I'm not sure if it's discourteousness, or just a simple matter of self-centeredness, but I also get a bit peeved at people standing in the street talking, and when you drive up, they take their sweet time moving from the middle of the street, often with a glare, as if the street is supposed to be for pedestrians and it's me that's inconveniencing them.

Perhaps it's a different upbringing, but I'd never stand in the middle of the street blabbing away (nor leave my shopping cart in the middle of the aisle at the supermarket) and I always look and hesitate before entering the street, even at a zebra crossing.

But many people simply don't bother to even look before they walk into the street, others will happily stand in the middle of the street blabbing, whilst others seem blissfully unaware that they are blocking the aisle at the supermarket, and will glare at you if you politely ask permission to pass, and act like it's a huge inconvenience.

And I've never seen the logic in zebra crossings at every roundabout. Very dangerous, me thinks. Especially when people don't bother to even look before walking out. I've been hit from behind too many times at roundabouts when stopping for pedestrians who unexpectedly just walk out in front of you.

But my biggest peeve is people opening their street-side car door wide open without even looking to see if anyone is coming from behind, causing drivers to swerve out of the way. Maybe I'm too cautious, but I ALWAYS look in the side mirror before opening the door. Always. I always wait for traffic to go by before opening it. Yet it seems I am routinely expected to swerve out of the way or come to a screeching halt whenever someone opens their door in front of me. And yes, you get glares for that - as if you are the one doing something wrong.

I'm not convinced it's deliberate rudeness. I just think many people are blissfully self-centered. It's always someone else's fault. "wasn't me".

^

I agree with Dick in having seen a vast improvement in Spanish drivers in recent years, apart from Madrilenos. I don't know whether the large influx of foreigners has made the noticeable difference, or Trafico's latest efforts to fine everyone on the roads.

I always feel slightly more comfortable when coming across British cars on the roads, the drivers seem to be more considerate. German drivers worry me, they always want to overtake. Spanish drivers are much better now, if only they would pay more attention to the road signs and signal when they want to turn off.

I watched some ridiculous double parking this morning and there were two local police cars nearby, they were also double parked. My car was blocked in but I didn't make a fuss and waited until they moved.

I never argue with people carrying guns.

As someone who came upon a round-about, in Spain and lost the plot as to which side of the road I should have been on, only to take the car over the top of the said round-about; I have no advice to offer anyone.

Shortest distance between two points eh ?

On the plus side just think of all the fuel you saved.

Did anyone follow you? When people are not concentrating properly they tend to just follow the car in front more than the road so that is why I ask.

Rosemary

I thought shouting was done by writing in capital ???
could not find my glasses hence I enlarge the fonts

You were lucky there were no cars parked there in the middle.

Around my way they have things like old steam engines and threshing machines parked up in the middle of roundabouts not to mention some huge ugly heaps of scrap metal they try to pass of as Art.

Maybe jonboy has just been very lucky and happened along shortly after some enterprising citizen had just removed it to weigh it in at the local scrapyard.

Under the circumstances you are excused on this occasion, but please don't let it happen again.

No idea, I was over-stimulated by the view ahead of me. Had I looked in the rear view mirror, carnage could have occurred. Luckily this was not one of the more elaborately decorated round-a-bouts that are often found on the entrance to a town, a complete lack of fishing vessels or fountains
This made possible, a clear vault of the obstacle and it has become known as the "up-n-over" ever since.

Interesting what they put on roundabouts isn't it? I suppose it's to distract attention from the miniskirted young ladies who seem to hang around them. Lots of fishing boats and fountains of course, also in Estepona a full sized fighting bull which my dog growls at - mind you he growls at Osborne bulls a mile away on a hillside. And then in Algeciras there is a roundabout with about 10 dead trees painted bright fluorescent colours - very odd.

I don't know if it's still there but there used to be a fountain in the middle of Malaga city where if you were driving in the offside lane in a British car with the window down, you would get soaked.

Now there is a thought a thread about roundabouts
with Photos could be cool

OK, HeikeundAlan, here is our story. We overlook a five road junction (sweeping, majestic views). Cars would race up to the junction, brake and roar away. Much noise and pollution. Over the years a small round white disc was added and we were upgraded to roundabout status! The circle was enlarged and walled in, grass planted and finally a Palm tree and some small flowers added. We are hoping to advertise soon for the post of “nonchalantly dressed young lady”. We really can’t run to the expense of a water feature although I admit to being tempted to add a few Gnomes.