Yes, the English drivers are, in the most part, extremely polite and helpful. But they are also utterly mad.
The speed limits are, unless otherwise signed, about 115km/hr on divided roads, and 95km/hr on undivided roads. That means that all those scenic roads that look like a narrow tunnel though hedges and trees, with a line of sight of maybe a hundred metres or so ...
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| ... like this ... |
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| ... or this ... |
... have a speed limit of 95km/hr.
Now common sense would dictate that a reasonable driver would _not_ drive at anything like these speeds. Perhaps 50km/hr might be appropriate if one was feeling particularly reckless.
However, when driving on slightly wider roads, with a dashed median line, at a speed of about 65km/hr, I have had cars race up behind and overtake with disturbing regularity. And I emphasise, this is with a line of sight measured in dozens, rather than hundreds, of metres.
Not sure whether it is coincidence, but Audi drivers seem to be particularly prone to this. Make of that what you will.
