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PostPosted: Tue Oct 23, 2018 10:48 pm 
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Well that's true, you cannot anticipate everything! But where would the fun be if you could? A little bit of adrenaline is good for the soul, if it wasn't, we'd all be looking forward to self driving cars, instead of dreading them!




Steve
Not good for your undie's though :lol: :lol:

Tony.
[/quote]

I've been involved in a few serious incidents including a fatality and seen up close the aftermath of hundreds but the day all cars are self drive will be the day I give up cars.

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PostPosted: Wed Oct 24, 2018 9:36 am 
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Quote:
Well that's true, you cannot anticipate everything! But where would the fun be if you could? A little bit of adrenaline is good for the soul, if it wasn't, we'd all be looking forward to self driving cars, instead of dreading them!




Steve
Not good for your undie's though :lol: :lol:

Tony.
[/quote]

Bah! Don't be a sissy Tony! You can always buy new undies!

Like Justin, a long career in the motor trade (plus a lifetime of driving quickly) has familiarized me with the aftermath of people getting it wrong! I guess familiarity has dulled my reaction to adrenaline a bit, now i'm just philosophical about it, there's no such thing as a near miss, either you hit 'em or you don't! By now, I am either the world's luckiest man, or all that practice has paid off!

Also, like Justin, the day cars become self driving will be the day I give up cars! Fortunately for me, I expect I will be comfortably dead when it happens!

Steve

_________________
'73 2 door Toledo with Vauxhall Carlton 2.0 8v engine (The Carledo)
'78 Sprint Auto with Vauxhall Omega 2.2 16v engine (The Dolomega)
'72 Triumph 1500FWD in Slate Grey, Now with RWD and Carledo powertrain!

Maverick Triumph, Servicing, Repairs, Electrical, Recomissioning, MOT prep, Trackerjack brake fitting service.
Apprentice served Triumph Specialist for 50 years. PM for more info or quotes.


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PostPosted: Wed Oct 24, 2018 7:17 pm 
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[

Not good for your undie's though :lol: :lol:

Tony.
[/quote]

Bah! Don't be a sissy Tony! You can always buy new undies!

What if it's goes through to the seats Steve? :oops:

Tony.

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PostPosted: Thu Oct 25, 2018 2:11 am 
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Like Justin, a long career in the motor trade (plus a lifetime of driving quickly) has familiarized me with the aftermath of people getting it wrong! I guess familiarity has dulled my reaction to adrenaline a bit, now i'm just philosophical about it, there's no such thing as a near miss, either you hit 'em or you don't! By now, I am either the world's luckiest man, or all that practice has paid off!
I'm one of those who scrapes the remains (sometimes still with non car related bits) off the road, this is a cheerful thread, but as a former grade one trained police driver I too am guilty of driver a bit on the enthusiastic side and as Steve says there is no such thing as a near miss. ask any police officer and they've heard 'he nearly hit me' which actually means 'he missed me' but a lot of these near misses are more luck than skill I like to think in my case its skill and I know I'm not immortal so drive as the conditions AND car dictate you have more chance of making it home.
99% of crashes are due to human error whilst driving which is why there is a push to take human error out of the driving experience. I could tell a scary story about driverless cars but I'll wait until the predicated incident happens and let others do the 'I told you so' line.

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PostPosted: Thu Oct 25, 2018 11:21 am 
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Driverless cars are already with us; they sit in procession in the middle lane of our motorways, oblivious to everything except the tail lights of the car immediately in front.

The four lane stretches catch them out a bit though, as we then get driverless lorries in lane two, so they then occupy lane three as well.


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PostPosted: Thu Oct 25, 2018 1:34 pm 
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Above 3 lanes I think they should be made freeways and allow undertaking, as Alun suggests, as most of the time I'm in that situation lane 1 is nigh on empty and the tailgating idiots (just about everyone now it seems) have made a train in lane 3 and everyone else is just spread out everywhere for no obvious reason. I was only watching a BMW Mini aggressively tailgating a van in front of it so much that it seemed magnetically attached to the van for quite some miles this morning before realising that they didn't actually want to overtake so that I had to overtake both. I must be getting old that I'm writing this sort of stuff...

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Current fleet: '75 Sprint, '73 1850, Daihatsu Fourtrak, Honda CG125, Yamaha Fazer 600, Shetland 570 (yes it's a boat!)

Past fleet: Triumph 2000, Lancia Beta Coupe, BL Mini Clubman, Austin Metro, Vauxhall Cavalier MK1 & MK2, Renault 18 D, Rover 216 GSI, Honda Accord (most expensive car purchase, hated, made out of magnetic metal as only car I've ever been crashed into...4 times), BMW 318, Golf GTi MK3 16v x 3


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PostPosted: Thu Oct 25, 2018 2:42 pm 
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Above 3 lanes I think they should be made freeways and allow undertaking, as Alun suggests, as most of the time I'm in that situation lane 1 is nigh on empty and the tailgating idiots (just about everyone now it seems) have made a train in lane 3 and everyone else is just spread out everywhere for no obvious reason. I was only watching a BMW Mini aggressively tailgating a van in front of it so much that it seemed magnetically attached to the van for quite some miles this morning before realising that they didn't actually want to overtake so that I had to overtake both. I must be getting old that I'm writing this sort of stuff...
To be fair to middle lane drivers, it is very difficult to obey the rules when no-one else does. You are suppose to stay in the left lane if possible. Fair enough, but with the number of lories on our motorways you constantly have to move out to overtake, which is made impossible by everyone sitting in the middle lane.

I generally try to obey the rules, I won't drive at 80-100mph on a motorway, I consider that to be dangerous, I stick to the limit. It is also not my job to enforce the speed limit I am obeying, so I get out of other people's way, but by staying in the left lane I find myself boxed in by the vast majority of drivers who refuse pull into the left lane themselves.

My first question for people who complain about middle lane hogs, is which lane do you drive in? If you don't move over into the left lane yourself, you can hardly complain about middle lane hogs, because by definition you are one yourself.


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PostPosted: Thu Oct 25, 2018 2:42 pm 
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Above 3 lanes I think they should be made freeways and allow undertaking, as Alun suggests, as most of the time I'm in that situation lane 1 is nigh on empty and the tailgating idiots (just about everyone now it seems) have made a train in lane 3 and everyone else is just spread out everywhere for no obvious reason. I was only watching a BMW Mini aggressively tailgating a van in front of it so much that it seemed magnetically attached to the van for quite some miles this morning before realising that they didn't actually want to overtake so that I had to overtake both. I must be getting old that I'm writing this sort of stuff...
To be fair to middle lane drivers, it is very difficult to obey the rules when no-one else does. You are suppose to stay in the left lane if possible. Fair enough, but with the number of lories on our motorways you constantly have to move out to overtake, which is made impossible by everyone sitting in the middle lane.

I generally try to obey the rules, I won't drive at 80-100mph on a motorway, I consider that to be dangerous, I stick to the limit. It is also not my job to enforce the speed limit I am obeying, so I get out of other people's way, but by staying in the left lane I find myself boxed in by the vast majority of drivers who refuse pull into the left lane themselves.

My first question for people who complain about middle lane hogs, is which lane do you drive in? If you don't move over into the left lane yourself, you can hardly complain about middle lane hogs, because by definition you are one yourself.


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PostPosted: Thu Oct 25, 2018 3:04 pm 
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On a heavily traficked weekday motorway with lane 1 full of trucks doing 60ish it's not hard to stay in the middle lane. And there's the (I think unofficial) 10 second rule that says "don't bother changing lanes if you are going to be in the next lane for less than 10 seconds". 10 seconds is longer than you think at 70mph.

The middle lane hogs I object to are the ones I approach late on Friday evenings on a near empty M5, me in lane 1 with the cruise control in, them in the middle lane, going slower than I am. Whereupon I have to go out to lane 3 to legally go round them, then return to lane 1. I have to admit that this gives me just the TINIEST bit of road rage, enough that I make the manouver close enough to both their rear and front bumpers to make them flinch a bit. Probably not the most polite way to do it, but it works surprisingly often, with the culprit meekly following me back into lane 1!

Steve

_________________
'73 2 door Toledo with Vauxhall Carlton 2.0 8v engine (The Carledo)
'78 Sprint Auto with Vauxhall Omega 2.2 16v engine (The Dolomega)
'72 Triumph 1500FWD in Slate Grey, Now with RWD and Carledo powertrain!

Maverick Triumph, Servicing, Repairs, Electrical, Recomissioning, MOT prep, Trackerjack brake fitting service.
Apprentice served Triumph Specialist for 50 years. PM for more info or quotes.


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PostPosted: Thu Oct 25, 2018 3:38 pm 
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I have to say i do the same Steve, and yes it does seem to work most times :wink:

Tony.

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PostPosted: Thu Oct 25, 2018 4:44 pm 
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If traffic in the middle lane, where traffic is a procession of vehicles, is moving slower than you in the nearside lane and slower than the legal speed limit, you are allowed to overtake them on the left.


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PostPosted: Thu Oct 25, 2018 7:48 pm 
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I would force every driver to spend time at speed on the German Autobahns, teach them how to drive. Is it really an EFFORT to move in and out of a lane and pay attention? How heavy are those steering wheels? If you're not overtaking (and I don't mean the car 1/2 mile in front) then MOVE OVER. If you see a car whizz past on the inside that was me. Don't get upset about it and tailgate me, just MOVE OVER. :x And don't get me started on those eejits that speed up as you go past them, usually women. I just move over and chop their nose off. PAY ATTENTION.
Ahem. That feels better. A bit off topic....


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PostPosted: Thu Oct 25, 2018 9:20 pm 
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I would force every driver to spend time at speed on the German Autobahns, teach them how to drive. Is it really an EFFORT to move in and out of a lane and pay attention? How heavy are those steering wheels? If you're not overtaking (and I don't mean the car 1/2 mile in front) then MOVE OVER. If you see a car whizz past on the inside that was me. Don't get upset about it and tailgate me, just MOVE OVER. :x And don't get me started on those eejits that speed up as you go past them, usually women. I just move over and chop their nose off. PAY ATTENTION.
Ahem. That feels better. A bit off topic....
Let it out, this is a safe space! :lol: I've driven cars a lot in France, Germany and Spain and they all seem to get it, and I've often seen a nicely spread snake of cars all pulling out and then back in again smoothly all the way along a motorway. Now, I'm not saying that some of these drivers also don't have other unwelcome traits, the Spanish drive at crazy speeds and make lanes where they do not exist for instance. I can't stand hesitation, not making progress, tailgating, not using indicators and lane hogging, yes that's a bloody long list and probably why I'm a terrible driver as I have a low patience threshold. Lane hoggers and an empty motorway get full beams and cut up as go from lane 3 back to 1 again, and if I have time I'll pull a real dick move and cut back into 2 and gradually slow down until they have to move lane, you inconvenience me, I'll inconvenience you. There is no pride in typing this, so apologies to the branch manager of BSM Luton in 1982 for not listening, I hate myself now.

_________________
Current fleet: '75 Sprint, '73 1850, Daihatsu Fourtrak, Honda CG125, Yamaha Fazer 600, Shetland 570 (yes it's a boat!)

Past fleet: Triumph 2000, Lancia Beta Coupe, BL Mini Clubman, Austin Metro, Vauxhall Cavalier MK1 & MK2, Renault 18 D, Rover 216 GSI, Honda Accord (most expensive car purchase, hated, made out of magnetic metal as only car I've ever been crashed into...4 times), BMW 318, Golf GTi MK3 16v x 3


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PostPosted: Thu Oct 25, 2018 10:28 pm 
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I learned to drive in London, where the only rule is "he who hesitates is lost" and have driven in most European and Scandinavian countries. Aside from the well policed and super polite Swedes, we could learn lessons in pressing on from most of them!

I always loved the idea of "making progress" which, AFAIK, is the police instructors polite euphemism for "drive it like you stole it"! I endeavour to "make progress" at all times! I like to carry speed through corners and roundabouts, have the clutch rising the split second the amber shows and, wherever safe, maintain 60mph on NSL roads. My reaction times, measured and displayed for all to see at the dragstrip, have not changed from an average 0.3 seconds since I was a young buck in my 20s.

I like to drive fast, but driving fast carries a cost, as well as a reward. The cost is total concentration on what you are doing, but the reward is that your reactions are kept sharp, this not only helps to keep you alive, but helps your mind stay young too! Oh, it's FUN too! And the 2 together mean that you CAN probabaly anticipate what the moron in the side road/oncoming lane/in front of you is going to do next because you are constantly and totally unconsciously reading the road and other users on it instead of cruising along on autopilot and wondering what's for dinner. So the alert driver is probably taking evasive action before the brain-in-neutral cruiser even knows anything is wrong. It's why I don't like to just sit back and cruise, it gets you into sloppy habits. If you always drive at 100%, when something goes pear shaped around you, you'll be ready for it! Sadly, it appears that most drivers these days can't be arsed to put that much effort in! And anyway (to get back ON topic) the car will save you.......won't it?

And this is the real crux of the matter, SPEED doesn't kill, INATTENTION kills. HESITATION kills, FAILURE TO COMMIT kills! And as for the morons who STILL use their phones while driving, despite the possible outcomes, well Mr Darwin has a special award, just for them!

And now my rant is over!

Steve

_________________
'73 2 door Toledo with Vauxhall Carlton 2.0 8v engine (The Carledo)
'78 Sprint Auto with Vauxhall Omega 2.2 16v engine (The Dolomega)
'72 Triumph 1500FWD in Slate Grey, Now with RWD and Carledo powertrain!

Maverick Triumph, Servicing, Repairs, Electrical, Recomissioning, MOT prep, Trackerjack brake fitting service.
Apprentice served Triumph Specialist for 50 years. PM for more info or quotes.


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PostPosted: Thu Oct 25, 2018 10:42 pm 
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I learned to drive in London, where the only rule is "he who hesitates is lost" and have driven in most European and Scandinavian countries. Aside from the well policed and super polite Swedes, we could learn lessons in pressing on from most of them!

I always loved the idea of "making progress" which, AFAIK, is the police instructors polite euphemism for "drive it like you stole it"! I endeavour to "make progress" at all times! I like to carry speed through corners and roundabouts, have the clutch rising the split second the amber shows and, wherever safe, maintain 60mph on NSL roads. My reaction times, measured and displayed for all to see at the dragstrip, have not changed from an average 0.3 seconds since I was a young buck in my 20s.

I like to drive fast, but driving fast carries a cost, as well as a reward. The cost is total concentration on what you are doing, but the reward is that your reactions are kept sharp, this not only helps to keep you alive, but helps your mind stay young too! Oh, it's FUN too! And the 2 together mean that you CAN probabaly anticipate what the moron in the side road/oncoming lane/in front of you is going to do next because you are constantly and totally unconsciously reading the road and other users on it instead of cruising along on autopilot and wondering what's for dinner. So the alert driver is probably taking evasive action before the brain-in-neutral cruiser even knows anything is wrong. It's why I don't like to just sit back and cruise, it gets you into sloppy habits. If you always drive at 100%, when something goes pear shaped around you, you'll be ready for it! Sadly, it appears that most drivers these days can't be arsed to put that much effort in! And anyway (to get back ON topic) the car will save you.......won't it?

And this is the real crux of the matter, SPEED doesn't kill, INATTENTION kills. HESITATION kills, FAILURE TO COMMIT kills! And as for the morons who STILL use their phones while driving, despite the possible outcomes, well Mr Darwin has a special award, just for them!

And now my rant is over!

Steve
The problem with this is people are very bad at judging their driving ability, most people rate themselves as an above average driver, which simply can't be true. I will be honest, I am average at best and very much know my limits, alas allot of people don't.

They will drive flat out in the rain, they will overtake before blind summits and other pieces of insanity. 90% of the time they get away with it, but it only takes one time. Not to mention the fact that you have to take into account the ability of all the drivers around you.

The roads around here are so busy that making progress stopped being a safe option on them years ago.

To be honest I do feel like I missed out, must have been more fun 40 years ago with clear roads and not lane to lane traffic.


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