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

[BN9 BHA]

The best thing you can do is assume ALL drivers will do something completely unpredictable and if you take precautions for that you will minimise what is the most likely cause of an accident for a competent driver.

Very good advice.
I regularly drive on the A259 between Seaford and Rottingdean and second guess what other drivers are going to do especially on the 2 roundabouts in Newhaven

 

[Flounce]

Very good advice.
I regularly drive on the A259 between Seaford and Rottingdean and second guess what other drivers are going to do especially on the 2 roundabouts in Newhaven

Treating every other road user like a dick is my go to these days

But I do worry that I might be the dick now!

 

[A1X]

Twice in the last two weeks I’ve nearly had the front of my car hit by wankers not bothering to wait on the mini-roundabouts in Cuckfield

 

[Chicken Run]

I would go several steps further.

I would:

- BAN 80+ year olds from night time driving, as it's clear so many have astigmatism and cannot see shit during night. Mandatory O plates on vehicle, similar to L plates, except meaning OLD, unless driving a Honda Jazz
- BIANNUAL driving tests for all over 70s.
- Annual eye test submissions for over 60s. Ban from driving if caught not wearing subscription glasses.
- All under 21s to have an over 25 in the car when driving, or ban.

All car drivers should have those black box devices that new drivers have, then if you drive like a dick your insurance go’s up, drive safely for a couple of years and youget rewarded with a lower premiums

 

[Mustafa II]

All car drivers should have those black box devices that new drivers have, then if you drive like a dick your insurance go’s up, drive safely for a couple of years and youget rewarded with a lower premiums

They're ridiculous. If you brake suddenly, or swerve to avoid something - your premium goes up. You go 80+ on a motorway - your premium goes up.

Making everybody drive excessively slowly is not good for the motorist, the economy or the environment.

 

[Chicken Run]

They're ridiculous. If you brake suddenly, or swerve to avoid something - your premium goes up. You go 80+ on a motorway - your premium goes up.

Making everybody drive excessively slowly is not good for the motorist, the economy or the environment.

It might save a few lives?

 

[BrightonCottager]

Please don't get me started....
OK thanks I will.
I've been trained as a professional driver and have taken advanced courses also, so it really grits my

Up here we have....
1. The drivers that cannot be assed to turn around at the next junction or roundabout, but decide to pull out of their parking bay, after someone has let them out and then they decide to do a 3 point turn and go the other way.
2. Drivers that don't stop at crossing and then wave at you as an apology.
3. SUV drivers that tailgate others to try and intimidate them to go faster.
4. The drivers that nearly miss the M4 turn off going north on the M25 and proceed to cut every car up and drive over the white chevrons. If you've missed yr junction carry onto the next one, ie M40 and turn around.
5. Drivers who park next to you in a car park and give you space that even a hobbit would struggle to get through.


I could go on....

You beat me to it. I notice that the driving in @AmexRuislip 's hood is worse than here. I'll add to his list
6. Zero indicating at roundabouts and many junctions when turning left.
7. The sheer number of W*nkpanzers on the road.

In comparison, driving seems more respectful in Brighton. I sometimes stop (if safe) for pedestrians if they're crossing at traffic islands & see others doing it. Vehicles seem to give a wide berth when I'm cycling - & I do the same. On the other hand, the ebike delivery riders with no lights or regard for other highway (Inc pavements) do my head in.

 

[BN9 BHA]

Treating every other road user like a dick is my go to these days

I honestly think far too many drivers are distracted by a combination of music, sat nav, phones and talking to their passengers.

 

[Flounce]

They're ridiculous. If you brake suddenly, or swerve to avoid something - your premium goes up. You go 80+ on a motorway - your premium goes up.

Making everybody drive excessively slowly is not good for the motorist, the economy or the environment.

In this case I agree. I do sometimes exceed the speed limit, not ridiculously, on clear country roads and motorways and I know I shouldn’t but I would be caught out by a black box. No excuses and I know it’s wrong, which is why I use Waze on every drive so that I know when the police are around and where the speed cameras are. I bloody love driving when I’m not in heavy traffic and I have cars that encourage spirited driving. Awareness of conditions is the most important thing, along with not putting other road users at risk imo.

 

[AmexRuislip]

You beat me to it. I notice that the driving in @AmexRuislip 's hood is worse than here. I'll add to his list
6. Zero indicating at roundabouts and many junctions when turning left.
7. The sheer number of W*nkpanzers on the road.

In comparison, driving seems more respectful in Brighton. I sometimes stop (if safe) for pedestrians if they're crossing at traffic islands & see others doing it. Vehicles seem to give a wide berth when I'm cycling - & I do the same. On the other hand, the ebike delivery riders with no lights or regard for other highway (Inc pavements) do my head in.

There once was a Skoda driver who......

That's a story for another day

 

[Mustafa II]

I honestly think far too many drivers are distracted by a combination of music, sat nav, phones and talking to their passengers.

...and WTF is the trend of having GIANT SCREENS in modern cars about? We're not allowed to use smart phones, and rightly so... but apparently operating a screen 4x the size is absolutely fine because it's part of the car.

Do people even want these giant screens? I'd much prefer tactile radio and air-con knobs like the old days.

 

[GloryDays]

Bigger the car, the worse the driving.

Possibly because they think they are invulnerable in a bigger tin can.

I also think there is a rise in automatics, which encourages unconfident drivers and / or could make ppl complacent.

And more ppl are on the roads.

 

[Flounce]

I honestly think far too many drivers are distracted by a combination of music, sat nav, phones and talking to their passengers.

And EVs make it worse because all the safety features distract drivers from actually concentrating. As for screens that need to be touched through menus to get things to work

A knob to turn on heating, fog lights etc etc is much safer

 

[BN9 BHA]

...and WTF is the trend of having GIANT SCREENS in modern cars about? We're not allowed to use smart phones, and rightly so... but apparently operating a screen 4x the size is absolutely fine because it's part of the car.

Do people even want these giant screens? I'd much prefer tactile radio and air-con knobs like the old days.

And EVs make it worse because all the safety features distract drivers from actually concentrating. As for screens that need to be touched through menus to get things to work

A knob to turn on heating, fog lights etc etc is much safer

Spot on both of you, this must be a distraction.
I drive a van and it’s not that old but all the controls are basic and I can operate the heating fan without looking at it.
My wife has a new car, not an EV but when I occasionally drive it I honestly look at the dashboard and see this

 

[portlock seagull]

Spot on both of you, this must be a distraction.
I drive a van and it’s not that old but all the controls are basic and I can operate the heating fan without looking at it.
My wife has a new car, not an EV but when I occasionally drive it I honestly look at the dashboard and see this

View attachment 193896

Precisely this. I love my ‘analogue’ car versus my wife’s ‘digital’ one. I wonder how many accidents are caused these days just trying to turn the heating down or change radio stations?!! Utterly ridiculous amounts of scrolling menus sometimes to do so!!

 

[banjo]

Not enough roads for users.

 

[BN9 BHA]

Precisely this. I love my ‘analogue’ car versus my wife’s ‘digital’ one. I wonder how many accidents are caused these days just trying to turn the heating down or change radio stations?!! Utterly ridiculous amounts of scrolling menus sometimes to do so!!

I get my co pilot (wife) to operate the heating controls if I’m driving her car

 

[portlock seagull]

I get my co pilot (wife) to operate the heating controls if I’m driving her car

That’s so funny, I call Mrs P the co-pilot too. You need one in a digital car!

 

[Sussexscots]

I failed my first driving test (1981), principally for 'Failing to make speed appropriate to road and traffic conditions'.

For many and varied reasons, that always makes me chuckle now.

 

[Weststander]

Yes.
Goes with a general increase in aggression in shops, road rage, "no one pushes me around especially the state", anger towards teachers (according to teachers in phone ins), pulling kids out of school for any trip "to get a real education".

CV19 had far reaching consequences beyond the illness.