Warning signs - other drivers to watch.

[TylerM4]

Had an interesting conversation with a new driver the other day. He is getting to the point of being confident in his own driving and wanting to learn more about defensive driving. Conversation strayed into "How can you tell the person in the other vehicle isn't a good driver?" And we weren't talking about the obvious stuff like driving aggressively, talking on a cell phone, or breaking traffic laws. I came up with a couple of examples that when I see them, I instantly think to myself "Watch out - that driver is a risk".

Those examples being:
- People driving with their signal light on. If they don't realize they've been signalling left for the past 4 blocks, what else aren't they aware of? Similar example - headlights off at night while in a well lit area.
- People not driving in the center of their lane (usually hugging the ditch side). To me this indicates that they have poor spacial awareness and understanding of the size/position of the vehicle they're driving.
- Drivers who "false start" at a traffic light when the left turn arrow comes on. It doesn't take much intelligence to understand how signal lights work and the light pattern can easily be anticipated at a glace. Moron? Distracted? Watch out.

Any other examples you can think of?

[Dizzy1]

Drivers who are paying more attention to what other drivers are doing and not themselves.

[What_the]

Ya sorry, Ty, your list is mostly bs. You're actually coming here and saying you've never left your blinker on?. Not buying it, at all. If you haven't, you will. You must be not much older than the new driver you were talking to, and if you are, learned not much.

Sorry, you brought this up

[Jflem1983]

I look for wobbly wheels . Loads that have loose straps . Black smoke . Those are the things that signal to me this guy is dangerous .

Headlights off at night is a drunk .

Signal light on for a mile is either on the phone or old . Not such a big deal .

[dirtybiker]

Big floppy hats or cowboy hats = less vision.

Buicks.

Any vehicle that just does not seem to have an undamaged spot.

Airport shuttle vans.

Food delivery vehicles.

Non-B.C. Plated vehicles

Rental vehicles. X5 if an RV.

[TylerM4]

Ya sorry, Ty, your list is mostly bs. You're actually coming here and saying you've never left your blinker on?. Not buying it, at all. If you haven't, you will. You must be not much older than the new driver you were talking to, and if you are, learned not much.

Sorry, you brought this up

A little sensitive are you? I hope you don't do these things often.

Where did I imply that I've never done these things? I'll also admit that when I have, I've been distracted or in the case of not driving in the center of the lane - I've been driving a vehicle I'm not yet comfortable with.

Be comfortable with admitting your mistakes. Nobody is perfect.

[Poindexter]

Drivers with both hands on the wheel.

[TylerM4]

Drivers with both hands on the wheel.

I've heard that one a couple of times before. But I'm not sure I fully get the logic. I assume you're concerned that they're scared/nervous and therefor not a confident driver?

[lightspeed]

Had an interesting conversation with a new driver the other day. He is getting to the point of being confident in his own driving and wanting to learn more about defensive driving.

Sounds like he's a good candidate for watching defensive driving and advanced videos. Lots of tips and tutorials on YT.

You can still buy https://www.amazon.ca/Roadcraft-Police-Drivers-Handbook-Foundation-ebook/dp/B00O8SQ446/ref=sr_1_1?ie it's a good read and makes for a cheap gift. UK police manual so just reverse the lanes/direction of travel when reading.

Any other examples you can think of?

- Cracked glass
- Licence plate hanging off
- Body damage
- Parts hanging off
- Lights/brake lights/turn signals not working
- Glass/lights covered in snow during winter
- Lots of stickers in back window obscuring their vision
- Aftermarket tints (bro)

= All shows neglect, lack of care for vehicle which may mean lack of care for their own driving skills and for other road users

- Lane weaving
- Cutting corners
- Cutting into bike lanes making turns
- Parked in bike lanes
- Turning into the wrong lane (far lane)
- Running reds
- Mistaking green advanced arrow for green
- Stopping into the intersection on red
- Tailgating other cars
- Creeping out into lane in front of moving cars
- Backing out of parking stalls without looking first
- Going really slow (for no reason) when turning off a road
- Driving at "normal speed" in snow/ice/rain/fog

= Overall poor driving skills, just lazy or incompetent with generally bad driving habits

- Cellphone use
- Distracted by passengers, pets, things around them, life in general, spaced out
- Smokers distracted by lighting their death stick
- Loud music (can't hear EMS vehicles/other events on the roads)
- Cars full of yappy excitable young girls
- Cars full of youths (testosterone/legends in their own lifetime with a deathwish)
- Anyone driving while wearing any sort of headwear

= Dangers on the highway/morons

- Speeding
- Cutting up cars making lane changes
- Late lane changes at intersections
- Too lazy to signal

= In a rush, unaware of space, lack of respect for other road users

- Vehicles in all of the rear view mirror

= Too close/stopping aggressively (get out of their way)

- Slow\Ponderous
- Uncertain when turning against traffic
- Slow to react to traffic lights/other vehicles

= Drunk, high, medicated, old, new driver (all higher risk)

- White vans
- Lifted pickups
- AB plates
- QC plates
- Veteran plates (assume old, doddering, ponderous)
- Tourist/recreational trailers/RV's (lost, unsure, oversized for their driving abilities)
- Trucks with unsecure loads
- Yellow cabs
- Motorbikes

= Higher risk than the average road user.

- Recreational cyclists with no helmet, unpredictable
- Homeless/transients/the carted masses
- Pedestrians with hoods up (poor vision)
- Yuppies on their cellphones at crosswalks
- Moms with kids
- Kids
- A variety of four legged things nears the road
- ESL students

= At a higher risk of unpredictable behaviour and/or more vulnerable than a car. Use caution when they are present.

- Logging trucks
- Semis
- Dangerous goods bulk tankers

= Keep away, leave plenty of space, don't tailgate, avoid positioning along side any of them where possible (self protection).

[Sige]

Ya sorry, Ty, your list is mostly bs. You're actually coming here and saying you've never left your blinker on?. Not buying it, at all. If you haven't, you will. You must be not much older than the new driver you were talking to, and if you are, learned not much.

Sorry, you brought this up

Do you just sit there waiting to pounce on posts that you can pick apart? Seriously, didn't your mother ever tell you if you can't say anything nice......?

@Ty - pets in the driver's lap always make me nervous.

[Sige]

Drivers who are paying more attention to what other drivers are doing and not themselves.

I saw what you did there

[johnny24]

*removed*

[dirtybiker]

The list would be smaller if it was " No Worries, They're Good"

[Poindexter]

I've heard that one a couple of times before. But I'm not sure I fully get the logic. I assume you're concerned that they're scared/nervous and therefor not a confident driver?

Yeah that's a pretty good description, also unpredictable and indecisive. The kind of driver prone to stopping in merge lanes or slamming on brakes at amber lights.

Not the worst drivers out there but there are unaware drivers you prefer not to drive beside, distracted drivers you prefer weren't behind you, and when it comes to nervous drivers, if safe to avoid I prefer not to follow them.

[TylerM4]

Thanks to all of you who have added constructively.

Lots of great things I hadn't thought of!