Need some professional help I think!!
Discussion
Hello all
I pride myself on being a competent driver and as such, I know most of the rules of the road but I find myself in a awkward position with alarming regularity. Let me explain.
On my route back to Swansea from the A4069, I go through a village (Gwaun Cae Gurwen for you South Wales PH'ers) that has a 30MPH limit. I religiously stick to 30 limits much to the annoyance of most drivers in these parts so I invariably end up with a queue behind me by the time I reach the next section of NSL. In most places I don't have a problem and just give the gas a good poke and leave the queue well behind. However at the exit of this village is a long straight of about half a mile. Couple that to the NSL signs being a good 300 or 400 yards onto said straight and I generally find whatever was behind me, alongside by the time I reach the NSL.
I've tried two tactics with this and both have met with road rage incidents.
What I consider to be the wrong way was to poke the throttle and carry on regardless. In the next town (Pontardawe) the car behind eventually caught up in the 30 limit (re-occurring theme it seems) and in the drivers wisdom decided to go around the outside of me at a round about and pull across the front of me and stop, blocking me in. I waited for the driver to jump out and start hailing abuse, checked the coast was clear, reversed and went around him and on my merry way whilst pointing and laughing.
When I tried what I consider to be the correct way, maintaining the 30MPH until the van it was this time, had completed the overtake. They accelerated up to around 45 and stayed there so I naturally assessed the road ahead and overtook safely. In the next town the van caught up in the 30 etc etc. Pulled up at a set of lights and van drew along my drivers side (most of the vehicle in the opposite lane at this point) passenger window came down and the chavvy builders lacky started giving me grief. Again checked the coast was clear and reversed so I was behind the van leaving it sat in the middle of the road and waited for the lights to go green.
People are so impatient and pissed off that Im actually doing the speed limit that they can't wait to get past me. Its not just cars and vans either, I've had a 13.5t truck and a bus try it too.
Im interested in finding out what the advanced driver stance is as I find myself hesitating as to what to do at that section now which is not good.
Sorry for the lengthy rant, im sure im not the first one to have a problem like this though its starting to make me really mad.
I pride myself on being a competent driver and as such, I know most of the rules of the road but I find myself in a awkward position with alarming regularity. Let me explain.
On my route back to Swansea from the A4069, I go through a village (Gwaun Cae Gurwen for you South Wales PH'ers) that has a 30MPH limit. I religiously stick to 30 limits much to the annoyance of most drivers in these parts so I invariably end up with a queue behind me by the time I reach the next section of NSL. In most places I don't have a problem and just give the gas a good poke and leave the queue well behind. However at the exit of this village is a long straight of about half a mile. Couple that to the NSL signs being a good 300 or 400 yards onto said straight and I generally find whatever was behind me, alongside by the time I reach the NSL.
I've tried two tactics with this and both have met with road rage incidents.
What I consider to be the wrong way was to poke the throttle and carry on regardless. In the next town (Pontardawe) the car behind eventually caught up in the 30 limit (re-occurring theme it seems) and in the drivers wisdom decided to go around the outside of me at a round about and pull across the front of me and stop, blocking me in. I waited for the driver to jump out and start hailing abuse, checked the coast was clear, reversed and went around him and on my merry way whilst pointing and laughing.
When I tried what I consider to be the correct way, maintaining the 30MPH until the van it was this time, had completed the overtake. They accelerated up to around 45 and stayed there so I naturally assessed the road ahead and overtook safely. In the next town the van caught up in the 30 etc etc. Pulled up at a set of lights and van drew along my drivers side (most of the vehicle in the opposite lane at this point) passenger window came down and the chavvy builders lacky started giving me grief. Again checked the coast was clear and reversed so I was behind the van leaving it sat in the middle of the road and waited for the lights to go green.
People are so impatient and pissed off that Im actually doing the speed limit that they can't wait to get past me. Its not just cars and vans either, I've had a 13.5t truck and a bus try it too.
Im interested in finding out what the advanced driver stance is as I find myself hesitating as to what to do at that section now which is not good.
Sorry for the lengthy rant, im sure im not the first one to have a problem like this though its starting to make me really mad.
Unfortunately a lot of people act like that. I'm the same in that I do 30 in a 30 and 60 in the NSL bits of A-Roads. And I suffer the same 45mph everywhere people. Short of a large caliber rifle I'm thinking the solution is to simply ignore them and just get on with driving in what I consider to be an appropriate manner.
e.g. I do you'r option 1 assuming it puts nobody in danger.
e.g. I do you'r option 1 assuming it puts nobody in danger.
Just to echo the above comment I don't really think there's anything you can do.
You're doing 30 in a 30 which is both legal and reasonable. If they overtake then don't make sufficient progress in the NSL then you have no choice but to overtake. Seeing as the van probably blocked your view of the road ahead as well it's exactly what I would have done.
I would also make a note of the registrations and descriptions of drivers that carried out dangerous overtakes (doubly so if they got out of the car) then report them to the local police station. Ring the police back in a week and ask for an update.
Ultimately these people are just poor drivers. You have to compensate for their lack of driving prowess both in patience and financially by insurance but on the bright side you never have to be like them.
You're doing 30 in a 30 which is both legal and reasonable. If they overtake then don't make sufficient progress in the NSL then you have no choice but to overtake. Seeing as the van probably blocked your view of the road ahead as well it's exactly what I would have done.
I would also make a note of the registrations and descriptions of drivers that carried out dangerous overtakes (doubly so if they got out of the car) then report them to the local police station. Ring the police back in a week and ask for an update.
Ultimately these people are just poor drivers. You have to compensate for their lack of driving prowess both in patience and financially by insurance but on the bright side you never have to be like them.
Although it may not be much comfort, if it all went pear shaped, you can at least hold your head high on the grounds that you did nothing wrong, and you did not allow yourself to be baited into doing something you might regret later.
Unfortunately, the general standard of driving in this country is quite poor, and it is sometimes difficult to determine in an accident who was at fault because often both parties were as bad as each other.
Stick to the rules, and you can't go far wrong. If other drivers have an issue with you sticking to the limits, that is their problem not yours, as ultimately they will get their just deserts. They are the ones who will eventually end up with points on their licence, disqualification and all the associated problems.
Good for you in sticking to your principles.
Unfortunately, the general standard of driving in this country is quite poor, and it is sometimes difficult to determine in an accident who was at fault because often both parties were as bad as each other.
Stick to the rules, and you can't go far wrong. If other drivers have an issue with you sticking to the limits, that is their problem not yours, as ultimately they will get their just deserts. They are the ones who will eventually end up with points on their licence, disqualification and all the associated problems.
Good for you in sticking to your principles.
Once the over taker has passed you there is nothing to stop you re-passing them if they then hold you up. However, I think I'd probably just stay behind them if I knew that we were close enough to the next 30 limit that I'd have them back up my chuff.
Just a thought, but you could try dropping the speed gradually down to around 20-25 mph as you approach the end of the 30, then speeding up again as you enter the overtake zone, that way anyone behind is having to work a little bit to keep up with you and would be discouraged from overtaking, yet you'd still be within the limit before the NSL.
Just a thought, but you could try dropping the speed gradually down to around 20-25 mph as you approach the end of the 30, then speeding up again as you enter the overtake zone, that way anyone behind is having to work a little bit to keep up with you and would be discouraged from overtaking, yet you'd still be within the limit before the NSL.
I'll agree with everyone else. You are right so stick with it. I live in Alltwen and the same thing happened to me last week with a Mercedes driver who, when he passed, decided to brake test me for the next mile or so. It never seemed to happen when I was driving the silver BM with the roof rack!
crisisjez said:
If I were to do exactly 30 in my 3 year old Transit Van I`d probably get the same treatment as the speedo overreads by 5mph at low speed.
Checked yours recently?
As a matter of fact, yes I have. I have an aftermarket dashboard and data logger fitted to the car which uses 4 high resolution wheel speed sensors which I re-calibrate every couple of months using a bit of maths and a racelogic vbox borrowed from uni. If anything, the cars following me will be showing between 32 and 35 on their speedos which makes the whole thing even worse.Checked yours recently?
Do you drive at 60 in NSL or are you willing to speed there?
They have seen you drive 'like a maniac' and now all of a sudden you are doing 30. They don't see risk the same way, they won't do the headline big figures in the NSL but will do 45 in a 30 without a second thought, they are now confused and angry with you infront.
I live not far away and I'll drive as quickly as anyone in the NSL but when you have taken many cars, most of whom do not like it, then when you slow back down they get their chance to vent.. :/
They have seen you drive 'like a maniac' and now all of a sudden you are doing 30. They don't see risk the same way, they won't do the headline big figures in the NSL but will do 45 in a 30 without a second thought, they are now confused and angry with you infront.
I live not far away and I'll drive as quickly as anyone in the NSL but when you have taken many cars, most of whom do not like it, then when you slow back down they get their chance to vent.. :/
Edited by Magsy on Monday 17th August 14:59
Distant said:
Just a thought, but you could try dropping the speed gradually down to around 20-25 mph as you approach the end of the 30, then speeding up again as you enter the overtake zone, that way anyone behind is having to work a little bit to keep up with you and would be discouraged from overtaking, yet you'd still be within the limit before the NSL.
I have done this in similar situations and it is useful.Yes it sounds like quite a dilemma. You want to drive safely and legally within your capabilities, but those who insist on tailgating and sticking to 45mph everywhere impose their own set of rules on you.
All I can advise is not getting too hung up on the car/van behind, as then you engage too much with them then, lose sight of what's ahead and around, and might raise their blood pressure even more if they think you are getting "personal" with them - just my take on things. If someone latches onto my rear bumper I will ease off a bit, increase my minimum following time from the car in front to 3 seconds (in the dry), not too much that they think I'm backing off to wind them up though, and if they are hell bent on getting past, go with the flow and be glad to have them in front. I would then consider not overtaking them again, unless there is a good chance they won't catch up with me later on.
It's a shame you have to pander to the sheep who drive like you described, but sometimes you have to give up enjoying the drive for a while, relax a bit, stay safe, and then enjoy the driving again when circumstances are more favourable.
All I can advise is not getting too hung up on the car/van behind, as then you engage too much with them then, lose sight of what's ahead and around, and might raise their blood pressure even more if they think you are getting "personal" with them - just my take on things. If someone latches onto my rear bumper I will ease off a bit, increase my minimum following time from the car in front to 3 seconds (in the dry), not too much that they think I'm backing off to wind them up though, and if they are hell bent on getting past, go with the flow and be glad to have them in front. I would then consider not overtaking them again, unless there is a good chance they won't catch up with me later on.
It's a shame you have to pander to the sheep who drive like you described, but sometimes you have to give up enjoying the drive for a while, relax a bit, stay safe, and then enjoy the driving again when circumstances are more favourable.
It is an interesting thing to consider what would happen if every driver were to have the experience of different vehicles covering all the categories: small/large, light/heavy, slow/fast.
I have driven many vehicles (albeit within category B) but with a large range of dimensions and speeds. My current personal vehicle is a Landrover 90 with a 2.5 NA diesel engine which gets from zero to sixty in many yawns. I have driven cars which will overtake it many times on a lap of the British Isles.
When I drive the faster cars and come up behind a slow vehicle do I try to intimidate it? No, of course not: I'm an AD. I'll overtake if possible, but education tells me that the driver in front of me got there before me and has right of way ahead of me and therefore I should maintain a non-intimidating distance from the back of their vehicle.
I hate to quote idiot politicians, so I won't, and simply say "education, education, education, education".
As to what to do with these people, it depends. If there's a place I can pull in and let them pass then I shall do so. Failing that I will allow (and if possible allow) them to overtake where safe. If they overtake at an unsuitable place and cause potential danger to others I will do what I find necessary at the time with disregard to their anger (horn/lights to other road users, for example).
The OP doesn't need professional help, however, as the problem is identified. How it is dealt with is, I am sure, known to the OP.
I have driven many vehicles (albeit within category B) but with a large range of dimensions and speeds. My current personal vehicle is a Landrover 90 with a 2.5 NA diesel engine which gets from zero to sixty in many yawns. I have driven cars which will overtake it many times on a lap of the British Isles.
When I drive the faster cars and come up behind a slow vehicle do I try to intimidate it? No, of course not: I'm an AD. I'll overtake if possible, but education tells me that the driver in front of me got there before me and has right of way ahead of me and therefore I should maintain a non-intimidating distance from the back of their vehicle.
I hate to quote idiot politicians, so I won't, and simply say "education, education, education, education".
As to what to do with these people, it depends. If there's a place I can pull in and let them pass then I shall do so. Failing that I will allow (and if possible allow) them to overtake where safe. If they overtake at an unsuitable place and cause potential danger to others I will do what I find necessary at the time with disregard to their anger (horn/lights to other road users, for example).
The OP doesn't need professional help, however, as the problem is identified. How it is dealt with is, I am sure, known to the OP.
Thanks for all the input guys. Im glad im not the only one who experiences this kind of behaviour.
To answer a few questions, In a 60 limit I will generally proceed at a pace appropriate for the road and the conditions. This means on most roads around here I very rarely get to the limit let alone above it.
The reason I overtake on the section of NSL is because even sticking at 60, the car behind is nowhere to be seen by the time I get into the 30 in Pontardawe. It's only because the 30 limit is so long and peoples penchant for continuing at 45 that allows them to catch up again.
I just don't understand the mindset of these people. Im no psychologist unfortunately. There are people around here who drive much faster than me. If they wish to overtake then I let them on their merry way whilst thinking its their licence and their conscience and hoping I don't find them in the hedge around the next bend. But thats all, I don't see why people get so offended by being overtaken when they have just pulled the same manoeuvre on me in much more dangerous circumstances. I can only think they are somehow trying the make up for something.
To answer a few questions, In a 60 limit I will generally proceed at a pace appropriate for the road and the conditions. This means on most roads around here I very rarely get to the limit let alone above it.
The reason I overtake on the section of NSL is because even sticking at 60, the car behind is nowhere to be seen by the time I get into the 30 in Pontardawe. It's only because the 30 limit is so long and peoples penchant for continuing at 45 that allows them to catch up again.
I just don't understand the mindset of these people. Im no psychologist unfortunately. There are people around here who drive much faster than me. If they wish to overtake then I let them on their merry way whilst thinking its their licence and their conscience and hoping I don't find them in the hedge around the next bend. But thats all, I don't see why people get so offended by being overtaken when they have just pulled the same manoeuvre on me in much more dangerous circumstances. I can only think they are somehow trying the make up for something.
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