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Couldn't agree more Dave. Having had the pleasure of being a passenger in my father-in-law's car, I had a privileged and surprising insight into his logic. We were driving through countryside in France with lovely, flowing open bends, no traffic (in front of us, at least!), perfect road surface and perfect weather. Limit was I guess 90kph, but he was doing about 50kph. Car after car did just as described and 'roared' past, some with no choice as the opportunities to overtake were few and they had to get it done, others very close too, out of shear frustration. After about the 10th car passed he banged his hand on the dashboard and shouted "Why are these impatient bar-stewards driving so fast, it's not like I'm driving slowly?".

I had to say something and explained that he was actually driving very slowly and causing massive frustration to all those following. I tried to suggest that driving around the (obviously safe) limit of 90kph would help everyone, but he thought that was 'very dangerous' and it was safer to go slowly. In fact when pushed on it, he said that people need to slow down and the national limit should be 45mph everywhere. I add that he drives at 50mph on motorways and is overtaken by lorries all the time. I've tried to explain, but he won't have it.

I fear he is not in the minority, although he is perhaps a little more extreme than some. But at least the constant overtakes made him think about the situation and allowed us to talk about it

When I get into power I'll introduce driving re-assessments every 5 years and if you don't make the grade, then you have to go back to school. Every other aspect of life is riddled with safety processes and systems, except driver training, which solely uses legislation to enforce pseudo safety. Driving is not a right, it is a privilege as far as I am concerned.

Rant Off, again!

I think you need to allow for a certain amount of dramatic licence and humour from our posts.
No one here sets out to frighten or abuse other road users, I am sure.

And I agree with the comments about pride in ones driving. The counter point is that there are idiots out there , whether it be driving or other activities most notably the work place. However the PC brigade have made it all but impossible for us to identify and inform these poor fools that they are indeed being idiotic and that they should desist from such behaviour at the earliest convenience. The standard reply when errors are pointed out is: "I am not wrong, I am just less right than you". Well sorry some, perhaps the majority do drive like idiots these days and I am happy to be non PC and state the fact. With a wry ironic smile on my face of course.

The "it's a bend, must brake" brigade are quite common here too. You'll be pleased to know I do take to lay-bys with the vintage trike to relieve following traffic although I suspect some of it only wants to overtake to show the funny vintage car how good they are. Which has lead to me blowing them into the weeds on roundabouts etc! Many folk have no idea how to do a bend.

I understand perfectly why James Hunt drove an A35 van. You can let your hair down and have a real go, and when you win - it's for real.

I really don't understand the "its a bend, must brake" mentality. On a nice flowing road braking late on a bend destabilises the car and can cause a loss of control.

Surely the aim is to bring the car at the right speed to enter the corner by the use of the gearbox and then to power the car round the corner, accelerating swiftly as the curve opens up?

I blame the eco-mentalists: I had the "pleasure" of sitting in a taxi and the driver short shifted the car at about 2000 revs to get into 6th as quickly as possible, for maximum fuel efficiency. He then stayed in 6th so no engine braking and had to use the brakes on every corner. He didn't seem to understand that every use of the brakes wastes energy, therefore wastes fuel.

^^^ And they never run the AC either even in 30 deg heat!

IPSGA..

Information
Position
Speed
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It's in the bible, apparently..

IAM IPSGA indeed - if everyone was forced to take the Advanced Driving Test, the roads would be a whole lot safer for sure....

Indeed they would R1NGA, but until we have an enlightened government who provide for 5 year retesting, that isn't going to happen soon. [Why not support the Association of British Drivers? Google ABD and see what they do]

The big problem, it seems to me, and one which is highlighted in these posts, is that people just do not realize they are doing anything wrong. I remember being tailgated really closely for miles by a builder in an old pickup, he was literally no more than 1 cars length off my bumper or closer, and so when we were stopped by traffic lights, I actually go out of my car to speak to him. It turned out he was utterly bemused by my question of why was he driving so close to me, he was literally unaware of the potential danger he was putting us both in.

We all need to be more patient with other road users, because, I am convinced that in 99% of the cases they are doing their best, and are in complete ignorance of what is happening around them.

And to bring this back on topic, when passing a horse, slow down and give the animal plenty of room, in case it takes fright and rears up or swivels around, not only will the rider be in danger, so will the car driver.

Close followers are an annoyance in the vintage trike. They seem not to realise that it slows quite a lot on a down-change and can't be rushed.

Big change in ratios and heavy flywheels do not make for a quick change, especially as one has to double declutch to make down-changes.

Agreed Martyn - but other roads users only see " an old car"or bike..had lots of issues on my vintage Triumph (30mph flat out!)

Difficult to pull out of junctions/crossroads etc etc at anything other than a crawl.

I just made allowances and tried as much as possible to let others know what I was about to do/was doing!!!!!

Several close shades tho....particularly with impatient drivers overtaking way too close for comfort