Safe Speed Forums

Handy inferred that we all think we are great drivers because we associate with this site and I would like to test his theory.

I hope I've covered a reasonable spread of options although I do not expect too many responses at either the top or the bottom of the scale

_________________
Ross

Yes I'm a hoon, but only on the track!!!!

I put average carfull driver. I know i am still learning thoughand i hope i never stop. My trouble is i don't have my own car i use company cars when i need to travel, which is not very often, so the learning process has slowed for me. Although i learnt a lot when driving a 3.5ton van about 300+ plus miles a week.

I would have chosen average driver always learning so chose average driver instead.

As with Gopher , average driver , still learning . Not so stupid as to think I'm better than I really am .

Put good driver ( not great ) but always learning.

Not out of any sense of self importance, but because i make the effort to learn and improve each time i drive/ride - whereas 95% of drivers ( good and bad ) make no effort once they have passed the basic test.

Not talking about on the limit handling, or getting from A to B faster than anyone else, but general roadcraft - aiming to be safe, smooth, and above all knowing when to drive slowly.

Put me on a track or rally stage and i would expect to come last!
M. Schumacher need not worry.

I'm more interested in the other interpritation for the original question: How do you rate yourself as a driver?. i.e. What methods or yardsticks do you use to judge your 'goodness' as a driver? I've been pondering how to word it as a poll question - (it's the range of answers giving the problem).

_________________
Paul Smith
Our scrap speed cameras petition got over 28,000 sigs
The Safe Speed campaign demands a return to intelligent road safety

There's a range of measures/indicators which will vary from one person to the next. I rate myself as a good driver, but still learning, because:

I am aware of what's happening on the road around me
I concentrate adequately (most of the time)
I have reasonable/good car control (I know this because I have generally performed well at motorsport events I have attended)
I do not have 'near misses'
I think about the way I drive and the way other people drive
I have taken advanced driving coaching and received positive feedback
I have read, absorbed and try to practise 'Roadcraft'
I don't pretend I never make mistakes

Not necessarily an exhaustive list but the ones which come immediately to mind.

I use one, very simple, criterion..

If I've been "surprised" by something, then I'm not driving as well as I should be.

_________________
"Politicians are the same the world over... We build bridges where there aren't any rivers." - Nikita Kruschev

you beat me to it.

I would be happy to abandon this poll if you would like to set some better worded questions.

I was being a bit tongue in cheek (need a smilie) with some of the questions so a properly worded set of questions would be preferable.

My main interest was to see how people rate themselves generally. No need for fancy science, simply how do you think you rate? What is your perception of yourself?

Handypandy seemed to think we would all be answering 1 but I'm sure that he/she was the only one who actually has answered with number 1.

My expectation was that the majority of the forum members would answer as they have to date based on the comments I have seen thoughout the forum.

_________________
Ross

Yes I'm a hoon, but only on the track!!!!

Thanks for the kind thoughts, but no I certainly wouldn't abandon it - however it did make me think about the other question.

_________________
Paul Smith
Our scrap speed cameras petition got over 28,000 sigs
The Safe Speed campaign demands a return to intelligent road safety

I've had a license for about three years now, but don't drive most of the time as I'm away at university. (When I go home it takes a bit of persuasion for the 'rents to put me on their insurance! )

Obviously I've not had a great deal of experience, but I think I'm a lot better than I was when I passed my test - slightly worrying!? Over Easter I did a long chunk of driving (1800 miles) mostly on my own, and had opportunities to overtake cars on single-carriageway roads more frequently than in the South East

I like to think I've got good observation and can predict what will happen (within reason of course) especially on motorways. What I find hardest is overtaking other vehicles. I've really no idea how much space/time it takes to get past someone, and the relative speeds and road conditions affect this, obviously. 9 times out of 10 I'll err on the side of caution and not go for it, but I did have to abort two overtakes

I'm the "below-average driver", by the way!

_________________
Chris
www.chrishillcoat.net

I think the way the questions are set it is likely that the vast majority of serious replies will be either "A good driver who is always learning" or "an average careful driver".

I'm not sure how it could be phrased better - maybe by a numerical evaluation - top 1%, top 5% etc.

There are one or two people on this forum (not meaning you) who do at times give the impression that they think they are God's gift to driving.

I applaud Chris's honesty in saying that recognises he still has much to learn - but I suspect the majority of drivers won't do so many NSL single-carriageway overtakes in their entire driving careers

_________________
"Show me someone who says that they have never exceeded a speed limit, and I'll show you a liar, or a menace." (Austin Williams - Director, Transport Research Group)

Any views expressed in this post are personal opinions and may not represent the views of Safe Speed

Pogo and ed_m said it , but i get upset if i get surprised, and with mrs B in car- a royal nagging if she sees it first.

SKILL - you tell me - over 1million miles , ncb = max ++ no dunts/shunts , trafpols don't bother me( well either i'm doing it right or they've missed me)
I tend to see thngs about 3 cars away.I drive on mway to 3/4 cars in front.
I like to think i am average driver , still (and always learning( Licence goes in bin day i think i know it all)

Ambition - to sit in front passenger seat of police patrol car and listen to comentary from likes of IG/Ian H and see how much i've missed.