Atlas of USA

Are UK Motorways filled with rude, distracted drivers?

First of all, it will be interesting to see if this question gets yanked by Y!A! UK/Ireland. I have an awful track record with my impertinent questions being pulled by your sensitive review panel. Enough to give one a bit of a complex, I should say. I live in the states. Everyday, because of the vast distances and straight roads in the USA, I am amazed by the number of people, particularly women, but plenty of men, too, talking on the phone, driving with their knee while putting mascara on in the rear view mirror, or out-and-out smoking dope. Or fighting with their mate. Or engaging in sexual foreplay. People wonder why American police are so aggressive. If it's not personal grooming that's taking place (the average commute to work is more than 30 minutes) or matters of the heart taking place behind the wheel, I have actually seen people reading books and maps while driving. Then there are the road ragers. There are literally people that think that because you passed their 2009 Nissan Maxima in your little Kia, they have been "dissed" (disrespected) and react. Do you find such antics on the motorways of the UK? There was a time when Americans drove to relax. Now you practically need a Xanax a half hour before a trip to the grocer.

Public Comments

1. UK roads are increasingly congested. In my own region, Manchester, there was a recent referendum asking the public to approve a congestion charge to cut traffic and increase public transport funding, copying the excellent example set in London. It came as no surprise the voters rejected it - clearly asking people if they want to pay more money will draw a negative response. I pay my politicians to do the job, not to ask me what to do. They should have just got on with it and imposed the charge. UK motorways are just huge car parks during peak hours. The journey from London which should take 3 hours often takes me 5 hours or more. This is costing Britain money.
2. no , i am not going out today .
3. all drivers seem to be rude nowadays
4. Yes, we have our fair share of morons on the roads.
5. people get in their cars then turn into ignorant morons. They have no manners at all. no one lets you out they turn a blind eye as your trying to join the traffic. You get people pushing in with a nasty attitude because of this. If you were waiting in a que at the post office and someone came round and pushed in and gave you 2 fingers what would you do?
6. As a Professional driver with over 25 years experience(I am a long distance lorry driver), I am sad to say that attitudes on the road have changed in the last ten years or so. The majority of people are decent drivers, but as stated by others, there is a minority of idiotic morons out there who think it is funny to cause problems for others.For example, swerving in and out of lanes on motorways,throwing things at other vehicles and generally being twerps. I have also seen people making tea whilst driving, and Even saw one fella buttering toast on the m25 three weeks ago!Then there are the idiots who pass a 44ton lorry, pull in three feet in front of you and slow down to thirty mph and expect you not to run over the back of their car! It takes 244yards to slow from 56mph to30mph when fully laden and it always frightens the c**p out of me when it happens. The people who behave in such ways should in my view be banned from driving and be made to take extensive retraining before being allowed behind the wheel of a car again, or they may someday kill someone.