Peoples driving etiquette is getting worse

[Bluebirthdaycard]

It seems every single time I go somewhere in my car I'm either overtaken stupidly (like today), my cars invisible as noone indicates, I get cars pulling out on me constantly especially on roundabouts and car parks or drive so far up my backside we might as well be one car. There's just no manners or care anymore on the roads. Its getting to the point where I don't want to drive anymore but I have to because of where I live. Is it just me or where I live in the fens??

There are genuinely some idiots about who don’t know how to drive. I’ve had my licence for 5 years now and generally the standard of driving seems to have declined significantly since I’d say 2022 ish time. So many people on phones too.

South-West here and things have definitely got worse on the roads. Every time I go out people turn across me so I have to brake hard, swerve into a parking space without indicating, don't indicate on turnings or roundabouts. Just coming back today I saw a school minibus tailgating a car.

i was reading that you just have to take the upper hand and be polite to all the twats on the road. let them get on with it.

people always cut across on roundabouts here. usually on the school run.

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I honestly think significant numbers on the road have no valid licence and have never taken a test.

Agree. It's got even worse in my area where they have reduced speed limits to 20mph in every village. People are FURIOUS. You get those who stick to the 20mph and those who tailgate aggressively or dangerously overtake. From someone living in a 20 village (reduced from 30) it's made things worse rather than better.

I have noticed people not indicating, particularly at roundabouts has become more prevalent recently.

Notice it every day.

Yes so many people drive like complete arseholes. I walk to school with my children and 90% of drivers drive 40+ mph through the village with a 30 limit, even though there are kids walking/on scooters everywhere. Also driving behind with no stopping distance. We’re also in the east, rural and nice and flat so should be ideal for family bike rides but this is impossible with drivers insisting on bombing down lanes at 60mph, often in the middle of the road.

We seem to have a number of young lads, who deliberately weave in and out of the traffic on a local dual carriageway. They achieve precisely nothing, except for posing a danger to traffic.

Agree - always a car up your arse these days even when you're doing the speed limit.

Pisses me off.

It's scary, quite frankly. I need my 17 year old to start driving but the thought of it is still worrying simply because of the amount of idiots on the road.

YANBU

I've stopped using the M4 because the standards of driving are so aggressive. I use the M3 to get to the M25 because it is marginally less so. I never drive in London

I seldom drive between 6pm and midnight - too many drugged or drunk idiots. If I need to travel long distances I do so in the early hours.

It makes life much less stressful.

I’m a driving instructor. Not sure I agree really. Learners are tested on their ability to make progress (if it’s a 50 limit they really need to get near to that limit if the conditions are right during a test). If people complain about people always overtaking them or sticking close to behind them I’d ask what speed they habitually do. Once passed people tend to make up their own rules about road safety, the most prevalent being that slow means careful and safe. It doesn’t really as it causes other people to take chances.

Stay legal but make progress, think of the scenario of being late for a train with a police car behind you!

Again same with gap taking at roundabouts, it takes learning and confidence to do roundabouts well but missing gaps at roundabouts with people behind expecting you to go is also hazardous and will also be picked up on a driving test.

I see a lot of very good driving as well as bad, with most people doing what they should (minus exit signals at roundabouts, many don’t do that and it’s frustrating). Lots of very kind people out there too, letting my learner go when it’ll hold them up possibly.

I taught my teens to drive defensively. Assume everyone else is an idiot basically, because apparently most drivers seem to be!

I have noticed that standards of driving differ depending on where I am. I live rurally and you tend to get meanderers, un confident drivers, and the occasional poor/dangerous overtake due to impatience (I was overtaken doing 52 in a 50 last week).

But Christ it is so much worse on the busy commuter routes. Junction blocking even at yellow grid junctions so you end up in gridlock. Aggressive tailgating when there’s nowhere else to go because…. Traffic. Red light jumping. People cutting you up on roundabouts. Just general impatience and aggression!

I haven’t had to commute since pre Covid and it was a real eye opener as to why I was so stressed back in the day commuting two hours daily…

I don't find so much aggression on the roads but I do think there is an increase of poor driving skill. Lack of indicators, using the wrong lane, lack of observation (driving at 40mph in a 60 because not noticed signs), not using mirrors, sitting in the outside lane and so it goes on.
It's like everyone just does what they like without thinking about what's going on around them. I often wonder how these people manage to conduct the rest of their lives.

Well either I'm the crap driver or unlucky then.

But the war on the motorists, how dare you restrict them or seek to change their behaviour!!

I think the worsening has been gradual over many years, not helped by the end almost of traffic enforcement. SUVs and generally larger cars have not helped.

I consider my thought that at least 25% of those with a licence unfit to hold one as not just an opinion.

I disagree with @bozzabollix as well @Bluebirthdaycard.

Even when you’re driving at the limit, there’s always someone trying to climb into the boot, or pulling out in front, or failing to follow the rules of the road. Roundabouts here are a nightmare.

you can often tell there is a parsite in front of you looking down at their mobile even texting and even more commonly the broken had syndrome by ignorant drivers ie not signalling when turning etc