Think your a good driver ?????
Discussion
Having read many threads on here that have included somewhere, the topic, 'the standard of driving' displayed by all sorts of other road users. And the numerous mentions of bad policing policies such as sneaky speed cameras.
I was curious to know how many of us enthusiasts have actually practised what many seem to believe to be of major importance ..... not to legislate, but to educate, and gone out and improved our own standards by way of further training?
I'm sure that most people who use this web site are responsible road users. Most drive very high performance cars and would appear to know when and where to make the most of them.
But, apart from the compulsory test required by H.M. Gov. and the experience gained from using our delightful highways and byways over the years, how many of us actualy fall into the catagory of 'Numptie'? All be it, a 'Numptie' in a very fast, very smart car?
I'm not looking to point a finger at anybody. I was just curious what the levels of proven driving ability are amongst the other members!
And before somebody rants '..... well what about you ....' Yes, I do have further training and will willingly give details if asked!
(Maybe I should fetch my coat ????)
I was curious to know how many of us enthusiasts have actually practised what many seem to believe to be of major importance ..... not to legislate, but to educate, and gone out and improved our own standards by way of further training?
I'm sure that most people who use this web site are responsible road users. Most drive very high performance cars and would appear to know when and where to make the most of them.
But, apart from the compulsory test required by H.M. Gov. and the experience gained from using our delightful highways and byways over the years, how many of us actualy fall into the catagory of 'Numptie'? All be it, a 'Numptie' in a very fast, very smart car?
I'm not looking to point a finger at anybody. I was just curious what the levels of proven driving ability are amongst the other members!
And before somebody rants '..... well what about you ....' Yes, I do have further training and will willingly give details if asked!
(Maybe I should fetch my coat ????)
Only other formal training was an Insurance based scheme called Privilege/Masterdrive, run by BSM, but I've always driven rearwheel drive, all except my 1st car (Lancia Y10 
)
And recently passed by full motorbike test, which strangley teaches you a lot about how to be a better car driver!
) And recently passed by full motorbike test, which strangley teaches you a lot about how to be a better car driver!
There are a lot of proper race drivers on here, but I dont mind admitting I've had no extra training as yet, although it is on the cards for the near future (pressie from girlfriend). I consider myself competent enough to throw my Alfa around very well. Obviously this is easily done being FWD, but still huge fun balancing it on the edge. Am looking forward to learning some RWD car control on a track before my first proper performance car arrives. I reckon I'll be fairly good, given the opportunity of much practice, and tyres! I'm looking forward to improving my skills over the years using the track scene and help from those experienced.
Two completely different sets of skills are required for road driving and race driving.
I've had some advanced training from plod around about the same time I did my bike test. Both made me realise I'd been driving around with my eyes shut previously.
My track driving technique doesn't see any action on the road
I've had some advanced training from plod around about the same time I did my bike test. Both made me realise I'd been driving around with my eyes shut previously.
My track driving technique doesn't see any action on the road
I am a self confessed terrible driver, this is due IMO to having had my driving licence for 20 years, and earning a living by driving (Artics). I have become very complacent and find myself paying not nearly as much attention to whats going on around me as I should. Do I need extra/ regular training and testing? Of course! As do the majority of drivers on the road today. Will I get the extra training? Not unless it's made compulsory! Even if the government introduce some manditory scheme for retesting drivers, you can bet that already qualified drivers will have a get out clause, probably due to "Grandad rights". I would like to see a ten yearly driving test for all drivers, along with a medical.
If I am completely honest I would be an average driver. Ok, so I dont drive like a numptie or ultra fast like a scrote - but I really could do with learning more Road Craft and maybe some extra car handling skills.
I have sucessfully chopped people up without realising, nearly hit cars because I wasnt concentrating and, dare I say it, I smoke, eat and talk on the phone while driving (with a car kit). So on the old scale of good driving I am probably not that good.
So, lets all be honest and really admit to how good or bad we are - oh, and the number of accidents dont count, thats just luck at the end of the day...
I suspect that I am not alone....
Cheers,
Paul
I have sucessfully chopped people up without realising, nearly hit cars because I wasnt concentrating and, dare I say it, I smoke, eat and talk on the phone while driving (with a car kit). So on the old scale of good driving I am probably not that good.
So, lets all be honest and really admit to how good or bad we are - oh, and the number of accidents dont count, thats just luck at the end of the day...
I suspect that I am not alone....
Cheers,
Paul
Thats honest PB - I hope that luck has very little to do with it though, because after the last 500,000 miles without an accident I must be due one !!!! (Lets hope it occurs at very low speed) I've had some scarey near misses in that time.
I found my extra training very useful, as Ted said, you think your an average/good driver but you've been driving arround with your eyes closed. Then someone points out what your missing & it suddenly hits you 'Fu&k, I'll take more notice from now on'
I found my extra training very useful, as Ted said, you think your an average/good driver but you've been driving arround with your eyes closed. Then someone points out what your missing & it suddenly hits you 'Fu&k, I'll take more notice from now on'
I'm an excellent driver on good days .. and undoubtedly a shite one bad days (the other 364 days a year!).
I've had at least 6 accidents, 5 of which were my fault, none injury causing but a lot of bent metal. The last one was in 1992. (I passed my test in 1987. Accident no.1, the only one which was the other guy's fault, was three months later).
Then, a little fed up with this record, I had some advanced IAM type lessons (entirely voluntary). I then forgot to sit the test due to a party the previous night ...
And I realised, as Ted said, I'd been driving around with my eyes half shut. I'll not pretend now that I'm the best driver on the road, or that I apply it every day, but I do most days, and most days I think I'm above average because of it.
But now no accidents for almost 10 years (lean very hard on this wooden table), so it was worthwhile. And at least one very serious accident prevented because of the cadence braking I'd heard - the only time I've ever seriously thought, oshit I'm going to die ...
I'd now like to do some training on how to handle a car properly rather than just how to be safe (incidentally, anyone have any experience of the courses at Knockhill, which look OK value and are reasonably handy?) and then go on some track days to make use of it. Actually I quite fancy racing but - first walk, then run!
I've had at least 6 accidents, 5 of which were my fault, none injury causing but a lot of bent metal. The last one was in 1992. (I passed my test in 1987. Accident no.1, the only one which was the other guy's fault, was three months later).
Then, a little fed up with this record, I had some advanced IAM type lessons (entirely voluntary). I then forgot to sit the test due to a party the previous night ...
And I realised, as Ted said, I'd been driving around with my eyes half shut. I'll not pretend now that I'm the best driver on the road, or that I apply it every day, but I do most days, and most days I think I'm above average because of it.
But now no accidents for almost 10 years (lean very hard on this wooden table), so it was worthwhile. And at least one very serious accident prevented because of the cadence braking I'd heard - the only time I've ever seriously thought, oshit I'm going to die ...
I'd now like to do some training on how to handle a car properly rather than just how to be safe (incidentally, anyone have any experience of the courses at Knockhill, which look OK value and are reasonably handy?) and then go on some track days to make use of it. Actually I quite fancy racing but - first walk, then run
!I'm glad this thread came up!!
I caused myself to have a really good hard look at myself today! And one question I asked myself was "What the F*uck are you doing you arsehole?!"
Most of my friends think I'm a pretty good driver, not because I can drive at high speed, but because I see things and anticipate things most people can't/don't! I spent 20 minutes following a friend of mine giving a running commentary! Things like, "As Ross (my friend) approaches that red civic, it'll indicate and pull out causing Ross to jump on the anchors!" I was right everytime!
If my friends need advice on why they lost the backend on a dry roundabout, usually I'm able to tell them what they did wrong and it never happens again!
But...
Recently I've been flying up behind cars and thinking, why the hell is this guy going so slow? Then realising that I'm going too damn fast!
I don't overtake in dodgy places or speed in built up areas! But today, after I picked my car up from the garage after having the new clutch fitted, I went for a fun drive! It wasn't particularly quick, but I forgot all basic anticipation and observation skills! For instance, the road is a single track, bordered by tall thin hedges on either side, it is very easy to spot cars approaching corners coming toward you just look through the hedge, but as I approached one today, I didn't look, I just battered on round, and saw another car, think it was an new astra, I got round, tyre squeal and and thankfully no damage, but I got a fright, and so did the other driver!
Made me think! Have I become complacent? Am I an Arsehole? Do I drive with good car control and observation? Or am I on Autopilot? It makes me worry, If I had hit that car today, it would have been broadside, his nose into my drivers door!
I don't tailgate, I don't intimidate other drivers, I don't speed in inappropriate places, but some things I do, after the event I think "WTF?!" "Why did I just do that?!"
Anybody else suffer this when they were at a young/inexperienced age?!
>> Edited by tvradict on Tuesday 21st May 23:25
I caused myself to have a really good hard look at myself today! And one question I asked myself was "What the F*uck are you doing you arsehole?!"
Most of my friends think I'm a pretty good driver, not because I can drive at high speed, but because I see things and anticipate things most people can't/don't! I spent 20 minutes following a friend of mine giving a running commentary! Things like, "As Ross (my friend) approaches that red civic, it'll indicate and pull out causing Ross to jump on the anchors!" I was right everytime!
If my friends need advice on why they lost the backend on a dry roundabout, usually I'm able to tell them what they did wrong and it never happens again!
But...
Recently I've been flying up behind cars and thinking, why the hell is this guy going so slow? Then realising that I'm going too damn fast!
I don't overtake in dodgy places or speed in built up areas! But today, after I picked my car up from the garage after having the new clutch fitted, I went for a fun drive! It wasn't particularly quick, but I forgot all basic anticipation and observation skills! For instance, the road is a single track, bordered by tall thin hedges on either side, it is very easy to spot cars approaching corners coming toward you just look through the hedge, but as I approached one today, I didn't look, I just battered on round, and saw another car, think it was an new astra, I got round, tyre squeal and and thankfully no damage, but I got a fright, and so did the other driver!
Made me think! Have I become complacent? Am I an Arsehole? Do I drive with good car control and observation? Or am I on Autopilot? It makes me worry, If I had hit that car today, it would have been broadside, his nose into my drivers door!
I don't tailgate, I don't intimidate other drivers, I don't speed in inappropriate places, but some things I do, after the event I think "WTF?!" "Why did I just do that?!"
Anybody else suffer this when they were at a young/inexperienced age?!
>> Edited by tvradict on Tuesday 21st May 23:25
Well the above 6 accidents were from age 17 to 22 ...
Due to, lets see:
1. Inexperience - didn't realise other drivers could be f*kwits.
2. Inexperience - learned the hard way that there's not much grip on ice
3. Stupidity - look behind before reversing!
4. Poor observation, also inexperience - slow moving car behind a badly parked van.
5. Impatience - relax, let the bus pull out.
6. Poor observation and driving too fast. Coupled with inexperience - recent rain after a dry spell = slippery!
Experience counts for a lot in that lot, plus a little common sense that I perhaps lacked.
It was all a long time ago, now I'm perfect!
Due to, lets see:
1. Inexperience - didn't realise other drivers could be f*kwits.
2. Inexperience - learned the hard way that there's not much grip on ice
3. Stupidity - look behind before reversing!
4. Poor observation, also inexperience - slow moving car behind a badly parked van.
5. Impatience - relax, let the bus pull out.
6. Poor observation and driving too fast. Coupled with inexperience - recent rain after a dry spell = slippery!
Experience counts for a lot in that lot, plus a little common sense that I perhaps lacked.
It was all a long time ago, now I'm perfect!
quote:
I'd now like to do some training on how to handle a car properly rather than just how to be safe (incidentally, anyone have any experience of the courses at Knockhill, which look OK value and are reasonably handy?) and then go on some track days to make use of it.
Better value is this course at Crail - www.1stlotus.co.uk - less likely to hit anything if things go wrong too (Course isn't only for lotuses)
I've done trackdays at Knockhill & also their MGF & single-seater course which was fun, but you get FAR more time at Crail, and the course is tailored to what you want to learn.
cheers,
Craig
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