What is Your Definition of a Good Driver?

Hopefully, we all aspire to be a "good driver". But what does that really mean? Is there a universal description of what a good driver is, or is the definition much more moulded by our individual beliefs than we might think?


The "textbook" characteristics of a good driver are often listed as: 

• Concentration
• Anticipation 
• Skill
• Attitude 
• Knowledge 
• Self Discipline

But how many people outside of professional drivers or trainers actually think in these terms?  Does our view of a good driver change depending on age and experience? 


Sometimes, when I ask new pupils this question they find it hard to give a response (possibly because they are trying to come up with what they think I might want them to say). However, if I ask then them to think of someone who they consider to be a good driver and describe what they think is good about that person's driving ability, they can usually come up with a considered answer,  but it doesn't necessarily include all (or any) of the "textbook" words listed above. (But that's not to say they haven't recognised some of the same qualities). 

I've posed quite a few questions here which I hope is a starting point for a discussion. So, what is your definition? Share your ideas via the comments, and from your responses, it would be interesting to see if there is a general consensus that we can all aspire to.


Drive Safely

Gareth