Why are there so many bad drivers on the roads?

[Mydinosaurnest]

Every day I seem to encounter awful drivers doing dangerous things and it’s beginning to make me nervous and anxious about driving, particularly when my children are in the car.
Where I live people are constantly speeding, they pull out at junctions without checking, rarely any indicating going on, road rage incidents, tailgating, serious accidents at least once a week and so on.
I like to consider myself a good driver. I obey the rules of the roads, I stick to the speed limit, I let people go in front of me, I wait my turn, I do everything I consider safe driving. I have never had an accident, near miss or any reason to contact my insurer. Yet there are idiots like previously described all over the roads putting us in danger with no care in the world. How do they pass their tests?
Just today I had 2 cab drivers who were parked up suddenly pull out onto the road in front of me. Neither indicated or reacted.
At the weekend my husband was on a motorway driving at 70mph when the car next to him pulled in front very closely without indicating and then slowed down to 50mph so he had to brake fast.
I just witnessed a young girl being intimated by a van driver who was tailgating because she was at the speed limit. Who then preceded to speed off through a bus Lane and should hopefully receive a fine.
I hate driving because I know I will be met with at least one asshole. It scares me knowing one wrong move and we could be involved in a serious accident.
Has anyone else found the roads are loitered with bad drivers lately?

It's got a lot worse recently IMO. Lots of traffic on the roads, people in a major hurry due to pressurised lives, road layouts that are dangerous and confusingly marked. I was recently approaching a junction, obviously on the correct side of the road and an oncoming vehicle was in my lane, coming head on at me on the wrong side of the road. I had to stop whilst this person swerved round me! I know the junction well, but think the markings could be clearer.

As the name suggests, I've only been driving 6 months and I'm glad I read this thread!

It's been an interesting 6 months! I stick to the speed limit, I observe what I've been taught regarding roundabouts and lanes and indicators, mirrors etc and was if in doubt it's safe, slow down/stop/wait.

I have cars sitting up my arse when I'm doing the speed limit, be that 20 or 60, and I've had to brake to let them back in when they've decided that I'm unreasonable doing the speed limit and overtaken with cars coming the other way, or I'm the car coming the other way, it's like they just assume that I, or the other car will slow down so they can. Well they're right because I value my car and my life!

First time driving in the ice/snow was an experience! I posted on here for tips (and got some that really helped!) but I put the P plates back on as a bit of an explanation as to why I may be more cautious than a more experienced driver in those conditions. Big mistake. It was like an invitation to see who could get me to crash first!

I have of course made some mistakes, like any new driver, indicated at the wrong moment, been in the wrong lane, braked too early towards a junction or a roundabout. But if I do hinder someone etc I try and show an apology for my misdemeanor rather than returning what is often screaming abuse and if I'm in the wrong lane, then we're going that way until I can turn around!

The scariest by far though was coming along a local road with a 20 limit, school bus pulled up on the opposite side with secondary age getting on, can see a girl on my side pavement, focussed on the bus as I'm driving towards her and I suspected what she was going to do so foot off the gas and sat over the brake, ready and obviously the car slowed, not good enough for Mr-in-a-rush-sat-up-my-arse behind me who slammed his hand on the horn and was so busy being furious he almost hit me up the arse when the girl ran out for the bus without looking and I stopped - I'd anticipated and slowed and only doing 20, she didn't even look, but I wasn't in danger of hitting her - would have been if I hadn't slowed a bit from doing the speed limit, or hadn't bothered with the speed limit. Wouldn't have been any comfort to me if I'd hit her that she was 'wrong' for running out in front of me, if I'd been intimidated by dickhead behind me, and not slowed or been going faster, and hit her. Don't suppose it would have been much comfort to her or her parents either!

It seems sometimes like I'm the only one who does what you're taught to do when learning to drive and I'm the one in the wrong for not putting my car, my life, other people's lives and my licence in jeopardy!

I had a lorry just move over towards me on the motorway the other day, cars just pulling in front of me and slowing down for no reason (there was space behind me) meaning I had to slam my brakes on. I'm constantly having to go 2/3 lanes over to get past a slower driver because some inconsiderate arsehole is sat in the middle lane doing 50.

Local driving is even worse as they just have no concept of speed limits, give way lines or red lights

I have genuine fear these days and I love driving.

I'm convinced the lockdowns have made the already selfish and aggressive drivers (usually men, I have to say) even more entitled and aggressive. If you think about it, there were far fewer people on the roads anyway during covid resulting in traffic-free roads, so free reign for the idiots to speed, ignore red lights, park wherever they like, no-one was really policing them or stopping them behaving like that. With the inevitable consequence that they have simply carried on being twats and doing as they liked. I don't think it's anything to do with lack of ability, I think it's selfishness, pure and simple. And a lack of patrol cars. So no deterrent cos there's no-one to stop them.

Definitely
so many times I indicate to turn left and the twat behind me either overtakes me or gets up my arse like I’m going to disappear in a puff of smoke

I agree, people have got worse since lockdown(I loved driving in the 1st lockdown as the roads were so quiet), so many people weren't driving that I think they became nervous or complacent. Of the ones who carried on, many became cocky.

I fully admit I am not a good driver. It's something I do out of necessity but I dislike it and I'm not good at it.
I'm overly cautious at times and absolutely cannot drive in the dark.

Even I've noticed an increase in people pulling out, undertaking and generally being daft.

Merc and BMW drivers are the worst. I have quite a small car and they tailgate me or pull out on me.
Witnessed parents at the school driving up the pavement in their massive cars as they struggle to get past each other outside the school so instead of giving way they just drive up the pavement instead!
People beeping when you don't pull away at the traffic lights after 1 second. People sitting with brake lights on at traffic lights instead of using handbrake

Because there is not enough police and not enough consequences nowadays

There are more cars on the road and so a higher of bad drivers. More people driving means more traffic, more frustration and so people make poor decisions. And once one person decides to do something dodgy, others often follow suit. A lot of people just aren't prepared to do anything without going in the car. So the roads are always busy and some feel that they are too important to wait like everyone else and the rules don't apply to them.

I have found this too. When my big dog died and I no longer needed a massive boot I changed my large estate for a small car. Since I’ve had it I have noticed a big increase in, mostly men, tailgating me, trying to push me to go faster. It rarely happened when I had the big car with the big engine, despite me always sticking to the speed limit then as well.

I think they assume a big car equals male driver and a small runaround equals woman or young driver they can bully. The irony is that my tiny car is actually much nippier than my big old diesel, so I could leave them for dust if I was so inclined.

I have the last laugh when I can easily fit in the last available parking space and they can’t though! 😆

@Carnewb
Always touch your brakes if you are slowing down so the car behind can see your brake lights. Just taking your foot off the gas is really dangerous. The car behind you could hit you before they realise you are slowing down.

The thing is with the lack of patrol cars is that surely if they were increased driving is so bad that they’d be almost self funding. I drove along a road last week and in the space of 3 minutes noticed 5 drivers on their mobile phones coming in the opposite direction. You don’t even need to pull them over if you have a dashcam!

I’d also like to allow unmarked speed cameras again, not to catch people who are unwittingly a bit over the speed limit but to catch people who openly ignore them. I think the penalties should be high for this.

It must be area dependent because the driving in my area has stayed fairly consistent overall.
I've not noticed an increase in boy racer/agressive/tailgating driving but have noticed an increase in people driving over cautiously or in a way that's unpredictable.
Eg. Driving up to lights and stopping/slowing substantially when the light is on green, meaning everyone behind them has to almost stop, and it hinders the flow of traffic at a junction with multiple sets of lights.
Eg. Approaching a roundabout and stopping randomly at an empty roundabout/stopping to let vehicles in further left which isn't how roundabouts are meant to work.

I’m so sorry you encounter so many Golf twerps @AngelsandAliens ! I drive a GTI and I think I get fewer people men trying to intimidate me as they presume from behind that I’m a man.

I should say that despite my car choice I stick to speed limits religiously in built up areas, use lane discipline, leave braking distance and I always indicate! I may stretch my legs on the motorway occasionally, but only when it’s not busy/good weather. I see people at 90, tailgating in the rain and I feel sorry for them for having such teeny tiny brains.

My bugbear is people not indicating to come off roundabouts. I’m sure my commute from work would be 5 minutes quicker if I didn’t have to waste time giving way to people in the middle lane of roundabouts who then peel off at my exit without indicating. How much effort would it take? So selfish. Also, doesn’t it annoy them when they are waiting to join roundabouts?!

Yes it's absolutely awful

People jumping lights at high speed is another one, so dangerous

Yes! It’s really quite concerning now and god forbid you attempt to go out at school pick up times - that’s the absolute worst.

In an auto you tend to not need handbrake at traffic lights. You keep your foot on the brake

I agree.

I don't think it's laziness though, I think it's the hugely individualistic society we've created over recent years.

People just don't see why they should drive carefully or be respectful on the roads. It's someone else's problem, someone else's responsibility and so many people see respect and consideration for others, or recognising someone else as 'right of way' as weak - "What? Someone else has a right that I don't? Fuck that! I don't recognise their right over mine." Kind of thing.

It always amazes me when you get people (usually but not always men) driving expensive, new cars who drive recklessly. The number of near misses I've had over recent years with these cars is unbelievable. Always because they've switched lanes, pulled away, or whatever without indicating or even looking. With insurance being so expensive, why aren't they careful? If they're driving without insurance, why aren't they even more careful?!

I rarely drive nowadays because its made me so nervous but this does mean I'm a passenger a lot more than I was and I've seen them actively not looking at roundabouts or changing lanes. They just stare straight ahead and then carry on. Many of them don't even glance.

I don't think it's laziness though, I think it's the hugely individualistic society we've created over recent years.

People just don't see why theyshould drive carefully or be respectful on the roads. It's someone else's problem, someone else's responsibility and so many people see respect and consideration for others, or recognising someone else as 'right of way' as weak - "What? Someone else has a right that I don't? Fuck that! I don't recognise their right over mine." Kind of thing.

Yes, this!

And it's not just people who drive like this. There is a very long road near me and the speed limit changes from 30 to 40 to 50 along it ad back again. Sometimes it switches from 30 - 50.

The number of people who will drive along it at 35+ miles an hour regardless of the speed limit is ridiculous. You can pretty much guarantee that half your journeys up it will be like this.

Driving behind someone who is maintaining this speed means they're going too fast in the 30 zone, just under in the 40 zone and then 15 miles an hour slower in the 50 zone.

The road itself has great visibility and the speed limit is signed frequently and clearly so there's really no reason for it.

That's just idiocy.

It's a total disregard for others and the law. It's got so much worse since Covid. So many just out for themselves.
From the incessant 'creeping' over the white line at traffic lights (whatever happened to putting your handbrake on at the lights?) to dangerous manoeuvres daily, I utterly agree.
A dashcam seems a good idea, but the overall attitude is the main problem and idk what we can do about that.

But many of these drivers are unlicensed so a retest wouldn't make a difference.
Lack of policing allows that to happen.

I'm learning to drive and I'm really shocked at how some others drive. No signals at roundabouts, turning infront of me at lights when I have priority, I had to emergency break on my 2nd lesson. White van drivers speeding to overtake me only to stop at traffic lights 10 metres away. It's making me over cautious and I hesitate because I don't trust what others might do.

I think driving has got worse at both ends tbh

I see a lot of very nervous drivers, who won't pull out at junctions/roundabouts. Drive way below the speedlimit and don't seem to pay attention to the speed limit changes, panic when someone approaches on a side road, don't accelerate properly to join a motorway, middle lane hog etc. Just seem to not know the rules of the road at all

Then there's pointlessly aggressive drivers, tailgating when you've got cars in front of you, doing the whole accelerate up to your bumper thing.

I think type A drivers make type B drivers more aggressive because it is very frustrating, and type B make type A anxious because its scary and so you just get a perpetuating cycle

The standard of driving right now is fucking abysmal