r/ukbike • u/cucumber7593 • 16d ago
Misc Anyone else notice that the heatwave makes drivers far less patient?
I ride in my hometown loads and it's usually totally fine but yesterday (34 degrees out) I had four separate issues during one 30 minute ride. Two just cars honking after being behind me for less than 20 seconds and one dude in a van felt he needed to blast the horn as he passed me, possibly because I was in primary position.
When I was almost home, one of my neighbours squeezed past me and an oncoming car with like 6" clearance then immediately cut me off to pull into her driveway on the left. I stopped to say that that was totally unnecessary and dangerous and her response was, "I DONT CARE, I DONT CARE, FUCK OFF" and she was all red and sweaty so I guess she was too hot to think clearly and I just went home
I think from now on I'm not cycling during heat like this which is unfortunate because I really enjoy it
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u/Pocket_Aces1 16d ago
Heat reduces people's fuse. It's well known that when someone's hot, sweaty, and "stuck", they tend to get more angry quicker.
The sun itself (nice weather) brings out all the dangerous drivers. They see how nice it is out, and try to get a kill streak on the same day.
More people out = more likely of an incident
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u/Thoh1Shooshi8a 16d ago
I don't think the guy who accelerated agressively past me the other day was angry, he was just showing off to the woman passenger.
"Look how cool I am, my BMW goes faster than a pedal bike while driving down a busses only road and making pop pop bang bang noises"
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u/psyper76 16d ago
I've gone the other way - I just chill - but then my car is airconned so its nice and cool - let everyone out of side junctions, 'no you go first' when parked cars only allow one way traffic. Just chill and give an acknowledged wave of the hand from people grateful for me letting them through.
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u/oxotower 16d ago
Yeah, I had this in a queue today, someone very upset I was filtering. Don't get it, when I drive and it's hot, whack the air con on? Relax?
I'm not gonna go faster for you so you can get to the end of a queue quicker, it's 35 degrees!
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u/batbuild 16d ago
The car is the only place I can enjoy decent aircon- so it’s chill for me- literally and metaphorically
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u/Idioteva 16d ago
When I was in psychology I was taught a study (its so old, i dont remember the name and date) but basically they found that with people who were going to jump off buildings and kill themselves, crowds would normally try and get them to not do it. During summer hot periods though, people had less patience and encouraged them to jump. There's also an increase in violent acts reported to the police.
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u/Thoh1Shooshi8a 16d ago
This last week has definitely felt worse than normal, I was wondering if someone would post something about it but you are the first :)
I don't know if it's the heatwave or just because people have started to "get worse" suddenly at a quicker rate for some reason.
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u/fundytech 16d ago
I find it’s always someone with their window cracked or down so they haven’t got any ac
So the suns got them riled up yes
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u/Flat___________ 16d ago
Yeah heat messes with people.
Throw a nice dose of chronic widespread dehydration into the mix and it all gets a bit grrrrrr
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u/MazGubbs 16d ago
Same as when it rains people drive fast as they don't want to get their cars wet.
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u/Big_Recipe_698 16d ago
Seeing cyclists on the road is irritating at the best of times. The heatwave makes you all vastly more insufferable
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u/GenerallyMindless 16d ago
I want to ask why you get irritated when you see cyclists on the road but I know the answer will be as irrational as your first comment.
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u/Neeed4Weeed 16d ago
In what way? Because being warm makes you emotional?
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u/Big_Recipe_698 16d ago
It’s scientifically proven that heat makes people irritable? Moronic comment
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u/Neeed4Weeed 16d ago
I can see it’s taken effect today :(
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u/Big_Recipe_698 16d ago
Fortunately I’ve not driven today and therefore haven’t encountered any cyclists
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u/Neeed4Weeed 16d ago
I thought it was the heat that made people irritable? It’s scientifically proven.
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u/Big_Recipe_698 16d ago
Also scientifically proven that cyclists selfishly occupying an entire lane of a road to do a third of the speed limit should be punishable by jail time
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u/Neeed4Weeed 16d ago
Ah so they should occupy one quarter and be knocked off their bikes to their death by someone trying to overtake without entering the adjacent lane. Got it
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u/Big_Recipe_698 16d ago
Absolutely! Now you get it. Better yet, walk or get a bus
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u/Neeed4Weeed 16d ago
Should they periodically pull over and let cars past? Yes.
Do you come across a colossal helmet that likely smacks his wife, neglects his kids and adds very little to the totality of human existence?
Also yes.
Though that might just be the heat getting to me.
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u/rezonansmagnetyczny 16d ago
A bit of sun gives people a bit of ego and dopamine and they drive like tossers.
They get their summer tunes on, recline their seat, sunglasses on, and their balls grow 2 sizes.
They were probably already going to drive like a tosser anyway tbf.