discourteous driving

Agree with many of you today. I am convinced some cars are now manufactured without indicators. Plus my car clearly has a cloak of invisibility as I too suffer from the people who try to squeeze through where cars leave a narrow gap down the centre of the road, or over take a line of parked cars even when I am about to go up the road where nothing is parked. Not only do young men drive fast and thoughtlessly but drivers of huge Range Rovers.

I live at the top of a narrow country lane. A few weeks ago I had turned off the busy main road and was driving up the lane when a delivery van pulled out of a drive. Instead of reversing back into the drive he expected me to reverse down the lane and back onto the main road! I switched off the engine and sat there (I'm retired so had plenty of time whereas he would be on a clock!). He shouted expletives and gave me the usual one and two finger salutes before deciding it would be best if he reversed back into the drive and let me by!

I had a similar experience when driving on an dirt road to a cafe. The young driver could have reversed two car lengths but drove at me forcing me either to park bad row with him, or reverse a long distance. I avoided a row but on reflection wish I hadn’t

Living down a series of minor roads which are ever decreasing in size, reversing has to be second nature. I too believe that many modern cars not only lack indicators, they were also made without reverse gear. I have no problem at all with reversing, I can do it in whichever vehicle I'm driving - the old run about & D's van with mirrors or over the shoulder or with cameras on the new car - but it is so annoying when drivers ignore a passing place & just keep coming, so I may end up backing for a quarter of a mile. And then what thanks do you get?? Nothing usually. I have been know to put the window down & ask if they had a discount for not having reverse gear...I agree that everyone should be able to reverse a decent distance, with or without corners, as otherwise, you can't really call yourself a proficient driver. I know we all will have done reversing round a corner in our tests!

I know inam going to upset a few people here but I live in an area where there are many elderly people who drive badly.

Examples are going much slower than the speed limit and causing long tail backs. Forgetting to switch off indicator so driving for long distances while indicating to turn. Being so short that they can barely see over the steering wheel. Unable to reverse park in car parks causing havoc while making numerous attempts. Veering across lanes, clipping the curb one moment then heading towards the on coming traffic. Hesitating when joining dual carriage ways or motorways. Parking yards away from the curb.

I could go on! I see such things on a daily basis in my village and surrounding area. I know not only elderly drivers make such errors but I usually look to see the driver and yes, it is often a very elderly person.

I agree though that many ( but not all) aggressive drivers and younger and do always seem to be in a hurry but they don't worry me as much. Maybe some people here might classify me as a young aggressive driver at age 62!

Now off to duck behind the parapet!

How horrible for you, we all dread this. Of course I think that the roads would be safer if everyone drove like me - we may get there a little bit slower but we'd be steadier, courteous and legal. Some drivers are very 'entitled' aren't they? My sympathies OP.
Am I mistaken or did you have right of way? He should have reversed to let you in off the main road, or what do I know?

I am always astonished by how many drivers say they are not good at parallel parking or reversing. Surely, these are skills any driver should have acquired?

Audi indicator joke
"I saw an Audi driver use his indicators correctly on a motorway, should I report the car as stolen"

I hate reversing and avoid it when I can.I remember once a taxi forced me to reverse down a slope on a narrow path and he came so close to me when I was doing this he made me very nervous I have to admit.
I cant cope either when a car gets so close up behind that I cant see the lights,thats scary.

Always a good idea to fold your arms, smile sweetly and refuse to,budge. Then get out your mobile phone and start taking pictures - does the trick every time. DO NOT be intimidated!!!

Chucky I am very observant and that is what I have observed. It's a fact.

I said nothing whatsoever about blondes lacking intelligence - rather that I have observed many young women with blonde hair driving 4 x 4s in a selfish manner. For all I know they could be late for their MENSA meetings.

Fennel ignore, some people are very rude indeed.

Whoever should offer to give way and reverse is usually down to individual circumstances but, if people can't reverse safely, they shouldn't drive a car at all, in my opinion.

I can parallel park very well, my reversing is not so confident but adequate. If the obstruction is on your side of the road & you had already started driving along the road before the other vehicle appeared you have the right of way

As a 17 year old (passed my test 1st time at 17 &9 months) I was leaving for work in my little mini when I encountered a coach, he had driven passed a passing place so I just turned my engine off & picked up a magazine, he soon reversed the very short distance, I will not be intimidated if I'm in the right.

I try to be a courteous driver at all times but 3 things irritate me
1. no indicators
2. not saying thank you/thumbs up etc
3. bullying drivers who think they own the road

quizqueen FYI I can reverse with accuracy usually. Unlike you I am not perfect. With the oncoming car's headlights shining so close it made it more difficult in the poorly lit road to see the black front wing of the car.

Keep your eyes up and moving. Do not enter until your exit is clear.

Learning to drive in a 3 ton Bedford truck taught me at least this much.

My driving test saw me driving such a truck around the streets of Dover when, stuck in third gear, the gear stick came out of the gearbox in my hand.

So I engaged low ratio and succcessfully completed the test.

Never rely on the tester to pass your test or on other drivers for your safety.

TeacherAnne your post reminds of younger drivers as well. Impatient and tail gating when you are keeping the speed limit. People don't like it when you keep to the speed limit. Perhaps people who do know where the police hang our!!

In that situation if I’m in the right, handbrake goes on and there I stay for exactly the reason you discribed. Hitting a car

I drove into a car park which had a narrow driveway and a one way system. A woman reversed out in front of me (had obviously not looked for other cars) and then started beeping at me to reverse out of the car park onto a busy road so she could drive the wrong way out of the car park. I calmly got out my car and told her I was not moving and she needed to drive back into her space, let me pass and then she could drive out illegally if she wanted. I got a load of verbal abuse with her saying she always drives out the same way she came in and I had blocked her in. I sat in my car and then another car came in behind me and was half in the car park and half on the road, so the road too was at a standstill and lots of cars beeping. This woman was beeping at me to reverse! A farce.
I again got out of my car and started to take photos of her car and the 'one-way' sign and she then drove at me!
I spoke to the driver behind me and went into the surgery to apologise I would be late for my appointment and advised why. The practice manager came out and spoke to the woman who then moved her car back into the space.
I parked, walked back to the reception to witness the woman having the same battle with another car!
She obviously knew best!

There are some incredibly arrogant and very rude people in all walks & roads of life!
Someone messaged me because they thought I was "showing off" by mentioning where I had been b4 my altercation. That was not my intention..just wanted to point out I had not been out socially..so not drink driving!! The person assumed I was a governor but of course other people attend Governing Body meetings.

And yet you're comfortable with being pretty offensive yourself!

I get a new car each year through the company, and the last two have come with forward collision and lane change control. Forward collision control keeps my vehicle at a safe braking distance from the vehicle in front no matter what speed you are travelling at.

However, as the control means that the distance between my car and the vehicle in front is greater than many drivers would allow, on motorways, dual carriageways etc I constantly have other drivers "cutting in between" my car and the vehicle forward of me.

The above is especially prevalent on the approach to junctions were drivers on an outside lane will "cut through the gap" often well short of any safe distance from the intersection to carry out such a manoeuvre.

The above can be infuriating, and others in the office that have forward collision control fitted on their cars have disabled the function due to annoyance. However, I have kept the function switched on as I feel it does keep me and other reasonable road users in a line of fast travelling vehicles safer in general everyday use.

The above stated I do observe that those that carry out the above hazardous manoeuvres are both male and female drivers in all age groups and not just the young

Apologies, in my previous post I should have stated that the above system is known as Forward collision/Adaptive cruise control to give it the full title.

There is difference to single aspect forward collision control.

Have I offended you manda? If so a) it was unintended & b) sorry if I did.

I do most of my driving on crowded and narrow London suburban roads, and while there are quite a few discourteous idiots, in my experience the majority of drivers are polite and understanding.

But don't get me started on idiot cyclists, and pedestrians who never look before stepping into the road, apparently believing that modern technology had done away with braking distances.