As a professional driver, I am appalled by the standard of driving I see on my travels and would not be surprised if there were twice as many accidents.

I have just been on my holidays for six days, driven four hundred miles and I find myself avoiding other peoples mistakes all the time. Drivers coming straight out of side roads, swerving in front of me on Motorways, pulling out from the side of the road when I am about to pass, having to sound my hooter, when I see them looking the wrong way as they are waiting at a junction.

Also, numerous times, I am made to give way to others when it is my right of way, don't these drivers know the hightway code? or don't they care? Drivers going too fast in the wrong place, wet greasy roads or snowy or icy roads.

I think some of them have a death wish! driving without lights after dark, overtaking when they cannot see if the road is clear, losing control, drinking when driving, one idiot was reading a newspaper when driving on the motorway at seventy miles per hour. If he is sane, then I know where there is a housefull.

how was the holiday to whitby hal?

Hi RPG,
The holiday was great, wall to wall sunshine except one day, got to see numerous interesting places, good digs, happiness all the way. We both enjoyed it immensely, we are now ready for another one. Ha Ha. Have booked one for the 20th.of September. nudge nudge. Wink Wink.

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People who end up in a car accident or caught speeding should be banned until they passed a test again. Both theory and practical.

Originally posted by John
People who end up in a car accident or caught speeding should be banned until they passed a test again. Both theory and practical.

But just because they know the theory or can pass a driving test doesn't mean they'll drive safely though...

If everyone who's ever gone over the speed limit was banned, we'd have no drivers left on the road! (Maybe not such a bad thing.) I think it depends on what are your definition is of speeding. (i.e. 1 MPH over the limit, 10% over, 100MPH, etc...)

I was thinking excessive speeding, i.e. 20 miles per hour more than the legal limit.

Some good points here guys, but it all sounds too...voluntary

If an unsafe driver wants to get behind the wheel of a car, there's not much we can do to stop him


Better order that Humvee quick ;)

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Haha im a girl and i get insurance way cheaper than boys the same age as me yet im the worst driver EVER.
Ive dented my car loads from stupid mistakes like driving into trolley parks and knocking over walls.
I also drive at the speed limit all the time i NEVER go over it and it annoys the hell out of people (unless theres a camera or a police car around that is and they i bet theyre thanking me in their heads) i must admit i do drive at the limit party to annoy people but also cos i dont want any points and have my license taken away and have to take that damn test again.
Having that driving test was the worst thing EVER i was more nervous than ive ever been but luckily i had one of the blind examiners (you wouldnt think theyd employ the blind in such a job would you but it seems they do -the equal rights people must have been on to them)

Try driving at the speed limit all the way through your next car journey. Its fun! And if you get stuck behind me (i do drive in sheffield quite a bit) keep your hair on, im only doing abiding the law!

Originally posted by kittykat
Haha im a girl and i get insurance way cheaper than boys the same age as me yet im the worst driver EVER.

Hey! That's not fair... I just don't get insurance companies.

My sister's had 3 accidents (one the day after her test :roll:) and written off one of her cars... whereas I've never had an accident! How come girls gets cheaper insurance than me? Out of everyone I know, the girls have always had more accidents! :o

Originally posted by halevan
As a professional driver, I am appalled by the standard of driving I see on my travels and would not be surprised if there were twice as many accidents.

I have just been on my holidays for six days, driven four hundred miles and I find myself avoiding other peoples mistakes all the time. Drivers coming straight out of side roads, swerving in front of me on Motorways, pulling out from the side of the road when I am about to pass, having to sound my hooter, when I see them looking the wrong way as they are waiting at a junction.

Also, numerous times, I am made to give way to others when it is my right of way, don't these drivers know the hightway code? or don't they care? Drivers going too fast in the wrong place, wet greasy roads or snowy or icy roads.

I think some of them have a death wish! driving without lights after dark, overtaking when they cannot see if the road is clear, losing control, drinking when driving, one idiot was reading a newspaper when driving on the motorway at seventy miles per hour. If he is sane, then I know where there is a housefull.

Halevan, in some of your younger days, I bet you was standing around in very draughty togas, waiting for centurions in chariots.

Mind you, I reckon the chariots won't have been all that bad. I bet you could get from Lands End to John O'Groats faster then, than today by Labour's alleged railway system. I bet there wasn't an highway code or test in those days! :lol: ;)

I beg your pardon lickszz, how on earth did you know I was with the Centurions? Hey, I am not THAT old. Seriously though, I have had SEVEN driving tests in my life, motorcar, lorry,double decker bus, coach, heavy goods, articulator, motor cycle.

In the old days there used to be a rhyme printed on the inside cover of the highway code and it went like this.

Here lies the body of William Jay
Who died maintaining his right of way
He was right dead right as he sped along
But he's just as dead as if he was wrong.

I still drive with that in mind even today.

Originally posted by halevan
I beg your pardon lickszz, how on earth did you know I was with the Centurions? Hey, I am not THAT old. Seriously though, I have had SEVEN driving tests in my life, motorcar, lorry,double decker bus, coach, heavy goods, articulator, motor cycle.

In the old days there used to be a rhyme printed on the inside cover of the highway code and it went like this.

Here lies the body of William Jay
Who died maintaining his right of way
He was right dead right as he sped along
But he's just as dead as if he was wrong.

I still drive with that in mind even today.

So, you passed PSV, HGV and Motor cycle. That's some achievement. Why would you require all those? Did you instruct people on all those?

I passed all those tests in the course of my employment Lickszz, coach driving was the one I enjoyed the most but it was only seasonal work, and after a few years I had to move on. For the last twelve years of my working life, I was teaching people how to drive motor cars.

From the first lesson, with an absoloute beginner who had never sat behind a steering wheel, to the pupil passing the driving test, in some cases, the first time in twenty lessons and beleive me, it was hard work, I earned every penny I got, all £10 per week and even in those days it was a rubbish wage. No money for alcohol, cigarettes,gambling,holidays, clothes, it all went on essentials for my family. Who would do that today???

I've heard this coach driving especially the foreign trips can be a good living and some nice tips! Not exactly ideal for a familiy life though.

You forgot to mention your pilots licence also Hal. You know, The Battle of Britain. Don't you ever feel like dusting off your flying helmet and goggles and once again wearing that white flowing silk scarf? :lol: ;) :P

Don't know if anyones mentioned this, and quite frankly I've not got time to check, but I personally think its a bit stupid that the driving test merely pays lip service to motorway driving in the theory exam, and does not include any driving on one in the practical exam. Driving tutors therefore don't teach learners how to drive on motorways. As a result, one can successfully pass a driving test without driving on a motorway at all, and can legally drive along at 70mph down the M1 just hours later.

no they dont need to teach it but my driving instructor didnt let me go without mentioning the company does special lessons for motorways. I forget how much she said it was but it was ridiculous.

Yes but my point was that they SHOULD teach it because it SHOULD be included in the practical test. Nearly every driver will have to drive on a motorway at some stage.

If you want to see some crazy and diabolical driving try driving through Hull city centre. Some of the most despicable little sods around.

Im dredding cycling around on me wee push bike in a few weeks
:?