Arrogant drivers

[Dragon Rapide]

I was stationary in a narrow country lane a couple of hours ago as a woman in a Japanese 4x4 drove towards me passing an entrance into which she could have pulled to allow me to pass, and into which I assumed she would pull over. No such opportunity was afforded me without reversing back about 300 yards. So I looked at her quizzically and she irritably reversed the 50 yards enabling me to pass. The look on her face as I acknowledged her help was of a driver alienated by her car and her surroundings. Bizarre but typical

Indeed, it seems that the more "Off road" capable the vehicle is, the less likely it's driver is to get any mud on it!!

I drive a Land Rover and it amuses me to see how many pristine 4x4s there are about these days. Some have a very poor off road performance in the first place and the furthest they go off road is probably the Waitrose car park. My Landy was bought to do a job but many 4x4s are bought as a status symbol. I have nothing against that but I wish such people would learn to drive them properly.

Hear, hear!!

[King Cobra]

Old people (60+) are the most dangerous drivers, not young people. End of discussion.

Insurance companies would disagree with you.

[Dragon Rapide]

Indeed. These statistics from the AA:

1 in 5 drivers are involved in a crash during their first year on the road

Male drivers aged under 21 are 10 times more likely to have a car accident than male drivers aged 35 or over

Young drivers have a higher proportion of crashes at night than older drivers

1 in 8 British drivers are under 25, but a quarter of drivers who die in traffic collisions are in this age group

And of course all of this is bourne out by the huge increase in premiums for young drivers based on the actuarial risk.

QED! End of discussion.

[ericbee123]

I have a couple of 'sub-categories' of White Van Man.

White vans with one of these words on them are usually badly driven these are : "ELECTRIC" ( with possible additions on "IAN" or "ALS" to then end of Electric ). "RAIL" and "HIRE".

Any of the above words on the side of a white van somewhere and they are usually undertaking you, an inch off your bumper or just cutting you up.

[King Cobra]

Why is it when I follow "White Van Man" he drives slowly but if he's behind me, he's all over my rear bumper like a rash?

[Dragon Rapide]

Because he is just trying to p**s you off!!

[King Cobra]

Because he is just trying to p**s you off!!

Well he certainly succeeds.

[zigzag]

I saw an example of non motorised arrogance last weekend along the country lanes of south Warwickshire.

There were a group of 10 or 15 cyclists who were riding along in a 'pack' at least 2 abreast and some 3 abreast, doing around 20 mph. I joined the bacl of a line of traffic waiting to get past them, well beacuse the cyslists refused to move to single file, even when going up inclimes and hillls when the slowed to around 10mph, I was in this line of cars for a good 2 miles. Eventually the building frustration of the drivers saw the cars starting to go past in some absurdly dangerous places and some, due to the narrow width of the roads were getting close to the cyclists who just waved and shouted at the cars for not giving them room.

It would have been no surprise to see an accident or a cyslist knocked off, but their behaviour on these narrow lanes was utterly selfish a quick slip into single file and the cars would all have gone past quickly and without any problems.

[Dragon Rapide]

Arrogant drivers is the topic title but it could well include Arrogant Cyclists, Arrogant Motorcyclists and Arrogant Pedestrians!!

[Wes_Howes]

Had a similar experience with two school kids not too long ago, riding side-by-side on a busy road. As I pulled up alongside, I put my passenger window down and suggested they should try riding on the cycle path next to them, instead of being an accident waiting to happen

[DanO1978]

Cyclists riding at night - on roads and pavements - without any lights is very common around where I live. That, in my book, should be 6 months in prison, no ifs or buts. Imagine if a car driver were to drive at night with no means of lighting?

[stickshaker]

[DerekF]

Work fine on my 5 Series. Unfortunately it goes with owning a BMW - the jealousy factor among those who don't own one but would clearly like to (I mean who wouldn't) seems to be a major factor

[DanO1978]

Work fine on my 5 Series. Unfortunately it goes with owning a BMW - the jealousy factor among those who don't own one but would clearly like to (I mean who wouldn't) seems to be a major factor

Shouldn't socialists like yourself ride pushbikes with a hair shirt?

[DerekF]

Work fine on my 5 Series. Unfortunately it goes with owning a BMW - the jealousy factor among those who don't own one but would clearly like to (I mean who wouldn't) seems to be a major factor

Shouldn't socialists like yourself ride pushbikes with a hair shirt?

And another one! Your "jokes" just keep getting better and better. One day you might hit on that one remark that is actually funny. Although to be fair I think the odds are against it.

How's your hairdresser's car then Dan? Nice in the cold and rainy weather is it?

[phreakf4]

Work fine on my 5 Series. Unfortunately it goes with owning a BMW - the jealousy factor among those who don't own one but would clearly like to (I mean who wouldn't) seems to be a major factor

Derek F, you still, despite posting in (and presumably reading) several threads which broadly cover this subject have not grasped the fact that almost no-one criticises the car. There is no problem with BMWs or Audis, or Vectras or even "chavved-up" Corsas. It is always the driver who is at fault. Furthermore much of the resentment against BMW drivers which certainly seems to exist (and to some extent this concerns Audi drivers also) is due to the apparent attitude shown by said drivers that "because I own (or in many cases "my company owns") a "better" car than you, I am entitled to force my way past you at whatever speed and in whatever fashion I wish, whilst paying little or no attention to laws and traffic regulations which, of course, apply only to the "lesser orders" driving "lesser vehicles" than mine".

Oh, and by the way, I have no wish to own a BMW. They are undoubtedly excellent vehicles, but I would not buy one because a) I have no wish to be tarred with the same brush as the majority of BMW drivers, but also b)I resent the idea that buying a BMW means I would be prepared to be "ripped off " by service charges which are eye-wateringly higher than those for "lesser" vehicles, even though the "technicians" (much more classy than calling them "mechanics") will use exactly the same procedures as those servicing "lesser" makes of car

[andyxh558]

trust me in bad weather the BMW is the last car i would want to own. not good at getting up snowy and icy inclines!

We have quite i a few lemmings.. sorry cyclists group round my part of cheshire, and that is including the British Cycling team too, I have had quite a few incidences of jsut about to overtake giving them a wide berth then them pulling out to overtake the slow riders! which on some roads is damn right dangerous!

[Dragon Rapide]

I think the BMW/Audi rant is overcooked, although I was amused by Stickshakers post. As someone said it is nothing to do with the car and certain BMWs are tarred simply because they are one of the favoured cars of the "sales rep". The percentage of reps who fancy themselves as boy racers will inevitably tar the image of the car they drive. I know several friends who drive both BMWs and Audis and I could not criticise their driving, which is considerate and careful. I have never owned a BMW by the way. Before the BMW it was probably the Cortina and the Mondeo and oner or two dreaded Vauxhalls. Cars never cut you up or tailgate you - drivers do.

[DerekF]

Work fine on my 5 Series. Unfortunately it goes with owning a BMW - the jealousy factor among those who don't own one but would clearly like to (I mean who wouldn't) seems to be a major factor

Derek F, you still, despite posting in (and presumably reading) several threads which broadly cover this subject have not grasped the fact that almost no-one criticises the car. There is no problem with BMWs or Audis, or Vectras or even "chavved-up" Corsas. It is always the driver who is at fault. Furthermore much of the resentment against BMW drivers which certainly seems to exist (and to some extent this concerns Audi drivers also) is due to the apparent attitude shown by said drivers that "because I own (or in many cases "my company owns") a "better" car than you, I am entitled to force my way past you at whatever speed and in whatever fashion I wish, whilst paying little or no attention to laws and traffic regulations which, of course, apply only to the "lesser orders" driving "lesser vehicles" than mine".

Oh, and by the way, I have no wish to own a BMW. They are undoubtedly excellent vehicles, but I would not buy one because a) I have no wish to be tarred with the same brush as the majority of BMW drivers, but also b)I resent the idea that buying a BMW means I would be prepared to be "ripped off " by service charges which are eye-wateringly higher than those for "lesser" vehicles, even though the "technicians" (much more classy than calling them "mechanics") will use exactly the same procedures as those servicing "lesser" makes of car

I have indeed read the posts and understand what you mean but as a BMW driver, I cannot help but feel insulted by comments such as Stickshaker's rather abusive posts directed at those such as myself (I think the word "all" is used). Mods I thought swearing wasn't allowed anyway?
I know what the cars are like and that is one of the reasons I bought one. I knew what I was letting myself in for and indeed I had been one of the critics of German car drivers myself such as those on here. However I saw the light and while posts such as Stickshaker's are irritating and rather predictable , it isn't going to change my mind. I'm generally not one to be swayed by the crowd.

As an aside as far as owning is concerned, the servicing seems to be no dearer than any other comparable vehicle and the whole experience is a rather more pleasant compared with previous cars makes I've owned.

AndyXH558 - you are right, in bad weather they are poor but I have no intention on basing what car I drive on the weather that might happen for only a few days a year.

[King Cobra]

Cyclists riding at night - on roads and pavements - without any lights is very common around where I live. That, in my book, should be 6 months in prison, no ifs or buts. Imagine if a car driver were to drive at night with no means of lighting?

No, no, no! They should be taken out and shot!

[skyhigh]

Some typical driving styles I see all the time on motorways....

1.Under speeding
2.Over speeding
3.Poor lane discipline
4.Middle lane hogging
5.Tail gating
6.Inside lane being under utilized
7.Drivers slowing down to take a look at an accident or even someone just changing a tyre on the hard shoulder
8.Driving whilst using mobile phone
9.Throwing rubbish out of car whilst driving
10.Throwing lit cigarettes out of car whilst driving
11.You leave a safe gap between you and the car in front then someone jumps in and fills the gap

[psquiddy]

Work fine on my 5 Series. Unfortunately it goes with owning a BMW - the jealousy factor among those who don't own one but would clearly like to (I mean who wouldn't) seems to be a major factor

I dont want one

[chally2]

Nor me.......

[capercaillie]

trust me in bad weather the BMW is the last car i would want to own. not good at getting up snowy and icy inclines!

I don't know my 3.0 Mondeo might claim that crown, last winter proved as soon as you've stopped in a queue, it wouldn't even pull up a one in half slope! Plenty of power, all of it unusable as it tries to drag a tonne and a half over a pebble Superb to drive however and was great as wedding limo this weekend though!

[bombhead]

I think what is overlooked now, is that your not taught "too drive",but to just pass a driving test.

I still beliieve in a motorway driving test, before your allowed near one. But we all know that's not going to happen.

We will still have half wits thinking the middle lane on the motorway is only for them.