I read an article on Alberta’s Top 10 Driving Errors lately, and I have a feeling that they are fairly representative of driving errors across North America. Which of these errors do you perpetrate on a regular and/or occasional basis?
Most are self-explanatory; some I thought needed a little more explanation.
Disobeying traffic signals includes not treating a yellow light as you should (assuming that yellow means clear the intersection and stop if you can, not go faster and try to run the light).
Driving left of centre means crossing a marked or unmarked centre line; I didn’t think that people are driving around on the wrong side of the road all the time, but these are the errors that led to collisions, so I guess we must be doing it often enough to make the Top 10 list.
Improper turns means cutting corners or making too-wide or too-fast turns, failing to use your turn signal, or turning into the wrong lane.
Improper lane change includes failing to signal or shoulder-check prior to changing lanes.
Backing up unsafely means backing up using only your mirrors, rather than turning and watching where you’re going.
I chose stop sign and traffic signal violations. I drive in the early, early morning a couple times a week. Often, I have clear line of sight for hundreds of yards in all directions. In some cases, I go through a red light after stopping first, or roll through a stop sign. I also chose yield for pedestrians, because, technically, I probably do, even though common-sense-wise, I leave at least two full lanes of space before I turn in front of a pedestrian.
Joe
I chose disobeying traffic signals because I absolutely accelerate to make the yellow light.
I also chose following too closely because I know I do but the sad truth is the instant there is more than a car length in front of me someone is trying to get into it.
Though I am sure I have done many of those things one or twice, the only one I routinely do is stop sign violations. We have lots in our neighborhood and I always slow, but if there is no one in the intersection, I don’t always come to a full and complete stop.
I don’t knowingly do any of the 10 things on that list or any other known violations. I might not always signal a lane change when there is no traffic at all, but good driving becomes a habit. I see people simply run right through stop signs and traffic lights. An officer never seems to be around at these times. If you ride a bike on the street you really notice these things and appreciate careful drivers.
The most common one around here that I see (not moi’ of course) is people running red lights on right turns on red-hell sometimes they don’t even bother to slow down first.
I tailgate, but only when someone is blocking traffic in the fast lane. Other than that, I consider myself a pretty good driver.
Same for me as with Al. The only thing I specifically do that’s illegal, but wasn’t listed, is speed, but I’m not even that bad. I tend to go between 6-10mph over the limit, unless traffic is going faster still. My goal is to keep the car moving and avoid red lights (waste of time/energy), so I try to get out front when I can and I’ll speed up to try and catch a green light.
This is me. If you are on the interstate and in the left lane, move over when I come up behind you or I’ll tailgate you so close you’ll be able to feel my breath on the back of your neck.
I’ll be waiting for the Mark Steyn column: “Canadians dangerously left of centre, study shows.”
For years, I didn’t understand that when a school bus had its yellow lights flashing, you had to stop and wait until the lights stopped before proceeding. This is due to ambiguous wording in Alberta’s driver manual that has since been changed. Before the change, the section on school buses was located close to the section on stop signs and uncontrolled intersections. The instructions for stop signs read: “come to a complete stop, ensure that it is safe, then proceed.”, same goes for 4 way stops and uncontrolled intersections, always, the last sentence was “ensure it’s safe, then proceed.”. The section on school buses simply states :"…come to a complete stop." Okay? Then what? I just assumed they meant :“ensure it’s safe, then proceed. (around the bus)” like everything else. What else could they want me to do? Sit there all day? Turn around and choose another route?
Of course they actually meant stop and wait until the bus turns the lights off. The new, revised rulebook clarifies that. I only figured it out a few years ago when I read a newspaper story about some guy who ran over and killed a kid getting off the school bus. My commute was such that I don’t think I’ve ever actually come across a school bus with the lights, so I’ve never had to test my skill in that respect, but “Wait, you can’t do that?” was my reaction.
I have a bad neck and limited range of motion, so I do not always turn around as I can often see better using my mirrors.
Other than that, I am good.
Cool. I’m the guy who slows down by 10 mph when you do that to me.
None of them. I’ve been told I drive like an old man.
You left off None Of The Above, which is what I would have selected.
You’re the guy who makes me wish my car was equipped with a torpedo launcher. 
Do you camp in the left lane, doing 3 mph under the speed limit, with the left turn signal on for miles, all while wearing a hat?
I will eventually wear you down. It’s not the speed that matters. It is the fact that you are being an asshole.
We always drive left of center in Thailand. 
But I know what you mean. I rarely drive over here, but whenever I do drive anywhere in the world, I’m a very safe driver. I think “improper lane change” is about the only one on the list I’d be guilty of.