To conclude there must be many thousands of people on the roads who have not passed the driving test.

Yes sorry I’m new on here, didn’t know what I was doing at first. I tried to delete it but it doesn’t allow me to. I have started a new thread now thanks.

@HappyPinkHare start a new thread, this is old and people won’t see your post.

AITA? Just want to get everyone’s opinions on petrol forecourt / station etiquette in the uk. Two petrol pumps are placed one in front of the other, in single lanes, so if someone is in front of you refuelling, you can’t drive past them (you either have to wait or reverse). When I drove into the forecourt, a black car was in pump 1, still filling up and pump 2 (in front of them was free). So I drove up the other lanes and reversed in front of them into pump 2. I got out, opened my petrol cap, paid using my credit card a pin and lifted the nozzle. At that point, the lady came out of her car aggressively and told me to move out of the way so they could drive off the forecourt as they were in a hurry. If I was still in my car, I probably would have moved, but as I was already about to refuel, I asked why she didn’t reverse and go down the other lanes. It basically got out of hand and she was knocking the hose in my hand to stop me from refuelling and screaming saying “are you going to pour petrol on me?” Anyway, after lots of swearing and aggression (from both husband and wife) and me passively refusing to move, they ended up reversing (just one car length by the way) and leaving via the route I had suggested originally. It got me thinking that what I did (reverse into pump 2) was maybe wrong because why were they so angry, was i out of order?

Those scooters are so annoying

also people not understanding roundabouts

Many years ago before photo licences, we highly suspected a relative was driving on his brothers licence. They looked very similar so even with photo he would have 'passed' as his brother. His driving was atrocious, it was a miracle he didn't have an accident. Last I heard he wasn't driving as he 'couldn't afford a car', i often wonder if he got caught.

Given the huge backlog for test appointments, it doesn't surprise me one jot. The whole system needs a massive overhaul. I imagine the temptation is string for some.

Add in the huge numbers of foreign learnt drivers and scooter riders doing deliveries, its a total mess.

I know someone who drove a car without having passed a driving test.
There was a local rumour that where I live, taxi drivers would share their details with relatives.

This morning, thick fog car came blasting first behind me then shot past, headlights on full beam threw it round the island and disappeared shame they didn’t have an argument with a lampost

Sorry but that roundabout one is on you. You should never assume people are indicating correctly.

And that is helpful how? It needs proficiency tests

That would definitely explain many of these idiotic incidents.

Most live in Bradford.

I just think a lot of people pass, are cautious for the first few months then start getting lazy.

East London in particular. The impatience and selfishness on overcrowded roads is absolutely breathtaking.

My 75 year old friend recently passed the advanced driving test and was rewarded with a sizeable reduction in her insurance cost. She can parallel park like a champion, has been driving for 30 years without incident. Whereas her 42 year son, who has been drivi g since age 17, has difficulty reversing and is absolutely hopeless at parallel parking!

Well you can drive like a learner to pass a test. Then do whatever you like once you have the licence. You’re absolutely correct though so many terrible and some dangerous drivers out there. I literally saw a few cars tonight fly past me and through a roundabout it was also very wet. Just crazy to get home 2mins quicker.

That’s not true. My next door neighbour’s 20 year old was put away for 10 years for death by dangerous driving 2 years back. Straight into Strangeways.

That would worry me so much as what would happen if he had an accident, would his insurance be valid?

I have more problems with aggressive young women in 4x4's on the school run than I ever have with grey haired men.

The uber drivers I have spoken to complain bitterly about people with foreign driving licenses being allowed on our roads and not understanding lanes/rights of way. This is quite a theme with them if the conversation turns that way. I uber a good deal.

On the motorway, I find it's a completely mixed bag of idiots hogging the middle lane and I wouldn't be able to fix on an age or demographic.

Yes he was pulled over about 18 years ago. He did community service and there was a little section in the local paper about it.
He is self employed so won’t need to get insurance through his employer

I keep wondering if the Highway Code on traffic lights has changed - so many cars go through on red when they evidently had sufficient time to stop safely. In my (old) day we used to have ‘amber gamblers’ but I don’t know what the updated version is - reckless reds?
Then there is the weird understanding of motorway lane management- saw a whole stream of cars in the 3rd lane recently doing around 60mph with nothing in the inner 2 lanes - it annoys me as I don’t like the outside lane but also don’t care to undertake - partly as I can’t trust other drivers at all.
Then the total lack of understanding that if I’m already doing the speed limit then driving up my arse and sticking your fingers up at me just isn’t going help you out - you could dangerously overtake and end up just in front of me at the next junction or behind other cars though.
The new ways of driving look so stressful to me I just wouldn’t bother and I’m surprised many don’t have heart attack en their route.
Maybe I’ve turned into my grumpy father though.

I think there is a lot of this. ‘Real’ driving.

On a national level I wouldn't be surprised if there are hundreds of thousands of people with no licence on the road, in a country with tens of millions of drivers.

It won't account for all of the bad driving you see though. If most of us were honest, we don't drive as well as we did for that one hour when we were 17/18, pretty much ever again.

My brother is 56. He has been driving since his early 20’s and has never passed his test. He is in construction and drives a van for his work