Rowley010:
I know most people who join the advanced driving groups and go on to be instructors/observers are there out of their own time and unpaid. They have an interest in driving generally but what they really want to do and the reason they really give up their time is to do a small bit to try and make the roads safer. They aren’t there to say I’m superior to you.
I agree because if they did then they should not be advanced drivers as they would have the wrong attitude/way of thinking which is a major part of being a practising advanced driver
Come on Rog, there are ‘shoulds and woulds’ but we’ve all came across at least one of these types of guys, bores in a pub or in conversation or something, who think they know it all and use their ‘‘whatever certificates’’ as a tool for patronising.
Ok, not all but deffo quite a few.
Oh yeh…and if they are ■■■■ a caravan puller into the bargain they’re 10 times worse. …a case of ‘‘You’ve driven a 44 tonner all over Europe, that’s nowt, I do Scarborough every year in me twin axle soopedooper exec caravan’’
cupidstunt:
Is it just me or is there an awful lot of humblebragery going on, along the lines of “I’ve been an instructor for 30 years and you should see some of the stuff these lesser mortals get up to!”
Just because someone hasn’t got an advanced driving qualification doesn’t necessarily mean they are a complete moron behind the wheel and I for one don’t like being looked down on by someone who thinks they are superior.
I mean, I used to be a formula 1 driver for 40 years and you don’t see me going on about it
Nobody is saying that. All that has been said is that some of these courses are a benefit to already experienced drivers by identifying any faults due to complacency or just bad driving habits that get picked up as the years go by everyone.
All in all it improves road safety and surely that ain’t a bad thing!
C’mon Jakey…let’s kick off another one then.
I’ve more than likely a similar long and varied experience in this job, I know I can drive to a safe and reasonable standard, and I’m comfortable with my abilities…On the other hand I [zb] up like everybody else, sometimes do some stupid bloody things,.and have aquired numerous what could be termed as ‘‘Bad habits’’ , but I have a clean licence and tend to keep my nose clean.
SO…In your best humble and modest way (try your best on that one mate ) and knowing how you love to judge and criticise other peoples driving (quite often) …
How do you rate your own driving both by your own abilities and in comparison to others, have you any bad habits, and do you ever do anything wrong, that if the same had been done by others, you would criticise ?
Just asking like.
(Here’s to another 5 pages. )
Quite right I do criticise other drivers because let’s face it the standards are pretty attrocious and I know you agree.
However you will be pleased to know I am human and make mistakes although not nearly as many as some. I concentrate on my driving and take pride in doing things correctly.
No bad habits but my patience gets tried by dozy twonks and my anger with aggressive twonks but I keep a cool head most of the time.
I did the IAM HGV course whilst at TRUCK magazine for an article on lower insurance rates. I don’t know if it made me a better, safer driver, but it did highlight my awareness and doing the running commentary made me try harder to be aware, things like looking at reflections in shop windows on bends and at junctions to know what was there that I couldn’t see directly, that kind of thing.
jakethesnake:
Quite right I do criticise other drivers because let’s face it the standards are pretty attrocious and I know you agree.
However you will be pleased to know I am human and make mistakes although not nearly as many as some. I concentrate on my driving and take pride in doing things correctly.
No bad habits but my patience gets tried by dozy twonks and my anger with aggressive twonks but I keep a cool head most of the time.
Wow!
That’s one hell of a bold statement…even for you.
I freely admit to having one or two bad habits in driving (and even more while off driving ) I thought everybody had em,.and it came with the territory of a (too) long driving career.
However it appears not, so just as I thought…I am not worthy.
jakethesnake: However the bad drivers are in a minority hence the thousands of safe deliveries made every day
That is your opinion and you may well be right however just because a driver makes a safe delivery does not necessarily mean he has driven safely.
Ok then arrived there without wreaking carnage you know exactly what I mean but because ROG has put up a stat that doesn’t suit your point of view you think it can’t be right. Next time you’re out in the road take your blinkers off and see how many accidents are averted by HGV drivers taking evasive action from idiots in cars if I so wished I could probably write off 3 or 4 cars a day and not be in the wrong yet I don’t and neither do thousands of other drivers
Really, I can’t with honestly say I see that happen very often. If an LGV driver has to take evasive action the chances are he has not planned ahead and probably not kept a safe distance in my opinion.
Really?
Tell that to the idiot driving for Harry Lawson last week who overtook me on the A90 en route to Dundee but then decided to cut in with 2 feet of his trailer still overhanging my cab. If I had not braked suddenly I’d probably be dead.
Bloody idiot (him not you).
It isn’t hard. Wait for the flash and if one isn’t forthcoming when the overtaken truck is a third of the way down your near side large mirror you are probably good to come in. Simples.
FACT - there is no such thing as a perfect driver- well, not at the moment but perhaps self drive vehicles …
I did not say I was perfect. I said I am human and occasionally make a mistake but regards driving with one hand using wrong or confusing signals, adopting the wrong road position or breaking any rules… if these are classed as bad habits. I don’t do them.
As a matter of interest what are your bad habits?
jakethesnake: However the bad drivers are in a minority hence the thousands of safe deliveries made every day
That is your opinion and you may well be right however just because a driver makes a safe delivery does not necessarily mean he has driven safely.
Ok then arrived there without wreaking carnage you know exactly what I mean but because ROG has put up a stat that doesn’t suit your point of view you think it can’t be right. Next time you’re out in the road take your blinkers off and see how many accidents are averted by HGV drivers taking evasive action from idiots in cars if I so wished I could probably write off 3 or 4 cars a day and not be in the wrong yet I don’t and neither do thousands of other drivers
Really, I can’t with honestly say I see that happen very often. If an LGV driver has to take evasive action the chances are he has not planned ahead and probably not kept a safe distance in my opinion.
Really?
Tell that to the idiot driving for Harry Lawson last week who overtook me on the A90 en route to Dundee but then decided to cut in with 2 feet of his trailer still overhanging my cab. If I had not braked suddenly I’d probably be dead.
Bloody idiot (him not you).
It isn’t hard. Wait for the flash and if one isn’t forthcoming when the overtaken truck is a third of the way down your near side large mirror you are probably good to come in. Simples.
Yep, fair enough. Another one of these drivers with advanced skills eh. Lol.
jakethesnake:
As a matter of interest what are your bad habits?
1 - not concentrating fully at odd times - dunno why
2 - only being in the correct gear 98+% of the time
3 - failing to see everything i could do (possibly due to no 1)
Come later this year I will probably have a few more pointed out as I am going out with an ex police traffic top who is observing me for about 2 hours
jakethesnake:
As a matter of interest what are your bad habits?
1 - not concentrating fully at odd times - dunno why
2 - only being in the correct gear 98+% of the time
3 - failing to see everything i could do (possibly due to no 1)
Come later this year I will probably have a few more pointed out as I am going out with an ex police traffic top who is observing me for about 2 hours
Fair enough. I have also lost concentration in the past. Tended to be more on long distance which I don’t do now. Riding a motorbike helped me maintain a good level of concentration.
Personally I would not class losing concentration or failing to see everything as bad habits. That is all part of being human.
…a case of ‘‘You’ve driven a 44 tonner all over Europe, that’s nowt, I do Scarborough every year in me twin axle soopedooper exec caravan’’ 
) and knowing how you love to judge and criticise other peoples driving (quite often) …
