Why are some drivers so F^($!#G terrible?

Why are some drivers so F%$*#$G terrible?

And what’s worse, the worst ones always seem to be the ones driving buses and minibuses. I think it might actually be a requirement that minibus drivers are bad ‘cos you can rest assured that near enough every single time you get in a minibus you are going to get scared. I consider myself reasonably lucky that the two minibus journeys I took today were reasonably safe, even though my heart skipped a beat on multiple occasions.

In many cases, it’s blatantly obvious to me and any other normal human being that a car is just about to pull out, or a motorbike is going to have to brake because of some slow-down up ahead, but minibus drivers don’t seem to notice until the very last minute. Indicators (blinkers) seem to be used on a arbitrary basis by these folk and they don’t seem to realise that they actual serve a purpose (letting other road users know what you’re up to). Corners are taken way too fast, despite that fact that we passed two (not one but two) accidents today where the vehicle had obviously overshot the corner and ended up in a bush. The very worst crime, however, is the huge lack of space that these drivers leave between themselves and the car in front. Time and time again you grab for your seat as the van (again) stops just in time to not smash the car in front. Don’t they realise how close they are and learn?

The real problem is that these people do not realise they are bad drivers. Many truly beleive that they are actually driving well. I took a minivan from Bangkok to Chacheongsao once and the driver took suck pride in his job that he ran around to open to door for passengers when they wanted to disembark and bowed them as they left. He truly believed he was doing and fantastic job when he was driving like an imbecile.

I therefore believe that the root of the problem is not in stupidity, but in ignorance. These people, especially the older ones, did not have proper driving lessons or education about the rules of the road. They do not know the two second rule, they haven’t been taught to look three steps in advance and try to predict possible obstacles and they don’t even know the proper use for all of the car’s functions (they think that fog lights are just additional beamage). Unfortunately, the people we are forced to trust with our lives upon entering a minivan, are not even qualified for the job.

Maybe (and I say this tongue in cheek) crappy drivers do not crash enough. If improper driving resulted in more accidents, people might actually learn. They certainly need to be taught somehow and the police ain’t gonna do it!