Obsessions - Driving

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Ponders Revisited

Ponders Revisited

Well-Known Member
Jun 16, 2011
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Elsbels
Rather than post this on General Chat, I wanted to put this issue out to you guys. It is a little embarrassing and is pertaining to my ongoing battles with OCD. I sincerely hope that you do not mind me posting this, and I shall appreciate any input greatly.

Every now and then, a thought gets stuck in my head and drives me to distraction. I can spend many hours, even days, mulling over a million different permutations as the initial thought becomes more complex and taxing. But before I get to this stage, I was hoping to nip it in the bud and put it to bed. That is the hope, anyway!

Earlier on I was driving towards a mini-roundabout, one of those which has been placed at the site of an old T-Junction. As I get to the M-R I indicate to turn right, check the right is clear and enter the M-R. But as I do so, a moron comes shooting straight across and nearly takes out the front of my motor. He stops, I stop and we both open our windows as we are now side on to each other. I ask him why he didn't give way, and he says he doesn't have to because he does not have a right to give way to.
I explain that although I am opposite him, I am actually to his right, and that the road is no longer a T-Junction. It is a 3-way mini-roundabout which was placed there to facilitate right-turns. He would not accept this and was adamant that those going straight ahead have the priority.
Anyway, I was very close to losing my rag - especially after a wasted trip to Chesterfield - and decided to let the matter go. But now the thought has stuck in my head. Surely I am right in my thinking? I am an experienced driver, I have never had a crash and am always researching new ways to improve and educate myself as a driver. But this has got me worked up.

Looking at other forums, there seems to be a 50/50 split on this sort of issue. Some say that the 'Give way to the right' applies to all roundabouts, regardless of size and the amount of turnings. But others say that whoever gets to the roundabout first has priority. I cannot accept the latter view as this attitude negates the purpose of the system and the decency of being patient and courteous. I would only ever enter a roundabout if there was ample time to do so before a car emerged from the right.

Sorry to bore you guys, but feedback will be gratefully received.
 
I am new to driving (only passed last month) but my instructor taught me to always give way to the right including the mini-roundabouts you speak off. I used to just drive straight over them in my lessons until he pointed out their the same as normal roundabouts and if I wanted to put in for my test I had to treat them as normal roundabouts and give way to my right.
 
The issue here is not one of driving regularities but that you may have entered into an argument that did not result in a win. You have a likeable and to be much applauded sense of fair play and high intellect but on the other hand so could the 'moron' who could have done two things.mflipped you a finger and sped off or got out off the car and started a fight. But he did a third and unexpected thing he challenged your intellect on a subject matter that made him your equal. Now your spewing. He was in the wrong surely but he argued his case and that's what has upset your psyche.
 
You make a valid point, typical. The argument, although brief, has played on my mind ever since. I know I am right about the mechanics of the issue, but that will not stop me obsessing, drawing diagrams and studying website after website.
The problem with Pure OCD and ruminating is that the thought is irrational; I know it, all sufferers know it, but that does nothing to tame the beast. Basically, 99% could agree with me, but the 1% is what I will focus on.
 
Belvedere to Charlton and back again! said:
I am new to driving (only passed last month) but my instructor taught me to always give way to the right including the mini-roundabouts you speak off. I used to just drive straight over them in my lessons until he pointed out their the same as normal roundabouts and if I wanted to put in for my test I had to treat them as normal roundabouts and give way to my right.
Click to expand...

And that means if you have no right turn, per se, you look to the opposite side of the roundabout, and if they are indicating right, you give way.

It is simple logic. But 'simple' is what perplexes me the most.
 
I have a close friend whose son has OCD. He taps everything twice. He will count cars When walking and used to check that his toys were there each night before sleeping. He can hide it well but sometimes it slips. You have my sympathy.
 
I should add that the son was diagnosed very early and handles it with great skill and humour. You know for yourself that aspergers syndrome, autism OCD and add are clinically very close and are very difficult to diagnose without specific and comprehensive testing.
 
Thank you for the kind sentiments, typical.

My son has been diagnosed as having Aspergers and attends a SEN school. He has his funny ways, but is an actual genius. His ability to retain information and articulate his knowledge to an audience is stunning for a nine year old. A great source of joy is our little-man.

I was first diagnosed as suffering from OCD about 25 years ago, when I was 8 years old. There was not much help around back then, so I just carried on counting, checking and washing. I didn't even bother to hide it from my peers, and was seen as an oddity: but I didn't care, I still don't to an extent. I have mastered most of the outward obsessions and compulsions: it is the pure OCD that strangles me at times. It always got worse when my kids were born. But Cognitive Behavioural Therapy and ongoing psycho-therapy help.
OCD has its good points for me: a methodical, meticulous and prolific approach to research and perfection. Not bad traits for a writer!
 
Can I say when I read your first post I thought your condition was aspergers more than OCD simply because your distractions were your own ideas rather than things. You have obviously been diagnosed properly and you have turned it on its head and used it to your advantage. Your son no doubt will go on to great things. I am just waiting for my pals kid to reach 21 and we can take him to Vegas, Charlie Babbitt style.
 
Ha Ha! Every cloud, eh?

I do have a few Aspergers-esque traits. My son has mild OCD. It is undoubtedly genetic.

You obviously take a great interest in these conditions to have such an insight.
 
The cross overs in the two conditions are common. My pals kid I adore as if he was my own and I see him two/three times a week. I also have my own condition. A bloody know it all. I must always have the answer. I must solve problems and never ever lose an argument. Not quite OCDish but compulsive none the less.
 
9/10 mini roundabouts at T junctions are utterly pointless!

Especially the ones all the way down Brampton Road which I have to deal with all the time!

With a T junction mini roundabout if I' turning right I end up stopping anyway if there's a car coming straight across because I'm never confident that they're going to give way, and I've seen it happen many a time - and at the age of 19 I've only been driving 2 years!

A lot of the time in Brampton 3 cars will turn up at a MR at the same time which infuriates me! A pointless roundabout causes unnecessary faffing!

As you may have gathered Ponders I not only agree with yourr dislike of T-J MR's...I hate them!!!!
 
g3org3cafc said:
9/10 mini roundabouts at T junctions are utterly pointless!

Especially the ones all the way down Brampton Road which I have to deal with all the time!

With a T junction mini roundabout if I' turning right I end up stopping anyway if there's a car coming straight across because I'm never confident that they're going to give way, and I've seen it happen many a time - and at the age of 19 I've only been driving 2 years!

A lot of the time in Brampton 3 cars will turn up at a MR at the same time which infuriates me! A pointless roundabout causes unnecessary faffing!

As you may have gathered Ponders I not only agree with yourr dislike of T-J MR's...I hate them!!!!
Click to expand...

The benefits of some MR's are there to see. If used correctly, they offer a flow of traffic which enables everyone to continue with their journey. But too many revert to the TJ and fly across the roundabout as if they don't need to give way.
But as you say, to be on the safe side it is always best to slow down and see that the oncoming car is actually going to stop for you. Sometimes, though, they appear to be quite a distance away, so you pull out and then realise they are doing 50mph without any thought of slowing down.

Happy driving!
 
Give way to anything bigger
That's my motto when I'm cycling, and I'm still in one piece after 50+ years of cycling. I carry this attitude when I'm driving, giving way to anyone who looks remotely dangerous, regardless of who is in the right. If a driver is aggressive and impatient I prefer him to be in front of me rather than behind. On a MR I give way to the driver on the right, especially the one who is approaching the roundabout at speed.
 
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