Driving Standards & Insurance

[Nicksey]

I agree that driving standards have dropped over the years. There are lots of contributing factors, and I think following a driving instructors car sans pupil is a good indication why.
What I find more noticeable though, is why everybody is in so much of a rush and drives impatiently.
I was fortunate to retire 7 years ago at 55, and after about a year I had cleansed myself of the monotony and routine of a working week. I began to slow down and take things easier. That is when I realised everyone else was in so much of a rush!
Maybe this is why the Jazz has some of the stigma associated to it. Driven by older people who have retired, who no longer are in the fast lanes of the rat race and therefore take things calmer and steadier 

[Kremmen]

I resemble that post 

When I was driving between London and Reading I could take the M25 as a border between just bad driving and lunatics

I'm perfectly happy in the inside lane doing about 60 and watching the 80mph+ brigade hammering down the fast lane (outside  lane for the pedantic) sometimes nose to tail ..... why ?

[MRCLICKCLICK]

There is NO fast lane on a motorway - its lane one, two, tree, four. or inside then the rest are overtaking.

[Tombola]

There is NO fast lane on a motorway - its lane one, two, tree, four. or inside then the rest are overtaking.

"Life in the fast lane" has a better ring to it than "Life in the third overtaking lane" me thinks

[Karoq]

Expatman said. (in response to my post re IAM on 21st Nov


"Are you sure you couldn’t find a better price on a Comparison Website? NFU are an excellent insurance company but are well known as being one of the most expensive to insure with. I have frequently got quotes from them (78 years old) but their quote is always significantly (£100’s) higher than competitive quotes from LV etc".
 I didn't mention insurance apart from the fact nobody was interested in my IAM.

I tried NFU and they were a complete joke Their claim to be the best thought of Insurance company is either a lie or their customers have more money than sense!
I also find LV, whose head office is only a mile from me (not that that makes any difference! ) is ridiculously expensive. My youngest son (51) finds they are the cheapest for him.

I was insured by Aviva for may years. Shareholder and 9/10 on their good driving app, full NCB, discount for house and car and at the last renewal the premium jumped from £385 to £550.
I hunted around on compare.com and am now happily insured with TESCO BANK for my FULLY ELECTRIC eNiro for £385 )& I'm 79 next January- Max NCB, clean licence, blah, blah, blah)and house is cheaper than Aviva , who in-spite of all the above, flatly refused to do me any favours in spite of my years of loyalty to them So **** them I thought!.

[Westy36]

A factor I take into account is modern life. For some folk, the only time they can assert themselves is on the road. They perhaps have a terrible home life, work life and money worries to boot. However, all of this can be taken out on fellow motorists. The one thing left that is 'theirs', the right to drive as they wish.

People also follow what others are doing. We have only to look at riotous events this year to see how easily some folk are led to do things they wouldn't normally do. When you see everyone driving flat out and aggresively, it becomes normalised behaviour they sadly emulate, a race to the bottom. I firmly believe a proper road traffic officer presence on the road would reduce this behaviour dramatically.

Another factor is the ability of modern cars. I started in BL heaps, namely a marvelous Marina. Devoid of braking, handling, ABS, PAS and safety equipment I had to drive respectfully or end up in a hedge at best!  How many folk on the roads today have any experience of such things? Millions have only known cars that stop, steer and have lovely airbags to save the day together with a raft of other safety equipment. The car flatters their driving bringing about a sense of invincibility?

[Lord Voltermore]

"Leisure" by  William Henry Davies

What is this life if, full of care,
We have no time to stand and stare.
No time to stand beneath the boughs
And stare as long as sheep or cows.

There were impatient and aggressive drivers even back  in the 1970's. Mostly 'sales reps' with targets to meet. Driving Cortinas and Cavaliers.     But its getting ridiculous.  Many learned to drive in cars that practically drive themselves. 

As i drive along at a leisurely pace admiring the view and listening to the tweeting birds I am grateful the new frantic life style has largely passed me by.    I  try to be considerate to other drivers with a living to earn, or locals wishing to get home.

[Jazzik]

I try to live by a friend's motto: 'Let the idiots go.'

[ninanina]

Since 2008 the cat has been in the engine bay although some Jazz MK2 owners have still reported thefts

Thanks for confirming Kremmen

I’m guessing being in the engine bay mostly stops the cat being stolen

The Prius has the cat quite exposed midway underneath the car

The Prius is in group 14 versus the Jazz at group 22 so I expected a rise in my insurance and can’t figure out how they calculated a refund, all be it only £10.70!

Prius value was set at £16,000 versus the Jazz at £22,000….. go figure 

[Jazzfreak]

A factor I take into account is modern life. For some folk, the only time they can assert themselves is on the road. They perhaps have a terrible home life, work life and money worries to boot. However, all of this can be taken out on fellow motorists. The one thing left that is 'theirs', the right to drive as they wish.

People also follow what others are doing. We have only to look at riotous events this year to see how easily some folk are led to do things they wouldn't normally do. When you see everyone driving flat out and aggresively, it becomes normalised behaviour they sadly emulate, a race to the bottom. I firmly believe a proper road traffic officer presence on the road would reduce this behaviour dramatically.

Another factor is the ability of modern cars. I started in BL heaps, namely a marvelous Marina. Devoid of braking, handling, ABS, PAS and safety equipment I had to drive respectfully or end up in a hedge at best!  How many folk on the roads today have any experience of such things? Millions have only known cars that stop, steer and have lovely airbags to save the day together with a raft of other safety equipment. The car flatters their driving bringing about a sense of invincibility?


Have to agree with this good post!
I just feel that things have gone a little backwards though in respect of BMW’s,Mercs and Audis not being fitted with indicators these days..

[ninanina]

I just feel that things have gone a little backwards though in respect of BMW’s,Mercs and Audis not being fitted with indicators these days..

That’s so true

[Lord Voltermore]

.

[ninanina]

    Love it LV