Driving standards

Quoted message said:

Hello all, As a recent emigrant to the fair city of Worcester, and as a great believer of giving
credit where it is due, I would like to applaud the high standards of driving and courtesy shown
to me when riding my bicycle around Worcester. Having lived in a variety of places in England,
from London to Manchester (and several points in between) I have seen standards slipping year by
year and the common courtesy that used to be shown to other road users had all but disappeared.
Happily in Worcester this is not the case. So, to every driver who waits for me to pass a
junction, to every driver who passes me with a clear three feet to spare and to every driver who
waits those extra two seconds before pulling back in after passing me, a hearty pat on the back
and a heartfelt thank you to you all. Your high standards of driving excellence have not gone
unnoticed. And isn't it nice to be able to say something good about motorists for a change? Tom

Any thoughts on the reason for the difference?

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Tom said:

Hello all,

As a recent emigrant to the fair city of Worcester, and as a great believer of giving credit
where it is due, I would like to applaud the high standards of driving and courtesy shown to me
when riding my bicycle around Worcester.

Having lived in a variety of places in England, from London to Manchester (and several points in
between) I have seen standards slipping year by year and the common courtesy that used to be
shown to other road users had all but disappeared. Happily in Worcester this is not the case.

So, to every driver who waits for me to pass a junction, to every driver who passes me with a
clear three feet to spare and to every driver who waits those extra two seconds before pulling
back in after passing me, a hearty pat on the back and a heartfelt thank you to you all. Your
high standards of driving excellence have not gone unnoticed.

And isn't it nice to be able to say something good about motorists for a change?

They were pretty good in Birmingham too. They're awful where I live now, especially the lunatic bus
drivers. What sort of psycho can you expect for £7 an hour, though?

"JNugent" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Having lived in a variety of places in England, from London to Manchester (and several points
in between) I have seen standards slipping year by year and the common courtesy that used to
be shown to other road users had all but disappeared. Happily in Worcester this is not the
case.

Any thoughts on the reason for the difference?

People away from tbe big city are more likely to be relaxed? Less hurrying around, more space to do
it in? Probably shows in the attitude of people you see outside their cars too.

clive

"JNugent" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Any thoughts on the reason for the difference?

There are a lot of cyclists in Worcester, kids on BMX's, people on shopping bikes, racers, MTB'ers
so it's always possible that the reason is, the next person you cut up or force into the kerb
could be a neighbour. However, it's not just when I'm riding my bike that I notice the difference,
drivers in Worcester are just as courteous when I'm in my car.

Whatever the reason, I'm still very impressed.

Tom

Quoted message said:

They were pretty good in Birmingham too. They're awful where I live now, especially the lunatic
bus drivers. What sort of psycho can you expect for £7 an hour, though?

I have several brothers who are psychos for free :-)

"Tom" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
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Quoted message said:

drivers in Worcester are just as courteous when I'm in my car.

Whatever the reason, I'm still very impressed.

Worcester(shire) does very well in terms of accidents per million vehicles - there are a few areas
around the same level, only Swindon is a lot lower.

"Tom" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

Hello all,

As a recent emigrant to the fair city of Worcester, and as a great believer of giving credit
where it is due, I would like to applaud the high standards of driving and courtesy shown to me
when riding my bicycle around Worcester.

Courtesy shown to cyclists :-o That's the first I've heard of it!

Quoted message said:

Having lived in a variety of places in England, from London to Manchester (and several points in
between) I have seen standards slipping year by year and the common courtesy that used to be
shown to other road users had all but disappeared. Happily in Worcester this is not the case.

So, to every driver who waits for me to pass a junction, to every driver who passes me with a
clear three feet to spare and to every driver who waits those extra two seconds before pulling
back in after passing me, a hearty pat on the back and a heartfelt thank you to you all. Your
high standards of driving excellence have not gone unnoticed.

And isn't it nice to be able to say something good about motorists for a change?

Tom

I find that the cylists are usually the ones which are aggressive and dangerous. I saw one almost go
up the kerb today because he was tail gating on a roundabout, only at slow speed, but it was still
too close. I had one undertake me (in the wrong lane) at lights and I had to stay back for a while
so that we didn't meet at the exit of the box junction. You wouldn't see a car undertaking and
forcing their way in at lights (not normally anyway).

What are the laws with bikes (push bikes and motor bikes) undertake, cutting in etc? Surely in rush
hour etc they should be driving in the middle of their lane with a sufficient gap behind and
infront? I've seen a lot overtaking on the wrong side of the road with nowhere to pull in!

On 5 Feb 2004 14:28:22 -0800, [email hidden] (Peter)

Quoted message said:

You wouldn't see a car undertaking and forcing their way in at lights (not normally anyway).

Exactly that happened to me yesterday. It was a car-derived van, not a car, though. I was riding my
bike, so it gave me a seriously nasty moment.

Guy
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"Peter" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
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Quoted message said:

"Tom" <[email hidden]> wrote in message

news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

What are the laws with bikes (push bikes and motor bikes) undertake, cutting in etc? Surely in
rush hour etc they should be driving in the middle of their lane with a sufficient gap behind and
infront?

Try doing that on a regular basis without getting assaulted.

"Tom" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
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Quoted message said:

"JNugent" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
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Quoted message said:

Any thoughts on the reason for the difference?

There are a lot of cyclists in Worcester, kids on BMX's, people on
shopping bikes, racers, MTB'ers so it's always possible that the reason

is,

Quoted message said:

the next person you cut up or force into the kerb could be a neighbour.

Try visiting Cambridge.

Quoted message said:

"JNugent" <[email hidden]> wrote:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Any thoughts on the reason for the difference?

Quoted message said:

There are a lot of cyclists in Worcester, kids on BMX's, people on shopping bikes, racers,
MTB'ers so it's always possible that the reason is, the next person you cut up or force into the
kerb could be a neighbour. However, it's not just when I'm riding my bike that I notice the
difference, drivers in Worcester are just as courteous when I'm in my car.

Possible, of course (as is anything), but probably a little far-fetched, I think.

After all, Worcester is a fair-sixed town, not a village.

Quoted message said:

Whatever the reason, I'm still very impressed.

Even in the stifling heat of a Mediterranean summer, *many* people in Italy ride bicycles - even
old(ish) ladies.

I hadn't noticed that it made Italian drivers less gung-ho (even in Tuscan villages), but we are
very different from the Italians (in some ways), I guess.

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Tom said:

As a recent emigrant to the fair city of Worcester, and as a great believer of giving credit
where it is due, I would like to applaud the high standards of driving and courtesy shown to me
when riding my bicycle around Worcester.

Are you on drugs? Worcester has the highest concentration of complete

neighbour Great Malvern where driving standards are incredibly actually worse. A high proportion of
all drivers in both places are baseball cap wearing Nova drivers who screech around the city with
their foglights on to impress the girls. The rest are certifiable coffin dodgers who don't

pull out of junctions without looking, trickle down the road at 15 mph, never use indicators (except
when they have been left on, or they have left the hazard indicators - AKA parkanywhere lights -
on), cut corners, ignore traffic lights, dump the car in the middle of the street and shuffle to the
shops wondering what the fuss is about.

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JNugent said:

Any thoughts on the reason for the difference?

There isn't any, drivers in Worcestershire are legendary for their total and utter incompetence.

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JNugent said:

I hadn't noticed that it made Italian drivers less gung-ho (even in Tuscan villages), but we are
very different from the Italians (in some ways), I guess.

Living and working as I do in both Worcestershire[1] and Italy. I prefer Italy, at least the drivers
are predictable. I think "Tom" is suffering from rose tinted spectacles. If he cares to visit
McDonalds any evening or take a cycle around by the Butts/City Walls/Warner Village he'll find that
the average Worcester driver is way below average. If he really wants to find out how bad it gets I
suggest a drive via the bypass through Powick towards Malvern around 5pm on any weekday.

[1] Before the loonies start trying to point out that I don't live in Worcestershire, I do, as well
as in Hampshire and Italy and I have the receipts to prove it.

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:"]news:[email hidden]:

Quoted message said:

People away from tbe big city are more likely to be relaxed? Less hurrying around, more space to
do it in? Probably shows in the attitude of people you see outside their cars too.

I've noticed this difference on the two motorways from Edinburgh, the M8 to Glasgow and the M90 to
Perth. There is a greater volume of traffic on the M8 (larger cities, more commuters?) and the
standard of driving isn't great and can be very aggressive. The M90, on the other hand, has less
traffic and seems to be driven by some fairly mellow and courteous commuters. Perhaps they're just
happy they don't have to live or work in Glasgow ;-)

Cheers,

Graeme

Graeme <[email hidden]> wrote on Fri, 06 Feb 2004 02:41:32 GMT:

Quoted message said:

:"]news:[email hidden]:

Quoted message said:

People away from tbe big city are more likely to be relaxed? Less hurrying around, more space to
do it in? Probably shows in the attitude of people you see outside their cars too.

I've noticed this difference on the two motorways from Edinburgh, the M8 to Glasgow and the M90 to
Perth. There is a greater volume of traffic on the M8 (larger cities, more commuters?) and the
standard of driving isn't great and can be very aggressive. The M90, on the other hand, has less
traffic and seems to be driven by some fairly mellow and courteous commuters. Perhaps they're just
happy they don't have to live or work in Glasgow ;-)

Don't forget the M9 to Dunblane, where at the Keir Roundabout (which I have seen several
cars/lorries in the middle of) it turns in to the A9 (dual-carriageway with speed cameras) A9 which
also goes to Perth (and far beyond).

Then there's the A80/M80 from Glasgow which joins up with the M9 at Stirling.

As one of the people commuting along the M9 most days I have to say it isn't too bad, although there
are obviously a few nutters on it (like every road). Never done the M90 (Given that I live in
Stirling, the M9/A9 is usually the best choice for Edinburgh/Perth, and so far I've never had to go
straight from one to the other).

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"Steve Firth" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Are you on drugs? Worcester has the highest concentration of complete

Quoted message said:

neighbour Great Malvern where driving standards are incredibly actually worse. A high proportion
of all drivers in both places are baseball cap wearing Nova drivers who screech around the city
with their foglights on to impress the girls. The rest are certifiable coffin dodgers who don't

Quoted message said:

pull out of junctions without looking, trickle down the road at 15 mph, never use indicators
(except when they have been left on, or they have left the hazard indicators - AKA parkanywhere
lights - on), cut corners, ignore traffic lights, dump the car in the middle of the street and
shuffle to the shops wondering what the fuss is about.

Ah! I'm beginning to see your problem here Steve. Everyone who drives

everyone who drives slower than you is a "certifiable coffin dodger"

Enough said

Tom

"Steve Firth" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
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Quoted message said:

JNugent <[email hidden]> wrote:

I think "Tom" is suffering from rose tinted spectacles.

Not suffering, quite enjoying them actually. 2 for 1 at Specsavers.

Quoted message said:

If he cares to visit McDonalds any evening or take a cycle around by the Butts/City Walls/Warner
Village he'll find that the average Worcester driver is way below average.

I wouldn't visit McDonalds if they were giving stuff away, and why would I want to ride a bike
around a City centre drinking area?

Quoted message said:

If he really wants to find out how bad it gets I suggest a drive via the bypass through Powick
towards Malvern around 5pm on any weekday.

Try the "lemming run" on the A580 into and out of Manchester every weekday morning and evening.

And why do you keep refering to me in the third person singular? Or are you trying to prove that
not everyone in Worcester is courtious?

Tom

"Tom" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
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Quoted message said:

Try the "lemming run" on the A580 into and out of Manchester every

weekday

Quoted message said:

morning and evening.

"run" ?

Ah, I suppose I have seen some people able to get up to the speed of a running guinea pig.