Wednesday 7th April 2004

Confident Driver?

Let's not lose sight of what makes a good driver...

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Norwich Union have just published the results of their 'Crash Index' survey and are grabbing headlines with the data revealed.

The results show that 93% of the respondants claimed to be very confident behind the wheel. 75% of that 93% have had an accident according to the researchers.

Julian Lowe, actuarial director at Norwich Union, who has compiled the Crash Index, commented: "No one likes to admit they are a bad driver, but we've been startled by motorist s' misplaced confidence on the roads. Cocky drivers are a real menace as they often regard good driving as the ability to master the controls of the car at higher speeds. Our claims data reveals just how common car collisions really are and how we quickly forget the skills and safety guidelines needed to obtain a driving licence."

Curiously Mr Lowe has chosen to interpret confidence as cockyness and that somehow this is directly related to high speeds. The simple fact is that confident or not - too many people have crashes.  Being confident is not the same as being complacent.

Other findings from The Norwich Union Crash Index include:

• The majority of car collisions [65%] take place within a mile of a driver's home address
• You are most likely to be involved in a car collision at a junction or on a country road
• A third of motorist s would drive off without leaving any contact details if they accidentally bumped or scratched a parked car
• Over 90% of drivers would support harsher punishments for drivers caught without insurance

[mannginger]

I replied yes to confidence and yes to having an accident - but the accident was not "at fault" so that'll skew the odds somewhat.

Also I am not confident 100% of the time - In particular M6 driving when it's busy and wet - the M6 has a nasty habit in circumstances like that to concertina suddenly (think 80 to 30 very suddenly) and I don't trust other people's reactions in those circumstances so I tend to slow down and get into the inside lane when I can. (Mind you is that a lack of confidence or just sensible!?)

Phil

[thanuk]

mannginger said:

and I don't trust other people's reactions in those circumstances so I tend to slow down and get into the inside lane when I can

I know what you're saying here, although I think it's more anticipation than reactions that's important.

I really don't know whether or not the people on the inside lane's anticipation is going to be better or worse than those in the fast lane.

[PetrolTed]

"According to a survey of PistonHeads readers 100% of them are confident yet less than 25% have had an accident in the last five years. That proves that confidence is a useful attribute to have and I almost finished this press release without mentioning speed..."

[rospa]

Confident Driver? What a load of tosh!

My old dear is a confident driver. Sacres me silly someties, but still a confident driver.

[danger mouse]

mannginger said:

I tend to slow down and get into the inside lane when I can. (Mind you is that a lack of confidence or just sensible!?)

Is this not standard practice?

The concertina effect is a symptom over overconfidence/complacence coupled with a lack of anticipation.

I would say that I am a confident driver, and that may be the reason I drive as fast as conditions allow most of the time (I enjoy it), but I also adapt to such things as blind corners, weather, density of traffic and of course speed limits to the same degree as anyone else on here.

I have confidence in my ability to judge the situation where I am driving, but sometimes this judgement makes me feel less confident so I slow down, to make more space for myself etc.

Blind over-confidence, of the kind shown by 17 y/o yoofs and the like, is the leathal kind...

...Luckily I have survied that stage pretty much unscathed.

[mannginger]

danger mouse said:

I would say that I am a confident driver, and that may be the reason I drive as fast as conditions allow most of the time (I enjoy it), but I also adapt to such things as blind corners, weather, density of traffic and of course speed limits to the same degree as anyone else on here. I have confidence in my ability to judge the situation where I am driving, but sometimes this judgement makes me feel less confident so I slow down, to make more space for myself etc. Blind over-confidence, of the kind shown by 17 y/o yoofs and the like, is the leathal kind... ...Luckily I have survied that stage pretty much unscathed.

I think that describes me pretty much. (Does anyone else get annoyed though when, in the M6 situation described, people move into the gap you have deliberately left?)

Phil

[mrmaggit]

I think I'm an OK driver, but I'm having training so that I can be better.

[sagalout]

Park over a mile from home and cut accidents at a stroke!
Sorry, I must not be flippant!

[vojx]

there was no mention of competent drivers. Confidence is how you feel, competence is how you drive.

[MajorClanger]

So of the 7% who don't feel confident how many of those had accidents? How many of that 7% drive around at 20 mph all the time and cause accidents by people trying to avoid them? How many of the 7% should be allowed out on to the roads?

Isn't general confidence one of the characteristics that a driving test examiner looks for?

Those are really useful statistics Norwich Union!

MC

[dodge]

I'm pretty confident behind the wheel, but I've had a non-fault accident - an old man drove into my rear wing at a junction. HE was not confident at the wheel.

Also, I'd say being confidence has a lot to do with knowing your skill level - I know I'm no driving god, and drive accordingly.

[agent006]

study said:

The majority of car collisions [65%] take place within a mile of a driver's home address

well nearly 100% of my journeys feature my home address at one end or the other, so statistically i'm more likely to have an accident near it!

[WildCat]

A confident driver listens to the car engine, is aware of road surface, hazard, has applied POWER before setting off, applies COAST, MSM, PSL at all times on the journey, knows the HC, may drift over the speed limit, but always spots PC Gatso in good time, and has checked the website for details of where his playmate is lurking!

Confident driver is also one who can handle constructive criticism and is evaluating and seeking to improve and learn all the time!

A confident and good driver can also be measured by amount to certain extent he or she spends on replacing rubber and other repairs

Complacent driver and there are different types:

A complacent driver has never read the HC since day he passed the L-test, never reads a book on driving, never looks at sites like these (and when they do - try to spam, disrupt, post asisine comments. They also think they can drive - and that good driving may mean sticking rigidly to speed limit even though driving conditions would dictate otherwise, do not use POWER< COAST< MSM< PSL or anything like!

The complacent driver may also drive at 35mph not matter what the speed limit says too.

The other type of complacent driver overestimates his actual driving skills - because again - never read and understood HC, nor the car!.

Like everything else - these numpty psychobabble people (dribble bibble bibble) get it all wrong!

[bigjimmy]

I'm very confident while driving. I think alot of this confidence come from my defensive driving style. Im not a slow driver by any means but i do keep my distance and slow down whenever I see a situation that could get a bit tight.

My only weakness is mini round-abouts. I hate them.

[mondeoman]

I'm confiednt and had TWO people drive into me - once I wasn't even in the car) so that will definitely skew the results

[veewhy]

thanuk said:

mannginger said: and I don't trust other people's reactions in those circumstances so I tend to slow down and get into the inside lane when I can I know what you're saying here, although I think it's more anticipation than reactions that's important. I really don't know whether or not the people on the inside lane's anticipation is going to be better or worse than those in the fast lane.

I think what he is saying is that the middle lane is slower speed and inhabited by drivers that would rather stay out of the fast lane,leaving it to Mr shiny shoes in his M3 with it's V8 and four big pipes and the like, the implications are obvious.

[Supa_Freek]

i marked that i was confident behind the wheel, but that doesn't mean i'm cocky. i do take pride in never having been in a crash, either my fault or not. i don't think i'm the best driver, but certainly not the worst. i do know where the article is coming from, though. My girlfriends dad thinks he's God's gift to driving, but when i'm in the car with him, i'm scared half to death. he rarley has both hands on the wheel, always finds something more interesting than the road ahead, and doesn't know how to "drive three cars ahead."