The Illusion of Superior Driving Skills and Its Consequences

Are you a good driver? You are safe? If you had to rate your skills on a typical scale of 1-10, where would you rank?

If you’re like most people, you probably think you’re better than average. Maybe you would give yourself a seven or eight out of ten. You think you are pretty confident and have very good driving skills, although you are likely frustrated by the lack of skill others are displaying.

Despite the statistical impossibility, researchers have found that most people think their own driving skills are above average. We tend to believe that we are better at driving than those around us.

Is it just arrogance? Maybe, but it could also be that we understand why we make our own mistakes. If someone else swerves into the oncoming lane, for example, he honks and rants about such a careless driver, even if he gets caught and no one gets into an accident. However, if you drift into the wrong lane, you give yourself a pass. You blame someone calling you on the phone, your child talking to you from the back seat, poor visibility outside, or a host of other possible reasons.

We all make mistakes. It’s just that we don’t think they’re as bad when we do them compared to when someone else does the same thing.

This mentality can create some problems. It means that drivers may not focus as much as they should on improving their skills. That, in turn, can lead to car accidents. If you are injured when another driver causes one, make sure you know what options you have to seek compensation for your losses.