Knowing the road

[Dr Jekyll]

This might be just the ones I know. But I get the impression that drivers and riders who are most concerned with whether or not they 'know the road' are generally pretty awful. If they think they do know the road they go too fast on the basis that there won't be any hazards coming up that weren't there last week. If they don't know it they won't exceed 40 odd on anything that doesn't look like an airport runway.

It's as if it doesn't occur to them to read the road.

I can think of places where knowing the road is helpful, allowing you to deal with a tightening bend with more finesse or to anticipate possible overtaking opportunities. But I think it's pretty marginal.

What does everyone else think?