ADUK Archive

vanman wrote:...I could sit behind and wait, but I have a job to do and I do not want to take all B... day doing it. So yes I might get a bit close, not too close (IAM training) but close enough to make my presence obvious.

Is that to intimidate? If it is then it can't be right no matter the circumstances. Pro-drivers aren't above the law or curteous, safe driving...in fact it could be argued they shoud be better than 'the average' (what ever that is).

vanman wrote:...Professional drivers have a job to do it is not just fun or just getting for A to B.

And more to lose.

GJD wrote:

7db wrote:If the drivers were really professional wouldn't they plan enough time for the traffic they encounter on their journey?

Are professional drivers in control of how much time is planned for their journeys, or might their employer sometimes do that for them?

Usually they are on piece-work: it's their time they are wasting, not their employers.

Any employer who set a plan which required breaking traffic laws would find themselves open to an aiding abetting counselling and procuring charge. Most obvious example being bus companies setting unrealistic schedules.

superskib wrote:Why is the standard of driving so poor among professionals? Tailgating; ignoring speed limits; lane discipline; lack of consideration for other drivers, cyclists etc; all woefully poor. WHY?

I think that it's because of the arrogance. Good driving is 75% skill and 25% attitude...

heeloth wrote:

superskib wrote:Why is the standard of driving so poor among professionals? Tailgating; ignoring speed limits; lane discipline; lack of consideration for other drivers, cyclists etc; all woefully poor. WHY?

I think that it's because of the arrogance. Good driving is 75% skill and 25% attitude...

I think it's more about attitude than physical skill personally.

I agree with the Vanhosen & ChrisKay view - good driving is down to attitude far more than good skill! Someone with the right attitude wont try and drive outside of their level of skill.

Nigel

adiNigel wrote:I agree with the Vanhosen & ChrisKay view - good driving is down to attitude far more than good skill! Someone with the right attitude wont try and drive outside of their level of skill.

Nigel

I'm with you guys.

jcochrane wrote:

adiNigel wrote:I agree with the Vanhosen & ChrisKay view - good driving is down to attitude far more than good skill! Someone with the right attitude wont try and drive outside of their level of skill.

Nigel

I'm with you guys.

Absolutely.

fungus wrote:

jcochrane wrote:

adiNigel wrote:I agree with the Vanhosen & ChrisKay view - good driving is down to attitude far more than good skill! Someone with the right attitude wont try and drive outside of their level of skill.

Nigel

I'm with you guys.

Absolutely.

Is there room for another one aboard this happy ship?

....although I don't know if the percentages are quite right.

Best wishes all,
Dave.

I'm not sure how a attitude can be attributed to a proportion. Thinking further about the skill aspect, there is the fairly simple to observe mechanical skill, but there is also the much more subtle skill of observation ... does this come into the the skill category or the attitude category, since without the observation to direct it, attitude is of little value.

Thinking only slightly more deeply, there is imagination. It is imagination that, building on observation, suggests possibly hazards that a driver may meet. If imagination is a skill, and if both observation and risk assessment are in place, there is almost no need for attitude as the desire for self-preservation will sort things out in an adequate manner.

I realise that 'assessment, imagination, observation and skill' doesn't make for a snappy sound bite, and including attitude doesn't make it any snappier.

Gareth wrote:I'm not sure how a attitude can be attributed to a proportion. Thinking further about the skill aspect, there is the fairly simple to observe mechanical skill, but there is also the much more subtle skill of observation ... does this come into the the skill category or the attitude category, since without the observation to direct it, attitude is of little value.....

I would put observation under attitude. One of the things that I usually found lacking in the drivers attending fleet training courses was a lack of observation. They can do it but but choose not to.

adiNigel wrote:I would put observation under attitude. One of the things that I usually found lacking in the drivers attending fleet training courses was a lack of observation. They can do it but but choose not to.

How do you get them to make a different choice?

My IAM Observing experience suggests that most drivers do not realise how much there is to observe that they are not observing, and when the opportunity is pointed out they quite enjoy observing more - but then people who come to IAM have already taken a positive decision to improve their driving.

TripleS wrote:Is there room for another one aboard this happy ship?

....although I don't know if the percentages are quite right.

Best wishes all,
Dave.

I'd say overall driving standard is only as good as the weakest link - for some this is skill, for others attitude. More commonly the latter though.

waremark wrote:

adiNigel wrote:I would put observation under attitude. One of the things that I usually found lacking in the drivers attending fleet training courses was a lack of observation. They can do it but but choose not to.

How do you get them to make a different choice?....

Conversation. Try to find the right motivation for the individual. There may be a lack of knowledge, they may simply have forgotten something. For another it may be the promise of increased fuel economy. It really does vary between individuals.

Nigel

I think the Non Professional drivers concentration on driving than control since they are new and feel confused to drive car and fears always surround them,

Hi,

Sort of missed this one by not being online recently but...

I think it all comes back to "defensive" driving...dont put yourself in any situation you cant get out of....truck pulling out on motorway...your looking far enough ahead it should never catch you out!

"narrow power band" on a truck...rubbish, these boys have so much power available with the turbo that they have very little need to change gear at all unless they are running overweight?

As to the percentages, well....if you are not interested in driving and how to do it safely you are always going to be a hazard so I go for attitude 100%, by the same token if its just a job and you dont enjoy it then dont do it!!

Have a nice day
Ivor