WELCOME: DRIVE IN: PARK 'N BROWSE

 

It is unsurprising then that road users spend a lot of time feeling irate about other peoples’ driving abilities or should that be inabilities. The daily commute simply drives people mad!

>From the old man who creeps alongside you in his Rover so that you can’t change lanes, to the lorry that pulls out in front of you on the roundabout.

Online car insurance company www.duck2watercarinsurance.co.uk carried out a survey of their customers to find out what really gets on peoples nerves.

1. Top of the list was tailgating. When you see that BMW in your rear view mirror you just know that the driver is going to get as near as he can to you, in an attempt to demonstrate that he could nudge your slower, less flashy car right out of the way. If he adds to this flashing lights and hand gestures you just know it could only get worse if you don’t get out of his way quickly. It would be tempting to stay in front of him but frankly you’re just too scared!

2. People talking on their mobile phones. This is now illegal whilst driving! It is really easy not to do this. You can pull over and make your call or just wait until you get home. Add this habit to number one and you end up with the most menacing road user out there!

3. Drivers who sit in the middle or outside lane holding up every other road user came in third. These people either have no regard for other people or are completely unaware of the annoyance they cause.

4. People who drive without any clue about speed limits. This is  the person who drives in front of you at 40 mph in a single lane national speed limit zone and then continues to drive at 40 when they get to a 30 limit.

5. Those who throw their litter out of the car window. People didn’t mind the odd apple core thrown into the bushes; it’s the McDonalds wrappers in the middle of the road that really bothers our customers.

6. The huge amount of people who never indicate. It’s dangerous, it’s annoying and it’s rude! What more can we say?

7. People who use the wrong lane at roundabouts were at number seven on the list. It may be confusing at some roundabouts where there are lots of lanes, but there are simple rules when it comes to roundabout etiquette.

8. People who drive at break neck speeds wherever they go. Statistics show that speed does kill and irritatingly you know that the guy going 110mph won’t get stopped by the police, it will be you doing 75!

9. Overtaking on single carriageways when there is oncoming traffic. This speaks for itself and endangers the lives of more than just the offending driver.

10. The final point to make it onto the list was motorists who change lanes and cut up other drivers. These people don’t use their mirrors and have poor judgment of distance. Everyone makes mistakes, so if the other driver waves an apology then that’s fine. It’s when they are oblivious to the trail of destruction they leave behind them that people become really annoyed.

Duck2water Car Insurance gives you one of the cheapest quotes on the market quickly without the hassle associated with filling in lengthy forms. To save up to 60% on your premiums visit our website at www.duck2watercarinsurance.co.uk or call us on 0808 144 0136.

Win free insurance with Duck2water when you get a quote online. Enter the prize draw today and give yourself the opportunity to save money for a whole year.

Editorial notes: www.duck2water.co.uk is an online car insurance provider which offers massive savings on existing premiums and gives the customer the ease of buying online.

Ask any insurance company what the most common automobile driving
claim is? Ask them what the ‘at fault party’ said was their excuse; they will tell you they said “I just didn’t see them.” Indeed and this is why they are called accidents, if they did it on purpose then it would not have been an accident.

Your personal car has blind spots and you should be aware of them. So do all delivery vehicles. Manufacturers always talk about visibility for the driver in the ads for delivery vehicles, they know that nearly every vehicle they sell will be involved in a fender bender, side swipe or hit a post in a fast food drive thru. It will happen, but it does not have too.

One of the most common blind spots of a delivery vehicle is directly behind the truck or van. A small car or motorcycle can easily hide there. When driving deliveries look before backing up. You can park for a second, write down some paper work and someone can pull right up behind you and completely park their car where you cannot see it. You backup and you hear that gut wrenching crunch sound, you know the one? Do you? If don’t that is good, let’s keep it that way

Watch for electric cars to; they make no sound and run very quiet, this can be extremely dangerous as you mind listens for sound, you have to train yourself to look each and every time. Electric cars are much smaller and there are an increasing number of them.

A blind spot is actually any area behind or on either side of the driver that can’t be seen by the driver with the use of mirrors. If your side mirrors are properly adjusted, blind spots can almost be eliminated, but never completely. The right convex mirror that is standard on most van type deliver vehicles, but generally not on flatbed trucks. You will see many newer box trucks with them, but you will often see them ripped off, especially on city delivery trucks, as there is always a sign, corner of a building or something sticking out that will shear it off or crack the mirror.

These convex rear mirrors reduce the rear side blind spot, but distorts distance; they also tend to rust out where they connect making them jiggle or tUrn to a funny angle which does not allow for good vision. .

If your truck or van is not equipped with this mirror, you must turn your head 180 degrees and look back or get out and check before you back up.

If you want to eliminate all blind spots, go to: Pep Boys, Autozone, Trax Auto, Wal-Mart, Western Auto and pick up a rear convex mirror. Make sure the post is sturdy enough to use.

You should also pick up a stick on convex mirror for you side mirrors on both sides. Put it on the far right top or lower corner of the mirror. These little things will save you from having to hear that crunch sound and say; “You know, I just didn’t see them!”