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"Svenson (1981) surveyed 161 students in [...] the United States, asking them to compare their driving skills and safety to other people. For driving skills, 93

by bla2 11y ago

"Svenson (1981) surveyed 161 students in [...] the United States, asking them to compare their driving skills and safety to other people. For driving skills, 93% of the U.S. sample [...] put themselves in the top 50%; for safety, 88% of the U.S. [...] put themselves in the top 50%." http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Illusory_superiority#Driving_ability http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Illusory_superiority#Driving_ab...

kw71 11y ago
I was once a student in the United States, back then I was young, cocky and arrogant. I wrongly thought that I was great at driving so long ago. The citation that follows your quote doesn't offer any implications as to age or experience. But the results of the citation following _that_ are ridiculous. I have heard people say that they are better drunk drivers than most people, too. Survey results like these probably shed some light on why people here are such bad drivers. They simply don't realize that they are bad. I'm a lot older now and have a lot more experience. At least, the insurance companies and police agree with my self-assessment now :)
jbuzbee 11y ago
I remember a conversation with a co-worker who was arguing for two classes of driver's licenses. One, for people like him of course, would allow the holder to ignore certain road restrictions, go over the speed limit, etc. The other would be for "normal" people who were less talented behind the wheel. He was serious. What a tool...
- Animats 11y ago
  "Welcome to your Advanced Driving Test. Please get into the driving simulator. Fasten your safety harness. Beginning Phase 1, Ventura Freeway at rush hour... Phase 2, Lower Manhattan... Phase 3, Appalachian highway during blizzard... Phase 4, Orlando, FL during thunderstorm... Phase 5, rural Texas road at night..." "Test complete. Phase 1: sideswiped car at on-ramp. Phase 2: Hit bike messenger. Phase 3: Ran off cliff. Phase 4: Rear-ended car. Phase 5: Hit deer. Test failed. Please unfasten your harness and exit the simulator".
- nitrogen 11y ago
  It should be self-evident that some driver training programs (e.g. Finland) are much more rigorous than others (e.g. "ABC Driving" in middle of nowhere USA). Places with unlimited speed roads tend to have much stricter vehicle safety inspections as well. So why not try to bring the more stringent driver training and vehicle inspection requirements to the US, sold initially to those who care about driving? Your coworker would then have to prove he's a better driver. Aside: I think it's offensive to call someone who strives for excellence in some activity a "tool". Would you say the same thing about a med student who thought she should be able to perform additional procedures after going through additional certification?

by bla2 11y ago

kw71 11y ago

I was once a student in the United States, back then I was young, cocky and arrogant. I wrongly thought that I was great at driving so long ago. The citation that follows your quote doesn't offer any implications as to age or experience. But the results of the citation following _that_ are ridiculous. I have heard people say that they are better drunk drivers than most people, too. Survey results like these probably shed some light on why people here are such bad drivers. They simply don't realize that they are bad. I'm a lot older now and have a lot more experience. At least, the insurance companies and police agree with my self-assessment now :)

jbuzbee 11y ago

I remember a conversation with a co-worker who was arguing for two classes of driver's licenses. One, for people like him of course, would allow the holder to ignore certain road restrictions, go over the speed limit, etc. The other would be for "normal" people who were less talented behind the wheel. He was serious. What a tool...

Animats 11y ago
"Welcome to your Advanced Driving Test. Please get into the driving simulator. Fasten your safety harness. Beginning Phase 1, Ventura Freeway at rush hour... Phase 2, Lower Manhattan... Phase 3, Appalachian highway during blizzard... Phase 4, Orlando, FL during thunderstorm... Phase 5, rural Texas road at night..." "Test complete. Phase 1: sideswiped car at on-ramp. Phase 2: Hit bike messenger. Phase 3: Ran off cliff. Phase 4: Rear-ended car. Phase 5: Hit deer. Test failed. Please unfasten your harness and exit the simulator".
nitrogen 11y ago
It should be self-evident that some driver training programs (e.g. Finland) are much more rigorous than others (e.g. "ABC Driving" in middle of nowhere USA). Places with unlimited speed roads tend to have much stricter vehicle safety inspections as well. So why not try to bring the more stringent driver training and vehicle inspection requirements to the US, sold initially to those who care about driving? Your coworker would then have to prove he's a better driver. Aside: I think it's offensive to call someone who strives for excellence in some activity a "tool". Would you say the same thing about a med student who thought she should be able to perform additional procedures after going through additional certification?