Arrogant drivers

[Kenny]

Who would you say are the most arrogant drivers?

I used to think it was BMW drivers, but Audi drivers are way up there now

[DanO1978]

Who would you say are the most arrogant drivers?

I used to think it was BMW drivers, but Audi drivers are way up there now

BMWs still lead the way. Was undertaken on the M25 by one such knobber yesterday.

[Kenny]

I do think there are more Audis on the road than anything. In my 2 hour commute from work this morning, I saw far more of the Vorsprung durch Tecknik cars than any other

[Dragon Rapide]

Arrogant? Selfishly unaware and inconsiderate more likely and that applies to about 50% of those I encounter on any journey and they are driving anything from an L reg Polo to a brand new 4x4.

[DanH]

I've recently been taking driving lessons and I've certainly noticed that people driving BMWs and occasionally Audis tend to be the least patient. A couple of weeks ago I was approaching a roundabout and a guy driving a 1 series BMW came along side and swerved in front to get ahead of me in the queue. I actually had to do an emergency brake to avoid crashing into the back of him. What we call a tw@ I think.

[Ben H]

Audi. With a 2.0TDi company car-special engine, and LED daytime running lights.
I'm after a BMW once I've sold my current car, so I'll stay quiet on that front...!

[nigelblake]

I don't think it applies to any one type of car, boy racers, minicab drivers and middle lane dawdler's are my pet hates.
However, It does seem to me that the most inept drivers, you know the ones that stay in the left-hand lane and then turn right at roundabouts, or you meet them coming the wrong way in one-way streets, they park in a way that causes obstruction, and ignore the slip/slowing down lanes for turning left or right prefering to stay in the main lane and then brake-manouver sharply at the last minute, and many more brainless things as well.... generally drive Volvos!

[wv383]

Around here we've got a new expression for drivers being arrogant, impatient etc. It's 'doing an Audi!' Says it all for this area! It used to be BMWs and Volvos but Audis have definitely taken over.

[AlexC]

Can't say that I've noticed that Audi drivers are any better or worst then anybody else.

[neilos]

Can't say that I've noticed that Audi drivers are any better or worst then anybody else.

Same here. I drive upto 2k miles a week,and you wouldn't believe the twunts I see driving.

I drive an e-class e250 with day light running lights. I've noticed no one no longer pulls out in front of me as I'm more visable. People now tend to get out my way on motorways. But, the best thing is, I've got a fuel consumption display on the centre console in the form of several bars, bit like a graph. With that on, most peeps think I'm an unmarked traffic cop.... and sometimes tend not to pass me and back right off...

[stratocaster]

I do see a few numpties on the roads,but I will say most of them have cars I wouln't touch with a bargepole,wee souped up hatches!

[Hatstand]

I don't do so many miles these days, but a few years ago I had to commute by car into London - 1hr each way.
During that time, I can say with certainty: of the drivers that drew attention to themselves through arrogance, aggressiveness, rudeness, idiocy and outright dangerous driving... 70% were driving BMWs. It was my little game, to accumulate this statistic.

The stupid thing was, due to the stop/start nature of London rush hour traffic, I would catch up after one or two sets of lights or queues... and the aforementioned BMW drivers who overtook me would rarely be more than 3 or 4 cars ahead by the time I turned off near my destination. The risks they took, to save what... ultimately about 10 seconds? Madness. But perhaps it's not about the time? Perhaps it's people who have something to prove?

I counted a fair few Audi's back then, but they weren't nearly as numerous as BMW. And Mercedes drivers were a different breed altogether. They did stupid things... but not knowingly and maliciously like BMW/Audi drivers. They just seemed oblivious, clueless.

London is of course a special case. Being basically a Northerner, London drivers were a genuine and severe culture shock to me. The large number of dented cars was testament to the rudeness and aggressiveness that is rife there. I used to live in Newcastle, a large and busy city by any standards - yet you could pretty much start from anywhere, and drive to anywhere else in Newcastle... within about 20 minutes tops.

In London, you're lucky if you can get out of your own drive in 20 minutes. And even then - only if you become a London driver yourself: Nobody will let you out of a junction, they will drive to within an inch of the car in front to prevent this. You have to force your way out, or you'll be there all day - with horns blaring behind you. Once you've barged your way out, you will of course endure blaring horns anyway, from people aggrieved at you breaking out of their stockade. Oh well.

There is also clearly a different Highway Code in operation in London. For example, You May Drive Through A Red Light as long as you stay within 12 inches of the car in front of you (that also drove through the red light). Also, You Must Drive With One Hand At All Times (the other hand must be either holding a mobile phone, applying makeup, making a rude gesture, or of course - operating the horn) etc etc

Anyway, it's a shame because BMW, Audi and Mercedes all make some fine cars. I could afford to buy one if I wanted to... but I wouldn't be seen dead in any of them, for fear that I will become one of the stereotypes I have created in my head... or that people will think I have.

[ArabJazzie]

It takes all sorts! You get them in all types of cars and cover all professions. It all ties in with the way this country is heading and the general level of, well i would say respect but there is more disrespect going about than anything else. It seems that very few of my generation have any manners and the younger ones even less!

On one drive i had a couple of years ago i was able to differentiate between Audi and BMW. A chap driving a rather low A6 estate bumped up a rather high grass verge to allow us through, however the BMW X3 behind him didnt budge!!! Further up the road a BMW 1 series just wouldnt get out the way either!!! Glad i dont have to go through that every day!
Arabest,
Geoff.

[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

[Thumper]

Like others have said, it takes all sorts but I find the ones that "bully" the most are the luxury 4x4's in particular I have never seen a Porsche Cayenne being driven sensibly.

I was waiting to pull onto roundabout the other day, I was in the left lane of 2 lanes and turning left onto a dual carriageway. A small sports car came alongside me into half my lane (I'm on a motorbike) and pulled onto the roundabout cutting infront of me and exiting at the first exit and into the left hand lane of the dual carriageway. He then sped up everytime I tried to come past in the right hand lane and indicated as if he was going to pull into me but never did. I have absolutely no idea what he was thinking apart from the fact that he has a small appendage and moves like that were sure to impress me

My biggest pet hate is 3 abreast lorries on motorways though, drives me nuts!

[Kenny]

My biggest pet hate is 3 abreast lorries on motorways though, drives me nuts!

All doing 1mph fast than the other and not passing quickly at all

[Thumper]

Ohhh yes, that's the one. The lorry shuffle I call it, they start off behind each other and then it's like watching one of those "keep your eye on the cup with the ball under it" games. They all move out, jiggle around and end up in exactly the same place that they started in, on rare occassions one may overtake the other and gain a spectacular lead of 50ft

[Dragon Rapide]

At the risk of alienating some of our members my analysis is that women driving 4x4s are a menace. The majority seem to have no idea of the dimensions of their vehicles nor how any of the key functions are controlled.

[nigelblake]

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!!

[Dragon Rapide]

Three-abreast lorries?? Ah, yes - there are a few miles of 4-lane around the M25 but that's about all isn't it?

[DanO1978]

Three-abreast lorries?? Ah, yes - there are a few miles of 4-lane around the M25 but that's about all isn't it?

Usually deciding to overtake on an incline, as I saw one rocket scientist try on the 2-lane M11 the other day. In Germany they're forbidden from overtaking between set times, which is surely a great idea.

[Kenny]

As is the lack of speed limit

[aceyone]

Ohhh yes, that's the one. The lorry shuffle I call it, they start off behind each other and then it's like watching one of those "keep your eye on the cup with the ball under it" games. They all move out, jiggle around and end up in exactly the same place that they started in, on rare occassions one may overtake the other and gain a spectacular lead of 50ft

Absolutely ,one of the biggest causes of sudden and dangerous traffic slowing down , especially on busy roads like the M25 !

[Dragon Rapide]

And isn't there a section of the M11 on an incline goimng north, north of Stansted, where they are not allowed to overtake between fixed times?

[Thumper]

Yes between Junctions 8 & 9 on the M11 HGV's cannot overtake during daylight hours (stated as 7am-7pm), it was a trial last year which is said to be permanent by 2012.