Which is worse?

"CB" (jrcb)
08/28/2014 at 13:51 • Filed to: Questions

An over-aggressive driver, or a timid driver?

I ask because I'm not too sure myself. Sure, the over-aggressive driver is probably going really fast and swapping lanes really quick, but attempting to merge onto a highway when the speed limit is 100 km/h and the person in front of you is doing 60 is also pretty dangerous.

So, which is worse to you?

Have a Subaru from my hard drive for your time (no, not my picture).

DISCUSSION (19)

Bad Idea Hat > CB
08/28/2014 at 13:53

Yes.

Will with a W8 races an E30 > CB
08/28/2014 at 13:54

Timid. At least the aggressive guys are usually predictable and paying attention.

Bandit > CB
08/28/2014 at 13:54

Timid. It drives me nearly to murder when someone is afraid to step on the gas, change lanes, is afraid of any weather what so ever, and drives more than 10 under the limit.

Zohaibman72 > CB
08/28/2014 at 13:55

I feel like an aggressive driver would be worse, put it like this

I'd rather be in an accident at 60 km/h than 100 km/h

MIATAAAA > CB
08/28/2014 at 13:56

Timid generally pisses me off more.

Someone tailgating me on the highway - annoying but I'll move over.

Someone who can't decide if it's their turn to go at a stop sign - I WILL KILL YOU AND YOUR FAMILY JUST GO.

HammerheadFistpunch > CB
08/28/2014 at 13:56

Sharp knife vs dull knife, right? I guess it boils down the bell curve, I don't think on an aggressiveness curve alone if its better to be on the far right or far left of the curve, they are both equally bad. That being said, a GOOD, ATTENTIVE DRIVER that happens to be aggressive doesn't worry me as much as sally stroll along who doesn't give two shits about driving. I think the qualifications of the proper amount of attention a driver should have to make aggressive driving safe would be if he is working up a sweat. IF you are so lazer focused you are making that old spice work, then you can drive fast...so long as you understand the consequences.

CB > Zohaibman72
08/28/2014 at 13:56

Ah, but everyone else is driving at 100 km/h into your 60 km/h car. From the rear.

CB > HammerheadFistpunch
08/28/2014 at 13:58

Well put.

CalzoneGolem > CB
08/28/2014 at 13:59

I feel like the aggressive driver is more predictable.

Zohaibman72 > CB
08/28/2014 at 14:02

That's true, I feel like both are equally as dangerous. My mother is quite an aggressive driver and it scares the shit out of me, suprisingly shes only ever caused 1 accident, and it was her merging without looking.

My Grandma on the other hand drives incredibly slow but has never been in an accident, but thats just from my experience.

CAR_IS_MI > CB
08/28/2014 at 14:02

Aggressive drivers are only aggressive becasue the timid drivers are doing 40 under in the passing lane...

HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles > CB
08/28/2014 at 14:03

timid driver. Like that dumbass that comes to a complete stop in/at a round-about/traffic circle(what ever you wanna call it), for no F-ing reason!.

HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles > Zohaibman72
08/28/2014 at 14:06

but a good aggressive driver has is paying attention, and actually has the problem solving skills, and forethought to know what to do when something goes wrong. A timid driver panics, and doesn't know how to react to situations. Basically I'd rather be in a car with an asshole, than in a car with a dipshit.

DieHardDan > HammerheadFistpunch
08/28/2014 at 14:06

Wow, so well put. All through my youth I drove everywhere like I had just robbed a bank and was doing the getaway run. However, whenever I arrived where I was going my heart rate was around 140 and I was sweating. Like you said, super focused like my life depended on every move I made, which it did. I drove like an absolute psycho for 10 years of my life and not a single accident, because I was uber focused. It can be done safely. Is it right, no? Is it rude, very much so. Does it endanger others, yes. Is it irresponsible, yes. In any case I don't drive that way any more, I'm older and wiser and have a kid now. BUT, my whole point here is that the inattentive, timid, slow driver is actually much more apt to cause an accident and is actually the larger danger on the road.

HammerheadFistpunch > DieHardDan
08/28/2014 at 14:08

Agreed 100%

Zohaibman72 > HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles
08/28/2014 at 14:10

That's true, but there are also aggresive drivers who are just stupid in general, they think going fast and yelling at everybody will ensure their safety. I know a few aggresive drivers who are straight up stupid, and I don't enter cars with them for the sake of my safety.

Scary__goongala! > CB
08/28/2014 at 14:15

A timid driver. Their driving may cause an accident many cars away, most likely without them knowing. I think an aggressive driver is more likely to just take themselves out eventually without involving innocents.

Little Black Coupe Turned Silver > HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles
08/28/2014 at 14:57

I dealt with one of those the other day... there is a freeway on-ramp system near me that has two roundabouts that feed into each other. Sorta weird, but come on, it's not that hard to figure out.

Little Black Coupe Turned Silver > CB
08/28/2014 at 15:02

After driving in Chicago for 5 years, you have to be at least a little aggressive if you want to ever go anywhere. Oh, you want to keep up with traffic? Drive at least 20 over the limit on the expressway. I also noticed I got a more aggressive after getting to be a better overall driver from track days. But I'm also doing things like looking much further ahead and reading what is going on ahead of me a lot more than most drivers.

After moving to a smaller city it has been a process for me to relax a little and not honk at people 0.1 seconds after the light turns green if we aren't moving yet.