Good Drivers
#1
Good Drivers
What makes a person a good driver? A lot of people say age, but that confuses me. I've almost had my 8 for a year, and I'll be 17 in August. I have put 17K miles on my car since October. I have a friend who is older than me, but he has driven less miles than me over a 2 year period. What do you think of age vs. miles?
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Originally Posted by Jaisin
What makes a person a good driver? A lot of people say age, but that confuses me. I've almost had my 8 for a year, and I'll be 17 in August. I have put 17K miles on my car since October. I have a friend who is older than me, but he has driven less miles than me over a 2 year period. What do you think of age vs. miles?
All this is simply for street driving, but it'll make you a good and safe driver.
To be a skill driver, you have to know, feel and understand the dynamics of your car.
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Miles can be important, but what if they're all highway miles and then you get into a big city and freak out because you can't handle the density of cars?
Some factors that make a good driver that I can think of:
- age (maturity...ability NOT to street race when someone revs their engine at you)
- miles, years driven (if you get your license when you're 50 years old, you'll still be a bad driver)
- ability to DRIVE and only drive, not talk on a cell phone, not yell at your kids, etc.
- respectfulness of other drivers
- always paying attention to everything around you, always checking your review mirror
- shoulder checking
- always using your turn signal
- not driving in the left lane EVER unless you're passing or turning
- not braking excessively (ie. on a little hill)
- going with the flow of traffic (ie. if the limit is 50 and everyone else is doing 55, don't be a stubborn SOB and stick to 50)
Some factors that make a good driver that I can think of:
- age (maturity...ability NOT to street race when someone revs their engine at you)
- miles, years driven (if you get your license when you're 50 years old, you'll still be a bad driver)
- ability to DRIVE and only drive, not talk on a cell phone, not yell at your kids, etc.
- respectfulness of other drivers
- always paying attention to everything around you, always checking your review mirror
- shoulder checking
- always using your turn signal
- not driving in the left lane EVER unless you're passing or turning
- not braking excessively (ie. on a little hill)
- going with the flow of traffic (ie. if the limit is 50 and everyone else is doing 55, don't be a stubborn SOB and stick to 50)
Last edited by khtm; 07-28-2005 at 01:51 PM.
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Sorry Jaisin, but you've got this coming. Flying around a curve, losing control and smashing a curb doesn't qualify you as a good driver. If you can remain incident free (accident and traffic citation) for three years, though some insurance companies insist on six, you can attain the designation of 'good driver'. Gives you something to shoot for, huh?
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For racing
Smoothness + Consistency = Fast driver
Smoothness + Consistency + Fearlessness= Very Fast Driver
If you want to become a better driver, consider a car control clinic, autocross or driving school.
Trouble is most people here in the USA receive very little instruction (mostly poor) at a young age just so they can pass a trivial driving exam when they are 16 and then they never attempt to improve their skills.
About 7 years ago I moved to the UK after having driven in the USA for about 11 years. I took driving lessons in order to learn the British way to drive in order to obtain my UK license. In the UK they have a comprehensive 45 minute driving exam instead of the trivial 10 minute one that we have in the States. I found that the refresher lessons were very useful and would be good for most people to do. Continuous improvement is important to becoming a good driver.
Smoothness + Consistency = Fast driver
Smoothness + Consistency + Fearlessness= Very Fast Driver
If you want to become a better driver, consider a car control clinic, autocross or driving school.
Trouble is most people here in the USA receive very little instruction (mostly poor) at a young age just so they can pass a trivial driving exam when they are 16 and then they never attempt to improve their skills.
About 7 years ago I moved to the UK after having driven in the USA for about 11 years. I took driving lessons in order to learn the British way to drive in order to obtain my UK license. In the UK they have a comprehensive 45 minute driving exam instead of the trivial 10 minute one that we have in the States. I found that the refresher lessons were very useful and would be good for most people to do. Continuous improvement is important to becoming a good driver.
Last edited by Matt RX8; 07-28-2005 at 02:27 PM.
#8
Originally Posted by JonsToy
Sorry Jaisin, but you've got this coming. Flying around a curve, losing control and smashing a curb doesn't qualify you as a good driver. If you can remain incident free (accident and traffic citation) for three years, though some insurance companies insist on six, you can attain the designation of 'good driver'. Gives you something to shoot for, huh?
#10
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IMO the # 1 thing that makes a good driver is being aware of EVERYTHING going on around you, and also knowing all rules of the road. It kills me how many people don't know who has to yield at an on-ramp.......or who has the right of way at an intersection.
As for awareness, I see too many people that have no clue that there is a car behind them. Regardless of how fast you're going, if another car needs to pass you.....GET OVER! Obviously they're in a bigger hurry........and you probably shouldn't be in the left lane anyway because you're not passing! A lot of people don't respect truck drivers either........they don't realize that a truck driver usually picks up speed going downhill so that they can make it up the next hill at a decent pace......stay out of their way! Oh and staying in a trucks blindspot is just asking for it. If you've ever seen a tire blow out on an 18 wheeler going down the interstate........you won't drive behind many more.
Ok so maybe my post wasn't exactly about "what makes a good driver" so much as it was just a list of my pet peeves.
As for awareness, I see too many people that have no clue that there is a car behind them. Regardless of how fast you're going, if another car needs to pass you.....GET OVER! Obviously they're in a bigger hurry........and you probably shouldn't be in the left lane anyway because you're not passing! A lot of people don't respect truck drivers either........they don't realize that a truck driver usually picks up speed going downhill so that they can make it up the next hill at a decent pace......stay out of their way! Oh and staying in a trucks blindspot is just asking for it. If you've ever seen a tire blow out on an 18 wheeler going down the interstate........you won't drive behind many more.
Ok so maybe my post wasn't exactly about "what makes a good driver" so much as it was just a list of my pet peeves.
#11
Originally Posted by khtm
Miles can be important, but what if they're all highway miles and then you get into a big city and freak out because you can't handle the density of cars?
Some factors that make a good driver that I can think of:
- age (maturity...ability NOT to street race when someone revs their engine at you)
- miles, years driven (if you get your license when you're 50 years old, you'll still be a bad driver)
- ability to DRIVE and only drive, not talk on a cell phone, not yell at your kids, etc.
- respectfulness of other drivers
- always paying attention to everything around you, always checking your review mirror
- shoulder checking
- always using your turn signal
- not driving in the left lane EVER unless you're passing or turning
- not braking excessively (ie. on a little hill)
- going with the flow of traffic (ie. if the limit is 50 and everyone else is doing 55, don't be a stubborn SOB and stick to 50)
Some factors that make a good driver that I can think of:
- age (maturity...ability NOT to street race when someone revs their engine at you)
- miles, years driven (if you get your license when you're 50 years old, you'll still be a bad driver)
- ability to DRIVE and only drive, not talk on a cell phone, not yell at your kids, etc.
- respectfulness of other drivers
- always paying attention to everything around you, always checking your review mirror
- shoulder checking
- always using your turn signal
- not driving in the left lane EVER unless you're passing or turning
- not braking excessively (ie. on a little hill)
- going with the flow of traffic (ie. if the limit is 50 and everyone else is doing 55, don't be a stubborn SOB and stick to 50)
#12
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Originally Posted by I8theBait-anRX8
As for awareness, I see too many people that have no clue that there is a car behind them. Regardless of how fast you're going, if another car needs to pass you.....GET OVER! Obviously they're in a bigger hurry........and you probably shouldn't be in the left lane anyway because you're not passing!
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Originally Posted by Jaisin
I hardly ever use the highway. I don't like the flow of traffic thing though. Today I was driving home and everyone was going so fast. They were mostly going 80+ including this large truck. I don't like to go over 60Mph too long because it uses a lot of gas. 60Mph in 6th gear comes out to be 300Rpm and that is what I like.
#14
Originally Posted by Glyphon
keep it off the secondary ports and you'll still manage decent fuel economy. that gives you up to 74mph
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Originally Posted by Glyphon
keep it off the secondary ports and you'll still manage decent fuel economy. that gives you up to 74mph
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Originally Posted by DreamWarrior
Everyone keeps saying that and I've done tanks of gas at 80+ and still managed 20/21 MPG.
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Originally Posted by Jaisin
I hardly ever use the highway. I don't like the flow of traffic thing though. Today I was driving home and everyone was going so fast. They were mostly going 80+ including this large truck. I don't like to go over 60Mph too long because it uses a lot of gas. 60Mph in 6th gear comes out to be 300Rpm and that is what I like.
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Originally Posted by Glyphon
definately don't drive faster than you are comfortable with
http://www.sense.bc.ca/research.htm
How long until Jaisin's 3rd accident? Tick tock tick tock.
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Originally Posted by DreamWarrior
Everyone keeps saying that and I've done tanks of gas at 80+ and still managed 20/21 MPG.
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Originally Posted by khtm
Most accidents happen because people go SLOWER than the average speed of cars around them, not FASTER.
http://www.sense.bc.ca/research.htm
How long until Jaisin's 3rd accident? Tick tock tick tock.
http://www.sense.bc.ca/research.htm
How long until Jaisin's 3rd accident? Tick tock tick tock.
#24
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I abhor speed limits in all but school zones, where the primary concern is pedestrians rather than other drivers. I normally drive 50-55 on city streets, depending on the surface condition, weather, and traffic. Is this speed unsafe because it is 10 to 15 miles an hour above the posted speed limit? Is driving 80 to 85 on an open interstate highway with no crossovers and no pedestrians unsafe? Not really, what is unsafe is the man alone in the 4 door Cummins Turbo Diesel who cannot stay in one lane because his truck is too wide and the woman in front of him in her Expedition putting on her make-up and talking on her cell phone while trying to make her exit that's 3 lanes and 1/4 mile away.
People that drive over the speed limit (yet within the handling limits of their car and driving abilities, with respect to road conditions) are not the problem, people not paying attention to themselves and others are the problem. People who do not drive with respect for themselves and others are the problem. People that "think" they're good drivers are the problem.
People that drive over the speed limit (yet within the handling limits of their car and driving abilities, with respect to road conditions) are not the problem, people not paying attention to themselves and others are the problem. People who do not drive with respect for themselves and others are the problem. People that "think" they're good drivers are the problem.
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Originally Posted by FoxTypeR
I abhor speed limits in all but school zones, where the primary concern is pedestrians rather than other drivers. I normally drive 50-55 on city streets, depending on the surface condition, weather, and traffic. Is this speed unsafe because it is 10 to 15 miles an hour above the posted speed limit? Is driving 80 to 85 on an open interstate highway with no crossovers and no pedestrians unsafe? Not really, what is unsafe is the man alone in the 4 door Cummins Turbo Diesel who cannot stay in one lane because his truck is too wide and the woman in front of him in her Expedition putting on her make-up and talking on her cell phone while trying to make her exit that's 3 lanes and 1/4 mile away.
People that drive over the speed limit (yet within the handling limits of their car and driving abilities, with respect to road conditions) are not the problem, people not paying attention to themselves and others are the problem. People who do not drive with respect for themselves and others are the problem. People that "think" they're good drivers are the problem.
People that drive over the speed limit (yet within the handling limits of their car and driving abilities, with respect to road conditions) are not the problem, people not paying attention to themselves and others are the problem. People who do not drive with respect for themselves and others are the problem. People that "think" they're good drivers are the problem.