Examples of poor driving you have witnessed!

[Miss Red]

I never let people out of Friars Terrace onto Wolverhampton Road as most (although I admit not all) are just rat running from Newport Road. The other annoying one is Queensville Avenue coming out onto Lichfield Road, I never let anyone out of there either - so many people stop to let rat runners out that it must be having knock on effects and having adverse impact on traffic flow.

so you deliberately don't let people out just because they have chosen a different route to you? how bizarre :/

Certainly is, doesnt that actually make it worse? and cause a bit of anger lol. I notice theres quite a few who wont let the traffic feed through!
If stuck in a queue then whats the problem in waiting half a second more?

 

[henryscat]

Certainly is, doesnt that actually make it worse? and cause a bit of anger lol. I notice theres quite a few who wont let the traffic feed through!
If stuck in a queue then whats the problem in waiting half a second more?

Taking the example of people rat running out of Queensville Avenue, it isn't a matter of the principle of waiting that bothers me. There are a significant number of people rat running who people on Lichfield Road stop to let out. This consequently reduces the speed that the queue can move past Queensville Avenue, which in turn is reducing the number of vehicles getting through each cycle of the Riverway and St Leonards lights. When the traffic is busy it doesn't take much for this effect to propogate back. In this specific instance, letting the traffic out you are making the queue worse. In most other instances, I would agree that letting cars out of a side road here and there doesn't make a great deal of odds.

I would place money that Lichfield Road would flow better if Queensville Avenue were made a no through route - or even better if St Leonards Avenue was. Once past the turn for Spittal Brook, the queue moves a lot better.

 

[cushT]

Certainly is, doesnt that actually make it worse? and cause a bit of anger lol. I notice theres quite a few who wont let the traffic feed through!
If stuck in a queue then whats the problem in waiting half a second more?

Taking the example of people rat running out of Queensville Avenue, it isn't a matter of the principle of waiting that bothers me. There are a significant number of people rat running who people on Lichfield Road stop to let out. This consequently reduces the speed that the queue can move past Queensville Avenue, which in turn is reducing the number of vehicles getting through each cycle of the Riverway and St Leonards lights. When the traffic is busy it doesn't take much for this effect to propogate back. In this specific instance, letting the traffic out you are making the queue worse. In most other instances, I would agree that letting cars out of a side road here and there doesn't make a great deal of odds.

I would place money that Lichfield Road would flow better if Queensville Avenue were made a no through route - or even better if St Leonards Avenue was. Once past the turn for Spittal Brook, the queue moves a lot better.

If you drive leaving a large enough gap between you & the car infront, like you should be, letting someone out of a side road is of no consequence. What a selfish attitude to take! I bet you are one of those people that won't allow other motorists to merge in turn, for fear of them 'pushing in'

 

[henryscat]

If you drive leaving a large enough gap between you & the car infront, like you should be, letting someone out of a side road is of no consequence. What a selfish attitude to take!

In slow moving traffic, although you should be leaving a safe gap to be able to stop in, that is not the same as a safe gap for a car to pull out of a junction into. Letting a car out of a T-junction in that instance usually requires stopping the main flow of traffic. The volume of cars that should come out of a tiddly side road like Queensville Avenue should only be a few. The issue is that it isn't, due to a significant number of rat runners. People on Lichfield Road stopping to let these out is so frequent that it causes the whole queue to stop every time one is let out. This propogates backwards. 99% of those vehicles coming out of Queensville Avenue either have the option of going St Leonards and coming out on the lights, or could have used Riverway. So sod them, if they want to go that way, they can wait for a safe gap when they come to emerge onto the main road. I admit that there will be the odd car that has originated down there. It would be far better if rat running were stopped. Where large volumes of rat running cars are concerned it is "of consequence".

I bet you are one of those people that won't allow other motorists to merge in turn, for fear of them 'pushing in'

I will merge in turn where it is appropriate but this principle applies to where 2 lanes of traffic go into one, not the operation of a T-junction where the traffic on the main road has right of way. Where two lanes merge together there is arguably equal right of way. However, where there is a very short stretch of two lanes which then go into one, they tend to attract aggressive driving from a small number of cars who do push in to the point of driving dangerously.

 

[gilbert grape]

Having not read the forum for a couple of days I'm interested but not surprised the points from my original post haven't been commented on and virtually dismissed by some as "thats life".......?
Yet the main postings after are all about road manners and who thinks what you should do at junctions?

Do i take it that people find jaywalking fine, hurling abuse fine and spitting fine? As well as a junction thats had safe pedestrian crossings put in as well as barriers and new pathway installed, be constantly abused by lazy arses who cant be bothered to walk twenty yards either way and put themselves and motorists at risk?
That was sort of my point but, hey ho!!

 

[henryscat]

Having not read the forum for a couple of days I'm interested but not surprised the points from my original post haven't been commented on and virtually dismissed by some as "thats life".......?
Yet the main postings after are all about road manners and who thinks what you should do at junctions?

Do i take it that people find jaywalking fine, hurling abuse fine and spitting fine? As well as a junction thats had safe pedestrian crossings put in as well as barriers and new pathway installed, be constantly abused by lazy arses who cant be bothered to walk twenty yards either way and put themselves and motorists at risk?
That was sort of my point but, hey ho!!

Whilst I don't for a minute condone hurling abuse and spitting, there is no offence of "jay walking" in the UK and nor should there be.

Putting barriers up everywhere can be counter productive. In some ways pedestrians are treated as second best. The amount of time it takes to cross the road, even at pelican crossings is immensely frustrating.

 

[gilbert grape]

Well, if thats how people want to think in this area there will soon be accidents like on the lichfield road and i'm afraid it'll be the fault of the stupid pedestrians in this case. There are ways provided to cross safely and if ignored people have to hold themselves accountable for their actions. The big pity being, its forever on the record and the conscience of the motorist if they hit somebody.

 

[Withnail]

But then you did nearly hit him with a car, and beeped your horn at him to boot.

Even if in the wrong, nearly being hit by a car and being beeped for it is likely to raise the blood pressure (and adrenaline level) a bit - enough to cause an unfortunate language outbreak for sure.

No excuse for gobbing on the car though, very poor form.

I do tend to think, however, no matter what people may think are the 'rights of way', there are 'rights of what's right'. Someone outside in the middle of winter is probably quite cold, and wants to get inside their house/car. You are already in your nice warm car. Who has right of way?

 

[gilbert grape]

But then you did nearly hit him with a car, and beeped your horn at him to boot.

Even if in the wrong, nearly being hit by a car and being beeped for it is likely to raise the blood pressure (and adrenaline level) a bit - enough to cause an unfortunate language outbreak for sure.

No excuse for gobbing on the car though, very poor form.

I do tend to think, however, no matter what people may think are the 'rights of way', there are 'rights of what's right'. Someone outside in the middle of winter is probably quite cold, and wants to get inside their house/car. You are already in your nice warm car. Who has right of way?

His blood pressure and adrenalin was raised?! And mine wasn''t?
Prevention better than cure i'd say. Cross on the crossing 5 yards away or run into a lane of moving cars? Not a hard one really. Too many people take the quick option rather than the proper option and dont value life, was also one of my original points. Another point forgotten, it would appear. Personally i'd not like to be laying flowers at a junction in memory of a lazy friend or relative.

 

[Jackel]

Having not read the forum for a couple of days I'm interested but not surprised the points from my original post haven't been commented on and virtually dismissed by some as "thats life".......?
Yet the main postings after are all about road manners and who thinks what you should do at junctions?

Do i take it that people find jaywalking fine, hurling abuse fine and spitting fine? As well as a junction thats had safe pedestrian crossings put in as well as barriers and new pathway installed, be constantly abused by lazy arses who cant be bothered to walk twenty yards either way and put themselves and motorists at risk?
That was sort of my point but, hey ho!!

I agree with you, there are too many self righteous people out there who think the world revolves around them and couldnt care less about anyone else. Also people who walk /drive/cycle around not taking responsibility for their own safety.

 

[henryscat]

Well, if thats how people want to think in this area there will soon be accidents like on the lichfield road and i'm afraid it'll be the fault of the stupid pedestrians in this case. There are ways provided to cross safely and if ignored people have to hold themselves accountable for their actions. The big pity being, its forever on the record and the conscience of the motorist if they hit somebody.

Whatever your views on the mentality of pedestrians, drivers have a responsibility to observe, anticipate and react accordingly. There is a greater responsibility on the part of the driver because you're in charge of over a tonne of metal that could kill someone. Obviously you can't account for all eventualities. Saying that people should only use crossings isn't helpful. Pedestrians are quite entitled to cross at other points too. The only thing I'd say about the incident that you described is that while you were busy blasting your horn and getting angry your concentration had gone and you could have had an accident as a result of that.

 

[gilbert grape]

Well, if thats how people want to think in this area there will soon be accidents like on the lichfield road and i'm afraid it'll be the fault of the stupid pedestrians in this case. There are ways provided to cross safely and if ignored people have to hold themselves accountable for their actions. The big pity being, its forever on the record and the conscience of the motorist if they hit somebody.

Whatever your views on the mentality of pedestrians, drivers have a responsibility to observe, anticipate and react accordingly. There is a greater responsibility on the part of the driver because you're in charge of over a tonne of metal that could kill someone. Obviously you can't account for all eventualities. Saying that people should only use crossings isn't helpful. Pedestrians are quite entitled to cross at other points too. The only thing I'd say about the incident that you described is that while you were busy blasting your horn and getting angry your concentration had gone and you could have had an accident as a result of that.

And if that person hadn't ran in front of me there wouldn't have been an issue...........like I say, not rocket science! If a light's gone green and I start to move I don't expect to see denim flashes in my headlights.
And i certainly don't expect somebody to make me out as "in the wrong", for having an opinion on it.

 

[cushT]

If you drive leaving a large enough gap between you & the car infront, like you should be, letting someone out of a side road is of no consequence. What a selfish attitude to take!

In slow moving traffic, although you should be leaving a safe gap to be able to stop in, that is not the same as a safe gap for a car to pull out of a junction into. Letting a car out of a T-junction in that instance usually requires stopping the main flow of traffic. The volume of cars that should come out of a tiddly side road like Queensville Avenue should only be a few. The issue is that it isn't, due to a significant number of rat runners. People on Lichfield Road stopping to let these out is so frequent that it causes the whole queue to stop every time one is let out. This propogates backwards. 99% of those vehicles coming out of Queensville Avenue either have the option of going St Leonards and coming out on the lights, or could have used Riverway. So sod them, if they want to go that way, they can wait for a safe gap when they come to emerge onto the main road. I admit that there will be the odd car that has originated down there. It would be far better if rat running were stopped. Where large volumes of rat running cars are concerned it is "of consequence".

I bet you are one of those people that won't allow other motorists to merge in turn, for fear of them 'pushing in'

I will merge in turn where it is appropriate but this principle applies to where 2 lanes of traffic go into one, not the operation of a T-junction where the traffic on the main road has right of way. Where two lanes merge together there is arguably equal right of way. However, where there is a very short stretch of two lanes which then go into one, they tend to attract aggressive driving from a small number of cars who do push in to the point of driving dangerously.

The Lichfield road is stop starting at a crawl long before the Quensville Avenue junction as a result of all the traffic lights, & having zero cars emerging from Queensville would quite obviously make no difference at all. You can't blame people for trying to avoid the congestion using other routes, & it only takes a second to kindly let someone out, without anyone having to stop or even slow down the crawling traffic! It's a good job we don't all go about our self righteous day thinking sod them, I'm alright Jack.

 

[henryscat]

Believe what you like but the capacity of a road is affected by the junctions along it. Lots of people stopping for a second (actually it is a lot longer) has an effect. Think what happens when one person brakes in very busy motorway traffic and the effect ripples back.

 

[wizzard]

I rarely let people out of a side junction especially if it's rush hour traffic, that's what give way markings are for, the only place I leave a gap is if it is a box junction or "KEEP CLEAR" is painted on the road.

 

[cushT]

I will always let people out. It saddens me that so many people are so negative about other road users & so unhelpful.

 

[Floss]

Seems to me some ppl think they own the roads! How do you decide who is rat running and who is travelling from their homes or visiting friends or relatives who live down those side streets? ridiculous to make such a sweeping decision not to let anyone out of side junctions, as there maybe only one person in the que from side junctions rat running and there is no way of proving who is doing what! So to say you never let ppl out is selfish and inconsiderate to other road users!

 

[shoes]

Since buying a bmw I've got used to not indicating, it's much less stressful letting others navigate around you....


I jest, of course.

 

[cushT]

Seems to me some ppl think they own the roads! How do you decide who is rat running and who is travelling from their homes or visiting friends or relatives who live down those side streets? ridiculous to make such a sweeping decision not to let anyone out of side junctions, as there maybe only one person in the que from side junctions rat running and there is no way of proving who is doing what! So to say you never let ppl out is selfish and inconsiderate to other road users!

Here here. Even if a few are so called rat running, what does that even mean? Leaving work I guess. 100s of people are working at Ariva on Fairway, are they all to go the long way round just because one or two selfish drivers don't like the fact they may get a cars length on them as they crawl up Queensville bridge!

 

[wizzard]

Seems to me some ppl think they own the roads! How do you decide who is rat running and who is travelling from their homes or visiting friends or relatives who live down those side streets? ridiculous to make such a sweeping decision not to let anyone out of side junctions, as there maybe only one person in the que from side junctions rat running and there is no way of proving who is doing what! So to say you never let ppl out is selfish and inconsiderate to other road users!

Not when it comes to traffic tailing back 2 to 3 miles just because people are letting others in from the side roads.

Especially if someone is coming out from the left and wants to turn right, they are more likely to have an accident because they can't see the traffic coming from their left. They're hoping that the person letting them out is paying attention to the traffic coming in the other direction.