OV9

Having a blast through the lanes at the weekend was a completely shock to the system (a refreshingly good one!) and a reminder of how catastrophically awful London has become for drivers. It's been years since I had a good drive on some fun, clear roads, and it's thrown London's drudgery into sharp focus. Combined with the utter lunacy and disregard for road rules. Last night some guy used a me and another car as a chicane travelling at about +20mph on a roundabout when there was only a car length between us. I honestly cacked it and have no idea how he found that gap, it certainly wasn't skill. It's also the reason I've bought a dashcam today.

Absolutely cannot wait to get back out into the countryside again.

Most city centres are like this now. Masses of traffic lights and road restrictions have made people short tempered and impatient so they're pulling off riskier moves.

I'm lucky enough to live out on the sticks, but not convinced things are any better, just different annoyances

Central London is better than the outskirts. I find Canary Wharf to Dagenham to be an absolute shit hole whenever I drive in and out of London. It’s also the only place I frequently see Police chases.

Mito Man wrote: Mon Dec 02, 2024 1:40 pm Central London is better than the outskirts. I find Canary Wharf to Dagenham to be an absolute shit hole whenever I drive in and out of London. It’s also the only place I frequently see Police chases.

OMG the A13 Newham Way from Canning Town eastbound is unquestionably the most feral stretch of road in the country. I drive along there every week and always see someone driving a car like they're playing GTA. It also gets closed regularly because of wild crashes.

I've consciously avoided driving in London if at all possible for decades because of exactly this kind of thing

Ha, you've still got the A127, the A12, etc etc
I don't know, yo get a sniff of the outside world and...DfLs

Oh fun days on the A127.

Try Holland and Belgium, I was involved in a 5 car pile up yesterday evening, our 1 hour journey today took 3 hours as there were 7 crashes on the way into work. Tailgating, cutting up, no indication, far worse than anywhere in the U.K.

In the towns though, calm, relaxed and great driving, weird.

Dave!

2 hour delay over 7 crashes ain’t bad though. Over here you get one car break down. Smart motorway so they put a red X across 3 of 4 lanes. 2 hour delay right there and usually another crash as people fight over merging in turn.

I'd only been away for 3 months, but when I popped back to Edinburgh last month I'd genuinely forgotten just how long it takes to get anywhere by car. And the amount of restrictions in place now with single way roads, no right turns etc. Not to mention the poor state of the roads.

I had a 2pm meeting in Regent's Park today, 4.5 miles from my place near London Bridge. Jumped in the car at 1.10pm and checked Waze. 53 minutes...
Got out of the car and found a lime bike. 26 minutes.

If the boroughs and TFL would actually get their act together fixing numerous unsafe (for cyclists) junctions across town I would hardly ever use my car in the city. As it stands, avoid unless absolutely necessary!

My sister worked for TFL, you should be grateful that you are allowed to use these fine roads!

Whatever happened to the clever chap who had figured out that TFL had altered the traffic light timings a few months before the congestion charge was rolled out so they would be able to call it a success after when they changed it back ?

Dave!

Ken Livingstone. Yes, I remember even as a teenager the traffic lights would take 5 minutes to do a cycle
It's weird how every mayor was desperate to have a legacy and they all made the city slightly worse.

I remember the Sadie Khan mayoral meeting where someone said we can prove you wanted this to happen, you signed these documents for this to happen, you’re on the record having attended these things happen, yet you say you were not aware of any of it. What do you say ?

Er…….. don’t believe you so next question

Dave!

To be the ying to Gavs Yang, I once dropped my redhead wife at the Ginger Pig butchers for a sausage making class and had a lovely few hours warbling my way around London. Supercar spotting and enjoying the tunnels.

When it’s back on the road I’ll go back for a late night warble, London is quite wonderful when you aren’t on a schedule.

Dave!

Gavster wrote: Mon Dec 02, 2024 2:00 pm

Mito Man wrote: Mon Dec 02, 2024 1:40 pm Central London is better than the outskirts. I find Canary Wharf to Dagenham to be an absolute shit hole whenever I drive in and out of London. It’s also the only place I frequently see Police chases.

OMG the A13 Newham Way from Canning Town eastbound is unquestionably the most feral stretch of road in the country. I drive along there every week and always see someone driving a car like they're playing GTA. It also gets closed regularly because of wild crashes.

Try Bradford.

There's literally a roundabout up the road from me. Cross over it westward towards Bradford proper and as soon as you peel off, it's like Fury fucking Road.

I explicitly avoid driving through bradford unless I absolutely need to, it's the only place I've ever had someone get out of their car and hurl abuse at me for using correct lane discipline because it fucked up their attempt at cutting someone else up.

Beany wrote: Mon Dec 02, 2024 6:31 pm There's literally a roundabout up the road from me.

Fuck off is there.

nuttinnew wrote: Mon Dec 02, 2024 7:44 pm

Beany wrote: Mon Dec 02, 2024 6:31 pm There's literally a roundabout up the road from me.

Fuck off is there.

Fair point, well made. Especially when I find the overuse of 'literally' to be annoying at times

People have always driven like nutters in London so I don't think that has noticeably changed in the last few years.

The reduction of speed limits to 20mph has caused the biggest reduction in driving enjoyment - both as a result of the fact that you are at idle in anything more than 2nd gear and also because of the huge increase in journey times that it has caused. On a slightly more irresponsible note it means putting your foot down from stationary to the limit isn't quick enough to give you a thrill even in first.

Beany wrote: Mon Dec 02, 2024 6:31 pm I explicitly avoid driving through bradford unless I absolutely need to, it's the only place I've ever had someone get out of their car and hurl abuse at me for using correct lane discipline because it fucked up their attempt at cutting someone else up.

M135i in Bradford? Surely that just gets a full "do what you want" pass?

Matty wrote: Mon Dec 02, 2024 8:40 pm

Beany wrote: Mon Dec 02, 2024 6:31 pm I explicitly avoid driving through bradford unless I absolutely need to, it's the only place I've ever had someone get out of their car and hurl abuse at me for using correct lane discipline because it fucked up their attempt at cutting someone else up.

M135i in Bradford? Surely that just gets a full "do what you want" pass?

No, that's Golf Rs and Audi RS3s.

(they are quite common around here but rarely see them driven as badly as the VAG-twats)