bikespace Posted February 22, 2005 Report Share Posted February 22, 2005 We seem to have more than our fair share of numpties in this country. In Germany the unofficial rule is speed has priority, and generally it works. If you're crawling along, it's up to you to get out of the way. Admittedly the autobahns lend themselves better to higher speeds, but we're not talking racing speeds in UK, we're talking normal motorway speeds here. I don't think the driving test goes anywhere near making the driver competent, so you're releasing drivers on the road that are less than half way to being good drivers. Look at what happens in UK when we get a little splattering of snow. It's chaos, because nobody has any idea how to drive in snow/ice. Some old bird on the Whitby moors road yesterday. Even the gritter overtook her. If you're that scared, why not wait for the gritter to go past? No common sense. There was that much of a delay to the next car in front of her, that it was allowing the snow to lie and making things worse. Not sure about bringing in overtaking on both sides. Too many numpties who would never get the hang of it - I reckon you'd get a few years of massive increase in accidents caused by people pulling in to the left without looking. Needs drumming in to people not to hog the middle lane though - police should target it rather than drivers doing 75-80mph. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
g4321 Posted February 22, 2005 Report Share Posted February 22, 2005 (edited) Everybody thinks they are a good driver - me included but there are ways to find out how good you really are - not how good you think you are! Might be an idea to get an observed drive with your local group of the IAM - this will open your eyes to how good or bad your driving actually is. making the effort and trying/passing the IAM test will be of a benefit in that it both improves your driving skill - NO MATTER HOW GOOD A DRIVER YOU ACTUALLY ARE & it will benefit you financially - at least 10% off your insurance. Riding a bike for a while on the open road will let you see how badly some people do drive & will open your eyes to the possible consequences of bad driving. Just a thought! Edited February 22, 2005 by g4321 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
telecat Posted February 22, 2005 Report Share Posted February 22, 2005 Suggest anybody here has queries about this heads over to Www.pistonheads.co.uk. The Speed plod and the law has a few BIB's to clarify matters. However Much as the Car-drived Van speed limits apply any van with windows aft of the B pillar is classified as a CAR. (The Escort vans with that little window behind the door qualify). And as such the limits for cars apply. Hence those Vitos with seats and windows behind the driver are considered cars, not car drived Vans. Daft really isn't it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lastplacebrad Posted February 23, 2005 Report Share Posted February 23, 2005 Is it written down anywhere how you define a van?.My trials transport is a LWB Landrover. It started off as a panel van, so no argument there, 'cept it now has full length side windows, like a car or a Landrover station wagon the V5 just says Landrover,. i wouldnt worry too much about getting done for speeding on the motorway in a landy !!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jtt Posted February 23, 2005 Report Share Posted February 23, 2005 Here in Canada passing on the right (or left in the case of UK ) is permitted, but not encouraged. You can and will get ticketed for excessive "lane swapping". Drivers hanging in the passing lane is still a problem over here for sure. Over here, when they import BMWs, Mercedes and Volvos, all the upholstery is sprayed with a special chemical. This chemical slowly leached into the skin through the driver's posterior ensuring they act as the later Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
calvin Posted March 7, 2005 Report Share Posted March 7, 2005 The problem here in the UK is that the drivers are all, with a few exeptions driving between 65 and 90 mph. Which means that the real percieved speed is at most 25mph, and in most cases 1 or 2mph in terms of the major reference point, the traffic around you. We tend to ignor the fact that we are travelling @ 70mph The brain tricks itself into thinking that we are virtually standing still, hense the frustration. Understand that its a human perception problem and your half way there. The people not paying attention to the traffic around them, appear to get in the way, but in actual fact are driving without due care and attention, but boredom and tiredness can cause this effect as well. Calv' Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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