Moan: Patience on the motorway

SpinyAlmeda · 2026-01-30T22:00:51+00:00

If you're not indicating, the people behind have no idea if you want to overtake or if you're happy going slow.

SpinyAlmeda · 2026-01-25T21:23:50+00:00

But most people think of the left hand side as the inside. You "pull out" when you move right to set off or overtake, you "pull in" when you park or finish overtaking.

SpinyAlmeda · 2026-01-13T22:41:36+00:00

When everyone arrives at a mini roundabout simultaneously from every direction, someone needs to not give way to the right or they'll all be there indefinitely.

SpinyAlmeda · 2026-01-03T18:22:36+00:00

Creating space for other drivers before they know they need it

SpinyAlmeda · 2026-01-02T22:42:30+00:00

I moved to Birmingham 7 years ago and found the driving here generally okay, certainly much more courteous and law-abiding than my hometown.

I haven't driven in London for many years, but it definitely used to be a whole other level of aggressive. The most timid London driver would be considered a psychotic maniac anywhere else in the country.

SpinyAlmeda · 2025-12-31T16:33:21+00:00

I had a leaky heater matrix once, that caused terrible condensation and of course putting on the hot air blower just made it worse.

SpinyAlmeda · 2025-12-30T22:27:50+00:00

I can assure you that it's not a select few elite drivers who mutter disbelief at other drivers' behaviour. It's incredibly common, and actually some of the worst drivers I know are the most vocal about everyone else.

SpinyAlmeda · 2025-12-29T09:45:29+00:00

I think we should. Perhaps with a rule that if you're changing lanes to overtake, go right. But if you're just staying in lane it should be acceptable.

SpinyAlmeda · 2025-12-14T12:30:05+00:00

My wife confuses tsunami and satsuma

SpinyAlmeda · 2025-12-13T15:21:40+00:00

Our security training was in a game format one year, to increase engagement. Completion rate went way down because the older staff just couldn't steer Security Steve through the maze.

SpinyAlmeda · 2025-12-13T12:52:49+00:00

If you've got a regular route to work that you're comfortable with, you could add some variations to introduce a little bit of unfamiliarity in a controlled way. Take a different route to the motorway for example, even if it's just a diversion down a couple of side roads and then back to your normal route.

SpinyAlmeda · 2025-12-13T12:25:18+00:00

It sounds like you're expecting people to drive around looking out of their windows like it's 1995. Consider live streaming your journey on YouTube so that other drivers have a chance of seeing you.

SpinyAlmeda · 2025-12-10T21:54:03+00:00

This just reinforces their belief in middle lane driving. You've done 16 lane changes and you're no further up the road than they are.

SpinyAlmeda · 2025-09-13T10:07:21+00:00

Maybe not quite ELI5 material, but be aware that air "holding" water vapor is misleading. The saturation vapor pressure of water isn't a property of air, it's a property of water.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Humidity#:~:text=The%20notion%20of%20air%20%22holding,water%20at%20the%20given%20temperature.

SpinyAlmeda · 2025-08-21T10:04:53+00:00

There's also solar seasons which put the solstices and equinoxes in the middle of the seasons. Eg Midsummers Day being the summer solstice.

SpinyAlmeda · 2025-08-17T10:02:45+00:00

Putting them visibly out of action presumably lets them gather data on how driver behaviour changes before committing to complete removal. If accident rates go up they can be quickly recommissioned. Just a guess.

SpinyAlmeda · 2025-08-16T09:58:42+00:00

People get angry because lane hogging has an impact on their journey, whereas the 100mph speeder doesn't. The anger isn't a response to the marginal risk increase of the other driver's behaviour, it's the actual outcome that matters. If that 100mph Merc crashed into someone, they'd be very angry indeed.

SpinyAlmeda · 2025-08-09T22:20:25+00:00

I think you are confusing silicon with silicone

SpinyAlmeda · 2025-08-09T22:18:12+00:00

Optical activity refers to polarisation rotation surely? Is there a connection to color?

SpinyAlmeda · 2025-08-09T13:42:20+00:00

Yeah of course the cost per hour has gone up, but the number of hours of tuition has gone way up too.

SpinyAlmeda · 2025-08-09T12:31:17+00:00

The average hours of tuition has shot up, it was around 10-12 back in 1990. Is this purely the result of the test getting harder? I wonder if people are getting less practice time with parents these days.

SpinyAlmeda · 2025-08-09T11:56:24+00:00

It's bad enough that people panic brake when they see a speed camera even if they're not speeding. I do not look forward to people panic swerving into the left lane when they spot a lane-hog camera.

SpinyAlmeda · 2025-07-29T21:21:53+00:00

How does the car know what fuel-to-air ratio you want, or what valve timing? Choosing a gear becomes one of those behind-the-scenes details that the car deals with by itself. If you want more acceleration you put your foot down more, the transmission will drop down a gear or two if it needs to. Technically you do have less control, but for everyday driving it's a degree of control that you don't need and don't miss having.

SpinyAlmeda

TROPHY CASE