How good are you really?

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Following on from a thread by safespeed about 'Roadworks bombshell' and the message that safespeed puts over about safer roads and training I have had the following thoughts and would like you to examine whether you are the 'as complete driver' you think you are.

1. How many drivers check their vehicle every day for defects before they drive them?

2. Do you walk around your vehilce and check for tyre wear/indicators and lights working?

3.Do you do a safety check of the braking system before you start and over the first few rolling feet of your journey to see if your brakes are functioning correctly?

4. Do you resist the temptation of using communication equipment whilst in motion if it is not fixed to the vehicle.

5. Do you take account of the relevant weather conditions when you jump in and turn the key?

6. Do you know how to read the road properly?

7. Can you cope with an emergency in dangerous circumstances by reducing the risks to yourself and to others.

8. Are you able or confident to assist others who may be hurt as a result of a mistake they or someone else has made?

9. When did you last have your eyesight checked?

10. Do you drive on reactions or plans?


Just a few questions to provoke some inner examination.

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Question 7 was aimed not at dealing with an incident whilst on the move. It was aimed at dealing with an incident where the critical objective is safety of yourself your passengers and others who may be approaching you should you be involved in a collision, a breakdown or a medical emergency of some kind.

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safespeed said:

gone said: Just a few questions to provoke some inner examination. Forget all that. They were mostly 'attitude and responsibility proxies' anyway. Instead ask your self these questions: * When did you last get a nasty surprise? (for example, a vehicle or pedestrian movement you weren't expecting) * When did you last have to take emergency action to avoid a crash or an incident? (for example: emergency braking or swerving) * If surprises of any sort of frequent, you have a problem that needs addressing. Fortunately surprises outnumber incidents by about 10:1 - incidents outnumber crashes by about 10:1 and crashes outnumber injour crashes by about 10:1. So if you can effectively learn from 'surprises' you have a fighting chance of keeping well out of trouble.

Lets just hope your wheel falling off is not the nasty surprise

Being a complete driver is not just about propelling a vehicle from point A to point B without hitting anything due to nasty surprises.

>> Edited by gone on Monday 8th August 17:59

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Quinny said:

How can checking your tyres, and walking around your car to check that lights etc work make you a better driver? Ok it may prevent an accident due to mechanical failure, but it dosen't make you any better or worse than someone who never checks these things.

Its about attitude
Do you care about your machine?
Do you care about the image you present to others, espescially if you draw attention to yourself by an unfortunate mistake?

Its basically about pride in the job

Seen the advert on telly about the chap with the tax applied for note in the window?

If you know everything works properly then you can afford to make progress safely without a worry!

>> Edited by gone on Tuesday 9th August 00:58

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Quinny said:

Not sure I agree Gone. Yes I have pride in my car, house, work ethic etc, but I just don't see the relationship between checking everything, and standards of driving. I mean, my car was in perfect working order, recently serviced, MOT'd, insured and taxed.

How do you know?
Tyres put up with a tremendous amount of abuse travelling over different surfaces. Do you know if there has been a bulge develop when the missus hit the kerb when she went shopping? Is there a cut in the tyre that you haven't noticed?
If you need to use a headlamp warning, are you sure both full beam bulbs actually work?