Essential support for under 25s
Essential support for under 25s
Take a look around and enjoy reading the discussions. If you'd like to join in, it's really easy to register and then you'll be able to post. If you'd like to learn what this place is all about, head here.
Comments
Generally yes, but that's not hard-and-fast. I'm not saying I think you are a crap driver (how could I know?), just that high mileage and years driving does not preclude you from being one.
Well we'll have to disagree. No scratches, bumbs or crashes after over half a million miles in 9 years. If I was a terrible driver this woudl be very unlikely. It's why insurance companies give you no claims bonuses, because as a gerenal rule of thumb miles/accidents gives you a indication of ability.
And generally experience plays a big part of driving ability (though this is sometimes ofset by age). Somebody who regulary travels on motorways is going to be better at driving on them than those that go on them once or twice a year. Having experience riding motorbikes also generally improves your capability as a car driver. As a motorbike rider you are much more aware of the dangers on the road because mistakes are far more costly, where as people who have only driven cars quite often have an air of invincibility about them.
Tomorrow is a mystery
But today is a gift
That’s why it’s call the present
Nobody has called you a terrible or even a bad driver.
I'd say overtaking anything with oncoming anything is a death wish.
However, if you spend a while riding on a motorbike, riding with other motorcyclists, you will pick up a keen appreciation for how other vehicles move dangerously and learn to plan two steps ahead - where is the next danger, and so on. It galls me to see bicyclists who haven't yet picked that up, enjoying the lovely weather, and literally riding into deadzones where their life is being dictated at that point by the assumption of competenence of other drivers. Something that you absolutely can't rely on when you are so vulnerable.
Not that this awareness is exclusive to motorcycle riders, but certainly being on on a 'death trap' for any length of time trains that foresight.
Not saying neither of the above is not done by car drivers but I've seen plenty of bikers at it.
Yesterday on a dual carriageway at standstill there 4 motorcyclists filtering up at 15-20mph. First one goes past. Volvo in front of me pulls over to the left and drives over the white line to block the progress of the other three. What the fucking fuck. If one of those motorcyclists was a) going too fast b) not paying proper attention c) poorly maintained bike / bad brakes, that kind of manouvre is a potential death sentence by the Volvo. That's what you have to appreciate, that as a driver you are driving a lethal weapon.
I do see bad motorcyclists, particularly younger riders / mopeds. The big crime is sitting in an overtaking position for far too long (this is when you close the gap between yourself and vehicle in front, in order that you can quickly pass at the right opportunity). This is 100% dangerous for a motorcyclist in case the car has to do a sudden stop, you won't stop fast enough. So you should be careful and strategically plan when you are going to overtake, and so when you need to move to your overtaking position, and so the time you need to be in the danger area. Amateur riders however will sit in the dangerous spots for a long time waiting for an opportunity.
A good insight into 'roadsense'.
They're not crossings in Europe, they're targets.
I used to get freaked out that in Belgium and Luxembourg you can turn right across a pedestrian crossing regardless of lights.