My two penn'orth. In January, I started a new job on the far side of Sheffield, which makes it necessary to drive over two of the most notorious road in Britain daily - the A57 (Snake Pass) and A628 (Woodhead). The Snake is especially nasty; between the outskirts of Sheffield and the environs of Glossop at the other end of the pass, there are perhaps four places where overtaking at speed is possible.

I know both roads well and have a set of pace notes running in my head. I can usually spot those unfamiliar with the road, as they usually brake hard for approaching bends not knowing how sharp or otherwise they may be. I invariably keep my distance. If need be, I can always pounce, on one of the overtaking stretches. That doesn't stop some impatient idiots tailgating first me, then the dawdler in front when I have let the idiot past.

What the impatient ones seem to have in common is a 2.0 TDi engine of some sorts, boasting 200+ hp. (My car had 89 hp when built in 1996 and four previous not-so-careful owners have cost it some of these horses.) I do not regard excessive speed on the Snake as proof of skilful driving, since anyone can floor a throttle.