At what age were you best at driving?
Discussion
Strange one.
Now at 30 I'd say I'm a safer and a more relaxed driver than before.
At 24/25 I had better reactions, much more confidence in my driving and more experience of powerful cars.
Simple things like reverse parking or backing the car into the garage, I was far better at when younger.
Now at 30 I'd say I'm a safer and a more relaxed driver than before.
At 24/25 I had better reactions, much more confidence in my driving and more experience of powerful cars.
Simple things like reverse parking or backing the car into the garage, I was far better at when younger.
Although I guess my reactions can't be as good as they once were (I'm 61) they still check out pretty well on reaction tests. I think my driving is still improving - I'm very much more aware of my mortality than I was when younger, which has made me more defensive and aware of what others might do. I still like to make good progress (not much point buying a 911 if I didn't) but try to do it without fuss and "glitz" - I try to drive quickly but smoothly
Very surprised at some of the comments by posters who reckon their cognitive and motor skills have deteriorated noticeably at a relatively young age. I think some are being overly critical of themselves!
I'm 44 this year and still reckon I'm improving as a driver, after 30 years of practice. Skill and technique are always evolving as a result of experience. I can pedal my TVR quite confidently on road and track, yet 20 years ago my Fiesta-driving self would have spun the Chimaera within 3 seconds of turning it on. I didn't start doing club karting, trackdays and a bit of club sprinting until I was 30, and those have definitely sharpened-up my driving compared to hooning around in an underpowered shopping-trolley in my 20s. I haven't noticed any deterioration of reflexes, co-ordination or capacity over the years, either in a car or an aeroplane. Indeed, one of the 'lads' at work was still teaching aerobatics at up to 9g on an Extra 300 at the age of 71!
I'm 44 this year and still reckon I'm improving as a driver, after 30 years of practice. Skill and technique are always evolving as a result of experience. I can pedal my TVR quite confidently on road and track, yet 20 years ago my Fiesta-driving self would have spun the Chimaera within 3 seconds of turning it on. I didn't start doing club karting, trackdays and a bit of club sprinting until I was 30, and those have definitely sharpened-up my driving compared to hooning around in an underpowered shopping-trolley in my 20s. I haven't noticed any deterioration of reflexes, co-ordination or capacity over the years, either in a car or an aeroplane. Indeed, one of the 'lads' at work was still teaching aerobatics at up to 9g on an Extra 300 at the age of 71!
I've just turned 30 and would hope, and certainly feel, like I'm still improving slightly all the time.
I don't expect to improve much though as I've had 12 years of no accidents, a reasonable variety of cars (including a lot of off-road stuff and time working for a car importer driving anything and everything) and my reactions are probably already starting to go. A bit more track and advanced stuff might help but I'd guess my best driving years will be about now really.
Not sure quite when peoples' reactions and observation skills generally start to deteriorate but from experience after about 50 my father became a noticably worse driver. Nearing 60 now and he makes a lot of silly errors I doubt he would have made 20 or 30 years ago.
I don't expect to improve much though as I've had 12 years of no accidents, a reasonable variety of cars (including a lot of off-road stuff and time working for a car importer driving anything and everything) and my reactions are probably already starting to go. A bit more track and advanced stuff might help but I'd guess my best driving years will be about now really.
Not sure quite when peoples' reactions and observation skills generally start to deteriorate but from experience after about 50 my father became a noticably worse driver. Nearing 60 now and he makes a lot of silly errors I doubt he would have made 20 or 30 years ago.
Japveesix said:
I've just turned 30 and would hope, and certainly feel, like I'm still improving slightly all the time.
Not sure quite when peoples' reactions and observation skills generally start to deteriorate but from experience after about 50 my father became a noticably worse driver. Nearing 60 now and he makes a lot of silly errors I doubt he would have made 20 or 30 years ago.
It may be than he has become complacent and does not take a pride in his driving - I suspect that is the older driver's equivalent of the young driver's "driving god" syndrome... He is too young for his observational skills to be deteriorating due to age - sounds more like he is just not paying attentionNot sure quite when peoples' reactions and observation skills generally start to deteriorate but from experience after about 50 my father became a noticably worse driver. Nearing 60 now and he makes a lot of silly errors I doubt he would have made 20 or 30 years ago.
Prof Beard said:
It may be than he has become complacent and does not take a pride in his driving - I suspect that is the older driver's equivalent of the young driver's "driving god" syndrome... He is too young for his observational skills to be deteriorating due to age - sounds more like he is just not paying attention
Perhaps perhaps. He doesn't take a lot of interest in cars/driving as a whole (it's just an A-B commuting tool) so certainly doesn't enjoy a journey as you'd expect most on here too. And I think enjoying driving automatically makes you more aware and focus, instead of your mind drifting on to other things.But then at what point do your reactions and general road awareness start to dim, even if you yourself are still a keen driver at heart?
Japveesix said:
Prof Beard said:
It may be than he has become complacent and does not take a pride in his driving - I suspect that is the older driver's equivalent of the young driver's "driving god" syndrome... He is too young for his observational skills to be deteriorating due to age - sounds more like he is just not paying attention
Perhaps perhaps. He doesn't take a lot of interest in cars/driving as a whole (it's just an A-B commuting tool) so certainly doesn't enjoy a journey as you'd expect most on here too. And I think enjoying driving automatically makes you more aware and focus, instead of your mind drifting on to other things.But then at what point do your reactions and general road awareness start to dim, even if you yourself are still a keen driver at heart?
The most important things are - enjoying/taking a pride in driving (which will increase alertness and concentration) and being sensible enough to appreciate when things do deteriorate and make allowances for it. (and, for some older people, knowing when to stop driving - but I see plenty of people in their seventies still competing in motor sport - let alone driving)
Edited by Prof Beard on Thursday 7th June 23:12
I was fearless as a young driver. Stupid, but fearless. Crashed a bit, learnt a lot.
My hazard perception and awareness then was awful compared to now though, as was my technique regarding environment and mechanical sympathy.
Id have to say though that although ive always worked and polished my driving as a lifelong learner, the single biggest leap forward in skill and mindset was when i took my bike test.
My hazard perception and awareness then was awful compared to now though, as was my technique regarding environment and mechanical sympathy.
Id have to say though that although ive always worked and polished my driving as a lifelong learner, the single biggest leap forward in skill and mindset was when i took my bike test.
I'm 24 now, and I'm very much in my 'realise that slow and smooth = fast' period. I end up in an argument with a similar-aged housemate every time I point out that I cover distances faster than he does, despite him believing me to 'drive really slow'.
I still don't understand how he correlates this with our few joint drives where I've had to slow down on the straights for him to catch up...
I still don't understand how he correlates this with our few joint drives where I've had to slow down on the straights for him to catch up...
Next month I would have been driving for 18 years and in that time I've clocked up well over 700k miles, I also turn 35 next week so you can see I passed my test a month after turning 17 and have driven quite a bit since.
A few years ago I would have said my best driving days were when I was 26-28 because after this I was confined to an office and only commuting so I thought my driving and observation skills had lapsed. Fortunately they haven't and I now think that I am at the prime of my driving by the way of observation, reaction and enjoyment.
I have over the last three years been a sales rep and covered a hell of a lot of miles in this time. I have also learnt that my experience has taught me a lot in reading situations with other traffic that I would never have noticed when I was younger, almost like a sixth sense in predicting what other cars are about to do that you would never notice otherwise. Touch wood I haven't had an accident in the past 120k of driving (I feel lucky in saying this BTW as there have been a few near misses)
I know that when I was younger I would have taken a few more risks and liberties with certain situations. Age has calmed me down and experience has taught me to hold back a little, but I know as I get older now I will be holding off even more and I will get to the point of thinking '10 years ago I would have taken that gap' But I am comfortable in knowing I am nearly at the point of slowing down a little.
In a nutshell what I'm saying is that I think I have reached that peak and I'm happy with my driving now. I know it will slowly deteriorate and I know that five years ago I would have said this was b
ks, hey ho here is to the next half million miles or more 
A few years ago I would have said my best driving days were when I was 26-28 because after this I was confined to an office and only commuting so I thought my driving and observation skills had lapsed. Fortunately they haven't and I now think that I am at the prime of my driving by the way of observation, reaction and enjoyment.
I have over the last three years been a sales rep and covered a hell of a lot of miles in this time. I have also learnt that my experience has taught me a lot in reading situations with other traffic that I would never have noticed when I was younger, almost like a sixth sense in predicting what other cars are about to do that you would never notice otherwise. Touch wood I haven't had an accident in the past 120k of driving (I feel lucky in saying this BTW as there have been a few near misses)
I know that when I was younger I would have taken a few more risks and liberties with certain situations. Age has calmed me down and experience has taught me to hold back a little, but I know as I get older now I will be holding off even more and I will get to the point of thinking '10 years ago I would have taken that gap' But I am comfortable in knowing I am nearly at the point of slowing down a little.
In a nutshell what I'm saying is that I think I have reached that peak and I'm happy with my driving now. I know it will slowly deteriorate and I know that five years ago I would have said this was b
ks, hey ho here is to the next half million miles or more Meoricin said:
I'm 24 now, and I'm very much in my 'realise that slow and smooth = fast' period. I end up in an argument with a similar-aged housemate every time I point out that I cover distances faster than he does, despite him believing me to 'drive really slow'.
I still don't understand how he correlates this with our few joint drives where I've had to slow down on the straights for him to catch up...
You may be realising that slow and smooth = fast but you're obviously still in the phase of competing with your housemate over driving on the road.I still don't understand how he correlates this with our few joint drives where I've had to slow down on the straights for him to catch up...
Don't get caught "racing" on the highway, you'll have a very heavy book thrown at you by the police and the courts.
rohrl said:
You may be realising that slow and smooth = fast but you're obviously still in the phase of competing with your housemate over driving on the road.
Don't get caught "racing" on the highway, you'll have a very heavy book thrown at you by the police and the courts.
I don't think my post implied we were racing.Don't get caught "racing" on the highway, you'll have a very heavy book thrown at you by the police and the courts.
I'm past it now.
I never really had it. Always thought I was the great driver as a youngster, then, at the tender age of 28 took my integrale on Knockill and was overtaken by a Fiesta XR2.
That's when I really knew I couldn't drive worth a toss.
Now I'm older, wiser with money, tyres, brakes and have a family.
Coffin's coming closer for me too.
I never really had it. Always thought I was the great driver as a youngster, then, at the tender age of 28 took my integrale on Knockill and was overtaken by a Fiesta XR2.
That's when I really knew I couldn't drive worth a toss.
Now I'm older, wiser with money, tyres, brakes and have a family.
Coffin's coming closer for me too.
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