On Saturday morning I changed the lambda sensor on an MR2 and took it out for a test run.
Went through local village and there is a narrow road with long line of parked cars on the other side of the road. I'm about half way past when a Ford Explorer LWB comes toward me, and instead of waiting behind the line of parked cars he just drives straight at me without slowing. I hit the brakes and pull the MR2 hard against the kerb and he just misses taking off the door mirror. In my view that borders on 'attempted murder'.
Now, I'm sure that any SUV drivers on here wouldn't do this, and I'm equally sure that there is a little old lady somewhere who drives her D-reg Fiesta just as aggressively. However we have a high density of SUV's in may neck of the woods and lots of narrow roads; I'm increasingly sick of this sort of behaviour. 'Might is right' seems to be the mantra.
What can I do about it? What would you do? I am normally very mild mannered and seldom even use my horn. However, I was so angry I seriously thought about turning the MR2 around and following the guy to wherever he was going and 'having a word' - or going back later and braking a few light lenses.
What about mounting a cheap DV-camcorder on the dash - would the police accept video footage as evidence of dangerous driving?
On a more general note, we all like to have a go at 'Chavs' - but in my experience some of the biggest oiks on the road are middle-aged middle-managers in company cars. They're used to lording it over the staff in their office and want to do the same to the rest of us on the roads. Mum going off to do the shopping might make some mistakes but rarely sets out to be deliberately aggresive IME.
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Rats in a cage. There are more rats (drivers) and the cages (roads) aren't getting any bigger. They'll eventually end up eating each other.
Lee -- Without bills, magazines and junk mail, there is no mail
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I am very interested by the "what car you drive affects people's perceptions" idea. I have had an Audi TT, and no-one would let me out, people would go mental at me if I made a minor error, and I generally got abuse for being a flash so and so (despite the fact that in truth it was a company lease car that cost me about 5p!). I then went to an Audi A3, fairly anonymous but with the Sport kit, and got very little grief. In fact people used to ask me what colour it was and say "ooh that's nice". I now have a Fabia vRS and people don't even notice it.
I think people expect the worst from "flash" car drivers, and as has been discussed, punish them "accordingly".
I think subconsciously we don't like flash Harrys, SUV driving posh mothers (that's not swearing it's a genuine statement) and old people in Maestros.
Discuss!
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Not sure of the current definition of "flash" but, despite everything I read with interest about other people's perceptions of BMW drivers, I have never suffered (currently in my wife's 5 series Touring)from any attitude from other road users, least of all in being allowed out of junctions.
Additionally, whilst driving my XK8, I am frequently very struck by the fact that so many cars - especially 3 series! - and trucks go actively out of their way to let me out at junctions, even on very busy main roads, and even if it means getting ahead of them.
Not too much punishment there then and, yes, both cars are fitted with fully working indicators!
Jack
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I think there's nothing unconcious about it a lot of the time. I would never do anything aggressive, but while I'll let most drivers out every time, I never ever let a posh mum in an SUV out if I can help it.
My commute, when I drive, is a nightmare, as the primary school kids are completely hidden by the hundreds (okay, tens) of chelsea tractors on the school run. I'm amazed none have been run over so far. And there does seem to be an arms race as they all get bigger and bigger - there are far fewer Rav4s than there were, and more Mercs and Range Rovers (it's Chislehurst, I don't think budget is a problem). When I'm cycling, the trucks are a nightmare to get around.
So, I like to think I do my bit to discourage them. They have a right to own them if they want, it would just be nice if they decided to have something a little less anti-social.
Gord
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PUTS ON HAT MARKED 'GENERALISING WITH NO PROOF'.
Gordon, you will probably find that the reason children don't get run over by 'chelsea tractors' is because the superior view afforded from the raised driving position makes children easier to spot. Also their size makes them more visible to children on the pavement. Thus a safer vehicle. Doesn't sound very anti-social to me.
TAKES OFF HAT. GOES TO DO A BIT OF WORK.
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let me be the last to let you down....
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PUTS HAT ON MARKED 'PLEASE THINK ABOUT IT BEFORE YOU MAKE AN IRRELEVANT POINT'
(Sorry, a bit argumentative, please take in spirit intended! :-) )
You misunderstand me. I take your point as far as it goes, my point it that *I*, driving a normal car, can't see the kids as the windowline and bonnet of the truck is higher than the top of the kids head from my view. So, unless the kid does as it should and doesn't run out from behind one of them, then I stand no chance of seeing them.
My solution at the moment is to go thru at about 5-10 mph, but I still think that they are antisocial and dangerous. I could start quoting figures about pedestrian survival on impact, or on likelyhood to roll over in a crash etc, but I will refrain.
Gord.
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No offence taken Gord. i was merely playing devil's advocate. I don't own a 4x4, nor particularly care much for them one way another. i do think they get somewhat unfairly targeted, and their drivers held up as social pariahs.
I won't hijack the thread, suffice to say if the road and traffic conditions around the school mean you have to drive at 5-10mph to be safe, so be it.
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let me be the last to let you down....
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I agree completely, and I do always go slow. Trouble is, a lot of people don't. I've been overtaken at times!!
G
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Went through local village and there is a narrow road with long line of parked cars on the other side of the road. I'm about half way past when a Ford Explorer LWB comes toward me, and instead of waiting behind the line of parked cars he just drives straight at me without slowing. I hit the brakes and pull the MR2 hard against the kerb and he just misses taking off the door mirror. In my view that borders on 'attempted murder'.
This is common in my village and it's not always SUV's (although this area is rural so at least there's half an excuse for them to be here).
What I do is pull into the middle of the road and make them stop - you need to dominate the road so they haven't got any choice but to stop. Our works defensive driving instructors teach us to drive like this. You need to 'own' your space on the road.
You have to be careful of doddery old farmers in doddery old Land Rovers though - they can't see you and steering an old LR in a straight line isn't easy.
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>>You need to 'own' your space on the road.
Do what,most of these idiot drivers *do think they own the road*
and really dont care who is in the way,if they did they would not shove there way though in a threatening manner as they do!
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Steve
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>>You need to 'own' your space on the road. Do what,most of these idiot drivers *do think they own the road* and really dont care who is in the way,if they did they would not shove there way though in a threatening manner as they do!
I did say 'space', not the whole road. The defensive driving we're taught (by ex-Police driving instructors) is interesting - some employees actually think it's quite aggresive, but it's more about being positive, or definite, about everything you do on the road, rather than drifting along passively.
Key think is to create, and maintain, a sort of buffer zone around you. You don't do that by allowing other drivers to squash you into the kerb.
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>>You need to 'own' your space on the road.<<
Yes, I've also been taught this. It works very well, and is based on being decisive rather thn aggressive (agression is a strict no-no). I'm more a spectator to occasional road rage than involved in it these days, so something must be working.
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England has a culture which is debased and debasing. Any schoolteacher (at least in the state system) will tell you that. It is a progressively more agressive society and what most of us would call 'decent civilised values' are in decline. Just visit almost any town centre on a Friday night. So yes, there is more aggressive behaviour of all kinds.
Take courage in the fact that moral standards have always cycled up and down. The only trouble is that the cycle time could be several decades if not more. Things will eventually get better, but (unfortunately) not necessarily in our lifetime.
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L\'escargot.
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