Are you a good driver?

[_olllllllo_]

I suspect the theme will be I'm a great driver but everyone else sucks. In my case that's actually true

In CO everyone is glued to their phones at all times. It's infuriating driving anywhere. I blame CO for making me hate driving (something I've loved my whole life)

I have found that if you drive a manual transmission you are far less likely to text and drive and therefore be a more attentive driver.

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[HeatBird]

I drive cautiously aggressive . During the latter half of my working career I logged an average of 38-40,000 miles a year for the last 20 years. And that was east coast driving! One accident, rear ending an old lady that didn't move when she should have been long gone.
The only other accident was in my Carrera on the track. That was pretty ugly though!

BTW... Mario did once say, "If you don't come back with just the steering wheel in your hands once in awhile you're not trying hard enough."

 

[Whaler27]

I have found that if you drive a manual transmission you are far less likely to text and drive and therefore be a more attentive driver.

Funny. I’m not inclined to text while driving. My life must be boring, as nothin is so pressing that it can’t wait until I’m able to stop. If such an event ever arose I‘d expect a call, or I could initiate a call using “Siri” and the hands free system.

Part of being a good driver is understanding how to operate a vehicle properly — the sort of training you can get in a track school or EVOC training, but part of it is commitment to the common sense rules — like not tailgating, for example. I routinely see people following each other at 75 miles per hour or faster with less than 20 feet between the vehicles. They’re traveling at 110 feet per second — a third of a football field — while thinking about everything BUT driving. When the vehicle in front of them hits the brakes, they crash, because they cover the distance in less than two tenths of a second, and nobody reacts that quickly. That’s just one of the reasons Oregon has over 40,000 crashes per year and the fatality continues to grow in spite of amazing improvements in vehicle safety systems.

 

[tts42572]

I went average as I really don't know what even defines a "good" driver lol.

I'm very experienced driving. Much like the OP, I've been driving everything since I was about 8 years old. I was driving my Dad home from bars on some back roads when I was 12. Yeah, not the wisest thing in the world but what did I know back then.

I had 3 wheelers, 4 wheelers, drove lawn mowers , tractors, etc, etc. But I'm not sure I'd classify myself as a good driver.

I mean, just because you can go out and hit a golf ball and shoot a basketball doesn't make you a "good" golfer or basketball player.

I'd like to think I'm experienced and responsible by keeping my eyes on the road and not playing with my phone every two seconds. Not sure I'm really "good" though.

 

[_olllllllo_]

Funny. I’m not inclined to text while driving. My life must be boring, as nothin is so pressing that it can’t wait until I’m able to stop. If such an event ever arose I‘d expect a call, or I could initiate a call using “Siri” and the hands free system.

Part of being a good driver is understanding how to operate a vehicle properly — the sort of training you can get in a track school or EVOC training, but part of it is commitment to the common sense rules — like not tailgating, for example. I routinely see people following each other at 75 miles per hour or faster with less than 20 feet between the vehicles. They’re traveling at 110 feet per second — a third of a football field — while thinking about everything BUT driving. When the vehicle in front of them hits the brakes, they crash, because they cover the distance in less than two tenths of a second, and nobody reacts that quickly. That’s just one of the reasons Oregon has over 40,000 crashes per year and the fatality continues to grow in spite of amazing improvements in vehicle safety systems.

I have noticed I just don't find the need to speed as much as I did when I was younger. I was a crazy man on motorcycles in my early 20's and I am probably lucky I didn't die with the speeds I would do on the freeway system of Southern California. Living in Arizona with a lot less traffic has made me more mellow of a driver and realize after watching people weave in and out of traffic for 10 miles and then I am right behind them at a light off the freeway that driving fast is best done on a racetrack.

 

[Heimkehr]

I've no at-fault accidents in 35 years of driving, and in several decades of riding a motorcycle, I've never gone down on the road, nor allowed anyone's negligent driving cause me injury. I also periodically review the ignorant and/or inconsiderate behavior of other drivers as filmed by my dash camera. I ruthlessly profile every other driver/vehicle on the road, and encourage others to do the same. With a years-long claim-free history, State Farm extended to me their Guaranteed Renewal Policy benefit for life (a program long since withdrawn.)

With all of the foregoing in mind, I chose Much better than average with a clear conscience. Stupid is out there every day for all and sundry to witness. I certainly do. E.g., looking away from the road (for too long!) to fiddle with touchscreens that control everything from heated seats to radios has eclipsed the distraction of smart phones, which are now largely hands-free. The OEMs are guilty of adding needless complexity to vehicle controls that cause such distractions.

I am 48 and it's been less than two years since I have taken extended courses. Last decade has been mostly dedicated to motorcycles, but some of the skills and habits transfer.

I recurringly sign up for Advanced Rider Training classes with the PA MSP. Most recently, April 2019. Riding motorcycles has made me a better driver. Good habits do cross over.

Two things every American thinks they are GREAT at: driving and sex.

I don't think I'm quite great at the latter, but I am willing to practice.

 

[limeade]

Rated myself Much Better Than Average, to be honest.....really wanted to click on Mario Andretti!

When I was young, I thought I was a GREAT driver, but that myth was dispelled before I was 20. Now that I'm 48, I understand the difference between knowing how to drive (most people) and understanding the dynamics of how your driving interacts with other vehicles, pedestrians, animals, weather, road conditions, etc. etc. and knowing tactics (lane choice, staying out of blind spots, etc) and techniques (emergency lane changes, threshold braking, skid recovery, etc)to avoid potential crashes.

Anyone can teach someone "how to drive"....key in ignition, D for drive, skinny pedal to go, brake pedal to stop, etc. An average (or worse) driver to me is someone who knows the "mechanics" of driving, but gives no thought to how they actually drive and how their driving interacts with others on the road.

You're an effective (and in my opinion above average) driver when you are actually doing critical thinking, assessing, predicting, what traffic is doing or ABOUT to do and what actions/options you can/should take. This is how I have taught my kids to drive and they are much better at operating a vehicle on roadways than similarly aged young adults.

As I drive around and constantly assess other drivers and their actions, it's plain to me that most drivers don't "think" about what they're doing. They take the same route to work/school/etc. everyday, stay in the same lane, etc. There's absolutely no Critical Thinking going on when they're behind the wheel.

My background is 10 yrs as a law enforcement EVOC instructor and Smith Systems driving instructor and 5 years as a law enforcement motorcycle instructor. When I got into Smith systems and then motor officer instruction, this is where I really learned how to be an effective driver. You learn how to forecast what's going on ahead of you, what traffic is doing and may be doing based upon that, to always leave yourself an "out", always know what's going on around your vehicle, etc. You learn that you have to constantly be a critical thinker.

By consistently practicing these driving principles, you get pretty good at anticipating other drivers behavior and can keep yourself from being collateral damage. Plus, not loitering in blind spots, staying out of the right lane (where most driving hazards are), and other techniques really help in keeping you out of potential problems in the first place.

Does this mean I sometimes go 10-15-20 mph over the speed limit? Yep, if if means I see a large opening in traffic where I can get to as most cars like to travel in packs. It also means I will also slow down to let aggressive drivers get past me.

 

[rickinAZ]

I retired my motorcycle last summer after exactly 50 years of street riding without a get-off (dirt is another story). My last bike was a Ducati Monster 1200 and if fate was going to finally bite me, it was going to do it on that motorcycle. Waaaay too fast for any age. And...the speed was intoxicating.

 

[Heimkehr]

I retired my motorcycle last summer after exactly 50 years of street riding without a get-off (dirt is another story). My last bike was a Ducati Monster 1200 and if fate was going to finally bite me, it was going to do it on that motorcycle. Waaaay too fast for any age. And...the speed was intoxicating.

I sold my Versys 1000 because I wanted to stick around for a while. That motorcycle was so competent at speed that anything in proximity to posted speed limits was actually boring. The sensation of momentum was such that 90 mph felt like 60. That I never received a performance award whilst piloting that bike is proof of miracles, IMO.

As it came to pass, though, my guardian angel gave me an ass chewing because he was having trouble keeping pace. And so the rocket had to go.

These days, I've slowed down to smell the farms roses. Life remains good.

 

[Spank]

No. Nobody is. Not a single person. Ever. Just ask my dashcam.

 

[Dkretden]

These survey have been done over and over (and in a statistically valid way). Over and over the vast majority suggest that they drive “better than average”.......... which, as we know, is mathematically impossible. I have also seen studies that isolate the genders. Men tend to suggest that they are ‘above averageat a far higher rate than women.

 

[@minutemen]

I'm only good at aggressive driving. The 392 will be perfect for that

Also this poll is to some extent useless. We would need to poll friends and family (possibly the dmv as well lol) to find out the true skill level of our driving.

 

[mwilk012]

It’s a subjective question that earns a subjective answer. Better to me, means safer, more aware, and more capable of adapting to conditions.

 

[daveprice7]

... My sense is that almost everybody thinks they‘re good drivers. ...

I think I'm a terrible driver.. but I answered Average.. because.. I know most other drivers are worse than me, so... that makes me average! I haven't been in an at-fault collision as an adult (nearly 30 years), and I've only been ticketed for considerably BS reasons; so I'm either doing OK, or I'm just really lucky

 

[Hasaf]

Nope, not any more.

I used to be, but the reality is that I am older than I used to be. I can measure things, like vision, that are not where they were.

Most of my early driving was in the desert in my father's jeep. Then I lived along Californias Hwy 96 for many years (my job in Medford OR paid my commuting miles, so it made sense to live in my father's cabin). Somewhere in that time, I went through Californias police driving school. Then I had a job that sent me to a two-day defensive driving class every two years (the same job as the one that paid my commuting expenses).

Now, I am an old has-been (which I consider being a considerable step above "never was"). I ride my bicycle to work whenever I can, which happened to include today. I try to only drive when I have a need to.

When driving, I am that guy, the light turns green and I am the one looking both ways for light runners before proceeding. I expect people to ignore yield signs. Basically, I do all I can to make sure that I do nothing "exciting."

I am the guy that always goes out of his way to drive through parking spaced so that I can drive straight out. Why? Because many accidents occur when backing up. So, whenever possible, I don't do that. I tend to stay n my lane in traffic. Many accidents can be attributed to lane changes. So, again, I avoid doing that.

All of this is a way of saying that I can no longer rely on skill and reflexes. As such I have to avoid situations that call for those very skills.

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