[Closed] Are you actually a good driver ?

yes, everyone else is an idiot.

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...

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

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.

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

Me too.

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 😀

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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

Hopefully but we all make mistakes from time to time.

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.

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.

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 🙂

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.

....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.

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

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.

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.

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)

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)

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 😉

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.

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 🙂

[i]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. [/i]

+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. 😳

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

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.

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

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

Aw. Ain't it cute!

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.

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...

Deadlydarcy.

Well done. You are an inspiration to us all

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.

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

🙂

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.

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 ****ing 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.

I'm no surfmatt, that's for sure.

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'd say I'm competent, I don't put my car into a ditch when it snows, for instance.
I got my licence in 1973, and only had a car go off the road once, when a rear tyre blew at 70 while overtaking.
Missed that car, the large roadsign on the wide grass verge, and stopped with the car in neutral, and no damage, other than a trashed alloy.
I go faster than posted limits, when safe to do so, because many local ones are political rather than based on actual road hazards; ie, limit dropped because of one accident due to careless driving and both vehicles well below the original speed limit, for example.

Get the App [url= http://www.directline.com/car-insurance/driveplus ]DrivePlus[/url] you'll need a couple of hundred miles to get a reflective score, which would take me six months so I haven't actually used it.

I have a couple of go karting trophies from years ago suggesting my handling skills are ok and now when I do drive (or do anything tbh) I don't rush which in my experience increases the likelihood of mistakes happening.

Problem with those apps is in a loaded van you can rag the wheels off it whilst in a zippy hatchback you have to drive like a nun to get the same score 🙂

I know I can be economical...25k drivers in my company, we were invited to suggest a fuel saving idea, of those that responded, I was in the top 30 for fuel consumption (tracker) and spent a day driving round Millbrook and oggling new cars in camouflage (plus a tractor putting in miles on the high speed bowl). :d

And they didn't tell us they were looking at fuel consumption.

I'll bite, I'm pretty good, which in my book is safe, fast and safe when needed and appropriate. Regular advanced refereshers help. IMHO advanced training or even just reading roadcraft (especially for bikes) is well worth it - it's a pity I'm crap on a mountian bike

I suppose you have to define good. I suppose it must reflect your ability to actually drive a vehicle, and that should include a range of driving conditions, overtaking, good parking, etc. then knowledge of the Highway Code, the way you treat the law and consideration / view of other road users. Not that it matters that much I drive about 30,000 miles a year and would score myself as follows.

Ability : 9/10
Highway Code : 8/10
The law : 6/10
Other road users : 7/10

I can handle a vehicle and definitely consider myself a good 'driver', I know the Highway Code but I definitely do not keep to the letter of the law regarding speed. Always safe but often a little quicker than plod would allow on the quicker roads. I get a little frustrated with stupidity or outright inability sometimes but that's all. Over all I'd say I'm average all things considered, but I'm definitely a good 'driver'...

Never a crash in 25+ years (not a huge mileage though). So by that matter, I must be a bit better than average, though I hope plenty of other drivers don't crash either! And no I don't talk on the phone.

Slightly less good in France than in the UK, from this mornings evidence.

'Pardon Monsieur!'

Merci,

legrandesinge

I'm ok. Passed my advanced motorbike test so reckon I am slightly better than average. I always think my miss spent youth speeding around in a mini has made my a better car driver and having only started driving a motorbike in my 30's when I calmed down means I dont really know where the limits are on a motorbike. In reality the skills needed for driving well are not related to controlling a skid much.

I am shytt, hate driving, too busy looking for new routes on the bike.
The sooner the government buy into my idea of a network of air powered bodytoobz the better !

I suppose you could always say, you`re only as good as your last drive !

Sanctimonious statement over ! one more brew and off onto The wonderful SELWY Moors for a day of sheer love !

Tight chains !

I reckon if you are a good driver you will appreciate that the issue of speed is about more than simply your control of the car...

[i]I'm ok. Passed my advanced motorbike test so reckon I am slightly better than average. I always think my miss spent youth speeding around in a mini has made my a better car driver and having only started driving a motorbike in my 30's when I calmed down means I dont really know where the limits are on a motorbike. In reality the skills needed for driving well are not related to controlling a skid much. [/i]

If you'd been riding bikes with the tyres we had in the 70's/80's you'd have quickly found the 'limits'...

I may have almost knocked down a big post at glentress, and [b]driven into my house a couple of times.[/b] So yeah. Alright. Probably above average because the average is dismal.

Loving the idea that you need to drive into your own house 3 times to be considered below average 😀

Personally I'd say I was below average. Not had an accident for a decade, but had a couple early on through inattention. Tried to move a landy with a cinquecento by reversing into it and pushing it out of the way. Didn't work 😉

Only a handful of accidents in 10 - 15 thousand miles so I would say I'm above average.

I have clocked up 9 points though but not for bad driving as such (bald tyre, seat belt infringement and trying out 'fifty is nifty' in a twenty is plenty zone.. bleeding rozzers :evil:)

not for bad driving as such...trying out 'fifty is nifty' in a twenty is plenty zone

I reckon I am middle of the road.

Also bad driving 🙄

I'm a horrible driver and hated every minute of my lessons. I failed my test leaving the test centre, and don't have a license.

According to the tracker reports on the vans at work,

I'm ok when I'm sober.

I don't do any of the things that the OP suggested. But I don't spend enough hours a year driving to class myself as competent. Obviously if I did, I'd be friggin awesome.

Am totes amazeballs, or I will be again when I get my license back 😉

I assume everyone else on the road is unpredictable so drive very defensively , also don't have the high powered penis extensions I used to and so drive quite sedately these days. Am I good? Have made 1 insurance claim in 24 years if that's any indicator.

I'd say I'm an above average driver.

Sadly though, that's not a statement about my driving ability, but everyone else's. It's not hard to be "above average" when the average is shockingly bad.

I am a very safe driver . When I passed my test, first time, I had the notorious examiner who everyone feared. Even though I mounted the kerb(a surprise situation, which I knew to be the only safe option available) he passed me, and said had I done anything else other than mount the kerb and keep my cool, he would have failed me.
Unfortunately I have been in 4 serious RTA, as a passenger 3 times and once as a driver knocked off a mountain by a landslide. Might have something to do with my approach to road safety.

sex and driving the only two things we are all above average at

Well arguing as well as it is STW but that last one is probably true

once as a driver knocked off a mountain by a landslide.

😯

I'm not sure what's more worrying. People who think they're above average or those who think they're below but do nothing about it.

I drive a Micra.
😆

RichPenny - Member

Loving the idea that you need to drive into your own house 3 times to be considered below average

It's a really awkward driveway!

sex and driving the only two things we are all above average at

I'm average at both
if average is AMAZING 8)

spooky_b329 - Member
Problem with those apps is in a loaded van you can rag the wheels off it whilst in a zippy hatchback you have to drive like a nun to get the same score

Which one have you used before?

Most use accelerometers with the emphasis on braking, acceleration and cornering, so smooth driving is rewarded.

Depends on how you define good. I've not caused an accident or had any points in the 27 years that I've been driving so I reckon I'm a relatively safe driver.

So that 100% of my driving is on public highways I reckon that makes me a reasonably good driver whereas If I were to take up rallying or track days then the definition of 'good' would be very different and I expect I'd probably be below average.

I'm not sure what's more worrying. People who think they're above average or those who think they're below but do nothing about it.

Mind you the thing about averages as opposed to say absolutes is that no matter what the absolute level some people will be above this and some below. A concept that a manager at work had trouble understanding when he found out that almost 50% of the departments had a below average performance 🙂

Brilliant.

I am typing this whilst driving in the middle lane of the motorway and haven't crashed so I must be pretty good at driving.

I'm perhaps the worst person to ask, ask my passengers and other road users.

IanMunro - Member

A concept that a manager at work had trouble understanding when he found out that almost 50% of the departments had a below average performance

Do you work for a state school?

Conformational bias says I'm above average as a driver, but then I have more legs than average so maybe that is the reason.

Posted my answer last time we had this thread. I'm impatient and get wound up by all the idiots who don't know how to indicate, use roundabouts, motorways, lanes etc etc.
Hate driving so don't care whether I'm good at it or not.

Compared to the most of the drivers in South Manchester I am freking awesome driver.
Personally I think I'm okay but tend to enjoy winding other drivers up by doing thing like stopping at reds, sticking below the speed limit and sitting behind a cyclist if there isn't enough room to overtake safely.

I think I'm an average driver. I tend to drive defensively and rarely speed. I try not to get annoyed but sometimes I am somewhat astounded by other people squeezing into small gaps on the M1.

I drive a Yaris 1.0l so I'm not going to be able to speed! I don't really care for cars, they're a thing to get you from A to B. I much prefer bikes and would rather not have a car if possible but modern life (and getting to club meets) makes it difficult.