Road anger and aggressive overtaking

[hmadsen]

I believe that your mother was probably driving safely and within her level of capability. There is no reason why anybody should act aggressively towards her. The act of overtaking could have been completed just as effectively without aggression. There are very few circumstances on the road where aggressive driving can be justified or where it will result in a better outcome. Replacing aggression with tolerance and consideration for the safety of others would make driving a more pleasant experience for everyone.
Sorry if this sounds a bit pompous but I really do believe that there is no place for aggressive behaviour on the road.

The thing is, though...They were not "Aggressively overtaking" but she feels they are reckless and aggressive when overtaking. Probably because of the sheer amount of cars overtaking her (Read...Almost every car, she IS usually doing 10-15 mph under the speed limit on roads where there is not reasonable explanation to do so) and the fact that they drive faster than she feels able to, and when overtaking you do rev the engine to get past.

And yes, she is probably doing 10-15 below the speed limit because she does not feel comfortable going any faster, but to be honest, if she is only barely able to "keep up" with the traffic situation on normal 50 mph roads, doing 38, maybe it's time to hand in the drivers license. if doing 38 pushes you to the edge of your abilities, you could be quite dangerous if something unexpected happens as there would not be a lot to happen to be pushed beyond the limits.

Until 5 years ago, there was a rule, that mandated that when you became 70 years old, you would have to go to see the doctor to have him/her certify you to keep you license. They did a few tests. Eyesight, hearing, strength, and some test to see if you suffered from any form of dementia.

This would be repeated at 75, 80, 82, 84, 85 and then every year from then on.

They completely removed those tests so now anyone can drive until they can not physically drive the car anymore, or they become a ghost driver on the motorway or something.

Just yesterday a 84 year old mand plowed down an 85 year old pedestrian, killing her in Denmark.

What i am saying is....I dont think my mother is fit to drive, she is not very good, does not have good situational awareness, and feels like she can only keep up, when doing quite a bit less than the speed limit, but there is no doctors test to stop her from driving, so i expect that she will drive until the day she either kills someone, or has some sort of accident....Or she gets too ill to drive.

You should see her car, i dont think there is a body panel that does not have scratches. Mostly from "stupidly placed signs" or something like that, she will then hit.

All i can do is pray, she does not kill someone while driving.....And if she does, that it atleast will be herself, and not someone innocent

 

[Kithmo]

Why are they getting annoyed with EV’s?

Because they are being forced off the road from 2030 by the government and see EV drivers as conformist.

Or perhaps expose your own shortcomings….

Agreed, most of the dashcam videos posted online show the inability of the dashcam owners to anticipate traffic more than 1 or 2 metres ahead, accelerating into hazardous situations, driving too fast for the conditions etc etc. I honestly believe some of the drivers are crashing on purpose just so they can post the video online.

 

[Ivan]

Ii

The thing is, though...They were not "Aggressively overtaking" but she feels they are reckless and aggressive when overtaking. Probably because of the sheer amount of cars overtaking her (Read...Almost every car, she IS usually doing 10-15 mph under the speed limit on roads where there is not reasonable explanation to do so) and the fact that they drive faster than she feels able to, and when overtaking you do rev the engine to get past.

And yes, she is probably doing 10-15 below the speed limit because she does not feel comfortable going any faster, but to be honest, if she is only barely able to "keep up" with the traffic situation on normal 50 mph roads, doing 38, maybe it's time to hand in the drivers license. if doing 38 pushes you to the edge of your abilities, you could be quite dangerous if something unexpected happens as there would not be a lot to happen to be pushed beyond the limits.

Until 5 years ago, there was a rule, that mandated that when you became 70 years old, you would have to go to see the doctor to have him/her certify you to keep you license. They did a few tests. Eyesight, hearing, strength, and some test to see if you suffered from any form of dementia.

This would be repeated at 75, 80, 82, 84, 85 and then every year from then on.

They completely removed those tests so now anyone can drive until they can not physically drive the car anymore, or they become a ghost driver on the motorway or something.

Just yesterday a 84 year old mand plowed down an 85 year old pedestrian, killing her in Denmark.

What i am saying is....I dont think my mother is fit to drive, she is not very good, does not have good situational awareness, and feels like she can only keep up, when doing quite a bit less than the speed limit, but there is no doctors test to stop her from driving, so i expect that she will drive until the day she either kills someone, or has some sort of accident....Or she gets too ill to drive.

You should see her car, i dont think there is a body panel that does not have scratches. Mostly from "stupidly placed signs" or something like that, she will then hit.

All i can do is pray, she does not kill someone while driving.....And if she does, that it atleast will be herself, and not someone innocent

Now this is completely different matter - elderly drivers obviously not fit to drive even for their family, who still do....that might trigger road anger as well, but the one I was talked Ng about is more the macho type, the dominant hooligan, who can't stand the "modern" EVand is determined to show off his superiority.
Which is bizzare.
Anyway. Be careful on the road and try to avoid as much as possible the morons - thermic, but also other "powerful" EV as well.

 

[Pauly]

I think a large part of it is down to brake lights, i am very aware of showing my rear brake lights, sometimes it is desirable and sometimes it is not

When you have one of the special angry drivers behind you/tailgating you inadvertently or repeatedly showing your brake lights will enrage them more

As EV drivers we understand that letting off the throttle will light them up but non EV drivers will not understand this and often take it as a sign of intent

 

[Ivan]

I think a large part of it is down to brake lights, i am very aware of showing my rear brake lights, sometimes it is desirable and sometimes it is not

When you have one of the special angry drivers behind you/tailgating you inadvertently or repeatedly showing your brake lights will enrage them more

As EV drivers we understand that letting off the throttle will light them up but non EV drivers will not understand this and often take it as a sign of intent

Very reasonable suggestion. I haven't thought of it, but sounds like a very reasonable explanation as to why while I recuperate energy trough the regenerative braking ( which by default is automatic once the throttle is off) my brake lights are lit on and this irritates the aforementioned drivers. Thanx for the input.
But now that I have passed over 10000 electric miles in about 4 months, I would definitely say it's not the speed or the revs that bring the deep smile of satisfaction. It is the tranquility and the comfort of the silence. Few more( not even 5) minutes to my daily commute well deserve the change. Merry Christmas

 

[Cocijo]

I believe that your mother was probably driving safely and within her level of capability. There is no reason why anybody should act aggressively towards her. The act of overtaking could have been completed just as effectively without aggression. There are very few circumstances on the road where aggressive driving can be justified or where it will result in a better outcome. Replacing aggression with tolerance and consideration for the safety of others would make driving a more pleasant experience for everyone.
Sorry if this sounds a bit pompous but I really do believe that there is no place for aggressive behaviour on the road.

I absolutely agree. Whilst this type of behaviour is unacceptable, some motorists create frustration by being set in their ways and not recognising that they are a hazard themselves.
There is always value in everyone reflecting on their own driving and seeing how they can also improve.

 

[TheArcher]

Thank you for your in-depth reflection. It was rather a rhetoric question as I don't have the same experience when I am driving my thermic Skoda the same way. It's pretty much the fact that I am in an EV that startles the morons.

What on earth is a 'thermic' vehicle?

 

[TheArcher]

Very reasonable suggestion. I haven't thought of it, but sounds like a very reasonable explanation as to why while I recuperate energy trough the regenerative braking ( which by default is automatic once the throttle is off) my brake lights are lit on and this irritates the aforementioned drivers. Thanx for the input.
But now that I have passed over 10000 electric miles in about 4 months, I would definitely say it's not the speed or the revs that bring the deep smile of satisfaction. It is the tranquility and the comfort of the silence. Few more( not even 5) minutes to my daily commute well deserve the change. Merry Christmas

Brake lights don't come on in all EVs when you lift off, depends what modes the car is in. Worth checking on a dark road with no-one behind you.

 

[BugEyed]

Why are they getting annoyed with EV’s?

I believe that the green stripe on the number plate is counterproductive. Ignorant non-EV owners wrongly believe that it signifies some benefits (in addition to zero VED and no fuel duty on electricity) and that angers them. Having driven EV specific cars (LEAF, i3 and Tesla) without experiencing this, I do on the MG5 (which is a converted ICE after all) which is my first two with green stripe plates.

The brake lights issue I also agree with and find very annoying on badly driven EVs where people are coming right off the accelerator too often.

 

[amdmad]

Do my stop lights illuminate when I'm on the motorway and I'm in cruise control? Have it set to lv1.

 

[Ivan]

I believe that the green stripe on the number plate is counterproductive. Ignorant non-EV owners wrongly believe that it signifies some benefits (in addition to zero VED and no fuel duty on electricity) and that angers them. Having driven EV specific cars (LEAF, i3 and Tesla) without experiencing this, I do on the MG5 (which is a converted ICE after all) which is my first two with green stripe plates.

The brake lights issue I also agree with and find very annoying on badly driven EVs where people are coming right off the accelerator too often.

very constructive input, thanx.

 

[Ivan]

What on earth is a 'thermic' vehicle?

you are right to ask the question, I am just using the French reference for ICE car

 

[Cocijo]

I believe that the green stripe on the number plate is counterproductive. Ignorant non-EV owners wrongly believe that it signifies some benefits (in addition to zero VED and no fuel duty on electricity) and that angers them. Having driven EV specific cars (LEAF, i3 and Tesla) without experiencing this, I do on the MG5 (which is a converted ICE after all) which is my first two with green stripe plates.

The brake lights issue I also agree with and find very annoying on badly driven EVs where people are coming right off the accelerator too often.

interesting point about the number plates. I guess you could get a pair without the green block if that is really an issue?
I feel the opposite sometimes when driving EV’s - the extra acceleration and instant power can make some ICE cars around you feel frustratingly slow!

 

[Gomev]

Do my stop lights illuminate when I'm on the motorway and I'm in cruise control? Have it set to lv1.

No, not unless you apply the brakes as well. They come on based on rate of deceleration which on level 1 is insufficient.

 

[smokie]

There is a supposed anti-Tesla manoeuvre from some US pickups call rolling coal. Personally I think quite a few of the examples in this dashcam footage are simply poorly maintained cars but one or two may not be.

There are also compilations of rolling coal over cyclists and others if you search.

 

[Gomev]

It's hard not getting annoyed with what I feel is over aggressive and self-centred driving that I see every time I go out. Just wait until they get into EV's with the more responsive acceleration!!

Several things that my driving instructor taught me when I first learned 20 odd years ago but still sticks with me:
1- It's a speed limit not a target (as already mentioned)
2 - If people want to pass you when you are already travelling at a safe speed, don't try to stop them - they can't crash into you if they are in front of you - let the 'idiots' pass and make life easy for yourself!
3 - There is no such thing as a ´slow' lane, all the other lanes are overtaking lanes and you should be in the inside (slow) lane unless you are overtaking (anyone sat in the middle lane of a motorway for no good reason is best avoided - it probably means they are not sufficiently aware of what is going on around them!)
4 - Always have an escape route in mind when overtaking or being overtaken
5 - Try not to touch the brakes on a motorway - look ahead and anticipate slowing traffic (this is all the more useful with an EV, of course) - a twitch on the brakes can create standing traffic several miles behind as many increasingly over-react because they were travelling too close to the car in front in the first place
6 - Assume everybody else on the road (and pavement) is an idiot!

All very good points which if followed would lead to a more relaxed journey. Unfortunately we are all human.

 

[Oberoy]

There is a supposed anti-Tesla manoeuvre from some US pickups call rolling coal. Personally I think quite a few of the examples in this dashcam footage are simply poorly maintained cars but one or two may not be.

There are also compilations of rolling coal over cyclists and others if you search.

Many of these seemed to be filmed by a car in the overtaking lane and no doing so. Not exactly showing a good level of driving and in its own right way more of a frustration than any indication of an EV I would think.

 

[Cocijo]

There is a supposed anti-Tesla manoeuvre from some US pickups call rolling coal. Personally I think quite a few of the examples in this dashcam footage are simply poorly maintained cars but one or two may not be.

There are also compilations of rolling coal over cyclists and others if you search.

Very apt considering your member name! Rolling coal, I never cease to learn from America.

 

[Cocijo]

No, not unless you apply the brakes as well. They come on based on rate of deceleration which on level 1 is insufficient.

I don’t know on this model exactly, but if it detects a car in front and slows quickly enough (for example a car cuts in front) does it not display brake lights?

 

[amdmad]

I don’t know on this model exactly, but if it detects a car in front and slows quickly enough (for example a car cuts in front) does it not display brake lights?

That's what it feels like,a dab of the brakes?