BS: Bad Driving Soapbox

Subject: RE: BS: Bad Driving Soapbox
From: Senoufou
Date: 16 Aug 18 - 01:59 PM

Oh no pfr! You've guessed my guilty little secret!!!

Subject: RE: BS: Bad Driving Soapbox
From: punkfolkrocker
Date: 16 Aug 18 - 12:41 PM

Sen - and they'd never know about either your or the Queen's intimate royal tattoos...

Subject: RE: BS: Bad Driving Soapbox
From: Senoufou
Date: 16 Aug 18 - 09:15 AM

Hahaha Sandra! I reckon that would be worth the fare to travel like that.
I could wave graciously at the onlookers and look exceptionally elegant.

Subject: RE: BS: Bad Driving Soapbox
From: Mr Red
Date: 16 Aug 18 - 07:25 AM

It is a fact of life. There are self-centred people and victims.

In the UK any stationary object on the highway is an obstruction. The police may, if deemed, ask for it to move. You can argue, but it will move and they will book you for obstruction.

In reality the police have a lot of pressing events to attend to. Thoughtless parking is not high on their priority when cars are driving into parliament's barriers.

The next time I have to sit on the bus while the driver has to look for the idiot responsible or risk reversing in narrow roads....... the BMW's alarm will go off, that's fer sure. Unless it is a care nurse on duty like last time - you can never know!

Subject: RE: BS: Bad Driving Soapbox
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 16 Aug 18 - 04:52 AM

how about 4, but it does have 2 riders leading the way!

Subject: RE: BS: Bad Driving Soapbox
From: Senoufou
Date: 15 Aug 18 - 03:48 AM

I've just looked up taxi fares from our village to Norwich city centre.
It's £26 each way. Good grief - is it a golden carriage driven by six thoroughbred horses or what?

Subject: RE: BS: Bad Driving Soapbox
From: punkfolkrocker
Date: 15 Aug 18 - 02:54 AM

Up until last year I could get a single bus from town centre 5 mins walk away,
travel 12 miles to a stop about 3 mins walk from my mum's front door...

[the same journey for her coming to visit me]

Now there is an enforced change to a 2nd bus requiring another ticket, about 2 miles from my mum's,
which doubles the fair to nearly a tenner...

The change to 2 buses was too much confusion for my mum, so her bus pass now goes unused and she stays at home...

progress.. eh...???

Subject: RE: BS: Bad Driving Soapbox
From: Backwoodsman
Date: 15 Aug 18 - 02:41 AM

I've had a bus pass since 2012. Used it twice, both times in towns other than where I live. Buses are virtually non-existent here, which is pretty dire bearing in mind we live in a very rural area.

Subject: RE: BS: Bad Driving Soapbox
From: Donuel
Date: 13 Aug 18 - 07:15 AM

Anyone drive to Derwent Water?

Subject: RE: BS: Bad Driving Soapbox
From: Senoufou
Date: 13 Aug 18 - 06:06 AM

Just the other day we went into Norwich and presented our bus passes to the park-and-ride driver. Unfortunately, we had each other's pass by mistake. The driver looked at the photo of my husband then at me, and vice versa for him, and grinned broadly. As they say in Norfolk, "He dint say naaaaaarfing."

Subject: RE: BS: Bad Driving Soapbox
From: punkfolkrocker
Date: 13 Aug 18 - 04:35 AM

my mum still gets a free bus pass, but the buses have been axed so much in the last 2 years
that the journey to our house would now be more difficult and take far more time.
With no longer any later return buses to make the journey worthwhile...

Subject: RE: BS: Bad Driving Soapbox
From: Senoufou
Date: 13 Aug 18 - 03:08 AM

We wrinklies can only board buses for free after 9.30am, to let the workers get to work without having to navigate zimmer frames and shopping trolleys, old gimmers yacking in the doorway of the bus and fat old ladies taking up all the seats.

We've got bus passes, but we only use them on the park-and-ride. However we still have to pay £1.70 each (I suppose that's to cover the parking) and it's miles to the 'Airport Park-And-Ride' from our village.

The good thing is, we can stay all day 'up the city' until the last bus if we wish, for that money.

Subject: RE: BS: Bad Driving Soapbox
From: Thompson
Date: 12 Aug 18 - 05:40 PM

Ah, sorry, dem furriners are thinking of charging people.

The British system is quite different from ours, as I understand it. British pensioners have the catchily named Freedom Pass, but this gives you freedom to travel without paying on *either* buses *or* trains, and I think it's quite local.

The Irish 'bus pass' covers city buses, trams and suburban trains, and intercity trains and buses. There's an agreement with Northern Ireland to travel through each other's jurisdictions under the same terms, though we have to apply for a special Northern Ireland pass, while we accept that northerners can travel on their normal pass in our jurisdiction.

Straying further again from the Bad Driving Soapbox subject line, I read that the NHS in Britain (their National Health Service) wants to get people back riding bicycles to cut the country's obesity problem and save that country's health service money.

Subject: RE: BS: Bad Driving Soapbox
From: Bee-dubya-ell
Date: 12 Aug 18 - 03:53 PM

Bad driving soapbox?

I have never driven a soapbox, bad, good or otherwise.

Subject: RE: BS: Bad Driving Soapbox
From: Jos
Date: 12 Aug 18 - 03:38 PM

I understand that Hampshire County Council (UK) are considering charging 50 pence per bus journey (and how long before that will become £1?).
If they do start charging, other counties may do so as well, since the same bus passes are valid throughout the country.

Subject: RE: BS: Bad Driving Soapbox
From: Thompson
Date: 12 Aug 18 - 03:31 PM

Where are these moves afoot? Not in Ireland, or if they are I haven't heard anything of them. It would be highly unlikely that any government would want to antagonise the silver vote.

The free travel is pretty good value for the government because it keeps many bed-and-breakfasts, shops, cafes and restaurants alive - and, effectively the towns they're in - because old people travel to see each other and eat out and stay in B&Bs or small hotels. Since old people are more likely to buy locally-made goods, the money that's saved on transport still circulates within the economy.

And yes, lots of old people who haven't driven for years buying cars and setting off to travel the roads would scare the bejaysus out of politicians.

In term of who's able to walk to transport and who's not, in Ireland some one-third of the population lives in the Greater Dublin Area, and is well served by public transport.

Subject: RE: BS: Bad Driving Soapbox
From: Jos
Date: 12 Aug 18 - 01:30 PM

Having free travel on public transport is fine if you have public transport available within walking distance of where you are. As Eliza pointed out, there are many people who do not live near enough to buses or trains, so unless they have obliging friends and family or can afford taxis, they are stuck.

There are also moves afoot to make people pay a certain amount for journeys using their bus passes. If this results in elderly people taking up driving again after they have not driven for a while, it could lead to more accidents.

Subject: RE: BS: Bad Driving Soapbox
From: Kenny B (inactive)
Date: 12 Aug 18 - 12:38 PM

About 25 years ago I retook my driving test twice, once for a bus licence and once for a HGV licence, doing that improved my driving immensely
Its now always in the back of my mind about driving large vehicles and a couple of the things it really impresses on you is not going into a road without being able to see a reasonable distance down it and always reversing into a parking space so that u can see when you are coming back out, It also impresses on you to have patience with other road users who dont drive vehicles as small or large as your own.
A couple of lessons that stands one in good stead when posting on Mudcat too

Subject: RE: BS: Bad Driving Soapbox
From: Thompson
Date: 12 Aug 18 - 11:53 AM

In Ireland people on the State old age pension have free travel on public transport, Joe.

Back to bad driving: I blame the media - newspapers and especially radio jocks - for a lot of it; they opine as if it's my responsibility as a cyclist to stop drivers knocking me off my bike. It's not. It's the drivers' responsibility not to kill me. Oh, yes, I'll happily wear hi-viz and a helmet, but these won't stop bad drivers from crashing into me.

Subject: RE: BS: Bad Driving Soapbox
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 12 Aug 18 - 07:27 AM

A few years ago I had occasion to drive round in Oz a fair bit for a couple of weeks (in WA, mostly in and around Perth). I found the driving to be calm compared to the Wild West of the UK. Most drivers were patient and polite and everybody kept to the speed limits. I got the impression that there were lots of speed cameras around.

Subject: RE: BS: Bad Driving Soapbox
From: Senoufou
Date: 12 Aug 18 - 03:29 AM

Here in Norfolk UK, the population in 2017 was nearly 900,000. And the number of people over 65 was about 200,000. (ONS data) As Norfolk is a largely rural county, people often live in villages where bus services aren't terribly good or even non-existent (as in our village). Without a car, these folk would be stuck.

However, we constantly come across rather bad driving among the elderly. Drifting about, suddenly turning off without indicating, pulling out from side-roads without looking, going far too slowly etc.

At the supermarket, we see extremely old/disabled/incapacitated people hardly able to open the door of their car, getting behind the wheel and driving off, and to us it seems as if they should never have had their licence renewed (as one must after the age of seventy)

In our village we have Dougie, who is now 100 years old. He still drives (to my mind quite capably) but what are his reactions like? Has he adapted to modern road conditions? Could he have a collapse while driving?

I let my husband do most of the driving nowadays. He's a bit younger than me and very, very safe/on the ball. When he gets doddery though, we'll bite the bullet. There's a special old folks' bus once a week here, to a nearby small town, which gives you two hours to shop, then heads back. A bit restrictive, but the only solution.

Subject: RE: BS: Bad Driving Soapbox
From: Joe Offer
Date: 12 Aug 18 - 12:59 AM

I'm turning 70 on Friday. I am beginning to think that people over 70 should not drive. Can I get a lifetime pass to Uber?

Subject: RE: BS: Bad Driving Soapbox
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 11 Aug 18 - 11:47 PM

Living in a former British possession, we drive on the left.

So there I was waiting behind the driver's door to get my trolley out of the car, looking at the cars approaching as is my wont as my friend would not like her door taken off. I wouldn't like being hit, either.

A gi-normous 4-wheel drive (aka SUV) was coming along the main road in this inner city suburb, driver's right hand was on the wheel & his left hand obviously holding his phone was way out of sight. He was staring fixedly at the screen, none of this nonsense about nodding head to look at road & phone alternatively, so I waited till he went straight past, happy that he was using cruise control. The following driver had both her hands on her wheel & was looking ahead, so I opened the door & removed my trolley.

It was only later when telling friends about my day that I learnt Cruise Control is meant for roads where animals & children don't dash in front of you, or other car drivers don't make death defying (causing?) moves.

We had a recent case where a driver was filmed on dash cam looking up & down at her phone several hundred times in a short trip! She was fined.

Drivers using mobile phones could be fined without even knowing they’ve been caught.
NEW hi-tech cameras that detect drivers using their mobile phones without them even knowing and automatically issues fines could soon change everything.

we hope. Phone users even cross roads without looking, thus either getting hit or traumatising driver who manage to avoid them.

sandra (getting off soapbox)

Subject: RE: BS: Bad Driving Soapbox
From: Donuel
Date: 11 Aug 18 - 09:43 AM

The number 1 priority for pilots is to fly the plane within is capabilities/parameters/ Sounds obvious doesn't it.

For drivers it is to guide the car with traction and control. The smallest but most beneficial course correction is your goal. That normally means going straight controlling speed.

Big maneuvers are dangerous and rare.

Call it the economy of motion.


Even when out of control spinning around, you still have control of the rate of that spin with torque from accelerating and a bit less with steering. Take whatever control you find.

Subject: RE: BS: Bad Driving Soapbox
From: Thompson
Date: 11 Aug 18 - 08:16 AM

Donuel writes: Self centered drivers are different from those who aggressively and deliberately tries to commit harm.

Bion of Borysthenes wrote: Boys throw stones at frogs in fun, but the frogs do not die in fun, but in earnest.

It would be good if people who had done an advanced driving course could have a small hexagonal (to distinguish it from the various 'L' plates) yellow plate on their bumper to show this. Insurance companies might (or perhaps do?) offer lower rates, and the plate would become a desirable boast.

Subject: RE: BS: Bad Driving Soapbox
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 11 Aug 18 - 06:43 AM

"If one is aggressive and competitive by nature, one will always want to be out in front, and overtake relentlessly."

Well I'm a bit like that, but I only want to be out in front for two reasons. First, because I hate staring at the ugly back ends of modern vehicles, and second, because I'm not wanting to be sucking in the exhaust fumes of the car in front I'm tailgating. :-)

Subject: RE: BS: Bad Driving Soapbox
From: Senoufou
Date: 11 Aug 18 - 04:25 AM

My old dad used to say that a person's driving style reflected their character. If one is aggressive and competitive by nature, one will always want to be out in front, and overtake relentlessly.
If one is timid and retiring, one's style will be hesitant and lack positivity.
I think that's true. My husband is confident but prudent, considerate but firm, and his driving definitely reflects this.

Subject: RE: BS: Bad Driving Soapbox
From: punkfolkrocker
Date: 11 Aug 18 - 03:36 AM

Maybe newly qualified drivers should only be allowed to drive Reliant Robins
until they reach the age of 45..
Then they can move up to Bond Bugs just in time for their mid life crisis...

Subject: RE: BS: Bad Driving Soapbox
From: BobL
Date: 11 Aug 18 - 02:54 AM

Passing the driving test ensures you have a basic level of control and awareness, but it doesn't train you in good judgement - that comes with experience (and a lot of that comes from bad judgement). I once did an Advanced Driving course: although I didn't take the actual test, I like to think that my driving did improve - on a good day at least - and I would recommend it to anyone. In fact, as I have said elsewhere, it ought to be obligatory for all drivers after a few years' experience.

How though to enforce such a thing? Require non-advanced drivers to display P plates? Limit the power and weight of the vehicles they can drive? Maybe the insurance companies can help here. The other problem is of course international driving - I can see the Swiss and Germans taking to such a scheme, but the French? Not to mention the Italians!

Subject: RE: BS: Bad Driving Soapbox
From: Donuel
Date: 10 Aug 18 - 08:31 AM

Self centered drivers are different from those who aggressively and deliberately tries to commit harm.

Subject: RE: BS: Bad Driving Soapbox
From: Thompson
Date: 10 Aug 18 - 05:07 AM

Ah no, the phonies are surrounded by two tons of metal, as they drag themselves along all alone, using up the last few precious drops of the world's fossil fuel.

The last Irish census showed that half of all driven journeys were 2 kilometres (about a mile) or shorter. It would be interesting to see if this figure is the same in other countries.

Sending this reply a second time - the first time it appeared to send, but didn't.

Subject: RE: BS: Bad Driving Soapbox
From: EBarnacle
Date: 10 Aug 18 - 12:44 AM

If they kill themselves off before they can breed, I'm all for it.

Subject: RE: BS: Bad Driving Soapbox
From: Thompson
Date: 09 Aug 18 - 03:29 PM

Unbefeckinglievable.

Subject: RE: BS: Bad Driving Soapbox
From: Senoufou
Date: 09 Aug 18 - 02:46 PM

We watched two clowns this morning at a busy complicated five-way junction near Norwich, coming from different directions. Both shot through on amber and narrowly missed each other in the middle.
If they continue driving like that, they'll eventually meet their Waterloo.

Subject: RE: BS: Bad Driving Soapbox
From: Thompson
Date: 09 Aug 18 - 02:07 PM

Let's just mention people playing on their mobile phones while driving - including professional drivers - posting on Facebook and Instagram and Twitter… and talking to their buddies while steering with their knees and changing gears with their free hand…

Subject: RE: BS: Bad Driving Soapbox
From: punkfolkrocker
Date: 09 Aug 18 - 02:01 PM

The obvious answer to all this is vastly improved public transport
and the positive will of drivers to swap car ownership for this public spirited green alternative;
... and commercial goods delivery by Zeppelins with very long ladders and ropes...






.. yeah both options belong to a dream world fantasy....

Subject: RE: BS: Bad Driving Soapbox
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 09 Aug 18 - 01:42 PM

You should try driving in and out of Bradford every day. It's like Wacky Races.

Subject: RE: BS: Bad Driving Soapbox
From: leeneia
Date: 09 Aug 18 - 01:17 PM

Why assume the motorcyclist deliberately left the cycle there to cause trouble? It seems an unlikely thing to do - moatsies are expensive.

For example, I had a friend who was delivering mail and was suddenly stricken with "the worst pain he had ever felt in his life." He drove to a hospital and abandoned his truck at the ER door. (It turned out to be a kidney stone.) Maybe something like that happened to the cyclist.

When something like this happens, our brains immediately assume the worst. However, after a couple of minutes, intelligence ought to tell us that we don't know all the circumstances, and to stop raising our blood pressure over it.

Subject: RE: BS: Bad Driving Soapbox
From: Senoufou
Date: 09 Aug 18 - 12:29 PM

Could the lorry driver possibly have wheeled the motorbike out of the way a bit perhaps?
Very frustrating for you sitting on the bus for ages unable to proceed.
I bet the bus driver was grinding his teeth!

I agree there are so many 'entitled' people on the roads these days.
We find that, since my husband drives up to the speed limit but never exceeds it, we get drivers tailgating us, wanting us to go faster. Then they overtake on dangerous bends.
It's often Mercs, Audis or BMWs. (We're in a Fiesta)

Subject: BS: Bad Driving Soapbox
From: SPB-Cooperator
Date: 09 Aug 18 - 11:25 AM

My latest rant.

This morning, due to a motorcyclist parking in the middle of a loading bay a delivery lorry decided to park at an angle with one half in the bay and the other blocking off half of the road - reducing traffic flow to one lane and delaying buses,l including the one I was on.

Surely the simple solution would be either to use the weight of the delivery lorry to show the bike out of the way, and claiming any damage to the lorry from the biker's insurance - or to go somewhere else, and come back later to make the delivery.

If people can learn that they are not the only people using the roads, then the world would be a much better place.