Is this irresponsible driving?

spit · April 26, 2006, 23:29

Don't laugh guys, this is worrying me.....

The weather is great and I guess we're all getting into some really spirited driving.

Those of you that know me will understand that I'm too old to drive like a loon and I'd like to think that years on motorcycles and over 20 years with a clean license demonstrates an awareness for when and where a spirited drive is simply inappropriate or downright unsafe.

But tonight, in separate incidents, I attracted no less than 4 have-a-go drivers who wanted to race, tailgate, weave and swerve.

This started to bother me - these guys (and surprise, they were all blokes s:wink: :wink: s:wink: ) had obviously bust a gut to catch up with me on the 60mph country twisties, but long after I'd slowed to a pootle for the rush hour town traffic they were driving like possessed lunatics and taking ridiculous risks way beyond their car's limits to overtake me when it wasn't safe to do so.

I'd never condone street racing, but is my enjoyment of acceleration and handling inviting an accident? Two of the four that I mention ended up facing the wrong way s:shock: :shock: s:shock: - if I wasn't there as a "target" this probably wouldn't have happened.

Hope you can see where I'm coming from with this - I value your thoughts.

ninjinski · April 26, 2006, 23:40

Agreed - Since I TTET'ed my car every muppett in anything from white vans to turbo diesels just have to get past no matter what - show them a little speed and they all seem to have something to prove.

I make a point of not going crazy on motorways (fancy my licence too much - have a little spurt on the throttle now and again, mostly flow with the traffic in the fast lane) and as such most cars can hit 100-110mph and by god they do anything to get past - Futile as once they back off the pace im past again - dont figure!!

Feel like having a sign saying "Look mate its a bloody white van (or diesel) you are driving not a sports car" Now bu**er off!

It would be well and good if had autobahns then adios as we speed off at 130+

Anonymous · April 26, 2006, 23:43

Chill out, sounds like your getting over sensitive!!!

Take it as a compliment. Worse things to worry about in life than twats like that. Think at some times we all get this sort of thing happening. Envy??
Perhaps. Either you go with it and match them or get real. Comes down to choice and how you feel at the time.

Is it worth it?? s:lol: :lol: s:lol: s:lol: :lol: s:lol: Know where your coming from!!!

Anonymous · April 26, 2006, 23:44

Hey Spit, know exactly what you mean!
I have at times thought of getting rid of my beloved for exactly this reason.
s:oops: :oops: s:oops:
I'm positive I get more unwanted attention in the MR2 than I have ever got before in any other "normal" car!
As you say its usually blokes who are the culprits, the ones that take everyday driving as some kind of peeing contest, really boils my blood. s:evil: :evil: s:evil:
I (like everyone else on the planet s:roll: :roll: s:roll: ) consider myself a good and careful driver but I can't remember the last time I took the car out for a spin without some loon completely spoiling it for me!

ninjinski · April 26, 2006, 23:48

Quote from: "ml02mrl"Chill out, sounds like your getting over sensitive!!!

Take it as a compliment...

s:lol: :lol: s:lol: Im also sensitive about them when they decide to undertake and cut into traffic ahead like that proves anything!! s:roll: :roll: s:roll: s:roll: :roll: s:roll:

Anonymous · April 26, 2006, 23:52

QuoteI'm also sensitive about them when they decide to undertake and cut in ahead like that proves anything!!

Weve all been there. At the end of the day, do you give a S**t? So they get ahead now and again. Am I worried?? s:roll: :roll: s:roll: s:roll: :roll: s:roll: Some you win some you....

Youve got the car..... they aint.

ninjinski · April 26, 2006, 23:54

Quote from: "ml02mrl"
QuoteI'm also sensitive about them when they decide to undertake and cut in ahead like that proves anything!!

Weve all been there. At the end of the day, do you give a S**t? So they get ahead now and again. Am I worried?? s:roll: :roll: s:roll: s:roll: :roll: s:roll: Some you win some you....

Youve got the car..... they aint.

s:wink: :wink: s:wink: s:lol: :lol: s:lol:

Anonymous · April 26, 2006, 23:59

No issue. Im with you guys on this. Seen this every day and it pi*ses me off no end. Not that Ive been a little guilty of doing the inside thing occassionally s:oops: :oops: s:oops: s:oops: :oops: s:oops: s:oops: :oops: s:oops: . Here, like most of you, we get some twatty drivers, and hey, Im not perfect by any means, just pis*es me off that all!!
'Anger vented' sorry guys, pet hate I guess s:oops: :oops: s:oops: s:oops: :oops: s:oops:

spit · April 27, 2006, 00:05

Yep, and its basic physics that a car doing 31 is faster than a car doing 30!! Its the aggression that I find hard to handle and Narky has hit it on the head - this spoils driving for me.

I'm not so anal that I could name most of the nice cars on the road (but after last weekend I now know what a Vectra turbo looks like, eh Dan? s:wink: :wink: s:wink: ) However, I want to appreciate these enthusiasts and share a nod with like-minded drivers.

But I can't escape the fact that my driving enjoyment is encouraging irresponsible driving. I'm sure that none of us want to be party to anyone getting hurt, widowed, orphaned etc....no matter how indirect our involvement is.

Maybe I should chill a bit.....I dunno.

Anonymous · April 27, 2006, 00:10

Spit, on second thoughts, just keep on doin what you enjoy doin and let 'them' do whatever it is that gets them off. Their problem not yours. s:lol: :lol: s:lol: s:lol: :lol: s:lol: s:lol: :lol: s:lol:

Liz · April 27, 2006, 00:24

I had this on the way to work today, a Ford Transit - blue to make a change - right up my chuff, I am not kidding when I say that all I could see in my rear mirror was a bit of his headlights and the Ford badge. It was not as though I was in a position to speed up as I had a car in front of me and I was overtaking other. The tosser got the hand shandy sign as he went past me when I pulled over for my slip road. I was so tempted to stand on the brakes hope for a right off and spend my money on a Turbo!

Anonymous · April 27, 2006, 00:53

Liz!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

QuoteThe tosser got the hand shandy sign

Go girl s:lol: :lol: s:lol: s:lol: :lol: s:lol: s:lol: :lol: s:lol: s:lol: :lol: s:lol:

heathstimpson · April 27, 2006, 06:22

I had the same matey when I left for work last night. I was just warming her up so wouldn't rev etc on a cold engine even if I wanted to. This Cupra R was determined to race and I though it was funny when he flew past me as I drove at a normal pace warming the engine, then five minutes later we were together again at a roundabout. I think he was expecting me to boot it s:lol: :lol: s:lol:

Anonymous · April 27, 2006, 08:13

I've noticed a real difference in the last 2 months i've been driving the '2 to work and back. My other car is a Volvo estate and people are definately a lot more aggressive around me when im driving the '2.

Basically I guess all you can do is ignore them and drive the way you want to. Why let them spoil your enjoyment of a great car!

Two's Company · April 27, 2006, 08:47

Ste, I say ignore the idiots. If they continue to drive like muppits I tend to use the tried and tested method of backing off and letting them pass. It's better to have poor drivers in front of you so that you can anticipate their errors than tailgating you and potentially causing an accident.

On the motorway if anyway gets too close behind I slow down (as per the highway code s:wink: :wink: s:wink: ) and then drop a gear to increase the gap. This continues and until they get the message and usually works. s:? :? s:?

filcee · April 27, 2006, 08:54

Why not take the fun out of the perceived challenge for the guilty/aggressive party? At the first safe opportunity, maintain a steady speed and wave them through. Clearly, they want to get past you, so why not allow them to do just that? It then becomes your decision, not theirs, about when and where this is done. Kind of takes the fun out of it, if you want a race s;-) ;-) s;-)

Then, when you catch them up in the next traffic queue, give 'em a wave and blow 'em a kiss* s:!: :!: s:!: They might just start to feel a bit silly ...

* No, this is not a Spyder chat post that has somehow found it's way here s;-) ;-) s;-)

kanujunkie · April 27, 2006, 09:14

laybys and bus stops are a marvelous thing, just let the muppets go on their artificial enjoyment of haveing beaten you, this unfortunatly is going to happen more and more IMHO and theres nothing you can do about it.

welcome to the chav generation

celmacmat · April 27, 2006, 10:01

Guys, imagine my dilema....i have a yellow one s:!: :!: s:!:

They all want to race....they are all surprise that it is actually a woman who's driving (and one who CAN drive by the way s:wink: :wink: s:wink: ) when they desperatly try to overtake in 3rd gears (just to try to have a bit of punch), the car raving like mad...

I feel sorry for them and let them pass...and then as a thank you, i got the finger or wank gesture....class s:roll: :roll: s:roll:

i call those people parasite of the road, kill joy, or simply as we say in France.....TROU DU CUL (i will let you guess what that mean)...

Ste, just relax, enjoy YOUR drive and let them kill themself if they want, their choice not yours...

red_leicester · April 27, 2006, 11:22

On a slightly different note, but still on-topic (just).

I was driving up the M1 for an hour or so on Sunday, early afternoon. We all know about middle-lane hoggers who, for some reason, sit there mile after mile when there is nothing in the inside lane.

But what amazed me was the number of people sitting in the outside lane when they could move to either the middle or inside lanes. And they weren't Range Rovers, BMWs etc - they were Ford Kas, Escorts, even a K-reg Fiat Panda that was glued to the outside lane for at least 20 miles for no apparent reason.

I know it's unsafe and illegal but I do underake occasionally, not forgetting the long "do you have any idea why there are 3 lanes on a motorway" stare rightwards.

What's the point in widening motorways to 4 lanes (is the M25 going to be 6 ?!) when 80% of drivers don't have any lane discipline anyway ?

Rant over

philster_d · April 27, 2006, 11:43

Celma..

Appyer sur la champignion

hehe some time since I worked in paris sorry I can barely remember anything. s:lol: :lol: s:lol:

celmacmat · April 27, 2006, 12:03

Quote from: "philster_d"Celma..

Appyer sur la champignion

hehe some time since I worked in paris sorry I can barely remember anything. s:lol: :lol: s:lol:

It is still not bad s:D

s:D ...Appuyer sur le champignon...

for those who do not understand....it means putting your right foot down s:wink: :wink: s:wink: .

spynish · April 27, 2006, 12:10

Quote from: "spit"But I can't escape the fact that my driving enjoyment is encouraging irresponsible driving

s:shock: :shock: s:shock:
Don't get the point...
Can't understand how your grandpa driving style can encourage anyone to drive irresponsible... s:roll: :roll: s:roll:

s:lol: :lol: s:lol: s:lol: :lol: s:lol: s:lol: :lol: s:lol:

Anonymous · April 27, 2006, 12:14

Can't think of a better justice than them writing off the cars! (Though I hope they are uninjured and it's an immobile object)

kanujunkie · April 27, 2006, 17:46

Quote from: "red_leicester"I know it's unsafe and illegal but I do undertake occasionally, not forgetting the long "do you have any idea why there are 3 lanes on a motorway" stare rightwards.

What's the point in widening motorways to 4 lanes (is the M25 going to be 6 ?!) when 80% of drivers don't have any lane discipline anyway ?

Rant over

i'm with you on this, the M25 is up to 5 lanes around heathrow and quite often when i come through there you can sit in either the inside or lane 2 whilst the outside lane is chocca block, its getting ridiculous, where do these people learn to drive? theres only one driving lane on a motorway, unless the laws suddenly changed

Anonymous · April 27, 2006, 17:55

I used to have major problems with Jap performance cars (mostly Imprezas, it has to be said) trying to race me in the '2. Sometimes I admit I would bite and fly past them with the turbo spooling away just to prove I had a bigger penis (pathetic I know, but at least I can admit to it: Sometimes I kinda felt like I was trying to almost show them that the Roadster wasn't as slow as they thought s:wink: :wink: s:wink: ), but most of the time I just laughed and let them carry on.

Funnily enough though, no-one wants to race me anymore. s:(

s:( s:wink: :wink: s:wink: Well, ignoring the AMV8 that wanted to have a play in the middle of some 40-limited speed camera-infested roadworks the other week. I just sat there and smiled as the sound of the V8 roared off. I want one.