The reason I ask is because surveys tell us that most would answer that question by saying that they consider themselves to be pretty good drivers. Most would quite vocally reject even the slightest suggestion that they are at an "average" level of driving ability.
Now it'll shock some of my colleagues in the driver training industry, but I don't think that the average standard of driving on our roads is actually too bad. Most people seem to be trying their best to do the right thing (generally succeeding too) and I genuinely feel it isn't really appropriate for people like me, who are highly trained, regularly re-tested and extremely well read in the wording of the Highway Code (and other related books), to go around telling everyone else that they're rubbish drivers just because they aren't perhaps doing what we'd do in a given circumstance. Imagine if teachers trained to professor level did that with their students in other educational settings?
By definition of course, the words "average driver" mean that most people on the roads are driving at that level of ability, and if you haven't sat a driving test for a few years now (or read the Highway Code) how would you really know how good you are?
You might say "I've been driving for 20 years and never had a crash" and that's certainly not proof that you AREN'T driving well, but please just take a moment to consider a car passing through a red traffic light at a cross roads whilst others are on green (so this isn't an "amber gambler", this is a pure violation of the light with no care taken whatsoever, as though the driver's totally ignorant of it's presence) - what are the chances of crashing?
Most people immediately say it's a very high chance of crashing and I totally understand why, but think about it - if you were one of the cars on a green light and you saw this car looking like it wasn't going to stop or actually coming through on red, what would you do? Obviously you'd take action to avoid the collision (as would everyone else who was also paying attention) so that driver that pays no attention to red lights or perhaps doesn't even know what they mean passes through them without crashing A LOT of the time due to everyone else's skill level rather than his own. So is the fact that you've never crashed actually good proof of you having good driving ability then?
Obviously most drivers know full well what red lights mean and that example is used only to make the point, but when did you last read the Highway Code? Could there be rules in there that you have forgotten about? Remember that if you are found to be in breach of the rules in the book in the event of a crash (they don't have to be actual law - everyone has an obligation to use roads in accordance with the Highway Code), it is likely that you will be found liable for the collision if the other driver was found to be compliant with the rules.
Here are those rules in the Highway Code I see broken most often when I'm on the road:
Driving over central road markings at mini-roundabouts
Highway Code rule 188 states that ALL vehicles MUST (by law) go around the roundabout markings. Vehicles that are physically incapable of going around them (examples would include lorries and buses) are permitted to cross over them, but everyone else is breaking the law if they don't drive around them properly.
Failing to stop completely at stop junctions
Highway Code rule 171 requires ALL vehicles (by law) to stop behind the stop line at junctions with stop signs and stop road markings rather than slowing right down and continuing through the junction if they can see it's clear (which would be what you'd do if there was only Give Way signs and road markings). Stop signs and road markings normally indicate that the junction is particularly hazardous and could well be a crash hot spot - stopping at them encourages you to take more time to check if it's safe to emerge.
Not stopping (or expecting others to stop) at AMBER traffic lights
Page 103 of the Highway Code shows us the traffic lights and describes what each light means:
Rule 126 of the Highway Code asks you to always drive at a speed that allows you to stop within the distance you can see to be clear ahead of you and if we use a parked car as a typical example, that can mean stopping within a couple of meters if a door opens or a pedestrian steps out from behind the car as you pass it. Most car crashes take place in locations where situations like this arise and drivers find themselves unable to stop in spite of being well below the posted speed limit.
- Red - stop and wait
- Red / Amber - prepare to go
- Green - go / continue
- Amber - STOP at the line / behind the car in front of you (unless it is would be dangerous to do so - we say in the car that heavy braking is fine, emergency braking isn't although I have heard an examiner say that an emergency stop for an amber light would be okay if there wasn't anything behind you)
Rule 126 of the Highway Code asks you to always drive at a speed that allows you to stop within the distance you can see to be clear ahead of you and if we use a parked car as a typical example, that can mean stopping within a couple of meters if a door opens or a pedestrian steps out from behind the car as you pass it. Most car crashes take place in locations where situations like this arise and drivers find themselves unable to stop in spite of being well below the posted speed limit.
Not stopping at Zebra crossings whilst pedestrians are waiting to use them
Rule 195 tells us that drivers must stop (by law) at Zebra crossings if people want to cross the road. It's worth mentioning that rule 19 tells pedestrians that they should (ie this is NOT law, it's advisory) wait until it's obvious vehicles are stopping before stepping into the crossing - they have the law on their side and CAN just walk into the road, so expect it!
Rule 195 tells us that drivers must stop (by law) at Zebra crossings if people want to cross the road. It's worth mentioning that rule 19 tells pedestrians that they should (ie this is NOT law, it's advisory) wait until it's obvious vehicles are stopping before stepping into the crossing - they have the law on their side and CAN just walk into the road, so expect it!
The Highway Code is available for free on the Gov.uk website if you think you'd benefit from a bit of time reading it. It IS a constantly evolving book and some of the rules will have changed even in cases where it hasn't been too long since you read it.
Nick Heath Driver Training is located in Rode Heath on the Staffordshire / Cheshire border and provides driving training services to those looking to either improve their driving or learn from scratch. In addition to media work, we conduct Taxi Driver Assessments for local authorities and offer Advanced Driver Training and Testing, Motorway Training and Fuel Efficient Driver Training alongside refresher courses and learner driving lessons. We are ORDIT registered to provide Driving Instructor Training and are listed on the DVSA's register of Fleet Trainers so we can help you with your business needs.
More details are available on our website www.nickheathdrivertraining.org.uk
