Are Audi Q5 Drivers The Biggest C*C*S On The Road?

[Chompers]

As title realy, Popped up the M3 to see friends in Surrey today, nice straight forward run up. On the way back, I had 3 Q5's (all Black) right up my tail gate all with there stupid christmas tree DRL LED lights on. I was traveling in lane 3 overtaking cars each time at a sensible speed and each time these idiots came steaming up behind me intimidating me to get out of the way. One was so close I couldn't see his reg no. Why do they do it they aren'y going to get anywhere any faster, possibliy going to cause an bad accident and for what porpose. Over the last few years I have seen many threads on various boards all slagging X5 drivers off for similar driving styles, but in my eyes Audi drivers are much worse.

Sorry for the rant, just had to get it off my chest

[535dboy]

[quote=""Chompers""] Over the last few years I have seen many threads on various boards all slagging X5 drivers off for similar driving styles, but in my eyes Audi drivers are much worse.

[/quote]

Oi !

[lezmtaylor]

I would use the old trick of switching sidelights on and off quickly and accelerate at the same time.(Looks as if you arer braking)
Amazing the reaction behind!!
Now wait for the comments!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Lez

[535dboy]

[quote=""lezmtaylor""]I would use the old trick of switching sidelights on and off quickly and accelerate at the same time.(Looks as if you arer braking)
Amazing the reaction behind!!
Now wait for the comments!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Lez[/quote]
Or just go for a full on brake test!

[Chompers]

To be honest if I had been in the car on my own I would have done the break test and shot off, but with the OH & kids in the car, this was just not an option + I don't want to bring myself down to these idiots level.

@ 535dboy - yes I know your OH drives an Audi and I am sure she is a very good driver, but more offen than not Audi drivers in general do seem to drive in an aggressive way, it may well be that they are more noticeable because of their silly DRL LED lights

[AW8]

Maybe you may have been subject unlucky coincidence.

Whilst I take offence to blatant tailgaters I also have an issue with motorists sit firm in outer lanes on long sections of dual carrageway or motorways. So often folk creep past cars that may only be travelling fractionally slower than they are - 3 vehicle overtakes lasting a mile arent unusual.

I tend to use nearside lane when not overtaking & when in other lanes I keep an eye for faster rear approaching traffic. If when out there I see faster traffic approaching behind I try to move to the nearside so as to let them past. If nobody ahead of me & space permits I will also accelerate ahead before moving to the nearside, this extends the distance from and the vehicle behind & avoids the frequent scnenario reduces the likelihood of the following vehicle aiming at the offside rear corner as I move to the left. All of course subject to lack of muppets nose to tail on the nearside & thus compromsing nearside gaps !

I had to travel to Ipswich & back yesterday on the A12 which hase long length od 2 lane dual carrageway. I found myself on more than one occasion sat in lane 2 behind lane 2 hogs. Flashing headlamps when keeping a safe distance back from vehicle ahead can work as can signalling with right indicator. Another strategy is to drop back and then gain on vehicle ahead again.......but not tailgating & mindful to remind or encourage rather than to intimidate.

On crowded motorway sections with traffic i outer lane I find positioning slightly to offside of the outer lane gives clear message to those behind that my intention is same as theirs - to make progress, (rather than to block their's). This also cause vehicle in front of me to realise I wish to make fater progress & thus can encourage the vehicle ahead to move over. Again I aim to do this without tailgating..............the lack of stonechips on my bonnet shows I don't tailgate. If M-way really bunching up and eveyone up each others backsides I find it safer to let them get on with it & to move to Lane 1 until they have sorted temselves out- this also gives me the escape of the hard shoulder if things go bad !

I made good time & think I only got tailgated once yesterday................Ironically by a woman in a Kia who was chtting away & more a case of oblivious of what constiuted a safe gap.

Driving standards vary across the country I find drivers on the M23 better than on other M-ways the only exception being the M6 Toll where most car drivers seem to make decent progress & also don't tend to impede others who want to travel quicker.

Of course in an ideal world nobody exceeds the speed limit in order to make progress or to get out of the way but I suspect the reality may differ for some.

[535dboy]

I was on the M11 yesterday and same thing

2 lane motorway and everybody just sat in the outside lane. I therefore used the American highway rule and uk "if in traffic rule" of cruising slowly up the inside. Actually felt safer there then the constant concertina effect created by everybody following too close and one person braking for no reason meaning everybody else does too.
Crap standard of driving.
People should realise that the far right hand lane is reserved for bmws/audis/lotus

If I had the Lincoln over here a gentle tap of the left hand rear bumper would have the effect of getting them out of my lane!

[Chompers]

AW8, I would agree 100% with your comments and my driving style is exactly as you set out above. 2 of the incidents stated above would not of happened if the lane 2 huggers had been in lane 1 as they should have been!!!! All I was trying to say was that why did these drivers feel they had the right to get so close and endanger my family?

Haven driven in France for many years where most motorways are only 2 lanes, neither tailgating or lane 2 hoging exist, when you overtake you pull in. Leading to a smoother safer journey.

[535dboy]

[quote=""Chompers""]
Haven driven in France for many years where most motorways are only 2 lanes, neither tailgating or lane 2 hoging exist,[/quote]

Maybe just to us in bright english registered sports cars then !

Some of the french obviously don't like us on their territory others encourage us

[AW8]

Chompers,

They have no right whatsoever, your protective instinct of your family is a valid one. My attitude to speed changed when we first had our children. It's ironic that the cars behind you may have had young ones on board albeit if it all goes wrong it could result in a multiple pile up.

Some when being tailgated M-Way like to wash the windscreen &/or rear window - though I wouldn't advocate this as a technique to prevent taIlgating.

At the end of the day safety comes first - if pressuried stay calm & let them by when safe to do so, ( you may have to take deep breath & count to 5).

535dboy re undertaking I accept your reasons but if we all did that when it's nose to tail out there & multiple cars followed you - it would turn into Death Race 2000 ....No doubt it works beter on USA interstates at 55mph !

[535dboy]

[quote=""AW8""]
535dboy re undertaking I accept your reasons but if we all did that when it's nose to tail out there & multiple cars followed you - it would turn into Death Race 2000 ....No doubt it works beter on USA interstates at 55mph ![/quote]

I know it isn't technically right but it is just our overall poor standard of driving here that creates the problems

Would be interested to know what the BiB would do in that situation - pull the guy that safely moved across and undertook the dozen + cars travelling in the right hand lane when the left lane was totally clear or those that have not moved over in to the empty lane.

Same of those drivers that sit in the outside lane of the motorway at 70mph thinking I am not going to let you past because I am doing the limit so why should you go any faster than me.

And then there are those 40mph drivers, 40 in a 30 and 40 in a 60. Stresses the people out behind them who then get impatient and make a dangerous over taking maneover

I hate driving here these days

[Chompers]

It is legal to "undertake" as long as you are already in the inside lane, it is only when you pull in to the inside lane from lanes 2/3 than is wrong in the eyes of the BiB. (from a similar thread on the "land" a few weeks back) 535dboy, completely agree with your above thoughts.

@ AW8 yes having kids in the car is a great leveler for a driver, my driving attitude changed a hell of a lot when my first came into the world. I would consider my self a good driver, but don't we all. Driving on a motorway is not for the faint hearted, your awareness levels need to increase massively over other types of roads, it is just a shame other drivers cannot/don't seem to realise this and put others in a postion that need not happen. Yes it may just be coinsedence that they were Audi drivers but there is still no excuse for bad driving and endangering others!!!

[AW8]

I have it on good authority there's not a specific offence of undertaking though I believe code rules can be cited in prosecution cases for careless or dangerous driving. The highway code has many rules one of which is 268 :

"Do not overtake on the left or move to a lane on your left to overtake. In congested conditions, where adjacent lanes of traffic are moving at similar speeds, traffic in left-hand lanes may sometimes be moving faster than traffic to the right. In these conditions you may keep up with the traffic in your lane even if this means passing traffic in the lane to your right. Do not weave in and out of lanes to overtake."

As for someone stating it was okay to undertake, (if No lane change to prior to same), I am not convinced that a definitive answer can be given to allow for every scenario. For example the rule I prior quoted refers to traffic moving at "similar speeds." In abscence of police video footage a shrewd lawyer might argue their client was travelling at a "similar speed" to other traffic & perhaps hope that a lack of speed evidence would be instrumental in any defence.

I interpret the undetaking allowance to allow for a jam packed M25 on a Monday morning or traffic to the offside slowing. I dont feel the allowance caters for a frustrated driver executing a brisk nearside manouvere, however well intended or techically well executed.

[535dboy]

That is the rule I was referring to.

I know it does not actually allow undertaking but in some conditions it can't be avoided.

I know I'm twisting a rule but it is there.

What I do find really dangerous are those that weave across 3'or 4 lanes to gain an advantage. That has to be dangerous.

As I said earlier I think that a lot of accidents are caused by drivers being frustrated by other road users and get impatient. This of course is wrong bit can be human nature

[Chompers]

Agree with what you say 535dboy, (god starting to sound like Nick Clegg ) I would also add that drivers entering a motorway from a slip road and head straight for lane 3 is every bit as dangerous as the undertake from lane 3 to1. Oh well that's life.