Driver types/names
Discussion
Sunny Sundays plus a few Bank holidays thrown in always attracts the worst drivers out on to the roads. Caravaners and the motorway centre lane owners will be out in force causing mayhem for anyone trying to make reasonable progress, and on many other roads the ability to find top gear will be a luxury. As for signalling, need I say more.... It used to be said 'Travel at 50 on Sunday and you will overtake anything else on the road'
Not so many years ago, naming these driver types was common place but I rarely hear anything other than the term 'Boy racer' or 'White van man' but lets face it,neither of these need explanation nor are they going to be the ones holding up a stream of traffic.
I will start the thread with a few driver titles I know but it will be interesting to see what other terms crop up especially from different parts of the country. And whether the such terms are in common usage amonst other like minded Pistonheads.
MIMSER - Driving aimlessly at low speed and looking at anything except the road ahead and oblivious to the snaking queue of vehicles behind them. Harmless enough and not bothered if you overtake.
TROGLODITE - Usually wears a hat and drives a large powerful car incredably slowly, doesn't believe in signalling, after all he knows where he is going. These leviathans are the worst kind of people you will ever meet on the road, the true road hog. Dare to overtake them and they erupt like dinosaurs venting anger with frantic tooting of the horn and flashing of headlamps no matter how safe your manouvre is. Talk to them and it is everyone else but them who shouldn't be driving !
CLODS - Centre Lane Owner Drivers Society - the common motorway menace causing unnnessary bunching and generally slowing progress when the nearside lane is empty.
PEDAL CAR DRIVERS - Have to have a foot on a pedal ! Not necessarily driving slowly but display a constant need to apply the brakes when not accelerating for no apparent reason or simply brake unnecessarily at or on every bend.
RED LIGHT MENACE - No thought as to whether fog lights are really necessary, they just stick them on to dazzle everyone because it is raining or a bit misty. - Does anyone have a term for those who stick front fog lights on when it is perfectly clear apart from 'Boy racer' who do it to look bigger pratts in their one litre hatchbacks, oops, sorry forgetting street cred here, to show off, attract the police and dazzle other drivers !
CLOWN - A driver displaying unbelievable feats of bad driving like going round the outside lane of a busy roundabout to turn right, commonly without signalling. Also referred to as 'An accident waiting to happen'
CLASS or CLASSY DRIVER- Someone who is obviously driving any car to a very good standard.
Over to you good Pistonheads out there ........................................
Not so many years ago, naming these driver types was common place but I rarely hear anything other than the term 'Boy racer' or 'White van man' but lets face it,neither of these need explanation nor are they going to be the ones holding up a stream of traffic.
I will start the thread with a few driver titles I know but it will be interesting to see what other terms crop up especially from different parts of the country. And whether the such terms are in common usage amonst other like minded Pistonheads.
MIMSER - Driving aimlessly at low speed and looking at anything except the road ahead and oblivious to the snaking queue of vehicles behind them. Harmless enough and not bothered if you overtake.
TROGLODITE - Usually wears a hat and drives a large powerful car incredably slowly, doesn't believe in signalling, after all he knows where he is going. These leviathans are the worst kind of people you will ever meet on the road, the true road hog. Dare to overtake them and they erupt like dinosaurs venting anger with frantic tooting of the horn and flashing of headlamps no matter how safe your manouvre is. Talk to them and it is everyone else but them who shouldn't be driving !
CLODS - Centre Lane Owner Drivers Society - the common motorway menace causing unnnessary bunching and generally slowing progress when the nearside lane is empty.
PEDAL CAR DRIVERS - Have to have a foot on a pedal ! Not necessarily driving slowly but display a constant need to apply the brakes when not accelerating for no apparent reason or simply brake unnecessarily at or on every bend.
RED LIGHT MENACE - No thought as to whether fog lights are really necessary, they just stick them on to dazzle everyone because it is raining or a bit misty. - Does anyone have a term for those who stick front fog lights on when it is perfectly clear apart from 'Boy racer' who do it to look bigger pratts in their one litre hatchbacks, oops, sorry forgetting street cred here, to show off, attract the police and dazzle other drivers !
CLOWN - A driver displaying unbelievable feats of bad driving like going round the outside lane of a busy roundabout to turn right, commonly without signalling. Also referred to as 'An accident waiting to happen'
CLASS or CLASSY DRIVER- Someone who is obviously driving any car to a very good standard.
Over to you good Pistonheads out there ........................................
Edited by Jules2477 on Friday 23 May 23:45
I think there are quite a lot more types than that.
The bad standard of driving on bank holidays is probably due to people driving in unfamiliar areas - out of their comfort zone, and the increased amounts of traffic makes them worse and also makes it more probable that you will see one.
The bad standard of driving on bank holidays is probably due to people driving in unfamiliar areas - out of their comfort zone, and the increased amounts of traffic makes them worse and also makes it more probable that you will see one.
How could you forget the most common and to me the most annoying (you can avoid the dangerous people when you spot them, then let them have their own accident)
The 50 Mile An Hour Club!
The people who drive at 50, any time, any place, without deviation. They must make a concious effort to stay on 50 constantly. These are the people who, once you eventually get past them (and I find when you do, it's with a lot of swearing/flashing lights/ horn blowing [on their part, read that back and sounded like I was giving the abuse]) and head off into the distance, they are the ones who will sit 1ft off your bumper when you get to a 30. These people drive me insane. I can deal with people who aren't very good drivers, and who go slower because they aren't as confident, because theres no drama when you go past them. I also don't get mad at people who aren't as confident, because they obviously only drive when they have to, unlike me, who drives because I like to.
I think the 50 MPH club must get on my nerves even more so, because I'm driving a 1.2 (damn these insurance companies, why can't I drive my dads 9-3 Aero now that I've been driving for a year :P) so It's so much harder for me to overtake, because I need to plan a mile ahead, think about where I could get past, give myself space for a run-up etc. so a lot of the time I'm stuck doing 50 for mile after mile.
I've just realised I've ranted a fair bit, but these people really boil my blood.
The 50 Mile An Hour Club!
The people who drive at 50, any time, any place, without deviation. They must make a concious effort to stay on 50 constantly. These are the people who, once you eventually get past them (and I find when you do, it's with a lot of swearing/flashing lights/ horn blowing [on their part, read that back and sounded like I was giving the abuse]) and head off into the distance, they are the ones who will sit 1ft off your bumper when you get to a 30. These people drive me insane. I can deal with people who aren't very good drivers, and who go slower because they aren't as confident, because theres no drama when you go past them. I also don't get mad at people who aren't as confident, because they obviously only drive when they have to, unlike me, who drives because I like to.
I think the 50 MPH club must get on my nerves even more so, because I'm driving a 1.2 (damn these insurance companies, why can't I drive my dads 9-3 Aero now that I've been driving for a year :P) so It's so much harder for me to overtake, because I need to plan a mile ahead, think about where I could get past, give myself space for a run-up etc. so a lot of the time I'm stuck doing 50 for mile after mile.
I've just realised I've ranted a fair bit, but these people really boil my blood.
Edited by CorsaScott on Wednesday 4th June 22:16
CorsaScott said:
How could you forget the most common and to me the most annoying (you can avoid the dangerous people when you spot them, then let them have their own accident)
The 50 Mile An Hour Club!
The people who drive at 50, any time, any place, without deviation. They must make a concious effort to stay on 50 constantly. These are the people who, once you eventually get past them (and I find when you do, it's with a lot of swearing/flashing lights/ horn blowing) and head off into the distance, they are the ones who will sit 1ft off your bumper when you get to a 30. These people drive me insane. I can deal with people who aren't very good drivers, and who go slower because they aren't as confident, because theres no drama when you go past them. I also don't get mad at people who aren't as confident, because they obviously only drive when they have to, unlike me, who drives because I like to.
I think the 50 MPH club must get on my nerves even more so, because I'm driving a 1.2 (damn these insurance companies, why can't I drive my dads 9-3 Aero now that I've been driving for a year :P) so It's so much harder for me to overtake, because I need to plan a mile ahead, think about where I could get past, give myself space for a run-up etc. so a lot of the time I'm stuck doing 50 for mile after mile.
I've just realised I've ranted a fair bit, but these people really boil my blood.
I totally agree with you! I'm in a similar situation with an underpowered car that needs a long distance to overtake in (damn insurance eh!)The 50 Mile An Hour Club!
The people who drive at 50, any time, any place, without deviation. They must make a concious effort to stay on 50 constantly. These are the people who, once you eventually get past them (and I find when you do, it's with a lot of swearing/flashing lights/ horn blowing) and head off into the distance, they are the ones who will sit 1ft off your bumper when you get to a 30. These people drive me insane. I can deal with people who aren't very good drivers, and who go slower because they aren't as confident, because theres no drama when you go past them. I also don't get mad at people who aren't as confident, because they obviously only drive when they have to, unlike me, who drives because I like to.
I think the 50 MPH club must get on my nerves even more so, because I'm driving a 1.2 (damn these insurance companies, why can't I drive my dads 9-3 Aero now that I've been driving for a year :P) so It's so much harder for me to overtake, because I need to plan a mile ahead, think about where I could get past, give myself space for a run-up etc. so a lot of the time I'm stuck doing 50 for mile after mile.
I've just realised I've ranted a fair bit, but these people really boil my blood.
What annoys me most is when they either tailgate you through a 30, then you leave them in the dust through a NSL, and then in the next 30 they resume the tailgating position. Or when you follow them, and they shoot off in the 30s, and then you catch them up very quickly in the NSLs, but you can't quite overtake.
I am also in the 1.2 club because of insurance. A few weeks ago I drove our Laguna on holiday (was lovely to drive). We were driving along a main road which opened up into a dual carriageway, and there was a lorry in front, so I safely and quickly passed him (within speed limit) and carried on with the journey. However, had I been in the Clio (which has 75bhp, which isn't too bad for a 1.2) I would have had to wait until there was a big gap in the outside lane, built up speed in advance, and the whole procedure would have taken a lot longer, and would have probably resulted in a long queue waiting for me to get past the lorry. What I am saying, is that I prefer larger engines not only because they are faster etc. but because I feel far safer overtaking other vehicles. I rarely overtake other traffic, as I rarely need to. But, if I am returning home via the countryside, and I encounter a tractor, I really would prefer to pass it quickly and safely, than having to find a long enough stretch of road for me to build up enough speed to pass safely.
And then there's the economy of a 1.2. While it is fine driving a long a 50mph (that's the speed limit on the road, just to avoid being called names) on what is quite a flat road reaching 45+mpg, as soon as we meet a hill, or a headwind, the average mpg figure is knocked down to 42/43mpg. Thus, it seems like a false economy to have a smaller engine.
But, then again, with driving a 1.2, I am learning driving techniques I may not learn with a larger engine (for example, motorway driving requires patience and good timing).
With regards to names, I just don't like it when people are inconsiderate, thoughtless, careless etc (as an example, I also get annoyed when people have fog lights on for no reason), ; so my in-car idiolect is made up of minor expletives. Although, I try my best to stay calm and try and remember that old cliche 'give and take'.
Peter
Ps: Sorry for all that being a bit of a rant.
And then there's the economy of a 1.2. While it is fine driving a long a 50mph (that's the speed limit on the road, just to avoid being called names) on what is quite a flat road reaching 45+mpg, as soon as we meet a hill, or a headwind, the average mpg figure is knocked down to 42/43mpg. Thus, it seems like a false economy to have a smaller engine.
But, then again, with driving a 1.2, I am learning driving techniques I may not learn with a larger engine (for example, motorway driving requires patience and good timing).
With regards to names, I just don't like it when people are inconsiderate, thoughtless, careless etc (as an example, I also get annoyed when people have fog lights on for no reason), ; so my in-car idiolect is made up of minor expletives. Although, I try my best to stay calm and try and remember that old cliche 'give and take'.
Peter
Ps: Sorry for all that being a bit of a rant.
'Over to you good Pistonheads out there ........................................'
When Observing... "Numptie" (we are not allowed to swear.)
When alone... just a smile to myself.
When I am alone and it is a real Numptie ...bigger smile to myself.
When it is a really dangerous Numptie and I have not anticipated his actions..."FockinG Numptie"...then a think about if I am referring to him...or to me.
BOF :-)
When Observing... "Numptie" (we are not allowed to swear.)
When alone... just a smile to myself.
When I am alone and it is a real Numptie ...bigger smile to myself.
When it is a really dangerous Numptie and I have not anticipated his actions..."FockinG Numptie"...then a think about if I am referring to him...or to me.
BOF :-)
PeterA said:
the average mpg figure is knocked down to 42/43mpg. Thus, it seems like a false economy to have a smaller engine.
42/43mpg - False economy? I don't think so! Try having a 3.2 litre V6 under the bonnet with it's 22mpg long term average. Make that sub 20mpg for lots of overtaking. Ahem.Do I regret buying a R32? Do I bollicks! I guess that makes me a "boy racer" or something.
PeterA said:
But, then again, with driving a 1.2, I am learning driving techniques I may not learn with a larger engine (for example, motorway driving requires patience and good timing).
Nail. Head. Hit. I like your attitude - have you considered a Pass Plus test followed by the IAM/ROSPA? You could put the money you save on insurance (having done these courses) towards a nice little GTI...
Trust me, you'll appreciate a fast car in the future. I started out in a 1.1 litre Renault 5 with 47 bhp where I had to plan overtakes very carefully indeed.
OK, I realise compared to a V6 perhaps 1.2 returns a decent mpg figure! But, we used to have a 1.4 Megane, and that had a higher average (Especially on the motorway, and up hills etc.). I'm comparing the 1.2 to engines up to about 2.0 and with perhaps up to 150bhp. From there on, things can start to get thirsty.
I'm intending on sorting out Pass Plus after my A-Levels (which start tomorrow). I really would like to do something with IAM and whatnot, but I think getting more experience first etc. would be advantageous.
With regards to picking up driving techniques, one in particular is I have learnt to appreciate and use downhill stretches of motorway to get past lorries etc. Then as soon as there's a large gap, I tuck myself back in again. I'm also not too bothered about spending most of my time in the first two lanes; 70 and above sounds very cruel for a sustained period of time.
Sorry, this has had nothing to do with original topic.
Peter
I'm intending on sorting out Pass Plus after my A-Levels (which start tomorrow). I really would like to do something with IAM and whatnot, but I think getting more experience first etc. would be advantageous.
With regards to picking up driving techniques, one in particular is I have learnt to appreciate and use downhill stretches of motorway to get past lorries etc. Then as soon as there's a large gap, I tuck myself back in again. I'm also not too bothered about spending most of my time in the first two lanes; 70 and above sounds very cruel for a sustained period of time.
Sorry, this has had nothing to do with original topic.
Peter
True - it was a bit off topic. Keep up the good driving though 
How about HAT?
Hat - any driver, young or old, who wears a hat for driving. Don't ever trust them.
Old hat wearers - unlikely to accept the fact that there can be more than one lane on a roundabout & cut straight across without ever looking in those shiny things called mirrors.
Young hat wearers - often in a real hurry & liable to dangerous overtaking manouvres & general impatience. Frequently all over the road due to text messaging or skinning up at the wheel. Persistent tailgaters frustrated by their underpowered Corsas or Saxos.
How about HAT?
Hat - any driver, young or old, who wears a hat for driving. Don't ever trust them.
Old hat wearers - unlikely to accept the fact that there can be more than one lane on a roundabout & cut straight across without ever looking in those shiny things called mirrors.
Young hat wearers - often in a real hurry & liable to dangerous overtaking manouvres & general impatience. Frequently all over the road due to text messaging or skinning up at the wheel. Persistent tailgaters frustrated by their underpowered Corsas or Saxos.
brisel said:
PeterA said:
the average mpg figure is knocked down to 42/43mpg. Thus, it seems like a false economy to have a smaller engine.
42/43mpg - False economy? I don't think so! Try having a 3.2 litre V6 under the bonnet with it's 22mpg long term average. Make that sub 20mpg for lots of overtaking. Ahem.Do I regret buying a R32? Do I bollicks! I guess that makes me a "boy racer" or something.
PeterA said:
But, then again, with driving a 1.2, I am learning driving techniques I may not learn with a larger engine (for example, motorway driving requires patience and good timing).
Nail. Head. Hit. I like your attitude - have you considered a Pass Plus test followed by the IAM/ROSPA? You could put the money you save on insurance (having done these courses) towards a nice little GTI...
Trust me, you'll appreciate a fast car in the future. I started out in a 1.1 litre Renault 5 with 47 bhp where I had to plan overtakes very carefully indeed.
Fuel economy - to go faster you need more fuel, the bigger the engine the more fuel it needs - 42/43 for fairly fast driving is good, you might be able to match this with a bigger engine in some cars but !!!!!!
I have also noted HAT in this thread - the only time I wear a BBC is in my open top roadster but I definately dont do any of the stereotypical things mentioned.
brisel said:
How about HAT?
Hat - any driver, young or old, who wears a hat for driving. Don't ever trust them.
Old hat wearers - unlikely to accept the fact that there can be more than one lane on a roundabout & cut straight across without ever looking in those shiny things called mirrors.
Young hat wearers - often in a real hurry & liable to dangerous overtaking manouvres & general impatience. Frequently all over the road due to text messaging or skinning up at the wheel. Persistent tailgaters frustrated by their underpowered Corsas or Saxos.
If I'm not wearing a lid in the kit car then I will almost certainly be wearing a hat. I suppose there has to be an exception to every rule!Hat - any driver, young or old, who wears a hat for driving. Don't ever trust them.
Old hat wearers - unlikely to accept the fact that there can be more than one lane on a roundabout & cut straight across without ever looking in those shiny things called mirrors.
Young hat wearers - often in a real hurry & liable to dangerous overtaking manouvres & general impatience. Frequently all over the road due to text messaging or skinning up at the wheel. Persistent tailgaters frustrated by their underpowered Corsas or Saxos.
Not quite sure of a name for them, but people who wear headphones (not handsfree kits/bluetooth etc.) while driving. The worst example I've seen recently was a "boy racer" with headphones so loud I could hear the tinny rattle they were producing in the lane next to him. Admittedly I was in the Fury (and had turned the engine off because it was sweltering) so there wasn't alot between us, but still.
ETA: just notices Jules comments on HAT earlier, I concur!
Edited by hugh_ on Sunday 8th June 15:20
Can't think of a name for this type, but the people who drive slowly in places you can't safely make an overtake, then speed up at the parts you can, which makes it more difficult to overtake 
Slip-road slow coaches - Need I say more
Claustrophobic (sp?) country folk - People who don't like sticking to their side of the road in the lanes and ussualy force you try drive into a hedge
Reversing Retards - I'm sure you've met one of these in the lanes, takes them 5 minutes to go back 5 inches
Junction Jumpers - I'm sure this has happened to, approaching a junction on a NSL road and the car at the junction goes to pull out just as you get their, they slam on their brakes, you fill your pants.
Speed Camera slammer onners - They can see the Gatso from half a mile away, but they still slam on just in front of it and do a steady 26 MPH all the way through it.
Slip-road slow coaches - Need I say more
Claustrophobic (sp?) country folk - People who don't like sticking to their side of the road in the lanes and ussualy force you try drive into a hedge
Reversing Retards - I'm sure you've met one of these in the lanes, takes them 5 minutes to go back 5 inches
Junction Jumpers - I'm sure this has happened to, approaching a junction on a NSL road and the car at the junction goes to pull out just as you get their, they slam on their brakes, you fill your pants.
Speed Camera slammer onners - They can see the Gatso from half a mile away, but they still slam on just in front of it and do a steady 26 MPH all the way through it.
All those who don't know/have forgotten that when joining motorway from slip road the onus is on them to adjust their speed to the existing traffic to find a gap. Nowadays all inside lane traffic has little choice but to move out into middle lane because numptie is heading straight for your passenger door. Result - middle and outside lane congestion for next two miles.
I live on the Isle of Wight, and the local reg designation, at least for the old style plates up to 2000, was DL. DL = dithering local. Most of which have never seen mainland roads, and subsequently, have never used a motorway. not a big problem, we only have a pathetic excuse for a dual carriage way (about a 1/4 mile long convieniently) but they have no concept of the multiple lane system. Also, roundabouts are a relative scarcity here, and as such, no-one understands how they work. As a result, at any one of the many 'spot in the road' types, there is usually a queue in all directions as none of the dithering locals can figure out who's right of way it is. Infuriating. Sometimes up to 10 openings go by without the car in front taking any action. A sound of the horn or a slight nudge on the bumper usually gets them moving pretty quickly.
Edited by Kozy on Wednesday 18th June 15:07
.Another +1 for the 50mph Club. I've got a couple.
Wannabe trailers. These numskulls follow the truck at 50mph on NSL roads, so close that you won't be able to slot in front if you try to overtake. So if you want to get past you will have to overtake the truck in the same manoeuvre. Usually there will be at least three wannabe trailers sitting behind the truck meaning you can't get past and must stay at 45-50mph until the next town.
Not sure about this guy - he's about 19, drives a nice car like maybe a 2005 Clio or Focus. Can he afford it or is it mums car? Maybe he still lives at home and can afford to spend 75% of his salary on the repayments and the insurance. Driving style is aggressive but low standard.
Wannabe trailers. These numskulls follow the truck at 50mph on NSL roads, so close that you won't be able to slot in front if you try to overtake. So if you want to get past you will have to overtake the truck in the same manoeuvre. Usually there will be at least three wannabe trailers sitting behind the truck meaning you can't get past and must stay at 45-50mph until the next town.
Not sure about this guy - he's about 19, drives a nice car like maybe a 2005 Clio or Focus. Can he afford it or is it mums car? Maybe he still lives at home and can afford to spend 75% of his salary on the repayments and the insurance. Driving style is aggressive but low standard.
Ricky_M said:
Can't think of a name for this type, but the people who drive slowly in places you can't safely make an overtake, then speed up at the parts you can, which makes it more difficult to overtake
These folk take the biscuit. If they want to drive slower than the speed limit, no problem, but it's not that, it's that they can't drive around corners and so can only do 60 in a NSL in a straight line. If only they'd stick at the lower speed for long enough to let you past so you can disappear off into the distance as they potter through the next corner at 40mph.Then there's the people who just can't maintain a constant speed. You'll be driving along behind them at 50mph, waiting for a chance to overtake and they speed up to 60 and drop back to 50 at random intervals causing the traffic behind them to concertina oot and in like Jimmy Shand!
+1 for the 50mph Club haters.
+1 for the merging onto a Mway/DC
Edited by Skyrat on Saturday 21st June 14:24
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