What's with these idiots who don't give way for other people on the roads?

Sheffield is a nightmare to drive around and often the only way to get from A to B is to rely on the good grace of other people who slow down/flash their lights to let you pull out of side roads and at juntions.

I just can't understand the mentality of the selfish people who refuse to let other people out in front of them.

And I also hate these idiots who push in in front of you regardless of whether you've let them out or not, often meaning you have to slam on your brakes to avoid shunting into the back or side of them (which would then result in them making a whiplash claim against you no doubt!). Would they push in while queuing in a shop? I think not. Being behind a wheel seems to give some people a licence to be ignorant and uncaring.

What kind of driver are you?

I voted sometimes - chavs no, everyone else yes

When im in my car im generally more curtious.....but in my "White Van" at work i become " White Van Woman"....and hell hath no fury like a woman in power!

I voted usually, although I make a point of not letting someone in if they drive past a queue and then try to move in near the front.

I had thought of posting a similar poll.
My grandad told me there was an unwritten rule where a driver going downhill would make way for a driver going uphill, because its harder on the car and more difficult to do an up hill start.
It seems to me very few people still do this and I always did it automatically before I knew the unspoken rule.
And so many people don't wave to say thanks. Now I appreciate that sometimes it isn't worth the risk if you are close to vehicles, better to have hands on the wheel but even a nod would be nice. Some people assume that it is their right.
The bit about people who pull out to force their way through - that's one of my bugbears. I'll generally go round them and refuse to be forced. I can understand that at certain junctions it is nigh on impossible to get out but that's where stopping and being a nice driver comes in. If 20 people go sailing past who could have stopped then that's probably at least 10 nasty drivers and the others can't because it would disrupt the flow of traffic.
I generally let people out where it won't disrupt traffic but if they've been there ages then occasionally I'll stop of hold the traffic to let others across or in.

Yes Im very courteous on the roads, thing that gets my goat is when moronic drivers block junctions and you are going in the opposite direction :rant:

Originally posted by Cyclone
I voted usually, although I make a point of not letting someone in if they drive past a queue and then try to move in near the front.

People who do that make my blood boil. I got a headache from just reading that sentence. That's what I meant when I said that driving seems to give some people a licence to behave like pricks. They wouldn't push to the front of a queue in the post office would they?

Originally posted by JBee
People who do that make my blood boil. I got a headache from just reading that sentence. That's what I meant when I said that driving seems to give some people a licence to behave like pricks. They wouldn't push to the front of a queue in the post office would they?

some people would.

Completely Off Topic, but someone walked into the gym the other day, picked up the remote and turned the TV over, there were 5 of us in there already!!! I said quite loudly "that's okay, we weren't watching it". As expected I got no response.

easily the most annoying thing when driving is ppl who dont wave/say thankyou despite you having gone out of your way to stop, let them out/pass or whatever.

Hang on, no. The most annoying thing is when you stop and pull over to let someone travellin the opposite direction come through a narrow section and the t**t behind you sees that as their opportunity to overtake you and carry on regardless through the narrow section.

I think this is much more common in student areas of city, and it wouldnt surprise me if the majority of culprits are of southern origin.

I am of this opinion having lived in oxford for some time an found out to my annoyance that ppl there would rather let a shop door slam in your face rather than hold it open, and i encountered on numerous occasions ppl actually walk through a door that i was holding open for them to grab like i was the butler or something.

I think down south its just less personal/community orientated/friendly in general.

It seems that getting behind the wheel gives people the right to be a complete arse hole!

People who drive round queues and then try to push in at the front really gets my goat too ... I try to straddle the lanes sometimes and I give a cheer when you see some 18 wheeler almost squash someone trying to get round him!

The worst one for me must be that road outside Glossop going to Manchester! They are always Subaru's too!

This is not just exclusive to while driving ... how about those people who HAVE to park outside their house, even if it means they completely arse up the traffic outside!

Or those gits who park in the disabled parking bays (Somerfield on the top end of Eccy road) just because they don’t want to walk the extra 50 yards to the shop!

Don’t even get me started on those people who jump red lights!!!!

This is very similar to those people who just hang-up when they get the wrong telephone number .... how annoying is that ... they ring you, you politely tell them they have the wrong number and you are rewarded with the noise of them hanging up, without so much as a thank you!

I think its all the more annoying because you have no way to retaliate, they are gone, just like the old lady you have patiently waited to slowly drive past!

You only know they haven't thanked you or given you any form of polite recognition for your act when they have gone! Thus you are left gnawing the steering wheel, spitting swear words!

I give way too often apparently- I'm too kind!

Originally posted by serapis
You only know they haven't thanked you or given you any form of polite recognition for your act when they have gone! Thus you are left gnawing the steering wheel, spitting swear words!

thats it. spot on.

Originally posted by 2fat2run
thats it. spot on.

Are you related to 2thin2swim?

I do give way quite often,but when i give way and i do not get a thank you then i will not give way to the next car.Also i tend not to let Taxi drivers out as they are complete idiots.(not all of them granted)

There are plenty of ignorant drivers around. The worst culprits IMO are taxi drivers who think they own the road (especially mini-cabs). Very few of them seem to know what a speed limit is, a lot of them tailgate, pull over without indication, perform illegal and unsignalled U-turns, etc etc.

You just KNOW this is going to end up moaning at bus drivers again :hihi:

I was very tempted to get in there first with a moan about Bus Driver but i thought Taxi drivers deserved my attention. I used to love West Street on a Friday night!

Originally posted by 2fat2run

Hang on, no. The most annoying thing is when you stop and pull over to let someone travellin the opposite direction come through a narrow section and the t**t behind you sees that as their opportunity to overtake you and carry on regardless through the narrow section.

I agree, but one of the nicest times it happened to me I stopped at the bottom of Ringinglow Road where cars were parked both sides, and the middle-aged driver behind pulled out and overtook,...and met nose to nose with the double decker bus I'd been giving way to.:clap: The most annoying is driving down Highcliffe Road where virtually everyone gives way to drivers coming up, and you can bet if you're overtaken it's by a 4x4, but there's another thread for that!

I find a lot of the time here, you get caught in the wrong lane and no1 will let you in the lane you need to be in - very annoying. When this happens, i employ the skills acquired in london - block them off, then they'll let you through. happy days.

Originally posted by Leigh
I find a lot of the time here, you get caught in the wrong lane and no1 will let you in the lane you need to be in - very annoying. When this happens, i employ the skills acquired in london - block them off, then they'll let you through. happy days.

do you not know the roads, not read the signs or just get confused?

I can accept that it's diffcult if you don't know the roads and are trying to read the signs in heavy traffic, it's happened to me sometimes, but if you live in Sheffield you have no excuse.

Originally posted by JBee
And I also hate these idiots who push in in front of you regardless of whether you've let them out or not, often meaning you have to slam on your brakes to avoid shunting into the back or side of them (which would then result in them making a whiplash claim against you no doubt!). Would they push in while queuing in a shop? I think not. Being behind a wheel seems to give some people a licence to be ignorant and uncaring.

Oooh, I hate that too!! Also, sometimes these people try to employ the method of not actually looking at you as they try to force their way in. Like if they can't see you, you're just going to let them out!! If I didn't love my car so much, I would be much more aggressive about not letting them in... The irony is that if they waited, I'd let them out!

I also hate people who don't say thankyou when you let them out. If someone gives way to me, I flash them and wave.

The best people to let out tho are bus drivers... They are always so grateful, they practically hang out of the window to say thanks! It makes my day!

Unless I'm in a major hurry I'll always give way and see no reason not to be curteous when driving.

What really annoys me though is people who don't indicate!

Originally posted by Cyclone
do you not know the roads, not read the signs or just get confused?

I can accept that it's diffcult if you don't know the roads and are trying to read the signs in heavy traffic, it's happened to me sometimes, but if you live in Sheffield you have no excuse.

I live in Sheffield but I don't know every single route off the top of my head. Driving to Meadowhall can be a bad one because the lanes aren't signed properly and if you stick in the left hand lane you might suddenly find you're only able to turn left - and you can only see this when you reach the junction when the faded white arrows on the road are just about visible. With practice you can memorise it all anyway but I can still see how people find themselves in the wrong lanes when the road markings are so worn and signs are lacking.

Originally posted by Miss

The best people to let out tho are bus drivers... They are always so grateful, they practically hang out of the window to say thanks! It makes my day!

In my experience, they don't generally wait to be given way to..... they just pull out.

Originally posted by andywatton
Unless I'm in a major hurry I'll always give way and see no reason not to be curteous when driving.

What really annoys me though is people who don't indicate!

How about being courteous to the drivers behind you and keep the flow of traffic moving instead? I was once behind someone who stopped on a roundabout to let someone in. That's so called courtesy gone too far.

What I'm beginning to find annoying is people blocking junctions at traffic lights, just because there isnt a box junction painted on the road.

The worst one is where traffic can't turn right from Fornham Street (by No Frills DIY) into Suffolk Road because selfish buggers block the junction completely.

And speaking of bad lane disclipline, where Suffolk Road goes off to the right into St Mary's Road, the right lane is usually empty and the middle one usually full. So people storm down the outside lane, round the corner, then try to push back in.

This is what creates a bad traffic flow in the first place.

People should have to do a refresher driving test every 5 years so that they don't forget parts of the Highway Code...

Like...

What to do if a car is parked on your side of the road and not on the other...

What yellow boxes mean...

What your hazard warning lights are for...(hint - it has nothing to do with newspapers or dropping your children off at school)

What bus lanes are for...

What road signs mean...


</rant>

I also can't stand people who don't indicate, especially at round-a-bouts. It's incredibly frustrating when you're waiting to pull out on a round-a-bout but don't know when it's safe to go because noone is indicating. And the people who don't bother letting other drivers know when they're going to pull over or make a turn really bug me too.

A message for drivers who don't indicate: You are selfish, lazy, incompitant, ignorant, sometimes dangerous and always rude!

Phew. I love this forum for letting of steam!

Originally posted by dinp
You just KNOW this is going to end up moaning at bus drivers again :hihi:

Is this where I come in? (Ex Bus Driver)
I know that Bus Drivers can be a pain sometimes but how would you like it sitting behind a wheel for upto 5 hrs.
The only problem I had was the kind people who park at bus stops, its not easy moving a 39ft bus into a small space!

I always let out buses - it's so annoying when you're riding on a bus and 10 or so cars bully their way past before someone lets the bus out.

Originally posted by bielby
I always let out buses - it's so annoying when you're riding on a bus and 10 or so cars bully their way past before someone lets the bus out.

Thank you bielby, there is now a sticker on the rear right of the buses that says "Please let me pull out" .

I try to be curteous, but as a new driver, I'm still taking my time to assess situations and I don't want to be held responsible for flashing someone to pull out when it's dangerous etc.

I've let a few buses out in the past week, so I think I've done my bit! Mind you, if I hadn't, I'd have probably been mince meat, as the cheeky beggars were already moving before I'd slowed down... But lets not even start with the bus drivers rant!

My major upset with the roads are people's blatent bullying of learners or "P" plate people. My "P's" are off now, after my Dad drove my car and felt as though he was being bullied by other road users. (No notice was taken when I pointed this out, however!)
The main culprits are taxi drivers, men in white vans (but not all) and little men in big 4x4s. I've seen it time and time again, they pull up so close behind you that you're terrified about rolling back or stalling etc. Or if you don't pass the white line as the traffic lights are on amber, they beep you, terrify you and you stall!

So yeah, the "P" plates are off now and for all you know, the car infront could be mine, and I've been driving all of a month now. You might not give me enough slack and I might roll back into you. So beware!

People seem to forget that they were learners/new drivers once and just bully and frighten those that are. Grrr! Rant over!

Bus Drivers - why don't you let other people out? You keep asking to be let out - go on - return the favour.

Taxi drivers - no U turns - means exactly what it says on the sign... oh I forgot, the majority in Sheffield don't seem to be able to read...

P Drivers - What does that mean? It has no legal status - maybe flat cappers should have a "D" badge - meaning doddery old person who will drive at 20 no matter what the speed limit is...

"Be careful baby on board" type stickers pah!!! - too much of the "look-at-me, I am important" ethos, often driven by people who are not concentrating on the road - instead on coochy-kiddums beside them, or on their child in the back...

White Van Drivers, or anyone else in vehicles which cannot go so fast - when going over the Snake, and the road ahead is clear, and you have 287 cras in a queue behind you - why not pull over and have that nice cup of tea you have in the tartan flask in the back?
Go on - you know it makes sense... or do you enjoy watching people duck out and back in to see if they <i>could</i> get past on that blind bend...

Originally posted by Litotes
"Be careful baby on board" type stickers pah!!! - too much of the "look-at-me, I am important" ethos, often driven by people who are not concentrating on the road - instead on coochy-kiddums beside them, or on their child in the back...

I've never understood the reason behind those 'Baby-on-board' stickers.

Is it 'Baby-on-board' = 'I drive like a maniac because I'm fertile' :huh:

or is it 'Baby-on-board' = 'Beware of toys thrown from this car' :confused:

or as Marge Simpson said 'Now people will stop intentionally ramming our car' :lol:

I read somewhere that "Baby On Board" stickers were originally used so that if the car was involved in an accident, and the other people in it were unable to communicate, rescuers/emergency services would know to look for a baby.......

I think that use is redundant now as I'm pretty sure most people leave them in all the time, baby on board or not!

I have been most annoyed this evening, by driving down clear A roads to constantly get stuck behind someone doing 40 mph.

It may be dark, but it's not raining, it's not busy, it's not icy and the limit is 60.

Originally posted by Cyclone
I have been most annoyed this evening, by driving down clear A roads to constantly get stuck behind someone doing 40 mph.

It may be dark, but it's not raining, it's not busy, it's not icy and the limit is 60.
60 is of course the maximum, not the recommended speed. You can't blame people for not driving up to the speed limit. If it's dark you drive within your seeing distance, which means the range of your lights. If people are expected to drive at the speed limit, it puts a whole new complexion on cyclists doesn't it!

P Drivers - What does that mean? It has no legal status - maybe flat cappers should have a "D" badge - meaning doddery old person who will drive at 20 no matter what the speed limit is...

It means that the driver is newly Passed, hence the "P". It's a warning to other drivers that the car infront has a new and inexperienced driver in it and will probably need you to leave a larger gap etc.

Originally posted by algy
60 is of course the maximum, not the recommended speed. You can't blame people for not driving up to the speed limit. If it's dark you drive within your seeing distance, which means the range of your lights. If people are expected to drive at the speed limit, it puts a whole new complexion on cyclists doesn't it!

Yes I can. It's an inappropriate speed for an open clear A road in good conditions. It's at least as dangerous as speeding.

If people are incapable of driving upto the speed limit when conditions allow then they would fail their driving test.

I agree Cyclone.

They're the same people who drive at 55 mph down motorway slip roads and then slow down a bit to join the motorway......

Am always courteous apart from to people who don't give way coming downhill, especially where the road has been narrowed and there is a sign up telling them that traffic coming up hill has priority. They get the full on blast on the horn and can't you see the sign, are you thick etc hand gestures. Mind you half of them don't even notice that......

I got 2 minors on my driving test for driving too slowly for the conditions, perhaps we should see some more of the blue minimum speed limit signs put up on some of our roads :D