On Wed, 19 Oct 2005 20:00:47 +0100, "Uno Hoo!"
The atbreastude expressed by those who claim that "they" are stupid and inept is very arrogant. It implies that the poster considers himself to be an "elite" driver, so much better than all the other "numpties" on the road.
If you consider that *you* could still drive safely if there were no speed limits, then don't believe that the same is not true of the majority of drivers. Yes, you are always going to get a small minority of people who really are as inept or reckless as you brand almost all drivers - but those people usually don't obey externally imposed limits anyway.
You will find *exactly* the same atbreastude in those drivers who you criticise. To them, it is *you* who are the "numpty" or "doddering old fart" who is too inept to be trusted to drive above the speed limit, and it is *they* who are so much better that the speed limit need not apply, because their superior skill makes them safer at 120MPH than you are at 60MPH.
At our age Kev, it is a *fact* that our reactions are almost certainly slower than the average 20 year old, and our eyesight is probably nowhere near as good either. Balanced against those disadvantages are a few decades more experience, and a less aggressive outlook than the average 20 year old. Then, also in the balance is the fact that we probably do not realise that our abilities have deteriorated to the extent that they have, and so we both most likely overestimate how good we are.
With other non-competetive activities that require skill, it is a *fact* that almost all people if left to their own devices will, after a few excursions, settle down reasonably quickly to performing in accordance with their ability. Driving is unlikely to follow a different pattern for the vast majority of people.
-- Cynic
