Do You Consider Yourself a Good Driver?

[Philly]

I voted below average. There are plenty of things that I'm sure I'm missing on the roads. And I haven't gotten into any major wrecks probably mostly because I'm a pretty lucky driver.

But maybe my standards of other drivers are wishful thinking. They have plenty more experience yet I'm still amazed from time to time at what other people can pull off. And I'm at the point where my driving starts to slow down. You won't find me flying through traffic and doing other stupid stuff nearly as often any more. I'm sure my car thanks me for that.

 

[mustangGT90210]

Why would he follow that close to someone in a truck he should know has crappy brakes to start with?

 

[Rykon Zero]

Why would he follow that close to someone in a truck he should know has crappy brakes to start with?

That's close?

And normally it has great brakes.

 

[Barracuda]

That's close?

And normally it has great brakes.

The point being you have to compensate for any disadvantages you may have, and compensate further if you're not completely sure how the vehicle is going to act. I wouldn't drive my Barracuda like a BMW, if I did it wouldn't have a front end right now.

 

[Famine]

The first one... Yeah, I'll give you that, that was a freaky experience. The second, no. My grandmother had piled roughly a little over a quarter of a ton of food in the back for a road trip in a base model Ford Ranger. The car in question, a Chevy minivan, was driving along at roughly 40 mph. My brother and grandmother were driving behind them roughly three car paces away, when the van slammed on it's brakes, and I mean with ABS activated. The Ford had the disadvantage of having way too much weight in the back, and having no ABS. The brakes locked up, and he skidded into the van. (Inexperience.) The damage was very little, a bent bumper. So thus, I maintain that the accident was not my brother's fault, and that it could have gone much worse.

And as for the incidents I know of? Of all the times my brother has driven, there are seven times I was not there. Five of them when he was first driving, one where he picked up his friend, and the one above.

Those two incidents were a year ago, though.

(Yes, I am going to defend him to the grave, he's a better driver than my mom or uncles.)

That's close?

And normally it has great brakes.

"Always be sure you can stop in the distance you know to be clear"

If you're following a vehicle so closely that, if it comes to a complete stop, you cannot avoid a collision with it, you are too close. If conditions mean that, for any reason, the braking is compromised, you should compensate for this by leaving more of a gap - to say nothing of compromising it by overloading the vehicle. That's negligence and driving without due care.

 

[homeforsummer]

Also going a bit of the complements I tend to get, both from people that appreciate quick driving and those that like smooth, comfortable driving. And I anticipate other drivers constantly, always moving my foot over to the brake pedal when people are approaching stop signs and aren't slowing down at a reasonable pace, and so on.

This sounds very like the way I drive.

Plus, I'm a delivery driver. In a college town. Known for its drinking. So I get to play dodge the drunk pedestrians and drivers when I work night shifts.

And this. I'm not a delivery driver, but I live in a city with two universities and a number of colleges, which has won "best night out in Europe"-type awards more than once. I often pick up the girlfriend from work in the centre of town and at about 11pm it's a constant struggle to avoid drunken pedestrians and idiot taxis. God knows what it's like at 1-2am when they've had an extra couple of hours alcohol and are falling out of clubs rather than bars.

Oh, and I can't stand being a passenger most of the time. Too many people just don't pay enough attention when they drive.

This too. I can count the drivers on one hand that I don't mind being a passenger with.

 

[Thatman]

I put myself at average because I fit the bill quite nicely:21, with 1 speedin ticket and 1 fender bender(also one shuffled under the floor because the lady hit me with no insurance) As the laws POV that is.

 

[daan]

I'm OK. I'm a decent, courteous, always watching out for others, type of driver. I don't think I'd get on very well on a track, but I do just fine on the roads.

To answer the question, I think I am an acceptable driver, but I'm a better driver today than I was yesterday.

I think you're well above average.

Whether people will get into a car you're driving for a second time is a good indicator. Whether they will allow you - or even ask you - to drive their own car is another one

And there you go.

 

[Famine]

Unless I'm driving a Toyota Sienna... *whistles*

 

[Mrs. Famine]

I drive for a living. Therefore, being a crap driver is not an option - if this were the case then I would've killed myself or someone else by now!

Going by Famine's rules, I must be ok because people have been in a car with me more than once, and I was recently offered a drive of a relatively powerful manual car in the US (bear in mind I'm used to driving on the left, with the steering wheel on the right!)

I don't ever like to opine if I'm a good driver (I'll let others do that for me!) - as pride tends to come before a fall.

 

[Jetboy.]

This just gets better and better. My best friend (Male, 17) just told me that he bailed his girlfriend's Eclipse ass-first into a telephone pole last night. Way to go, another statistic.

Reason: Driving too fast for conditions, 80 mph on a road strewn with gravel for traction when snow had fallen earlier this week.


The car was rather heavily damaged (He didn't impact at 80, luckily), and he got away with a decent gouge on his calf and his hand.

He also alluded to this being the first reported incident. The unreported one being that he fell asleep at the wheel and nailed three construction barrels and sheared a mirror off. Upon being asked "Do you consider yourself a good driver"? He responded: "Yes. But Irrisponsible." (His spelling)

Jetboy


Edit: He just told me that beforehand he hit 130 in it. These are the people we share the roads with...

 

[Leadfoot53]

^... and those are the people I try to avoid...

 

[LittleBahamut]

I placed myself on the above average driver.

Everytime I drive it am nearly always giving myself a large space between the next car infront of me. I always drive with two hands on the steering wheel, with my eyes constantly scanning around, ahead, and the rear view mirros. No tickets since since when I started driving at the age of 17.

The reason why I still don't put myself on top of the category is because I still talk to my cell phone without the earpiece from time to time.

It sucks that any car I will ever own will be driven like its a show car. All my car friends are the ones that will do the aggressive driving from time to time. I will probably never know how fun it is to drive fast until I get myself on a race track.

 

[Vince_Fiero]

I put myself average.

1) Generally very good driver, anticipating, allowing others their space, trying to follow the road signs completely. My partner generally falls asleep next to me when I drive, some people expressed liking to drive with me ....

2) Where it goes wrong, I drive too much (45k Km a year and generally private) and sometimes when not in optimal shape (too tired, ill, stressed, with occupied mind). Although I try to adapt driving style, when not in optimal shape, you do not capture everything and make mistakes. Generally I'm caught in the car with quite a while to drive, when lucky I can ask my partner to take over.

P.S.: trying to follow the road signs completely, does need anticipation, because most other drivers do not expect this.

 

[Azure Flare]

I will probably never know how fun it is to drive fast until I get myself on a race track.

what are you waiting on?

 

[Picc84]

Road driving? Sure I'm doing well, But I'll see just how good of a driver I am this summer at AutoX

 

[Gil]

Driving in snow is easy. There's three basic rules:

1. Don't. This is the one most people get wrong.
2. Smoooooth inputs. Braking, accelerating, steering, clutch - anything you control should be done smoothly rather than jerkily. Everything you do needs to gradually load up rather than having all the forces changing directions rapidly. If you put weights on a piece of string gradually, it'll eventually snap, but if you suddenly put a load of weights on it, it'll snap instantly and with less weight on it...
3. Be in the highest gear you can get away with. You don't want the car kangarooing as the engine struggles to suck in enough gas and air because that generates jerkiness, but the higher the gear, the lower the wheel torque and the lower the forces you're trying to smoothly apply for the same speed.

Do that and you shouldn't lose control - though you can hit unexpected bits of ice which might cause a loss of control on one wheel, it should be very brief. If you do actually lose control of the car (which in all probability will be in the form of understeer), just remember to smoothly get rid of some forces - gently backing out of the accelerator or winding a bit of steering angle off will do the job - rather than stamping on the brakes which generates a sudden, excess force (and massive understeer).

Might not help you be like Pentti Airikkala, but it will help you drive the same car in March that you did in November. And always remember rule 1.

If it is possible to adhere to #1 yes.
And to add to Famine's advice...
If you have to drive in snow, you should think and act as if there is a raw egg under your gas and brake pedal. Your objective is to not damage the egg.
1. At least triple your stopping distance.
2. Before you leave the house, think of, and PLAN every thing you need to get done, and every place you have to go. This is one instance when adhering to the all important 7P's might actually save your life as well as time.
3. If you do go off road, STAY WITH THE DAMN CAR!!!
Unless you can see, and safely get to warm shelter, do not leave the car.
Unless you are in imminent danger of being of being struck by oncoming traffic, stay with the car.
4. Since you've planned to be out and about, you have a full tank of gas, so you can run the heater.
5. You have a fully charged cell phone. Call for help while you stay with the car with the heater running.
6. You let someone know when you were leaving and when to expect you back. So if you don't show up they can look for you. And since you've been keeping them updated to your whereabouts they have some idea where to start looking.
7. If you are traveling some distance to work, school, someplace you are going to be all day, carry a "go bag" with you so if you get stranded, you have what you need to spend the night.


Now as far as being a "good" driver--How about I strive to be a better driver each day.
I'm not as good as I thought I was when I was 17.
But I'm much better than I actually was when I was 17.
My car control was sublime when I was 17. However, my willingness to take stupid chances was also at an all time high.

 

[Joey D]

I think the best thing to add is that if you have to frequently drive in the snow, get snow tires on your car. It'll make your commute a lot less treacherous, however this still doesn't mean every other moron on the road isn't going to attempt to hit you.

 

[buickgnx88]

Meh what can I say, I have off-road tires and 4WD, and I drive around the speed limit on snow covered (but plowed) roads, and maybe 10 under for snowy roads.

BUT, I do know the area real well. I know where to slow down for curves, I know where the best spots to pass are, and I know how to get around while driving on the fewest hills. I stay back from other vehicles, and keep my eyes peeled for any cars that look like they may dart out into traffic.

I've also learned how to use engine braking (coupled with the 4WD system and the manual transmission/clutch) to slow myself down on slippery roads. Coming to an intersection (or a road), especially on a hill, I usually start slowing down at least a hundred or so yards back, so I don't need to use the brakes as much (or at all).

I only got stuck on a snow covered road once (and that was due to several reasons...passenger car tires, melting snow, bad judgment of the depth of the snow) a few years back, but luckily it was warm out and I was able to get a cell signal.

To others, I may seem like a bad driver, but I do know what I'm doing. And lucky for me, I haven't been in any accidents yet! (knock on wood)

 

[Keef]

I consider myself above average in general. I know I'm not excellent because I've discovered my weaknesses on more than one occasion, on track and on the street. My performance driving skills are better than soccer moms can muster but I've got a lot of learning to do, and I also suffer a serious lapse in judgment from time to time. All I can do is try to improve.

 

[Pupik]

I'm not as good as I thought I was when I was 17.
But I'm much better than I actually was when I was 17.
My car control was sublime when I was 17. However, my willingness to take stupid chances was also at an all time high.

I was going to post something else, but that summed up everything.

I'm good, but not great, since I do break and/or break the law a few times.

 

[Rotary Junkie]

Well, seems the accident I got into recently was repeated by another pair of people yesterday at the same intersection.

Something is very wrong there.