Are you a good driver?

Norman_Castle

Cornucopia wrote: »

Here's a tip for identifying whether you are possibly a bad driver: if you experience other drivers hooting or flashing their lights at you reasonably often, but you rarely know why... you are likely to be a bad driver.

If you sound your horn or flash your lights at other drivers regularly you are also likely to be a bad driver.


Asking drivers to judge themselves as good or bad drivers depends on their standards. Some drivers believe driving fast defines you as a better driver others focus on driving safely or economically.
Good driving goes unnoticed, poor drivers tend to make an exhibition of themselves.

vikingaero

You're only a good driver if you recognise that everyday on the roads you are still learning.

The best way to drive is to "ghost" along. That is to be of minimal inconvenience to other drivers. As an example don't drive down streets looking for a house number at 10mph with a queue of angry drivers behind you. Sometimes you will have to inconvenience drivers, for example when turning right and waiting for oncoming traffic to clear, but you can help by positioning your car correctly and indicating early and appropriately.

Cornucopia

Joe_Horner wrote: »

But you're probably no worse than they are, or they wouldn't be reacting like that.

Not knowing why is the critical part. People hoot and flash for a reason - even if that reason is sometimes wrong. As long as you have the insight to know, you can make a reasoned judgement about it. If you are completely perplexed, then it's likely that there is something wrong with your driving or the vehicle that you haven't spotted.

vikingaero wrote: »

That is to be of minimal inconvenience to other drivers.

I completely agree with this. How lazy do you have to be to double-park your car to drop-off or pick-up, when there is a perfectly good space a few yards down the road?

skivenov

Technically, I should be at the top (have held RoSPA Gold passes in car and bike advanced tests).

In practice though, I drive like a !!!!. My preferred method of pulling out of junctions is find something that looks expensive and cut them up, and that's just the tip of the iceberg.

However, I do well over 40k a year, and the only accidents I've had in a long time are people going in the back of me when I've been stationary (and not having just cut them up I hasten to add).

Iceweasel

skivenov wrote: »

Technically, I should be at the top (have held RoSPA Gold passes in car and bike advanced tests).

In practice though, I drive like a !!!!. My preferred method of pulling out of junctions is find something that looks expensive and cut them up, and that's just the tip of the iceberg.

However, I do well over 40k a year, and the only accidents I've had in a long time are people going in the back of me when I've been stationary (and not having just cut them up I hasten to add).

I don't know whether that was said in jest or not, but as a BMW driver of many years I can confirm that there are many who think like that. Why do they do it? Jealousy? Contempt?

It's completely laughable (but sad really) that there is a different attitude from other motorists when you drive a truck, a van (especially if it's white) a LandRover, or a BMW.

It is exactly the same as racism.

WTFH

I think it's because the BMW3/5 or Audi A4 is the repmobile of the last decade or more. In the 80s it was Sierras and Cavaliers.

It's not that all BMW drivers are bad, but just that there are so many of that brand on the roads, you'll see more bad drivers in them, maybe not % wise! but in physical numbers.

Cornucopia

I wouldn't target any other groups of drivers - I think that's childish and irresponsible(*).

However, I have found that some drivers of German brand cars do seem to have issues with their own capability to share the roads properly with other road users. This is something I've observed over a period of many years.

(*) If the situation arises, though, I will sometimes assert my right of way in a 50/50 situation against someone who is driving a vehicle that is inappropriate for the conditions ie. a large 4x4 down a narrow town-centre street - particularly if it would be possible for traffic in both directions to pass freely were it not for their presence.

[Deleted User]

Cornucopia wrote: »

It's something I've been puzzling over for a while... You see dreadfully bad driving on the roads, and yet most people seem to think they are good drivers.

No puzzle at all, try reading this, paying particular attention to the section on self serving bias:

Ask a couple to estimate what percentage of the housework they each do, and the answers add up to more than 100%.

Managers seldom hear an employee complain "That's not fair, you're paying me too much". 90% of employees rate themselves above average, as do 90% of managers.

Most drivers who have been hospitalised after an accident rate themselves as safer and more skilled than average.

Compared with average, most people think themselves more intelligent, more attractive, more ethical, and less prejudiced.

Social psychologists, who know about self serving bias, also rate themselves as more ethical than average.

On average, people think they are going to live 10 years longer than their predicted lifespan.

75% of people think they look younger than their peers.

People think they have a better chance of getting to heaven than mother Theresa.

Nobody rates themselves as below average in their ability to get along with others, 25% rate themselves in the top 1%.

People overestimate the number of those who agree with their opinions.

Failings are normal, talents are unique.

Self serving bias is most apparent in relation to socially desirable traits that can't easily be measured objectively. Like driving.

Steve059

Cornucopia wrote: »

<snip> However, I have found that some drivers of German brand cars do seem to have issues with their own capability to share the roads properly with other road users. This is something I've observed over a period of many years. <snip>

Top Gear magazine has a special section for BMW drivers. It's a pull out without warning supplement.