Sharing a van with a bad or reckless driver

[ripio]

Since the revision, I have been a reserve or spare, and therfore have been out with quite a few different drivers. The standard of driving by some has been really bad and in some cases reckless.
Speeding, going through red lights, using a phone, poor road positioning, and general bad driving.
One of the worst days was when a manager was taking me out to deliver a couple of loops.
As the passenger in these instances, I have felt my safety has been at risk at times and have had to make comment to the driver.

Are any other members experiencing the same?

Any thoughts on what would happen if you refused to go out with a particular driver on the grounds of safety?

[DGP1]

Refuse to go out with them, tell them the reasons why, I personally wouldn't get into a van with a few of the ones in my office and I've told the manager that.

[Lounge Lizard]

If the driving standards are acceptable to the DVLA, the police and Royal Mail then who are you to disagree ?
If you don't like it though the best option would probably be for you to drive yourself.

[Patrick Clifton]

Most/all the vans in our office have a tracking system fitted. They can pull up quite a bit of information about what has gone on while the van has been in use from what I understand.

Is this not the case in all offices?

[R@YAL F@IL]

Just wear a crash helmet ............. Lewis Hamilton's helmet looks ok

[TrueBlueTerrier]

Just wear a crash helmet ............. Lewis Hamilton's helmet looks ok

£4,300 crash helmet, as worn by the British 2008 F1 world champion.

[blue1873]

Just wear a crash helmet ............. Lewis Hamilton's helmet looks ok

So you've studied Lewis Hamilton's helmet to a fair degree then have you.

[scoobydo79]

Just wear a crash <a class="inlineAdmedialink" href="#">helmet</a> ............. Lewis Hamilton's helmet looks ok

Well Nicole Shirtzinger certainly seems to like it

[ripio]

If the driving standards are acceptable to the DVLA, the police and Royal Mail then who are you to disagree ?
If you don't like it though the best option would probably be for you to drive yourself.

That's the point though, the driving standard of some would not be acceptable to the DVLA or the police because the law has been broken.
As for driving myself, yes I can, but if I'm on the passenger loops and someone else (the regular duty holder) is on the driving part of the duty, I wouldn't be able to drive.

[Lounge Lizard]

If the driving standards are acceptable to the DVLA, the police and Royal Mail then who are you to disagree ?
If you don't like it though the best option would probably be for you to drive yourself.

That's the point though, the driving standard of some would not be acceptable to the DVLA or the police because the law has been broken.
As for driving myself, yes I can, but if I'm on the passenger loops and someone else (the regular duty holder) is on the driving part of the duty, I wouldn't be able to drive.

My wife says that I'm a bad and wreckless driver but that doesn't mean I am.
Allow selfish non-drivers to make accusations of 'bad and wreckless' until they have their favourite driver then it's the opposite of how it should be with vital drivers selecting their working companion.

[stokes11eg]

It's not funny being with bad drivers! Just tackle them first, or refuse to go out with them! Once I was being driven out by a Manager who had mobile phone to ear whilst driving round as roundabout! I told him too! I value my life!

[Patrick Clifton]

It's not funny being with bad drivers! Just tackle them first, or refuse to go out with them! Once I was being driven out by a Manager who had mobile phone to ear whilst driving round as roundabout! I told him too! I value my life!

I would have made an official complaint about this!

[R@YAL F@IL]

Just wear a crash helmet ............. Lewis Hamilton's helmet looks ok

£4,300 crash helmet, as worn by the British 2008 F1 world champion.

Docket should cover that

[dvbuk55]

The problem with a bad driver is they don't realise they are a bad driver. How many times in the course of a day do you come across some a-hole speeding, overtaking in a bad place, undertaking, chancing their arm coming out of a junction or on a roundabout - make no mistake they are out there in abundance. As for getting in a van with one...............the first mistake with me as a passenger would be his last with me as a passenger. There are people going out on driving duties that have not had the requisite AA test for RM drivers. One of our drivers, who's over 60 had a slight bump in the yard and had to have the AA test, though he's been driving for 40 years the AA bloke said his driving was below standard and he'd have to go out again - he refused and came off driving though I would consider his driving standard more than adequate.

[Lounge Lizard]

The problem with a bad driver is they don't realise they are a bad driver. How many times in the course of a day do you come across some a-hole speeding, overtaking in a bad place, undertaking, chancing their arm coming out of a junction or on a roundabout - make no mistake they are out there in abundance. As for getting in a van with one...............the first mistake with me as a passenger would be his last with me as a passenger. There are people going out on driving duties that have not had the requisite AA test for RM drivers. One of our drivers, who's over 60 had a slight bump in the yard and had to have the AA test, though he's been driving for 40 years the AA bloke said his driving was below standard and he'd have to go out again - he refused and came off driving though I would consider his driving standard more than adequate.

The blame's not just with Royal Mail then but with the government who lets you pass a test at 17 ( which doesn't even indicate you're a good driver ) then carry on driving unhindered until you're 70. If we're serious about road safety then driving tests, with an appropriate thorough medical test, should be retaken every five years and more frequently than that after 50 years of age.