Who is dangerous while on road?

What defines a good driver?

* Is it the driver who follows every rule on road?
* Is it the driver who stops the moment the signal turns yellow?
* Is it the driver who has never been in an accident?

Seriously, I don't think any of these makes anyone a good driver.

Let me start explaining. First of all there are three kinds of people.
1) The Driver.
2) Back/Side seat drivers.
3) People who do not drive.

Driver seat ones are the people behind wheels and Side/back seat ones are people behind you and the third one is the group of people who keep quiet. When traveling in a group there all three kinds of people present. I have a driving license but my friends do not allow me to drive here because I do not have much driving experience in US. So nowadays I fall into the second category. When I am not driving I give instructions. I would be looking at the road, glancing on to the side view mirrors (almost got my friend pissed off). I feel restless. This being because I feel that I am not in the seat that I supposed to be, May be this is because I am used to driving and not sitting on the sides. In Chennai, India I used to drive a Kawasaki Eliminator to office and I used to be the one taking people around, may be now I feel dependent on others to take me around.

Anyway that is my issue. Getting back to the topic, Do drivers end up having accidents, yes, they do. Accidents happen not only because of the driver, it can be because of any other cause. It may not be drivers fault, it may be the fault of someone else is the next lane or on the incoming lane or someone else. The driver of any vehicle is careful. He/she is always watchful especially when there are passengers in his vehicle. It’s a matter of life and the passengers trust their life in his hand, that’s always in any drivers mind. Also he is aware of the surrounding and people in other vehicles. But then, there are exceptions to this also.

According to me, the second category people are the most dangerous kind. It’s a big time distraction while you are driving. May be they are right, driver is doing bad, but then the comments, suggestions even though with good intentions, only worsens the situation. There will be a million suggestions and opinions, good and bad. I have had issues with this kind of situation while driving and I am sure everyone else also. I almost lost control of the vehicle once because of the person in the side seat screaming at me.

When you have friends beside you, who trusts you to take them around safely, it’s a blessing. I remember in Chennai, the day was my friend's friends DOB and we had bought a cake and went to the pub. We got drunk to the position of not driving back at all. My friend was out cold and we had to get back home. I was driving my bike and she was sitting behind with her hands wrapped around me. I was driving with one hand and the other holding her. She trusted me to take her home safe. I have had my share of accident also, only once and was not because of me.

It’s the trust on driver that keeps the drivers going. But then it’s all in people’s perception what defines a good driver and this is my perception.

Cheers
Aj.