Safe Speed Forums

In a move entirely stolen from another forum, and inspired by the "What is a Numpty Driver" thread, I am starting a thread for you to post your numpty sightings.

Please note, they've got to be entertaining enough to read!

I'll start the ball rolling:

Numpty # 1.

Yesterday I followed a man in a VW Passat who was following the car in front at less than a car length at 40-50 mph . This front car was admittedly going a little slow for the road conditions, but when we reached a very good overtaking place, the Passat didn't pass them, he just sat there, nailed to the other guy's bumper. Bizarrely, when we then passed through a limited village, he opened the gap up to a more respectable one, then closed it right up when the road went back to . Wierd.

Numpty #2.

Going through the village of Ludwell on the A30 in Wiltshire, which has a large "chicane" in the middle - and my direction of travel doesn't have priority. The silver VW Golf in front of me (who had also been following someone without trying to pass them ) just followed the car a way in front in to the chicane, despite the fact that by this time a large van had (quite rightly) entered from the other direction. Both vehicles came to a halt, then after a pause the Golf tentatively reversed back (making a numptyesque hash of doing so). The van driver had the good grace to wave and thank the Golf; I'm not sure I would have been so polite!

Numpty #3

Young lady in a Smart Car who went past me today on the A36 in to Salisbury at ~85 (which I reckon is pretty much full whack in one of them). I was doing an indicated 82-83 so this took her a while. She then attempted to pass the 4x4 in front at the very end of the DC, also doing about 80 and basically went almost neck-and-neck in to the chevrons.

Anyone who knows this road will know how quickly this road reverts to an old SC at the end, so she had to do more or less an emergency stop and pull in behind the 4x4...

On the M60 this evening, in the later stages of dusk, when pretty much everyone else had headlights on, I'm passed by a dark green Corsa with no lights on whatsoever. I'm surprised the trucker closely on its tail wasn't flashing his lights.

(I was in Lane 1 because this was in the 50 mph SPECS-enforced section)

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"Show me someone who says that they have never exceeded a speed limit, and I'll show you a liar, or a menace." (Austin Williams - Director, Transport Research Group)

Any views expressed in this post are personal opinions and may not represent the views of Safe Speed

Going down a busy M6 about ten oclock one night(dark about 2 hours before)...looked in mirror to overtake and saw a flashing amber light but nothing else...it belonged to a tranny van with no lights at all on.

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My views do not represent Safespeed but those of a driver who has driven for 39 yrs, in all conditions, at all times of the day & night on every type of road and covered well over a million miles, so knows a bit about what makes for safety on the road,what is really dangerous and needs to be observed when driving and quite frankly, the speedo is way down on my list of things to observe to negotiate Britain's roads safely, but I don't expect some fool who sits behind a desk all day to appreciate that.

Many years ago I got stuck in a long line of traffic following a tractor at 20 mph. When I finally got near enought to the front of the queue I could see that there was a brand new 911 with a couple who looked about 80 in it, they could have got past it in first gear but they were quite happy to sit there behind it.

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My views do not represent Safespeed but those of a driver who has driven for 39 yrs, in all conditions, at all times of the day & night on every type of road and covered well over a million miles, so knows a bit about what makes for safety on the road,what is really dangerous and needs to be observed when driving and quite frankly, the speedo is way down on my list of things to observe to negotiate Britain's roads safely, but I don't expect some fool who sits behind a desk all day to appreciate that.

out on the bike today having figured out why she wouldn't start (note to self, petrols need sparks)..

anyway, doing ok with the limited amount of grip at my disposal. Proceeding along a 30 limit DC through sunny southend and approach a ped exing in lane 2. There is an old MKIII Golf GTi in lane one and it's empty in front of her. As we approach the ped exing a VERY old couple ignore the lights and shuffle across where upon the Golf ceases the opportunity to dive in front of me . Fortunately I had backed off to left the old people shuffle across (they must have been making the best use of the limited amount of time left to them) so didn't have to brake sharply then fall off behind the Golf. Driver then looked in her mirror and waved and appology. Never mind, no one was hurt.

Outside the office block I work in there wasn't a crossing but there was an island. Now we have a Pelican with no island, and as the road can be busy we are beholden to it. Often the cars are some way off when the lights finally go to red and you do get the odd burk who will leave the braking late to try frighten those of us on the crossing. So the other day I didn't think too much of the Honda Civic that hadn't backed off as the lights changed and keeping an eye on it started to cross. You can guess the rest. Luckily the kid on the other pavement waiting was talking to his mate so didn't set off when the man went green or the stupid old woman driving would have had him. I stopped half way as she drove through without slowing. She was was waving both her arms about - so not exactly in control - in a panic, to wave in apology or because she was giving it large to the Prodigy on the stereo I don't know. Certainly didn't slow up and certainly hadn't seen the lights.

Barkstar

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The difference between intelligence and stupidity is that intelligence has limits.

Suggest refer to How To Spot A Blind Driver

LoL.......

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My views do not represent Safespeed but those of a driver who has driven for 39 yrs, in all conditions, at all times of the day & night on every type of road and covered well over a million miles, so knows a bit about what makes for safety on the road,what is really dangerous and needs to be observed when driving and quite frankly, the speedo is way down on my list of things to observe to negotiate Britain's roads safely, but I don't expect some fool who sits behind a desk all day to appreciate that.

Yes, not only does the road narrow suddenly to SC but there is a junction on the left. Very dumb, especially with the risk of queueing back onto the DC.

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Malcolm W.
The views expressed in this post are personal opinions and do not represent the views of Safespeed.

Travelling on DC stretch of the A1 in relatively light traffic. Me in outside lane, passing a black Astra (new one, if that makes a difference) at around 75 (ahem! My speedo over-reads...). In front of the Astra by a fair distance is a lorry, which he is closing on slowly. As I reach Astra's rear bumper on comes the indicator and starts to pull out slowly. I sound my horn to let him know I'm there and he should wait for the massive gap behind, but he continues out slowly. To avoid a smash, I slow down and hope he'll pull back in but doesn't. Result - lots of fog light flashing and weaving around the road from the Astra whilst I sit behind. After the overtake on the lorry, Astra pulls in and I finally pass. This is then met with flashing of lights and some interesting hand gestures.

At least they indicated. I'm sure we could all fill a page full of "people who didn't indicate today" stories...

Today's harvest:

1. Citroen MPV in Wimborne in school-run time. Pulled out on me at a roundabout, without indicating, then traversed two further roundabouts a one-way system and then changed lane, all without indicating. All while sporting a "Pull back! Child on board!" sticker.

2. White Peugeot 306 Sedan travelling the other way from me on country lane at 1700, with no lights on! For context, I was starting to toy with using main beam by this stage of dusk...

What amazes me about these people is they probably would sooner die than exceed the speed limit but don't realise that what they are actually doing (or not doing) is just as likely to get themselves in an accident and even killed, a lot more so than driving at 43 in a 40MPH limit.

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My views do not represent Safespeed but those of a driver who has driven for 39 yrs, in all conditions, at all times of the day & night on every type of road and covered well over a million miles, so knows a bit about what makes for safety on the road,what is really dangerous and needs to be observed when driving and quite frankly, the speedo is way down on my list of things to observe to negotiate Britain's roads safely, but I don't expect some fool who sits behind a desk all day to appreciate that.

Last night: Van/caravan conversion on a decent B road, doing 40. Sped up to about 50 through a 30 limit village, but I soon caught them up doing 30 tops on an NSL straight beyond... they waited until there was noone coming the other way then accelerated as I started to pass them.

This morning in misty conditions, following three cars: the one at the front had its foglight on, the two behind had a defective brake light each.

How could you tell it was a tranny van? Was the driver wearing lipstick and a bad wig? Oh, I see - Transit van I was thinking of something else

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The views expressed in this post are personal opinions and do not necessarily represent the views of Safe Speed.
You will be branded a threat to society by going over a speed limit where it is safe to do so, and suffer the consequences of your actions in a way criminals do not, more so than someone who is a real threat to our society.

Walking along the pavement when a car pulls into the kerb facing the wrong way and throws the door open, completly blocking the pavement in front of me. She looked really cross when I pushed it shut again.

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When I see an adult on a bicycle, I do not despair for the future of the human race. H.G. Wells
When I see a youth in a motor car I do d.c.brown

Even worse: drivers who park on the pavement, half (or completely) blocking it.

Yes! Those drivers should be strapped to a wheel chair for a month and see how they get on.

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The views expressed in this post are personal opinions and do not necessarily represent the views of Safe Speed.
You will be branded a threat to society by going over a speed limit where it is safe to do so, and suffer the consequences of your actions in a way criminals do not, more so than someone who is a real threat to our society.

Yes, or blinded with a red hot poker. That would teach them a lesson.

PS: sorry, that's way too harsh. They should be blind folded and told to walk along a pavement littered with badly parked cars, and see how they get on!

Agreed Abercrombie

I think the biggest numptyness I see on a regular basis is drivers who just can’t wait to get to the red light. If you can see it’s on red what is the point of getting there any quicker when you know you’re going to have to stop just the same?

This happened on my way to work yesterday. He actually overtook me on the inside, going too fast and too close to parked cars, because I was slowing down to go right ahead. I pulled up seconds after him and looked across and clapped my hands at him as if to say “well aren’t you a clever boy, look what you've gained” but he did that “I can’t see you" routine.

These are the same numptys who, in their haste, never look further than their nose and find themselves stopped in a Keep Clear area.

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The views expressed in this post are personal opinions and do not necessarily represent the views of Safe Speed.
You will be branded a threat to society by going over a speed limit where it is safe to do so, and suffer the consequences of your actions in a way criminals do not, more so than someone who is a real threat to our society.