I don't normally venture onto Britains motorway network, particularly during the day. When I do have large distances to travel I move Hell and high water to make sure I travel through the night, arriving before the main rush builds. However, the missuse objected to my idea for leaving Cornwall at 10pm on Thursday night, insisting we leave at 9am Friday as she was sure the main troubles would be over and we would be back in Yorkshire before the evening chaos began, bless her :rotz:

Things were going OK until we encountered the first main population centres (Bristol) and it started to get busy. About 15 years ago I did a lot of motorway driving, and it is significantly busier now, but also the quality of driving is much, MUCH lower IMHO. I was thankful we weren't heading south as an overturned lorry at Droitwich saw the M5S solid all the way to Birmingham. Similarly, the southbound M6 was solid until we passed Stoke :eek:

What really got me was the impatience and irrational selfishness of just about everybody. I was driving in a safe and considerate way considering the massively high traffic volume, and moreover my actions were probably easing the journey of everybody around us. By leaving a sensible gap to the car in front instead of being glued to the next persons bumper, I was able to observe the manic braking ahead and modulate my speed slightly to prevent either myself, or anyone following needing to react as harshly, whilst still travelling at the same speed as everybody ahead and all around. Indeed, I think I managed to disperse a couple of those sudden 'brake to standstill for no reason' situations by my actions.

Of course, the idiots around me saw a bit of a gap in the road and simply had to be in it, with people tail-gating me dangerously closely which simply made me slow down, of course resulting in them getting even angrier. A few chanced undertakes, some of which I prevented with a little blip of gas, some I allowed as it was more sensible to do so. One black Megane I observed flitting in and out of all three lanes, undertaking, overtaking and attempting a variety of bullying tactics stayed within sight of us, sometimes ahead, often behind, for over 20 minutes :cuckoo: A van for a company called 'CDS' made over 50 lane changes (I got bored counting ) in a desperate bid to make progress, and was with us from Birmingham to Manchester :brickwall I did consider phoning the PDSA to register a complaint about on of their vans as his driving was so aggressive and dangerous, but my phone battery was nearly flat. A dark blue Honda Accord got very angry with me near Manchester on the M62 and I let him pass me, only for me to pass him as I booted it down the sliproad for the M606 at Bradford some 30 miles later, so a major benefit to his journey was made from all his stress and impetuous driving.

To those of you who are forced to endure this chaos every day, you have my sympathies. I would have to move house, change jobs, or do whatever practicable to avoid the nightmare of Britains motorway network and drivers during daylight hours. It will be a long time I hope until I unavoidably end up in this situation again. If you are one of the unfortunate people obliged to suffer this torture, please, calm down, accept you are stuck in it and no matter how clever you think you are, any small victories you make over the car in front with impetuous, irrational, dangerous or illegal moves will more than likely be undone very soon after by either a misjudgement by yourself or factors beyond your control. So, leave a safe distance, accept the speed that everyone else is travelling, and get there in the same amount of time, with less stress and alive.

BRAVO mate

WELL SAID

I am the same as you mate, I drive like a old man really but it is the best way as its better for stress and fuel eco lol. I have noticed the roads are full of CR4P drivers that think they own the roads and it is better to avoid them. depends how develish I feel as to whether I stop them undertakin, but the ones that tailgate me while I pass a car doin 70+(ish) then I slow and so long as I am doing the limit then I dont care and I make them wait as there is no need for it.

billy

The thing is, I don't drive like an old man. I do however adjust my driving behaviour to suit the situation I am in at any given time. On the motorways yesterday there was no chance of making any significant progress, so I settled for cruising along with the flow, making my (and other peoples) journey as calm as possible, saving fuel and stress. For the two weeks prior I was to be found ripping up the lanes of Cornwall, overtaking everything I came across and having a whale of a time as progress was achievable, fun was to be had and the danger was considered and assessed and my driving respectful, albeit not strictly in accordance with all traffic laws.

my plan when its gridlocked is pick a lane and stick to it,i learned long ago that whatever lane i'm not in moves quickest,yet when i move into the one moving quickest it stops,so i pick a lane and stay there till i come off or it clears lots of cds in the car so i just chill,i especially like nice weather windows down sun on my bones taking it easy observing all around me going mad.

its the overtake then slow down brigade that get me angry on the roads.. i was driving on the A30 today near plymouth with the cruise control set to about 68mph, and this fella with glasses whose lenses look like they came from the bottom of milk bottles and a stupid halfords roofbox kept on overtaking me then slowing down, and i'd just drift past still at 68mph, then 2 mins later he'd do the same thing.

its the overtake then slow down brigade that get me angry on the roads.. i was driving on the A30 today near plymouth with the cruise control set to about 68mph, and this fella with glasses whose lenses look like they came from the bottom of milk bottles and a stupid halfords roofbox kept on overtaking me then slowing down, and i'd just drift past still at 68mph, then 2 mins later he'd do the same thing.

oh yes, i hate them too,never noticed them till i got a car with cruise control.

I don't think I'd like cruise control, removes too much involvement. I can understand its uses, but not for me.

I said that till I got it lol, its the best for cruising on the Mways. But if I want to save fuel then I drive myself as you can go fast down hill then ease off up to save just make sure you dont drop to slow. I try drive at night as its quieter at night.

the amount of them that overtake then slow is daft, thats when I pull out to go round then they need to slow as they come up behind a truck. HA serves them right.

billy

Its the undertakers I can't tolerate. They think they can shoot past a number of cars in the inside lane and cut infront. It makes my blood boil - and is so dangerous. A lot of idiots seem to let them back in, well they won't be getting in front of me in a hurry!

Or the ones that will shoot down a 'coned off in 500 yds, etc' lane till they are only a few feet from them and bully their way in and get angry if you dont let them.

I used to have cruise in my old volvo but saw little point unless your driving at 3 in the morning, you rarely get to keep the speed you are at for more than a few minutes, and the speed adjustment isnt quick enough so you have to disable it to react.

I have been reporting bad company liveried vehicles for some time now.

The majority of firms are quite pleased to know what their drivers actually get up to when representing their brand!

Last report was a lorry that took the A1/A14 roundabout a little too spirited, and almost tipped the container he was carrying into the opposite carriageway onto a family's MPV. All 3 n/s wheels of the trailer left the ground for a good 3"

I don't think I'd like cruise control...

From reading your first post I think you'd very much like cruise control.

Slow down, set the cruise, & enjoy your m-way journey while others fly by in a stress fit.

Well in contrast to the stressed out motorists, I've been out in my 1965 Octavia today, it seems to put people in a good mood with it's ancient charms. Although, jumping back into the 2005 Octavia afterwards, I suddenly found I was catching people up rather rapidly!

Or the ones that will shoot down a 'coned off in 500 yds, etc' lane till they are only a few feet from them and bully their way in and get angry if you dont let them.

I used to have cruise in my old volvo but saw little point unless your driving at 3 in the morning, you rarely get to keep the speed you are at for more than a few minutes, and the speed adjustment isnt quick enough so you have to disable it to react.

the road is there to use,whats the point in sitting in a mile long tailback when you can go straight to the front? I'm paying to use the road so i'm going to use all that the law allows

Two things I've picked up in a couple of posts.

1. If someone can undertake a line of cars... then the cars being undertaken should have been in the lane to the left of them. Easing congestion and returning a 2 lane motorway they have made... back to the 3 lane one it should be.

2. You should use all lanes approaching a lane closure and merge in turn when you get to the lane closure. That prevents the stupidly long tail backs because people drive like sheep and join the end of the queue instead of using the lanes appropriately.

Both of the above are in the highway code, and if done properly would actually prevent the undertaking and overtake/barge in tatics that get used.

So those who complain about it, have a second thought on why it happens and what your doing to contribute to it.

Two things I've picked up in a couple of posts.

1. If someone can undertake a line of cars... then the cars being undertaken should have been in the lane to the left of them. Easing congestion and returning a 2 lane motorway they have made... back to the 3 lane one it should be.

2. You should use all lanes approaching a lane closure and merge in turn when you get to the lane closure. That prevents the stupidly long tail backs because people drive like sheep and join the end of the queue instead of using the lanes appropriately.

Both of the above are in the highway code, and if done properly would actually prevent the undertaking and overtake/barge in tatics that get used.

So those who complain about it, have a second thought on why it happens and what your doing to contribute to it.

spot on I've been doing some motorway miles lately at all times of the day and it's actually been **** easy with nothing to get upset about although the number of people sat in lane 2 while I cruised past in an empty lane 1...:thumbdwn:

My preference in a real jam is to get just in front of a heavy, then concentrate on keeping rolling smoothly.

Have to say re cruise control. I've had it in my last 2 cars and it adds a lot, especially in avg speed camera situations in road works, long 40 or 50 limits or on the motorway.

It's first on my list when looking for a new car now, wouldn't consider a car without it, just like a centre armrest.

Have to say re cruise control. I've had it in my last 2 cars and it adds a lot, especially in avg speed camera situations in road works, long 40 or 50 limits or on the motorway.

It's first on my list when looking for a new car now, wouldn't consider a car without it, just like a centre armrest.

i fitted the cruise in my lupo myself, it took balls of steel to take apart the ecu plug and solder 4 wires on:O but well worth it, i've been doing some experimenting with it and on a long journey it definitely increases the mpg figure

I use cruise control most in long, unnecessary 30 and 40mph limits - very useful indeed and stops me from being "pushed on" by Ford Mondeo & Vauxhall Vectra drivers who seem to like to travel at 45mph everywhere

I find that on the motorway too many people cut in and steal my braking space, or follow the car in front too closely and have to slow down way too much for cruise control to be particularly useful, apart from if the motorway is quiet in which case setting it at 75mph and just getting on with the journey is very relaxing indeed

Two things I've picked up in a couple of posts.

1. If someone can undertake a line of cars... then the cars being undertaken should have been in the lane to the left of them. Easing congestion and returning a 2 lane motorway they have made... back to the 3 lane one it should be.

2. You should use all lanes approaching a lane closure and merge in turn when you get to the lane closure. That prevents the stupidly long tail backs because people drive like sheep and join the end of the queue instead of using the lanes appropriately.

Both of the above are in the highway code, and if done properly would actually prevent the undertaking and overtake/barge in tatics that get used.

So those who complain about it, have a second thought on why it happens and what your doing to contribute to it.

I fully agree. The scenario where I find this particular bad is on the A5 between Shrewsbury & Telford. A lot of people are out in the outer lane - only a two lane dual carriageway - stuck behind someone doing 60 / 65 overtaking something slower and creating a hold up. As most of the traffic is in the outer lane and not using the inner lane, people decide to go down the inside!

At times I am thankful that i live way up here in the north of scotland where the nearest motorway is some 120 miles south at Perth.... though it does take longer to get places im not really bother cos im use to it....you do still get idiots driving here....

Well my latest UK mway journey was pretty stress free, called in for a coffee after 90 miles, been overtaken by 1 car & overtaken 1 other car. As you can guess it was fairly early in the morning, set off at 02.30, arrived in plenty of time for my flight, with no hassle.

Well I do 148 miles per day to get to work and back , and I get soooooo stressed at the complete rubbish drivers that there are on the roads today

I can`t believe it

I have mentioned a few times about writing a book about the daily drives in....shame I have not so far

I can`t believe that there are so few accidents , lorries tailgating is one of the most ridiculas things I have ever seen in my life :eek:

But the the odd BMW`s flicking from lane to lane

Getting on the inside lane yards from the turn off is the M60`s best....

All in the best possible taste of course

Sarah

Monday morning 05.40 I joined the M40 from the M25 northbound, a lorry is in the 2nd lane about 1/2 mile ahead. The inside lane is empty so I stay in it, as I approach the lorry he doesn't move over, so I move out to lane three (four lane stretch of road) to pass him. As I get to the back of his truck the driver opens his window and throws out a banana skin! I pass him, indicate and move back to lane one.

As far as I know his still driving in lane two with lane one empty whilst littering the country as he goes.:rotz: