Better drivers?

I am glad you asked this question.
I used to consider myself a good driver, but after learning to fly, my
driving ability has deteriorated.
When you get used to talking on the radio, tracking maps, scanning gauges,
pulling out approach plates, and tracking navigational aids, you get very
good at multitasking. When you get back in the car, you think you can read a
map, talk on the phone, and adjust the radio in heavy traffic, and it
doesn't work so well.

In the plane, you have to multitask, but you can vary your coarse a few
miles either way and +- 100 feet. In the car you need to single task and can
only vary your coarse by a few feet.

I am interested to see if anyone else feels the same.

"cpw" wrote in message
oups.com...
I apologize if this topic has been beaten to death in the past. I am
wondering if there are any statistics on whether pilots are safer
(automobile) drivers than the general public. It has seemed to me that
my pilot training has improved my driving skills in several ways:
situational awareness, planning ahead, general safe driving practices,
etc. Anybody have any opinions (HAH!) in the group?

I don't believe studies have been done, and even if they had, as Pete says,
they may be error prone - so we're all guessing in the dark really.

For my part, I'll bet beginning and low-time pilots probably do make better
drivers, for two reasons : 1)Respect for rules and 2)Weather observation.
Some here feel weather is more of a "nuisance" in driving than anything else,
but it remains one of the most often cited contributing causes in accidents.
Pilots are simply less likly to be surprised by weather, or to launch blithley
into degrading conditions. They also ahve at their fingertips a whole palette
of tools to allow them to quickly and accurately assess weather situations.

As for respect for rules - well, that's why I said beginning and low-time
pilots. Too often, after a few hundred, or better yet a few thousand hours,
pilots begin to feel that all those pesky, meticulous rules are just for
smaller fry, and this attitude probably carries over into their driving as
well.

GF

"soxinbox" wrote in message
...
When you get used to talking on the radio, tracking maps, scanning gauges,
pulling out approach plates, and tracking navigational aids, you get very
good at multitasking. When you get back in the car, you think you can read
a map, talk on the phone, and adjust the radio in heavy traffic, and it
doesn't work so well.

One of the most important skills when flying is maintaining situational
awareness. Keeping track of whether you're in a car or else a plane (and the
implications as to what tasks you can safely perform) is a pretty basic
element of situational awareness.

--Gary