Driving standards

UKIP MAN · 15-03-2005, 09:40 AM

Because scotgirl has got me on a rant, I thought Ide ask for any driving orientated things that annoy, or people would like to see.

as posted:

Quote:

I served in Germany for about ten years and I know that there are things that they do over there that is better than what happens in this country.

On driving there are lots of points that could be taken on board here, such as:

zip fastener code.

This is where the people that are driving are not selfish, when they approach a situation when three lanes merge INTO phpbb_two or two INTO phpbb_one. The drivers allow the vehicle in front to pull INTO phpbb_their lane without all this f'ing
and hand gestures to say wait your turn im here first. As described a zip fastener coming together they proceed, one from one lane and one from the other...

Also traffic lights at night, they flash on amber to allow people to drive through with care. Also pedestrians have priority at junctions.

Speed limit on motorways, if you drive to fast and cause an accident you are punished severely but the speed limit is higher or non-existent.

They have hoardings on the side of the motorway with one car on the inside lane and five cars on the overtaking lane with a car holding the others up, and an arrow pointing to the first car saying "is this you" move over.

As you can see driving is one of my pet hates, well as a (blue) white van man I do a lot of driving and see some stupid people about.

It was revealed the other day that the driving examiners were putting people as a pass on their test to fill quotas

Quote:

Oh and another thing,

what is with them lorry drivers, when there is a traffic jam and it goes INTO phpbb_one lane, when they pull INTO phpbb_the middle of the road about a mile back, to block the traffic moving passed them. All they are doing is creating a longer tailback, if they were to merge properly as in zip fastener, there would be no need for that stupidity.

Some people in cars try to do it to.

Are their any proper suggestions that UKIP should take on board for our Transport policy?

UKIP MAN PPCTS.

15-03-2005, 10:05 AM

Quote:

Because scotgirl has got me on a rant

glad to have been of assistance

John Carter · 15-03-2005, 11:01 AM

I personally find it bizarre that Michael Schumacher is limited to driving a well-maintained Ferrari 575 down a dry, empty M6 at the same speed that Maureen from "Driving School" can be doing in a clapped-out Ford Anglia when it's wet and busy.

In essence, speed limits are communistic in nature, limiting everyone to skill level of the worst road user out there, telling us we're all equal when it's quite clear that we're not.

Likewise with the machinery. You'll have seen the current government ads stating that you're blah% less likely to kill a child at 30 than at 35. That's a bit generic if you ask me.
For example: A Porsche 911 will stop far quicker than a Ford Focus. Even within the Porsche model range we have huge disparity - I've read somewhere that a 911 GT2 will go 0-100-0 in less time than a 911 Turbo will go 0-100. That's some heavy-duty braking - do the government ads take this braking performance disparity INTO phpbb_account?

So, what to do? I'm not suggesting the removal of speed limits. How about a tiered licensing scheme?

Everyone passes their normal test - for these people everything carries on pretty much as it is now, observing the posted limits, etc., etc.

When they've done a certain number of years behind the wheel, they can apply for a "super" licence on certain conditions:

1) They pass a very advanced motoring test (including knowledge of vehicle handling in all conditions).
2) They're tested for personality (don't want easily angered people with a super licence).
3) They're tested for road skills and their ability to anticipate other road users' errors.
4) They're tested for non-idiocy (i.e. they have enough common sense to slow down in fog, etc.).

Once they have their super licence, they have a different set of road rules applied to them - like no speed limits on motorways and greater punishment if they mess up.
Maybe their "super licence" status could be shown by different colour plates on their vehicle. To avoid con-men just popping super plates on their car without having the licence, the police could spot check any super-plated car to see that the driver has the appropriate licence (obviously, super-plated cars could only be driven by super-licensed people). Maybe the super-licence tests would have to be retaken every year or two.

This may raise driving standards, as more people try to achieve the standards required to pass the super-licence tests.

----

Get rid of traffic calming measures. Keep the speed cams but lose the speed bumps.

----

Introduce a test system like Switzerland has - you can only try for your licence a set number of times. Fail it more than that and you can't drive, period.

----

Make the standard driving test harder. Less people pass = higher standard of driving on roads + less traffic on roads + more use of public transport.

Just my £0.02

John Carter · 15-03-2005, 11:08 AM

Oh. And let's have riding tests for horse riders and their steeds. We don't let a 5 year-old car out on the roads without an MOT, why do we let 5 year-old horses out without one?

And let's have cyclists made to have insurance - at least third party if not fully comp.

UKIP MAN · 15-03-2005, 02:17 PM

with ref to super licence, there is at the moment an advanced driving test,
but, my brother in law has passed that one (and he's the worst driver Ive ever seen) so that does not give me to much hope for them drivers who take that course.

:shock: :?

I agree there should be some extra test, the old gent that just wants to drive from a to b on a sunday, well thats fair enough as long as he realises his own capabilities.

Also you get the people (in the third lane) that say Im doing the speed limit you aint passing me.

And the people who are turning right in about 2 miles and stay in the outside lane on a two lane carraige way.

did you know that the inside lane on the m25 where its four lanes, the inside lane is the slip road? :?

I have great fun on my bike when I approach someone who wont drive on the correct lane, I come up inside them, offer them the lane and then proceed in the correct manner to overtake them.

MrMoor · 15-03-2005, 05:30 PM

I hate people who when you are just about to exit a 30 area speed past me then proceed at 10-15 mph under the speed limit and hold me up.

Those who struggle past when i am going 70 on the motorway, then drift INTO phpbb_the inside lane leaving about five feet, I either have to slow down or overtake, and those who overtake then cut in front to turn off.

People who take the "racing line" regardless of oncoming traffic.

People who tailgate yet when the opportunity comes to pass hang back.

Those who park behind a lorry going 40 mph no hope of overtaking and stopping anyone else from getting past.

Bunches of Lycra clad cyclists seemingly enjoying holding up the traffic occasionally glancing back to see how long their queue is.

People who wait for me to get close enough at a crossing, get their long bony finger out then press the button.

My pet hates...People, other car/vehicle drivers, pedestrians, cyclists and other road users.

UKIP MAN · 16-03-2005, 11:56 AM

Bus lane timings?

why dont people read the time for the bus lane:

on Regent street the bus lane can be used by all vehicles untill 10 am, at piccadilly there is a set of traffic lights that give priority to the busses and taxis, so normal traffic has to sit waiting for the busses to filter through and cause a traffic jam, if the cars were to use the bus lane at the appropriate time this would stop all of the busses, as it were jumping the Queue, and also stop a lot of congestion.

Im sure this situation occurs in other cities and areas.

USE THE BUS LANE at APPROPRIATE times.

John Carter · 16-03-2005, 11:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by UKIP MAN

why dont people read the time for the bus lane

Because they're too busy looking at their speedo to make sure they're not 0.00000001 mph over the limit.

UKIP MAN · 16-03-2005, 12:08 PM

Im going to start a course, its called Racing,Braking and Racing again

you drive fast for a long time and then break to a certain speed when you reach a certain point in the road then speed up again.

Part of the course will be to time the passing of the said point at the same time as a larger vehicle. so as to block the view of the offending point.

I wonder if it would catch on :?

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15-03-2005, 11:01 AM	#3 (permalink)
John Carter Uber Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: On Sabbatical Posts: 5,110	I personally find it bizarre that Michael Schumacher is limited to driving a well-maintained Ferrari 575 down a dry, empty M6 at the same speed that Maureen from "Driving School" can be doing in a clapped-out Ford Anglia when it's wet and busy. In essence, speed limits are communistic in nature, limiting everyone to skill level of the worst road user out there, telling us we're all equal when it's quite clear that we're not. Likewise with the machinery. You'll have seen the current government ads stating that you're blah% less likely to kill a child at 30 than at 35. That's a bit generic if you ask me. For example: A Porsche 911 will stop far quicker than a Ford Focus. Even within the Porsche model range we have huge disparity - I've read somewhere that a 911 GT2 will go 0-100-0 in less time than a 911 Turbo will go 0-100. That's some heavy-duty braking - do the government ads take this braking performance disparity INTO phpbb_account? So, what to do? I'm not suggesting the removal of speed limits. How about a tiered licensing scheme? Everyone passes their normal test - for these people everything carries on pretty much as it is now, observing the posted limits, etc., etc. When they've done a certain number of years behind the wheel, they can apply for a "super" licence on certain conditions: 1) They pass a very advanced motoring test (including knowledge of vehicle handling in all conditions). 2) They're tested for personality (don't want easily angered people with a super licence). 3) They're tested for road skills and their ability to anticipate other road users' errors. 4) They're tested for non-idiocy (i.e. they have enough common sense to slow down in fog, etc.). Once they have their super licence, they have a different set of road rules applied to them - like no speed limits on motorways and greater punishment if they mess up. Maybe their "super licence" status could be shown by different colour plates on their vehicle. To avoid con-men just popping super plates on their car without having the licence, the police could spot check any super-plated car to see that the driver has the appropriate licence (obviously, super-plated cars could only be driven by super-licensed people). Maybe the super-licence tests would have to be retaken every year or two. This may raise driving standards, as more people try to achieve the standards required to pass the super-licence tests. ---- Get rid of traffic calming measures. Keep the speed cams but lose the speed bumps. ---- Introduce a test system like Switzerland has - you can only try for your licence a set number of times. Fail it more than that and you can't drive, period. ---- Make the standard driving test harder. Less people pass = higher standard of driving on roads + less traffic on roads + more use of public transport. Just my £0.02

15-03-2005, 11:08 AM	#4 (permalink)
John Carter Uber Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: On Sabbatical Posts: 5,110	Oh. And let's have riding tests for horse riders and their steeds. We don't let a 5 year-old car out on the roads without an MOT, why do we let 5 year-old horses out without one? And let's have cyclists made to have insurance - at least third party if not fully comp.

15-03-2005, 02:17 PM	#5 (permalink)
UKIP MAN Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 1,898	with ref to super licence, there is at the moment an advanced driving test, but, my brother in law has passed that one (and he's the worst driver Ive ever seen) so that does not give me to much hope for them drivers who take that course. :shock: :? I agree there should be some extra test, the old gent that just wants to drive from a to b on a sunday, well thats fair enough as long as he realises his own capabilities. Also you get the people (in the third lane) that say Im doing the speed limit you aint passing me. And the people who are turning right in about 2 miles and stay in the outside lane on a two lane carraige way. did you know that the inside lane on the m25 where its four lanes, the inside lane is the slip road? :? I have great fun on my bike when I approach someone who wont drive on the correct lane, I come up inside them, offer them the lane and then proceed in the correct manner to overtake them.

15-03-2005, 05:30 PM	#6 (permalink)
MrMoor Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Posts: 259	I hate people who when you are just about to exit a 30 area speed past me then proceed at 10-15 mph under the speed limit and hold me up. Those who struggle past when i am going 70 on the motorway, then drift INTO phpbb_the inside lane leaving about five feet, I either have to slow down or overtake, and those who overtake then cut in front to turn off. People who take the "racing line" regardless of oncoming traffic. People who tailgate yet when the opportunity comes to pass hang back. Those who park behind a lorry going 40 mph no hope of overtaking and stopping anyone else from getting past. Bunches of Lycra clad cyclists seemingly enjoying holding up the traffic occasionally glancing back to see how long their queue is. People who wait for me to get close enough at a crossing, get their long bony finger out then press the button. My pet hates...People, other car/vehicle drivers, pedestrians, cyclists and other road users.

16-03-2005, 11:56 AM	#7 (permalink)
UKIP MAN Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 1,898	Bus lane timings? why dont people read the time for the bus lane: on Regent street the bus lane can be used by all vehicles untill 10 am, at piccadilly there is a set of traffic lights that give priority to the busses and taxis, so normal traffic has to sit waiting for the busses to filter through and cause a traffic jam, if the cars were to use the bus lane at the appropriate time this would stop all of the busses, as it were jumping the Queue, and also stop a lot of congestion. Im sure this situation occurs in other cities and areas. USE THE BUS LANE at APPROPRIATE times.

16-03-2005, 12:08 PM	#9 (permalink)
UKIP MAN Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 1,898	Im going to start a course, its called Racing,Braking and Racing again you drive fast for a long time and then break to a certain speed when you reach a certain point in the road then speed up again. Part of the course will be to time the passing of the said point at the same time as a larger vehicle. so as to block the view of the offending point. I wonder if it would catch on :?