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Original poster

How often do you get beeped?

137 replies

Saffrondoormouse · 03/03/2022 13:50

I’m an anxious driver who had an accident a couple of years ago and I’m currently undergoing CBT therapy for this and other anxiety issues. My homework this week is to ask people the following questions in order to get a bit of perspective:

Have you ever been beeped while driving?

If so, how often on average do you get beeped?

When you get beeped how often is it for something that was your fault?

Thank you so much!

OP posts:

ILoveAllRainbowsx · 03/03/2022 15:26

I get beeped at quite a lot too because I am quite cautious like you.

I hope you manage to start driving again soon.

SoftPillow · 03/03/2022 15:28

Perhaps once a year, twice maybe. I don't count.

Recently by someone on a roundabout but I think she was in the wrong.

Once a while ago on another roundabout where I was completely at fault and deserved the beep.

Most people, if they're honest, make small errors every so often.

I usually beep for dangerous and stupid driving that leaves me scared / angry: two cars side by side at 30 on 70 dual carriageway, or nearly being hit head on by something overtaking, or lorry pulling on in front of me on a roundabout causing me to emergency stop.

SnowFoxWinterFox · 03/03/2022 15:28

Maybe a couple of times a year. Usually if i have been slow to move off when the lights turn green. I drive 2 hours roughly a day and consider myself to be a patient and accommodating driver. However - (and a big however) - I drive mainly rurally and very rarely on motorways.

Beeping others on the other hand....

Overthebow · 03/03/2022 15:31

I’ve been driving for over 15 years and I’ve only been beeped a couple of times. I would be co corned if I was being beeped every month or more to be honest.

Overthebow · 03/03/2022 15:31

Concerned

Mummyoflittledragon · 03/03/2022 15:33

If you overestimate the size of your car, could you have someone help you with practicing that? Perhaps by doing some manoeuvres in a deserted car park while they tell you how far away you are from them etc?

I’ve been driving a long time and it’s definitely a skill, which take time to hone. Other drivers on the road are mostly doing their best. I don’t tend to beep at overcautious drivers. I do, however, dislike being behind them as they do not act as most users, which makes driving more hazardous.

Maybe you could pick a short route during a less busy time to practice daily to build your confidence? Ie desensitising. There are more daylight hours coming now so you will soon be able to drive around the block in the light at 8pm for example then expand it once you’re really familiar.

nannyPlane · 03/03/2022 15:33

Never, I might have beeped once or twice, but only when the car in front start rolling back, something I hate!!

Sh05 · 03/03/2022 15:34

I got beeped just last week by a driver who if given way to because she wanted to park in the spot I was in but I couldn't drive forward as she was taking up the road!
It was double yellow lines so not even as if I was blocking her drive or something plus just gone 5pm so there was a row of cars building up behind me.
Before then I can't remember the last time I was beeped.
Been driving for nearly 11 years

StarsAndSugarlumps · 03/03/2022 15:35

Average of a once or twice per year. About half the time it’s my fault, but generally not a big deal - a slightly embarrassed raise of the hand to acknowledge my mistake (e.g. not paying attention when the light turns green).

sweetbellyhigh · 03/03/2022 15:37

No and then though I'm not always sure whether it's directed at me. Like waiting to turn and someone behind beeps at n frustration when they cannot see why drivers in front are waiting.

grinbear · 03/03/2022 15:39

I get beeped regularly but it's almost always by men in BMW's/Audis or Mercs. Massive generalisation but that is my observation. It's only ever for the same reason - they're driving up my behind and get annoyed that I'm only driving at the speed limit.

crochetmylifeaway · 03/03/2022 15:39

Twice that I can remember. I got beeped at when some guy decided I was in the wrong lane at the roundabout and cut him up (nope I was in the correct lane it was him in the right hand lane trying to go straight ahead and tried to cut me up but I was faster than he thought) and the other time was when I parked but the guy (yep another male) decided that i had stolen his parking space even though he was not indicating, had driven past the space and even if he had been indicating there was no way I could have seen his indicator without X-ray vision. Been driving 20 years.

KatherineJaneway · 03/03/2022 15:44

I rarely get beeped, have been once or twice as I missed the lights had changed and had not moved quickly enough for the driver behind.

If I hear one I usually assume it is meant for someone else!

I did witness one car who was signalling to turn right at a no right turn junction. There were three of four cars bibbing madly as they could not move forwards but the driver just sat there and waited for a break in the traffic, completely oblivious or simply didn't care.

ItsRainingTacos · 03/03/2022 15:45

Regularly. I live in central London and right now there are so many diversions, road works, road closures going on plus tube strikes causing by utter mayhem on the roads😒. Just have to learn to ignore and and continue to drive safely. It's worse when I'm in my smart car - bigger cars and vans feel they can go around you and then get annoyed when they can't quite squeeze past and it all becomes your fault and they can't take it anymore so the only way they can let out their frustration is by honking their horns.

Lacedwithgrace · 03/03/2022 15:47

I think 2 times in nearly 10 years. Once was when I had full beam on, another was not having my lights on.

Fernandina · 03/03/2022 15:48

@Saffrondoormouse

Thank you so much - it’s really helpful to read these! To give you some background I’ve been beeped quite a bit recently maybe a few times a month due to hesitation- I’m a bit over cautious at junctions and I think I often over estimate my size of car so I slow down when passing large vehicles perhaps more than I should. The accident I had involved me being aggressively tailgated then rammed so it really knocked my confidence. I want to book some pass plus confidence lessons when I can afford them.

Somebody rammed you? Christ. That must have been an awful experience.

Might I suggest that you put one of the 'P' plates on the back of your vehicle? People do tend to beep if the person in front doesn't pull away - generally they think that the driver is daydreaming and hasn't noticed that they can go rather than they are being hesitant. If you have a 'P' plate, then maybe people might be a bit more considerate.

CityHigh · 03/03/2022 15:56

I live in a very busy city centre. If I’m driving in the city I get beeped at almost every single day. You hear a car horn beep every couple of seconds. I’m not doing anything wrong, people are just impatient. You can get beeped at for going 28 in a 30. People will beep if you’re slowing down to turn in a left hand only lane and they want to go straight on. People will beep at you if you’re not pulling out of a junction that is blocked by rush hour traffic and have nowhere to go. It kind of just goes over my head now. It used to really panic me when I first passed my test because I thought I was doing something wrong or unsafe, but city centre driving is just horrendous. My Mum won’t drive to see me for this reason alone.

DP walks home from work through the city and he always ring me on his walk home. We have a running joke about how many times we hear car horns beep as it’s ridiculous.

If I drive out of the city centre, to visit mine or DPs family then I honestly don’t think I’ve ever been beeped at. We’re moving this year and it’s the thing I’m most excited about.

CarrotSticks2 · 03/03/2022 15:58

I rarely get beeped. Last time was when I refused to move onto the yellow hashed area at a roundabout, was not in the wrong just not sure the driver could see it was a yellow hashed area. Other than that I don't remember another occasion, I'm sure it has happened but not within the last year or so.

I do beep other drivers, normally for stupid drivers who cut me up or try and pull into my Lane when I'm there, or do silly things like undertake in the hard shoulder. Sometimes I do a polite beep at the traffic lights to alert the car that the lights have gone green.

The thing is it's all very well to be over cautious, but there are some roundabouts/junctions where if you're too cautious you will just never move. I would only beep in that situation if the car genuinely was not moving when there had been many occasions when they could safely go. Same with passing large vehicles, it's quite annoying if someone is slowing down all the time because they are passing a large vehicle if there's no need. If your struggling to judge the size of your car get a smaller car, imagine the type of car a teenager might have who's just passed their test. If your not confident it's sensible to drive a small, reasonably nippy car

starfishmummy · 03/03/2022 15:59

I was beeped by a car behind me this week because I was waiting for an incoming car to clear a narrow part of the street we were on. Idiot beeper had a smaller car than mine (mine is not huge but wide for its size) and I knew that the oncoming car and I couldn't pass. Before that I can't remember, not for years.

starfishmummy · 03/03/2022 16:00

Oncoming not incoming!!

Clymene · 03/03/2022 16:01

I do about 15,000 -20,000 miles a year and have been driving nearly 40 years. I think I get beeped about once a year.

Really shouldn't be a normal thing!

wildthingsinthenight · 03/03/2022 16:02

@Saffrondoormouse

Have you ever been beeped while driving?

If so, how often on average do you get beeped?

When you get beeped how often is it for something that was your fault?

Thank you so much!

Good luck with your therapy OP

Tdcp · 03/03/2022 16:11

Very rarely, someone charged out of a roundabout junction whilst I was already going around it and beeped me in a rage the other day otherwise I can't remember when it happened.

Good luck with the therapy op.

1forAll74 · 03/03/2022 16:19

i have been beeped a few times over the years, but always by male white van drivers, who are always erratic drivers, who often tail gate, and want everyone out of their way. I had one of these numpties behind me a year ago, I was driving down a small town street, with cars going up and down the street, The van driver behind me was too close.All of a sudden, a dog ran off the pavement into the road, in front of me, I braked and had to stop, and waited to see what the dog would do next., the mad van man bumped into my car at the back, started to blow his horn quite a few times. and wound his window down, to shout some profanities at me for stopping in the road,

The dog then started to walk near the side of my car in the middle of the road,so the van man then saw the dog, and started bellowing at the dog,with the usual torrent of swear words aimed at the dog.

Car beepers are usually angry impatient people, who can't tolerate other drivers.

Clairelucyr · 03/03/2022 16:21

I get beeped all the time in London- normally for letting some one go ahead etc which is ridiculous and I just beep them back

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