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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think that drivers have become incredibly impatient post Covid?

98 replies

Sausagenbacon · 30/11/2022 18:30

3 times today I've had the car behind me sounding their horn. Obviously the driver doesn't think I should have been sticking to the 20 mile and hour speed limit. The 3rd time was when I waited for someone to come onto a roundabout before me - they had priority. But no, the person behind had to sound their horn, so that they could join the traffic queue immediately afterwards.
I hardly ever heard people sounding their horns before covid, now people do it all the time.
What's wrong with them (or you, if you're one of them)?

OP posts:
Purplelion · 30/11/2022 20:46

I can be an impatient driver, however only when people are being genuinely slow or hesitant for no reason. The reasons you’ve given wouldn’t make me impatient at all and people like that annoy me!
I was waiting behind a parked car recently to allow another car through, the car behind me couldn’t wait and overtook me and forced the car coming towards us to reverse back! That shit annoys me

RobinHumphries · 30/11/2022 20:53

I’d take the blame except it wasn’t a 20 mile an hour speed limit it was national speed limit and the car in front was braking every time a car approached. I’ve always said I don’t care what speed you want to drive at - just don’t inconvenience other drivers - if you want to drive at only 20mph fine but make sure you keep pulling over to let everyone else past.

LlynTegid · 30/11/2022 20:56

You must be fortunate if drivers were patient before March 2020, though I agree that standards have continued to decline.

Many years ago I estimated that in my opinion about 25% of drivers should not have a licence, and that view has not changed.

girlmom21 · 30/11/2022 21:02

I don't think people are that impatient. If you've been beeped at 3 times by 3 different people in one day you're probably the problem.

Could there have been time for you to enter the roundabout? Not that you should have if you didn't feel safe and beeping at you isn't going to make it better, of course

Polecat07 · 30/11/2022 21:05

I have noticed far less courtesy on the roads - when giving way to people or generally being considerate, no little wave or nod of thanks. Find myself muttering 'well fuck you then' more and more regularly.

In my nearest city I keep noticing people just blatantly driving through red lights too?? One recent busy Saturday, 3 times in one trip! And not just chancing it squeezing through at the tail end of an Amber either - just charging through a red at speed. Total madness, it's like the traffic lights have become a mere suggestion?!

Must admit painfully slow drivers irritate me a lot too. I understand, it's a speed limit not a target etc, but honestly some people are driving dangerously slow. I was stuck behind someone going 30 in a 60 the other day. They braked harshly for every single bend, no matter how gentle AND THEY WERE ALREADY GOING JUST 30 in a bend on a 60. I beeped at the last one because it was just ridiculous. You shouldn't be on the road if you are that nervous a driver, imo.

Sparklingbrook · 30/11/2022 21:19

If you start a thread on MN about driving you will always be in the wrong and told you are the problem and usually that you shouldn't be on the road.

I think there has always been impatient drivers though, traffic is increasing, hold ups are common and people aren't allowing any mote time to compensate probably.
I don't think honking your horn at anyone helps things.

Original poster
Sausagenbacon · 30/11/2022 21:20

I don't think people are that impatient. If you've been beeped at 3 times by 3 different people in one day you're probably the problem.
No, as I said in the OP, I was driving at 20mph in an area with a 20 mph speed limit. And no, I was waiting for the driver who had priority to enter the roundabout before me.
So I'm only a problem to impatient twats, basically.

OP posts:
Bobbybobbins · 30/11/2022 21:24

Really noticed it since covid though on reflection think covid was probably a reprieve from it and it was bad before!

Original poster
Sausagenbacon · 30/11/2022 21:25

I beeped at the last one because it was just ridiculous. You shouldn't be on the road if you are that nervous a driver, imo.
so did that make you feel better? Honking at someone who you assess as being a nervous driver. Well done you.

OP posts:
Notanotherwindow · 30/11/2022 21:26

@Polecat07 We've a road like that round here. There's a dip in it that is actually safe to take at 60, yet we get people crawling along at 30 and still braking hard at nothing. I don't beep but do often find myself shouting 'stop braking you pussy' at the windscreen. Does my bloody head in.

Sparklingbrook · 30/11/2022 21:27

I remember taking DS1 out of driving practice, L plate on the back, and some numpty behind honked because he was waiting for a sufficient gap in the traffic to turn right. That's what new drivers are up against. Hmm

Proudofitbabe · 30/11/2022 21:28

Sausagenbacon · 30/11/2022 21:25

I beeped at the last one because it was just ridiculous. You shouldn't be on the road if you are that nervous a driver, imo.
so did that make you feel better? Honking at someone who you assess as being a nervous driver. Well done you.

PP said the person was going 30 in a 60 and incessantly braking, yet you're not happy with that pip either!

I don't use my horn but fuck me, some people are just tedious drivers.

Screwcorona · 30/11/2022 21:29

You don't wait at roundabouts unless the person on your right has entered the roundabout. Don't sit waiting at the line if no ones in there. They're designed to keep traffic flowing

OwwwMuuuum · 30/11/2022 21:29

I’m an avowed beeper and I know it’s a bad habit. People driving slowly and hesitantly really pisses me off though. You’re an adult who has passed a driving test, there’s no excuse.

OP you only give way to another car that’s ON the roundabout, not one who’s approaching/entering the roundabout. You should have got out before them, that’s why the driver behind you was beeping.

Juniperising · 30/11/2022 21:29

Odd that OP I have driven 450 miles today up and down the country today, not a single person beeped me and I stick to speed limits too. May be it's you?

Sparklingbrook · 30/11/2022 21:32

See what I mean @Sausagenbacon Grin

OwwwMuuuum · 30/11/2022 21:36

Sparklingbrook · 30/11/2022 21:27

I remember taking DS1 out of driving practice, L plate on the back, and some numpty behind honked because he was waiting for a sufficient gap in the traffic to turn right. That's what new drivers are up against. Hmm

I do make exceptions for learners, to be fair. I stay well back and never beep them. Beeping a learner pulling out at a t-junction is pretty savage!

Original poster
Sausagenbacon · 30/11/2022 21:36

yes sparklingbrook
and thanks all, but I do know the highway code. The traffic was not moving, and the other car was part way onto the roundabout. So, when, it did start moving, I waited for them.

OP posts:
OwwwMuuuum · 30/11/2022 21:38

Aha! Stationary traffic at a roundabout is fair game, the Highway Code is cancelled, it’s everyone for themself and whoever has the steeliest glare wins right of way.

YellowTreeHouse · 30/11/2022 21:39

Christ, people really will blame anything on covid 🙄

Sparklingbrook · 30/11/2022 21:40

OwwwMuuuum · 30/11/2022 21:36

I do make exceptions for learners, to be fair. I stay well back and never beep them. Beeping a learner pulling out at a t-junction is pretty savage!

Show quote history

I am not a confrontational person by any means but I was reaching for the door handle to get out and have a word, then thought better of it for the sake of DS.

I always give learners a very wide berth, we were all them once.

YellowTreeHouse · 30/11/2022 21:40

Sausagenbacon · 30/11/2022 21:25

I beeped at the last one because it was just ridiculous. You shouldn't be on the road if you are that nervous a driver, imo.
so did that make you feel better? Honking at someone who you assess as being a nervous driver. Well done you.

If you are a nervous driver you are not a competent or safe driver and shouldn’t be on the road.

Sparklingbrook · 30/11/2022 21:42

OwwwMuuuum · 30/11/2022 21:38

Aha! Stationary traffic at a roundabout is fair game, the Highway Code is cancelled, it’s everyone for themself and whoever has the steeliest glare wins right of way.

Like those junctions in the US where the first person to get there has right of way, you need your wits about you.
I was always thinking what would happen if there had to be a 'I was first/no I was first' type of argument in the event of a crash.

Sparklingbrook · 30/11/2022 21:43

According to the rules of MN nobody should be on the road. Grin

Original poster
Sausagenbacon · 30/11/2022 21:43

so it's the job of the poster to sort that out, is it?
Any competent driver would know that it's against the Highway Code to sound your horn. Unless, of course, you are so important that you are entitled to signal your disapproval of other driver's standards

OP posts: