It’s been a while since I had a really good rant, so I thought it was high time that I changed all of that. Since my last written post, I’ve passed my driving test, acquiring just 3 minor errors along the way (one of which I blame on the stupid shape of Andy’s road). The way things have changed since I peeled off my L plates is quite noticable - people no longer treat me like shit on the roads.

As sad as I am to say it, learner drivers are given such a hard time, and in my opinion, it is this that stops a lot of provisionally licensed drivers from gaining the confidence they need to pass their driving test. Not intending to sound cocky, but since I first drove a car I’ve felt comfortable behind the wheel, and very sure of what was going on; but for a lot of people this just isn’t the case. So when people are tailgating you because you’re driving at the speed limit, and pulling out in front of you just because they can, it can have serious effects on your confidence in your own abilities, and your driving suffers as a result.

To some extent, it’s this sort of behaviour that I use as a (poor) explanation as to why I drive like an absolute twat now. Although I tend to give people the space they deserve, and avoid any cheeky maneuvres, especially when I have passengers, I do drive far too quickly, and frankly I really shouldn’t be allowed to have a driving license. However, having seen the way that a large proportion of the British population drives, I start to wonder if (relatively) I’m all that dangerous.

While driving back from Caley’s this morning, I pulled out from Oakfield Road onto the double mini-roundabout by the Esso garage on Tring Road in Aylesbury, turning left to head towards Tring. Somebody was turning right so I pulled out into the left-hand lane, heading towards the second roundabout. As I was pulling out, another driver (without stopping) shot across the roundabout from the right-hand lane, and attempted to merge left into the left-hand lane where I currently was. So, as you do, I slammed my brakes on so that he didn’t hit me. He then proceeded to flip me off - charming, eh?

The thing that really annoys me was that I did nothing wrong. He:

1. did not stop at the edge of the roundabout before crossing it.
2. approached in the wrong lane to go straight ahead.
3. tried to drive into a space where there already was a car.

Sorry to rant about it, but the number of times that I’ve been cut up on that roundabout (as have other people) is really starting to take the piss. And while I may not be the safest of drivers, it worries me that there are people out there worse than me.

Clicky here to view a map of where I’m talking about (MS Virtual Earth)

This entry was posted on Thursday, April 5th, 2007 at 11:08 am and is filed under Driving, Rants. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site. Share