14/12/2023
On several occasions this week alone, I have been subjected to following vehicles driving dangerously close to the rear of my car and drivers, both male and female, getting obviously frustrated by making hand gestures, driving erratically and trying to intimidate us into exceeding the speed limits.
This has mainly been happening within 20 mph zones, with our speed limiter set to 20 mph, making maximum legal progress, and has been happening whether I am driving, or my pupils.
Even if you see a 30 mph sign 50 yards ahead, we won't be building our speed and making appropriate progress until we pass the 30 sign and are in that zone.
As instructors, we are teaching correct and legal driving practices and will never allow pupils to exceed speed limits. We drive to this standard at all times, even if we don't have a pupil in the car. We are trying to set a good example, but also, we must maintain safety and make sure we don't lose our licenses and therefor our livelihoods.
Please also consider the example you are setting young drivers and the intimidation a young person having just turned 17 will feel. Would you like your child to suffer that form of intimidation from an angry driver?
Ironically, it's often the case that the drivers who demonstrate this kind of flaunting the rules and intimidation are the same ones who criticise young drivers for driving too fast and erratically. I wonder where they have learned that kind of behaviour?
I can't say I completely agree with some of the 20 mph zones, but I have to accept that it is, what it is and we must respect them.
So please, be patient, understanding and respectful of our feelings and what we are trying to achieve.
I wish you all a Merry Christmas and safe driving for all.
