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AIBU?

idiot bastard car drivers

137 replies

JoanByers · 18/01/2013 12:01

Fucking hell.

We've got 1/2cm of snow on the roads, I just went out, within 2 miles of home a car coming out of the leisure centre drive overshoots the junction and nearly smashes into me as I'm driving past - he obviously didn't think to test his brakes on a snow covered, downhill slope (leisure centre drive not gritted).

Half-a-mile up the road went to pick something up off freecycle, but no, the road is blocked, so I get out and see what's going on, an idiot has gone into the back of a 4x4, impaled on the towbar.

It's not that hard. Either stay at home, or don't drive like a cunt.

OP posts:

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ajandjjmum · 19/01/2013 09:40

Trouble is Bogey, most tyre are fitted using mechanical equipment, and the fixings are simply too strong for people to unfasten. So even if you know how to do it in theory, you can't in practise. The AA man carries a specially long tool to give him the leverage!

Bogeyface · 19/01/2013 00:36

Bureni My mums instructor told her that he would teach her to pass her test, and then she would learn to drive, she pass in about 82 ish!

I think there was talk about changing a flat being part of the test, which I think is a good idea.

bureni · 19/01/2013 00:31

could you do it or can you change a wheel at the roadside?

JoanByers · 19/01/2013 00:12

They do ask people to open the bonnet

www.driving-test-success.com/showme_tellme/show_me_tell_me.html

OP posts:

bureni · 18/01/2013 22:46

Bogey, not to worry, I have a proper driving license for practically everything that can be driven on the road except large buses. The theory test is a bit like the 11 plus exam so has little or nothing about the way people actually drive in the real world, perhaps if they forced people to change a wheel at the roadside or ask them to pop their bonnet it might be better because most would fail.

ajandjjmum · 18/01/2013 22:40

But before the theory test, you still had to know the Highway Code - although in fairness, the three questions they asked you were hardly tough! Age giveaway!

treesntrees · 18/01/2013 22:33

I found pulling the buggy was easier than pushing in snow.

JoanByers · 18/01/2013 22:31

The actual high gears are in fact higher - more gear teeth means more mechanical advantage and so higher speeds. A higher number gear has more teeth, and will go faster at the same rpm.

OP posts:

Fakebook · 18/01/2013 22:12

Oops! It didn't even occur to me you'd taken the test a few () years earlier, before the theory test came into action.

Bogeyface · 18/01/2013 21:48

I had to take it as it had just come in, was not happy. Although when I was at the test centre a 50yrish woman failed hers for the 6th time with only 16 points out of 35. It wasnt hard, it is harder now I am told, and surely she should have known most of the answer off by heart? So I think its good she failed as I dread to think what she would be like on the road!

bureni · 18/01/2013 21:42

Bogey[ grin], I took my first test in 1979 on a moped, my second in 80 on a bike then 81 in a car, the written test did not exist back then.

bureni · 18/01/2013 21:40

LOL, I am in the U.K but have had my head stuck under car bonnets for far to long, you are indeed correct in what you said and my fault for not using the correct terminology as per the highway code, Sorry.

Bogeyface · 18/01/2013 21:38

Bureni its what prospective drivers of that new fangled horse-less carriage have to do before they are allowed their driving goggles and man with a red flag.

Fakebook · 18/01/2013 21:36

Ah, I take it you're not in the uk? Might explain difference in definitions.

MurderOfGoths, thanks. It's number 231 that talks about the high gear.

countrykitten · 18/01/2013 21:34

Yep makes sense. You do see plenty of people skidding and sliding in 1st and 2nd gear in snow and ice - they probably think using a lower gear is safer as that is what you would tend to do if going slowly in normal conditions but it is not a very good idea in snow.

MurderOfGoths · 18/01/2013 21:26

Alright, this should stop the high/low gear debate

Straight from the Highway Code
Driving in adverse weather conditions

bureni · 18/01/2013 21:03

I think we can agree it is best to try and move of in second gear and get up through the gears asap regardless of high or low gear debates. P.S what is a theory test?

RandallPinkFloyd · 18/01/2013 21:01

I've no intention of "arguing black is white" and tbh that sentence has seriously pissed me off. Are you reading different words to the ones I'm writing or are you intending to sound patronising?

It is my opinion that if the road conditions are dangerous then people shouldn't drive unless its essential, hardly controversial.

Snow and slush is very slippery. That's a fact not a matter of opinion. If there is enough of it on the ground to cause cars to lose grip as often as the op said they were then IMO it's time to consider whether your journey is necessary.

I have not once said that everyone should batten down the hatches at the first few flakes.

There may only be a sprinkling where you are, I have no idea. I don't know how much snow there is anywhere other than where I am. Here there is a fair amount, I'd say 4-5 inches at least. All main roads, busses and trains are fine though so no issues. You have to take extra care obviously as it's still more slippy than normal and it's still falling, but everyone I know, including me, went to work as normal with no problems as all.

If I had needed to use roads that hadn't been cleared then I wouldn't have gone. I hardly think that makes me hysterical.

Fakebook · 18/01/2013 20:53

The Highway Code refers to high gear as a gear higher than 1. It's in the Highway Code! I know what you mean regards to power, but gear 1 is a lower gear. If people thought about it the way you are, we'd all fail our theory tests.

countrykitten · 18/01/2013 20:53

Low gears are 1,2 and 3 whereas 4 and 5 are high gears. You don't want high torque in the snow so fakebook is right that we should slow speed and high gears to drive in snow. I think that bureni has her gears mixed up.

mum11970 · 18/01/2013 20:52

I'd guess he did try his brakes on a snow covered downhill slope and this is was the cause of the problem. I take it you don't know much about snow driving either, because that is a complete no no.

bureni · 18/01/2013 20:48

First gear is high due to the ratio of power to wheel revolution which in snow causes wheelspin, the numbers may get higher on the gearstick but the ratios get lower hence lower gears.

Fakebook · 18/01/2013 20:45

I've always been taught gear 1 is low gear and 5 is high. Infact all my instructors have told me this and it's also in the Highway Code:

No. 231 drive at a slow speed in as high a gear as possible; accelerate and brake very gently

MrsMeow · 18/01/2013 20:41

Ajandjjmum - sorry, I meant the drive to SCHOOL takes 2 mins, the drive to work is another half an hour after that! I have to drive to school on work days otherwise would have been walking :)

As it was I got to work half an hour late and had to turn around and come straight back home as got a text from both DC schools saying they were closing!

Bogeyface · 18/01/2013 20:28

Arggh....phone....

In the end he would use "change up and change down" which I understood as 1 is low and 5 is high to me!

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