Are You a Good Driver?

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Prompted by the Bad Habits thread. If this question has been asked and answered already, feel free to beat me to within an inch of my life. (Tried to do a search, kept getting "web site not responding" notices.)

― jewelly (jewelly), Sunday, 4 May 2003 14:48 (twenty-two years ago)

I don't drive. its bad for the environment. grow trees instead.

― Julio Desouza (jdesouza), Sunday, 4 May 2003 15:02 (twenty-two years ago)

I don't drive either, but that's sort of a back-filled justification for me rather than the real thing. ;-)

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Sunday, 4 May 2003 15:14 (twenty-two years ago)

Probably not, as I'm relatively inexperienced, but I haven't gotten into an accident yet. 'Twould be nice to have a subway and not have to, though!

― Maria (Maria), Sunday, 4 May 2003 15:26 (twenty-two years ago)

i'm mostly a fairly *careful* driver, if not a "good" one, in the sense of having some kind of 'natural' control over the vehicle, sense of space on the road (tho that gets better all the time since i started driving about 2 years ago). not as careful as i should be, i must add: i've been in 2 accidents, both pretty much the result of my impatience (taking a corner a lil fast w/o compensating for wet roads = bad idea, as is attempting to be the last car that squeezes through the intersection before the red). my sense of direction is really poor too. i'd love it if there was a subway, or some other safe form of public transport.

― mitch lastnamewithheld (mitchlnw), Sunday, 4 May 2003 15:56 (twenty-two years ago)

Oh my, yes.

― jm (jtm), Sunday, 4 May 2003 16:04 (twenty-two years ago)

I think I would be. But, yeah I don't drive.

― jel -- (jel), Sunday, 4 May 2003 16:07 (twenty-two years ago)

I am the ultimate driver at my age. I am extremely safe and have super ninja reflexes. I've never been in a car accident even though I've put over 100,000 miles on my car that I've had since I was 16. Plus I have incredible endurance and a huge bladder, so if your riding with me we're not stopping anywhere.

I did get in one accident when I was a bus driver in college. It was the first night I was driving by myself on route and I had a busload of drunk people. I was turning around another bus, wasn't watching my pivot points and I hit the other bus. So, the only accident I have ever had I hit a bus with my bus. But I never had another accident again and I drove for some 2500 hours after that.

― Carey (Carey), Sunday, 4 May 2003 16:20 (twenty-two years ago)

two weeks ago i had my second ever carcrash in 25 years

― mark s (mark s), Sunday, 4 May 2003 16:21 (twenty-two years ago)

I didn't know you drove mark! (I'm really quite surprised by this!)

― jel -- (jel), Sunday, 4 May 2003 16:25 (twenty-two years ago)

i don't! that's why i crashed!!

(actually i do, i just don't very often — it wz my sister's car, oops)

― mark s (mark s), Sunday, 4 May 2003 16:28 (twenty-two years ago)

I suck!! I am a hazard to myself and others. Mostly because I am always missing exits and getting lost and then having to backtrack which makes me angry and then I speed up and etc etc. Ask Helltime. I'm a fucking terror.

― Millar (Millar), Sunday, 4 May 2003 16:38 (twenty-two years ago)

I haven't had a car accident since 1978, which is good, especially as I always drive at very high speeds. I think I'm a very good driver - but I've not driven for nearly two years now.

― Martin Skidmore (Martin Skidmore), Sunday, 4 May 2003 16:40 (twenty-two years ago)

Yes.I only get into an accident about half the time I get behind the wheel. The only half is spent barely escaping with my life.

― Roman (Roman), Sunday, 4 May 2003 16:40 (twenty-two years ago)

I think I am. Other drivers might say something different.

― j.lu (j.lu), Sunday, 4 May 2003 16:46 (twenty-two years ago)

I've never been in a bad accident (two minor rear-bumpings) and never had a moving violations ticket. *knock on wood*. I'm a better driver than all the jackasses around me so there you go!

― That Girl (thatgirl), Sunday, 4 May 2003 16:53 (twenty-two years ago)

I've only been driving for a few months. So far so good. Yes. I am a GREAT driver!!! :-). Not experienced enough though I suppose. I am a careful and curteous driver. However I must admit that I do tend to drive more carefully with others in the car.

― ThErEdNeD (ThErEdNeD), Sunday, 4 May 2003 17:03 (twenty-two years ago)

As I stated somewhere else, I think I'm an ok driver, except for that I JUST GOT MY FIRST SPEEDING TICKET. 16 years of driving and I just got my first one, but luckily (!) it was a photo radar ticket so I won't lose points on my license. Still pisses me off.

― Bryan (Bryan), Sunday, 4 May 2003 17:15 (twenty-two years ago)

I'm quite good - two accidents in my first 5 months of driving and nothing for 11 years since. No tickets or points either.

I am finding, though, that I have days when I get in my car and do *everything* wrong for the first 3 or 4 minutes. It's probably because I mostly drive a moped, which I am pretty confident on. Though having said that, only this morning on the bike did I think "woah, it'd be a lot worse to crash *this* in one of my spazzy periods", which isn't too encouraging.

― Mark C (Mark C), Sunday, 4 May 2003 18:45 (twenty-two years ago)

[how many americans have manual ("stick shift") cars? app very few. i'd say there's a 50/50 manual/auto split here. (i'm a stick boy.)]

― mitch lastnamewithheld (mitchlnw), Sunday, 4 May 2003 18:53 (twenty-two years ago)

I'm auto. I learned to drive on a stick but have promptly forgotten in the 15 or so ensuing years. I would like to learn again.

― That Girl (thatgirl), Sunday, 4 May 2003 18:55 (twenty-two years ago)

Automatic gears are still pretty rare in the UK. It's nearly all stick.

― Martin Skidmore (Martin Skidmore), Sunday, 4 May 2003 19:02 (twenty-two years ago)

Actually, I'm rubbish.

― Minnie Driver (Dan Perry), Sunday, 4 May 2003 19:05 (twenty-two years ago)

Yeah I'm a good driver - sometimes a little fast, but always good. I just bought a 5 speed Mustang convertible ('66), and I haven't driven a stick in awhile, but it's coming back to me.

― luna (luna.c), Sunday, 4 May 2003 19:12 (twenty-two years ago)

wow! what a rockin' car.

― That Girl (thatgirl), Sunday, 4 May 2003 19:14 (twenty-two years ago)

It is, I fucking love it. It's black on black and needs a new top, but the rest of it is in pretty damned good shape. I drive just to drive now...

― luna (luna.c), Sunday, 4 May 2003 19:15 (twenty-two years ago)

I am envious of luna. Green surrounds me. I WANT YOUR CAR. What kind of cars do you all have? My car is a wee metallic blue fiesta bought last year. Nothing like Luna's but I still love my wee car. Do any of you guys have names for your cars?

― ThErEdNeD (ThErEdNeD), Sunday, 4 May 2003 19:34 (twenty-two years ago)

I am the worst driver ever. Seriously. I am a danger to you all. Muhahaha You should all be glad that I now live in New York and don't drive anymore.

― mouse, Sunday, 4 May 2003 19:37 (twenty-two years ago)

I don't yet... should I?

― luna (luna.c), Sunday, 4 May 2003 19:37 (twenty-two years ago)

THE BLACK MAMBA

― Bryan (Bryan), Sunday, 4 May 2003 19:39 (twenty-two years ago)

I am not that bad, though sometimes I make dumb mistakes which put the fear of god into me for a while. However, I have developed a worrying tendency to speed esp. in the work cars which are big and powerful.

― isadora (isadora), Sunday, 4 May 2003 19:56 (twenty-two years ago)

I call mine Clifford, the Big Red Car

― That Girl (thatgirl), Sunday, 4 May 2003 20:49 (twenty-two years ago)

I'm good enough, not fantastic at parking. I'm quite safe really, I don't speed much, no real interest in that.

I did fail my test last time I took it, I fucked up the reverse around a corner part.

― Ronan (Ronan), Sunday, 4 May 2003 20:51 (twenty-two years ago)

Reverse around a corner? What the hell kind of driving skill is that?

― That Girl (thatgirl), Sunday, 4 May 2003 20:53 (twenty-two years ago)

Don't they have corners in the USA?

― Billy Dods (Billy Dods), Sunday, 4 May 2003 20:57 (twenty-two years ago)

it's a bit of a crazy thing to have to do in your test i agree

― Ronan (Ronan), Sunday, 4 May 2003 21:01 (twenty-two years ago)

Yes but why the hell would you reverse around one? I'm confused. It sounds very dangerous.

― That Girl (thatgirl), Sunday, 4 May 2003 21:03 (twenty-two years ago)

I think I'm a pretty good driver. For one I tend to keep as far away from other motorists as humanly possible (not very far, most of the time) to at least minimise the effect of the stupidity of others.

― electric sound of jim (electricsound), Monday, 5 May 2003 01:32 (twenty-two years ago)

Carey = first exception to asianwomanbaddriver stereotype EVAH.

I'm not great, but no accidents yet. I'm usually pretty careless like fumbling at the radio/CD player, so I purposely drive slow, esp. on the freeway. Thus, no moving violations ever.

That still doesn't prevent me from missing turns/exits too because of my total lack of directional sense, and it's a bit of a miracle I haven't been rear-ended yet.

But parking, I'm completely disastrous.

― Leee (Leee), Monday, 5 May 2003 02:05 (twenty-two years ago)

I am a fabulous driver, darling. My mother even tells me to hurry up sometimes, because I'm all about the love of safety, love.

Only thing I suck at is parallel parking, but thankfully I've only needed to do that once since the driving exam. Dad, who taught me how to drive, just really didn't get into that part.

But be forewarned -- if you're driving somewhere in the central part of Texas and think you're driving behind some rather young-looking senior citizen with her hair in a bun and her eyes shielded by a pair of eyeglasses, that would be me. And I'm far from being a senior, thankyouverymuch.

― Dee the Semi-Lurker (Dee the Lurker), Monday, 5 May 2003 02:15 (twenty-two years ago)

Yes, very good. I can do a one point U-turn in a space twice the size of the vehicle.

― A Nairn (moretap), Monday, 5 May 2003 02:21 (twenty-two years ago)

I also once changed from normal clothes into my swimming suit while going 45mph in a 25mph zone. (i was late for a swim meet)

― A Nairn (moretap), Monday, 5 May 2003 02:22 (twenty-two years ago)

I drive a big stick shifted SUV. I try to burn up as much oil and gasoline as possible. Sometimes I'll just sit outside and rev the engine cuz I figure I have to make up for all the wussy tree huggers on ILE.

― bnw (bnw), Monday, 5 May 2003 02:28 (twenty-two years ago)

i can parallel park like a total legend these days. you pretty much have to be an expert in town here otherwise you'll be driving round forever looking for a park

― electric sound of jim (electricsound), Monday, 5 May 2003 02:29 (twenty-two years ago)

I'm a fantastic parker. I always have an intuitive sense of the dimensions of whatever car I'm driving. I am, sadly, not a very good driver, as I distract so easily.

― Kenan Hebert (kenan), Monday, 5 May 2003 02:30 (twenty-two years ago)

bnw would be fucking cool as beans on rice except for the fact that I have a college buddy and Green Party supporter who just got himself a Honda Element. Wham. And he's a much better driver than me.

― Millar (Millar), Monday, 5 May 2003 02:35 (twenty-two years ago)

My car is a magnet for bad drivers & people who don't know how to park. My last accident I wasn't even moving- I was waiting at a traffic light, and a yuppie in a mercedes was chatting on his cellphone, didn't see the red light, or my honda, and rear-ended me. I don't know how you get so wrapped up in a conversation that you just, like, completely don't see the STOPPED car in front of you.

― lyra (lyra), Monday, 5 May 2003 02:44 (twenty-two years ago)

I can barely go a week without nearly getting run off the road. Usually by a yuppie in an SUV talking on his or her cellphone. Occasionally by a high school kid driving the new big-ass truck Daddy gave him or her. And slightly less often by an elderly person.

Bleh.

I hate driving.

― miloauckerman (miloauckerman), Monday, 5 May 2003 03:00 (twenty-two years ago)

The first word I learned to speak was "car". Not "mommy" or "daddy" but "car". Since then I figure I've driven 700K-800K miles in a variety of cars on two continents (includes looping around half of Australia, a run to Alaska and back, and 4 trips/loops to the east coast and back).

I don't consider myself to be a fantastic driver since there's always room for improvement, but in all of that driving I've only had one accident that was my fault.

Anyway, I pretty much drive only stick-shifts these days. Currently drive a black '99 BMW 323is.

― Chris Barrus (Chris Barrus), Monday, 5 May 2003 08:55 (twenty-two years ago)

Oh, and if it wasn't obvious... I LOVE driving

― Chris Barrus (Chris Barrus), Monday, 5 May 2003 08:55 (twenty-two years ago)

In almost 18 (18!!!) years of driving, I have never been at fault in an accident, and only been a victim of other's bad driving twice (rear-ended both times, once at speed). Yet my wife, who admits to being at fault in three accidents (and you'd have be VERY generous not to think her at fault in two others) thinks I'm a lousy driver.

― Colin Meeder (Mert), Monday, 5 May 2003 12:13 (twenty-two years ago)

Don't drive. Probably won't ever bother now. It'll save a lot of lives.

One of the (bizarre) reasons I never learned was my eyesight. I've had lousy distance vision since I was about ten, but didn't bother getting glasses until three years ago. By then, I was past any point of caring whether I could drive or not.

― ChristineSH (chrissie1068), Monday, 5 May 2003 13:00 (twenty-two years ago)

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