Classic cars forum & vehicle restoration.

[Rick]

In this last week alone, two different drivers have done their level best to cause me significant crashes. In the Standard last week, someone just drifted out from a road on my left, barely looking if at all, it very nearly ended in me re-profiling the side of their car (and probably myself).

Then over the weekend, a clown in a silver Citroen turned sharply across our bows at a crossroads while we were driving the pickup, only good brakes and swift direction changes avoiding a shunt in both cases.

Do they see something old and assume we're at a snail's pace? Do they just not look properly? In the Dodge's case it isn't exactly small, and on both occasions our headlights were on.

It just goes to show that you have to assume everyone out there is an idiot, and out to drive into you.

RJ
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Rick - Admin
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[Penman]

You know what they say Rick. "All cars contain nuts"
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Bristols should always come in pairs.

Any 2 from:-
Straight 6
V8 V10

[Ray White]

What amazes me is the way dangerous driving is treated by the Courts. I sometimes watch 'interceptors' because they often show car chases around the Derby area. The Police do their best but dangerous drivers only get a slap on the wrist. If they are banned it is not usually for more than two years.

I would ban most of these idiots for 10 years at least; and a heavy fine might bring them to their senses too.

[MikeEdwards]

[Ray White]

The Police stopped one little Urchin near here for driving like a loon. He had no tax or insurance, yet was drawing attention to himself for being three times over the limit. He was also done for drugs. He was given a few hours "unpaid work" and his car was crushed..

What a Pratt.!

[alastairq]

[petelang]

I've been a near victim a few times this last week.
For some inexplicable reason, it always seems to be some prat in a BMW. Overtaking on inside lane, dashing to change lane at an approaching junction and another idiot who doesn't recognise that he's supposed to give way to traffic already on an island (missed by inches).

In Nottingham there are a huge number of drivers who don't have a licence and subsequently are uninsured, frequently they are driving stolen cars with cloned plates. Sadly, a lot of these oiks seem to think this behavior is completely normal and to them, socially acceptable.
It's like the wild west. Consequently you need eyes in the back of your head and always drive defensively.
Crushing their cars is something I would support but then they are more likely to nick someone else's!
No, the punishment needs to be severe. Like making them mop up the remains of a serious crash and having to explain to a family. That might just bring home how utterly stupid their behaviour is. Or perhaps we should not crush the car, but put the perpetrators in the crusher!
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Daimler Fifteen 1934
Armstrong Siddeley 15 Long 1933
Daimler V8 250 1969

[WP6980]

I don't think it matters a jot if you are in an old car or a modern, there are "drivers" who are so unaware of what is going on & just drift about the road.

The worst offenders are the ones that join a motorway from a slip road and then proceed to move over into the outside lane in a single manoeuvre - they can't have even looked in their mirror.

Sussex Police (where I live) have a thing called 'safer road' where you can report bad driving, if there is dash cam footage and the offence is prosecutable (is that a real word), then they will.

Driving an old car does make you more aware of what is going on, modern cars are so insulated from the road and that gives a false sense of security and maybe a factor in poor driving.

I have always thought the best means to ensure safe driving is to have a deadly spike sticking up from the steering wheel, behaviour would change instantly!
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Gary Edwards

[Penman]

There wasa fatal hit and run outside a local school down here a couple of months ago, 30 limit posted and none of the 20 when school lights flash signage.
His parents are campaigning for a 20 outside every school, but frankly I don't see that it would make a difference.
If they are prepared to do 40 + in a 30 then they are just as likely to do it in a 20 .
_________________
Bristols should always come in pairs.

Any 2 from:-
Straight 6
V8 V10

[Ray White]

As Gary says, driving an old car you are made more aware of what is going on around you. This is probably why older drivers tend to be safer; they usually have experience of driving cars that are devoid of today's comforts. If you start off having to allow for your car's braking distance, for example, you are now much less likely to be 'tail gating' on the Motorway.

Unfortunately, just as Rick said, the feeling is that we now have to expect everyone else to be driving like an idiot.

Anyone old enough to remember when seat belts came in, will also recall the warnings that it would encourage a false sense of security. Hmmmm.

[Keith D]

We have more than our fair share of idiots. This very morning I was driving on a two lane carriageway to the nearby town sitting on the speed limit of eighty km/hour, following a line of moving traffic, all at eighty km/hour. An idiot in a Toyota Camry hurtled past us all travelling at least 120km/hour. The fast lane ended and this driver resorted to left hand indicators, savage breaking and almost putting two cars in the ditch as he swung straight into a lane that was already full.

Penman - We have 40km/hour speed limits at our schools. These limit only apply between 7.30 and 9.00 am and 2.30 and 4.00 pm and only on school days. It can be confusing, but we have had them long enough that they are accepted as genuine safety measures. Most of these signs have speed cameras nearby and fines are quite savage, plus a number of demerit points. (12 demerit points in three years means a loss of licence for 3 months and 12 points in a year means no licence for a year. If the offender is on 'Plates his/her licence is cancelled. Driving while disqualified means a jail sentence.) It seems to work quite well as speeding at schools is not often seen.

Keith
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1926 Chrysler 60 tourer
1932 Austin Seven RN long wheelbase box sedan
1950 Austin A40 tourer
1999 BMW Z3
Its weird being the same age as old people.
You are either part of the problem or part of the solution

[bjacko]

Gee and I thought it was only in Melbourne. The police are far too lenient with them. They get their car crushed for a I think a second offence but it does not deter them even in cars they borrow from mummy and daddy or their mates. The most common remark by them when they are caught is "s**t happens" even when you point out they could have killed one of their own close relatives.
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1938 Morris 8 Ser II Coupe Utility (Pickup)
1985 Rover SD1 VDP

[Ray White]

What I would like to know is: can these driverless cars read road signs? How else will they know the speed limit?

[peter scott]

My satnav knows the speed limits.



Peter
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http://www.nostalgiatech.co.uk
1939 SS Jaguar 2 1/2 litre saloon

[Penman]

Peter: driving down a major road with a higher limit if there is a fixed camera on a road crossing over or under my Sat Nav will often give a lower speed warning even though it knows I am still on the major road
_________________
Bristols should always come in pairs.

Any 2 from:-
Straight 6
V8 V10