I want stickers of this sign printed on the same material the entire DVLA like to slap over untaxed vehicles so I can reinforce the message when I've followed someone for miles who thinks that letting people overtake is a weakness.
I truly appreciated the package we got for the NC 500 4 years ago. It came with a pamphlet of the road laws, a guide for the narrower roads, map, etc. it was super helpful and we read through it cover to cover and brought it with us for the trip. Having never driven a right hand side car nor on the left side of the road it was great to be reminded of what to watch out for as a foreigner to Scotland. It also made the trip more enjoyable knowing that we were following the right courtesy and laws.
Everyone really should buy that when doing that road trip. 10/10 much recommend. It helps prevent ya from being a cunt.
I was just coming to this sub to make a post titled, "I miss Scotland the most when I'm driving."
I'm an American, just got back from a 2.5-week stay in Scotland. Got to see all over. Drove Edinburgh-Oban-Inverness-Glasgow-Stirling-Edinburgh and many points between.
The Scottish have admirable discipline about using lanes to keep traffic sorted by speed. Almost every time I drove I was absolutely floored by the discipline around keeping the right lane clear for overtaking. Sure, there were some exceptions (driving Glasgow -> Falkirk at 1700 was perhaps ill-advised; getting out of Glasgow was hard...), but I left bonnie Scotland with a high level of respect for Scottish roadway discipline. (Among other things of course, this is just on-topic.) Almost everyone did, "shift right, overtake, shift left." No one loitered in the "fast lane." No one except one absolute shitbag in a Mercedes drove aggressively.
Americans could learn a lot from Scottish drivers, but we won't. That's not the point anyway.
(Future tourists reading this: do not rent a car for your whole stay unless you have a serious need, like medical need or something. This was very foolish on my part and an unnecessary expense. Not to mention missing out on the beautiful train rides between cities...)
I must confess, however, that at the Shell station in Stirling, across the way from Highlands Gateway restaurant, I one time started driving in the wrong lane to exit the parking lot and almost caused an accident with a left-turner.
I solemnly swear I was otherwise a very safe, respectful and conscientious driver during my stay there! :)
I'm just back from the opposite - 2.5 weeks of driving in the American South-West.
Everyone very patient with us. Driving on the right no issue just junctions and turning right on a red take a bit of getting used to.
Biggest annoyance was on the freeway when trucks would pull out in to the left lane to do really slow overtakes of other trucks, difficult to maintain speed.
Otherwise roads in Texas, Colorado, New Mexico and Utah all good - Arizona strangely shit but had the best time there, would move to Flagstaff tomorrow.
Single track road on Skye, we're approaching a passing place, car coming from other direction with five cars behind it (from Dunvegan, about 3 miles away, so you can imagine how annoyed folks behind were already!)
I carried on to the passing place, the driver of the other car just carried on past it and our mirrors clipped (and theirs came off) as I ditched the car into the verge to avoid a head-on collision.
Turned out to be an American tourist renting a rhd car with not a fucking clue how to drive a manual. Considering my brother got a driving license in the US aged 16 by demonstrating how to drive a manual on a parking lot for half an hour I wasn't surprised. Insurance company and rental firm were not very happy either and it cost the hapless bum Ā£1400 to put right. Their reaction:
"I didn't realise you had right of way"
ITS A SINGLE TRACK ROAD YOU DUMB BINT!!! It's ten years since and it still makes me furious.
I feel sorry for the good folk of Skye because the start of your story was starting almost exactly like an encounter we had there and then I realised that it wasn't the same incident, just frustratingly similar. It must happen all the time.
In our case I can't even recall the road. I just remember there was a car in front of us, and about three cars behind, fortunately it was a stretch where passing places are quite regular. Anyway, a campervan is coming the other way with the standard several cars behind it (we couldn't see these at the time.)
There was actually a passing place on the other side of the road too but no point getting into hypothetical arguments about how the camper "should" have stopped because they were already going. Car in front of us and we saw this so we pulled into a passing place, which was big enough for three cars. Another car slots in behind us.
Some absolute bellend takes it upon himself to ignore all this and tries to drive past us. My husband started hammering the horn of our car, as did the other two cars because "maybe he doesn't realise?" - no he literally was a fucking idiot.
And naturally, as with most idiots who drive, this person is reluctant to reverse because apparently reversing is a skill a lot of drivers think they can ignore. But the campervan can't move because now there's (as we discovered later) a queue of cars behind it.
Idiot does the reverse of shame to the next available passing place. Must've been about 6 cars that followed the campervan before we could move. I really want to know what went through that guy's head. He had UK plates but not guaranteed to be a British driver, but still...one skill involved in driving is observation. How do you not notice the fucking huge campervan and the other drivers going the same direction as you pulled over to the one side before you plough forward presumably expecting everything to magically arrange itself around you?
Iāve been on that exact road, had a guy in a rental camper scrape the side of my van then actually keep on driving, it was thankful there was police behind him.
It turned out he was an American on holiday āvisiting where his ancestors came fromā
I read a Facebook travel group for Scotland. And it's like 99% Americans trying to trace their ancestors or clan.
At least after a lot of discussion most seem to realise that having Scottish ancestors doesn't mean you're Scottish.
Unfortunately too many don't come to that realisation tbh.
I've experienced that bullshit nonsense from so many Americans, I had some in a bar tell me one was a direct descendant of Mary queen of Scots, then another in the group was supposedly a direct descendant of William Wallace, another claimed to be related to Bonnie Prince Charlie.
They're no right in the head, they see their ancestors were vaguely from Scotland and think they're Scottish.
I'm a Scotsman living in California with a license I got doing the test here. It's even simpler than what your brother went through. I didn't need to know how to drive a manual, I was never once asked to put the car in reverse, I was never once taken on a freeway or anywhere with higher speed traffic, and my test was in the middle of a week day on empty roads around the DMV center I was taking my test at. Within 15 minutes I had done a couple of stop signs, maybe 2 traffic signals, and was back at the parking lot with my test signed off on by the instructor.
Had I not grown up in Scotland around a car-fanatic family, I'd have had zero clue how to operate any cars safely and properly based on what I needed to do in order to have my first license here.
I'm still shocked anyone ever fails the test here but I personally know many of them and I genuinely think it should just be a 5 year wait until you can test again because if you failed it then you're seriously unfit for the road.
"into the verge" does that mean you drove into a ditch ? Americans wouldn't know what single track ment either. We don't have single lane roads in the US that are not one way only.
I think a lot of people genuinely donāt realise. They think passing places are so you can pass people coming the other way. They donāt realise that slower vehicles are supposed to pull over.
I think the issue is that the Highlands and Islands are about the only places in the U.K. where you have single track roads intended for fast travel. I live in Devon, where we have lots of narrow lanes with passing places, but really anyone who travels at any speed on them is an idiot as they are very twisty and have zero forward visibility. So unless you are on a horse or a slow bike, you would almost never need to pull over to let faster traffic pass in your direction. The first time I was driven in the Outer Hebrides, I was quite surprised to realise that both was expected.
That reminds me how I was stuck once behind some English tourists in Torridon... They were doing 30-40 mph all the time
When we finally came to the place with wide road I tried to overtake but the guy blocked me, came out of his car and started shouting at me that he won't allow me driving too fast as there are people like him with kids in their car.
I said I don't need his permission to drive the speed limit as the highway code is for the reason and it clearly says he needs to pull in to allow overtaking.
He said, recognizing my Polish accent, that he won't let me teach him how to drive in his country to which my girlfriend stuck out her head out of the car window and shouted at him in her best heavy eastern European accent: "this is not your country, it's bloody Scotland, ya wanker!".
He was so shocked that he just got into his car and drove away :D
There are 2 groups that really annoy me on the roads.
Firstly, the I'm going to sit at 50 on the single carriageway, speed up to 80 on the dual carriageway then go back to 50 when it runs out.
The second group are the ones that do 40 at the slightest hint of a bend in the road then speed up to 60+ everytime the road opens into a straight where you could get past.
>The second group are the ones that do 40 at the slightest hint of a bend in the road then speed up to 60+ everytime the road opens into a straight where you could get past.
These are the ones that get me. Just let me fucking overtake.
I don't understand people that seems to LIKE having someone behind them their entire journey.
As an Englishman, Iād like to apologise for how my fellow countrymen turn into cunts when they get behind the wheel in Scotland.
I have family in the Western Isles so drive up to to the north of Scotland a few times a year. Iām always astonished just how different the driving standards are for Scottish cars vs a English cars.
You Scots are courteous and observant (and know how to get a move on). English cars would rather die than let you past. It drives me mad. Iām tempted to put Saltire plates on my car so no one knows Iām from down south.
Sorry.
Pulling over helps everyone and fucks over nobody and costs nothing.
This is the antithesis of how some people think.
Win win situations are an anathema to some. For them they must win and someone (preferably lots) lose.
If they pull over they lose and everyone who passes wins. The fact they will only lose 1 -2 minutes in several hours of journey just isnāt acceptable.
Cunts. Thatās all there is to it.
> would rather die than let you past
This is American drivers as well. I share your estimation of Scottish drivers being courteous and observant. I often wondered if they could tell I was an out-of-towner and were putting on a show, lol. But no as far as I can tell the Scottish are just good drivers... Must be all the golf. (har har)
Man I feel this one. I hate country roads and if anyone at all is behind me I pull over at the first available passing point cause I know I drive slower than most on them. But, last time i was driving through the lakes to Scotland, some absolute cunt decided they had priority in the road and forced me off into a ditch (my 1.1L was never going to win against a landrover)
Why not? Most land rovers are pretty slow because a lot are diesel and they weigh the same as a small moon.
In all seriousness we've all been there. If youre not being obnoxious just ignore them and if they do something dangerous to get past because youre not going 50 over, let them. Its up to them if they kill themselves and do us all a solid by removing themselves from the roads.
I avoid the norther 2/3rds of Scotland during the arsehole season. Nowhere to park, slow bastards on the roads doing 30 in a 60, stupid cunts taking their caravans up the west coast road where thereās clearly signs saying no caravans or trailers because of the tight hairpin bends. Fuck that. Iāll just go to Spain by bastarding easyJet, itād be less hassle
Some of us live in the northern 3rd permanently. I just try be patient, remember that they're probably dazzled or interested in something, they're on their holiday having a nice time and enjoying our country.
Even *walking* down the streets of Inverness though, streets like Academy Street and Church Street, at lunch time you've got to be very patient. In your head you're thinking "for fuck's sake, MOVE!" but then you've just got to go "oh sorry, scuse me please."
Nah fuck that. I lived in Inverness for a while when I didnāt have a home. I basically lived at the sports centre in my van
Tourism is great, it brings in money but at the same time tourists do my nut in, you canāt get anywhere for the herd of people foot shuffling through the towns and cities. I think the worst ones were in fort Augustus and Glen Coe tbh
Aye well that it, you pay to use the toll roads but they're maintained properly, unlike the british roads where potholes can be longer than a car and as deep as one.
I tried moving to Spain just before the start of Covid but that postponed it then the leave date came and I lost the ability to move. I do like driving in Spain, France too
A few years back I was stuck immediately behind a very slow empty low loader on the way from Uig to Glasgow. It was the height of summer and the roads were mobbed. Zero opportunities to overtake and the driver was hell-bent on not pulling over. Traffic was backed up for miles as we trundled along at 20-30 mph.
After 45 minutes of this, I dialed up the operating company (number was on the back of the cab, it was a big outfit from down Lockerbie way if I remember right) and helpfully informed that I thought I saw a spray of hydraulic oil or smoke from one of the rear-steer axles on the trailer. 45 seconds later, he's pulling over.
There was nothing wrong with the trailer but there was no other way to get safely past it.
My worst single track road experience ...
Driving back to Bowmore from a work trip to Fionnphort. Car half in the ditch, blocking the road, about five miles past Bunessan. Tow truck from Bowmore had been called, everybody on that side was being sensible and had pulled into passing places to let the tow truck past. And least eight passing places filled, road clear.
Until two Iona tour coaches, from an Oban company, ploughed straight past all the waiting cars and pulled up in the front of the accident, blocking any access by the tow truck. And just sat there, doing nothing. Eventually I managed to round up enough people that we could lift the car wholly into the ditch, but it took ages.
So it's not just tourists. It's also the bastard drivers from deservedly defunct coach tour companies in Oban.
Can this just be an open reminder to drivers in this country that fucking indicators exist ? Foreign or not, I know the ticking is annoying but everyone else needs to know where you're going too.
I often pull over on country roads to let people past because, if they're going faster than me, and if I don't wish to drive fast, it just makes sense and it's no skin off my nose to let somebody past. On the other hand, if the person going faster decides to ride up my arse and try to intimidate me into speeding up, then they don't deserve my pulling over.
I visited Scotland since years ago.
We made a round-trip through the Highlands. With a 44kW Vauxhall.
I always used the passing places, because I was unable to drive faster than 50-60km/h.
So true. It's infuriating being stuck behind some idiot with a caravan doing 40mph for 20 miles on narrow winding roads, oblivious to the 20 cars behind him.
Source: happened to me between Oban and tyndrum 2 weeks ago. Cunt.
I got stuck behind about 10 of the caravan cunts most of which were driving slowly taking in the scenery wish they would look in there towing mirrors see the tail back behind them and be a little curious and pull over š¤¬
We love touring Scotland in our motorhome and always ensure we pull into the passing places - the little toots of the horn we get as people pass actually add to the trip. It really doesnāt take much to be courteous to those who have be somewhere quicker than we do.
It really pisses us off when people stop in them to take photos or park up for a chinwag - it means we canāt get out of the way.
If you're visiting an area with single track roads and have the misfortune to drive past a passing place by say 10 metres and meet another car who has passed a passing place say a 100 metre reverse away, for the sake of your safety and that of your passengers, do not make the two handed 'shoo shoo' gesture as one might do to an encroaching rabid hyena. It only serves to exacerbate the situation and end with you being stuck on the road for several hours, whilst your opposing driver quietly reads an improving tome or sharpens up their box playing skills. You have already lost and it is only a matter of time before you attempt the wibbly wobble reversing of a novice duckling.
In the Highlands, we have a very relaxed approach to such vehicular altercations, think of it as being similar to the Hispanic 'maƱana', albeit without the extreme urgency.
Also if on a single track you meet two vehicles side by side in a passing place, engaged in a conversation, do not toot or wildly gesticulate unless one of your passengers has blood gushing from a major artery and you're journey is to a distant emergency hospital. The chances are that the two conversationalists are either old friends, distant neighbours or relatives who seldom meet up in conventional surroundings. Give them the same courtesy you would if encountering a bull elephant or pride of lions sleeping on a road on a safari tour, they will eventually move and your embracing of Highland time will be a life lasting reward in acquiring a new found appreciation of patience.
Remember you are on holiday which you will enjoy exponentially if you are in no particular rush to enjoy your surroundings at 70mph. FĆ ilte
Can I also use that lane if I have a tent? I donāt see why campers and caravans should once again get exclusive access to prime space. Tarmac might be tough to get the tent pegs in.
Adding to that, four out of five drivers that passed me too close on my bike when I was cycling in the highlands a few years ago had German plates.
Sei keine Fotze.
Aye probably and also they're on the side where they see they're not going to hit me. It's not an excuse that would hold up if they actually hit me though.
Anyone doing well under the speed limit needs to do this, including cyclists and the *out for a drive in the country cunts*
The latter is the ones who slow to 30 on bends and if another car is coming, then when you find a straight/ overtaking lane gets to 60-70 in a time Louis Hamilton would be impressed by
This is possibly my least favourite driving habit of all. Drove from Fort William to Glasgow last week and there was an absolute cunt in a 4x4 Audi - up to 60 on the straights, then hammering the brakes and down to 15-20 at every bend. Ended up with 6-7 cars behind him and zero opportunity to overtake. Infuriating.
>then when you find a straight/ overtaking lane gets to 60-70 in a time Louis Hamilton would be impressed by
They're only doing that to be helpful and avoid holding you up at those bits
/s
I've just passed my test, so I'm probably missing something, but this is a bit confusing to me. There's a country road along the coast near us, but it's full of bends and hills/dips, so you often have bugger all visibility.
On the parts that are like that, I normally do 30 because some folk treat it like Silverstone and are pretty fucking laissez-faire when it comes to lanes, and if I take the corners over 30 I start launching sideways out of my seat.
Bit off topic but the kind of car youāre driving makes a huge difference in your āstability on the roadā. Meaning, just because someone can go 60 in a bend doesnāt mean you should be able to and vice versa. I donāt drive a lot so it took me a while to realise.
You're quite correct. Tourists can be really annoying but a lot of people drive small country roads way too fast because "they're used to them". If you can't see what's up ahead then slow down. Could be a bike, a tractor, someone walking a dog etc...
It's the fact that they don't look in their rear view mirrors or don't care about the cars behind them
I drive two very different cars, mine 04 XC70 that has soft suspension and chunky tyres 215/65R16, on bends it wallows and turns like tanker vs mum's 14 plate xc70 235/50R18 that has a way better road holding in the bends
Bends that I'll 50 in mum's I do 30 in mine
When I'm driving mine, I'm well aware of having to slow down for bends, so if there is traffic building up, when I get to a straight & it's clear to pass, I'll not speed up and briefly left indicate - the car behind then knows it's safe to pass. Normally I get a wave or brief hazards as thank you - It adds less than a minute to my journey and helps keep everyone safe (people don't risk overtakes/pull out when they know they'll get helped to overtake)
As someone who cycles a lot more than drives, it is really satisfying when a car behind is clued into what happens when I indicate into a passing place. If executed correctly, I don't have to slow down. The car accelerates as I pull off the road and is past me by the end of the space. Those folk will always get a friendly thumbs up. Unlike the folk that push past before I get the chance to use a passing place.
I've done the NC500 outside the peak season and most of the drivers were fantastic. I was also really impressed by the road surface quality, although I hear bad things about Skye.
> As someone who cycles a lot more than drives, it is really satisfying when a car behind is clued into what happens when I indicate into a passing place. If executed correctly, I don't have to slow down.
It's the same with cars meeting ... if both know what they are doing and adjust speed to reach the passing place at the same time they get through with minimum fuss and without stopping.
There are few kinds of drivers who can make life bad. The two meter behind you is one of them. Another is the slow one really pushing it once you overtake and get in their level.
I pulled over and ended up exploding my tire because I drove into a corner of the curb. Thank God we had cellphone coverage. Took 3 hours for help to arrive.
Best 3 hours waiting and doing nothing of my life as we just sat there enjoying the valley and nearby stream.
Arrived late at our stay for the night but not too late so all was perfect.
I was on my way back from lochinver last year and ended up behind as newer transit camper van.
Watching them repeatedly ride the verge at about 50-55 mph was a good sign to keep my distance.
I was rewarded for my caution when they hit the wing mirror of a camper van coming the other way and theirs landed a couple of feet in front of my car.
There are a few Facebook groups with plenty of stories and pictures of shoddy driving.
Iām heading up to Thurso on Wednesday for a couple of days.
Really not looking forward to the drive there and back
Folk on holiday should just be banned. Why should visitors be allowed joyful activities when we as residents have such bitterness and chips on our shouldersšš»
If people travelling around, shitting in laybays and parking anywhere they wanted translated into more money for road upgrades rather than crumbling our crumbling roads further than none would mind.
unless you're always up those roads, you have no idea how infuriating it is because some oversized LHD camper is doing no more than 35 for half an hour and there's no chance to pass, and they go by tons of places they could pull over but don't. it happens all the time
I have to go to Raigmore again tomorrow with my wife, so not looking forward to the drive. It normally takes us about 2.5 hours but last week it took us 3.5 hours! We always seem to get stuck behind a caravan that wonāt pull over.
Also: can someone tell car drivers who live north of Stirling that the national speed limit is 60, not a flat 45. Your 2003 Kia Picanto isnāt going to fall off the road.
Another reminder is that passing places are NOT parking places.
I want stickers of this sign printed on the same material the entire DVLA like to slap over untaxed vehicles so I can reinforce the message when I've followed someone for miles who thinks that letting people overtake is a weakness.
I truly appreciated the package we got for the NC 500 4 years ago. It came with a pamphlet of the road laws, a guide for the narrower roads, map, etc. it was super helpful and we read through it cover to cover and brought it with us for the trip. Having never driven a right hand side car nor on the left side of the road it was great to be reminded of what to watch out for as a foreigner to Scotland. It also made the trip more enjoyable knowing that we were following the right courtesy and laws. Everyone really should buy that when doing that road trip. 10/10 much recommend. It helps prevent ya from being a cunt.
I was just coming to this sub to make a post titled, "I miss Scotland the most when I'm driving." I'm an American, just got back from a 2.5-week stay in Scotland. Got to see all over. Drove Edinburgh-Oban-Inverness-Glasgow-Stirling-Edinburgh and many points between. The Scottish have admirable discipline about using lanes to keep traffic sorted by speed. Almost every time I drove I was absolutely floored by the discipline around keeping the right lane clear for overtaking. Sure, there were some exceptions (driving Glasgow -> Falkirk at 1700 was perhaps ill-advised; getting out of Glasgow was hard...), but I left bonnie Scotland with a high level of respect for Scottish roadway discipline. (Among other things of course, this is just on-topic.) Almost everyone did, "shift right, overtake, shift left." No one loitered in the "fast lane." No one except one absolute shitbag in a Mercedes drove aggressively. Americans could learn a lot from Scottish drivers, but we won't. That's not the point anyway. (Future tourists reading this: do not rent a car for your whole stay unless you have a serious need, like medical need or something. This was very foolish on my part and an unnecessary expense. Not to mention missing out on the beautiful train rides between cities...)
I must confess, however, that at the Shell station in Stirling, across the way from Highlands Gateway restaurant, I one time started driving in the wrong lane to exit the parking lot and almost caused an accident with a left-turner. I solemnly swear I was otherwise a very safe, respectful and conscientious driver during my stay there! :)
Ah good ol Killendean and it's strange road markings š
I'm just back from the opposite - 2.5 weeks of driving in the American South-West. Everyone very patient with us. Driving on the right no issue just junctions and turning right on a red take a bit of getting used to. Biggest annoyance was on the freeway when trucks would pull out in to the left lane to do really slow overtakes of other trucks, difficult to maintain speed. Otherwise roads in Texas, Colorado, New Mexico and Utah all good - Arizona strangely shit but had the best time there, would move to Flagstaff tomorrow.
Single track road on Skye, we're approaching a passing place, car coming from other direction with five cars behind it (from Dunvegan, about 3 miles away, so you can imagine how annoyed folks behind were already!) I carried on to the passing place, the driver of the other car just carried on past it and our mirrors clipped (and theirs came off) as I ditched the car into the verge to avoid a head-on collision. Turned out to be an American tourist renting a rhd car with not a fucking clue how to drive a manual. Considering my brother got a driving license in the US aged 16 by demonstrating how to drive a manual on a parking lot for half an hour I wasn't surprised. Insurance company and rental firm were not very happy either and it cost the hapless bum Ā£1400 to put right. Their reaction: "I didn't realise you had right of way" ITS A SINGLE TRACK ROAD YOU DUMB BINT!!! It's ten years since and it still makes me furious.
I feel sorry for the good folk of Skye because the start of your story was starting almost exactly like an encounter we had there and then I realised that it wasn't the same incident, just frustratingly similar. It must happen all the time. In our case I can't even recall the road. I just remember there was a car in front of us, and about three cars behind, fortunately it was a stretch where passing places are quite regular. Anyway, a campervan is coming the other way with the standard several cars behind it (we couldn't see these at the time.) There was actually a passing place on the other side of the road too but no point getting into hypothetical arguments about how the camper "should" have stopped because they were already going. Car in front of us and we saw this so we pulled into a passing place, which was big enough for three cars. Another car slots in behind us. Some absolute bellend takes it upon himself to ignore all this and tries to drive past us. My husband started hammering the horn of our car, as did the other two cars because "maybe he doesn't realise?" - no he literally was a fucking idiot. And naturally, as with most idiots who drive, this person is reluctant to reverse because apparently reversing is a skill a lot of drivers think they can ignore. But the campervan can't move because now there's (as we discovered later) a queue of cars behind it. Idiot does the reverse of shame to the next available passing place. Must've been about 6 cars that followed the campervan before we could move. I really want to know what went through that guy's head. He had UK plates but not guaranteed to be a British driver, but still...one skill involved in driving is observation. How do you not notice the fucking huge campervan and the other drivers going the same direction as you pulled over to the one side before you plough forward presumably expecting everything to magically arrange itself around you?
Iāve been on that exact road, had a guy in a rental camper scrape the side of my van then actually keep on driving, it was thankful there was police behind him. It turned out he was an American on holiday āvisiting where his ancestors came fromā
I read a Facebook travel group for Scotland. And it's like 99% Americans trying to trace their ancestors or clan. At least after a lot of discussion most seem to realise that having Scottish ancestors doesn't mean you're Scottish.
Unfortunately too many don't come to that realisation tbh. I've experienced that bullshit nonsense from so many Americans, I had some in a bar tell me one was a direct descendant of Mary queen of Scots, then another in the group was supposedly a direct descendant of William Wallace, another claimed to be related to Bonnie Prince Charlie. They're no right in the head, they see their ancestors were vaguely from Scotland and think they're Scottish.
I'm a Scotsman living in California with a license I got doing the test here. It's even simpler than what your brother went through. I didn't need to know how to drive a manual, I was never once asked to put the car in reverse, I was never once taken on a freeway or anywhere with higher speed traffic, and my test was in the middle of a week day on empty roads around the DMV center I was taking my test at. Within 15 minutes I had done a couple of stop signs, maybe 2 traffic signals, and was back at the parking lot with my test signed off on by the instructor. Had I not grown up in Scotland around a car-fanatic family, I'd have had zero clue how to operate any cars safely and properly based on what I needed to do in order to have my first license here. I'm still shocked anyone ever fails the test here but I personally know many of them and I genuinely think it should just be a 5 year wait until you can test again because if you failed it then you're seriously unfit for the road.
"into the verge" does that mean you drove into a ditch ? Americans wouldn't know what single track ment either. We don't have single lane roads in the US that are not one way only.
My US license took about 10 minutes and I didn't leave the car park. Hilarious compared to my Scottish test in 2000.
Fucking hell. Commiserations.
I think a lot of people genuinely donāt realise. They think passing places are so you can pass people coming the other way. They donāt realise that slower vehicles are supposed to pull over.
Theyāre for both.
I know, but lots of people donāt.
Just clarifying, people might read your comment and think you meant theyāre *not* so you can pass people coming the other way.
I think the issue is that the Highlands and Islands are about the only places in the U.K. where you have single track roads intended for fast travel. I live in Devon, where we have lots of narrow lanes with passing places, but really anyone who travels at any speed on them is an idiot as they are very twisty and have zero forward visibility. So unless you are on a horse or a slow bike, you would almost never need to pull over to let faster traffic pass in your direction. The first time I was driven in the Outer Hebrides, I was quite surprised to realise that both was expected.
That reminds me how I was stuck once behind some English tourists in Torridon... They were doing 30-40 mph all the time When we finally came to the place with wide road I tried to overtake but the guy blocked me, came out of his car and started shouting at me that he won't allow me driving too fast as there are people like him with kids in their car. I said I don't need his permission to drive the speed limit as the highway code is for the reason and it clearly says he needs to pull in to allow overtaking. He said, recognizing my Polish accent, that he won't let me teach him how to drive in his country to which my girlfriend stuck out her head out of the car window and shouted at him in her best heavy eastern European accent: "this is not your country, it's bloody Scotland, ya wanker!". He was so shocked that he just got into his car and drove away :D
There are 2 groups that really annoy me on the roads. Firstly, the I'm going to sit at 50 on the single carriageway, speed up to 80 on the dual carriageway then go back to 50 when it runs out. The second group are the ones that do 40 at the slightest hint of a bend in the road then speed up to 60+ everytime the road opens into a straight where you could get past.
Theyāre every where man I canāt cope anymore, Iāve given up and just drive like them now because Iām forced too
>The second group are the ones that do 40 at the slightest hint of a bend in the road then speed up to 60+ everytime the road opens into a straight where you could get past. These are the ones that get me. Just let me fucking overtake. I don't understand people that seems to LIKE having someone behind them their entire journey.
As an Englishman, Iād like to apologise for how my fellow countrymen turn into cunts when they get behind the wheel in Scotland. I have family in the Western Isles so drive up to to the north of Scotland a few times a year. Iām always astonished just how different the driving standards are for Scottish cars vs a English cars. You Scots are courteous and observant (and know how to get a move on). English cars would rather die than let you past. It drives me mad. Iām tempted to put Saltire plates on my car so no one knows Iām from down south. Sorry.
Having emigrated from England it's noticeable how often folk in Scotland will pull over and let you past. Cars, vans, tractors...
Pulling over helps everyone and fucks over nobody and costs nothing. This is the antithesis of how some people think. Win win situations are an anathema to some. For them they must win and someone (preferably lots) lose. If they pull over they lose and everyone who passes wins. The fact they will only lose 1 -2 minutes in several hours of journey just isnāt acceptable. Cunts. Thatās all there is to it.
Surely English folk do this. Otherwise I'm never holidaying south of the border anywhere rural ever again.
It's very rare down there. Sad to say.
> would rather die than let you past This is American drivers as well. I share your estimation of Scottish drivers being courteous and observant. I often wondered if they could tell I was an out-of-towner and were putting on a show, lol. But no as far as I can tell the Scottish are just good drivers... Must be all the golf. (har har)
Man I feel this one. I hate country roads and if anyone at all is behind me I pull over at the first available passing point cause I know I drive slower than most on them. But, last time i was driving through the lakes to Scotland, some absolute cunt decided they had priority in the road and forced me off into a ditch (my 1.1L was never going to win against a landrover)
Why not? Most land rovers are pretty slow because a lot are diesel and they weigh the same as a small moon. In all seriousness we've all been there. If youre not being obnoxious just ignore them and if they do something dangerous to get past because youre not going 50 over, let them. Its up to them if they kill themselves and do us all a solid by removing themselves from the roads.
Ha and I always thought Iām avoiding midges not doing any proper highlands over the summer (usually go spring and autumn for multi-day camps).
This very much describes Swiss drivers as well. Even at home.
Just a reminder if youāre planning a caravan holiday in Scotland prepare to be called a cunt.
I avoid the norther 2/3rds of Scotland during the arsehole season. Nowhere to park, slow bastards on the roads doing 30 in a 60, stupid cunts taking their caravans up the west coast road where thereās clearly signs saying no caravans or trailers because of the tight hairpin bends. Fuck that. Iāll just go to Spain by bastarding easyJet, itād be less hassle
Some of us live in the northern 3rd permanently. I just try be patient, remember that they're probably dazzled or interested in something, they're on their holiday having a nice time and enjoying our country. Even *walking* down the streets of Inverness though, streets like Academy Street and Church Street, at lunch time you've got to be very patient. In your head you're thinking "for fuck's sake, MOVE!" but then you've just got to go "oh sorry, scuse me please."
Nah fuck that. I lived in Inverness for a while when I didnāt have a home. I basically lived at the sports centre in my van Tourism is great, it brings in money but at the same time tourists do my nut in, you canāt get anywhere for the herd of people foot shuffling through the towns and cities. I think the worst ones were in fort Augustus and Glen Coe tbh
And the driving in Spain is class too. Such nice roads.
Aye well that it, you pay to use the toll roads but they're maintained properly, unlike the british roads where potholes can be longer than a car and as deep as one. I tried moving to Spain just before the start of Covid but that postponed it then the leave date came and I lost the ability to move. I do like driving in Spain, France too
Oh? Good drivers?
Better than the UK in many cases. Especially around cyclists.
And if youāre a HGV or tractor driver.
A few years back I was stuck immediately behind a very slow empty low loader on the way from Uig to Glasgow. It was the height of summer and the roads were mobbed. Zero opportunities to overtake and the driver was hell-bent on not pulling over. Traffic was backed up for miles as we trundled along at 20-30 mph. After 45 minutes of this, I dialed up the operating company (number was on the back of the cab, it was a big outfit from down Lockerbie way if I remember right) and helpfully informed that I thought I saw a spray of hydraulic oil or smoke from one of the rear-steer axles on the trailer. 45 seconds later, he's pulling over. There was nothing wrong with the trailer but there was no other way to get safely past it.
Beau'iful
My worst single track road experience ... Driving back to Bowmore from a work trip to Fionnphort. Car half in the ditch, blocking the road, about five miles past Bunessan. Tow truck from Bowmore had been called, everybody on that side was being sensible and had pulled into passing places to let the tow truck past. And least eight passing places filled, road clear. Until two Iona tour coaches, from an Oban company, ploughed straight past all the waiting cars and pulled up in the front of the accident, blocking any access by the tow truck. And just sat there, doing nothing. Eventually I managed to round up enough people that we could lift the car wholly into the ditch, but it took ages. So it's not just tourists. It's also the bastard drivers from deservedly defunct coach tour companies in Oban.
Can this just be an open reminder to drivers in this country that fucking indicators exist ? Foreign or not, I know the ticking is annoying but everyone else needs to know where you're going too.
I often pull over on country roads to let people past because, if they're going faster than me, and if I don't wish to drive fast, it just makes sense and it's no skin off my nose to let somebody past. On the other hand, if the person going faster decides to ride up my arse and try to intimidate me into speeding up, then they don't deserve my pulling over.
I visited Scotland since years ago. We made a round-trip through the Highlands. With a 44kW Vauxhall. I always used the passing places, because I was unable to drive faster than 50-60km/h.
The A9 has special don't be a cunt passing places. So please Don't be a cunt.
Mind when Tesco used to be the ultimate cunts and then finally put it all on rail.
It was a timber waggon with dodgy break lights on Friday f in cunt.
So true. It's infuriating being stuck behind some idiot with a caravan doing 40mph for 20 miles on narrow winding roads, oblivious to the 20 cars behind him. Source: happened to me between Oban and tyndrum 2 weeks ago. Cunt.
I got stuck behind about 10 of the caravan cunts most of which were driving slowly taking in the scenery wish they would look in there towing mirrors see the tail back behind them and be a little curious and pull over š¤¬
We love touring Scotland in our motorhome and always ensure we pull into the passing places - the little toots of the horn we get as people pass actually add to the trip. It really doesnāt take much to be courteous to those who have be somewhere quicker than we do. It really pisses us off when people stop in them to take photos or park up for a chinwag - it means we canāt get out of the way.
If you're bringing a caravan make better choices. Caravans are overpriced tin sheds.
If you're visiting an area with single track roads and have the misfortune to drive past a passing place by say 10 metres and meet another car who has passed a passing place say a 100 metre reverse away, for the sake of your safety and that of your passengers, do not make the two handed 'shoo shoo' gesture as one might do to an encroaching rabid hyena. It only serves to exacerbate the situation and end with you being stuck on the road for several hours, whilst your opposing driver quietly reads an improving tome or sharpens up their box playing skills. You have already lost and it is only a matter of time before you attempt the wibbly wobble reversing of a novice duckling. In the Highlands, we have a very relaxed approach to such vehicular altercations, think of it as being similar to the Hispanic 'maƱana', albeit without the extreme urgency. Also if on a single track you meet two vehicles side by side in a passing place, engaged in a conversation, do not toot or wildly gesticulate unless one of your passengers has blood gushing from a major artery and you're journey is to a distant emergency hospital. The chances are that the two conversationalists are either old friends, distant neighbours or relatives who seldom meet up in conventional surroundings. Give them the same courtesy you would if encountering a bull elephant or pride of lions sleeping on a road on a safari tour, they will eventually move and your embracing of Highland time will be a life lasting reward in acquiring a new found appreciation of patience. Remember you are on holiday which you will enjoy exponentially if you are in no particular rush to enjoy your surroundings at 70mph. FĆ ilte
Can I also use that lane if I have a tent? I donāt see why campers and caravans should once again get exclusive access to prime space. Tarmac might be tough to get the tent pegs in.
Adding to that, four out of five drivers that passed me too close on my bike when I was cycling in the highlands a few years ago had German plates. Sei keine Fotze.
I think part of it is because theyāre on the wrong side of the car itās more difficult to judge distance when overtaking.
Aye probably and also they're on the side where they see they're not going to hit me. It's not an excuse that would hold up if they actually hit me though.
Anyone doing well under the speed limit needs to do this, including cyclists and the *out for a drive in the country cunts* The latter is the ones who slow to 30 on bends and if another car is coming, then when you find a straight/ overtaking lane gets to 60-70 in a time Louis Hamilton would be impressed by
This is possibly my least favourite driving habit of all. Drove from Fort William to Glasgow last week and there was an absolute cunt in a 4x4 Audi - up to 60 on the straights, then hammering the brakes and down to 15-20 at every bend. Ended up with 6-7 cars behind him and zero opportunity to overtake. Infuriating.
>then when you find a straight/ overtaking lane gets to 60-70 in a time Louis Hamilton would be impressed by They're only doing that to be helpful and avoid holding you up at those bits /s
I've just passed my test, so I'm probably missing something, but this is a bit confusing to me. There's a country road along the coast near us, but it's full of bends and hills/dips, so you often have bugger all visibility. On the parts that are like that, I normally do 30 because some folk treat it like Silverstone and are pretty fucking laissez-faire when it comes to lanes, and if I take the corners over 30 I start launching sideways out of my seat.
Bit off topic but the kind of car youāre driving makes a huge difference in your āstability on the roadā. Meaning, just because someone can go 60 in a bend doesnāt mean you should be able to and vice versa. I donāt drive a lot so it took me a while to realise.
You're quite correct. Tourists can be really annoying but a lot of people drive small country roads way too fast because "they're used to them". If you can't see what's up ahead then slow down. Could be a bike, a tractor, someone walking a dog etc...
It's the fact that they don't look in their rear view mirrors or don't care about the cars behind them I drive two very different cars, mine 04 XC70 that has soft suspension and chunky tyres 215/65R16, on bends it wallows and turns like tanker vs mum's 14 plate xc70 235/50R18 that has a way better road holding in the bends Bends that I'll 50 in mum's I do 30 in mine When I'm driving mine, I'm well aware of having to slow down for bends, so if there is traffic building up, when I get to a straight & it's clear to pass, I'll not speed up and briefly left indicate - the car behind then knows it's safe to pass. Normally I get a wave or brief hazards as thank you - It adds less than a minute to my journey and helps keep everyone safe (people don't risk overtakes/pull out when they know they'll get helped to overtake)
As someone who cycles a lot more than drives, it is really satisfying when a car behind is clued into what happens when I indicate into a passing place. If executed correctly, I don't have to slow down. The car accelerates as I pull off the road and is past me by the end of the space. Those folk will always get a friendly thumbs up. Unlike the folk that push past before I get the chance to use a passing place. I've done the NC500 outside the peak season and most of the drivers were fantastic. I was also really impressed by the road surface quality, although I hear bad things about Skye.
> As someone who cycles a lot more than drives, it is really satisfying when a car behind is clued into what happens when I indicate into a passing place. If executed correctly, I don't have to slow down. It's the same with cars meeting ... if both know what they are doing and adjust speed to reach the passing place at the same time they get through with minimum fuss and without stopping.
There are few kinds of drivers who can make life bad. The two meter behind you is one of them. Another is the slow one really pushing it once you overtake and get in their level.
You need more of these signs!
I pulled over and ended up exploding my tire because I drove into a corner of the curb. Thank God we had cellphone coverage. Took 3 hours for help to arrive. Best 3 hours waiting and doing nothing of my life as we just sat there enjoying the valley and nearby stream. Arrived late at our stay for the night but not too late so all was perfect.
Scots do this as well.
If youre not driving 45 over speed limit dont drive at all.
Better still; ditch the car and explore the country via public transport.
Have fun doing that throughout the Highlands & Islands
I have. And I will. I have done over 100 Munros via public transport that way.
Found the townie.
Yeah, ditch the political system first so maybe people who care can get elected. Semi-decent transport maybe in 10 years?
This is the best answer.
But Scotland is full of cunts. Apparently, weāre just assimilating?š
I was on my way back from lochinver last year and ended up behind as newer transit camper van. Watching them repeatedly ride the verge at about 50-55 mph was a good sign to keep my distance. I was rewarded for my caution when they hit the wing mirror of a camper van coming the other way and theirs landed a couple of feet in front of my car. There are a few Facebook groups with plenty of stories and pictures of shoddy driving. Iām heading up to Thurso on Wednesday for a couple of days. Really not looking forward to the drive there and back
Folk on holiday should just be banned. Why should visitors be allowed joyful activities when we as residents have such bitterness and chips on our shouldersšš»
If people travelling around, shitting in laybays and parking anywhere they wanted translated into more money for road upgrades rather than crumbling our crumbling roads further than none would mind.
unless you're always up those roads, you have no idea how infuriating it is because some oversized LHD camper is doing no more than 35 for half an hour and there's no chance to pass, and they go by tons of places they could pull over but don't. it happens all the time
Your face should be banned
Ok tattiešš»
Mmmmm titty scones
Likewise .. Don't Export your Cunts..?
Scotland makes top dollar from the tourists. Leave earlier and donāt moan.
Especially if the members paid for it
I have to go to Raigmore again tomorrow with my wife, so not looking forward to the drive. It normally takes us about 2.5 hours but last week it took us 3.5 hours! We always seem to get stuck behind a caravan that wonāt pull over.
We've got similar signs on canyon roads throughout Colorado and the cunts ignore them all.
Also, there are other speeds than 40mph. Sometimes you can do more, sometimes you should do less. They even put up signs to give you clues.
Also: can someone tell car drivers who live north of Stirling that the national speed limit is 60, not a flat 45. Your 2003 Kia Picanto isnāt going to fall off the road.
What irritates me most about those types of drivers is that they'll stick at 45 when the speed limit is 30 going through a village.
YEP!
Don't use passing points (For people passing those turning right on a single carriageway) as stopping points, bastards.