3rd Party Perception - what do other drivers think of you?
Discussion
I came across this link during my browsing in the Advanced Driving section of the forum. It highlights the potential consequences of the opinion of others should an unfortunate incident occur or to quote the article:
"What opinion will another driver, or any other ordinary person in the street, form of you as an individual by witnessing the public display you give through your driving style?"
http://www.ridedrive.co.uk/driving-tips-01a.htm
It certainly got me thinking how would someone perceive my driving? If I did exactly the same actions in a nondescript old estate car compared to a new 'flashy' sports car would the perceptions of others differ? (I suspect so).
- Did you have the music up? (Boy racer!)
- Was your car 'sporty' (Boy racer!)
- Did you have a loud exhaust? (Car 'sounded' like it was going fast)
- Did you overtake someone and they took offence (Driving like a maniac well above the limit!)
Do you feel you have an awareness of how others perceive you?
Does it make you alter your driving style (or do you not care)?
Would be interested tohear read the opinions of fellow PHers.
"What opinion will another driver, or any other ordinary person in the street, form of you as an individual by witnessing the public display you give through your driving style?"
http://www.ridedrive.co.uk/driving-tips-01a.htm
It certainly got me thinking how would someone perceive my driving? If I did exactly the same actions in a nondescript old estate car compared to a new 'flashy' sports car would the perceptions of others differ? (I suspect so).
- Did you have the music up? (Boy racer!)
- Was your car 'sporty' (Boy racer!)
- Did you have a loud exhaust? (Car 'sounded' like it was going fast)
- Did you overtake someone and they took offence (Driving like a maniac well above the limit!)
Do you feel you have an awareness of how others perceive you?
Does it make you alter your driving style (or do you not care)?
Would be interested to
Simple for me
Driving my works prius = slow rubbish driver with no style and low paid dull individual
Driving my own xfr = lust, love admiration, stay out of his way, don't tailgate good driver
In either scenario I simply don't care but it's nice to drive a car others appreciate and quite a few dad's point it out to their sons. The prius on the other hand driven at exactly the same cruising speeds attracts loads of cling ons determined to show me who is boss.
That on the other hand tells me how much of a c**k they are trying to show off the massive egos self importance and middle manager pay grades. Makes me laugh more than anything
Driving my works prius = slow rubbish driver with no style and low paid dull individual
Driving my own xfr = lust, love admiration, stay out of his way, don't tailgate good driver
In either scenario I simply don't care but it's nice to drive a car others appreciate and quite a few dad's point it out to their sons. The prius on the other hand driven at exactly the same cruising speeds attracts loads of cling ons determined to show me who is boss.
That on the other hand tells me how much of a c**k they are trying to show off the massive egos self importance and middle manager pay grades. Makes me laugh more than anything
Edited by bp1000 on Sunday 18th May 10:48
Depends what car I'm in:
1) Peugeot 106 GTi in bright yellow. People assume I'm a teenage/early 20s and a boy racer- wrong on both counts. I drive like a saint in this car because it's the car I use for 'boring' drives.
2) Mk Indy kit car covered in rizla stickers (came with them, and grew to like them) . Goes like hell and is equally as loud. People must think I'm some guy in the midst of a mid life crisis.
1) Peugeot 106 GTi in bright yellow. People assume I'm a teenage/early 20s and a boy racer- wrong on both counts. I drive like a saint in this car because it's the car I use for 'boring' drives.
2) Mk Indy kit car covered in rizla stickers (came with them, and grew to like them) . Goes like hell and is equally as loud. People must think I'm some guy in the midst of a mid life crisis.
"Only being trained to the basic level, Paul was unable to foresee what was coming..."
What a load of pompous twaddle. It's an advanced driving course, not bloody clairvoyance.
I drive how I drive, if other people don't like it, that's their problem. If the worst happens, the debate will be had based on the evidence of experts, not some armchair hacks who "think his driving was a bit s
t".
Simon.
What a load of pompous twaddle. It's an advanced driving course, not bloody clairvoyance.
I drive how I drive, if other people don't like it, that's their problem. If the worst happens, the debate will be had based on the evidence of experts, not some armchair hacks who "think his driving was a bit s
t".Simon.
MK1 Focus in pensioner green, radio tuned to radio 4, one of those Christian fish symbol things on the back from the last owner that I don't care about enough to remove. I can generally get around pretty quickly in this, but it's completely non-descript and unobtrusive.
On my Suzuki GSX-R600, in red and black with a loud exhaust, people probably think I'm a lunatic, but I doubt I even register to most people, as I'm overtaking them, slotting in and then overtaking the next car without hanging around. Given the style and sound of the bike, whether I was doing 60mph or 120mph, there will be plenty of drivers who think I'm a maniac. That said, this applies to all bikes in the eyes of a lot of moronic drivers, even something like a Honda Deauville, they'll see it an think "Bike. Maniac. Speeding. You'd never catch me on one of those".
On my Suzuki GSX-R600, in red and black with a loud exhaust, people probably think I'm a lunatic, but I doubt I even register to most people, as I'm overtaking them, slotting in and then overtaking the next car without hanging around. Given the style and sound of the bike, whether I was doing 60mph or 120mph, there will be plenty of drivers who think I'm a maniac. That said, this applies to all bikes in the eyes of a lot of moronic drivers, even something like a Honda Deauville, they'll see it an think "Bike. Maniac. Speeding. You'd never catch me on one of those".
Since acquiring a bright orange S2000 last month, I've been called a w@nker three times. First time, literally 500 yards after first picking it up, by a whitevan man. Second time by some young lads in Scotland. I took these to be banter/jokey/jealousy type comments. Third time, inexplicably, by a perfectly normal looking woman in a West Yorkshire village, who didn't so much shout as make the metaphorical coffee bean gesture as I drove by. I was not speeding, playing loud music or being provocative on any of these occasions and can only assume the bright orange open topped phallic sportscar created an identity of me being a committed onanist.
On the positive side, I've also received waves and nod of appreciation from drivers of other 'interesting' and open-topped cars, which is nice. I assume these people see me as a fellow enthusiast. Small boys seem to get excited by the car, too, pointing and so on. When I first got it, a couple of kids in my neighbourhood were very excited to see an unusual new arrival to their street, but after walking back for a second look after I parked up, I did overhear them say "Oh it's only a Honda"
I think in my case the colour of the car is more significant rather than the model.
On the positive side, I've also received waves and nod of appreciation from drivers of other 'interesting' and open-topped cars, which is nice. I assume these people see me as a fellow enthusiast. Small boys seem to get excited by the car, too, pointing and so on. When I first got it, a couple of kids in my neighbourhood were very excited to see an unusual new arrival to their street, but after walking back for a second look after I parked up, I did overhear them say "Oh it's only a Honda"
I think in my case the colour of the car is more significant rather than the model.
MGB GT... Very slow old git with beige trousers who drives everywhere at 20mph, therefore must overtake or get in front at whatever cost, even though I don't drive it slow and am not old. Although people constantly trying to get in front at whatever cost does get irritating, especially when they then hold me up!
2008 fiesta.. Midrange in silver - I reckon it gives out no stereotypes at all, nobody really cares or acknowledges it, however people presume it is going to be driven slowly I find, even though I drive it on the limit most of the time
Works iveco vans - people pull over for you, presume you must be in no massive hurry all of the time.
2008 fiesta.. Midrange in silver - I reckon it gives out no stereotypes at all, nobody really cares or acknowledges it, however people presume it is going to be driven slowly I find, even though I drive it on the limit most of the time
Works iveco vans - people pull over for you, presume you must be in no massive hurry all of the time.
When I'm out in the shopping trolley that masquerades as a diesel Fiesta I blend in with the background and no one notices me at all, certainly not for long enough to form an opinion of me, the driver.
In my 50 year old four-door Riley saloon they probably think I'm a doddery, bearded, sandel-wearing, pipe-smoking old fart who has never driven above 45mph. The bearded bit is true - nothing else. Once they hear the car (it's quite loud) and see it clearly (it's bright blue with Minilites) and watch way it's driven (usually as fast as I can) they probably think I'm a doddery, bearded, sandel-wearing, pipe-smoking old fart who forgot to take his daily medication - or took double the dose...
I haven't had my A8 very long but it's the one car I'm sure will give a totally wrong impression. It cost less than £5K (not £50+) and it's big (so much so that my neighbour alongside whose car it has to park has moved his 5 Series on to the street) and it sounds like a V8 (which it is) and it's silver - so I guess that makes me an outer-lane hogging, impatient, reckless, tail-gating lunatic with more money than sense.
All of which would be absolutely correct - or it may not. Either way, I really don't give a st.
In my 50 year old four-door Riley saloon they probably think I'm a doddery, bearded, sandel-wearing, pipe-smoking old fart who has never driven above 45mph. The bearded bit is true - nothing else. Once they hear the car (it's quite loud) and see it clearly (it's bright blue with Minilites) and watch way it's driven (usually as fast as I can) they probably think I'm a doddery, bearded, sandel-wearing, pipe-smoking old fart who forgot to take his daily medication - or took double the dose...
I haven't had my A8 very long but it's the one car I'm sure will give a totally wrong impression. It cost less than £5K (not £50+) and it's big (so much so that my neighbour alongside whose car it has to park has moved his 5 Series on to the street) and it sounds like a V8 (which it is) and it's silver - so I guess that makes me an outer-lane hogging, impatient, reckless, tail-gating lunatic with more money than sense.
All of which would be absolutely correct - or it may not. Either way, I really don't give a s
t.ferrariF50lover said:
"Only being trained to the basic level, Paul was unable to foresee what was coming..."
What a load of pompous twaddle. It's an advanced driving course, not bloody clairvoyance.
I drive how I drive, if other people don't like it, that's their problem. If the worst happens, the debate will be had based on the evidence of experts, not some armchair hacks who "think his driving was a bit st".
Simon.
I am guessing you haven't read 10 pence short's story and diaries What a load of pompous twaddle. It's an advanced driving course, not bloody clairvoyance.
I drive how I drive, if other people don't like it, that's their problem. If the worst happens, the debate will be had based on the evidence of experts, not some armchair hacks who "think his driving was a bit s
t".Simon.
Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff