# British Drivers are Insane **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [November 10, 2003, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-drivers-are-insane/212456 "2003-11-10T19:32:55Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![unclviny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/e274bd/32.png) [@unclviny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/unclviny)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2003, 10:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-drivers-are-insane/212456/21 "2003-11-11T22:23:29Z")
I was not aware that Paki was derogatory, I hear it said all the time by British folks that I hang around with, my mistake. unclviny ---
**Author:** ![ILikeMadonna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/8baadc/32.png) [@ILikeMadonna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ILikeMadonna)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2003, 10:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-drivers-are-insane/212456/22 "2003-11-11T22:31:33Z")
Oh yeah? Well try Los Angeles driving. It’s insane. I hate living here. ---
**Author:** ![WILLASS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/54ee81/32.png) [@WILLASS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WILLASS)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2003, 10:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-drivers-are-insane/212456/23 "2003-11-11T22:58:50Z")
Slight Hijack, but although I know the word ‘Paki’ is used as kind of derogatory by some in Britain, I don’t understand why - its not like I get annoyed at being a called a ‘Brit’ and have also never seen an Australian get offended by ‘Ozzie’. I also have a couple of Pakistani friends who refer to themselves as ‘Pakis’. Surley its down to how you say/mean it? ---
**Author:** ![WILLASS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/54ee81/32.png) [@WILLASS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WILLASS)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2003, 11:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-drivers-are-insane/212456/24 "2003-11-11T23:03:30Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Gjorp \* > \*\*I hear you guys have a good healthcare system, though. Is that why you feel you can be so wreckless? > \*\* This absolutley cracked me up… American car passenger: ‘good gawd man slow down, your driving like a goddamn maniac’ UK driver: ‘Don’t worry abaaat it guv’ we’ve got a mint health service, its free an all! In fact I might ram that geezer deliberatley just to get me moneys worth’ 😃 ---
**Author:** ![whiterabbit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/cab0a1/32.png) [@whiterabbit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/whiterabbit)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2003, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-drivers-are-insane/212456/25 "2003-11-11T23:11:46Z")
I learned to drive in Los Angeles. Washington DC is scarier, though: waaaaaaay too many cars in too small a space. Eek. And around here people just go where they want, when they want, at any speed they want. It’s insane. ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2003, 9:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-drivers-are-insane/212456/26 "2003-11-12T09:22:02Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by WILLASS \* > \*\*Slight Hijack, but although I know the word ‘Paki’ is used as kind of derogatory by some in Britain, I don’t understand why - its not like I get annoyed at being a called a ‘Brit’ and have also never seen an Australian get offended by ‘Ozzie’. I also have a couple of Pakistani friends who refer to themselves as ‘Pakis’. Surley its down to how you say/mean it? \*\* Nope, it’s down to its history. There’s nothing inherently wrong with the word ‘nigger’, or ‘Jap’ - but they both have unpleasant historical connotations. Its misuse by racists (maybe the people **unclviny** were hanging out with?) in the UK means that they’ve disquaified the word from decent conversation. ---
**Author:** ![Angua](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8baadc/32.png) [@Angua](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Angua)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2003, 10:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-drivers-are-insane/212456/27 "2003-11-12T10:30:25Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by WILLASS \* > \*\* I also have a couple of Pakistani friends who refer to themselves as ‘Pakis’. Surley its down to how you say/mean it? \*\* I think its a similar situation as to in the States, and a certain “N” word. Its OK, if “we” say it to each other, but if an outsider says it, then its wrong. However, were anyone to call me a “Paki”, they’d lose my respect instantly, no matter which way they meant it (mainly because I’m Indian as opposed to Pakistani, but I find the term disgusting, derogatory, and reminscent of many many unpleasant scenes from my childhood). ---
**Author:** ![irishgirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/8edcca/32.png) [@irishgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/irishgirl)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2003, 11:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-drivers-are-insane/212456/28 "2003-11-12T11:28:06Z")
I’ll second Maltese and Moroccan driving as being very scary indeed. On Gozo, 2 summers ago, irishfella was driving our little hire car up a large hill. We were behind a lorry and a family car. From nowhere a Vespa came from behind and overtook us, the car and the lorry, on a blind corner of this hill. This encouraged the driver of the car behind us, who attempted the same manoeuvre…a car turning out from a side road narrowly missed him. All the while, no angry shouting or horn blowing, everyone seemed quite calm and happy, and not at all perturbed by the craziness. In Marrakesh, we had one driver taking us from our hostel to the train station. he drove at 70mph all the way, ignoring red lights, donkeys and horses, pdestrians and other drivers. Not the most relaxing ride, it has to be said. ---
**Author:** ![SJSB](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@SJSB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SJSB)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2003, 12:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-drivers-are-insane/212456/29 "2003-11-12T12:05:36Z")
I’m sorry - New Yoik cab drivers get my vote for the scariest drivers every time. And if you think that the car drivers over here in sunny England are bad - you should watch the cyclists… ---
**Author:** ![Angua](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8baadc/32.png) [@Angua](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Angua)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2003, 12:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-drivers-are-insane/212456/30 "2003-11-12T12:09:38Z")
Worst car drivers ever exist in Pakistan (we have family out there - they moved from India at Partition). My mum’s cousin has been known to drive the wrong way around a roundabout in rush hour Karachi traffic, because he wanted the 4th exit. :eek: :eek: :eek: British cyclists are insane. They have no concept of the highway code, think that they own the pavements and will happily cycle the wrong way down one way streets, mow down pedestrians on pavements and pedestrianised areas, and are generally just crazy. ---
**Author:** ![grey\_ideas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/dfb087/32.png) [@grey\_ideas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/grey_ideas)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2003, 12:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-drivers-are-insane/212456/31 "2003-11-12T12:20:02Z")
**SJSB** , ahhhh cycling in the UK, that brings back memories! Before I moved over here I used to live in Birmingham and cycled into work along the Bristol Road ( **Angua** should know that one!). Now THAT was an experience! Although I should note I was a ‘well behaved’ cyclist and didn’t do any of things **Angua** mentioned (honest!). It’s just the ‘risking life and limb’ aspect of cycling on the Bristol Road that was the experience. grey\_ideas ---
**Author:** ![Angua](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8baadc/32.png) [@Angua](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Angua)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2003, 12:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-drivers-are-insane/212456/32 "2003-11-12T12:22:35Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by grey\_ideas \* > \*\* > > Before I moved over here I used to live in Birmingham and cycled into work along the Bristol Road ( **Angua** should know that one!). Now THAT was an experience! Although I should note I was a ‘well behaved’ cyclist and didn’t do any of things **Angua** mentioned (honest!). It’s just the ‘risking life and limb’ aspect of cycling on the Bristol Road that was the experience. > \*\* _rocks in a corner, whimpering_ 😉 I spent 4 years at Cambridge - the cyclists there were mad. I was knocked over by one, concussed, and the dratted girl just sped off… ---
**Author:** ![kferr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/71e660/32.png) [@kferr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kferr)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2003, 12:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-drivers-are-insane/212456/33 "2003-11-12T12:26:38Z")
**slortar** asked about snow and ice. I live in the South and we rarely get more than an inch at a time, and it never lasts long. Last year we had a storm that dropped about 4 inches in a couple hours and the roads were chaos. Some people were stuck on motorways for more than 12 hours. ---
**Author:** ![grey\_ideas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/dfb087/32.png) [@grey\_ideas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/grey_ideas)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2003, 12:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-drivers-are-insane/212456/34 "2003-11-12T12:30:48Z")
> [@](#): > > _rocks in a corner, whimpering_ Oh you DO know it then! Nothing like trying to dodge crazed West Midlands bus drivers first thing in the morning! No offence to those bus drivers, but leaving more than a few inches gap between me and your bus as you steamed by would have been appreciated 😉 grey\_ideas _now enjoying Denmarks nice, sedate cycle paths_ ---
**Author:** ![Angua](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8baadc/32.png) [@Angua](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Angua)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2003, 12:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-drivers-are-insane/212456/35 "2003-11-12T12:32:35Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by grey\_ideas \* > \*\*Oh you DO know it then! > \*\* Oh yes! You try being a pedestrian round there. :eek: ---
**Author:** ![Jennyrosity](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/2bfe46/32.png) [@Jennyrosity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jennyrosity)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2003, 12:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-drivers-are-insane/212456/36 "2003-11-12T12:37:56Z")
HAH! One thing that makes me laugh about living in the south is that if there’s so much as a brief shower of sleet the whole bloody place comes to a standstill! Kids stay off school, no one goes to work, and eldery people start reminiscing about how they haven’t seen weather like this since 1927. Up north we struggle on despite sleet, snow, ice, hail, rains of fire…I remember one occassion as a kid when the snow ploughs were on strike and it took me 3 hours to get to school, but I still went , damn it! Oh, and it was actually the snow plough drivers that were on strike. Not the snow ploughs themselves. Although I hear their union is actually very good 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![notquitekarpov](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/71c47a/32.png) [@notquitekarpov](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/notquitekarpov)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2003, 1:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-drivers-are-insane/212456/37 "2003-11-12T13:07:12Z")
I think the OP is way over the top, as posted earlier the UK has one of the worlds best road safety records. I suspect the reactions to what you see are more to do with the road system in the UK. We have narrower roads which we are used to. Especially in the towns and cities we have fewer duel carriageways, let alone multi-lane highways. I think this goes together to make it all seem a lot more dangerous that it really is. You just need the driving skills and experience to cope with it - the first time I drove in the US it scared the hell out of me but I wouldn’t suggest you were all crazy drivers. My theory is that eventually you sort of know what all the other idiots are about to do before they do it, but you have to relearn that second-sight in every new country you drive in. I have to say though that London driving experience has served me well out here so far. I am driving myself after only six weeks here, most expats use local drivers (probably to take the rap if anything happens). I WILL have a smash sometime in the next two years, I cannot see any other conclusion. Their driving is quite simply the worst I have ever seem. The Portuguese influence is right at the top end of skillful driving here - and they have the worst road safety record in Europe - whilst the local simply have no idea what they are doing. Some of them can only be 12 years old - anything goes!! Ultra-defensive driving is the order of the day… If they did gather stats though, my question would be, " Do you count security guards shooting attempted carjackers dead as a traffic death or not?" - if yes then you can add a good 10% to the death rate. ---
**Author:** ![slortar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6bbea6/32.png) [@slortar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/slortar)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2003, 1:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-drivers-are-insane/212456/38 "2003-11-12T13:13:53Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by kferr \* > \*\ ***slortar** asked about snow and ice. I live in the South and we rarely get more than an inch at a time, and it never lasts long. Last year we had a storm that dropped about 4 inches in a couple hours and the roads were chaos. Some people were stuck on motorways for more than 12 hours. \*\* Very interesting. It had occurred to me that the only time I hear anybody speak about British weather they just say something like “very wet” and change the subject. I had this theory that a lack of a lengthy winter might account for the differences between our driving styles. Midwestern americans drive like grannies because 6 months out of the year we’re driving on teflon. 🙂 Of course, it’ll only be a few posts before a scandinavian or (worse) a canadian doper to drop in and call me a pussy for complaining about our short 6 month winters… 😉 ---
**Author:** ![garius](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e19b73/32.png) [@garius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/garius)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2003, 1:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-drivers-are-insane/212456/39 "2003-11-12T13:24:14Z")
> [@](#): > > HAH! One thing that makes me laugh about living in the south is that if there’s so much as a brief shower of sleet the whole bloody place comes to a standstill! Kids stay off school, no one goes to work, and eldery people start reminiscing about how they haven’t seen weather like this since 1927. Up north we struggle on despite sleet, snow, ice, hail, rains of fire. Yeah well the weather’s not exactly going to affect you down those bloody coal mines is it? Although i’m guessing the dry-stone wallers get just as f\*cked by the weather as us southerners do. > [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Angua \* > \*\*Oh yes! You try being a pedestrian round there. :eek: \*\* That was one of the few benefits of growing up in Stevenage. It was an absolute shite-hole (although not to Birmingham standards) but being a New Town it had outstanding cycle path networks. In fact during a visit home in my first year of university i copped a lift off of a mate. After dropping me off i gave him directions to get back to the motorway and he headed off. Later that week when i was back up in London we met up in the pub and he started moaning at me about how weird the roads are in Stevenage, how everyone kept giving him funny looks and how crap my directions were: **Me** : (Defending my manly direction-giving skills): Mate, its easy - i told you go to the bottom of the road, turn left… **GariMate** : Oh left! I went right! **Me:** What?! There is no road on the right! **GariMate:** Yeah there is! It leads under the roundabout and round by the town centre - comes up by the cop shop! **Me:** Thats a cycle track! **GariMate:** Really? Sh\*t. That explains why the road was so small. ---
**Author:** ![Angua](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8baadc/32.png) [@Angua](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Angua)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2003, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-drivers-are-insane/212456/40 "2003-11-12T15:09:01Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by garius \* > \*\* > That was one of the few benefits of growing up in Stevenage. It was an absolute shite-hole (although not to Birmingham standards) but being a New Town it had outstanding cycle path networks. > \*\* Oi! Brum’s not that bad. They’ve completed it now. We have a giant shiny arae in the middle of Birmingham now. 😃 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-drivers-are-insane/212456.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-drivers-are-insane/212456.md?page=3)