By: Blonde One
On the Two Blondes recent D of E expedition we encountered a lot of cars – and drivers obviously! This is not a normal phenomena on Dartmoor as we tend to trek across country and avoid roads at all costs. The Bronze D of E expedition necessitates walking on roads and lanes and we have noticed some rather impolite behaviour amongst the drivers. Since returning home I have been doing some thinking about whether I could place any stereotypes on the type of car and match it with the driver’s behaviour. For instance: does it follow that a Land Rover driver will give walkers a wide berth and give way if possible and will a BMW driver speedily drive past sending clouds of jelly baby dust up into our faces? (sorry if I have offended any BMW or Land Rover drivers!) On reflection, it seems that there is no pattern to car behaviour.
We met with a lot of cars that it seems were hugely inconvenienced by our presence. We were ignored by some and given no help whatsoever when trying to cross roads. Others however, gave us a wide berth (even when we were safely out of the way on a grass verge) and allowed us to get to a safer point while they waited patiently for us.
After our expedition I would like to thank all of the patient, considerate drivers that we met along the way. I would also like to remind the others that they are probably the first to complain about kids spending hours cooped up with their games consoles or hanging around on street corners causing a nuisance. The D of E kids are clearly doing something brilliant if they are out on a wet and windy day carrying a very heavy looking bag: so give them a break, slow down and give them a bit of room!
Don’t get me started!!!! Despite being a car driver I generally hate all other car users (well not all!!!). I can’t understand why people drive around so blinkered to anything else going on around them and seem to have a complete disregard for anything using the road other than a car!!! Prime example today following some “silvertop” (no offence other silver haired drivers!!!) in their far too big car who seemed to unnecessarily swerve out into the other lane when cars were sat at junctions and a million miles away, but as soon as we came across a cyclist, nearly knocked the poor guy off his bike as he squeezed between him and an oncoming van.
As a keen cyclist and walker I like to think that I am pretty considerate to walkers, cyclists, horseriders etc that I come across – but I really do feel like I’m in the minority.
A very useful social experiment that you should continue to gain a larger data sample.
My own experience as a runner, walker, cyclist, motor cyclist and car driver, (that qualifies me to make any comment I wish) is that there are distinct categories. Some are related to the size of the car driver.
As a runner, when road running I have noticed that many unfit car drivers will try to get as close to you as they can.. The reason seemingly being that you dare to take up road space. I get my own back when marshaling a road race as with my Hi Viz I suddenly become able to stop all traffic and give runners a safe practice. I have yet to ascertain if marshals can be guilty of provoking road rage?
As a cyclist and like a motor cyclist, drivers get very p****d off when they see you filtering through traffic (you fail your bike test if you don’t) and get miles ahead of the driver who cannot do other than wait in the queue.
As a car driver, I delight in forming a queue behind me when I insist on driving through towns and villages at the posted maximum speed (open roads are fair game). If I really want some fun (particularly in London) I stop for pedestrians at all the pedestrian crossings, especially if there is a taxi or two behind me.
What does puzzle me is that the same impatient drivers realise they must give a wide berth to a horse, but never a person.
Ce la vie
You’re right, you are entitled to make any comment you like (especially here) on the annoyances of car drivers! Incidentally, our group were wearing high viz vests but they still seemed invisible to some!!!
Not so long ago on one of the winding Devon lanes I spotted the high blue lights of an ambulance above the next hedge and pulled over so that it could squeeze past. The driver behind me pulled over too – for about 15 seconds – then decided to overtake me despite my efforts to flag him back with one hand. As the ambulance came round the bend at a modest speed, blues flashing, he came face to face with the other car and had to screech to a halt. I hate to think what that must have felt like to the unfortunate patient inside. The car had to reverse back past me to let him through. He’d risked his own life, the ambulance driver’s life and the patient’s life all for the sake of 15 seconds worth of patience.
Incidentally, I clocked a cyclist at 30 miles per hour yesterday while waiting for a good visibility place to pass him – wish my legs would pump me along that fast on a bicycle!
Mr Blonde Two often cycles that fast downhills – I stick behind cyclists because I am such a slow driver. Much to the annoyance of other car people!