Our narrow escape

[birddog2you]

Smith system has been around for a long time. You and I were taught the same way. We just called it common sense defensive driving. As a professional driver for many years I remember when they gave it an "official name". Did not have to relearn anything only an refresher. Great system if everyone used it.

[aether_one]

[QUOTE=Murf2u;3744303]A friend of mine, who's family business is a very high-end food, pharmaceuticals and valuable temperature critical trucking company explained it to me recently;

We used to have 'professional drivers', nowadays there are a few 'professional drivers', some 'competent drivers' and a LOT of 'steering wheel holders'.

When I asked how to tell them apart from a distance, his reply was simply (most highways around here are minimum 3 lanes wide) "Professional drivers have turn signals, brake pedals, clutches and accelerators, and they use them, the 'steering wheel holders' just fall asleep in the middle lane."[/QUOTE]

And block the faster trucks who have no access to the left lane, which backs up the rest of the traffic behind them causing the impatient idiots to try stupid stuff which causes accidents. It's like they never heard of "keep right except to pass" or "slower traffic keep right".

[CampDaven]

Originally Posted by MikeStafford

This is the first time I ever heard of the Smith System. This is just the way I was taught to drive 65 years ago and how I have taught my kids and wife to drive.

The Smith System was started in 1952. They are most often hired to instruct professional drivers. The students MUST pass to proceed. In regular drivers ed it's just a side note.
I will forever be grateful for the Smith System!