Has your CDL made you a better driver?

I remember an article in an Arkansas newspaper right before the CDL's came out, the writer said, "When the CDL's comes out we will be rid of all the bad drivers."

Stupid writer.

 

Perfect post Big Don , being a safe , aware , patient , courteous , driver has nothing to do with a plastic card in your wallet/ pocket-book. It does however have everything to do with what lies between your ears. Being a safe driver is all in the attitude of the individual driver , no matter what sort of vehicle he is driving. At least IMVHO........hope you are well Big D.

 

Doing very well, Tony, thanks!

They haven't gotten any smarter. . .

 

Hellll yes! No motivation like money to change our habits.

 

I can add nothing to the already great comments about the CDL in this thread.

For me the single most enlightening change was getting the motorcycle endorsement. On two counts...first, being more vulnerable and practically invisible forced me to be more observant, alert and defensive...and second, on such a light vehicle I could really feel how the transmission behaved, so once I learned to shift smoothly on a bike my skill with ANY manual transmission improved.

 

In all honesty I've spent the last 10+ years being a near perfect driver because when I was younger I beat my license to crap with points and had it suspended 8 times. But getting the CDL did push me from near perfect to a little closer to perfect. I used to say my driving points were more important than my credit score, now that I want to buy my own truck, not their both up there on the list. So now I gotta drive good AND pay my #### bills!

 

I have never been a perfect driver yet I have never had my drivers license suspended.

 

He didn't claim to BE PERFECT. He claimed to be NEAR PERFECT! (Wonder who was sitting next to him?)

 

I did not state he was, I only made a statement about myself.

 

OOOOOPPPPPS

I need to learn to read. . .