To think driving standards are generally awful?

[Jknow]

I’ve been driving for 24 years, and I realise that there’s a lot more traffic on the roads now than there used to be. Which is obviously going to mean a higher total number of people who don’t have a bloody clue, but honestly it seems endemic at the moment.

Things I’ve noticed in particular lately:

Indicators appear to have become entirely optional, not just at roundabouts but also pulling over or turning into a junction.

People don’t give way when they’re supposed to. When it’s your right of way and you’re approaching a parked car on the other side of the road, or one of those traffic calming bits where the road narrows and signs show it’s your right of way, drivers coming the other way seem to be increasingly taking the view that if they can nip in there first then they do so, causing you to stop when it’s your right of way.

Undertaking. Was on a fairly busy motorway today and saw two separate cars going like stink, cutting into whichever lane they could make the most progress in and undertaking time and time again.

People who seemingly have no idea how to reverse their car. I live in the countryside and on narrow lanes frequently have to reverse back bloody miles, when the person I meet coming the other way has a place much closer they could reverse to, because they sit there looking panicked and helpless rather than just bloody well reverse back.

I used to enjoy driving. I don’t anymore.

I agree, and think the steady reduction in traffic police doesn't help.

Traffic police?

I actually think there’s a massive difference between the attitudes of horse riders vs cyclists. Horse riders know to get to the next safe passing place, often trotting to do so if safe, and will generally smile at the driver and put their hand up to say thank you. At least that is the accepted ‘done thing’ in the horse world, obviously there will be the odd rude rider or perhaps they are riding a horse which is young or not good in traffic and they need to find a bigger passing space or whatever. Cyclists not so much, or at least I have never encountered one who will pull over or thank drivers for waiting behind them.

As for horse trailers, yes they do need to go slower than cars, especially around corners, but not significantly so. If not wanting a live animal to fall over makes me entitled, I’m ok with that. If I’m going to a competition an hour away I add 10 minutes to the time the sat nav says, and it’s always about right, so it’s kind of like being stuck behind a lorry time wise. Although with the recent change in law meaning anyone can tow a trailer without taking a test, there’s probably some dicey trailer towing going on at the moment.

There are some staggeringly shitty drivers on the roads these days.

Years ago there was the 'white van' man stereotype of the sort of bad mannered driver who would cut you up, not indicate, barge through gaps, park where they liked and drive at the speed of light. They were notorious.

Nowadays, van drivers are some of the better drivers on the road.

Arseholes using mobiles whilst driving.

Plus anti cyclist arseholes

Signalling then just moving out anyway, as if the signal makes it safe.

I hate this on motorways when you're just about to pass someone and they signal to move out into your lane but you're too close to let them in and you're not sure whether they're going to move anyway. I only signal when I know there's enough space to pull out, although I'm presuming this is the right way to do it I'm not sure. I did have a lorry pull out whilst I was overtaking it and it pushed me into the outside lane, so it makes me extra aware.

Mostly because people will report their driving to the company if their van is branded. I know I did the other day as one driver was tailgating me dangerously. I don't want to cause an issue with someone's job however it was that bad it needed to be reported.

Middle and outside lane lane hoggers who won’t pull over, especially in the outside lane when the lane ahead of them is empty. Those two lanes are over taking lanes: not for cruising in or ‘the fast’ lane’
Drivers who cut across corners when turning right.
Drivers who speed up or try to close the gap between them and the car in front when a motorcyclist is filtering down the outside of a line of cars. Filtering is a perfectly legal manoeuvre, the rider isn’t queue jumping, keeping the gap open allows him/her a safe space to pull into to avoid oncoming traffic. I’ve seen some mumsnetters gleefully admit to to doing this and it makes my blood boil.

Passing places on narrow lanes are for that purpose, to allow a driver to pull into to allow an oncoming vehicle to pass safely. They are not there to stop to get out to take photos of the scenery or to get the flasks of tea out as we saw this week in Ennerdale in Cumbria. My husband had to reverse quite some distance twice because the passing places on our side were taken up by sightseers. We gave up and turned off to find a better route.