I must be a terrible driver

[timwilky]

I passed my test in 1978 and had a 50-50 crash in the snow winter 78. Since then no car accidents/collisions etc. where I have been at fault.

A few years ago the company sent me on a 1 week driving course where it was noted on the critique back to HR that I was a motorcyclist and had excellent observation and positional awareness.

However, we have had to fill in a recent questionnaire on our driving attitudes and I have been assessed as high risk.

I am classed as high risk because of the following categories :-

Situational factors:-
High Mileage
Hours driving.

I would have thought both the above went hand in hand.

Behavioural factors :-
Aggression
Driving Excitement
Driving Focus
Self Evaluation

So, the truth. I answered their questions honestly, but about me on the road. Many of the things that scored to me being aggressive are because I answered them from a bikers perspective. yes I will overtake slower moving traffic, yes I cross into the opposite carriageway to improve my visibility, yes I enjoy twistie roads etc.


Well I have to now do another driving course. Yippee

[the_lone_wolf]

Originally Posted by timwilky

I am classed as high risk because of the following categories :-

Situational factors:-
High Mileage
Hours driving.

I would have thought both the above went hand in hand.

Tell them you'll work hard to reduce the number of hours you're driving...

May I ask why you answered a questionnaire based on your driving a car with answers based on your riding a bike?

Originally Posted by missyorkie_chris

May I ask why you answered a questionnaire based on your driving a car with answers based on your riding a bike?

I don't think thats entirely what he means.

When you are taught to drive a car, you are not necessarily encouraged to use the road and move out into the opposing carrageway to get a clear view of the road ahead, however, on a bike, it tends to be something you do frequently, hence the bikers perspective comment.

Tim, I don't see how that makes you an aggressive driver though? Surely just progressive? I knw that we are taught those techniques on our advanced courses and we were always told that they were "progressive" without being perceived as "aggressive".

That's why questionnaires are of limited use. If you'd answered those questions having never ridden a bike it might be logical to conclude that you were aggressive. But because of the extra awareness biking brings, you know how to drive progressively but safely.

Typical H&S attitude. Apply a one size fits all approach and assume the worst case all the time.

Originally Posted by Well Oiled

That's why questionnaires are of limited use. If you'd answered those questions having never ridden a bike it might be logical to conclude that you were aggressive. But because of the extra awareness biking brings, you know how to drive progressively but safely.

Typical H&S attitude. Apply a one size fits all approach and assume the worst case all the time.

The questions in these things are generally loaded anyway. It's in the interests of the training body.

If your replies show you to be assertive, you will be deemed aggressive and in need of training.

If your replies show you to be cautious, you will be deemed timid and in need of training.

Somewhere in the middle and you will be deemed indecisive and in need of training.

See where it's going?

interesting - if you were being tested on PlayStation Driving you'd hav eprobably scored top marks!

(I'm really convinced that the reason driving's so bad these days is because so many people spend so much time driving virtually - which is why it's always a race and everyone tailgates. even hit-and-runs are OK as there are no real consequences)

[phi-dan]

Hang on, aren't these the same chaps that have just asked to start driving into the office everyday? Surely their concern for your high mileage should have influenced that decision

[Richie]

we had a driving simulator at work the other month... a beta design I beleive.

I had a go and the Master driver watched...

I went from driving a car then to a truck, then to an Artic.
the last one was a Chally2 (CR2) ...

when I had ran over several cars that cut me up...he stopped the test and asked me why I had ran over said cars...

I answered " it was the only legal way as a biker I could get away with it" He then restarted the simulator and sat back....

[Gazza77]

Originally Posted by timwilky

I passed my test in 1978 and had a 50-50 crash in the snow winter 78. Since then no car accidents/collisions etc. where I have been at fault.

A few years ago the company sent me on a 1 week driving course where it was noted on the critique back to HR that I was a motorcyclist and had excellent observation and positional awareness.

However, we have had to fill in a recent questionnaire on our driving attitudes and I have been assessed as high risk.

I am classed as high risk because of the following categories :-

Situational factors:-
High Mileage
Hours driving.

I would have thought both the above went hand in hand.

Behavioural factors :-
Aggression
Driving Excitement
Driving Focus
Self Evaluation

So, the truth. I answered their questions honestly, but about me on the road. Many of the things that scored to me being aggressive are because I answered them from a bikers perspective. yes I will overtake slower moving traffic, yes I cross into the opposite carriageway to improve my visibility, yes I enjoy twistie roads etc.


Well I have to now do another driving course. Yippee

You don't like working in the office. Work are paying for you a day out of the office. I do believe the technical term for such a situation is win/win isn't it?