How good is your driving.?

Question

Come on please be honest!!

Just how good do you think you are at driving?

I drive a car and a motorbike as well as having passed my advanced driving test, and it really amazes me at just how bad some people are at driving.

Every single day I see people running red lights at busy junctions, cutting corners, speeding in built up areas, failing to spot zebra crossings, not spotting me on my bike etc etc

So come on, there must be a reason for it, so what is it?

be honest here please, I am genuinally interested in peoples reasons or excuses for the above actions.

thanks

Answer 1

We are human. Therefore we all make errors in judgement or become distracted by our thoughts or inappropriate actions due to our emotional state, or physical condition (i.e. fatigued, angry, sad, excited, under the influence of medication or other substance abuse). Other influences are following a time limit with our own daily agenda and list of things to do, getting to work/appointments on time.

No one can afford to be self-righteous when operating any equipment. Just focusing on someone else's error can be a distraction and that one thing alone could result in a crash......timing is everything.......we all make errors in steering, observation, look at the wrong thing at the wrong time, etc.........and 99% of the time we get away with crossing that center line just a smidgeon, but if there is a large truck coming towards you, you're dead!........Bottom line.........be on task whenever operating any machine, whether it's the lawnmower, hairdryer, or your vehicle..........chances are your vehicle may kill you if you crash, especially at higher speeds.

I doubt that you have driven perfectly since you became licenced.

I am proud to say, that through my training as a Driving Instructor, I have become more aware than the average driver of my own mortality, and have used caution, developed some good habits (shoulder checking and scanning, mirror checks,maintaining a good space around me), and as a result have never been involved in an off road, rollover, or  other crash. I have driven over 4,000,000 miles and I'm always aware that anything can happen at any time. With age and experience and miles travelled, a good driver will realize the percentages go up as you drive more miles...........I never relax when behind the wheel......the outcome would possibly be disastrous. Driving is a life skill, and focusing on driving is imperative to your safety.

Im not perfect, but the habits I have developed, like most of the better professional drivers out there, have saved my hide........habits such as

1. ALWAYS shoulder checking BEFORE all lane changes and turns.

2. Checking my rear view mirror often and whenever braking.

3. Following traffic at a safe distance....

4. Knowing who is around you at all times.

5. Thinking about what "could" happen at any given point in time while driving situations occur.

6. Scanning well ahead when approaching intersections.

7. Keeping my eyes moving and not getting fixed on any one traffic situation...

8. Keeping an open mind, and continuing to learn new concepts and keeping up with current driving information (signs/line markings/laws, etc)

This may be long-winded, but that's how I have survived to the ripe old age of 60 without incident......

Answer 2

Not paying enough attention to the road is the only reason.. unless drink or drugs i guess

Answer 3

Some people are just heavy with the petal. Road rage gives them a rush. But me I am a good driver. I have to be cuz I am young with too children and life if too short to make unnecessary fu*k ups.

Answer 4

I'm a confident driver, but I don't think its for me to judge my skill. I make mistakes now and then, but I wouldn't say I was a bad driver.

I'll be doing my Advanced Driving Test soon with the IAM.

Answer 5

To rate myself would be difficult,  one rarely  judges oneself honestly.    So,  I'll stick to facts and let others comment.

Until December of 2007,  when I got blown off an icy highway by a crosswind,  my last citation for any reason was Sept.  of 1998.     My last accident/incident was a scratch on a trailer while backing in the dark in April of 1998.   I had over a million miles citation/accident  free until the crosswind got me.

My string of good fortune was interrupted by becoming excessively comfortable with my skills in inclement conditions.   This is a lesson I took to heart,  and why I refuse to drive except on terms of my liking now.   If I am the least uncomfortable with road conditions,  I'll park it.    I will not talk on a phone except with a hands-free device,  and I keep conversations short and out of heavy traffic.    We should always work to improve our skills and safety record.

Answer 6

Ignorance, never seen what can happen.

Answer 7

im generally a good driver, but i have made my mistakes before. the usualy reason would be cell phone, radio, or other distractions. i know what you mean man, some people are straight dumb when it comes to drving.

Answer 8

Familliarity breeds contempt. In other words alot of motorists out there would not pass a test today as they have picked up bad habits.

Answer 9

This is such a good question. I would really like to get into the heads of bad drivers. For the record I feel that I am an excellent driver. Maybe being in a head on collision with a drunk driver helped with that. Sometimes I wish we had like CV radios and I could call the driver that just did something dangerous and stupid and ask, "WHAT THE h**l WERE YOU THINKING?"

Answer 10

I just started driving, but if you ride with me, you might get scared just like my mom.

Answer 11

i like to drive safe on busy roads but a lil bit fun on vacant roads ..... though its risky

Answer 12

i am not bad only one i had an accident it was my fault i reversed into a police car in the police station car park

Answer 13

HOT WHEELS!

BEAT THAT!

Answer 14

i think they r misusing their skill of driving . they don't care about others bieng hurt by their reckless driving and i'm sure u r not like that.

Answer 15

I think that when you are riding a bike you see more. When I rode a bike I knew that bike vs car was a loser and that I could not stop on a dime. I had drivers of cars look right at me at intersection and then pull out causing me to swerve or brake hard. I don't know if they could not see me or what. Like you I don't know why they want to kill you every chance they get.

Answer 16

I used to be pretty bad, now I have to drive every day, for work my driving has improved a lot, wouldn't say I'm the best in the world but better than many I see........

Answer 17

The real reason is impatience. People thinking that driving is a time waster and they need to get from point A to B ASAP. Speed in itself does not kill - check out German casualty statistics and they have autobahns. Reckless driving and any speed can cause damage. I was once advised that the best advanced driving course was the heavy vehicle licence.

Answer 18

well i have never killed anyone,i have been known to go a little faster then the speed limit,i would never drink and drive or have s*x in a moving vehicle

Answer 19

i drive really good.. i cut big trucks infront of me, and always run ahead police cars, and they never did caught me

Answer 20

I'm still learning , so my driving is not the best...

Answer 21

aside from driving too fast (except in school zones...  15 MPH when the kiddies are present), i'd say i'm an excellent driver.  

all of the accidents i've been involved in have been from someone running into me (usually from behind and usually while they're on the damned phone).  after a friend of mine was killed by a driver "chatting" on the phone, i vowed to never talk on the cell while driving again...

just me, though.  i may be wrong.

Answer 22

Interesting question. I have never run a red light or failed to see a pushbike rider or motor bike rider. I do not use disables spaces or park on yellow lines.  I use roundabouts correctly and don't cut corners, and I never speed in built up areas. I too rode motor bikes back in the late '70s early 80s, but gave up as money was needed to pay mortgage. I would not like to return to two wheels as I would feel (even on the big 850 Norton I used to have) very vulnerable. Before I became and advanced driver with the IAM I was probably as bad as most road users.  I have now seen the light, learnt valuable lessons and hope others will follow.  The UK has some abysmal drivers.  I do tend to travel over the speed limit when on bypasses or motorways up to 100 mph when overtaking but on average 10 - 15 mph above the limit.  I am lucky enough to have access to an old airfield so I can put my RX8 through it's paces.  I think people drive like morons because they know no better, just look at the roundabout twats. Speeding is the "look at me, my car is faster than yours" syndrome. Held full bike licence since 1977 full car since 1978 and IAM member since 2002

Answer 23

I'm a great driver...assertive and efficient. There are bad drivers though, like you say. I don't come across running red lights and speeding around corners but I run into the SLOWS everywhere all the time.......it's like cooooome on drive the speed limit and move over! People go like 5 or 10 under the limit with NO regard for anyone else, as though they're the only ones on the road. I hate that.......

Answer 24

I am also an IAM member so I hope now my driving is above average and safer than it was.  I do speed but never in a built up area and never knowingly break the law of the road so to speak.  This subject will always be a bone of contention as for some drivers you can't teach an old dog new trick even if it would save their lives or others on the road.

Answer 25

I'm a careful driver and would never any of things you mentioned.

Answer 26

I'm a great driver its all the other idiots on the road, i do have 11 points on my license though ha ha

Answer 27

not as good in reality as I think I am; When I`m in my Countach, (due for a shakedown drive quite soon when the weather improves)probably over-careful,but in the everyday Focus,not as attentive as I should be - but I always stick to the speed limit....

Answer 28

I rat myself as a good driver, I don't do any of the above carelessness.

Answer 29

I think I am a careful driver but obviously make errors now and then. I have never yet crashed a car but I have had a truck drive into me while I was parked and a car drove too close to me and took off my wing mirror and also been bumped from the rear.  Some pedestrians just walk into the road without checking and I have had a few near misses there. You have to keep your eyes open as people do stupid things all the time. I saw a girl applying mascara while she was driving the other day!

Answer 30

I am a really good driver, so none of that pertain to me....

Answer 31

im probably drunk when i do it sorry