Member Since: 16 Aug 2005
Location: Warwickshire
Posts: 4506
Driving: My first few weeks...
Here's what I've gathered from my first few weeks of licence holding.
1) The roads are brimming with brainless idiots.
2) The rules of the road don't apply after midnight - seemingly you can drive as fast and wrecklessly as you wish.
3) Old people don't look, signal, anticipate or check their mirrors. They just go.
4) It doesn't matter how many police stations and schools are on the road, nor how busy it is, you'll still be overtaken by 15 people squeezed into a Saxo.
5) Nobody signals or uses the right lane on roundabouts
6) New drivers are inexperienced and often over-confident but (most) of them are fresh from the rule books. I've seen a lot worse.
7) But I could and would still drive all day... the novelty well and truly remains
Latest incidents.
Last night at about half midnight I was driving past a police station at a steady 28-29mph. The road was empty, long and wide but I was in no rush. Anyway, a bloke in a 'blinged up' Mercedes M class shot up behind me and clearly wasn't content with my speed. Like nothing I could have ever prepared for he accelerated inches from my bumper in an urge to speed me up. But I didn't. So he then progressed to put his full beam headlights on, instantly blinding me from the rear view mirror and causing me to flinch to see the road ahead. Once I turned off the road he flew off at about (IMO) 50+ mph. What can you do
Turning left at a mini-roundabout, a couple in their mid-twenties with baseball caps and an H reg Honda with one of those deafening exhausts, decided to try and overtake me on the roundabout and exit on my right. Fortunately I checked over my right shoulder before leaving the roundabout and spotted them. I instinctively stopped anticipating a collision (there was only 1 lane on the new road). Anyway they didn't appreciate my slowing them down and F'in and blinding they pulled in front of me and shot off (running the next red light too). According to my friend, the driver aggresively gave me the V signs - frustrating given he was indisputably in the wrong.
There are a hell of a lot more too, worryingly. I don't deny the crash figures for young drivers, and I accept that they are the group responsible for most accidents without resistance, but maybe we should be worried about those who think a few years' experience means the rules don't apply to them too.2007 Porsche Boxster (987) 2.7
2008 Discovery 3 TDV6 HSE G4 Challenge (1 of 68)
2023 Defender 90 D250 X-Dynamic HSE
Last edited by CY on 26th Jan 2009 2:04 pm. Edited 2 times in total
23rd Nov 2008 5:40 pm
Gareth Site Moderator
Member Since: 07 Dec 2004
Location: Bramhall
Posts: 26779
I share your frustration, and I'm glad your not one of them Chris. There is not a lot you can do, but learn the art of anticipation, and stay out of their way is all I can say.
Darwins theory will usually sort them out, just make sure you are not an innocent victim when it does. I have to say, driving a D3 forms a good defence against the , but unfortunately for you that is probably a while off yet.
23rd Nov 2008 5:49 pm
DiscoDunc
Member Since: 08 May 2006
Location: Bristol
Posts: 16390
congratulation of passing your test.
when i took mine .... many years ago....
my instructor said that my Dad was teaching me to survive on the roads, and he was teaching me to pass my test...
from now on the lessons start... just ignore the idiots, smile and wave at them Duncan
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If I'd known I was going to be so thirsty this morning I'd have drunk more beer last night.
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23rd Nov 2008 6:49 pm
DiscoStu
Member Since: 09 Apr 2006
Location: London
Posts: 11412
Smiling's good - annoys the crap out of them
Actually Chris, you should be careful about that - I'm big enough to smile and annoy without to much worry..... If you really want to annoy them, blow them a kiss Disco 5 HSE Lux
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=peyiqaJrmMU
23rd Nov 2008 6:56 pm
DiscoDunc
Member Since: 08 May 2006
Location: Bristol
Posts: 16390
or drive the D3, lean out of the window, tap on the roof, and ask the driver if hes driving his sisters car
a mate in a modified RR did that last year and it was hilarious. made the driver look a complete Tit in front of his mates, priceless Duncan
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If I'd known I was going to be so thirsty this morning I'd have drunk more beer last night.
FFRR Autobiography 4.4 SDV8 MY17
D4 HSE MY13 SOLD
FFRR 3.6 Vogue TDV8 SOLD
D4 HSE MY10 SOLD
D4 SE TECH MY15 SOLD
D4 XS MY12 SOLD
D4 HSE MY10 SOLD
D3 HSE MY06 - Re-Cycled Worldwide
23rd Nov 2008 6:59 pm
CY
Member Since: 16 Aug 2005
Location: Warwickshire
Posts: 4506
I've done the waving one - I was sitting at the lights and a group pulled up beside me in a Civic Type R, revving the engine and edging forward to beat me off the lights (my 1.4 Renault wouldn't have much hope even if I did want a race!).
Unfortunately for them, I got a filter whilst they were still on a red light and I drove off with a smug wave and thumbs up 2007 Porsche Boxster (987) 2.7
2008 Discovery 3 TDV6 HSE G4 Challenge (1 of 68)
2023 Defender 90 D250 X-Dynamic HSE
Last edited by CY on 26th Jan 2009 2:04 pm. Edited 1 time in total
23rd Nov 2008 7:07 pm
DiscoStu
Member Since: 09 Apr 2006
Location: London
Posts: 11412
Always remember sitting at some lights with a Mk II Escort beside me (CY - you'll need to look Mk II's up ). Looked in the mirror and there was a Police car about 3 cars behind me. The two kids in the Escort edged forward, so I did, looking over. They looked back, edged forwards, so on, etc.
When the lights changed they screamed off and I didn't move for a couple of seconds, then just pulled away slowly. As I did the lights came on on the Police car, and he shot past and pulled them over. The looks on the kids faces as they both watched me drive past their Escort will live with me forever Disco 5 HSE Lux
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=peyiqaJrmMU
23rd Nov 2008 7:15 pm
DiscoDunc
Member Since: 08 May 2006
Location: Bristol
Posts: 16390
if you stay chilled out you can have a lot move fun than lowering yourself to their level.
mmm, must look up what a MkII escort looks like Duncan
-----------------------------------------------------
If I'd known I was going to be so thirsty this morning I'd have drunk more beer last night.
FFRR Autobiography 4.4 SDV8 MY17
D4 HSE MY13 SOLD
FFRR 3.6 Vogue TDV8 SOLD
D4 HSE MY10 SOLD
D4 SE TECH MY15 SOLD
D4 XS MY12 SOLD
D4 HSE MY10 SOLD
D3 HSE MY06 - Re-Cycled Worldwide
23rd Nov 2008 7:18 pm
MacLeod 313
Member Since: 18 Apr 2008
Location: away
Posts: 10723
Just drive how you were taught mate. Too many idiots on the road thinkin they know best. I drive a truck all day every day. If you get an idiot annoying the crap out of you, do whay i do, either brake test them, or cover the roundabout. Either way if they come into contact with you on insurance they are at fault.
23rd Nov 2008 7:23 pm
jkp
Member Since: 16 Sep 2005
Location: Living among Bawbags
Posts: 4528
Some good advice on here mate.
As mentioned dont take any notice of the erses. Edinburgh is full of wannabe hamiltons, but there is also a pretty heavy gang culture among the 'max power' brigade. Dont go getting yourself into a smug battle with them as you never know how many will turn up. I speak from experience there. I had a run in back in college that resulted in a 'small' scuffle.
Best way to deal with folks who drive close behind you.....slow them down, ease of the gas a little bit more...
Best bit of advice....enjoy it.
23rd Nov 2008 7:55 pm
DiscoStu
Member Since: 09 Apr 2006
Location: London
Posts: 11412
Member Since: 02 Sep 2007
Location: Staffordshire
Posts: 2403
Now you are starting to learn to drive.
First thing is be patient, take YOUR time, not THEIR time.
Travel just at the legal side of the speed limit, cops will often select a car and use it to "calibrate their brain", and if you are very close to the limit they will assume anything passing you is beyond it, and they will get the points and not you.
And as for roundabouts...Rob Smith
Silver rools OK
23rd Nov 2008 8:45 pm
Coffeecup
Member Since: 15 Jul 2005
Location: Middleton, Manchester
Posts: 1084
A few years back... I was in Birmingham in the late evening driving my Mark 2 Escort. I was waiting at a crossroads with traffic lights turning right. The lights changed to Green so I pulled off and started to run right when this Jag 'jumped' the Red lights to my right and slid across them to stop by my drivers door (no contact). Being young and foulish I flicked the V at the driver as I drove around the Jag and on off along my way.
Imagine my suprise when I looked in my mirror and saw this big Damler/Jag monster racing up behind me as I approached the next set of lights. . . . . in reverse.....
I was somewhat relieved to find the lights turn to green and another car come round the corner and get in the way of the reversing Jag..
Lesson learnt, don't assume that they'll leave you alone just because the're facing the other direction.
Still impress how fast the guy got his Jag to go in reverse though. Coffeecup March 2005 TDV6 S - Tonga Green - Manual May 2008 TDV6 SE - Stornoway Grey - Auto Dec 2010 SDV6 XS - Galway Green - Auto
23rd Nov 2008 8:45 pm
jkp
Member Since: 16 Sep 2005
Location: Living among Bawbags
Posts: 4528
DiscoStu wrote:
You had a 'small' scuffle?
I know. Such a quiet gentle chap that I am as well
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, but unfortunately for you that is probably a while off yet.
March 2005 TDV6 S - Tonga Green - Manual 
May 2008 TDV6 SE - Stornoway Grey - Auto 
