Driver Perception

[Arch]

JaguarLandRover have this system where Automobile Association Callouts are recorded for Warranty and customer satisfaction issues.

Looking down the Year To Date list on the PC at my side, I see a lot of 'Punctures' where the verbatim says "struck curb". Looking across at the 'driver details', it says Mrs and Miss a LOT of times.

Ok, whatever. And all men are crap at ironing.

 

[Norm]

Yeah, but it's also apparently well known in the motor industry that a huge 4x4 is a good vehicle for urban driving.

and it's 'to men'. Something is inferior 'to' something else.

Also, it's funny how many men also seem incapable of judging a safe distance, isn't it?

Sorry, Arch, but there are physical and physiological differences between the sexes.

The vast majority of the suburban 4x4s (i.e. not agricultural vehicles) that I see are school run mums. My kids' school car park is at least 75% soft roaders and they are almost exclusively driven by women. The "norm" seems to be for the mother to have a 4x4 and the father to have the flash "executive" car, an X5 and an M5, for example, or a Discovery and an A6.

The ladies that I have discussed it with have all said that they consider a larger car to be safer, despite any evidence to the contrary.

 

[magnatom]

Ok, whatever. And all men are crap at ironing.

....and all cyclists are lycra louts...

 

[jimboalee]

Ok, whatever. And all men are crap at ironing.

Agreed. I buy short sleeved shirts so I don't have to iron cuffs.

 

[taxing]

'Why are men worse drivers than women?'

The difference between men and women behind the wheel was brought into sharp relief this week when new Home Office figures revealed men are guilty of a staggering 97% of dangerous driving offences and 94% of accidents causing death or bodily harm. On average, men committed nine times as many traffic offences as women, the study found.

Women aren't the wonderfully attentive and careful drivers the Home Office figures might suggest, though. "If you correct for mileage, you find that females have a similar number of shunts and knocks, but they happen at lower speeds," Stradling says.

Which is more dangerous, getting punctures because you drive into the curb, or hitting another vehicle because you're speeding? This common perception that women are worse drivers is ridiculous, when we all know that men's insurance premiums are higher. I'm not saying we should turn the stereotype around and start taking the piss out of men's driving, more like everyone should stop bashing women drivers when it's patently untrue that women are worse drivers than men.

 

[Arch]

Sorry, Arch, but there are physical and physiological differences between the sexes.

The vast majority of the suburban 4x4s (i.e. not agricultural vehicles) that I see are school run mums. My kids' school car park is at least 75% soft roaders and they are almost exclusively driven by women. The "norm" seems to be for the mother to have a 4x4 and the father to have the flash "executive" car, an X5 and an M5, for example, or a Discovery and an A6.

The ladies that I have discussed it with have all said that they consider a larger car to be safer, despite any evidence to the contrary.

So, some women believe marketing? And men don't? Oh hang on, they all have those macho executive cars....

Of course there are differences between the sexes, or we'd all be amoebae. But I think it's a bit rich to pick up on the sex of the driver in one story, and start making sweeping generalisations about all women. I would say that whenever I get an aggressive beep or yell, it's a man, but that doesn't make all men aggressive idiots.

 

[fossyant]

Back on topic...............

Like Mags says, hoping this person reflects upon the fact that they 'startled' a cyclist by their poor driving, and they drive differently next time. It's highly likely she'll pass me again

 

[Norm]

But I think it's a bit rich to pick up on the sex of the driver in one story, and start making sweeping generalisations about all women.

I think that Jimbo's comment (namely that "Its well known in the motor industry women have inferior spatial awareness than men") does refer to one of the physiological differences.

That men are generally more aggressive, is another.

Jimbo didn't say that all women were inferior but, as a sweeping generalisation, there is a difference between women and men. There is all sorts of genetic stuff at the root of this, and "masculine" and "feminine" are not black and white when it comes to traits like this.

And I didn't say that every woman has a 4x4, no more than I said every man has a flash executive car, just that it was the general trend. That's the other, less known, meaning of the word "norm".

 

[magnatom]

Back on topic...............

Like Mags says, hoping this person reflects upon the fact that they 'startled' a cyclist by their poor driving, and they drive differently next time. It's highly likely she'll pass me again

Interestingly, I take the same route every day and pass and am passed by, the same cars every day. Therefore, it is reasonable to expect that I have come across most, if not all of the drivers in my videos since I have filmed them. I have never had a repeat offender.....

 

[JamesAC]

Has any one ever had a postive reaction by confronting a driver in this way? If so what % of times do you get a 'good result'?

Yes, I did with a BVM (blue.., nor white). He overtook me, passed very close, pulled back in too soon, and he was on a mobile. When I caught up with him at the tls, I knocked on his window, and mentioned that he'd not given me much room, and that using a mobile phone blah blah..

A few days later there was a "toot toot " behind me, and BVM pulled out carefully, overtook me cleanly, then, when it was safe so to do, pulled carefully back in. And he gave a wave.

And the same a few days later, etc.

But, sorry to say, the exception rather than the rule.

 

[taxing]

Interestingly, I take the same route every day and pass and am passed by, the same cars every day. Therefore, it is reasonable to expect that I have come across most, if not all of the drivers in my videos since I have filmed them. I have never had a repeat offender.....

I wonder whether the drivers are now converts and give all cyclists enough room, or whether they realise it's you and to avoid hassle give you space, but still act twattishly around other cyclists.

 

[John the Monkey]

Agreed. I buy short sleeved shirts so I don't have to iron cuffs.

You're supposed to iron the bits you can't see under the suit?

Bloody hell!

 

[John the Monkey]

Not read it, but Cordelia Fine's "Delusions of Gender" looks at the idea of these "hardwired" gender differences.

I'm fairly certain one of the ones she debunks is the idea of inferior spatial awareness. She's interviewed on Resonance FM's "Little Atoms" show, still available to listen to here.

HTH, HAND.

 

[magnatom]

I wonder whether the drivers are now converts and give all cyclists enough room, or whether they realise it's you and to avoid hassle give you space, but still act twattishly around other cyclists.

I'd be surprised if they recognise me, as I do wear different gear, weather dependant, and have two different bikes, also weather dependent and I'm sure my gear blends in with other cyclists'. However, it is possible.

Maybe it is a third option. They have realised that some cyclists don't put up with the bullying, and rather than have the hassle from any cyclist. they will give them room. Not an ideal attitude, but one that would have the desired end result.

 

[jonny jeez]

Also, it's funny how many men also seem incapable of judging a safe distance, isn't it?

or accurate size?