When "helpful" is a bad idea on the road.
Discussion
We've seen a situation where a road user tries to be kind to another, but creates unintended risk elsewhere.
An example being.
Braking to let someone out of a side road, when cars are following behind. The kind one has inflicted a risk on to theirself and those behind.
Any other similar cases?
An example being.
Braking to let someone out of a side road, when cars are following behind. The kind one has inflicted a risk on to theirself and those behind.
Any other similar cases?
There's a close relative, stopping to let someone in/out a junction crossing a dual carriageway, while being blithely unaware of the traffic in the other lane still moving.
Bonus points for stopping in such a position as to block the view the other driver has of said traffic, and getting uppity when they won't pull across on blind faith.
And maybe another "junction" one, not realising how crap the visibility can be for trying to get a panel van out of an oblique junction.
Bonus points for stopping in such a position as to block the view the other driver has of said traffic, and getting uppity when they won't pull across on blind faith.
And maybe another "junction" one, not realising how crap the visibility can be for trying to get a panel van out of an oblique junction.
I was on my way home last Friday when a woman pulled straight out in front of me on a mini-roundabout. A braked a bit, she waived an apology then I got on with driving home.
The bloke in a clapped-out old Hyundai Coupe, who happened to have been tailgating me for the last couple of miles, on realising that I had misplaced my horn button, very kindly pressed his instead. Never ceases to amaze me how quick crap drivers can find the horn button
The bloke in a clapped-out old Hyundai Coupe, who happened to have been tailgating me for the last couple of miles, on realising that I had misplaced my horn button, very kindly pressed his instead. Never ceases to amaze me how quick crap drivers can find the horn button
If I'm the recipient of misplaced courtesy, I'll either wave them on or sit and wait as they hold traffic up. I'll move when I deem it safe to do so, not when someone else decides for me.
Being stuck behind someone being overly courteous is irritating though, however (and I'm risking the engagement of "sanctimonious mode" here) if you're keeping the correct separation from the car in front, it should be easy enough to react to and accommodate them.
Being stuck behind someone being overly courteous is irritating though, however (and I'm risking the engagement of "sanctimonious mode" here) if you're keeping the correct separation from the car in front, it should be easy enough to react to and accommodate them.
Mr Happy said:
If I'm the recipient of misplaced courtesy, I'll either wave them on or sit and wait as they hold traffic up. I'll move when I deem it safe to do so, not when someone else decides for me.
Being stuck behind someone being overly courteous is irritating though, however (and I'm risking the engagement of "sanctimonious mode" here) if you're keeping the correct separation from the car in front, it should be easy enough to react to and accommodate them.
I've been the person behind someone who braked suddenly at 60 to let someone out at a side road.Being stuck behind someone being overly courteous is irritating though, however (and I'm risking the engagement of "sanctimonious mode" here) if you're keeping the correct separation from the car in front, it should be easy enough to react to and accommodate them.
Any unnecessary act that requires an avoiding response from someone else is irresponsible.
bus_ter said:
Stopping and flashing someone out.
They interpret it as it's all clear. But you were only indicating you are waiting for them.
They pull out without looking and hit a third vehicle. Seen this happen twice in recent years.
A police driver training colleague of mine told a story about one of their guys witnessing this on his way to work. The story goes; he prosecuted all three for driving without due care They interpret it as it's all clear. But you were only indicating you are waiting for them.
They pull out without looking and hit a third vehicle. Seen this happen twice in recent years.
911hope said:
Mr Happy said:
If I'm the recipient of misplaced courtesy, I'll either wave them on or sit and wait as they hold traffic up. I'll move when I deem it safe to do so, not when someone else decides for me.
Being stuck behind someone being overly courteous is irritating though, however (and I'm risking the engagement of "sanctimonious mode" here) if you're keeping the correct separation from the car in front, it should be easy enough to react to and accommodate them.
I've been the person behind someone who braked suddenly at 60 to let someone out at a side road.Being stuck behind someone being overly courteous is irritating though, however (and I'm risking the engagement of "sanctimonious mode" here) if you're keeping the correct separation from the car in front, it should be easy enough to react to and accommodate them.
Any unnecessary act that requires an avoiding response from someone else is irresponsible.
Sure... citizen with all kind of flashing lights that wants to be useful decides to pull over to the side of the road at a crash site. They illuminated the car that had crashed in the middle of the highway with a spotlight. Everyone was looking at the flashing lights and ran into the car in the road.
Timely thread - guy infront couldn't understand why I beeped him the other day for turning off the main road and immediately stopping to let a yummy mummy cross the road with her buggy. a) it wasn't predictable; and b) I then had to stop on the main road behind him because he was in the way 
AyBee said:
Timely thread - guy infront couldn't understand why I beeped him the other day for turning off the main road and immediately stopping to let a yummy mummy cross the road with her buggy. a) it wasn't predictable; and b) I then had to stop on the main road behind him because he was in the way
While it is somewhat stupid, it sounds like they did what they're meant to do if a pedestrian is crossing a junction they are pulling into.InitialDave said:
AyBee said:
Timely thread - guy infront couldn't understand why I beeped him the other day for turning off the main road and immediately stopping to let a yummy mummy cross the road with her buggy. a) it wasn't predictable; and b) I then had to stop on the main road behind him because he was in the way
While it is somewhat stupid, it sounds like they did what they're meant to do if a pedestrian is crossing a junction they are pulling into.BertBert said:
Mandat said:
Misplaced courtesy causes confusion and accidents.
A well known maxim taught in advanced driving.
But I've never seen an incident caused it nearly cause by it.A well known maxim taught in advanced driving.
These over helpful types are the ones who seem oblivious to anything behind them. They'll stop to let a mass of traffic pass a parked car, when if they'd looked behind them they'd have seen 2 or 3 cars behind then nothing, meaning by stopping they're hindering 2 or 3 cars to let 20 through, rather than carrying on to let 2 or 3 cars through and then allow 20 pass a few seconds later.
Flow of traffic is more important than trying to be helpful imo. If you stop in the road to be helpful, you're always going to run the risk of behind rear ended.
Flow of traffic is more important than trying to be helpful imo. If you stop in the road to be helpful, you're always going to run the risk of behind rear ended.
HTP99 said:
InitialDave said:
AyBee said:
Timely thread - guy infront couldn't understand why I beeped him the other day for turning off the main road and immediately stopping to let a yummy mummy cross the road with her buggy. a) it wasn't predictable; and b) I then had to stop on the main road behind him because he was in the way
While it is somewhat stupid, it sounds like they did what they're meant to do if a pedestrian is crossing a junction they are pulling into.InitialDave said:
AyBee said:
She wasn't in the road, she was waiting to cross. He made the turning and then stopped to let her cross.
That sounds correct."[You should] give way to pedestrians crossing or waiting to cross a road into which or from which you are turning"
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