Irrational Driving behaviours

[911hope]

I've often been puzzled why people make certain decisions when driving. Often they create risk for no advantage.

My favourite is....

Swerving around a puddle, when there is oncoming traffic.....Surely a splash is preferable to a head-on crash.

Any other examples that people have observed.

[Scrump]

Shallow puddle or water filled pothole?

[NMNeil]

Scrump said:

Shallow puddle or water filled pothole?

That's why you go round them because you don't want to find out

[georgeyboy12345]

I wouldn’t call that irrational. My driving instructor taught me to treat a large puddle as an obstacle where safe to do so and go around it.

[oceanview]

I've noticed a few drivers when approaching a cyclist on a road, moving out a good 2/3 metres to go around them- all good but, they decide to do it when they have traffic approaching them from the other direction!

I have seen a few near misses through this idiotic manoeuvre.

[anonymous-user]

Scrump said:

Shallow puddle or water filled pothole?

Exactly this, the problem is you cannot see what is under the water. It could be a shallow puddle, on the other hand it could be hiding a massive pot hole that is about to buckle your rim and ruin your day.

I don't think it is that irrational to be honest.

[911hope]

Scrump said:

Shallow puddle or water filled pothole?

Doesn't matter if the alternative is a crash.

[911hope]

georgeyboy12345 said:

I wouldn’t call that irrational. My driving instructor taught me to treat a large puddle as an obstacle where safe to do so and go around it.

And if there were an oncoming car? Would that be rational?

[911hope]

Joey Deacon said:

Exactly this, the problem is you cannot see what is under the water. It could be a shallow puddle, on the other hand it could be hiding a massive pot hole that is about to buckle your rim and ruin your day.

I don't think it is that irrational to be honest.

So you would prefer the head-on crash?

[stupidbutkeen]

911hope said:

Scrump said:

Shallow puddle or water filled pothole?

Doesn't matter if the alternative is a crash.

But what if the alternative was to avoid the puddle and not crash, Which happens quite a lot i hear.

[911hope]

stupidbutkeen said:

But what if the alternative was to avoid the puddle and not crash, Which happens quite a lot i hear.

Have a read of the original post, there is the part about the oncoming car...

[911hope]

oceanview said:

I've noticed a few drivers when approaching a cyclist on a road, moving out a good 2/3 metres to go around them- all good but, they decide to do it when they have traffic approaching them from the other direction!

I have seen a few near misses through this idiotic manoeuvre.

I have seen this on many occasions, the next move is normally to pull back in and "squeeze" the cyclist.
Sometimes the oncoming car stops dead to save the day.

[Lost ranger]

My (least) favourites:

Holding a stationary car on a slope by slipping the clutch instead of putting the brake on. Constantly on the verge of rolling back into the vehicle behind, wearing the clutch out, and much harder work than being sensible.

Dipped headlamps when full beam would be appropriate. Makes me wonder how far ahead these people look in daylight.

[Zarco]

Blindly following another driver overtaking a cyclist is my favourite.

[Johnnytheboy]

End of a DC, traffic flowing freely.

Car in L1 before merge veers over to the right after the traffic has merged, and there's no danger of anyone getting by.

After the two lanes have merged, but while the road is still wider than usual, if that makes sense.

[911hope]

Zarco said:

Blindly following another driver overtaking a cyclist is my favourite.

That applies to perhaps 99.99% of drivers in my experience cycling.
The subsequent cars get closer and closer to the cyclist, also.

[swisstoni]

Not indicating at roundabouts.
Ok you may not be bothered with the common courtesy of letting others know what you are doing.

But it’s the fact that you are increasing the chance of people pulling out into your path i.e increasing the danger to your wonderful self.

[Chubbyross]

When turning left or right turning the opposite way for a few feet to make a larger turn. You’re driving a car not a f*cking supertanker.

[J4CKO]

Scuttling out at pace causing you to brake, then proceeding at a glacial pace.

Changing lanes when nothing to overtake and no junction coming up.

Not indicating at all, it’s not exactly that onerous to flick the little lever.

Braking down hill. Braking when a car is coming the other way but the road is really wide.

[anonymous-user]

911hope said:

Scrump said:

Shallow puddle or water filled pothole?

Doesn't matter if the alternative is a crash.

I actually had this same dilemma a few months ago in Devon. Driving along a straight piece of road I suddenly noticed that the storm drain cover up ahead had completely collapsed. I had to make a split second decision, but there was a car coming the other way so I had no choice but to drive over it.

Leading to a massive bang, the unmistakable sound of a tyre deflating and a very bent rim.