Better than the average driver?

[mickle]

This thread needs a poll.

 

[4F]

28 yrs driving 10-15,000 miles pa. Clean license for 20 yrs

That sounds average to me

31 / 31 here

 

[Davidc]

My main differences from the OP are that I had a parking ticket (overstaying the time) in Eastbourne once, and I don't exceed speed limits, and have driven for 38 years with no offences etc.

No IAM but defensive driving training, towing training, and another which is irrelevant in the UK (I hope).

I rate my driving as poor, only just fit for purpose. Too often I'm later than I should be reacting, too often I'm later than I could have been seeing hazards, my vehicle control isn't always perfect, and much more besides.

I don't like cars, never feel really safe in them, and if the option was realistic I'd give up using them.

 

[Beebo]

I strive to be in the top 4.25% of drivers.

Well I strive to be in the top 3.68% of drivers, beat that if you can!

 

[middleagecyclist]

That sounds average to me

31 / 31 here

The majority of my work colleagues have points. Mainly for speeding.

 

[middleagecyclist]

Well I strive to be in the top 3.68% of drivers, beat that if you can!

There is striving and then there is actually achieving

 

[Night Train]

The one thing that does get me is that if you have a job that requires you to have a particular skill or ability then the employer will send you on regular training courses, monitor your skills, retest your skills and knowledge on a regular basis (annually) and strive to improve your skills and knowledge for the betterment of your ability to do the job.

If you drive a white van for a living then, having passed a very basic test umpteen years ago with no refresher and no examination of your skill, you get the job. Then there is no further assessment of your driving skill, no training, no monitoring, no retesting, nothing.

Seems a bit to me.

 

[marinyork]

Simple enough to say most think they are a cut above others on the roads.

Staying safe is fine enough for me - I don't worry about such meaningless things. Although some on here might say that 'dithery' or 'cautious' or 'nervous' drivers 'caused' accidents in terms of how they interact with their more aggressive counterparts.

It's not just restricted to driving.
Many people think they work 'harder' than a very large number of other people sometimes dubbed 'the majority'.
Many interviewers think they are better at 'sniffing out talent' than other bosses/interviewers even though those other people seem to think this too.
People who get jobs have a knack of saying that they were better than all of the other candidates.

The question is why do people think these things. There are several possible explanations with regards driving. One is that their skills, braveness and goodness can fight against a world of crap driving, evil, traffic, accidents and chaos. The constant talk of clean licences even has a ring of 'virtuousness' about it. Not exactly a new idea in human history is it? Since there aren't really any serious challengers in life to many peoples' 'driving ability' in a lot of cases, the view can remain unchallenged.

I think in general one is much better at talking about specific driving behaviours.

 

[Archie_tect]

I accompanied my daughter out for a practise drive on Sunday morning with four ' L' plates on the car. It was clearly indicated to everyone that she is a novice but still capable of keeping up with the traffic and safely and smoothly setting off and dealing with situations.... she is just about ready to take her test. Yet I have never seen more inconsiderate, aggressive and stupid driving, by everyone else- male/female, young or old- undercutting, driving way too close and passing within millimetres, pulling out in front at junctions, cutting in in queues... put L plates on your car and try it to see what happens.... unbelievable! I don't get this reaction on my bike butsome others do, especially in Commuting... is it that some drivers become aware of, and attack, any sign of weakness... like animals attacking or driving out a weakened pack member?

 

[Arch]

I'm aware I could be better. Which perhaps makes me safer than those who think they are already better than average, but not as safe as those with more experience and training. I tend to be more hesitant than ideal, if anything, I think.

(Clean licence for 25 years now, but that includes some years of driving thousands of miles in large vans/minibuses/lorries up to 7.5 tonnes, and some years of barely driving at all, or only driving our work truck in purely urban areas at a max speed of about 12mph).

 

[marinyork]

I accompanied my daughter out for a practise drive on Sunday morning with four ' L' plates on the car. It was clearly indicated to everyone that she is a novice but still capable of keeping up with the traffic and safely and smoothly setting off and dealing with situations.... she is just about ready to take her test. Yet I have never seen more inconsiderate, aggressive and stupid driving, by everyone else- male/female, young or old- undercutting, driving way too close and passing within millimetres, pulling out in front at junctions, cutting in in queues... put L plates on your car and try it to see what happens.... unbelievable!

Unfortunately. Lived on or near two test routes and the level of aggravation this instils in people is comically funny. Also used to cycle along a quiet road that was a 'popular' road for manoeuvres and some of the things that happened on that (empty) road as 'normal' drivers went past was just silly. The place where they prefer to often do things is often chosen carefully and causes minimum disuption but from responses of residents you'd think that you were trying to pass through a dodgem ride.

 

[slowmotion]

I'm bad. I got my very first speeding ticket in the post today. 79 mph in a 70 mph limit.

 

[defy-one]

I'm bad. I got my very first speeding ticket in the post today. 79 mph in a 70 mph limit.

Your human

 

[ASC1951]

I would hope that I'm a slightly better driver than average, in that I have driven almost daily for forty years and have had one bump (in my early 20s and entirely my fault ).

 

[mark st1]

[QUOTE 2136287, member: 9609"] how much fun can a boy have [/quote]

Loads of fun.......................................................................... In a Daf