How good of a driver do you think YOU are?

[Toneloc5145]

I saw this in another forum and thought it'd be cool to post on her.

We all focus our time any money on upgrading the car, but how good of a driver do you think you are? If you get in a situation where you start to fishtail heavily, do you think you could regain control? If you encounter an emergency situation when impact is eminent, what do you do? Do you just slam on the brakes and hope you don't crash, or do you look for ways out such as changing lanes, or down shifting to try and stop faster, or even hop a curb to avoid hitting some one?

Many times we spend all this money on our cars to make them better, but we don't use our best judgment when driving. I.E. racing on the streets. If you lose control, are you good enough to get it back? I just figured I would make an interesting post for a change.

[hotdoghogie]

ha... well i am good at avoiding rear end colisions... i have had a few close calls but i managed to shift down in the rain of swerve out of harms way

but i think we all suck unless we have trained... like the autocross guys

[Vanilla Sky]

I thought I was a good driver, then a furry little woodland creature jumped in front of me, and I made the choice to avoid it. Trees don't move out of your way.



If any of you guys want to help me out some, buy something out of my junkyard. The links are in my sig.

[MessyHonda]

well thats why i upgraded the breaks first.......you cant go fast if you dont have the power to stop.....even with upgraded breaks i feel very safe....its kinda scary when the front start to lock up but the SE-i Conversion help out even out stopping distance. upgraded suspension also work when you are about to swerve out of the way....

[Toneloc5145]

Personally, I would say that I can hold my own when it comes to driving. I'm no driving pro, and I've made mistakes before, but that does not happen very often. I have nothing on my driving record (no tickets, no accidents), and I've avoided a number of accidents that some people may not have been able to avoid.

I've been told that I'm a good driver by basically everybody that has ridden with me. I think part of that comes from the fact that I've been driving things since I was like 10 (go-karts). And I've driven and continually drive everything from a riding lawnmower to a forklift (at work) to a F-350 dually with a weird clutch. So I've experienced a lot of things, even at my young age.

[lostforawhile]

well I estimate i've driven over a half a million miles in about 17 years of driving,and I've only been in one accident,which I was broadsided by some idiot. been coast to coast too in this car and all over the south. lived in atlanta for ten years also,drove daily in the insane bumper to bumper suicide traffic. everyone driving eighty miles an hour bumper to bumper 6 lanes wide on the expressway. people weaving in and out of traffic talking on their cell phones,shaving,reading books and everything else you could imagine. driving with their feet,elbows,sometimes the passenger is steering. I've seen goats,chickens,sheep,horses and everything you can imagine on the interstate. the trick is to always try and look ahead to whats going on ahead of you. people drive now like they are in a race,and you have to have the same mentality to avoid them.

[2ndGenGuy]

I don't know about my driving, but I know that everybody else on the road is a bunch of dumbasses. At least that's how I treat my driving situation. I always expect the worst, and try to give myself an out before I put myself into a compromising situation (doing maneuvers people say are stupid).

I try my hardest to be consistent and predictable. As in, if I use my signal, I commit to what I'm going to do unless it's unsafe to do so. I also won't change my mind at the last minute, and do a 4 lane dive. I won't suddenly decide not to change lanes, unless I make a mistake and didn't see a car. It's NOT THAT HARD to go down to the next exit and turn around.

This is going to turn into a rant for me, my apologies. But PLEASE for the love of god, ACCELERATE TO FREEWAY SPEED BEFORE ENTERING THE FREEWAY. That's what the onramp is for, and why you have 2 more inches you can press the pedal before it hits the floor. Don't pull out and expect people to get out of the way, it's your responsibility to merge! I'm an asshole and won't let people in unless traffic is heavy. I won't go out of my way to block you, but I'm not going to change lanes, or hit my brakes and disrupt miles of traffic behind me because your dumb ass can't speed up and get in front of me.

Also, make an effort before you get to the end of the onramp to establish where you're going to merge. LOOK EARLY and match the speed of the traffic! Looking at the last minute right as the lane is ending does NOT work! Especially since there is usually a car there!

Next time you see someone merging onto the freeway ahead of you, watch them. You WILL notice that they don't look AT ALL until they are about to pull into your lane and hit you, or are about to be forced onto the shoulder.

Another good activity in freeway driving is don't slow down BEFORE the offramp unless absolutely necessary! I know there are some short offramps out there, and that's understandable. If the ramp is a mile long, THAT is when you slow down. That's what it's there for, it's not there so you can hit your brakes on the freeway, then travel 25mph all the way down the ramp. For the love of god!

I also notice people on their cell phones. The problem is NOT having one hand on the wheel, the problem is them forgetting that they're driving. All they do is stare ahead and don't look at the speedometer. Before they know it, they're doing 45-50mph, and there is a huge lineup behind them. Keep the speed up on the freeway please! Or just don't talk on your phone, even your handsfree phone. I've seen some of the best drivers I know lighten their gas foot as soon as they pick up the phone.

Oh yeah, also before you change lanes, please don't just look immediately in your blind spot. Look WAY behind you in your mirrors and see if you're about to cut off someone who is driving faster than you. Just stay out of the way.

It's my goal when I'm driving to stay out of people's way and not disrupt traffic. I don't hit the brakes every time I change lanes, or sit in the middle lane going 30mph because the right lane is backed up, and I need to get over at the last minute.

I guess I consider myself a pretty good driver, because I analyze what people are doing when they're driving, and I analyze what I'm doing. I try always to keep in my mind the mistakes I've made in situations (as I've made many) and always try prevent myself from letting them happen again. I watch what people do and predict and prepare for the worst, and usually I'm not in any kind of close call situations.

Sorry about the rant, but I just thought I'd point out what makes me not as bad a driver as many other people. As least I sure hope I'm not.

[lostforawhile]

I don't know about my driving, but I know that everybody else on the road is a bunch of dumbasses. At least that's how I treat my driving situation. I always expect the worst, and try to give myself an out before I put myself into a compromising situation (doing maneuvers people say are stupid).

I try my hardest to be consistent and predictable. As in, if I use my signal, I commit to what I'm going to do unless it's unsafe to do so. I also won't change my mind at the last minute, and do a 4 lane dive. I won't suddenly decide not to change lanes, unless I make a mistake and didn't see a car. It's NOT THAT HARD to go down to the next exit and turn around.

This is going to turn into a rant for me, my apologies. But PLEASE for the love of god, ACCELERATE TO FREEWAY SPEED BEFORE ENTERING THE FREEWAY. That's what the onramp is for, and why you have 2 more inches you can press the pedal before it hits the floor. Don't pull out and expect people to get out of the way, it's your responsibility to merge! I'm an asshole and won't let people in unless traffic is heavy. I won't go out of my way to block you, but I'm not going to change lanes, or hit my brakes and disrupt miles of traffic behind me because your dumb ass can't speed up and get in front of me.

Also, make an effort before you get to the end of the onramp to establish where you're going to merge. LOOK EARLY and match the speed of the traffic! Looking at the last minute right as the lane is ending does NOT work! Especially since there is usually a car there!

Next time you see someone merging onto the freeway ahead of you, watch them. You WILL notice that they don't look AT ALL until they are about to pull into your lane and hit you, or are about to be forced onto the shoulder.

Another good activity in freeway driving is don't slow down BEFORE the offramp unless absolutely necessary! I know there are some short offramps out there, and that's understandable. If the ramp is a mile long, THAT is when you slow down. That's what it's there for, it's not there so you can hit your brakes on the freeway, then travel 25mph all the way down the ramp. For the love of god!

I also notice people on their cell phones. The problem is NOT having one hand on the wheel, the problem is them forgetting that they're driving. All they do is stare ahead and don't look at the speedometer. Before they know it, they're doing 45-50mph, and there is a huge lineup behind them. Keep the speed up on the freeway please! Or just don't talk on your phone, even your handsfree phone. I've seen some of the best drivers I know lighten their gas foot as soon as they pick up the phone.

Oh yeah, also before you change lanes, please don't just look immediately in your blind spot. Look WAY behind you in your mirrors and see if you're about to cut off someone who is driving faster than you. Just stay out of the way.

It's my goal when I'm driving to stay out of people's way and not disrupt traffic. I don't hit the brakes every time I change lanes, or sit in the middle lane going 30mph because the right lane is backed up, and I need to get over at the last minute.

I guess I consider myself a pretty good driver, because I analyze what people are doing when they're driving, and I analyze what I'm doing. I try always to keep in my mind the mistakes I've made in situations (as I've made many) and always try prevent myself from letting them happen again. I watch what people do and predict and prepare for the worst, and usually I'm not in any kind of close call situations.

Sorry about the rant, but I just thought I'd point out what makes me not as bad a driver as many other people. As least I sure hope I'm not.

amen brother amen

[frantik]

something tells me nobody on this forum thinks they're a bad driver



i know i'm not

[MessyHonda]

i drive fast...and sometimes crazy....but its fun.....to see a 17 year old car keeping up with the 90mph traffic and then when i get home and have no gas...i feel stupid...lol then i try to shift b4 2k rpm just trying to get to the gas station....owned by gas.

[Toneloc5145]

I agree with you 2ndGenGuy with pretty much everything that you said. I dont know if you've ever been to Virginia, but I can say that we have some of the worst drivers known to man in this state.

People here are notorious for driving in the fast lane on a two-lane highway, going 50 mph when the speed limit is 55. GET OVER! I cannot stand when people are passing me in the right lane because the dummy in front of me is too busy talking on his/her cell phone or eating to notice that their holding up traffic. On the other side, we have a lot of drivers here, mostly SUV drivers (soccor moms), that drive like bats out of hell. I can easily be going 75 on that same highway where the speed limit is 55, and I'll have some soccor mom get right on my ass with those bright ass headlights. Im going 20 over and your still on my bumper? Do these people not realize that if we were to get pulled over, we would get a reckless driving ticket. Of course, I do get over in the right(slow) lane, but going that fast is insane and unneccesary on most highways around here.

And when it starts raining or snowing here, I almost dont want to go out and drive. People here do NOT know how to drive when the weather is bad, especially in snow. You have those idiots in the SUV's again driving too fast, and thats mostly what you see in ditches when it snows here, SUV's. And Virginia is really hilly, at least where I live it is, so you cant drive too slow either, but people do that when it snows and never get up the hill because they dont have enough momentum.

But when I drive, i'm constantly thinking and questioning other people's driving skills. I anticipate people doing the wrong thing, and so far, that has saved me from many accidents. That's something that my mom tought me to do when I was driving, because she's been driving for 30 years without any accidents. And she's driven in many states, and in other countries, such as Germany and Korea.

[Vanilla Sky]

Toneloc, where in VA? I have family around Bristol and Abingdon.

[LX-incredible]

I would say decent, but there's always room for improvement. I avoided 2 accidents in the past 3 days, both of which wouldn't have been my fault. The closest one was when I was making a left in the inside lane and had the arrow. Some woman in a jag decides to make a right but not stay in the outer lane. I would say about 2" more and I would've hit her. Then she just waits there and slowly pulls away. Come on, if you are in that big of a rush to cut in front of me, get up to speed. It's almost like she was trying to get hit. Thank god for good brakes. With my suburban she wouldn't have been so (un)lucky. Sorry, no new car for you biotch.

[2drSE-i]

85% of drivers on the road think they drive better than 95% of the drivers on the road.

[85manw/a plan]

I really hate to admit it but I'm the worse driver their is I don't pay any attention to who or what is around me I also don’t bother to look into my morrows. just a few days ago I hit a woman coming out of the collage parking lot I was waiting for her to go into the road meanwhile I was looking out for incoming traffic not knowing she was still there I hit her on the bumper going 3mph I’m paying for it now. Thank god there was no major damage done to the 2001 Nissan Altima. Thanks to 2gen guy and tone loc 5145 I'll try to be come a better driver, and not drive like Jimmy Johnson. I just realized that lives people are in my hands, now that is a scary thought. Nothing left to do just move on and become a better driver, right?

[Blizzard]

Driving is one of those things everybody thinks they can do. No matter who you ask, everybody thinks they can do it. Men and women both.

The fact is, some people drive good, theirs alot fewer good drivers. The diffrence is, theres alot of people who aviod wrecks and dont get speeding tickets. They drive good, that dosnt make them good drivers.
Being a good driver is more than good car control. Its knowing what to do.
Something you always hear is steer into the skid. The thing is, most people dont know when to start straighting back up. Keeping a car under control and bringing a car back under control are two totally diffrent things.
Theres no real way to pratice bringing one back. It hardly evers happens exactly the same way.
Driving schools are good. But you cant earse years of second nature in two days (Im not sure how long an avarge driving school lasts.)

The first year I raced I realized competive driving and street driving are almost complete oppsities. Going in, I thought I was alright. For the first few weeks though I couldnt get out of my own way. You learn pretty quick what your doing wrong. Its either learn fast, or learn to fix alot of diffrent stuff.
Every single race you learn something diffrent, no matter how much experince you have theres always something new to be learned.



This post wasnt directed an anybody in particular. Just thought Id contribute.

By the way, got some pictures of the 3G circle track car coming. I went to take some the other night but when I got to the shop I realized the camera battery was dead.
March is here ( we start in March) so been pretty busy. Gonna try to get them on soon though.

[sinisterfuzzy]

i'm prolly horrible, in terms of safety, i'll probly die in a car accident, often times i'm squeezing in between cars weaving and speeding a lil too much often times. I have avoided quite a few accidents though the only ones i've gotten into weren't even my fault except when i didn't clean my windshield but that doesn't really reflect driving styles..

[SiR]

A good driver is always learning.

[BITESIZE]

I'm good at driving bad.

[Rockcord]

I think im good, i had a no P/S srtripped 84 accord sedan that I taught my self how to FW drift in... on gravel, cement, and grass, so ive had alot of practice, i dont do crazy stuff often, but when i do, im totally in control, i have to know my cars before i mess around in them and I do it in safe places away from peds and such...

[sinisterfuzzy]

I'm good at driving bad.

that describes me well too...

[frantik]

i'm good at driving... baddddaaaaaaazzz

[AccordEpicenter]

ive never messed up and crashed and ive recovered in some serious loss of control situations, like getting a 98 accord LX v6 completely sideways at 75mph in a 25mph curve. Kept it on the road and out of the trees but only by a few feet. Phew, it was close. Gotten airborne at 105mph in the lxi before due to some small rollers on this one country road plus numerous decent size bridge jumps in my 95 accord lx (2ft off the ground at 80mph, WRC style, but the way the bridge was you didnt land hard at all, nice and smooth) as well as gone 140 in the TL. Im not too bad and i have good car control, i can heel toe and left foot brake, but if was gonna do somthing like auto-x id probably need a better setup and more practice to dominate...

[hotdoghogie]

well u guyz def do take uneccesary risks... a good driver is always learning... a good driver also pays attention to the road at all times and can spot out excape routs if any givin wreck were to happen...

a good driver is a defensive driver...

i drive fast i street race but i make sure i know whats ahead of me and cop routes... but when im not racing i am paying attention and trying my hardest too keep my foot out of the pedal...

personaly you can call yourself a good driver if u have stayed out of any wrecks for a year or so

[MessyHonda]

if im right ive driven close to 20k miles in 2 years....that is alot even for a person that is a local....i remember i got my dx with like 147k now it has 161k....and my lx-i i got it with 136k and now it has 143k also my moms van...took it to LA 2-3 times...i drove both ways and my mother got to chill....but traffic sucks especially those fires on hwy 5. we were stuck for 2 hours...