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AIBU?

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Original poster

AIBU to become disproportionate with these drivers?

51 replies

applesauce1 · 21/12/2017 16:59

I have bad days. I can’t say I’ve never had a lapse in concentration as a driver and forgotten to indicate or thank someone giving me way...
But when people pull out on me, cutting me up unnecessarily when there is a huge gap in traffic behind me, and then continue to drive at least 10mph under the speed limit, breaking randomly to let every single person in the world in, it gets me feeling so bloody pissed off.

I try to talk myself down - these benevolent pace-challenged drivers obviously set off with plenty of time. I shouldn’t be so damn late all the time... but it still annoys me for longer than it should.

I know I’m being VU. I should try not to be so late.

Is it just me? What grinds your gears on the road?

OP posts:
Original poster
applesauce1 · 21/12/2017 17:02

Title should read: disproportionately annoyed!

OP posts:
FuzzyCustard · 21/12/2017 17:07

People who drive too fast and inconsiderately. And never let anyone in when it would be good mannered and kind to do so.

chaucerstails · 21/12/2017 17:08

Hesitant drivers. You can tell them a mile off and are frequently more noticeable than drunk drivers.

You know the ones I mean: seize up at roundabouts, veer into the hard shoulder on motorways because someone is overtaking, break at random.

And Audis are the new BMWs, I'm afraid. Inexplicably ultra aggressive. I was once privy to a road duel between an Audi and a BMW. The Audi won but both drivers would have been nicked if police were about.

toolonglurking · 21/12/2017 17:10

Totally agree with you OP, I find it hard not to get really frustrated with people who drive in such an inconsiderate way. It happens a lot where I live!
I find the only way to deal with it is to pull back and completely disengage with them, they are usually not very good drivers, so a bit of extra breaking distance won't do you any harm, and it's easier to deal with if you aren't looking right up their arse.
Of course, if it's a road that's safe to overtake, then definitely do that instead!!

Notreallyarsed · 21/12/2017 17:10

Drivers who bully other drivers really wind me up. My friend’s car was written off the other day because a taxi forced his way through and then lost it on black ice. Thankfully my friend and her kids were unharmed (although the wee ones were terrified). All because some dick couldn’t wait the 3 seconds for her to pass!

aintnothinbutagstring · 21/12/2017 17:10

Hmm, well in rush hour, I do let people in from the side roads onto the main which is crawling along at a snails pace, otherwise I feel its a bit unfair as I'd want them to do the same for me. Driving is a bit of a team game I find, let people in so we can all make progress. Yes I'd say if you get a bit ragey regularly you should probably leave a bit longer for your journey or play some relaxing music, you're only making yourself feel bad as the drivers you're mad at are locked in their own metal bubble.

user1492877024 · 21/12/2017 17:17

The 40 mph driver. You know, the driver that insists on travelling at 40 mph despite it being a 60 limit, then come the small village, with its village school and 30 mph limit, leaves me behind as they continue at 40 mph. The same driver even if travelling on the famous 90 mile straight road in Australia, brakes every time they see an oncoming vehicle and indicates when turning instead of before turning.

chaucerstails · 21/12/2017 17:21

@User I feel like we have been caught behind the same driver more than once this week!

NetballHoop · 21/12/2017 17:31

If we could eliminate these, my driving experience would be MUCH improved.

People who don't understand how roundabouts work
People who only indicate when they are already turning
People who tailgate
People who hog the motorway middle lane

lynmilne65 · 21/12/2017 17:51

applesauce I concur

Skowvegas · 21/12/2017 18:03

The thing that winds me up most is one of my family members driving in the middle of two lanes. I live in the US and this is how he drives whenever he visits us here. He didn't believe us when we told him he's drifting over the lanes.

Last time he was here the police pulled him over and told him to drive in one lane or stay off the road. You can imagine my expression :-)

unenthusiasticfuturedancemom · 21/12/2017 18:06

YANBU.

I hate drivers that use these all day every day...

AIBU to become disproportionate with these drivers?
Branleuse · 21/12/2017 18:07

people who go all the way round the roundabout in the outside lane. I hope you die painfully

Original poster
applesauce1 · 21/12/2017 18:22

Totally agree with the poster who mentioned the drivers who indicate only to show what they have already done!

RE the letting people in- totally agree RE it being a team game and definitely let people in when appropriate to do so (I believe in Road Karma). It’s the people who are driving in normal flowing traffic and suddenly break to allow people in, even when there’s no one else behind us. Yeah, mate, you’re being nice but I had no idea you were going to do that and you could have caused a crash!

There’s another big one for me.
People who drive in the middle lane on the motorway for no reason. WHO ARE YOU OVERTAKING?! It causes bunching and slow traffic. It especially annoys me in variable or average speed areas - do you think that means the rules of the road are suddenly out and you just pick a lane and sit in it?

Any tips for being more zen on the road or shall I just become a passenger more often?

OP posts:
DratThatCat · 21/12/2017 18:33

YAabsolutelyNBU.

There's a stretch of road that is NSL and quite a lot of drivers think that means driving between 35 and 40mph. It's a straight bit of road so I can overtake sometimes but not always. It's so inconsiderate.

As for being more zen, I'm trying to practise mindfulness, because if I don't I'm honestly going to have a heart attack one day. If only other drivers were as good at driving as me

Rossigigi · 21/12/2017 22:08

People who don't understand the rules of a roundabout. People who go down roads with a blind bend in the middle of the road- yeah mate me coming the other direction wasn't expecting a car in my lane. People who have their full beam on at you and blind you to hell. People who don't let people out- curtesy goes far.
I hate rush hour traffic

CarefullyAirbrushedPotato · 21/12/2017 22:20

It's annoying when people don't indicate, but more than that I'm increasingly worried about really dangerous manoeuvres.

People performing 3 point turns, suddenly, in the middle of the road in front oncoming traffic.

Drivers who go through red lights. It's getting alarmingly common round here, I see at least one most days.

Weaving in and out in-between other road users doing 10 to 20 more than the speed limit.

RemainOptimistic · 21/12/2017 22:32

Any tips for being more zen on the road

A car accident is a very banal way to die. Wouldn't you rather meet a more interesting end?

Seriously though, driving is the most risky activity you will ever undertake, simply because you do it so often and it involves heavy chunks of metal driven at speed, with no safety controls on their movements except human drivers who, as pointed out, often display poor judgement Grin

A car is a killing machine. I think about that every time I drive. I genuinely don't feel road rage anymore. Instead when I witness appalling driving I focus on staying safe myself.

If you find yourself running late a lot and getting stressed out, please change your life. You will feel so much better for it. Most people can greatly reduce the amount of scheduled activities in their life. Most people can also allow themselves greater "slack" or idle time. There's so much pressure to cram activity into every minute of every day. It's not productive it's just busyness and results in long term stress related illnesses. Not to mention misery!

RestingGrinchFace · 21/12/2017 22:33

Middle lane hoggers-there are lanes to the left ffs!

RestingGrinchFace · 21/12/2017 22:34

Oh, and people who don't know how to use roundabouts. Not giving way to the right. Going all the way round while indicating left.

JaniceBattersby · 21/12/2017 22:38

Mirror, signal, manoeuvre. In that order. It’s not difficult to remember.

Bambamber · 21/12/2017 22:59

When people cut you up because they didn't bother looking first, realise what theyve done, then brake sharply despite already being in directly in your way.

When large roundabouts have very clearly marked lanes, yet people still just drift across the lanes in front you.

When people realise last minute they're going the wrong way and instead of finding a safe place to turn around, they just veer in front of other cars to go the right way.

When people swerve between lanes, undertaking and overtaking because they're in a rush

When people try and join a motorway at 40mph

When country lanes narrow without markings, and despite being room for 2 cars, oncoming cars drive right in the middle of the road, often on blind corners

An awful lot annoys me on the road, But I just remind myself that the assholes in the other cars obviously don't give a crap so why should I be the one to be affected. I also remind myself that the important thing is to get where I'm going safely. If other people's bad driving hasn't caused me harm, that's the most important thinf

mareemallory · 21/12/2017 23:10

I hate all of those people but PARTICULARLY the ones who brake whenever they see a car coming the other way. I don't mean little country roads where you have to slow down to go half way into the hedge to get past, but proper A roads with lines in the middle. Honestly, if you're that nervous a driver you need to either take some refresher lessons or catch the bus.

RecallRecall · 21/12/2017 23:53

Yes to the indicating late.

Mirror Signal Manouvre - not break suddenly and randomly, look in the mirror to see me looking upset and then indicate whilst already turning in.

NetballHoop · 21/12/2017 23:54

I forgot to mention people who have ultra bright headlights. They can fuck right off.

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