How safe are you at driving
 

www.itv.com/tonight/driving

I have just watched a brilliant documentary on driving skills, with young adults, and how to improve your driving on the roads.

To me it was fascinating on watching how kids can be very cocky and give themself high scores and then at the end of the driving improvement scheme, then lower it.

With Insurances up for young kids and with one young adult had a black box supplied by an insurance company to prove that she was a skillful young driver.

The idea is extremely brilliant, however, my reservations are that the driving age for young adults should be raised to 19, and should NOT be allowed on major roads ie motorways until they can prove after TWO years that they can be careful. The M25 is a deathtrap and billed as the biggest traffic jam there ever can be. some vehicles are driven at over 100 miles an hour.

I have been driving for over 30 years, and it scares the death out of me, on some of the madman on our roads. If you are caught speeding more than twice, the licence should be taken away for 12 months.
Drink driving - lifetime ban.

What young drivers don't realise is that, the vehicle they are about to drive - can kill someone. So any limits that young drivers have should be even tougher, Insurance companies are tough on young drivers, and they have good reason to be, but safe drivers with a proven record are rewarded.

Re: How safe are you at driving
 

I'm really unsafe at driving.

Re: How safe are you at driving
 

I haven't crashed into anyone yet

Re: How safe are you at driving
 

I'm a good driver, but I've been guilty of taking risks over the years.

I can't stand slow, hesitant, unconfident drivers that have no spatial awareness, peripheral vision or observational skills.

I'm far from perfect but I don't lack in that criteria.

Re: How safe are you at driving
 

women mate we call them women :D

Re: How safe are you at driving
 

I have all the certificates to prove that I am an advanced driver but I still wouldn't class myself as anything other than a competent driver. One of the sayings that one of my Advanced Police Instructors use to trot out was - always be aware, there are a lot of drivers out there looking for accidents to happen to them, don't let yourself get involved in their search.

Re: How safe are you at driving
 

Ouch! Check yourself fella :)

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Yup, if everyone tempered their self confidence with the knowledge that the roads are full of drivers of all age ranges, ability levels, etc. etc. we'd see a lot less accidents. Tailgating, undertaking or cutting up someone you feel is a bad driver because they're in the wrong lane, driving too slowly or whatever really isn't an example of good driving. It's the triumph of ego and frustration over common sense.

Re: How safe are you at driving
 

well put it this way, me and motor bikes don't get on well. They say look out for motor bikes, but some of them are that mad, l don't see them. And quite often l argue with them

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My driving record for the last 45years is clean, had a few near misses from idiots not watching what they are doing.
Stopped driving quick when they brought in the 70mph limit on motorway, now I have to have eyes in the back of my head to avoid rear end bumps.

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I've never hit anything that didn't deserve it .

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Tell that to the judge... :D

Re: How safe are you at driving
 

I consider myself a safe driver, I'm aware of other road users.

If I have a emergency vehicle approaching me with blues & twos I'll indicate and let them know where I'm going.

There are time when I want to go GTA on BMW/Merc/Audi drivers for driving like muppets.

Re: How safe are you at driving
 

I'm no longer safe behind the wheel, saying that, I'm not even safe as a pedestrian! Ill health and medication to blame for that. :erm: I voluntary surrendered my driving licence about 3 years ago, I have a bus pass now.

Re: How safe are you at driving
 

Two crashes in 30 years, one was my fault. I was 18 and took out a Police Metro. No harm to anyone and the Garage Sergeant laughed.

I'm very safe, I drive fast, accelerate quickly but leave over 5 car lengths most of the time where possible, and anticipate what's going on in front quickly so much so that I'm slowing down with gears before person infront even applies their brakes and I can slow down on most slip roads from 70 to 20 without even touching the brakes.

Also spent about £600 on 4 tyres.

So theoretically I'm quite safe but insurance companies would class me as dangerous for accelerating quickly despite having good anticipation and leaving a massive gap in front higher than most people.

Re: How safe are you at driving
 

You will be fine if you can learn to tap faster with your white stick mate :D

Re: How safe are you at driving
 

I am perfectly safe.

In fact I am typing this on my ipad in the outside lane of the M56.

I love cruise control.

Re: How safe are you at driving
 

and tie a little red flag on it :)

Re: How safe are you at driving
 

Being a safe driver doesn't prevent you from driving unsafely. I have known self-described safe drivers who take unnecessarily risks in part because of a confidence that have in the knowledge they're a 'safe driver'. The normal rules are for other people who don't know how to drive safety or how to handle a care, it's fine to drive fast, take that corner in that speed, and drive quicker at that light.

I don't like to think of myself a safe driver (I am not unsafe but I make mistakes like anyone else), instead it's better to concentrate on each drive and make that one safe. After all being a safe driver doesn't protect you from that trip where you were not driving safety, only needs to happen once.

I still think its possible to drive fast and safely.

By, obeying speed limits.. If it says 50 do 50 if it says 20,30,40 same.. Obey it.

And as above I am always anticipating in front... If I see a car approaching the back of a lorry which is travelling slower or indeed another vehicle... I will move into lane 2 or slow down with the gears before the person in front has even anticipating hitting the brakes.

Same with speed changes I see the sign, and start slowing down with gears before people in front even hot the brakes.

Shame same can't be said about other drivers, I once was on a 30 road, and anticipated that this kid infront was gonna run out into the road chasing his ball, because he was running quickly towards the road and not looking to stop or look what's coming. So I slowed down enough to give the child time to fetch his ball whilst still moving slowly with hazards on as well.

Driver behind me in van should of seen the child in front of me in the road... But nope instead just overtook me speeding faster than the speed limit on that road.

Never also understood people who will be on a 50mph stretch of road which is clear and free of bends.. And trundle along at 40mph.. Then they reach a small town where speed limit drops to 30mph and they continue along at 40mph..I get to other side of the town and speed back up to 50 and still catch up with them usually.. So it was pointless them doing 40 through the village just endanger kind people's lives unnecessary, they have a higher speed limit available and don't make use of it then when speed limit gets slower dont wanna do that either.

Never understood that.

On motorways I always leave tonnes of space in front of me, and buy expensive tyres.

Now from above generally I'm a safe driver.

However insurance company with their black box, would put me down as a dangerous driver because I might accelerate quickly like foot to the floor on a 70 mph slip road joining a dual carriageway or motorway without a pedestrian in site. Or for accelerating quickly when overtaking, or when speed limits change up.

They don't necessarily make me a dangerous driver, but the black box would see it as being wreck less and no doubt cause an increase in premiums.

Re: How safe are you at driving
 

All the good drivers must be on this forum 'cos they certainly aint on the road ..I think driving standards have gone waaaayyy down .Since i started professional driving it has really opened my eyes up as to how bad the general standard of driving is .Entering motorways/duel carriageways off a slip road seems to be a major problem for a lot of drivers ,and the concept of "do not undertake" has been thrown away

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Shame a large number of drivers are not given instruction on winter driving, I used to watch new drivers spinning whilst trying to leave home for work following a fall of snow.
I dread to think what the inexperienced driver would do when confronted with a slippy patch of ice.
(I know when to leave the car at home and start walking in the present arctic weather in the north!)

I never undertake!

Even if it means being stuck in lane 2 at 50mph with a few hundred metres infront I won't undertake somebody in lane 3.

Don't undertake on slip roads either

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There is only one driver I detest,that is the jerk who leaves it until the very last minute to leave the third motorway lane and exit off the junction because they haven't got the patience to get into the correct lane ahead of time.

They are total pillocks.

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I don't get on with drivers who don't see motorbikes!

You really should try it sometime, when riding a motorbike some car drivers are out to kill you but they don't realise it. It is often said that drivers should spend a period of time on a motorbike so they can gain some appreciation and make them a better car driver in the process.

I think my driving is safe, I have been driving for nearly 30 years and only one minor dent put on my car during the first few months of driving. I took my direct access motorbike test about 4 years ago, I believe it has improved my car driving because you learn to be a lot more aware of your surroundings and the dangers when riding a motorbike.

---------- Post added at 14:06 ---------- Previous post was at 13:58 ----------

I hate drivers that are unable to join correctly from a slip road, some of them seem to lack any observational skills and expect everyone else to adjust their speed or move lanes to accommodate them.

I am looking for a suitable gap as soon as I'm on the slip road and adjust my speed so that I am able to join traffic safely and not cause anyone to brake or change lanes. The A48 going into Cardiff is an example where people not doing this causes others to swerve or brake, this causes accidents.

Re: How safe are you at driving
 

99.9 % of Motorists think they drive better than average.

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If everyone remembered that any given upper speed limit is merely the maximum allowable on that stretch of road and drove accordingly things would be safer. Far too many people will drive at and even over the limit regardless of what the road conditions are. Many of these same people will then tailgate and intimidate anyone who's taken account of the prevailing conditions and dared to drive a bit slower. Of course some folks like to justify their actions and comfort themselves that their superior skills and cars will prevent them ever getting into trouble, overlooking the fact that not everyone else on the road has the same abilities, reactions etc. or drives cars of the same quality and performance.

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In my experience most motor bikes, unlike many cars, drive with headlight on at all times, not just at dusk/night-time.

- if a driver is not sufficiently aware of their surroundings to 'not see' a vehicle with lights on I'm not sure they are paying proper attention.

Can I respectfully refer you, as the OP to the statement you made, namely

- and remind you it isn't just young drivers that can kill people on the road.

Re: How safe are you at driving
 

Many years ago when I was a teenager learning to drive my Dad said to me "Just consider everyone on the road is an idiot, including yourself, and you won't go far wrong!"

Re: How safe are you at driving
 

Some excellent & truthful posts there. After I left the forces, I trained as a Driving Test Examiner.

I too have advanced driving certificates for all road going vehicles, from bikes to artics. I have tested wannabee tractor drivers, digger operators, tracked vehicle operators, you name it, all except pushbikes. A few years ago, I would consider myself to be competent, but as the years go by, I see myself making mistakes, the odd wheel kerbing, poor positioning etc, nothing bad, but I know I`m going downhill & all my experience wont stop it.

I`m 62. I was one of the first Examiners who pressed for, & was trained for the modern Motor Cycle "Pursuit" test, I was also one who, with others of course, pressed for an "Assessment" of all drivers over 65. Not a test, an assessment.

Years ago, I asked my Father to stop driving, it was very hard thing to do, but he was unsafe. He traded his licence in for a bus pass. I hope my son will do the same to me should I become unsafe.

I once tested a guy who was 70 years old, he hadn't renewed his licence so he was ordered to take a test, he took me round a 35 min test route in just over 15 mins, kerbed it, 45 in a 30 area, N/S/R wheel on the pavement whilst reversing, you name it. I knocked him with 2 "D`s". He made an official complaint, he said that he had been driving 50 years without an accident, & I failed him unfairly. He was given a free re-test with the senior examiner. The test was terminated "In the interest of public safety".

He considered himself to be an excellent, safe driver.

Re: How safe are you at driving
 

In this house we have licences ranging from car, motorbike, HGV1, Racing and forklift (R&CB). We've both been vehicle testers at one of the main proving grounds.

You need to be aware of your driving.. too many go into automatic mode and just drive without thinking about it.. I pull up any mistakes she does and she does it to me and we listen to each other.

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Middle lane hoggers. Say no more.