To think bad drivers will be driving...

[ToastWithLimeMarmalade]

... either:
A taxi
A BMW or Audi
A white car.

Often more than one of the above is true.

By "bad drivers" I mean arrogant, selfish, dangerous driving, not indicating, etc.

There is a special exception for "bad driving" specifically for those who apparently cannot use reverse gear. They don't fit the above pattern, but will be driving a large SUV they are incapable of reversing or parking sensibly. I encounter these frequently, living as I do in labyrinth of narrow terraced streets. These cars will be parked at odd angles, half in the road, or most likely encountered barrelling down a street you've just turned into, refusing to tuck into any spaces at the side so you can pass each other, especially if it involves reversing. Instead you are forced to reverse for miles/back into another road/onto a pavement.

People get really hysterical about middle lane sitting but seriously it's SO far down the list of driving infractions.

Annoying yes, but let's face it there is a 3rd, 4th or sometimes even 5th lane to overtake them on.

I am far more worried about actual dangerous driving like overtaking people on blind bends and when someone is coming towards them, or driving on pavements when pedestrians are there, or putting their foot to the floor when they see a pedestrian crossing on amber.

Me too.

Because this winds me up, I've watched several YouTube videos by driving instructors about indicating and their view is unanimous: you should always indicate, even when you're in a specific lane (say a left or right turning lane)/

Their rationale is: it's a good habit to have so that indicating becomes automatic and also - YOU might know that it's a right-turning lane because of the road sign or the arrow on the carriageway, but pedestrians and maybe other drivers don't necessarily know that.

Always indicate!

There is a lady who lives at the bottom of our road.
She drives a BMW taxi and it's white. Speeds, loves pressing the horn. Parks where she likes.

I drive a white Audi SUV so I must be the devil incarnate. Though I’ve never had an accident in 30 years of driving, never had a parking ticket and don’t have any points on my licence…

Not sure about the white car, but the others are usually good indicators of some of the 25% who should no longer hold a licence.

The exception to that general rule is that none of these rules apply to identify a middle lane hogger on a motorway or three lane dual carriageway. Or as I see them, people medically unfit to drive on grounds of their mental state.

Not always. Generally all SUVS. The "I feel safer" brigade which translates into " I'm bigger than you are so I get to drive like a pillock" and most especially in the middle lane or supermarket carpark.

White vans (particularly ones without a business name on them) and giant pickup trucks are the most aggressive drivers in my experience.

SUV drivers aren't necessarily aggressive, just oblivious to other traffic and the size of their vehicle. We have had a lot of roads resurfaced locally and the centre line has not been repainted - it seems to be SVB drivers who think this means they can just drive down the middle of the road into oncoming traffic who then has to almost hit the curb to avoid them.

We also have a lot of elderly drivers who are utterly oblivious - they are the ones who drive at 40mph everywhere: 20mph school zone, national speed limit A road, doesn't matter - 40mph it is. They also don't look (limited neck mobility) so you are constantly second guessing. Was OK when they all used to drive Micras and those little Suzuki things but now they all seem to have massive SUVs too!

As a cyclist and pedestrian (as well as driver) I find the lack of indicating very dangerous indeed.

Every time I think ‘what a wanker’ you notice that it’s a BMW. I could never buy one as my driving isn’t bad enough.

NA BMWD ALT 😂

I’m almost 60, been driving all sorts of cars since passing my test in 1985.

I’ve just got my first BMW.

my driving hasn’t automatically deteriorated, and i still park properly and considerately.

I find THE most dangerous place on earth to be the school car park. All brands, all colours, all sizes, all barely under any control at all.

I have been driving for nearly 50 years. In my experience bad drivers come in all shapes and sizes. They don't care about anyone else on the road, and their life/business is far more important than anyone else's.

I drummed it into my children that car parks were about the most dangerous place to be a pedestrian (and probably a driver!).

People are impatient, aggressive or stressed and their attention isn't on the toddler who might be walking behind their car as they reverse but not visible via the mirrors.

I'm with you on bmw's, haven't noticed it with audis. However I'd add Mercedes drivers. We're often calling out the jerk in the Merc.

Not all drivers, but enough to feel like it's a 'thing'.

My husband and adult son are always complaining about Audi drivers in our bit of London. I don’t tend to notice car brands.

I do notice bad driving by people in cars with those dark tinted windows. I always wonder what idiots are inside.

Every second car where I live seems to be white (including mine) so statistically you are probably right. White vans are the worst imo.

I was aggressively tailgated the other day on the dual carriageway (70mph) by an idiot in a white van. I moved into the other lane to get away from him, at which point he immediately started doing the same to someone else - so close behind there was barely any space between them.

Also noticed at this point there was black smoke belching out of the exhaust.

Small blue and small green cars around us, flipping nuts

.

Fiat 500 drivers are the worst where we live. No awareness, no anticipation at roundabouts. Also regularly found at the front of a massive queue of traffic, pootling along obliviously.

Aren't the ones you mention the ones most likely to be on the road a lot, taxis obviously are, and people who drive a lot for work might be more likely to have certain cars, so it's just by law of average you see more bad driving? Most people don't pick a car for its colour. Like many, I've never had a new car, and when buying, I don't focus the colour (though if I was buying new, I wouldn't pick white).

when its around school pickup/drop off its ANY CAR. Those school run mums are rutheless and down right dangerous! We have a 20mph on the road down past the school....Its so stressful doing 20 as they are so so so close you just see sliver of dash and their pickled faces (and yes, I was also driving to work, I just had made them aware of the time I would get there by...cos of the children...
Taxis - absolutely mental. I took a taxi 2 y ears ago from airport with work, but before that last time I was in one was 2010 when my eldest was a toot. That guy straight lined a round about at 70 in a 30. I reported him and was like, nope, never again.

Also..........DRIVING INSTRUCTORS... been overtaken by many- whilst I myself might be doing a cheeky 63 on the rural roads. They do not drive nice with no pupil in the car.

Sounds as though you were in the wrong lane. If you could move over, why weren't you already in the other lane? Were you in an overtaking lane?

I was overtaking, then pulled back in.

People really argue about anything here 😄

Range Rover drivers are the worst in my experience. I have a friend with a fiat 500 who had a range rover driver get out and scream at her recently that she and her "horrid little car" shouldn't be allowed on the road. Another friends husband was punched by a range rover driver through his window when stopped.

I drive a fiat 500 (25% of the cars where I live are fiat 500s!) I do not pootle - I pretend it's a dodgem car and chuck it around. Great fun.

I drive an Audi. I’m a courteous driver.

I think some people think that because they've got a slightly fancy car, that they are above the rules! None of the cars in this thread are particularly expensive. Although I think some people think they are! Bless 'em.

SUV yes, Taxi, yes. I drive a BMW…I indicate, let people zip in etc. I think I’m a good patient driver. My pet hate is anyone that drives down country single track lanes, yet can’t or WON’T reverse! I’ve lost count of the people coming down a lane I use many times a week, I’m nearly to my turning, so indicate, meaning they’d only need to reverse a couple of meters, yet they REFUSE to do so, making me reverse bloody AGES longer down a winding lane! Drives me absolutely mental.