Crosswords3 mins ago
Too Idle To Indicate
I have had a driving licence since 1959. In 45 years of motoring I have always tried to be as helpful and courteous to others on the road as possible. I rarely fail to indicate and give up my priority with a headlamp flash umpteen times a day - it's really not difficult, and speeds others on their way.
Why then is it so darn difficult for everyone to do this? I am constantly jamming on my brakes at roundabouts because people approaching from the right, and who intend to turn left are Too Idle To Indicate. (TITI). And there again few people give up their priority for me. Are they incapable of seeing what goes on 75 yards in front? Do they know where their headlamp flasher switch is? Three women drivers where I used to work didn't, and I can only recall one woman giving up her priority to me. (Stand by for flak). It seems that many these days put as much thought (the police called it Roadcraft) into their driving as they apply to putting on their socks. But the real question is: are those who are TITI never ***sed off by all the other TITIs? If so why don't they mend their ways at the next junction? Perhaps it's time I gave up, but I really enjoy driving my hairy little sports car, it's just not much fun in traffic.
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No best answer has yet been selected by DickieD. Once a best answer has been selected, it will be shown here.
For more on marking an answer as the "Best Answer", please visit our FAQ.My father was a policeman and used to supplement my driving lessons (OMG back in 1977) and he drummed into me the concept of roadcraft, and I have to agree with DickieD, very few female drivers apply it or even seem to be aware of it. I listen to the other girls spouting on about us being 'safer' drivers than men, and then I ride in their cars with them and cringe. Sorry ladies, but as an advanced driver myself, I have to concur that the majority of men are the 'better' drivers, Being a good driver does not mean behaving as if you are taking you test each time you drive, most male drivers, have the mentality of keeping the flow, and this means looking much further ahead, better judgement of speed and distance ratio (how many women have you sat behind at busy junctions , who miss chance after chance to pull out?) A girl I know never yeilds for drivers wishing to turn right mainly because she never notices then on time, and because she reckons not enough people do it for her! Yeah gal..right on !!
Go along with Dickies comments, my main problem is that driving an HGV, you want to keep it moving (saves on diesel, wear etc.), so I coast up to roundabouts, have to stop for vehicles coming from the right, just to see them belt down the road I've come up. As with so many things, people seem to think indicators are for their own benefit, not other drivers. This scenario is repeated in rain. Obviously loads of people don't put their lights on as it won't help them see, but the point is, it is so they can be seen.
If I might hijack the post a bit, is it just me, or do other people find that more and more people are pulling out in front of you and you have to slam the brakes on? I thought it was just when I was driving my truck (the 'I don't want to get stuck behind that' attitude), but I find it more and more happens when I am driving the car. At least once a day (probably 2 or 3 times) someone pulls out of a side turning and I have to slam the anchors on! Then they proceed to do '22mph' and normally pull into a turning 300 yards up the road. Are people really that intolerant nowadays?
Rant over, just my tuppence worth.
Agree with you Dickie. You can't appreciate driving a large vehicle unless you've done it. I'm not sure if it was on here or not, but someone suggested everyone should take a test on a motorbike for the same reasons.
As to your point Del about retests, I agree with you, but it will never happen. 1) It is a vote loser. 2) The DVLA are stretched as they are, without having to worry about retests. What I think is worse, are these TV progs that show the likes of Maureen, who has had 20 odd tests, 1000 lessons etc and still wants to pass. Assuming they can drive, for 30 mins, on a test on the 26th test, would you believe they can drive? There should be a limit of, say, 5 or 10 tests, before you have to give up. Driving is a skill and some people can do it and some people can't, but you would be hard pressed to find anyone who will admit to being a bad driver (I'm not talking about making mistakes, we all do that, but some people just cannot drive). Maybe the Government can help in some ways. As an HGV driver I had to have a medical before I could take my test. Now I am (almost) 45, I have to have a medical every 5 years. I had mine last week and was amazed that I passed the required sight test without my glasses on!! Surely the Government can lead the way by bringing in meaningful medicals and perhaps all drivers should be subject to them. There must be 3 or4 cases a year you read about someone knocking someone over on a crossing and the driver is legally blind!
Rant over!
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