General Chat

When I learnt to drive back in 1962 I was taught that if there was an obstruction (I.e parked cars etc) on my side of the road it was not my right of way and I should give way to oncoming traffic.

Does this still apply? Because more and more I see oncoming traffic ignoring parked cars on their side of the road and bulldozing their way through.

I find British motorists very courteous when i'm over there. Obviosuly there's the odd selfish clot. Here in Spain it's every man or woman for his/herself. Don't signal, ignore lane discipline, speed, use the mobile while lighting up (hands free has another meaning here..it refers to the wheel) Consequently we have the highest road fatality rate in Europe.

Be grateful that your drivers are still IMO the best. :-)

They don't know their left from their rights!!!!

Yes it should still be so, Ann but with the increasing of on street parking there are less gaps to pull into and wait, side roads are more constricted, literally, and so having to wait is a necessity but out on major roads there is likely enough room, just,
to carry on motoring.......

I remember not long after I passed MYcar test in1970,I was out in the firms van going to Epsom, somewhere, and waiting for a suitable gap in traffic at a junction, was pulled up alongside by a motorcycle cop, suggesting that I get a move on, as her Maj( Queen mother) was anxious to get to the races.......so I said, 'Im sorry,I'm a bit new at this, can you give us a hand? and he DID!

Lol Bob.

Ann the driving here is terrible, people do not know the highway code anymore. No giving way, people doing three point turns in front of you on main roads , pulling out of side streets regardless. Suspect so many people from other countries, no licence no insurance don't give a rats a--se.

Carol

I'm afraid it's how this country has become the I and Me Me Me society

MY Journey is more important than yours and I was here first,

Not to mention my own thoughts on how i think drivers of today are not trained or tested to a high enough standard,

The driving test is still not a test to see if you can drive but a competency test that allows mistakes to be made and still awards a pass,

If people cannot concentrate and perform the tasks required for the duration of the driving test why should they then be expected to drive for the rest of their lives without making mistakes,

We all make mistakes but to pass a test whilst making mistakes is not the best starting point when lives depend on getting it right

Roy

I passed in 1969 and would imagine the test is more rigorous now, but are the drivers more competent? I don't think so. I consider myself to be a good driver and to be courteous - I hope other road users think the same!!!!

I always thought you gave way to cars coming up a hill or is that not part of the Highway Code

Not sure if it is part of the HW code GB but I suspect that goes back to when car brakes were maybe a little less reliable to avoid hill starts.

Are hill starts still part of the test?

Don't drive much in England now, so these comments are over 10 years old.

But different standards of driving always seemed to apply. London was mad. Head down and go for it, everyone look after number one. Bit like driving in the centre of Paris.

But Leicester always seemed particularly dozy. No one ever filtered into traffic.

Motorways are fastest and safest and most used roads, yet still not part of the test. And my OH took her test in Cambridge - how do you do a hill start there?

John - you could probably apply the principle of 'mad' London driving to any major city in the UK.

Yes, if there is an obstruction on your side of the road, then you should be giving way. But how long are you going to be stuck there if there is a constant stream of traffic coming from the opposite direction? Sometimes you just have to ease out and more or less force them to wait for you........and the dozen cars behind.

There are far more vehicles on the road now than when most of us passed our Test. Learner drivers are taught rather differently to the way we were; it might be something to do with encouraging the free flow of traffic.

Eg. I was taught to stop at a roundabout, check to the right, engage 1st gear and pull away.
Now, according to the offspring, they should slow down, but if the way is clear from the right, they should carry on. No need to stop, hand brake etc etc

Although motorway driving is not permitted for a Learner, they are expected to drive on dual carriageways which is the next best thing.

DET Just remember first time my son filtered onto a motorway after his test. He was petrified and I just closed my eyes and waited for the bang. Would rather his instructor or test examiner had had that privilege. :-D

I can well imagine!

The Learners round here have the advantage of an A road which is of motorway standard - they can practise filtering in the Instructors car ;-)

Back in the day, when I got my licence, my Dad made us get up early one Saturday and made me drive on and off every single motorway slip road for about 50 miles. Obviously the traffic was increasing all the time we were out, by which time I was more confident