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Post by oldbritguy on Oct 16, 2021 0:36:07 GMT 1
I have just got home from a leisurely drive from Brighton today which took a little longer than I expected.
A23/M23 was fine until I joined the car park aka M25. Took and hour to get to the M4 then another 30 minutes to get to the M40. At least we got moving again though.
On the M40 just north of Oxford Sat nav then tells me the M42 is a disaster so suggested a quicker alternative through Warwick and then to the M6. Then changed its mind and told me the M6 was closed due to an accident and suggested going through Coventry to Leicester and join the M1
After sitting in stationary traffic for about an hour I got onto the A1(M). Some thoughtful chap decided he wasnt waiting his turn for the slip so decided to come up the outside and cut in at the last minute taking the front end off a Mitsubishi Shogun The ensuing drama was worthy of any Christmas panto. Stationary again until the plod came along and cleared the road and took one of the drivers (the panto villain) off for some free B&B
Then it was a continuous stop start at every major area of habitation Nottingham, Mansfield, Chesterfield, Doncaster, Wakefield, Leeds all the way to The A66 which was now in total darkness.
Back onto the M6 then north bound again and the traffic started to disappear, at last.
Left Brighton at 10.30 and got home to Glasgow at midnight. Smashing.
I take my hat off to all you lads and lasses who have to live with that volume of traffic every day (and manage around the nutters who drive around oblivious to anything outside of their metal boxes) as I certainly couldn't
Is it always like that ?
I think I'll stay this side of the wall for a bit, the roads are certainly a lot quieter up here and mentally prepare for my next run down south when the weather picks up.
Stay safe out there
John
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Post by mouse on Oct 16, 2021 6:38:24 GMT 1
I live in the south east and i would say yes, since the first of the Covid 'lock downs' the traffic has got so much worse/heavier, it is utterly ridiculous even on a bike!
I now wait until after 6.pm before going out for a ride as it tends to get a bit quieter. This is a relatively small country but YOU CANNOT GET ANYWHERE!!!!!
A friend lives in North Yorkshire and that is so much better and has the most fantastic biking roads, so i know a little of what it is like up North, so yes John it is pretty bad down here!
Mouse
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Post by dusty350 on Oct 16, 2021 8:39:03 GMT 1
I have a new job which means driving around West London all day. The standard of driving is depressing and maddening in equal measure. Virtually every London street is subject to a 20mph speed limit, which it seems most t**ts deem to be the minimum speed limit ! Dont even get me started on the Uber drivers, and even worst, the Uber Eats/ Deliveroo scooter riders, then the tossers on the electric scooters, the pedestrians who see it as their right to cross a busy road at any point they deem desirable etc etc. Only seen one Deliveroo scooter rider wiped out on the A4 at Brentford so far - longboarded into the back of an Ambulance. Surprised I've not seen more  Dusty |
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Post by steve h on Oct 16, 2021 17:46:44 GMT 1
What goes on, on the roads, is a reflection of the ills of society ie too many and mostly completely hatstand. I HATE driving anywhere now, it's always busy. Was never like that 45 yrs ago. And the closing of motorways is somewhat of a hobby for those concerned. In all the commuting I did up to 1983, I never witnessed a closed motorway (M6 Preston to Lancaster) now, it's closed on a regular basis and it seems there is no longer the urge to get it open and running as soon as possible Whats changed???..... Closed for hours and the battery is getting flatter and the driver is getting colder... "Old fart dies in Tossla elec car during 6 hr M/way closure, sub zero temperatures blamed" Oh, as an old fart I forgot to add.... "eeeeeeee, it used to be all fields around here when I was a lad" Yep, it's all houses now. And "they" blether on about halting "global warming"..  |
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Post by oldbritguy on Oct 16, 2021 18:46:14 GMT 1
Maybe I was just unlucky picking the busiest roads in the country at rush hour on a Friday but definitely agree on all the comments about todays standards of driving
Yeah Dusty I was in London earlier in the week too and navigating the roads in the city was an experience to say the least. Bicycles, delivery scooters, electric scooters, pedestrians and people with too much money in big cars which wouldn't look out of place on a race track, plus the care free pedestrians! Same as most big cities but the volume got me. I thought there was a congestion charge to reduce the numbers. Obviously not.
I am 5 minutes ride from great countryside biking roads with hardly any traffic although there are some drivers here too who should not be allowed on the road either. Just not as many.
Yes Steve, it seems that the decision to close the main traffic arteries is made without any consideration for the poor folk stuck for hours with nowhere to go. No toilets, food and never mind the financial impact of late deliveries or missed appointments etc. Closures as a result of an accident caused by some thoughtless selfish individual driving like a loon, or a lazy contractor who couldn't be bothered securing the stuff in the back of the flat bed leaving stuff strewn across 3 lanes for miles of motorway, and no one it seems is brought to account! I was behind one on may way down south on the M6 and there was about 20 feet of webbing strap with the big ratchet buckle flailing the road behind. Bike killer!
And yes Mouse, it does seem much busier since the arrival of covid. Maybe people are less inclined to use public transport and now use the car every day just adding to the issue.
Moan over.
John
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Post by andy748 on Oct 16, 2021 19:32:28 GMT 1
I have a new job which means driving around West London all day. The standard of driving is depressing and maddening in equal measure. Virtually every London street is subject to a 20mph speed limit, which it seems most t**ts deem to be the minimum speed limit ! Dont even get me started on the Uber drivers, and even worst, the Uber Eats/ Deliveroo scooter riders, then the tossers on the electric scooters, the pedestrians who see it as their right to cross a busy road at any point they deem desirable etc etc. Only seen one Deliveroo scooter rider wiped out on the A4 at Brentford so far - longboarded into the back of an Ambulance. Surprised I've not seen more Dusty I count my lucky stars where i live, Durham Coast, to the lakes West, North York Moors to the South and Northumberland to the North, all in an hour maximum on the bike. Sorry..... Andy. |
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Post by veg on Oct 16, 2021 19:41:15 GMT 1
One of my fave parts of the country I’d like to retire either that way or into Scotland.beautiful roads and scenery and great people.
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fubars
Drag-strip hero
Posts: 294
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Post by fubars on Oct 17, 2021 7:55:00 GMT 1
The standard of driving is bad everywhere. I was on the A1 a couple of days ago and within the space of five minutes I was undertaken three times, seems to be accepted practice now 😡. Also seems to me that the speed limit on motorways is non existent I toddle along at 70 and cars and vans go past me as of I'm going backwards 😐.
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jam911
Thrash Merchant
Posts: 376
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Post by jam911 on Oct 17, 2021 9:02:28 GMT 1
I am amazed by how many drivers can't or are to bloody lazy to use their indicators...
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Post by tonyd123 on Oct 17, 2021 9:27:37 GMT 1
I was on the A1 a couple of days ago and within the space of five minutes I was undertaken three times, seems to be accepted practice now 😡. One of my pet hates is the drivers sat in the outside lane and refusing to pull over. You are forced to undertake. |
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fubars
Drag-strip hero
Posts: 294
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Post by fubars on Oct 17, 2021 9:47:43 GMT 1
I was on the A1 a couple of days ago and within the space of five minutes I was undertaken three times, seems to be accepted practice now 😡. One of my pet hates is the drivers sat in the outside lane and refusing to pull over. You are forced to undertake. I wasn't lane hogging there were cars in front of me ! |
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Post by veg on Oct 17, 2021 10:26:46 GMT 1
That’s the problem, I use the A1 quite a bit you get the hgvs doing their thing, so people stay in the outside lane, then an hgv will pull out and slow the traffic down so it all backs up then some drivers who think their journeys are far more important undertake and weave in and out driving like fools forcing people to brake. It’s the same on the A14.
If someone is in front and refusing to move over it’s different but when there are queues have some patience.
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Post by headcoats on Oct 17, 2021 15:36:25 GMT 1
Yes indicators are seen as uncool on the motorway ffs
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Post by steve h on Oct 17, 2021 16:26:58 GMT 1
I sit at the same speed as the heavy goods vehicles on motorways. That way I'm not having to change lanes all the time, which is rather difficult when ALL other users sit in lanes 2&3 and never return to the lefthand lane even when there is no other vehicle on the motorway. It might add a few minutes to a journey, but better late than dead early...and helps to make something already unpleasant (driving) a bit less stressful.
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