Russian motorists

[Welly]

You've probably all see those Russian Crash videos on YT, I was watching some yesterday and it seems like a little growth industry going on.

My point though is what's behind the crashes, the reasons. Clearly speeding is an issue in most of the vids and there seems to be something 'wrong' with there major intersections/junctions - can anyone explain what happens at these junctions in Russia? is it a free for all? traffic lights? odd priorities? it seems to me that each time you take a junction it's not if you'll get hit it's when.

Or are Russian drivers just mad?

[Captain Jack]

Uhm... they are mad. The problem with Russian roads is lack of load markings. Like here, there's a give way line, stop line, road divider line... over there, nothing. Yes, you'll see it in *some* places but mostly you'll be lucky to have a paved road. If you're on a main road coming to a junction, there is supposed to be a "main road" sign prior to that (yellow diamond shaped one - never seen these in UK). More often than not, these signs are just not there or covered by trees Unless you know the road well, you're in a world of trouble.

Major junctions are controlled by traffic lights as usual but the pedestrian crossing goes green at the same time as the "turn right" light... so cars end up waiting for pedestrians to cross the road (usually ). Very similar to the States, actually. Except we are not allowed to turn right on the red light like they can over there.

I would never be able to drive in Russia in a city - it's just lunacy. People on roads there are quite arrogant as well - complete lack of respect and noone will ever let you out of a side turning (though, I noticed that's slowly changing for the better). That, and complete lack of driver training. Lots of my friends and family there "passed" their tests after 2 months but they are completely unable to drive - due to zero experience. If you manage to make it to a lamp post and back without smashing your car to smithereens, then it's a pass (for a certain "fee", of course). I am glad driving tests in UK are quite tough (heard they are even tougher in Finland).. and even then we get morons here.

[Welly]

I wondered when you'd reply

That makes sense about lack of road markings from seeing the videos; at major junctions the rate of T-bone crashes is high and if you don't know the road and didn't know you're supposed to stop......

The other problem though is that even a highly competent driver over there would still fall foul of all the other idiots smashing into each other.

What are the car repairs like? is it like Croatia where they'd repair anything as long as it looked a bit like a car in the first place

[Captain Jack]

I honestly don't know. They WILL repair anything but it will cost. However...

I was involved in a minor accident this summer in Russia with my uncle at the wheel of a Hyundai Santa Fe..something or other. Tried to avoid a car that has turned out of a side turning and crossed to the other side of the road... While my uncle was swearing at the mortal crossing his way, he didn't notice an ancient Lada parked on his side of the road and didn't quite have enough time to avoid clipping its rear end corner. The damage to the Lada was a bent corner (a write off in UK), while the Hyundai suffered a broken front bumper and a bent wing. To avoid "the pigs" (police) and insurance (which is only 3rd party), the Lada owner was paid off 2000 roubles (£40) and parted ways.

I thought, pah, cheap repair to the Hyundai - new bumper and a wing is all that's needed. How hard can it be? Apparently, very hard. Unlike the UK, there are no established "breaker yards" there - parts will need to be ordered from new. I am not sure if this is because we don't write cars off or simply a matter of poor infrastructure... But.. it took my uncle 3 MONTHS to source a new bumper and wing. Apparently, this is partially because his Hyundai isn't a current model (it's a 2005) so takes time to source such things. It cost him 40,000 roubles (£800) for parts, spray and labour.

Apparently, there ARE breakers yards in Moscow but the cost of sending such things across Russia is prohibitive, despite the fact that my city is "only" about 800 miles away from Moscow.

Like I keep saying - everything in Russia works.. but only just.

[Welly]

That would explain why so many of the cars in the Videos were sporting damage of some kind.

One thing I did notice was that the Russian people did all tend to stop and help when they saw an accident, even if they weren't involved, can't say that so easily over here

[Captain Jack]

Russian (and I think Slavic) people in general are, deep down, very kind and approachable beings. I find it far easier to strike up a conversation with a complete stranger in Russia than I do here. Could be down to the language barrier, though. The issue is that life there is "on-the-edge" making everyone very stressed and irritable, which in turn translates to rudeness and arrogance

[lozz]

ive got friends that are from Russia.
theyre very nice people,
Veryhard working and do there best to blend in /learn the English language from us.
unlike some that come over and have been over for years and wont speak a word of our language,.

[steve_earwig]

Cor yes, imagine living in a country and not being able to speak the language

Russian (and I think Slavic) people in general are, deep down, very kind and approachable beings. I find it far easier to strike up a conversation with a complete stranger in Russia than I do here.

Yep, it's probably a Slavic thing, they're like that here. Just get them behind a steering wheel and it all goes out the window

There are breaker's yards here too but, by the time you've bought it and painted it (too few cars to find the right colour) you may as well have bought new. I think the supply of spares here is better but the price of spares for cars like Hianddie is extortionate.