Are you an average, above average or below average
Discussion
I ask as i've read a few posts recently that suggest the majority of PH are above average.Now statistics say average is half the population,although PH is not an exact match to the general population it wont be too far of. I will admit to expecting a slightly igher standard of driver on PH than in the population as a whole but not buy much.Just because many PHers can afford a high powered car does not mean you are an above average driver
Now to my mind to be an above average driver you should not have any points on your licence for speeding,maybe getting done by vascar is an exception.I say this as one thing i would expect from an above average driver is good observation. so if you cant see a gatso or man in van then i suggest your observation skills are no better than average.
You will probably need to have no accidents except where somebody has hit you. Although in many of those cases i suspect an above average driver to see the potential hazard ahead and drive defensively.
Anybody who has "just lost the back end" can not be an above average driver as they were either driving too fast for the conditions or dont know how to drive at an above average standard
An above average driver will regularly undertake some advanced training and continue to learn etc
An average driver would probably have some speeding points an accident in the last 3 years etc
I rate myself as a average to below average driver as i know my forward observation can be improved, and i do things i know i shouldn't (but breaking a habit is difficult
Over to the floor to discuss,ive posted in SP&L as i know our BiB friends read these pages and they should know what really makes an above average driver
Now to my mind to be an above average driver you should not have any points on your licence for speeding,maybe getting done by vascar is an exception.I say this as one thing i would expect from an above average driver is good observation. so if you cant see a gatso or man in van then i suggest your observation skills are no better than average.
You will probably need to have no accidents except where somebody has hit you. Although in many of those cases i suspect an above average driver to see the potential hazard ahead and drive defensively.
Anybody who has "just lost the back end" can not be an above average driver as they were either driving too fast for the conditions or dont know how to drive at an above average standard
An above average driver will regularly undertake some advanced training and continue to learn etc
An average driver would probably have some speeding points an accident in the last 3 years etc
I rate myself as a average to below average driver as i know my forward observation can be improved, and i do things i know i shouldn't (but breaking a habit is difficult
Over to the floor to discuss,ive posted in SP&L as i know our BiB friends read these pages and they should know what really makes an above average driver
I'd agree with many of your points, but I'm not sure that average is where you seem to think.
The average driver in this country doesn't give a rats ar$e about driving, so I suspect (and I'd bloody hope given the amount of good advice floating around here) that most PHers are above average. Just by admitting that your forward observation needs work puts you in the "above average" section in my book, at least you're aware that you need to look beyond the end of your bumper.
So by my own criteria I would say I was above average, but by no means without fault.
The average driver in this country doesn't give a rats ar$e about driving, so I suspect (and I'd bloody hope given the amount of good advice floating around here) that most PHers are above average. Just by admitting that your forward observation needs work puts you in the "above average" section in my book, at least you're aware that you need to look beyond the end of your bumper.
So by my own criteria I would say I was above average, but by no means without fault.
Clean license, full no claims bonus, not caused any accidents in 15 years of driving and ovet 1,250,000 miles covered in that period, but I still have off-days and still learning things each day I'm out on the road.
There's no such thing at a perfect driver, but it's good to aim to be.
'nuff said.
There's no such thing at a perfect driver, but it's good to aim to be.
'nuff said.
I'd like to think I'm above average....but probably more nearer average....
I do about 9000 miles per year in my private vehicle and about 50,000 per year in police vehicles...
The police vehicle driving is obviously the most extreme....often at high speeds in stressful situations...
I've never had a collision, but the near misses in a police vehicle are far too frequent to mention due to the actions of other motorists.
I've been an 'advanced police driver' for over 6 years...and although I feel 'experienced'....I personally don't think I've reached my 'peak'..and often find myself critisising my own performance and wanting more 'perfection'...which never seems to be there.
I'm 38 years old now and it's about this time and the next 10 years that you are supposed to be at your 'peak.
ie: you have got enough years under your belt to be fairly experienced, and not too old that your reactions/eyesight is slowing down...
no offence to anybody
I do about 9000 miles per year in my private vehicle and about 50,000 per year in police vehicles...
The police vehicle driving is obviously the most extreme....often at high speeds in stressful situations...
I've never had a collision, but the near misses in a police vehicle are far too frequent to mention due to the actions of other motorists.
I've been an 'advanced police driver' for over 6 years...and although I feel 'experienced'....I personally don't think I've reached my 'peak'..and often find myself critisising my own performance and wanting more 'perfection'...which never seems to be there.
I'm 38 years old now and it's about this time and the next 10 years that you are supposed to be at your 'peak.
ie: you have got enough years under your belt to be fairly experienced, and not too old that your reactions/eyesight is slowing down...
no offence to anybody
Judging by alot of drivers I share road with I'd say I'm above average. No accidents (touch wood) in 17 years but 6 points(and 3 pending from Vascar). Personally I don't think that the points have anything to do with it, a well placed hidden camera will catch even the most observant driver, people whose observation is good enough to see through a parked van or a bush I'd class as doubly exceptional drivers.
Streetcop said:
I'd like to think I'm above average....but probably more nearer average....
Yes that's what I figured.
Streetcop said:
I do about 9000 miles per year in my private vehicle and about 50,000 per year in police vehicles...
The police vehicle driving is obviously the most extreme....often at high speeds in stressful situations...
I've never had a collision, but the near misses in a police vehicle are far too frequent to mention due to the actions of other motorists.
I've been an 'advanced police driver' for over 6 years...and although I feel 'experienced'....I personally don't think I've reached my 'peak'..and often find myself critisising my own performance and wanting more 'perfection'...which never seems to be there.
I'm 38 years old now and it's about this time and the next 10 years that you are supposed to be at your 'peak.
ie: you have got enough years under your belt to be fairly experienced, and not too old that your reactions/eyesight is slowing down...
no offence to anybody
No offence taken old boy!
We properly experienced advanced drivers are much less dependent on quick reactions anyhow.
Incidentally how have you gone from 31 on 18th August 2004 to 38 now? That job must be ageing you rapidly is it?
Best wishes all,
Dave.
TripleS said:
Incidentally how have you gone from 31 on 18th August 2004 to 38 now? That job must be ageing you rapidly is it?
Best wishes all,
Dave.
I think I described myself in my early 30s a few months ago...in retort to someone who was pulling my leg about getting old...
I was actually born in a winter month in 1967.....
I suppose 10 years in the Military and 10 years in the police would mean that I would have had to be a boy entrant in the armed forces...
I don't agree with your criteria. No problem with no own fault accidents or not losing the back end on a roundabout (you're not including deliberately hanging it out I hope!), but the issue of having a clean licence is debatable in my opinion.
Points from fixed GATSO's I'd agree, that's about observation and awareness, but to pass a driving career in the UK and avoid being lasered from afar seems to come down to 2 things - either respecting the limit nearly everywhere or equipping your vehicle with garage door openers. By implication, your criteria are then that above average drivers are those that largely respect the limits.
How about drivers who accept that every couple of years they will pick up a triplet of points because of a sneaky lasering rat? They drive according to road conditions, so are obviously speeding frequently in a country where the prats in power are reducing limits on many a good driving road. If they meet your other criteria despite speeding habitually, you could argue that they are therefore better technical drivers than those that bimble along at around the limit.
And I'm not saying all this just because I get points now and then but don't have accidents....honest!
Points from fixed GATSO's I'd agree, that's about observation and awareness, but to pass a driving career in the UK and avoid being lasered from afar seems to come down to 2 things - either respecting the limit nearly everywhere or equipping your vehicle with garage door openers. By implication, your criteria are then that above average drivers are those that largely respect the limits.
How about drivers who accept that every couple of years they will pick up a triplet of points because of a sneaky lasering rat? They drive according to road conditions, so are obviously speeding frequently in a country where the prats in power are reducing limits on many a good driving road. If they meet your other criteria despite speeding habitually, you could argue that they are therefore better technical drivers than those that bimble along at around the limit.
And I'm not saying all this just because I get points now and then but don't have accidents....honest!
Above average.
No crashes, no one crashed into me, no points.
No regular training because I don't need it. Driving itself should be a training experience.
I lose the back end on every journey, because without doing that you give yourself no training.
I personally don't think speeding tickets, are any indication of observational skills. Perhaps the converse.
No crashes, no one crashed into me, no points.
No regular training because I don't need it. Driving itself should be a training experience.
I lose the back end on every journey, because without doing that you give yourself no training.
I personally don't think speeding tickets, are any indication of observational skills. Perhaps the converse.
I also have to disagree with the having a clean record to be an above average driver. If you're concentrating on parked vehicles on the side of the road while driving, you're obviously doing something wrong, as you should be putting more of your focus on the road, and on moving vehicles on the sides of the road.
By your criteria, above average. No points (ever) and regular training (bikes and car) on track, road and off-road. IAM (bike and car) and four years as IAM observer.
But before X'mas I trashed a motorcyle 9m after leaving my front gate. No-one else involved, Pilot error. And I do mean trashed. Also trashed me for three months.
So even 'above average' I can make a stupid mistake.
Got to be humble
John
But before X'mas I trashed a motorcyle 9m after leaving my front gate. No-one else involved, Pilot error. And I do mean trashed. Also trashed me for three months.
So even 'above average' I can make a stupid mistake.
Got to be humble
John
Strassencop said:
Incidentally how have you gone from 31 on 18th August 2004 to 38 now? That job must be ageing you rapidly is it?
Best wishes all,
Dave.
I think I described myself in my early 30s a few months ago...in retort to someone who was pulling my leg about getting old...
Und guess who!
did so! Strassencop: said:
I was actually born in a winter month in 1967.....
But I pulled your leg when you announced your big 3-0 plus birthday in August ..about 17th or so as my son turned 17 about the same time und got his AS results as toppest birthday present ....Have a good memory...
Strassencop said:
I suppose 10 years in the Military and 10 years in the police would mean that I would have had to be a boy entrant in the armed forces...
Did mention you must have been about 10 qwhen you became double-0 agent at time, Liebchen ....
As for me - people tell me I look half my age ....
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