard as it happens. On a recent DCPC course we had an ex police officer, he was saying that he could tell what type of driver you were at a speed awareness course. Basically after watching a 5 minute clip he asked who spotted between 4 and 8 hazard, these would be your normal car driver between 8 and 15 lorry and coach drivers, seen in advance because of their hight and able to react accordingly.
15 and above 1 even saw 40 hazards they had been in a severe accident. He admitted that there was no right or wrong answer.

Driving a 40 tonne rig probably focuses the mind on having plenty of time to change course or slow down if you need to!

 

[sussex_guy2k2]

Strangely, I think people on the whole have slowed down (and the speedsters stand out a lot more now), but that the standard of driving has become worse.

I live in Haywards Heath and the level of driving there is atrocious. I regularly (and by regularly, I mean daily) see people do things that would cause them to fail a test.

 

[sussex_guy2k2]

Anyone blamed all the foreigners yet? As I had immigrants on my bingo card.

So I’m married to a foreign type and one of my brother in laws is a taxi driver. He genuinely thinks the influx of people from the East has had an impact because their road rules are totally different to ours.

Anyone that’s travelled to, or driven in, some of these areas of the world will probably back that point up.

To counter that point, he’s a really good driver.

 

[sussex_guy2k2]

Actually yes, and they made a good point. The point being that driving licenses are much easier to obtain in many other countries.

In 2023, London had the highest accident rate, with 2.76 accidents per 1,000 people. (https://www.thetimes.com/article/be...gyll-and-bute-are-most-dangerous-tlrwv8g26?ut - paywall)

Over 40% of London residents are born abroad (https://migrationobservatory.ox.ac.uk/resources/briefings/migrants-in-the-uk-an-overview/)

Scotland is the lowest with 1.32 accidents per 1000 people, and has a well-below UK average foreign migration level of 7.2%.

So there’s an argument, however flimsy, that can be made.

You don’t need a driving license in some countries in Asia.

And the US test is as easy as the American one.

Our tests and driving standards are incredibly high compared to much of the rest of the world.

 

[darkwolf666]

Have to be the upstream swimmer here and say that I didn't drive between 2006 and 2018. When I started again I noticed how calmer the roads seem to be. I put it down to speed cameras and that type of thing.

Where were you living between 2006 - 2018, Mumbai?

 

[Eeyore]

Where were you living between 2006 - 2018, Mumbai?

Uranus.

 

[Milano]

I'm not sure about since Covid but general rules of the highway code seem to just no longer exist. For instance parking within a certain distance of a junction, brow of a hill etc. Round my way this is completely ignored. My guess at the reason = no one (the police) enforces these rules anymore. A bit like the stewards at Fulham.

 

[Crawley Dingo]

Overtaking on bends, tail gating and break checking are 3 dangerous habits that seem on the increase.

 

[jessiejames]

Perfect example of idiots who get a big job but are not trained to do it or know the law. Park Royal estate NR Wembley, I'm turning right onto A40 green light car Infront going same way suddenly stops at a secondary red light, I use horn for him to proceed, he doesn't, luckily for me I have no trailer so just my unit, manage to go around him. Next thing I see is a police car flashing lights next to me telling me to pull over. I eventually have to come off at slip rd only safe place to pull up. Traffic cop then tells me I've gone through red light and how many points I'm getting and breathalysed me. Young know it all copper then wants my digital tachograph card. I proceed to get a 24 hour print out to show him, all the while claiming my innocence, and asking why there was no stop line at the red light I went through. Give him printout but he wants my card which I refuse to eject. His police mate calls for assistance. 10 minutes later 2 police car turn up on blues and twos. Luckily in these two police cars are real traffic cops who know the law, and after showing them my camera footage, walk over to first cop and make him apologise for his mistakes, and tell him I didn't not break any law

 

[jessiejames]

Overtaking on bends, tail gating and break checking are 3 dangerous habits that seem on the increase.

Brake checking should be an automatic ban. Happens more and more now even when I'm in the lorry.