How's your driving skills?

[journeyman Mick]

Thought I'd ask people to rate their skills as a driver. I've read that most people believe themselves to have above average driving skills, which of course isn't possible, as then that would be the average:rolleyes: . Of course an hour or so on the road usually tells me that the majority of people out there are very average indeed.:wink:
I thought I'd make a few arbitrary levels of skill for the poll:

1) I probably shouldn't be driving anymore, my reflexes and /or eyesight aren't that good and it's all I can do to keep the car on the road.

2) I'm a bit below average, not very confident in traffic or in poor weather or light conditions.

3) I'm just your average driver, have the neccesary skills to get from A to B, doesn't matter too much about the conditions or the traffic.

4) I have above average skills and experience, and believe I can react correctly in an emergency. Poor weather and light conditions aren't a problem, but I'll adjust my driving to suit.

5) I'm an advanced driver and have undergone training in advanced driving skills. I'm confident I can safely react to any adverse conditions or an emergency.

Personally I reckon I'm a "4", I've done some skid pan training in a fire truck :o and done a fair bit of high speed offroading, driving sideways but still in control. Driven heavy vehicles and a fair bit of long distance night time driving. The majority of my driving for the last fifteen years or so has been in utes and vans, mostly 4wd. High centre of gravity, very unequal weight distribution (either buggerall over the back wheels when empty, or a tonne extra over the back wheels), generally poor handling and brakes when compared to passenger vehicles of the same age. I can get most vehicles reversed into tight areas and parallel parking is fine as long as the vehicle has adequate mirrors.
I drive to the conditions and the only accident I had was years ago, when I got clipped by a drunkdriver in a 'cruiser ute with a bull bar. I squeezed onto the dirt to get past him as he was half in my lane coming towards me, but I didn't quite fit in the gap between him and the cutting. I managed to correct the skid he sent me into, but I overcorrected and didn't get the wheel back the other way fast enough. Car rolled 3 times, no one injured thankfully and the cops finally caught him halfway to the next town. :((

So how's your driving skills?

[Buzzer]

I would describe myself as below average in the city, avoid it if at all possible.

In the bush/rural roads/off road I would say experienced, above average.

Over time I have come to find out, the thing with drivers it always seems to be "someone else" that is the bad driver.

[Bob38S]

I voted a 4, I don't wish to skite but been driving [legally on the road] 41 years, accidents, 1 - hit a roo - not hard to do on bush roads,

Edit - I was referring to 4 wheels above - I have had 1 accident on 2 wheels as well - I was sideswiped into the table drain by a car.

Brief summary - not complete,

Driven - Australia - all parts, city and bush
New Zealand North and South Island - Cape Reinga to Bluff
UK - London to Wales to Scotland + Ireland and the Republic
Europe - Switzerland - all over

Have managed to keep all cars intact and occupants safe - despite the idiotic efforts of some of the other drivers I have come across.

Regards,
Bob

[tameriska]

I have put myself down as average, I have had two accidents, both with the other driver failing to give way/ obey road signs.
I havn't driven in a city, the biggest (other than my home town) I have driven in is Warnambool.
I tend to be cautious, I have seen too many stupid drivers in this town, and I dont want my car written off, too hard to get another of that model

[martrix]

I believe I'm in between 3 and 4. Never done any skid pan training etc, but do drive to the conditions.
Never caused an accident, but have been T-boned by someone not stopping and going through a stop sign.:C :~ Also cleaned up a few road signs being stupid in the earlier days.:-

Also have on many occasions driven defensively to avoid an accident due to the other fwit actions.

[dazzler]

Good Poll Mick

Forget skid pan training. Its observation, anticipation and application of a constant system that counts. :2tsup:

cheers

dazzler

[Barry_White]

I put down a 4. I have been driving for 50 years. Drove a cab in Sydney for 13 years both day and night shifts. Drove a 10 tonne truck with twin steer for a couple of years and in the last 28 years as a sales rep have averaged 60,000 klms a year and have done a two day defensive driving course.

The last accident I had was 19 years ago which I was charged but was put into a situation by a truck who had driven off. My only other accident was 43 years ago at a set of traffic lights that were out.

The last 28 years have been country driving so I have hit several kangaroos. Trouble is they never give way to their right.

[fred.n]

Put myself down as a 3....... there's always room for improvement
Got my license at 15 and haven't had a crash yet
been run off the road a couple of time from people in cars not seeing the bike:oo:....now I have a loud bike:p :D
Been in cars when they have crashed but was just a passenger:(

[Andy Mac]

I have driven all sorts of vehicles and not all on the road....forklifts, earthmoving, mining and road buliding, as well as farm vehicles since I was 12, but despite that experience I'm pretty average really:-. Had the odd accident when I was young and silly.
I wear glasses when driving and that seems to be a real problem at night esp. when its raining, all sorts of refraction and glare. I drive far better forwards than backwards, my reversing skills being pretty woeful! I also tend to be one of those impatient bar-stewards, which makes me think I'd be better catching public transport at times!!:rolleyes:

Cheers,

[bsrlee]

Just consider yourselves all very lucky I don't drive an automobile. Ditto one of my friends, who keeps a licence for employment reasons, but wisely never gets behind the wheel (and hasn't since he got his 'p's').

[MICKYG]

Fourty Six years always upright in all types of vehicle, no damage to any vehicle other than windscreens, two kangaroos, two grilles, had a couple of d*****ds run into the rear of one of the semi's I owned so I probably qualify as a good driver. This include's all highways, goat tracks and major cities with excepion of Darwin for many of these years.

Regards Mike.:wink:

[Wongo]

I always drive under the speed limits without holding up the traffic. No accidents, no speeding tickets and have not lost a demerit point. So I am pretty average.

[JDarvall]

I think I can be quite good when I'm switched on. Rarely use the brake etc. Watching intersections for people running red lights on me.....biggest fear that. Being T-boned on the drivers side.

But most of the time I'm driving , my heads in the clouds. Thinking about other things. Get really slack.

I think cars are made too comfortable. People drive like there playing a video game.

[johnc]

I'd rate a three, couple of accidents but no injuries, one roo, the odd ticket. The speed limit has always been a challenge thankyou for those speed control thingy's in the modern cars I'd be lost without it.

Having done the advanced driving courses and learnt as part of a mis spent youth to throw a car around, I'd have to say keeping out of trouble is a far more important skill than learning how to survive a situation over confidence has led you to.

These days I'm not quite as confident but seem to manage city and country driving without stressing the passengers to much. However I do feel there are plenty of others on the road far more capable, and perhaps that's an age thing.

[Grunt]

It comes down to situational awareness. Be aware of the road conditions, those around you and the vehicle you are driving.

Barry, 13 years in a cab would have to make you a kamakasi driver. :D

[felixe]

When I was a kid I always loved playing with my "smash 'em up Derby set!!!!!:oo: :2tsup:

Nothing much has changed.:oo: :oo: :oo:




But I'll still give myself a 3.

[ciscokid]

I put myself down for a four. Used to be better in my younger days though. Forced to drive in snow and ice a few months a year gives lots of opportunies for driving sideways and I can not only maintain control, I can usually slalom through the other drivers who have wrecked. I drive a lot. Around 35,000 miles a year. Either in a diesel pickup truck or my trusty Corvette convertible. I also pull a gooseneck stock trailer full of horses or cows around and have gotten quite proficient at backing the thing up to chutes.

And I have never ONCE in my life hit a kangaroo. :U They just wont let the little buggars out of the zoo.

[Krazee]

JMM,

Not sure that I agree with your definitions.

I don't think a good driver is defined only by how well you control the car. To me the critical thing is a drivers ability to read what is going on around them and respond accordingly. There are many things that scare the s**t out of me when I'm on the road and most of them have nothing to do with my ability or the ability of the other drivers to control their car, skids, etc. It is more about predicting what they will do next. If I know what they want to do and they know what I want to do then we can keep out of one anothers space! Awareness/communication as a driver is far more important than how technically perfectly a driver can control the vehicle.

For example 1: One of the things what really pushes my buttons is tinted windows. When I come to an intersection I like to know that the other driver has seen (looked) at me because most drivers will do the right thing if they are aware you are there. With tinted windows I have no idea where the other driver is looking, if they are picking their nose, if they are on the phone , or if there is a zombie at the wheel. What will they do?

For example 2: If a driver is on their mobile watch out! Even if it's at the traffic lights!

In nearly 40 years of driving I have never been in a skid I haven't instigated, and any accidents have been contributed to (IMO) by my own stupidity for not observing what is happening around me! (if only I could follow my own rules!)

Geoff

PS. As I write this the local hoons are doing wheelies out of the recently resurfaced court opposite. Some of them are quite controlled. Guess practice will make perfect idiots but they still can't drive!

[Wood Borer]

I reckon I am average. Drove cabs on Friday and Saturday nights for 12 years in the 70's and 80's, learnt to drive tractors on the farm before I was 5, occasionally drive Heavy Rigid trucks and often drive long distances.

I regularly drive in Melbourne, occasionally in Sydney and Adelaide.

I do a bit of four wheel driving, sand, rocks, and mud - I'll be in Birdsville again in a fortnight after crossing a few sandhills if the flooding reduces.:2tsup:

I can control a car in a slide on gravel and sand when intentionally sliding it on trickier four wheel drive tracks and control a slide when swerving wombats, roos and deer.

I haven't had any accidents that were my fault but I think is more luck than skill.

There are heaps of drivers better than me, lots the same and quite a few less able behind the wheel so I gave myself an average.

[Harry72]

Im going with a 5, living in the country our main entertainment was thrashing cars for fun. My area has a lot of good rally capable roads... and lotsa mud+a dado 1600!
I've tried "drifting" in controlled circumstances, excellent fun good workout too its very physically demanding, just wish I had a car that was really capable... me poor old 2ltr escort!
But in saying that on the road I drive not trusting other road users decisions.
Never scratched a car on road, but have driven past my and the car's capability several times, you dont how far you can go know till it happens.
Had one bad accident in a car(as a passenger)head on into a stobbie @80kmh put my knee's deep into the dash, a LJ torana(metal dash) my mate installed his stereo under the passenger side of the dash, he lent over to turn the tunes up pulled the wheel with him... no skid marks! I can still remember looking up and seeing the pole about 2' away from the bonnet then BANG. They had to cut the car off the stobbie as the headlights were nearly touching each other.

[Cruzi]

Human nature dictates that anyone going faster than you is a hoon, anyone going slower than you is an idiot.

Ask anyone , they will tell you they are a good driver, but get out on the roads and ignorance and idiocy prevails.

People who have "blinkers" instead of indicators should be shot, people who think the overtaking lane is the "fast lane" should be shot and finally, all extremists should be shot.:o

[fred.n]

Human nature dictates that anyone going faster than you is a hoon, anyone going slower than you is an idiot.

Ask anyone , they will tell you they are a good driver, but get out on the roads and ignorance and idiocy prevails.

People who have "blinkers" instead of indicators should be shot, people who think the overtaking lane is the "fast lane" should be shot and finally, all extremists should be shot.:o


BANG :p :D

[Cliff Rogers]

I voted rat's ring. :D

I always drive just a bit faster than the limit.... of the road, car, & passenger's lunch holding capabilities. :p

I enjoy overtaking dorks with 'Jetpilot' stickers on their back window... particularly when they are in a V8 ute & I'm in my Corolla. :D

[AlexS]

When I was on (& off) the road most of the time, I would have put myself at a 4, possibly a 5. These days, I do fewer Ks, and they are mainly in very straightforward conditions, & I've noticed that some skills seem to have deteriorated, so I guess I'm probably a 3. I try to compensate by keeping more space all around me, so does this make me a 4 or 5 again?:wink:

Just out of interest, a unit I managed for a few years, running 6 4wd vehicles and a truck, each vehicle averaging 40,000k-50,000k a year, on and off country roads, went for 12 years without an insurance claim. When they finally had an accident it was a doozy, though fortunately (& miraculously) no serious injury. Caused by a combination of too little experience and too much speed for an awkward road design.

[abitfishy]

I think anyone who lives in Sydney, drives and survives should be a 5!!!

For those in Sydney, I drove from south (Sutherland) to North (Narrabeen) on a saturday morning and I can tell you now, NEVER EVER AGAIN!!! We passed the institute of sport near narrabeen and I told my misses to remind me never to attend anything there - I just found out where an umpiring course I want to do is held - yep, Institute of Sport Narrabeen! NOOOO!!!!!!

[Barry_White]

Barry, 13 years in a cab would have to make you a kamakasi driver. :D

It's a bit like "Scarey Sharp" it certainly hones your skills.

[Shedhand]

Defence Force trained. Driver for a senior ranked officer.

[silentC]

I voted 4 but only because I am. :D

Well, OK, unfortunately I do think I'm better that the average driver but that's only because of the poor standard. I think I'm relatively considerate and aware of what's going on, certainly by comparison to many/most of the other drivers I encounter.

I once got a ride from this town to the next with a friend. She held the steering wheel by the bottom, kept shifting around in her seat like she was on a bar stool, and looked everywhere but at the road ahead. It was quite unsettling and made me look at SWMBO's driving in a new light!

I feel comfortable behind the wheel and can drive for hours (with breaks every couple of course :wink: ). I pay attention to what is going on around, behind and ahead of me at all times. If someone is driving a bit erratically, I'm usually aware of them long before I'm anywhere near them. I think that's the key - try to be prepared for anything that might happen and have a strategy for when it does.

Two prangs - one their fault one mine. The one that was my fault was at the end of a long day on a slippery road. The guy in front in a 4WD ploughed straight into the back of the car in front of him (we were doing about 20kph after leaving a roadworks stop-go). His brake lights never came on, I just saw his rear end go up in the air, then heard the 'crump', then I was sliding into his back bumper. Too close to stop or divert. Minor damage to his, stuffed the radiator in mine. Not driving to the conditions... too close to the car in front on a slippery road.

Let's not talk about speeding fines etc... :o

[jmk89]

I put 3 - I suspect that I'm better than that, but I don't have any real basis for that view, except that:

I haven't had an accident since my P-plate year (and that wasn't my fault)
I don't use a mobile phone while driving and
I have only got one fine, it was a speeding fine and was from a fixed camera which has now been found to be faulty.I think that there is a perception issue at work here. We notice and remember the individual incidents of bad driving that occur while we are on the road, we don't see all the good driving that the people who commit those incidents of bad driving do in between. However, we recollect the poor driving incidents that we commit (if at all) in the context of all of our driving (most of which is good). So we seem to be better than the average.

So I think most of us are pretty average, but (at least once we are over 25) good enough to not cause too many accidents and to avoid making the bad driving moments of others worse. It is of course our abiity to deal with the latter that is impaired by mobile phone use...

[silentC]

Well, yes that's true, you would have to follow people around all day to see what they were like on the whole. I suppose it's difficult to tell whether most people are crap drivers all the time, or whether most of the people you see driving badly are just having a crap driving moment!

Seems to be an awful lot of them though...

[Waldo]

G'day,

I'll confidently say no. 4:

I can drive dirt roads as well as I can normal roads. Weather doesn't worry me, it's just the other idiots you have to watch out for. A few years spent racing karts taught me a lot, but that doesn't mean I drive like I raced karts.

Sure I was an idiot, but those days are long gone, now I'm just an idiot in the shed. :D

[MajorPanic]

Being a License Testing Officer for AP I reckon 90% of people would rate 3 or lower.
I'm a BIG advocate for yearly medical & driving tests!!

All car drivers should be forced to ride a motorbike in peak-hour traffic at least 6 times.

All car drivers should be forced to drive a heavy vehicle in peak-hour traffic at least 6 times.

All drivers need to be tested on open road/freeway conditions. Testing on back street conditions which is usually the norm, is ridiculous!

As JM said advanced driving should be part of getting a license.

Then again I've seen more than most & I'm not impressed with driving skill levels in this country.

[Carry Pine]

I saw an old mate yesterday. He's 87. He can hardly walk, can't see without coca cola glasses and can't understand what all this electrical stuff is all about. He had his car licence renewed last Thursday!

That worries me.

[AlexS]

All car drivers should be forced to ride a motorbike in peak-hour traffic at least 6 times.

All car drivers should be forced to drive a heavy vehicle in peak-hour traffic at least 6 times.



All car drivers should be forced to ride a push bike in peak-hour traffic for at least six months.

[MajorPanic]

All car drivers should be forced to ride a push bike in peak-hour traffic for at least six months.After ALL PB riders pay average rego of $550.00!!!

Don't get me started - we all pay for cycle tracks (rates ect) yet a small percentage of the population uses them.
You want to use the road - you should pay!

If you ride a bike & drive a car you should pay MORE! & follow the road rules!

[AlexS]

If you ride a bike & drive a car you should pay MORE! & follow the road rules!

No argument with riders having to follow the road rules...BUT

If you ride a bike and drive a car, you've paid full car rego, but you're causing minimal wear & tear on the roads when you're on the bike. If you're riding the bike you presumably aren't driving the car at the same time, so you should actually be paying less.:D

And cars should be subsidising cyclists, because of the traffic jams caused by cars, which delay bikes that would otherwise have a clear run. Have a look at all those traffic jams. Don't see too many bikes at the front of them, do you.

But my main point was that if people had to ride a push bike for six months before they could get a motor bike licence before they could get a car licence, they might learn to use their eyes and ears a bit better.

[MajorPanic]

No argument with riders having to follow the road rules...BUT

If you ride a bike and drive a car, you've paid full car rego, but you're causing minimal wear & tear on the roads when you're on the bike. If you're riding the bike you presumably aren't driving the car at the same time, so you should actually be paying less.:D

This argument is irrelevant. The cost is in putting in & maintaining the said road. Even motor-scooters have to pay a decent rego.
You should be paying more because every vehicle should be registered. USER PAYS


And cars should be subsidising cyclists, because of the traffic jams caused by cars, which delay bikes that would otherwise have a clear run. Have a look at all those traffic jams...........Why?
Because the bicyclists are using roads paid for by motorists?


But my main point was that if people had to ride a push bike for six months before they could get a motor bike licence before they could get a car licence, they might learn to use their eyes and ears a bit better.Agreeded, but would get a better appreciation from a m/cycle in my opinion.

[Cliff Rogers]

Major is on his high horse.... hang on, they don't pay rego either. :rolleyes: :D

[JDarvall]

things with motors don't mix with things without motors.

I think Bikes are a pain in the ????(like everyone else) when I'm in a hurry and there's no room to overtake.....so there's this big que of cars stuck behind a bunch of blokes dressed like astronaughts......

Don't mind it so much when there good looking ladies in them costumes...(but boy, only if there good looking).

But, the truth is eh......there probably doing the RIGHT thing.....not filling the air with polutents AND getting fit at the same time. Save going to Gyms....(and gyms....what a joke....don't get me started...oh, I've already started)

[Clinton1]

I said that I'm highly skilled.
I say that hoping that I'll try to maintain the rep, and never get into or cause an accident. Just talking big, in the hope it keeps me alert and switched on.

I have done a 21 day driving course, covering advanced, defensive and advanced off-road driving..... all the good intent and training doesn't help when your mind wanders a little bit, and I reckon we all do that.

[Bluegum]

I reckon that i rate about a 4. been driving for 18 years and am now driving trucks at the HR level. Prior to gaing my MR licence admit that I wasn't the safest driver around. I soon learned just how much room a truck needs to operate safely. I didn't realise just how many road users were almost bordering on the dangerous side of things. I spent a little while driving trucks in Sydney and counrty NSW and soon learned that truckies were not always at fault. I have since stepped up to HR and I have gained a healthier respect for our roads. I agree there are black spots in many places but its the attitude of the person behind the wheel that plays the major factor in road safety. Time and time again the Ipswich motorway is on the news with another accident blocking traffic. if people would only slow down and give other drivers some space and time then perhaps things such as the road tole may come down.

[silentC]

Jaysus, don't get me started on truck drivers!!

I reckon I've had more near-death experiences with 'professional' drivers than anyone else.

Just the other day, I had a bloke come out in front of me from a T intersection, I was going straight ahead. He saw me, knew where I was going, even laughed at me, but didn't give a ?????. I had to hit the anchors in the middle of the intersection and his rear wheels (B Double) came within a half a metre of my bonnet. He thought it was hilarious. Had the same thing happen several times. It's where the Princes Highway does a dog leg at the south end of Pambula.

And as for the Hume Hwy...

[Stringy]

Ride a motorcycle most of the time and am still alive, so not doing too bad considering daily evasive action taken to avoid being run over.

last week;

Wednesday - old codgers changed lane from right lane to left, I am in left lane level with their front wheel looking at them from about a foot away, had no room to go forward due to 4x4 stopping to park, made a quick parking maneuver into a driveway.

Friday - P plater pulled out from parking, braked hard stopped as it drove off.

Today - XR6 going too quick into intersection, saw me & pulled up across the road.

Stuff I only travel 5k to work!

[paul collins]

being a bus driver in brisbane for the last 27 years i have seen it all.impatience is the cause of most accidents.hey every one (almost thinks that they are the best driver on the road) i have had cars jamed under my bus(driver on mobile), i had a lady this week just oblivously drove out from a side road, t,boned her she was most indignent,am i blind!!!! she actually thought that if she pulled out i had to stop ,incredible,had 5 passengers in hospital.anyone can be a good safe driver,remember highway code,drive suitable for conditions.i need to find an avatar of me shouting at stupid selfish drivers.

[Bluegum]

After coming back from a job at tarampa way a couple of weeks ago, we were on the Warrego coming back towards Ipswich. I wasn't driving at the time but we had a car in front of us continously slowing down to 80 and then pulling away and slowing down again. My offsider attempted to overtake the car and put a bit of distance between us and him. This wasn't to be as the car driver would accelerate and not allow us to pass him. So it begins all over again with him playing his stupid and dangerous game. We were loaded up with a trailer, bobcat in the back of the tipper and 13 tonne excavator on the trailer. I don't think he had any idea that if something had gone wrong then we just could have gone over the top of him before we could have pulled up.:banghead:

[Andy Mac]

Ride a motorcycle most of the time and am still alive, so not doing too bad considering daily evasive action taken to avoid being run over.

Seems there are two types of motorcycle riders, one of them survive:(. Just last week I was cruising down the busiest road in Toowoomba, 2 lanes each way, traffic lights even where they don't belong and almost at the 60kph, when suddenly in the rear vision mirror I see a young hoon just fair up it, on a large road bike. Not swapping lanes, he was going so fast he was flipping lanes, treating cars and trucks like a slalom course. I reckon he was well over 100kph at 5 in the afternoon, and if you've driven in Toowoomba you know that half of the road users aren't the most predictable!:oo: Surprisingly enough he got through a couple of blocks without an accident (I had this horrible feeling he was going to get nudged by someone changing lanes), before the red lights stopped him. Anyway, I pulled up behind him and was shaking my head at his antics, 'cos I'm getting older and its my right:rolleyes:, and have lost mates on motorbikes doing silly things, when this young bugger started shaking his helmet back at me!!:~ Talk about misplaced concern, but I hope I'm not the one around when he's tangled up in some street furniture.

Regards,
Andy

(Sorry, bit morbid tonight... went to a funeral today, for one of the most talented young cabinet makers I've ever met. No it wasn't a car accident, lets just say it wasn't natural causes. Such a terrible waste of a young life. RIP David C)

[paul collins]

been driving a bus here in brisbane for 27 years,i have seen it all.all i would ever ask anyone is to obey the highway code.impatience is the biggest bug on the roads.this is true some years ago i was slowing to pull into a stop a combi van overtakes me he is indicating so no problem. thing is he was turning into his driveway from right hand lane i tboned him overturned his vehicle,had people on bus in hospital. combi driver was just shaken.thing is he couldnt understand why i didnt see him turning.he thought it was quite ok & that i should have braked for him to let him turn.:doh:
:doh: there are no end of idiots out there so BEWARE.just take your time.i dont claim to be a better driver than anyone,just one who takes his time .i could go on 7 on but i wont.:)