Viewing 40 posts - 1 through 40 (of 89 total)
  • Are you actually a good driver ?
  • unfitgeezer
    Free Member

    As the title really…most people that post on here act all I’m the best/most courteous driver on the road etc and get all offended when someone swears at them or cuts them up or they have a bump/scrape/accident its ALWAYS the other drivers fault and not theres (it would appear that perhaps the best drivers in the world post on here)

    so no one here talks on the phone without handsfree…come on you have haven’t you ?

    dare I say no ones ever texted whilst driving…

    no ones cut anyone up etc…

    So are you a good driver ?

    I am the best and /have not /don’t/never have partake in any of the above

    cheez0
    Free Member

    yes, everyone else is an idiot.

    fadda
    Full Member

    Do you want serious answers, or not-so-much?

    Seriously, I believe that I’m good at ‘operating’ my vehicle, but am not especially tolerant/forgiving of other people.

    And yes, I think most of us have used a phone/been distracted by an actractive pedestrian/whatever at some point.

    Less seriously – you’re not the best, you could only be second after me…

    esselgruntfuttock
    Free Member

    Well Iv’e never had an accident.
    Seen loads though. 😉

    samuri
    Free Member

    The longer I drive, the longer I realise how shit I am and how shit everyone else is. I like to think I’ve got a lot better as I’ve got older. I don’t speed now, even in 20mph areas. I take a peverse pleasure in seeing people behind me getting angry at doing the speed limit. I’m always very careful, treat everyone courteously. I no longer get aggressive which I used to do when I was younger and if someone else drives badly, I mostly just shrug my shoulders and let them get on with it. My shoulders are usually really tired after I’ve driven anywhere.

    I’ve very rarely cut people up but always apologise if I do. It’s only by my bad anticipation that has got me there. Would never do it maliciously.

    But. I have never, ever driven while on the phone or texting.

    richpips
    Free Member

    I take a peverse pleasure in seeing people behind me getting angry at doing the speed limit.

    Me too.

    taxi25
    Free Member

    If the point of driving is to safely arrive at your destination then I am. 500, 000 miles since my last minor bump.
    Blood pressure is 120/80 as well 😀

    robowns
    Free Member

    I seem to be more dangerous at low-speed manoeuvring. I never truly pay attention to all sides and have hit a few bollards and things over the years.

    Jamie
    Free Member

    Rode a motorbike for 13 years before getting my car license, so while I am not a good driver, as in The Stig, I like to feel I am very observant. As it’s been hardwired into me that everyone on the road is out to get me, and when they do, it’s going to hurt me a hell of a lot more than it is them. Despite driving a car, I still act the same way.

    samuri
    Free Member

    Racing cars is nothing like driving on the road and I’ll guarantee anyone who thinks they’re a good driver because they think they can drive fast:

    a) Can’t actually drive fast
    b) Aren’t good drivers on the road.

    thered
    Full Member

    No, I’m far too aggressive now eff off!!!

    scuttler
    Full Member

    I reckon I’m pretty good in that I spot most things other drivers are about to do before they do it. However I’ve also come to realise most other drivers can’t see beyond past their smartphone to the end of the bonnet. I don’t drive like a t**t and am reasonably courteous but am hugely impatient with stupidity or ineptitude. I do merge-in-turn and by the same token I start to merge at about 200m from the convergence (yay – that old chestnut!) if the traffic’s going slow.

    So kind of like Jeeezus might’ve been.

    neilsonwheels
    Free Member

    I’m ok but it depends on what flavour of music is on the radio and how late I am.

    Junkyard
    Free Member

    Hopefully but we all make mistakes from time to time.

    Drac
    Full Member

    I’ll guarantee anyone who thinks they’re a good driver because they think they can drive fast:

    a) Can’t actually drive fast
    b) Aren’t good drivers on the road.

    Hi!

    Yeah I make the odd silly mistake now and then but they tend to be very small ones, sometimes the gap I’ve passed through has been narrow, just not thinking the other road user might just poop themselves.

    Jamie
    Free Member

    Oh, and congrats to the OP for choosing another hot topic. You certainly how to drive *hoho* a debate, let’s just hope it doesn’t get steered *hehe* into the inevitable name calling driving threads usually get stuck in.

    aka_Gilo
    Free Member

    Having been a motorcyclist for 33 years against a car driver for 24 years I’d say I’m a fairly decent driver as the skills you need to stay alive on a bike translate to driving.

    That said I get tired, stroppy, and have bad days like anyone else, so there’s a limit to my driving awesomeness 🙂

    molgrips
    Free Member

    I have forced the desire to drive fast out of my psyche by not indulging it. I own two economical comfortable cars that made for relaxed driving not fast. This is deliberate. I don’t speed, and I DO drive expecting a problem around every corner. I don’t take calls when driving unless I have hands free and even then I keep it brief. And if something happens on the road I will ignore the conversation, not the other way round. I never overtake unless there is loads of room, and if in doubt I don’t. Not worth dying over. Like most of us on here I expect, my anticipation and alertness are good, thanks to lots of urban cycling.

    However, I do make mistakes from time to time. Sometimes failing to do something very obvious, sometimes a subtle error with potentially severe consequences. These are thought about and put in the experience bank, not brushed aside.

    As far as car control goes, I challenge myself by beng as smooth as possible, rather than fast. Today was a cracking drive across mid Wales, I was in the zone 🙂

    I have no idea if I am good or not, but I do make the effort to be safe, efficient and responsible. No idea how much I succeed. Maybe a bit of skill, certainly a lot of luck.

    richpips
    Free Member

    ….Looking back, when I used to do a lot of miles I was a lousy driver though. I could double guess everything, and speed limits never really mattered.

    Hands free, I remember taking a call once which was important and lasted 10 minutes. At the end of the call I realised I had driven for the last of those 5 minutes in completely the wrong direction.

    Thankfully I’ve never had an accident in a car despite my previous awesome driving abilities.

    rangeroy
    Free Member

    Nah, im crap, had 3 lessons & passed 30yrs ago now i sometimes drive one of these for work & scare the passengers 😈 http://www.deltrain.com happy days

    martymac
    Full Member

    as a professional driver who has passed 4 driving tests, i reckon i am average, i dont intentionally speed, i never use my phone, i pay attention to my driving above all else.
    everyone makes mistakes in my experience.

    EDIT: i havent had any accidents in the car, but have had a couple of scrapes in the buses over the years.

    MoreCashThanDash
    Full Member

    I’m a “good enough” driver – if the road is clear and safe I may exceed the speed limit, but I don’t use a phone, try and be considerate to the point of getting held up sometimes, but even then I still occasionally perform a manoeuvre and then think – “Jeez, that wasn’t my brightest moment!” Only one, low speed at fault accident with another vehicle in over 25 years driving though, a pretty good record.

    Luckily, every 10 years or so someone buys me a track day at a circuit and I get to drive with properly quick drivers and I realise that I am not as good as them at handling cars and it reminds me not to try it.

    Everyone should get retested every 10 years though, conditions and guidance change over time.

    esselgruntfuttock
    Free Member

    I’m sure I’m far from perfect but some drivers amaze me with their antics every day.
    I shake my head & shrug my shoulders at those who insist on overtaking me at dodgy spots while I’m doing the national speed limit, usually going to work on a morning, I’d love a job where I just want to get there as quickly as possible cos I love it so much. 🙄
    Roundabouts. Now I’m sorry but when I passed my test 3 million light years ago, you gave way to traffic coming from your right? Nowadays a lot of people seem to think you have to stop & check to see if there’s anything coming from the right. READ THE ROAD you Peabrains. (that one annoys me the most)

    somafunk
    Full Member

    I don’t assume i’m a better driver than anyone else on the road – that’s just being an arse and presumptuous as you cannot 100% anticipate what other road drivers are going to do nor how they will react. However, saying that, my mate in the 90’s held UK/ RAC rally titles in his BDA Escort and i’ve sat with him for years and drove on various tracks in this country and on the ring along with spa in so called performance cars (ABT RS4/Lotus Exige V6/ tarmac prepped Subaru, i’m quite comfortable ragging the tits out of and stepping out the back end on my MK2 ABT prepped Golf as long as it’s on a track but on the public roads i drive accordingly to the conditions and mainly to the speed limits,apart from exercising my heavy right foot to overtake when it is safe to do so.

    Not had an insurance claim nor an accident since i passed my test on the morning of my 17th birthday, 24 years ago (gulp).

    So yeah, rather smugly i guess i will say i’m a good driver as i will never take a chance on public roads….(that’s me just totally jinxed myself now)

    tizzzzle
    Free Member

    Yes. But I speed, get angry, undertake, check my phone every now and again, daydream, eat on the go, tailgate and jump lights occasionally. So actually probably not as good as I think.

    At least I don’t hog the middle lane on the motorway though 😉

    durhambiker
    Free Member

    According to the tracker reports on the vans at work, I’m the best driver in my depot, and one of the best in the company. Which means either I’m better than I think I am, or everyone else is terrible.

    brooess
    Free Member

    Problem is too many people utterly over-estimate their driving ability/ability to deal with the unanticipated. 5 people dead each day are the proof of that…

    It’d be good if people could take pride in driving well but there’s sweet chance of that going by current behaviour. In the meantime, I’m going to invest in a company making self-driving cars and then cycling and driving can become enjoyable again 🙂

    br
    Free Member

    Having been a motorcyclist for 33 years against a car driver for 24 years I’d say I’m a fairly decent driver as the skills you need to stay alive on a bike translate to driving.

    +1

    +30 years on both including many years commuting +80 miles per day on a motorcycle in/around London.

    And no accidents with either, since I past my teenage years – and an awful lot of fast stuff on both too. 😳

    deadlydarcy
    Free Member

    Yes, I’m well above average and have been assessed as such.

    Jamie
    Free Member

    Problem is too many people utterly over-estimate their driving ability/ability to deal with the unanticipated. 5 people dead each day are the proof of that..

    I think the biggest factor is people are so used to driving, they forget they are sitting in a piece of metal whizzing along at 50mph, and act as if they are on the sofa watching telly.

    esselgruntfuttock
    Free Member

    24 years ago (gulp)
    41 years ago for me. Never had a claim (either way) for an accident.

    Jamie
    Free Member

    Yes, I’m well above average and have been assessed as such.

    Aw. Ain’t it cute!

    chewkw
    Free Member

    I think I am a good driver in another country but in the UK I am shite. Put it this way I am still trying to get to know all those traffic rules, road “arrows” (you know the ones that suddenly say you cannot turn right or left) and the circus like roundabouts. I mean the amount of road signs is simply crazy. 😆

    Also why do people get so angry when someone switches lanes in front of them? FFS! Calm down. I mean in the far east it’s a normal occurrence and no one make a big fuss about. Here people simply go ape shite even when someone signals and give them plenty of time to get in lane or let them into the lane.

    mikertroid
    Free Member

    I’m so good I’ve been asked to be the guest speaker at a speed awareness course.

    Weird thing is they want me to pay £90 to speak…

    tizzzzle
    Free Member

    Deadlydarcy.

    Well done. You are an inspiration to us all

    sweepy
    Free Member

    I’m a shite driver, the worst I’ll admit to is three crashes in a day, but I’ve not crashed since I gained insight.

    beefheart
    Free Member

    I am a better driver than everyone else as my reactions are better….

    🙂

    Northwind
    Full Member

    I’m alright. Relatively new to it, but a lot of years on motorbikes gave me decent roadsense and also taught me a lot of respect, visiting mates in hospital makes you take things seriously. Sometimes their fault, sometimes not, turns out it doesn’t actually matter very much.

    So I’m pretty courteous, I don’t generally get stressed, I see things not everyone does and I seem to mostly make good decisions in a hurry when I have to.I do drive quick when I can- I don’t buy that going at 80 is automatically dangerous and 70 is automatically fine because of the law, I choose speed based on circumstances is all. I can’t parellel park though and though I’ve never made contact with another car or human being, or really come close, I may have almost knocked down a big post at glentress, and driven into my house a couple of times

    So yeah. Alright. Probably above average because the average is dismal.

    butcher
    Full Member

    The longer I drive, the longer I realise how shit I am and how shit everyone else is. I like to think I’ve got a lot better as I’ve got older.

    I have to say, at 17 I was a **** idiot. It frightens me now, how much so. Not just because I was an idiot then, but because there must be so many people now with the attitude I had then.

    Through the years I can see where changes took place in my driving, and the reasons why. Cycling has been a big one, for example. And my driving now is worlds away from what it once was. I’m a cautious person by nature, and have become very careful with the decisions I make on the road. But I do admit I have become less tolerant of behaviour I consider unsafe with age. Which probably doesn’t help my own driving as I get more distracted by it. I’m certainly not perfect.

    Always learning. And always continuing to be human.

    Onzadog
    Free Member

    I’m no surfmatt, that’s for sure.

Viewing 40 posts - 1 through 40 (of 89 total)

The topic ‘Are you actually a good driver ?’ is closed to new replies.