Pro - Does anyone else's nest boxes get soaked in rain?

[MarkBevBen]

I don't know what it is lately, or if it's me turning into "Victor Meldrew" but what is it with drivers thesedays??

 

Yesterday morning a woman drove into the back of us at a junction, not at speed or anything and minimal damage done. She didn't see the brake light on our car rear window apparently!

 

Then again yesterday afternoon, a motorist was in the right hand lane at a roundabout, we were in the left, ready to go straight ahead. This driver then decided to go left after all and cut right in front of me!!!

 

Today whilst dropping Hubby off, we saw two seperate accidents that had happened on roundabouts

 

I'm also fed up with people who persist in driving up my rear-end - I will not go any faster!! Why do folks treat roads like motorways??

 

Also I'm fed up with those who feel it necessary to beep when they deem it's safe to set off! I'll jolly well give way to the right - as you're mean't to at a roundabout - and go when I'm ready!!!

 

Ahh and breathe.... rant over!

[Cinnamon]

You should try going out with a learner driver,then you will REALLY see how impatient,rude,arrogant & dangerous other drivers can be

[MarkBevBen]

I can only imagine Sarah. We get a lot of learners around here because the test centre is nearby. I'd hate to have to learn to drive again in this environment!

 

Another thing too - why don't people wait when they should? For instance, when there is a parked car blocking your side of the road, you're mean't to give way to the other side! Everyone seems to be in such a rush!

[goodinparts]

Bev - my poor youngest had someone do that cutting in at a roundabout routine you describe just before he was due to take his test this summer. The driver laid into HIM about being in the wrong lane (which he wasn't) and told her insurers that it was obviously his fault as a learner driver....She did quite a bit of damage to my car, but far more to his self confidence....and yes, I'm afraid he did fail his test as a result.

It's horrible the way too many drive

[patsylabrador]

My son had a sniggering, gesturing fool driving much too close, he was borrowing his sister's KA. He eventually got tired of it, stopped the car and got out to 'speak to him'. He was a soldier at the time and had the presence and muscles you would expect. Needless to say there was a lot of backing off and 'sorry mate' going on.

My advice is always try to pack a handy soldier in your boot.

[The Dogmother]

My son had a sniggering, gesturing fool driving much too close, he was borrowing his sister's KA. He eventually got tired of it, stopped the car and got out to 'speak to him'. He was a soldier at the time and had the presence and muscles you would expect. Needless to say there was a lot of backing off and 'sorry mate' going on.

My advice is always try to pack a handy soldier in your boot.

 

After a few shuntings which were due to tailgating and bad driving on other peoples' part, I do exactly the same - I may be only 5'1" but I have a terrier mentaility

[Redwing]

I have noticed that when I am driving a 'city' car I get treated worse than when I drive a more powerful car - generalising I know but when I got my Volvo saloon no one tailgated me, in fact a few seemed to think it was a police car likewise now I have my BMW the idiots are also more respectful.

 

If I borrow my friends Fiesta I am back to being tailgated and when I had a Clio everyone seemed to take the mickey and push me even though I was going a decent speed

 

I also hate roundabouts, I was stationary at one that was at the end of a dual carriageway once and someone hit me going at 70mph - his car went clean under mine!

 

I drive about 40K miles a year and see all sorts of accidents

[The Dogmother]

I've had the same experience with types of car I drive too Tasha. Not many people mess with the Berlingo (although it's amazing how many don't see it ), when I drive my father's 'big' car, I get a lot of respect. The Boy regularly drives performance cars for work and finds the same... how very dare they make assumptions depending upon what car you drive!

[chicken bark]

I think you are right Redwing. Driving different cars gives you different driving experiences. Driving a smaller car seems to give everyone carte blanche to pull out in front of you.

 

My driving gripes are plenty - they include:

 

Not indicating,

Tail gating,

Speeding on 30 and 40mph roads,

Pulling out in front of you and then not trying to get up to an appropriate speed as soon as possible,

Not using all 3 (or 4) lanes on the motorway

 

 

etc etc...

 

I think we all make mistakes when driving and as long as we acknowledge them and are courteous no one actually minds. It's when people do these things because they can't be bothered to drive correctly, or blame you for their mistakes.

 

rant over now. Touchy subject.

[Snowy]

For some reason some days seem to be worse than others for idiotic driving. The last few days we have covered a hefty few miles dropping off children and going away ourselves, and all was fine. But I can pinpoint one day a couple of weeks ago when I saw countless episodes of really bad driving in one short journey. I wonder if it's the weather?

 

The best car I ever had was a company car - a jeep cherokee that had been used as an emergency medical vehicle at country fairs and race meets. It was covered in luminous yellow zig zags and looked very official! It took me a while to realise why I had a bubble of polite drivers around me every time I went out in it!

[Bramble]

I can back up Claret's and Redwing's experience too - I remember having the teeniest little Daewoo Matiz as a courtesy car from a garage once, I couldn't believe how many people took ridiculous risks to overtake me in it, even though I'd be doing whatever the speed limit was. I was out and about this morning in my own car (very ordinary Focus) and felt I was being tailgated by the guy behind. He eventually overtook me - then immediately turned left, I had to brake not to hit him. Unbelievable.

[Geoid]

Its worse when you are on a bicycle, the other day, this car was trying to overtake me (in dangerous places, near zebra crossings and traffic islands) he finally overtook me and sped off, only to promptly get stuck in traffic!

[The Dogmother]

Its worse when you are on a bicycle, the other day, this car was trying to overtake me (in dangerous places, near zebra crossings and traffic islands) he finally overtook me and sped off, only to promptly get stuck in traffic!

 

That always makes me lick on finger and mark up a point!

[chicken bark]

Another one to add to my list

 

Using a mobile phone...

[Cinnamon]

Just by my house I went round a very sharp bend in the road to have 3 women joggers in full lurid pink lycra running towards me,3 abreast in the road.

I only just didn't plough into them - I was only going 20 or so,but was accelerating.

 

Silly moos - wish I had gotten out & given them a piece of my mind

[Redwing]

Its worse when you are on a bicycle, the other day, this car was trying to overtake me (in dangerous places, near zebra crossings and traffic islands) he finally overtook me and sped off, only to promptly get stuck in traffic!

 

That always makes me lick on finger and mark up a point!

 

When people do that and end up stationary in front of me I quite often flash to get their attention then clap wildly - I know I shouldnt but it makes me feel so much better

[kitbag]

I'm learning to drive at the moment - I've got my test in early december. The amount of people that are rude and drive dangerously just to try and scare me because im'm a learner is pretty appalling. Whats even worse is that most of them actually go out of their way to get me to do something stupid. I stalled quite spectacularly today on a roundabout today (I tried to pull off in third gear - i thought i was in first ) and this man comes really fast around the roundabout really fast and does an emergency stop a couple of metres from my car! It was so terrifying! He could clearly see me and it wasn't a busy roundabout!

 

Phew I feel a bit better now!

[Geoid]

Its worse when you are on a bicycle, the other day, this car was trying to overtake me (in dangerous places, near zebra crossings and traffic islands) he finally overtook me and sped off, only to promptly get stuck in traffic!

 

That always makes me lick on finger and mark up a point!

 

When people do that and end up stationary in front of me I quite often flash to get their attention then clap wildly - I know I shouldnt but it makes me feel so much better

 

I shouted wheyhey! Gave him a thumbs up and cycled off, he seemed quite annoyed I did this, as he started swearing at me (it might have been some music that was playing, but still). But I was long gone so I didn't hear much of it.

[Redwing]

Megan thats really annoying - I hate it when people drive 'at' you like that

[Pipichick]

My hairdresser gave me a fab tip to warn off 'tail gaters', wash your front windscreen repeatedly, the back spray normally ensures they retreat to a more acceptable distance, especially if you have lavender fragranced screen wash like me

 

I must admit I am much less tolerant of poor driving since I transport my little girl around lots and I tend now just to pull over and let the idiots pass, you hear such horrific stories of road rage these days

[Redwing]

If someone tailgates you put your side lights on - they think you are braking

 

Agree about not getting defensive although its hard to do - its easier just to let them go - my husband always says 'let them go and have their accident elsewhere'

[Egluntyne]

my husband always says 'let them go and have their accident elsewhere'

Good advice.

[MarkBevBen]

'let them go and have their accident elsewhere'

 

 

That's what I always think too

[MarkBevBen]

and this man comes really fast around the roundabout really fast and does an emergency stop a couple of metres from my car!

 

 

There's just no need for that sort of behaviour, I don't know why people are so aggressive these days.

 

Wishing you all the very best for your test Megan

[MarkBevBen]

If someone tailgates you put your side lights on - they think you are braking

 

Love it