Motorway Driving

they've got laws at the moment to fine people who needlessly obstruct the flow of traffic such as tractors, lorries and caravans not pulling over when there is a string of traffic behind them - the only problem is the police don't enforce them!! why should this one be any different, it's too easy to go and catch real criminals like people driving slightly over the speed limit

The main problem I found with some standards of driving on motorways when I was artic driving was the sheer lack of ability/confidence that some drivers show.

Until motorway driving is included in normal driving lessons and not as an option after the test has been passed, there will always be those who are nervous or just plain unsure about how you are supposed to drive on a motorway.

Over here we have an added problem.  We have a mere 1 mile of dual carriageway only, the rest of the roadways are standard 'A' and 'B' roads and country lanes.  Anyone taught to driver here are usually not given any idea as to how to approach rolling junctions etc and motorways cos we just don't have any.  So whenever I get onto the mainland, its always evident who is a first time driver over there cos they are just so completely out of their depth.

The curriculum of driving schooling needs updating urgently to accommodate such things as motorways and other such relatively advanced types of driving.  Less people would then sit in the wrong lane and be nervous of overtaking or keeping to the speed limit on a motorway.

We did try an idea over here of getting the ferry companies to allow free passage for learner drivers to go across to Portsmouth or Southampton for motorway training, unfortunately it didn't last due to ferry company constraints.

It is extremely scary to follow a first timer through Portsmouth cos they have no idea how to behave on the roads there and within about 10 mins they are on the motorways..and they really have no clue whatsoever.

I also think that driving tests should be retaken every 5 years.  Then people who through their nature as human beings build up bad habits can deal with them and possibly stay alive a bit longer too.

Ok so what does WCUK mean?

There are too many people on the roads these days who either lack the skill or the confidence to be able to drive well. On top of this there are also a lot of drivers who are totally oblivious of everyone else. I drove behind an old bloke the other day who kept slowing down to about 5 mph while he decided if he was going to stop. No indication he would just slow right down. Then when I went to pass him, he decided he wasn't stopping and sped up again, to 20mph. This happened about 5 times over a 1 mile stretch of road.

As for new motorway laws, what is the point, unless there will be a way of enforcing them with cameras!

 

That realy does my crust in. I had someone try to overtake me on the inside lane the other day, just as I was going to pull back over.
I also had an old windbag in a rover staying put in the overtaking lane of a dual, side by side with another car doing about 55 the other day on the way up to Stanley. I must have flashed him several times to shift (which he obligingly did at an extra 5mph at no rush to himself). The trouble is it makes you want to plant your foot down in frustration, must have hit 90 when I passed him. (not very sensible, but it felt good)

A Taxi driver I was cahtting to the other day was telling me about some famous boxer that lives in Sheffield who drives at breakneck speed in his Aston/Porsche etc. like an idiot. He had (taxi bloke) his wife and kids in his car when this idiot screamed upo behind him and sat about a foot off his back end. He also said thaty the coppers had pulled this lad over for his driving, but then patted him on the back, shook his hand and let him off telling him to drive a bit more sensible.. To which he got back in his car and floored it.
I haven't mentioned any names (for obvious reasons, as I'm only relaying the story) but I can believe it, by the way I've seen idiots drive ( specially if they are behind the wheel of a powerful car)

Most of whats wrong with motorway driving is nothing to do with the car or what it has under the bonnet..its the person behind the wheel.

Having been an artic driver, unfortunately I have seen a fair few bad smashes over the years....some seen actually happen infront of me...but that will always happen sadly.

One thing that I, and my friend from Gatwick, think is getting disturbing is the number of under 30 yr olds - some under 25 - getting hold of Group 20 cars.  Take the Skyline which is G20 or the Turbo Supra which is G17.  Those cars are not novice drives.  Most driving schools use front wheel drive cars.  The Supra and Skyline are RWD and definately not for the faint hearted.  There seems to be an increasing number of young and inexperienced drivers moving up to the bigger, more powerful cars very soon after passing their test.  And every day on the Skyline/Supra sites there are newbies who have done 180 or 360 dgrees in their car cos they didn't know how to handle it, specially in the wet.

I taught my neighbour's son how to drive and got him through his test a couple of years back, he had failed 9 times before.  The difference was I taught him in my n/a Supra and he took his test in it too.

People really don't realise how different a RWD car is, the big engined high bhp models are absolutely lethal if you don't know how to feel the car under your backside and how to get out of trouble if you find yourself stepping out.

Cars are much higher powered anyway nowadays, but experience behind the wheel is something that alot of those who drive the big cars just don't have and thats where alot of accidents happen.

Edited by Goldryder

I span out on a roundabout the other month in my E30. It was after a torential downpour after some hot weather and there must have been some oil on the road. I wasn't going any, as I had only just pulled out. I found myself spinning twice before the back end slid to a stop. (facing the wrong way just past my exit) luckely everyone stopped and I pulled over at the next laybye to check my car, as my first thought was a tire had gone.
I think it must have helped that I knew how the car would react after doing it on ice before in an empty carpark to see what would happen.

maybe skid pan training should become a compulsory part of learning to drive....

Maybe they should introduce skid pad training as part of the driving school course. I also think that everyone should do a DL196 as part of their driving school course, makes you more aware of whats going on around you. I certainly found a difference when I got back behind the wheel after a day riding a bike.
My instructer happened to be an old mate, who since left the riding school as he couldn't take the stress of youngsters wanting to throw their leg over a big bike and kill themselves. He said they didn't want to listen to want he was teaching them, they just wanted to smash themselves into the nearest roundabout. I saw him last night in town, he looks a lot happier and calmer now hes got a different job.