People have lost the ability to drive
Every time I go onto the roads of this country I encounter drivers that either do not understand the rules of the road or do not care about them. There are a few areas in which poor drivers excel.
1. Roundabouts - They get into the left lane to take the last exit meaning those that want to leave earlier have to stop whilst they pass across the front of them. Others forget about the lanes on a roundabout and take the shortest route meaning from left lane, across straight ahead without following the curve and straight ahead having used both lanes. This of course has caused others to brake so as not to lose the front end of their car!
2. Junctions - They cannot understand the difference between stop lines and give way lines. Some drivers think that give way means that they have to wait until they have given way to somebody before pulling out. Others cannot decide when to pull out and wait for a written invitation.
3. Last minute 'nip ins' - We've all seen this. A queue of traffic and some idiot decides to drive past it and nip in at the front. Then they have the nerve to abuse you when you don't let them in. Do they think you were queuing for fun?
4. Centre lane hogs - widely discussed on this site so we already know about these particular idiots. 'Stay to the left except when overtaking'. It isn't exactly rocket science is it?
I've been driving for many years and I have seen the levels of competence and courtesy plummet on the roads of this country. It is about time that they introduced an attitude section into the current driving test to weed out those that, although capable, are not suitable to driving. If this is not possible then maybe those drivers should be given a licence to drive only in Italy where they would be among others of a similar ilk!
By: Old Git
Comments from visitors
Boblets - I'm sure you're right, I'll not waste any more time, but have you noticed that only those people whose actions are indefensible will actually try to defend themselves in a public place, so now we will see who kicks off first.
+5
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"Alf Red" It is my personal opinion that you are wasting your gripe on this site, it is populated in the main by the very people you are griping about, you will notice the names when they defend their driving habits after a while
+4
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Many drivers have no idea what is going on around them. I used to travel daily on a very busy motorway and some of the driving appalled me. I would always leave a gap in front of me for vehicles entering the motorway from one of the many sliproads, yet some of those seemed incapable of adjusting their speed to filter in, causing me to have to brake. Many times I would spot blue flashing lights in the distance in my mirrors and get ready to move over, yet some drivers didn't see them until the emergency vehicle was right on their tail. As a former biker, I would always look out for bikers coming from behind and no bike ever passes me without me seeing it first, yet I've seen cars pull out into the paths of bikes. You should always know what's immediately behind you vehicle and whether or not it's maintaining it's distance or gaining on you. One day last week, the traffic was a bit less busy on the 50mph limit section, but if you were awake, it was easy to judge the speeding up and slowing down of traffic and not have to brake, but there was a Merc driver whose brake lights were going constantly. He was in the outside lane and would speed up until he was right behind another vehicle, then slam on the brakes - keeping this up for mile after mile, while everybody else just maintained speed - idiot. I see loads of drivers on their mobile phones, oblivious to all the camers along that road - what is the point? - a bluetooth earpiece costs about £60, about the same as a fine.
+12
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The other day I was waiting to exit a car park in a village with narrow streets. A huge articulated lorry was manoeuvering, blocking the whole street, and if I'd driven out I would have got nowhere, and made his job more difficult. So I stayed put, waiting until he'd finished to clear my exit route, as there was nowhere for me to go.
The man behind me (usually women are worse but this was a man!) started blaring his horn and and then yelling at me to get a f*** move on. I ignored him for a few minutes then got out and asked him what his f *** problem was and if he was perhaps blind, at which he began yelling that he was in a hurry (like I had all day to sit there!). I told him to go and complain to the lorry driver, who looked like a seriously big chap ... or to go and screw himself. He then started to unbuckle his seat belt to get out of the car and yelling that he was going to f*** me up as I was walking back to mine, so I turned round and told him if he was going to start a fight he'd better make it worthwhile. He got back into his car and locked himself in, windows up.
What was I saying about spineless wimps on another thread? This guy was bigger and younger than me.
The man behind me (usually women are worse but this was a man!) started blaring his horn and and then yelling at me to get a f*** move on. I ignored him for a few minutes then got out and asked him what his f *** problem was and if he was perhaps blind, at which he began yelling that he was in a hurry (like I had all day to sit there!). I told him to go and complain to the lorry driver, who looked like a seriously big chap ... or to go and screw himself. He then started to unbuckle his seat belt to get out of the car and yelling that he was going to f*** me up as I was walking back to mine, so I turned round and told him if he was going to start a fight he'd better make it worthwhile. He got back into his car and locked himself in, windows up.
What was I saying about spineless wimps on another thread? This guy was bigger and younger than me.
-9
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Cutting across mini roundabouts.
I was approaching a mini roundabout, indicating right and a large wagon was already coming onto it from my left, so I slowed, let him go past and went round behind him to turn right, only to be nearly hit by a car that was coming from straight ahead and was turning into the road the lorry had come out of. This lady driver had decided she couldn't wait for the wagon to move and cut across behind the wagon, bypassing the roundabout and nearly rammed my car in the side. I just stared at her and shook my head - and she went mental, blasting the horn and giving my the V signs. Idiot.
I was approaching a mini roundabout, indicating right and a large wagon was already coming onto it from my left, so I slowed, let him go past and went round behind him to turn right, only to be nearly hit by a car that was coming from straight ahead and was turning into the road the lorry had come out of. This lady driver had decided she couldn't wait for the wagon to move and cut across behind the wagon, bypassing the roundabout and nearly rammed my car in the side. I just stared at her and shook my head - and she went mental, blasting the horn and giving my the V signs. Idiot.
-3
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I think you've missed my point, Anon. People shouldn't be queueing in single file, if a lane is open it is there to be used. If it wasn't it would be closed.
If everyone used both lanes (as you are supposed to) and merged in turn at the lane closure (as you are supposed to) then there wouldn't be a problem with so-called "queue jumpers".
That said, there is no excuse for becoming abusive or trying to force your way in. What I normally do is drive up to the closure, indicate my intention to merge, and then wait for someone to have the common courtesy to let me in. There's always a couple of muppets driving bumper to bumper, pretending they can't see me refusing to make eye contact. But life's to short to get upset by these morons, and I usually don't have to wait too long for someone who knows the rules of the road let's me in.
If everyone used both lanes (as you are supposed to) and merged in turn at the lane closure (as you are supposed to) then there wouldn't be a problem with so-called "queue jumpers".
That said, there is no excuse for becoming abusive or trying to force your way in. What I normally do is drive up to the closure, indicate my intention to merge, and then wait for someone to have the common courtesy to let me in. There's always a couple of muppets driving bumper to bumper, pretending they can't see me refusing to make eye contact. But life's to short to get upset by these morons, and I usually don't have to wait too long for someone who knows the rules of the road let's me in.
-8
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JB, it isn't that those people have no right, it's more to do with bare faced cheek to do this and never give a thankyou yet expect it.
People only refuse because like you say, the "sheep" have pulled into the lane without the blockage and waited patiently. Other people storm down the 2nd lane OR lane 3 and do PUSH their way in without actually allowing for a space to open up.
I have it happen all of the time. It annoys me. Despite the HWC stating that you give way to the right, It doesn't clarify that it DOES or doesn't apply to motorway/duel carrageway driving without an island.
Only thing lacking as I say, is indicating and pulling in when able, thanking and being safe. Not barging/bullying after showing no curtiousness or patience.
You let one in however, the rest seem to try piling into the space too and you do get abuse.
People only refuse because like you say, the "sheep" have pulled into the lane without the blockage and waited patiently. Other people storm down the 2nd lane OR lane 3 and do PUSH their way in without actually allowing for a space to open up.
I have it happen all of the time. It annoys me. Despite the HWC stating that you give way to the right, It doesn't clarify that it DOES or doesn't apply to motorway/duel carrageway driving without an island.
Only thing lacking as I say, is indicating and pulling in when able, thanking and being safe. Not barging/bullying after showing no curtiousness or patience.
You let one in however, the rest seem to try piling into the space too and you do get abuse.
-12
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"3. Last minute 'nip ins' - We've all seen this. A queue of traffic and some idiot decides to drive past it and nip in at the front. Then they have the nerve to abuse you when you don't let them in. Do they think you were queuing for fun?"
Do I think you are queuing for fun? No, I think you are queueing because you are sheep. And by 'not letting me in' you are failing to observe the Highway Code and give way to your right.
It's not rocket science, you use both lanes until you come to the obsruction and then you merge in turn, one after the other. Why do so many drivers find this simple concept so difficult?
Do I think you are queuing for fun? No, I think you are queueing because you are sheep. And by 'not letting me in' you are failing to observe the Highway Code and give way to your right.
It's not rocket science, you use both lanes until you come to the obsruction and then you merge in turn, one after the other. Why do so many drivers find this simple concept so difficult?
-7
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Oh, I speak from experience too.
I went into the back of a Volvo xc90 4x4. No indication, heavy traffic, lorry infront braked because of another turd featured moron, doing the same thing. The traffic infront came to a grinding halt. 4x4 in the way of the braking lights of the lorry, so I couldn't see what was happening. 4x4 Braked hard and I crashed into the back of him.
Car behind me dove into the hard shoulder and the van behind him hit my boot.... car behind was nearly in my boot anyway.
Final report stated that I should have anticipated the Volvo moving into my braking gap and slowed to allow sufficiant braking distance.
I was at fault because some scumbag woman couldn't be bothered to drive properly. She got off without anything at all. Maybe it pays to drive like a lemon.
I know defensive driving is a good thing but the whole thing happened in 2 - 3 seconds.
I went into the back of a Volvo xc90 4x4. No indication, heavy traffic, lorry infront braked because of another turd featured moron, doing the same thing. The traffic infront came to a grinding halt. 4x4 in the way of the braking lights of the lorry, so I couldn't see what was happening. 4x4 Braked hard and I crashed into the back of him.
Car behind me dove into the hard shoulder and the van behind him hit my boot.... car behind was nearly in my boot anyway.
Final report stated that I should have anticipated the Volvo moving into my braking gap and slowed to allow sufficiant braking distance.
I was at fault because some scumbag woman couldn't be bothered to drive properly. She got off without anything at all. Maybe it pays to drive like a lemon.
I know defensive driving is a good thing but the whole thing happened in 2 - 3 seconds.
+1
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One thing that has started happening all the time now is the Morons that thunder down the middle lane of the motorway and with 100 meters to go before the slip road has been missed, they dive in and over.
Why when there is room at the 1/2 mile marker do people pull up to cars bunched up at the back of a lorry and then just force their way in at the slip road entrance?
Spatial awareness has gone. I regularly end up maybe an inch from the morons bumper because they force themselves into your braking gap while the cars ahead are braking hard becausse of the same reason. These idiots that are pulling into your braking gap then brake hard to establish their braking distance and make sure you nearly end up in their boot.
Whats more, IF you go into the back of someone that has just done this, then YOU are at fault.
Why when there is room at the 1/2 mile marker do people pull up to cars bunched up at the back of a lorry and then just force their way in at the slip road entrance?
Spatial awareness has gone. I regularly end up maybe an inch from the morons bumper because they force themselves into your braking gap while the cars ahead are braking hard becausse of the same reason. These idiots that are pulling into your braking gap then brake hard to establish their braking distance and make sure you nearly end up in their boot.
Whats more, IF you go into the back of someone that has just done this, then YOU are at fault.
+3
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A slip in driving standards is just a reflection of a slip in social standards. Once upon a time you could go shopping as a pedestrian and you were rarely bumped into, accidently pushed etc and when you were, the other person said sorry. Now it's common and apologies are less so. So is it any surprise that when these people get behind the wheel of a car, they are just as rude, ignorant and selfish?
If I could see just one change, it would be positive action on persistently slow drivers. Everyone is aware of the dangers of high speed driving which is not suitable for public roads and is illegal. That's all well covered. What's being done to protect us against slow drivers? These people are a menace. If driving at 40mph in good conditions in a 40mph zone is beyond you or your vehicle, get off the roads and stay off them until such a time that there are no issues. The same applies to other limits.
Driving is a privilege, not a right.
If I could see just one change, it would be positive action on persistently slow drivers. Everyone is aware of the dangers of high speed driving which is not suitable for public roads and is illegal. That's all well covered. What's being done to protect us against slow drivers? These people are a menace. If driving at 40mph in good conditions in a 40mph zone is beyond you or your vehicle, get off the roads and stay off them until such a time that there are no issues. The same applies to other limits.
Driving is a privilege, not a right.
-3
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Harsh But Fair - 29-Aug-10 11:08
150 drivers - 150 drivers like to grip the steering wheel in the classic ten to two position. Grip as in grip like your life depends on it. 150 = 1.50 am/pm, hence the name. 150 drivers never exceed and rarely reach speed limits. A 150 driver only has to be travelling at 10mph and see a parked car 200 metres in front of them to apply the brakes, yet not adjust their speed at all. 150 drivers love braking for no good reason, nor changing their speed. Excessive braking causes unnecessary traffic congestion and unnecessary accidents. I deliberately brake as little as possible, but at the same time never pose any risk to myself, passengers or others. With sensible driving and a sense of anticipation, you need only do a tiny fraction of the braking a 150 driver does. 150 drivers have a habit of driving just a teeny weeny bit faster than lorries on motorways and dual carriageways. That's fine, their choice. But when they want to overtake, they do so that same teeny weeny bit faster, thus causing a hold up. And don't you just love those who cannot wait till you passed at 80. They have to pull out, slow you down, take an age to pass, followed by the same for indicating and returning to the slow lane.
Too many people get in their cars and forget about other drivers. They dither, they send texts at traffic lights which they are still typing with their head down when the lights have turned green and everyone behind is ready to go. They stay in the fast lane and won't let the faster drivers behind through. They pull out of junctions, blocking half the road while they wait for a gap the opposite way.
Too many people get in their cars and forget about other drivers. They dither, they send texts at traffic lights which they are still typing with their head down when the lights have turned green and everyone behind is ready to go. They stay in the fast lane and won't let the faster drivers behind through. They pull out of junctions, blocking half the road while they wait for a gap the opposite way.
-2
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Harsh But Fair - 29-Aug-10 11:07
Again, I find myself concurring with the points made in the article.
Like others I'm sure, I find myself seeing the same repeated acts of ignorance, selfishness and stupidity on our roads.
Furthermore, I see the same types of driver doing the same kind of thing. Asians have a thing about pulling out in front of you and then not accelerating hard when the decent thing to do is wait for an appropriate opportunity to do it. I should know, I live near an Asian area and it's rife around there and spreads to here. It's also a chavvy driver thing, normally in a crap car. And the elderly are prone to doing it too. Then there are the vacuus ditherers who have nothing more substantial to focus the mind on than what to cook for tea tonight. The concept that other drivers around them may wish to arrive at their destinations with just a hint of a sense of urgency seems to be totally lost on them. Take a road with a 60mph limit through fields and open land, whilst being reduced to 40 through villages. Well, ditherers just stay at 30-35 all the way through. They never seem to see the queue of frustrated drivers that's built up behind them. They will never pull in at a layby to allow the traffic behind to pass through. What is it with these people? Not everybody has a life so dull and meaningless as yours. Remember that. Next, fourth/fifth gearers. A car has gears for a purpose. It isn't intended to be driven around at low speeds in a high gear because you're too lazy to change. Anybody who has seen how slowly drivers like this accelerate will know how frustrating it is. If you want to knacker your gearbox, fine. But could you please do it alone?
Like others I'm sure, I find myself seeing the same repeated acts of ignorance, selfishness and stupidity on our roads.
Furthermore, I see the same types of driver doing the same kind of thing. Asians have a thing about pulling out in front of you and then not accelerating hard when the decent thing to do is wait for an appropriate opportunity to do it. I should know, I live near an Asian area and it's rife around there and spreads to here. It's also a chavvy driver thing, normally in a crap car. And the elderly are prone to doing it too. Then there are the vacuus ditherers who have nothing more substantial to focus the mind on than what to cook for tea tonight. The concept that other drivers around them may wish to arrive at their destinations with just a hint of a sense of urgency seems to be totally lost on them. Take a road with a 60mph limit through fields and open land, whilst being reduced to 40 through villages. Well, ditherers just stay at 30-35 all the way through. They never seem to see the queue of frustrated drivers that's built up behind them. They will never pull in at a layby to allow the traffic behind to pass through. What is it with these people? Not everybody has a life so dull and meaningless as yours. Remember that. Next, fourth/fifth gearers. A car has gears for a purpose. It isn't intended to be driven around at low speeds in a high gear because you're too lazy to change. Anybody who has seen how slowly drivers like this accelerate will know how frustrating it is. If you want to knacker your gearbox, fine. But could you please do it alone?
+5
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Harsh But Fair - 29-Aug-10 11:05
Re Admiral, don't forget the dotted line between the middle lane and fast lane,
This is reserved for under, and overtaking loud fast motorbikes.
This is reserved for under, and overtaking loud fast motorbikes.
-7
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Gainsborough lad. - 1-Dec-09 22:50
Re centre lane hogs, the rules are quite clear: inside lane = lorries; middle lane = cars; outside lane = BMWs.
-7
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Let me add my story and views
MM05ZVF
Silver Audi A6 TDI SE
11.25 on 31.05.09
As we were travelling through Bempton in East Riding the road is narrow in places - only enough for one vehicle to pass at a time.
A car was already coming towards us through this narrow stretch in the middle of Bempton and had priority when a numbskull of an Audi driver in front of us continues forward forcing the driver of the car which had right of way to reverse and let this Audi driver bully him into having priority.
Talk about the "I'm bigger than you" mentality, well in this case Audi = A useless driver inside.
It is a shame that a handful of power freaks with such low capability get all big car drivers tarred. It is not the cars but the drivers - and all types of car have useless drivers.
There appears to be an increase in the proportion of smaller car drivers being bad drivers while the bigger cars have decreased. Maybe the bad biggies of the past cannot afford such cars now and can only get credit for smaller cars.
However, I still believe the worst drivers are women drivers and young (immature) drivers, although not all are - one of the best drivers I know is female.
MM05ZVF
Silver Audi A6 TDI SE
11.25 on 31.05.09
As we were travelling through Bempton in East Riding the road is narrow in places - only enough for one vehicle to pass at a time.
A car was already coming towards us through this narrow stretch in the middle of Bempton and had priority when a numbskull of an Audi driver in front of us continues forward forcing the driver of the car which had right of way to reverse and let this Audi driver bully him into having priority.
Talk about the "I'm bigger than you" mentality, well in this case Audi = A useless driver inside.
It is a shame that a handful of power freaks with such low capability get all big car drivers tarred. It is not the cars but the drivers - and all types of car have useless drivers.
There appears to be an increase in the proportion of smaller car drivers being bad drivers while the bigger cars have decreased. Maybe the bad biggies of the past cannot afford such cars now and can only get credit for smaller cars.
However, I still believe the worst drivers are women drivers and young (immature) drivers, although not all are - one of the best drivers I know is female.
-7
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yorkshire post - 31-May-09 18:09
Interesting points raised on Mallory's 'near miss'. I recently had a debate with grumpyoldwoman on another forum on the subject of differing perceptions of motoring incidents and Mallory's case is a pretty good illustration of this.
Mallory quite rightly feels aggrieved at the van driver's last minute change of mind and he obviously was somewhat miffed at her apparently pulling out without warning.
In truth both viewpoints have their merits, to varying degrees maybe but still valid.
Only this morning I had a driver flash me for daring to overtake him on a clear stretch road in a 40mph limit. He was maintaining a steady 35mph and I went up to 45mph temporarily to overtake and then eased back to 40mph. He was annoyed at my daring to overtake him and then I became annoyed at his impertinence!
Thousands of collisions a year are caused by two drivers misunderstanding each other's intentions, making assumptions and acting upon them and in the vast majority of situations both sides could argue the rights and wrongs of their respective viewpoints with some vigour and later often proceed to blame the other party as 100% to blame, idiots, poor drivers, careless, dangerous etc.
Mallory quite rightly feels aggrieved at the van driver's last minute change of mind and he obviously was somewhat miffed at her apparently pulling out without warning.
In truth both viewpoints have their merits, to varying degrees maybe but still valid.
Only this morning I had a driver flash me for daring to overtake him on a clear stretch road in a 40mph limit. He was maintaining a steady 35mph and I went up to 45mph temporarily to overtake and then eased back to 40mph. He was annoyed at my daring to overtake him and then I became annoyed at his impertinence!
Thousands of collisions a year are caused by two drivers misunderstanding each other's intentions, making assumptions and acting upon them and in the vast majority of situations both sides could argue the rights and wrongs of their respective viewpoints with some vigour and later often proceed to blame the other party as 100% to blame, idiots, poor drivers, careless, dangerous etc.
+1
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A lot of people have lost the use of their indicators. I find this a lot at smaller, single lane approach to roundabouts when you await from the right and they just turn in with no thought of indication. It would be nice to let people know what you are doing.
If you are travelling along a road and you are the only one on it, the only person in the whole world and you wish to turn left or right, then there is no need to indicate. Twofold, there is nobody there to indicate your intention to turn and you are just wasting your bulb.
If you are travelling along a road and you are the only one on it, the only person in the whole world and you wish to turn left or right, then there is no need to indicate. Twofold, there is nobody there to indicate your intention to turn and you are just wasting your bulb.
-10
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1445 on 26th 04 2009
St Walburgas Road
Blackpool
Red Vauxhall Agila Y878ACK
Speed cameras certainly show how two-faced some drivers are and the danger they create when making up for slowing down.
I was driving along this road towards Victoria Hospital when I saw this car speeding and the driver suddenly became law abiding as he approached the speed camera.
Further along from me the dual carriageway narrowed and I was doing about 30mph. But once this car was out of the speed camera detection area the driver accelerated and managed to overtake me before the road was too narrow to overtake.
It must have done a fair speed if it covered twice the distance in the same time when I was averaging 30 mph.
Speed cameras certainly warn decent drivers of two-faced drivers who are more dangerous than the average driver.
St Walburgas Road
Blackpool
Red Vauxhall Agila Y878ACK
Speed cameras certainly show how two-faced some drivers are and the danger they create when making up for slowing down.
I was driving along this road towards Victoria Hospital when I saw this car speeding and the driver suddenly became law abiding as he approached the speed camera.
Further along from me the dual carriageway narrowed and I was doing about 30mph. But once this car was out of the speed camera detection area the driver accelerated and managed to overtake me before the road was too narrow to overtake.
It must have done a fair speed if it covered twice the distance in the same time when I was averaging 30 mph.
Speed cameras certainly warn decent drivers of two-faced drivers who are more dangerous than the average driver.
-6
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Mallory,
ANY vehicle approaching from the right on a roundabout has priority over you, regardless of it's signal or lane position! You should not have relied on the signal shown, he may have been turning right from the opposite side of the roundabout, and been late with the left signal/position.
Particularly if he was a stranger to the area, being a van driver.
Your actions would have been an instant fail, on the driving test!
Such actions contribute, to the accidents you mention!!
Don't know how long you have been driving, but maybe you should consider a refresher course?
Approved Driving Instructor Grade 6/Instructor trainer/ M.I.A.M/Lgv C+E/Motorcyclist.
ANY vehicle approaching from the right on a roundabout has priority over you, regardless of it's signal or lane position! You should not have relied on the signal shown, he may have been turning right from the opposite side of the roundabout, and been late with the left signal/position.
Particularly if he was a stranger to the area, being a van driver.
Your actions would have been an instant fail, on the driving test!
Such actions contribute, to the accidents you mention!!
Don't know how long you have been driving, but maybe you should consider a refresher course?
Approved Driving Instructor Grade 6/Instructor trainer/ M.I.A.M/Lgv C+E/Motorcyclist.
+9
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