Lady Godiva wrote:
I sometimes wonder if there would be less accidents if we took a more formal, structured approach, rather than the gut feel, I've been doing it a long time approach.
Regards
Sally
You're probably right, but I'm bound to wonder if you're getting at me again young lady.
No worry if you are, I'm slowly developing a thicker skin!
Anyhow, once again there are various scenarios that one might recognise, for example:
1. Basically qualified drivers, even youngsters like PD
could embark on sessions of tuition from advanced driving experts, people like StressedDave or Von, or Roadcraft - for example - and as they practice and gain experience they should end up being the best drivers, other things being equal. Whether this process should be deemed to be fully completed by the age of 24
is not clear to me, but it might be. More expert judgement would be needed to determine that.
2. Alternatively, we might have genuine driving enthusiasts who study the subject under their own steam, using whatever sources of guidance they can lay their hands on,
practicing things cautiously, noting what happens, adjusting things, trying again, noting the difference(s) and so on. In other words they develop and evolve their knowledge and skills steadily over what might be a considerable period of time. I happen to believe a fairly good result can be obtained by this route, so long as logical thought processes are applied consistently along the way. Having said that, I do accept that this can never be as good as category 1 above.
3. Alternatively again, we have the vast majority of normal drivers who pass their test and from that point onwards give relatively little thought to their driving, not having any particular interest in the subject. They just get on with it and so long they don't have too many shunts or panic moments, all is taken as being normal and the notion of further learning does not enter their minds. These people may cover quite a large total mileage over a period of many years and have very little trouble, but luck is bound to have played some part in that, even if this is often due to them driving relatively slowly and being fortunate enough to have others take the evasive action to keep things right.
As you may have anticipated, I believe category 2 covers my situation fairly reasonably, but I am making no claims as to the result attained, although I tend to think it ought to be somewhat better than category 3. That is the main point I am trying to make here. HTH.
Best wishes all,
Dave.