Cycling UK Forum

Remember from years ago, comments about Sunday drivers being absolute crap, is this true? can someone answer this question for me? I normally post that most drivers are fine, don't ever seem to get any aggro from them, live and let live etc etc. lovely day, so thought I would cycle my usual route to local shops, 15 mile loop on main road. Couldn't believe the close overtakes, blasting on horns, shouting etc, like suddenly being on another planet. Can't quite work out why, must be something, to be so different. Did wonder if it's male drivers trying to impress their family? Any suggestions, thoughts?

I think the myth comes from your weekday warrior motorists suddenly annoyed that there's a group of people taking it easy when they should obviously be pedal to the metal.

From a cyclists perspective, Sunday is like any other day. Sometimes it's good, sometimes less so.

Certainly seemed that way this morning
The nicest weather for months; set off feeling at peace with the world, until several examples of impatience, poor judgement, or sheer bad manners had me shaking my head in dismay. Perhaps, after too much rain and wind, people just can't take the sun

I think it's easy to see how the myth grew up: on Sundays you do find drivers dawdling, often obviously lost, and sometimes even observing speed limits where they fear cameras in an area they are unfamiliar with. Other days seasoned commuters will drive as quickly as traffic conditions will allow, only slowing where they know the cameras are.

I rarely ride on a weekend, but yesterday (Sat) and today (Sun) had me out riding 30miles each.

The differences I see if/when I'm out at the weekend - even when I'm driving - is it's a completely different set of drivers.
If I'm out during rush hour or school run time on a week day, you know what you're going to get. If out later, it's deliveries and utility drivers. Sometimes it's quiet middle-day and early afternoon.

Weekends are totally different with totally different traffic.

Phil Fouracre wrote:Remember from years ago, comments about Sunday drivers being absolute crap, ...

That was from the days when many car drivers only drove on a Sunday There was a time when most people didn't need a car to get to work so if they could afford one, often an ageing model pre-MOT testing, a drive out on a Sunday, perhaps to the seaside or to picnic at some local beauty spot was the highlight of the week. There were few shops open, and those that were could only sell a very limited range of things.

IIRC, the term Sunday driver (also "weekend driver") was bandied about when when somebody with apparently only experience of quiet roads ventured out during the week, when there were commercial vehicles on the road as well.

There is no comparison between road conditions on Sundays now and how things were in those days. Today's Sunday drivers get plenty of experience of the dog-eat-dog culture on our roads.

Phil's experience would appear to suggest different, but I still believe in the 'urban myth' hypothesis. Frustrated commuters, especially those who are running late for work or, in the evening, had a 'bad day at the office', are likely to be the worst offenders surely?

Having said that, my dictionary (but not Google translate) gives the Spanish for 'roadhog' as 'dominguero' ('domingo' is Spanish for 'Sunday'). Maybe the concept of the 'Sunday motorist' is more deeply entrenched in Mediterranean culture?

I don't really like the term. Maybe it had a basis in reality at one time but as Thirdcrank says those days are long gone. Like many such insults thrown about on the roads it really says more about the impatience and aggression of the name caller than it does about the driver in question.

Yup, I agree, a rather outdated disparaging epithet, as you say. My irritation with the ride today, I think, was more to do with the fact that it was an absolutely beautiful day! which took me by surprise. Just took the edge off it by what I felt was abnormally abysmal driving. I'm no coward when it comes to mixing it with traffic, but, to actually have one of the vehicles today actually touch my elbow, with no apparent attempt to slow down was just a little disconcerting!!

Change in the weather? Always seems to bring out the worst in drivers.

I always thought Sunday driver's were those who dawdled down the lanes because they were unused to driving the rest of the week. As said elsewhere change of weather often equals changes in drivers' attitudes, and their abilities, plus they rush around all week on a Sunday they have to rush around to catch up with all the stuff they did not do in the week.

I used to drive a lot when I was working but always noticed how driver skills fell alarmingly at weekends - crawlers, lane changing without signals, sudden changes of direction, tailgating, Clive Dunn type reactions. At weekends the roads are still full of real idiots. I therefore only travel long distances by car on weekdays and if I cycle on weekends its only on very quiet roads. I also try to avoid cycling between 3 and 4 pm weekdays because the worst drivers of all are school mums.

Al

There's nothing worse than the morning and afternoon rush hours - just watch standards fall as people rush about. I avoid those times wherever possible. Sometimes I think the term 'sunday driver' is used whenever a rush hour driver encounters someone driving properly. Dawdlers can be a bit annoying on occasions but they're better than the speeders. Likewise the annoyingly over cautious people who think their car is 12' wide are better than the overly confident people who know exactly how wide their vehicle is and will fit it through any gap just a tiny bit wider.

Vorpal wrote:Change in the weather? Always seems to bring out the worst in drivers.

I've noticed this. First really sunny day of the year, sudden unexpected torrential downpour, whatever... doesn't matter what the weather actually is, it will cause a non-trivial number of drivers to completely lose the place and act like maniacs for one day only.

I like the first day of snow and ice when most are being cautious. If you have a week or two of it you can see the speed increase by the day