[foot-loose]

Following on from the comment in the other thread, I typed all this out. It's not based on anything thats happened today or anything, just general observations:

my sister refuses to reverse park anywhere because she thinks she can't... surely it's a case of going and learning how to do this? I've been over this with her many times and yet she wont do it.

Roundabouts are NOT as difficult as half the drivers out there seem to imagine they are. The number of times I have nearly ended up with a prat smashing into me because he doesnt know where he is going so he shoots straight across two or three lanes without even signaling.

Why don't people signal??? 90% of people will let you change lanes if you tell them thats what you want to do. The number of times I can see that a driver is approaching a slower moving vehicle than them then they sit there and wait for a gap... or worse, they just pull out. Your indicators were invented to tell others what you are about to do! So straight forward, it's unreal. (PS: when you ask to be let out and someone lets you in front of them, it's customary to say 'thank you' - it really get's on my tits when I let someone out and then they just scoot off - common courtesy, surely?!)

The middle lane of the motorway is NOT where you sit when you are just cruising along. Everyone should be in the far left lane at all times unless they are overtaking or there is an obstruction. People who sit crusing away at 60mph in the middle lane of the motorway in a 70 limit are inconsiderate drivers. The worst part is that they don't realise they are doing it.

I honestly believe that everyone should be forced to resit their test every 10 years. There are people driving on the roads today that sat a test (if it was even invented) 60 / 70 years ago. That can't be right, surely? On top of that, the driving test today (or at least when me and my sister were sitting it) is a joke. They can't even teach you how to drive on a motorway?!

My instructor told both me and my sister "you have just entered a 60mh limit, you need to accelerate to 60 to show the instructor that you are aware of this". This was on a country road that is probably just over 3/4 of a mile long. I rarely get up to 60 on it these days and I certainly wouldnt expect a learner to be at that speed on that road, it's got a sharp 90 degree right turn at the end - not safe.

Kids are being taught how to pass a test, not how to drive safely - where is the sense in that??

I'd like to point out that while I will rant in here, road rage is not one of my qualities - getting wound up behind the wheel is only going to lead to even more problems.

Phew... that went on longer than expected... discuss.

[pjordan2000]

I know what you mean, especially reagrding the roundabouts. Some bloke was in the left hand lane approaching but decided on the way round he actually wanted the 4th exit (my exit) and then flashed his lights and had a go at me because i was in the right lane. This resulted in him being so close to me he was virtually sitting in my boot for the rest of my journey home.

[foot-loose]

I know what you mean, especially reagrding the roundabouts. Some bloke was in the left hand lane approaching but decided on the way round he actually wanted the 4th exit (my exit) and then flashed his lights and had a go at me because i was in the right lane. This resulted in him being so close to me he was virtually sitting in my boot for the rest of my journey home.

See if someone does that - don't react to it, don't even look at them. Remember that if they go into the back of you, it's their problem, not yours. Just make sure there is a fair distance between you and the car in front in case they do bump you.

[pjordan2000]

I didn't react for that reason to be honest. They'd probably thrive on the reaction otherwise.

Though i do have to admit, that i am one of those people who don't indicate. I'm not very consistent, i could indicate loads then on another journey i just don't. A lot of the time my gf gets annoyed with me not indicating and actually does the indicators for me.

[S4B]

my sister refuses to reverse park anywhere because she thinks she can't... surely it's a case of going and learning how to do this? I've been over this with her many times and yet she wont do it.

Women have no need to reverse park Footy it's not a natural thing to do. I even park the other side of the carpark because I do't like going into spaces between two cars, this does NOT make me a bad driver! It simply means I am aware of my own capabilities and I choose not to do stuff I don't enjoy doing!

As to the rest of your rant though, I completely agree

[Ballbag]

Get the most left washer jet, using a pin or needle angle it to point to the left.

If someone pisses you off, and it's safe to do so overtake them and give em a quick squirt as you pass.

It is only really a good plan if they've got their window open. You can get them to open said window and you can do this by gesturing them to do so pretending to want to talk to them. Oh, also, put a small cup of vinegar in your water too, it helps to clean the window, and is horrible to get squirted in the face with.

Oh, finally don't do this to scarey people, or in heavy traffic... cos they'll just get out and duff you up.

[foot-loose]

Women have no need to reverse park Footy it's not a natural thing to do. I even park the other side of the carpark because I do't like going into spaces between two cars, this does NOT make me a bad driver! It simply means I am aware of my own capabilities and I choose not to do stuff I don't enjoy doing!

While I agree that people should not attempt to do somthing if they do not have the capability to do it, to me that indicates a lack of confidence which I also see as dangerous. Don't get me wrong, over-confidence is just as dangerous, but not doing something because they don't think they will manage it is not the answer. They should go and learn.

Reverse parking is not difficult - it's a mind over matter thing. Learn to do it with cones in a carpark, then move onto cars.

I don't like parking between two cars mainly because other prats seem to think it's alright to batter their door off my paintwork.

I'd also like to point out that at no point did I discriminate between male and female drivers (except in the round-a-bout part because it was a guy most recently - tit that he was). Both are as bad as each other, but in different circumstances.

[S4B]

I am a confident driver not a confident reverse parker so I park where I feel confident doing so, how does that make me dangerous? I have NO need to do it so why bother?

[foot-loose]

I suppose I associate a lack of confidence in one area as the chances are there is a lack elsewhere. I kinda feel that people should know what their car is capable of and should know how to make it do what they want. Not what they are capable of making the car do.

However, I also appreciate that I have been driving since I was about 12 and now drive thousands of miles a year, not everyone has had the experience I have had. Sorry if I sounded harsh.

If it's not something you ever need to do then fair enough, but surely you need to pop into a shop or something like that? I think my attitude would be that if I couldn't do something, I would want to be able to learn.

[pjordan2000]

I actually find it easier reverse parking than any other parking. The parralel parking is my next fave and is probably the main process i remember from my learning days which hasn't been riddled with bad habits.

[Ballbag]

I'm a black belt 5th dan in both the reverse, and parallel park.

[S4B]

I suppose I associate a lack of confidence in one area as the chances are there is a lack elsewhere. I kinda feel that people should know what their car is capable of and should know how to make it do what they want. Not what they are capable of making the car do.

For most of us though a car is something to get us from A to B and as long as we are happy and confident in making it do that then we are making it do what we want! It is a mainly male obsession with parking, this has been documented on many occasions, and there are many reasons why women just aren't fussed about it!

If it's not something you ever need to do then fair enough, but surely you need to pop into a shop or something like that? I think my attitude would be that if I couldn't do something, I would want to be able to learn.

That attitude has got me into many stupid situations in my life. I can't fly, I would love to be able to learn but I have now accepted that it is not within my capability so I won't try anymore.

[MK Chris]

my sister refuses to reverse park anywhere because she thinks she can't... surely it's a case of going and learning how to do this? I've been over this with her many times and yet she wont do it.

I find it easier (in most cases) to reverse in and drive out, rather than the other way round. I don't see the difficulty.

Roundabouts are NOT as difficult as half the drivers out there seem to imagine they are. The number of times I have nearly ended up with a prat smashing into me because he doesnt know where he is going so he shoots straight across two or three lanes without even signaling.

Being from Milton Keynes, I have to know how to manouvre roundabouts, it's essential to get about. Again, I don't see the difficulty, follow the * road markings.

Why don't people signal??? 90% of people will let you change lanes if you tell them thats what you want to do. The number of times I can see that a driver is approaching a slower moving vehicle than them then they sit there and wait for a gap... or worse, they just pull out. Your indicators were invented to tell others what you are about to do! So straight forward, it's unreal.

I think some people assume that their indicator is connected to a nuclear missile and refuse to use them. It's not just refusing to signal while changing lanes, it's not signalling at roundabouts, junctions and turnings too.

(PS: when you ask to be let out and someone lets you in front of them, it's customary to say 'thank you' - it really get's on my tits when I let someone out and then they just scoot off - common courtesy, surely?!)

This annoys me immensely. People have no manners.

The middle lane of the motorway is NOT where you sit when you are just cruising along. Everyone should be in the far left lane at all times unless they are overtaking or there is an obstruction. People who sit crusing away at 60mph in the middle lane of the motorway in a 70 limit are inconsiderate drivers. The worst part is that they don't realise they are doing it.

Ha, this is my biggest pet hate! Middle lane drivers are the curse of multi-lane roads. It's also as dangerous to drive too slow as it is to drive too fast.

I honestly believe that everyone should be forced to resit their test every 10 years. There are people driving on the roads today that sat a test (if it was even invented) 60 / 70 years ago. That can't be right, surely? On top of that, the driving test today (or at least when me and my sister were sitting it) is a joke. They can't even teach you how to drive on a motorway?!

They don't teach you motorway driving, but they do take you on (round here) the A5, which is a bit like the motorway but with one less lane. But I agree the instructor should be allowed to take you on the motorway when he thinks you're ready.

My instructor told both me and my sister "you have just entered a 60mh limit, you need to accelerate to 60 to show the instructor that you are aware of this". This was on a country road that is probably just over 3/4 of a mile long. I rarely get up to 60 on it these days and I certainly wouldnt expect a learner to be at that speed on that road, it's got a sharp 90 degree right turn at the end - not safe.

I wasn't told this. On open roads I was encouraged to speed up where it was safe to do so, but not where it wasn't.

Kids are being taught how to pass a test, not how to drive safely - where is the sense in that??

I'd like to point out that while I will rant in here, road rage is not one of my qualities - getting wound up behind the wheel is only going to lead to even more problems.

I agree totally with both of these points.

I know what you mean, especially reagrding the roundabouts. Some bloke was in the left hand lane approaching but decided on the way round he actually wanted the 4th exit (my exit) and then flashed his lights and had a go at me because i was in the right lane. This resulted in him being so close to me he was virtually sitting in my boot for the rest of my journey home.

See if someone does that - don't react to it, don't even look at them. Remember that if they go into the back of you, it's their problem, not yours. Just make sure there is a fair distance between you and the car in front in case they do bump you.

I tend to slow right down if someone is on my arse. They usually soon get the message and move back.

Women have no need to reverse park Footy it's not a natural thing to do.

I'd like to know the rationale behind this comment. Why is it not natural?

I even park the other side of the carpark because I do't like going into spaces between two cars, this does NOT make me a bad driver! It simply means I am aware of my own capabilities and I choose not to do stuff I don't enjoy doing!

I don't tend to park between two cars if there are spaces with no cars around them, though the only reason for this is I'm less likely to get my car dented when someone comes back and opens their door.

[Ballbag]

Unnamed quote-a-thon.... therefore invalid.

[foot-loose]

What I was calling 'reverse parking' I was meaning 'parallel parking'.

For most of us though a car is something to get us from A to B and as long as we are happy and confident in making it do that then we are making it do what we want!

This doesn't mean that people do it properly. Or safely. The number of times I see mums obviously running kids to school in the morning and they just drift across lanes. They obviously do that run every morning and I'm sure they are confident that what they are doing is right, and I am sure that they are making the car do what they want to do. So how does the car who is pulling in from the right hand lane know that the mum is about to pull out?

I am never gonna sit there and say that I am a perfect driver - i've made plenty of mistakes. Mistakes happen and I can live with that. It's when a driver makes a mistake but is completly oblivious to it that it is dangerous cos they will then make the same mistake again and again.

I feel I am getting bogged down on the parking issue - it doens't bother me if a driver can't do it, but it would annoy the hell out of me if I was in that position. And I don't think there is a male obsession with parking, but being male, I may be slightly biased. My main arguement focuses on the safety aspect of people on motorways and at roundabouts.


... when you say you can't fly - have you been hurling yourself off of mountains and flapping your arms, cos no matter how much you practise, I don't think that's gonna work. That's not so much that it's outside your capabilities, it's that it's physically impossible. Parallel parking is not physically impossible.

I'm sure if you went to a flight school, they could teach you though? Might be a bit pricey mind you.

[MK Chris]

What do you call a Mexican who's had his car nicked?

Carlos.

(I felt my reply belonged in this thread). Mexicans are awful drivers. If you think our standards are poor, you need to go to (a country like) Mexico. I couldn't figure out, when I first got there, why most drivers go round with their hazards permanently on. I quickly surmised that it must be to warn people what absolutely dire drivers they are.

Actually, though there is nothing wrong with making our standards even higher (and this should definitely be done), our standards are quite high (relative to lots of other countries including the US*).

*I think, feel free to shoot me down in flames, Americans, because I'm not certain.

[S4B]

... when you say you can't fly - have you been hurling yourself off of mountains and flapping your arms, cos no matter how much you practise, I don't think that's gonna work. That's not so much that it's outside your capabilities, it's that it's physically impossible. Parallel parking is not physically impossible.

I'm sure if you went to a flight school, they could teach you though? Might be a bit pricey mind you.

It's physically impossible for a Bumblebee to fly but they can do it!

[MK Chris]

Do you think they are suspended from the air by invisible strings then?

It's not physically impossible, otherwise they wouldn't do it. It may defy certain "laws" that scientists think they have figured out, but surely that just proves that scientists don't know everything. We still don't know an awful lot about our own bodies, so how do we expect to know all about the laws of physics (or whatever law the bumblebee must break in order to get off the ground)?

S4B, you haven't answered:

Women have no need to reverse park Footy it's not a natural thing to do.

I'd like to know the rationale behind this comment. Why is it not natural?

[Console]

It's physically impossible for a Bumblebee to fly but they can do it!

That is such a stupid myth. It's almost as bad as the 'we only use 10% of our brain' nonsense.

[S4B]

Do you think they are suspended from the air by invisible strings then?

It's not physically impossible, otherwise they wouldn't do it. It may defy certain "laws" that scientists think they have figured out, but surely that just proves that scientists don't know everything. We still don't know an awful lot about our own bodies, so how do we expect to know all about the laws of physics (or whatever law the bumblebee must break in order to get off the ground)?

In which case there may be a law there that we can break so we can fly

S4B, you haven't answered:

Women have no need to reverse park Footy it's not a natural thing to do.

I'd like to know the rationale behind this comment. Why is it not natural?

It's not a natural reaction for us is what I mean. Our natural reaction is to find an easier less complicated way to do things - not that it's complicated but why reverse/parrallel park if you can just drive into a space which is surely a much more logical and natural way to do it?!

[Console]

Do you think they are suspended from the air by invisible strings then?

It's not physically impossible, otherwise they wouldn't do it. It may defy certain "laws" that scientists think they have figured out, but surely that just proves that scientists don't know everything. We still don't know an awful lot about our own bodies, so how do we expect to know all about the laws of physics (or whatever law the bumblebee must break in order to get off the ground)?

In which case there may be a law there that we can break so we can fly

Why must there be law that can be broken? The reason for the myth about bumblebees not being able to fly stemmed from certain scientists (about 80 years ago) not being able to figure out how a bumblebee can fly. The problem about figuring it out comes from the difference between mathematical/physical models and actual reality. It doesn't really matter though, bumblebees can fly, humans cannot fly (without mechanical aid).

[MK Chris]

Do you think they are suspended from the air by invisible strings then?

It's not physically impossible, otherwise they wouldn't do it. It may defy certain "laws" that scientists think they have figured out, but surely that just proves that scientists don't know everything. We still don't know an awful lot about our own bodies, so how do we expect to know all about the laws of physics (or whatever law the bumblebee must break in order to get off the ground)?

In which case there may be a law there that we can break so we can fly

I'm sure we'd have found out by now, were that the case.

Women have no need to reverse park Footy it's not a natural thing to do.

I'd like to know the rationale behind this comment. Why is it not natural?

It's not a natural reaction for us is what I mean. Our natural reaction is to find an easier less complicated way to do things - not that it's complicated but why reverse/parrallel park if you can just drive into a space which is surely a much more logical and natural way to do it?!

Why is it more logical to drive into a space? I've already said that I find it easier to reverse park (the same goes for parrallel
park).

[S4B]

WELL I DON'T TOPHER!!!!! AND I WAS TALKING ABOUT ME AND WOMEN IN GENERAL (NOT ALL I ADMIT)!!! AND YES I AM SHOUTING BECAUSE YOU MEN ARE BEING DELIBERATELY OBTUSE

[Ballbag]

Shut up woman, and get back in the kitchen where you belong.

[pjordan2000]

**takes cover to watch from a safe distance**