What is a "good" driver?

[James Deuce]

I want to focus on positive outcomes, as in what to do, not negative outcomes, as in not what to do.

For example, I want to avoid arguments that measure how "good" a driver is by how many tickets they get; by how many km/h that they drive over the limit, etc. My personal opinion is that focusing on these metrics (which we tend to do through our current enforcement system) wont make "good" drivers.

That's not what I said, nor did I impose "negative" outcomes with my suggestion.

Identify the negative, then by a process of elimination document the positive.

[p.dath]

Finally - you might want to differentiate between a technically good driver (i.e. someone who could perform on the race track) and a 'safe' driver suited to road driving. Unfortunately a lot of people have the two very confused.

I should have clarified. I mean a good driver when on the public road network in NZ.

[Scuba_Steve]

I should have clarified. I mean a good driver when on the public road network in NZ.

now do you mean "good" legally or "good" safely?

[p.dath]

now do you mean "good" legally or "good" safely?

I mean "good". I want your opinion on what a "good" driver is. You decide.

[BMWST?]

That's a good start, but I want something more like a checklist that a person can read and say, yes I do that, no I don't do that, so I'm a 2 star driver, 5 star driver, etc.

Something measurable. The problem with general concepts is that people can full themselves into believing they are "good".

how often does something happens that surprises you?(not you personally)If a car appears out of no where,appears to cut you off etc etc.If it keeps happening you need to look at your OWN driving,not the other fellas....
Too many people confuse the actual physical driving skills with being a good driver...thats not the definition i would use.

[davebullet]

A good driver:
Lets the motorcycle past
Lets the motorcycle split
Lets the motorcycle lean against it when the motorcycle is tired
Gives up his parking space for a motorcycle
Offers $30 to fill up the motorcycle's tank
Lies down in a puddle of mud in front of said motorcycle to stop it getting dirty (and to test compression and rebound settings for judder bars at the same time)
Strokes the ego of the motorcyclist. If said driver is of the female persuasion, she is allowed to stroke other things too

I like good drivers.

[Berries]

1. Knows the Road Rules. I don’t mean blindly complying with all of them at all times, but having the mental ability to understand when they should be followed. Knowing how to use things like right turn bays, indicators and what giving way to pedestrians actually means etc etc etc.

2. Situational and positional awareness so that they know what is going on around them, not just in the road ahead.

3. Hazard perception.

4. An understanding of how other types of vehicles work. Like a turning truck may take up more than its own lane at an intersection, or a motorbike may filter down one side of them in heavy traffic.

5. Being able to ride/drive to the conditions. Sometimes the weather means you should slow down a bit. Sometimes you should put your lights on before it gets dark. Anyone driving without their lights on when 90% of others are due to the weather should be banned for 28 days on the spot.

6. A certain level of courtesy to other road users. Except cyclists of course.

7. An understanding of the consequences when things go wrong, as shown to great affect in the new TAC advert posted in this thread - http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/sh...tmas-safety-ad

Where it all falls down is that to most people their vehicle is just a means of getting from A to B and if they don’t want to learn any of the above then they aren’t going to. You can test people’s knowledge, but there is no guarantee that it will transfer to their driving behavior.

[scissorhands]

Speed is a real factor, aggression often white young males, vision being able to see ahead up the road a bit, emotions not losing it or becoming melancholic like some females before a crash, good tyres at harder pressures are safer, I run 45 psi instead of 32.

Tiredness and correct nutrition. Ignorance like some immigrant accidents

[Berries]

Ignorance like some immigrant accidents

Not forgetting that locals are probably more ignorant and have a much easier path to getting a driving licence than many immigrants.

[p.dath]

Thanks for all your valuable input. Below is an initial list of what I have compiled for what I consider to be a good driver. I'm interested in your comments.

ps. I typed this up in notepad, so the spelling wont be good.

Being a "Good Driver" requires a commitment everytime you use the public road network. Because you are a "good driver" on one trip does not mean you will be a good driver on the next trip. It must be something continually strived for.

Ethical Qualities (aka, attitudes)
----------------------------------------
* Someone that causes no harm or material damage to themselves or others, through either their actions or their inactions
* Courteous to all users of the public roading network
* Considerate of all users of the public roading network
* Strives to continually improve their skills through training and education

Mental Qualities
---------------------
* Alert (opposite of being tired)
* Awareness (ability to perceive, to feel, or to be conscious of events, objects or sensory patterns)
- implies no alcohol, drugs or medications and that the person is well
* Attentive (observant, thoughtful of others)
* Small amount of anxiety/consideration of self preservation (realisation of the risks being undertaken)
* Temperate (does not use the public roading network while under the influence of anger, sadness, agression, or other unhelpfull emotions)
* Sufficient will to do what they know is "right" (Not influenced by passengers or road users around them)
* Not susceptable to "Red Mist" (the condition of being fixated on one task, such as overtaking, to the extent they can no longer assess risk)

Physical Qualities
----------------------
* Has fast reflexes able to respond to rapdily changing environments
* Has sufficient strength and mobility for the vehicle being operated to be able to control it.
* Physicall well enough to not impair physical driving abilities (e,g. not continually sneezing, watering eyes, wearing corrective glasses if needed, etc)

Skills/Knowledge
----------------------
* Hazard Detection/Situational Awareness/Scanning
* Ability to continually plan their use of the public road network based on the observations made of the developing situation, so surprises are limited
- Recognises the conditions and plans/drives to them.
* Ability to handle different road surfaces, tarseal, gravel, wet, dry
* Recognises and removes distractions from their immediate environment (ipod, cell phones, etc)
* Able to smoothly control major input mechanisms of vehicle (steering, braking, accelerating, changing gear)
* Aware of road rules
* Ability to appropriately apply road rules based on the conditions
* Ability to verify basic safety of vehicle (indicator/brake lights working, that the brakes are working, etc)
* Basic first aid/Emergency first aide
* Able to smoothly control the machine being operated (particularly speed and steering)
* Ability to handle emergencies (placing the machine into planned gaps, emergency stops, skid recovery, etc)
* Ability to manouver smoothly and safely (cornering, stopping, parking)
* Places the machine being operated appropriately on the road, relative to other road users and the cirumstances that develop (e,g. cornering, following distance, etc)
* Operates the machine predictably so other road users can be confident of what is about to happen (does not suddenly change lanes, suddenly brake, etc)

[James Deuce]

The physical qualities first point section is BS. If you're relying on measurable neurological reaction times on the road then you're already a shit driver.

[Marmoot]

You're missing one point: a good driver should never hesitate to say sorry after making a mistake, or objectively evaluate the possibility of having made a mistake when pointed out to by someone to learn and progress from it (rather than simply act defensively in such occassion).

[Swoop]

86% of drivers believe they are above average.

86% of drivers have deluded themselves.

Below is an initial list of what I have compiled for what I consider to be a good driver. I'm interested in your comments
Mental Qualities
---------------------
* Alert (opposite of being tired)

Just the opposite of being tired?
A lot of people are fresh as a daisy in the morning and still would not be able to be described as being "alert" when it comes to operating a vehicle.

[cbfb]

I should have clarified. I mean a good driver when on the public road network in NZ.

Nah I got your point, what I meant was a lot of people see handling skills as the sign of a good driver. While drifting round a hairpin might be pretty to look at on the track, it's got nothing to do with being a good driver on the open road. Unfortunately I've got mates who don't realise this distinction and seem to think they're immune to danger or mistakes because they somehow have this magical ability to control a vehicle perfectly. Example - the delusion that they can stop within a few inches if someone pulls out on them at 100ks...

[James Deuce]

You're missing one point: a good driver should never hesitate to say sorry after making a mistake, or objectively evaluate the possibility of having made a mistake when pointed out to by someone to learn and progress from it (rather than simply act defensively in such occassion).

You may want to listen to this point folks. People keep saying this and you're ignoring it Mr Dath.