What annoys you about driving in the UK?

[djellison]

If you're overtaking a vehicle yourself, it would be impossible for anyone to overtake you on the inside.

It would be impossible for anyone to SAFELY overtake you on the inside.

Don't be a fool and break the two second rule - two chevrons and all that jazz gives plenty of room for an idiot to dive up the inside lane and cut back across again. You seem to be working under the pretense that someone should drive RIGHT up to the back of a lorry leaving no room whatsoever - pull out accelerate past - and pull straight back in again leaving room for little more than a fag paper between his bumper and yours.

Sensible, carefull driving would involve pulling out to overtake in plenty of time, certainly two chevrons / two driving seconds behind the vehicle, and not pulling in again until you can see the entire front of the vehicle in your wing mirror. If the next lorry is two seconds ahead ( or the time to reach it is less than 30 seconds, the suggested maximum 'dwell' time in the outside lane ) then you shouldn't be swerving back between the two vehicles only to pull back out again 5 seconds later. However - that sensibility leaves room - room that morons like to use in driving dangerously.

Sensible, careful driving leaves room for unforeseen incidents. Moronic undertakers see that room and think ' I can endanger my life, the life of other motorists, break the law AND shave as much as a minute from my journey if I dive through there'

 

[CortexRock]

Well said, sir or madam... eloquently and precisely put

 

[Abstract]

You drive on the wrong side of the road.

 

[scotthayes]

My car only cost £79

Insurance is about £230.

That's cause you live in 'high crime Yam Yam Land'

What annoys me about UK driving... Everything!!! Especially the silly cow who decided she didn't need to worry about the other cars on the roundabout and missed the front end of my car by about a foot. Still at least I know my brakes work.

 

[BlakTornado]

I don't drive yet, by the way but from a passenger/pedstrian point of view, I can say that Chavs are the most annoying things on the road.

Stupid loud exhausts and stereos. Whats the point? It's completely inconsiderate.

I hope people grow out of this stupid phase fast.


Oh and I hate it when there are a couple of dumb chavs in a car together, and I'm walking back from town because on multiple occasions I've had abuse (e.g. "Get a hair cut" or people trying to throw empty bottle of Lucozade at me) from these self-centered, narrow minded bastards.

There definitely needs to be a "Are you a Chav?" part of the driving test.

 

[yg17]

Stupid loud exhausts and stereos. Whats the point? It's completely inconsiderate.

We have those here in the states too, but we call them ricers. Can't stand them. Putting a giant fart can and a wing that belongs on a Boeing 747 on your Honda does not make your car fast, it does not make your car cool, and it doesn't make you look cool either.

The other day, I saw someone who had slapped a GTR badge on an Accord. GTR IS NISSAN! If you're going to do that crap, at least get the brand names right!

 

[mac 2005]

...the cost of petrol relative to the rest of the World!

The cost of petrol is the same around the world. The price you pay for petrol varies based on VAT, which is quite high in the UK.

 

[drlunanerd]

• Petrol price

• I have a 2.8Litre BMW Sport.

Er... does not compute

My engine is 2 litres smaller than yours, and I'd have you for breakfast, before moving on to the chavs for elevenses

On a more serious note, if you think it's expensive now I'd get shot of your Beemer ASAP, as residual values for cars over 2L are projected to plummet further by 30% as running costs, including more punitive taxes, start to bite.

But hey, cars are emotive possessions (like computers ). I chuckle when a friend tells me how yet again he's been stung for huge servicing bills on his barge of an Audi, but can't bring himself to change it for something cheaper to run due to his status anxiety. I love cars but sadly they're money pits now more than ever.

 

[jb60606]

I 'hated' BMW drivers too until we got ours. Its not arrogance or anything its down to peoples perception of you and your lifestyle when driving a beamer.

I said to my Dad the other day its weird how people treat you when you drive a BMW. Everyone hates you, so you inturn you drive to piss them off. Its a circle brought about by a select few BMW drivers (exec ********s) and people that take offence. Now its just engrained into society.

ha! it's actually the same in America. Growing up, we had a nickname for BMWs:

Break my Window... and we usually did, given the opportunity.

I personally don't like Beamers for the same reason I don't like Volkswagons. They're far too trendy. There is one village in particular in Chicago, with a population of about 80,000, where you will almost only see BMWs & Jettas. aside from a few Audi A4s, Jeep Cherokees/Wranglers and Volvos peppered in.

 

[yg17]

I personally don't like Beamers for the same reason I don't like Volkswagons. They're far too trendy. There is one village in particular in Chicago, with a population of about 80,000, where you will almost only see BMWs & Jettas. aside from a few Audi A4s, Jeep Cherokees/Wranglers and Volvos peppered in.

Depends on the Volkswagen. Yes, everyone and their dog has a Jetta or a Beetle, but the only time I see a GTI is when I look in my garage

 

[jb60606]

Depends on the Volkswagen. Yes, everyone and their dog has a Jetta or a Beetle, but the only time I see a GTI is when I look in my garage

true - I should have mentioned that it's mainly just Jettas.

 

[Much Ado]

White Vans.

 

[richkent72]

The cost of petrol is the same around the world. The price you pay for petrol varies based on VAT, which is quite high in the UK.

Not quite. We have fuel duty. And then VAT on top of that. Only the UK government could come up with taxing a tax!

 

[daneoni]

1. Congestion charge
2. The fact there's always some kind of construction going on
3. Bus drivers

 

[thequicksilver]

The fact that most urban roads seem to have cars parked on the pavement on either side, either leaving a horrible situation whereby cars pass in both direction with inches to spare either side, or a waiting situation.

Of course, if you wait, some arse behind you decides to start flashing lights and beeping horns. Admittedly, this usually makes me slow down just to spite them, but that's another matter.

 

[notsofatjames]

The fact that you can buy a car for £100, and then pay £1500 on the insurance.

amen to that! My first car was a £50 banger, but it cost me £1400 to insure it. Then i got my second car, cost about £6500, and it still costs me £1400 to insure it. It makes no sense! I hate being stereotypicalised (real word?) by insurance companies!

I also hate middle lane hoggers, and people that insist on driving at 22 mph through speed cameras set to catch 30. And speed cameras in places they shouldn't be, like on the motorway. I understand if their outside schools or where pedestrians cross the road, but no people cross the motorway!!

EDIT, and learner drivers... they shouldn't be allowed on the roads until they've had enough practice, like motorbike learners.

 

[nplima]

Not quite. We have fuel duty. And then VAT on top of that. Only the UK government could come up with taxing a tax!

Same in Portugal.
Oil = 0.4 per litre
Oil tax= 0.6
VAT = 21%

so the VAT is lower in the UK and the £ is worth more than the €euro but in general we're all being ripped off

 

[tersono]

Petrol prices: £1.16 per litre... sheesh!
Middle lane hoggers
Petrol prices...
Juvenile idiots in hot hatches overtaking on blind corners
petrol prices...
4x4 drivers on the country lanes around here who don't know how wide their cars are and wind up driving in the middle of the road
petrol prices...
tailgaters
petrol prices...

oh, and:

Petrol prices...

 

[robbieduncan]

I've taken some time to consider this response and the answer is, at one time or the other, everything.

 

[dalvin200]

i can 100% agree wholeheartedly with all of the below..

Petrol prices: £1.16 per litre... sheesh!
Middle lane hoggers
Petrol prices...
Juvenile idiots in hot hatches overtaking on blind corners
petrol prices...
4x4 drivers on the country lanes around here who don't know how wide their cars are and wind up driving in the middle of the road
petrol prices...
tailgaters
petrol prices...

oh, and:

Petrol prices...

 

[chedda]

Mirrors

People not using mirrors and driving with them folded in still that really sux, i pride myself on knowing where everyone else is especially who is behind me ! Also i really hate road rage it really makes my blood boil that's why i carry a samurai sword now, no chat just a majestic decapitation on the hard shoulder !

 

[OllyW]

amen to that! My first car was a £50 banger, but it cost me £1400 to insure it. Then i got my second car, cost about £6500, and it still costs me £1400 to insure it. It makes no sense! I hate being stereotypicalised (real word?) by insurance companies!

It's because you are a young driver and young drivers are the highest risk category. If you chose a sensible car and don't get loads of points on your license or smash your car up, the premiums will soon start to fall as you get older.

 

[Father Jack]

I hate daft **** tailgaters ..

Oh and the price of petrol.

 

[costabunny]

I hate daft **** tailgaters ..

Oh and the price of petrol.

Both of those and Old people (not the ones who drive sensibly; the ones who drive at 10 frakking miles an hour and spend three minutes at every junction whilst trying move the colostomy bags from interfeering with the gear stick!)

One cool thing about not living in the UK anymore - not having to drive there (and I drove a hackney carriage for 6 years so I know all about the hell that is UK Motoring).

Rant over - Bunny feeling better now....

 

[dalvin200]

...and driving with them folded in still that really sux,

are you serious? people actually do that?!?!?
WOW..