The famous naturalist Charles Darwin wrote, “Ignorance more frequently begets confidence than does knowledge.” What has that got to do with driving? Quite a lot as it turns out.
Research shows that many people believe they are far better drivers than they actually are. A 2018 survey found that 73% of men thought they were better than average drivers. Yet, they cannot all be right when you consider that 90% of crashes come down to human error, many of them made by men.
Those who realize they are not great drivers may try to do something about it
For instance, they may attend a driver training course or watch videos of how to drive more safely on YouTube. They may also compensate for their acknowledged lack of skill when driving. For example, by taking it slower, or leaving a greater distance between themselves and other vehicles.
Overconfident motorists make things more dangerous for themselves and others
They may push their vehicles harder and make riskier maneuvers because they think they can handle situations due to their imaginary superior skills. They may also buy powerful vehicles that are easier to lose control of.
Caution is crucial when driving, as even if you do not make a mistake yourself, another person might. If you are overconfident, you leave yourself less chance of escaping the potential crash that looks set to occur. If you want to stay safe out on the roads, accept you still have much to learn. Realize that you have probably acquired some dangerous habits. And know that if you have not yet had a crash, much of this is down to luck, rather than skill.