10 Things I Hate About Everyday Driving

1. Tailgaters

Tailgaters are hateful creatures. Not only do they make the roads especially dangerous, they also slow traffic down because people like me now dip under the speed limit to show them that I’m not flustered by their advances. Unless it’s an ambulance, in which case feel free to let them by…

2. People who don't pull away from lights quickly

Regulating traffic by means of a lighting system is no new thing. So why is it that when the light goes green you’re still stationary? Nine times out of 10, it’s these people who just make it through the junction, leaving me to have to wait for a second time.

3. Slow drivers

Sticking to the speed limit is great, but doing 20mph in a 30mph zone or 40mph in a 60mph zone simply isn’t on. If there’s a limit, I want to be at it, because there’s little else I’ll do today that makes me such a daredevil. Oh, and because I’m in my car, there’s also a strong chance that I’ve got somewhere to be.

4. People who don't indicate

If you’re in front of me and you turn left or right without warning, I get angry because you think you’re above the law. Fail to indicate at a roundabout and I get angry because that’s just downright dangerous.

5. Old diesel cars

Living in London already means that I’m smoking the equivalent of a packet of cigarettes every hour. When I’m driving, this is exacerbated because there are often old diesel cars (London taxis are the worst offenders by far) that I’m having to drive behind. Even new luxury cars can’t process the carcinogens that I can smell and now taste.

6. Cyclists

They were always going to be on this list for a number of reasons. A huge number of cyclists don’t obey traffic laws (traffic lights and zebra crossings) and many of them don’t have an ounce of spatial awareness. Some (and this happened to me recently) cycle in the middle of the road in some sort of protest against people who drive. Also, please wear your helmets!

7. Hesitant drivers

If you’re aware of your surroundings and if you’re confident behind the wheel, then I’m very happy to share the roads with you. If you hesitate at junctions and if you struggle to make decisions in real life, then please take public transport; a lot of minor crashes occur because someone has thought too long about something and put themselves and others in danger. You see it all the time in London.

8. Lane hogs

People seem to be so distracted a lot of the time that they fail to look in their rear-view mirror anymore. It’s often these people who sit in the outside lane of the motorway completely unaware of the queue behind them.

9. Traffic light creepers

The light is red and you’re riding your clutch to edge yourself forwards. You’re also filling my cabin with fumes. When the light goes green, you then stall. Great.

10. Foolish pedestrians

If cyclists weren’t enough of a concern, it’s the pedestrians who need a reality check. Pedestrians will often cross the road without looking, will run across a road to catch a bus, or will walk in the road to overtake other pedestrians. If I hit you with my car because of your negligence, then I’ll feel bad. And that’s not fair. Stop checking Snapchat!