Phoenix84
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Post by Phoenix84 on Apr 16, 2013 12:06:56 GMT -5
Studies have shown that most think they're good drivers, which is not possible since most people are likely average drivers.
Furthermore, it's hard (at least for me) to pin down exactly what is a good driver.
So the question I wish to pose in this thread is two fold, what is a good driver and are you one?
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damnotagain
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Post by damnotagain on Apr 16, 2013 12:10:05 GMT -5
Your insurer will let you know how good of a driver you are. Mine is cheap. 800 yr 100/300/100 that's just for the truck. Full coverage.
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thyme4change
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Post by thyme4change on Apr 16, 2013 12:11:03 GMT -5
Probably not - but I am quite lucky.
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Phoenix84
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Post by Phoenix84 on Apr 16, 2013 12:11:12 GMT -5
When I think of a good driver, I think of cops and race car drivers and other professionals who drive and learn advanced driving techniques. Though suppose you could argue that someone who has gone a long time without being in an accident is a good driver, but that could be more due to their driving conditions, how much they drive, ect.
As for me, I'm probably average in most respects. In fair weather I'd consider myself average. I'm likely below average at night because of my eyesight. I can drive at night and do okay, especially on familar roads. But I have noticed I struggle with depth perception. Though, as I said, that's more to do with my eyesight than my inerhant driving ability. But it is a reason why I try to avoid night driving if possible, and definitely avoid driving in unfamilar roads. But sometimes I have to, especially on business travel.
As for winter driving, I'm probably above average compared to most of those who aren't used to it (i.e. those who live in the south), but average compared to folks around here.
So overall, I'd give myself an average score.
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milee
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Post by milee on Apr 16, 2013 12:11:53 GMT -5
No, I am a bad driver and freely admit it. I drive too fast.
Good drivers drive neither too fast nor too slow.
Good drivers (and I - who again is not a good driver) don't ever text, have good reaction times and are good at anticipating what will happen so are able to drive defensively.
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busymom
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Post by busymom on Apr 16, 2013 12:11:57 GMT -5
Of course, I'm good! I never text when I'm driving. I don't make calls either. That way I can swerve to avoid distracted drivers that are connected to THEIR phones...
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Apr 16, 2013 12:12:14 GMT -5
I am an exceptional driver. Despite what my husband may have told you...
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vonna
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Post by vonna on Apr 16, 2013 12:12:48 GMT -5
Makes me think of Rainman: Raymond: "I'm an excellent driver."
ETA: "I like to drive slow on the driveway."
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doxieluvr
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Post by doxieluvr on Apr 16, 2013 12:14:57 GMT -5
I think what defines someone as a good driver, is the ability to foresee obstacles and reacting quickly to prevent accidents and unforeseen incidents.
I will go as far to say, If you can't merge quickly and efficiently across multiple lanes of traffic you should not have a license, period. Anyone that drives in Maryland, NYC and Boston know what I am talking about.
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Waffle
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Post by Waffle on Apr 16, 2013 12:15:16 GMT -5
If insurance is the indicator - I'm an excellent driver. But there have been way too many close calls - like about to change lanes on the highway, when at the last second I realize there's a car over there. I'm not consistent in speed. Normally, I tend to drive slow (like at or about 5 miles under the speed limit), but when I get relaxed, I find myself speeding, then as soon as I realize I'm speeding, I got back down to my usual slow speed. In short, I suspect I'm not a particularly good driver. Now, Phoenix, first it was technology and now driving - could you ask a question where I can say "I'm good at that".
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giramomma
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Post by giramomma on Apr 16, 2013 12:29:25 GMT -5
I dunno. I'd like to think I'm a good drive.
Almost got into two accidents today though.
One woman beeped and swerved around me because I had the audacity to slow down when a light turned yellow and stop when it turned red. The stopping at the red light part really upset the lady behind me. So, she beeped, swerved, sped up and went right through a red light.
Based on the street she was on, I don't think it was an emergency. If it was an emergency, she would have turned off to get to several main roads, which would have gotten her to where she needed to go faster.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Apr 16, 2013 12:57:02 GMT -5
I am not a good driver. I am awful at judging distance, so I am very cautious.
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doxieluvr
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Post by doxieluvr on Apr 16, 2013 13:00:20 GMT -5
The better question is, why do all of the posters, that admit to being bad drivers...continue to drive?
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swamp
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Post by swamp on Apr 16, 2013 13:03:56 GMT -5
I drive too fast.
However, I am excellent at winter weather driving, skid recovery and stupid people who don't know how to drive in snow avoidance.
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Waffle
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Post by Waffle on Apr 16, 2013 13:04:26 GMT -5
The better question is, why do all of the posters, that admit to being bad drivers...continue to drive? 'cause we have places we need to go. DUH! OTOH - maybe we who say we are bad drivers are just more self critical. If I wanted to go the other way, I could say (in all honesty) that I have been driving for over 30 years and the only accidents that I have ever been in were chalked up to "acts of God". One was hitting a deer (I always say you don't actually hit a deer, the deer hits you) and the other was sliding off the road, when my car hit a patch of ice. I've never received a ticket or even a warning.
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midjd
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Post by midjd on Apr 16, 2013 13:04:36 GMT -5
I drive about 30K miles a year and have only had one (minor - less than $2K damage) at-fault accident in the 13 years I've had my license, so I'd say I'm probably slightly better than average. Then again, I have no idea what the average ratio of accidents-per-miles driven is. DH is (IMO) an average driver, but has had no accidents and no speeding tickets, so on paper he's much better than I am.
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mollyanna58
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Post by mollyanna58 on Apr 16, 2013 13:07:04 GMT -5
I thought I was a good driver, but I recently tried Progressive's Snapshot device and did not qualify for any credits. They said I had too many hard brakes; but, hey, I brake to avoid accidents!
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alabamagal
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Post by alabamagal on Apr 16, 2013 13:11:02 GMT -5
I am a good driver. Unfortunately I used to have to drive to work on a street that had way too low of a speed limit (35 mps) so I had 2 speeding tickets in 20 years.
Last ticket was for failing to stop at a stop sign (rolling stop), although the cop admitted to saying that I did check to see that there was no traffic. Honestly I don't see what the problem was.
I have never been in an accident (at least not according to my driving record). Two years ago I did back into my teenage son's car in our driveway. Oh the irony of a mom with 3 teenage drivers being the one to cause it.
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8 Bit WWBG
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Post by 8 Bit WWBG on Apr 16, 2013 13:22:18 GMT -5
Perhaps a better question is: what specific "good driving habits" do you have? I feel I am quite aware of my car and its spatial dimensions. I use my turn signals well in advance of making a turn. I brake gradually when appropriate (like, I won't race up to a red light). I am really OCD when it comes to parking because I cannot stand when people park their damn buses on or over lines.
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greeniis10
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Post by greeniis10 on Apr 16, 2013 13:37:35 GMT -5
I consider myself a good driver: no cell phone usage at all, I don't speed, and I try to watch out for all the other distracted drivers on the road. My dad was a truck driver his so safe driving was always a priority for us. I did have a serious car accident in high school. I was the only person in the car and the only car involved. I had a fever and got dizzy and lost control on a dirt road. Rolled 1 1/2 times and ended up in the hospital for 9 days and off of school for 6 weeks. Didn't scare me to stop me from driving, but it gave me the necessary respect for operating a vehicle. Something a lot of teenagers have no concept of given the "indestructable" attitude.
DH, on the other hand, has always been a distracted driver! Talks on his phone, texts, eats, etc. As fate would have it after he retired two years ago he became a driving instructor part-time just for fun. It has been a god-send for me! I finally feel safe when I'm in the car with him. Previously I would just drive both of us everywhere to save myself the stress.
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tskeeter
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Post by tskeeter on Apr 16, 2013 13:39:22 GMT -5
I am an exceptional driver. Despite what my husband may have told you... OH, he said you are an exceptional driver, all right. Everyone should be allowed to drive except you. Sorry, the set up was just too good to pass up.
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doxieluvr
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Post by doxieluvr on Apr 16, 2013 13:41:15 GMT -5
As someone that had a truck that touched both white lines of a parking spot, what do you suggest? Not parking it? I tried to park in the far out spots when available, but that was not always possible.
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vonna
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Post by vonna on Apr 16, 2013 13:43:25 GMT -5
As someone that had a truck that touched both white lines of a parking spot, what do you suggest? Not parking it? I tried to park in the far out spots when available, but that was not always possible. Carry both a can of white paint and black paint in your truck. Park. Paint accordingly.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Apr 16, 2013 13:44:45 GMT -5
I've had many people tell me that I'm a good driver. I think I'm a little above-average skill wise driving but nowhere close to "I've had advanced driving classes" good.
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greeniis10
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Post by greeniis10 on Apr 16, 2013 13:50:53 GMT -5
And, new parking lots (restaurants, strip malls, etc.) are only made for compact cars. Those of us with larger vehicles know to park elsewhere when we can, as Doxie mentioned, but it is not always an option. I park as far out as possible, usually, and inevitably there will be a car parked right next to me. Oh well, with a car next to me they can't ding my doors, only my tires since that's the only thing the doors would reach on my truck.
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Regis
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Post by Regis on Apr 16, 2013 13:53:36 GMT -5
I've been driving for 33 years and have been involved in three accidents. I was at a dead stop all three times so I had no fault in any of them.
I've also had the opportunity to drive a car that had been driven in a NASCAR race on a short track in my area. There were four cars on the track at the same time. I had passed all three of the other cars before lap 5. The cars had a governor that limited the speed to 155. I reached that speed at the end of the backstretch on lap 1. I felt completely safe and in control. I used to race go-karts and won more than my fair share of races.
And yes, I talk on my cell, eat, drive with my knees, etc. but I don't text while driving. My wife says I can drive in reverse faster than she can drive forward most of the time.
Yeah, I think I'm a pretty good driver. [img]http://images.proboards.com/new/grin.png[/img]
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8 Bit WWBG
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Post by 8 Bit WWBG on Apr 16, 2013 14:20:08 GMT -5
...:::"As someone that had a truck that touched both white lines of a parking spot, what do you suggest? Not parking it?":::...
Well it is what it is. Stock up on touch up paint I guess?
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souldoubt
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Post by souldoubt on Apr 16, 2013 14:35:01 GMT -5
I'm curious as to whether the "good drivers" here can all parallel park. I'm still amazed at how some people never master this basic concept. The last lets call it ticket I had was 8+ years ago when I shouldn't have been driving and I've long since paid for that mistake and still am. Since then nothing but I admittedly do sometimes pass slower vehicles when I get behind someone on their phone, a driver who breaks for no apparent reason, drives under the speed limit by 10mph or more for no reason, etc.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Apr 16, 2013 14:37:30 GMT -5
I'm curious as to whether the "good drivers" here can all parallel park. I'm still amazed at how some people never master this basic concept. The last lets call it ticket I had was 8+ years ago when I shouldn't have been driving and I've long since paid for that mistake and still am. Since then nothing but I admittedly do sometimes pass slower vehicles when I get behind someone on their phone, a driver who breaks for no apparent reason, drives under the speed limit by 10mph or more for no reason, etc. Yep...1 try. My wife and I were at our storage unit a few weeks ago and I parallel parked in about 7 seconds. She said..."I would have never even tried that because it would taken me 15 minutes!" I had to learn to parallel park in a boat of a car so I don't get the "it's hard to do!" crowd.
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doxieluvr
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Post by doxieluvr on Apr 16, 2013 14:39:46 GMT -5
I have not had to parallel park since 1995. I do not live in a city.
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