Driving-A Forgotten Skill???

[quicksilver]

I have to agree with everything that's been said, modern cars are too easy to drive and people get blase - couple that with the amount of distracting gadgetry fitted these days and you've got a recipe for disaster. A classic example was in the snow at the turn of the year when moronic 4x4 owners were driving at normal speed 'because they had 4x4 for better grip', completely forgetting that their brakes were no better than everyone else's.

 

Having started out with a Mk1 Fiesta and a Dolomite when I moved on to a modern Corsa I found it completely lacking in feel and with too many distractions from the task of driving and never got any satisfaction from driving it - it was just a tool for getting from A to B. For the same reason I took my test in the Fiesta as it was so much better to drive than my instructor's Fiat Bravo, and I got the feeling the examiner was quite impressed I could drive such an old car to that standard.

[worldofceri]

I think I'm a pretty good driver. However;

 

I've smashed up and very-nearly-smashed-up quite a few cars in my fourteen year driving career. Almost every incident I've had has been my fault.

 

Most people I know have had at least one big accident or car written off, but it never seems to be their fault.

 

I don't really know where I'm going with this train of thought.

[dollywobbler]

Have we not got a grumpy thread specially designed for this sort of non-shite stuff?

 

I've no idea whether driving standards are better or worse, and it's entirely unrealistic to expect everyone who's learning to drive to fully master both an Austin Seven and a brand new Vauxhall Corsa before being given a pass.

 

I blame the immigrants/aliens/anyone who isn't as brilliant as me/Guardian readers for all of the world's woes etc etc.

[Lord Sterling]

Agreed with what already been said, particularly this point:

 

D) Not assume that everyone else will give way to you or move out the way for you even if they don't have to, because you're you, and you're speshul and you're used to getting your own way...

 

Ego - I really dont understand how or why this has become a part of the general publics attitude to driving. So what if your in a BMW/Golf or that your car is newer than a fellow road uders etc... doesnt give you anymore right over anyone else who uses the roads. As has already been covered, common sense has all but dimished over time, what with drivers aids, safer and easier cars to drive. The general publics expectations of other road users has become too high.

[Lankytim]

I dunno, the driver of this 406 is pretty good at parking.

 

[Lord Sterling]

^^ ^^

[willswitchengage]

Regardless of what is thought of them... it said in today's noose-paper that insurance companies are willing to dish out 1/3 discounts on cars with all this auto-braking nonsense technology, so at least somebody seems to think it'll work.