Who are the worst drivers?

[thikasabrik]

A discussion in the pub between friends raised this question. We are a group of forty somethings and we all agreed that the worst drivers in the world are old men who wear hats.

What do you think?

[kaktus]

Young men between 18-25, guess it's between 17-25 in the Uk :0) Look at some statistics of excess mortality - men compared to women. It's scary, and it is mostly caused by car accidents!

 

But I most say that old men who wear hats come in as a close second.

[Philtaz]

Agree with the men in hats.  Also white van men, women who spend too much time looking in the mirror(at their hair and make up, not the traffic behind them) and women who think they are driving 'safely' by joining the dual carriageway at 40 mph and maintaining that speed along it!

Also, taxi drivers who think the private hire vehicle plate makes them immune from prosecution and gives them a licence to drive as and how they feel, at whatever speed whilst ignoring all road signs and the Highway code.

Need I go on?

[flaming]

At present, near me, it is people - men or women - driving huge, mini-tank 4 wheel -drive vehicles, frequently with a mobile phones clamped to an ear (even now).  The word 'off-road' takes on a whole new meaning - usually for other drivers of average saloons, on narrow turnings. 

[SteveD]

There was a similar thread here:

http://www.theanswerbank.co.uk/How-it-Works/Question100156.html

[smorodina]

In a working life of professional driving, I would have to say that the worst drivers I have found are the complacent, self-opinionated, 'experienced' drivers (usually male), who think that just about everybody else on the road is worse than they are. The truth is, there are good and bad in every age and category. Older drivers and those who don't drive a lot can sometimes be slow, but young drivers are frequently reckless and arrogant. One thing that is totally missing from driving today is the courtesy that was prevalent even 15 or so years back. What percentage of drivers give way in narrow streets or let you out of side roads - even if they are in a crawling queue of traffic. How many people acknowledge you giving way to them with a wave. I have made mistakes in the past and try to keep it in mind that I shall do so again. Once you start to believe that you are a better driver than others, you are already becoming a bad one.

[jno]

people of whatever sex on mobiles. They're driving with one hand and half a brain.

[landie]

People who hold a conversation of any kind, whether with passengers or on a mobile phone. It never ceases to amaze me how many women, and some men, spend most of their time looking sideways at the passenger they are conversing with. This surely is the height of non-concentration to the job in hand (hopefully driving, not gossiping).

Either learn to speak without moving your head or cease this dangerous practice, please. God help anything that appears before them when they (the driver) are turned away from the road.

[tetherend]

White van drivers.  They can't hear or see and behave like little boys playing cars.

[FP]

One of the worse groups are old people driving Nissan Micras who do a consistent 40mph on motorways and in 30mph and 20mph limits and are totally oblivious of anything around them.

It just always seems to be Nissan Micras.  Apologies in advance to anybody who drives one.

[Kathysweets]

Boy racers with HUGE "boom boxes" and tinted windows, they nearly always seem to drive Golf gti's with spoilers on the back. Such a menace.

[cockneyexile]

most volvo drivers.  They buy the safest car on the road knowing theyre probably going to need it as they are the worst drivers on the road . Combine a volvo with a hat lethal combination.

[thikasabrik]

Thanks for your thoughts and opinions. I have to agree with all of you!!!!

[spudqueen]

Old men in ridiculously large cars who do 45 miles an hour along a 60 or 70mph road (and you just can't overtake them, there's always someone coming the other way or a bend) and then carry on doing the same speed when you get to a town with a 30mph limit!

[milly143]

I agree, old codgers in hats. They always seem to be the ones who cut me up because they are in the wrong lane. I actually like white van men - they are much more considerate (maybe its cos im a 21 year old girl though). I used to live on a major road and had to parallel park outside my house. White van men would actually stop and let you park while everyone else just zooms around you and swears at you because you dare to try and park outside your house!

[butter1]

i agree with the men in hats.. also, bus drivers, young boy racers who have bought an old car, done it up and think they look really cool zooming around at 100mph..also, people who have a phone in one hand and a fag in the other and not looking at the road.

[thikasabrik]

Just to confirm my views...my neighbours dad (old codger in a hat) has today been stopped by the police and reported for several offences. One of the things the police were interested in was the fact that he had no interior mirror. When he was round at his daughters (my neighbour) having a moan and a gripe, he said "I've been driving for fifty years and never used a mirror yet."

I rest my case.

[brionon]

The worst drivers are those who think they are good.

[ianess]

White van drivers, mums on the school run, Volvo, BMW,Peugeot, Rover, Nissan, Jaguar,Skoda, Ford,Volkswagen, taxi,bus,panda car drivers, youngsters, old fogies, inbetweenies,.......hats don't
come into it.
Agree totally about people who cannot or will not use mirrors and/or indicators.
PS....I'm 50+ and drive a Ford.

[Dark Angel]

probably lady drivers who drive a lada named Betsy!!!