Road Rage

[perelaar]

I take one of the most congested highways in Belgium to work everyday, 4 lanes.
Very quickly realised the left lane is not the place to be when the jam starts

 

[don simon]

Do those crazy Belgians still race up to you in the outside lane of the motorway and then sit inches off your tail in order to encourage you to move over?

 

[perelaar]

Some of them surely do. But as I've noticed, not when you are driving a muddy T2 with a towbar .

Also legislation changed, police crack down on traffic misbehaviour a lot more.

 

[don simon]

Some of them surely do. But as I've noticed, not when you are driving a muddy T2 with a towbar .

Also legislation changed, police crack down on traffic misbehaviour a lot more.

That's good, they were by far the worst drivers I came across. I lived and traveled daily on the A1 Spain, followed by the French who were almost as bad. The Brits were amusing in a not getting that flashing the headlamps mean I'm coming through and not "after you!" kind of way... :lol

 

[perelaar]

Even though I'm Belgian myself, I have to admit you are correct. There's talk now of improving the driving courses one has to take before the drivers license exam, let's hope that slowly solves the issue.

Two things stand out in this country: the enormous amount of people playing with their cellphone while driving, and the amount of accidents caused by aged drivers (who never had to do an exam... and there is no system to check someone is still capable of driving...).

An example, in French, but the video at the bottom is clear enough: 75y old driver not realising he is driving against traffic on the highway. 3 people killed.

 

[rustic]

Well we use the M42 and M40 again this morning, we left the house at 5am, the AA app was showing road works on the M42, and even diversions and blockages.
Normally the roadworks have to be completed by 6:00 am, but normally they are clear by the time we get through around 5:30 am, but the "big fat controller" as per "Thomas the Tank Engine" lol at the M42 decides to leave all the lane restriction signs left switched on, on the motorway, speed restrictions, forward indication that the motorway is closed further up...
If you panicked, you could leave the motorway at the first exit to try another route, whilst all the time the route was clear.:doh

This is not a one off, it happens virtually every time there is any work taking place overnight on that section, at 5:30 am ish, which is most times we travel.
Drivers totally ignore any speed restrictions, or any other road sign of impending doom, crying wolf, is going to cause an accident at some point.

 

[Banshee]

Re road rage, we have onboard cameras, and I must admit it has curbed my reaction to it.
What ever you do and say is recorded, so if I see something happen...:augie

Like "Look at this silly old chap, undertakes the traffic in lane 3 and pulls across and causes cars in lane 3 to brake hard, A bit of an idiot I would say, what what !"
"Car was a *** and reg No. ******* "

This is why I always have my dash cam on mute!!! :thumbs

 

[don simon]

Even though I'm Belgian myself, I have to admit you are correct. There's talk now of improving the driving courses one has to take before the drivers license exam, let's hope that slowly solves the issue.

Two things stand out in this country: the enormous amount of people playing with their cellphone while driving, and the amount of accidents caused by aged drivers (who never had to do an exam... and there is no system to check someone is still capable of driving...).

An example, in French, but the video at the bottom is clear enough: 75y old driver not realising he is driving against traffic on the highway. 3 people killed.

Free driving licences with Rice Krispies is something we're seeing less of in the UK as the drivers who had them are aging rapidly. That accident is just awful (as all of them are).
Unless it's changed there is no legal test or penalty if you don't wear the glasses that you're supposed to wear when driving in order to see things like the road, other cars, trees and people, etc.
This is where seeing the car as an innate right is simply wrong.
Be safe out there.

 

[terranosaurusdoug]

Free driving licences with Rice Krispies is something we're seeing less of in the UK as the drivers who had them are aging rapidly. That accident is just awful (as all of them are).
Unless it's changed there is no legal test or penalty if you don't wear the glasses that you're supposed to wear when driving in order to see things like the road, other cars, trees and people, etc.
This is where seeing the car as an innate right is simply wrong.
Be safe out there.

May be worth looking into, I wear contact lenses and I've always been told I have to have a pair of my prescription glasses in my car just incase, could be money making scheme by opticians though :lol

 

[Blocky10]

May be worth looking into, I wear contact lenses and I've always been told I have to have a pair of my prescription glasses in my car just incase, could be money making scheme by opticians though :lol

I've class 2 hgv and I wear glasses. My licence shows this with the code 01 against all entitlements. This means I have to wear them and also carry a second pair incase. Now I'm 45, cough cough, I have to have a medical every 5 years to keep hgv licence valid, which includes sight test. I've worn glasses since 94 and if it wasn't for deciding to get hgv it wouldn't be compulsory to have my eyesight tested! :nenau

 

[don simon]

May be worth looking into, I wear contact lenses and I've always been told I have to have a pair of my prescription glasses in my car just incase, could be money making scheme by opticians though :lol

There was a prog on the tellybox a good few years ago where the police set up some eye tests for drivers. It was quite alarming how many were supposed to have been wearing glasses but didn't and the police could do nothing.
I don't know whether this is still true or not.
I wear reading glasses.
Does this include reading signs?

 

[PJD]

I like my time alone bud, i bet you struggle for that, i would go batty :doh

They live in a separate part of the house in their own self contained bit luckily but it can get a bit annoying at times! I do have to remind them it's my name on the mortgage now and again :lol