Topic: Canada's Worst Driver - Season 7

[5 Wheel Drive]

Did anyone watch the first episode of season 7 this week.  I pvr'd it and watched it yesterday.

It's got the usual mix of stupidity, too cocky for their own good, and too timid to be allowed on the road.  The girl from Montreal must be bad when the camera-man with her asked her to slow down and pull over so he can get out.  She's a pice of work!

I'll be curious to follow the guy called Aaron.  He was hit by a lady who ran a stop sign a few years ago.  The crash was so severe that he was in a coma for a few months, he didn't even remember his own father when he woke up.  He has physical and brain damage from the crash.  Yet he never lost his license, he can still drive.  He's not on the show because he's a bad driver.  He was nominated by his father who wants to see him get back to where he was before the crash, and he's afraid his now lack of confidence will cause a crash.

[initial_D]

This is only a small 'sampling' of the bad drivers on the road ... rather scary.

[mrthompson]

Psychological issues seem to haunt many of the so-called worst drivers.   

[Fobroader]

I am actually rooting for the guy who had the brain injury, it seems hes on there because he actually wants to learn and get better. Most of the other jagoffs are too cocky or in such deep denial that no amount of help will get them thru. That black girl is so far gone down the river denial I dont think she can see the shore.

[mrthompson]

Yeah, I'm rooting for that guy too. 

[tenpenny]

I'll be curious to follow the guy called Aaron.  He was hit by a lady who ran a stop sign a few years ago.  The crash was so severe that he was in a coma for a few months, he didn't even remember his own father when he woke up.  He has physical and brain damage from the crash.  Yet he never lost his license, he can still drive.  He's not on the show because he's a bad driver.  He was nominated by his father who wants to see him get back to where he was before the crash, and he's afraid his now lack of confidence will cause a crash.

I haven't seen it yet, but this makes sense to me.  Some of the challenges I'd love to do - they look quite tough for even a good driver (not that I'd claim to be one).  Some are just plain silly. 

But the over riding message that I get every time I watch the show is:  these people are out there.  I might think I know what the other guy is going to do, but people like this show that you just never know what the hell someone is going to do, so be prepared.

[5 Wheel Drive]

Yeah, I'd love to give some of the challenges a shot too.  But some of them are over the top.  I don't know what they expect the candidates to learn from a challenge that looks like it was designed just to frustrate the sh!t out of them.  Some of these people can barely handle a car, then they're expected to be able to reverse something the size of a bus through an obsacle course?  Seriously?

Last year the Camaro, this year the Challenger....   

[tpl]

I agree.   In nearly 50 years I have never had to reverse further than out of a car parking place, my drive or while parallel parking. Also managed to avoid ever having to tow anything.   One thing I notice is that one never sees anyone adjusting the mirrors before doing a reversing test.  If I had to do the test on episode one I'd adjust the outside mirrors to show me the rear corners of the car before starting.

[rrocket]

I don't know what's worse...that there is such a program or that people actually watch it....

[sailor723]

I must say I've always wondered if this show was for real or if some of the people aren't encouraged by the producers to "play it up" a bit.

[random006]

I don't know what's worse...that there is such a program or that people actually watch it....

Actually, the worst bit is that there is clearly A NEED for this show.  If these drivers were not out there, there would be no show.  Since we have all seen similar boneheaded driving at least once in our life if not a few times, we know those bad drivers are out there.

Look what it's done right here on this board:  it's got us talking about it.  That creates awareness of the issue which in turn offers the possibility that we will be more careful around other drivers.  It even offers the possibility of improving our driving as we ask ourselves:  Do I do anything remotely that bad?  Can I correct it?

Of course, what is really needed is a mandatory refresher course (and tests) every 20 years or so, with a greater frequency of testing the older you get:
e.g.:  every 10 years at 50, every 5 years at 65 and so on.

[Dexer]

[
Of course, what is really needed is a mandatory refresher course (and tests) every 20 years or so, with a greater frequency of testing the older you get:
e.g.:  every 10 years at 50, every 5 years at 65 and so on.

I couldn't disagree more.

The greatest single lesson from this show is that driving tests are pretty much pointless. Every single one of these menaces is a licensed driver who passed a test. This teaches us beyond question that, on any given day and with a few lucky breaks, ANYBODY can pass a driving test. Testing is worthless. Bringing people in for more testing on a regular basis is just another way for the government to inconvenience people, blow money and accomplish absolutely NOTHING for public safety (something they already do with vehicle inspections).

Rather than government targeting EVERYBODY and hoping to get lucky (which is the way governments normally enforce law), I'd like to see actual ENFORCEMENT OF EXISTING LAWS. This could actually raise revenue and TARGET BAD DRIVERS. We need to address the OFFENDERS and not EVERYBODY. I can stand at an intersection and watch 50% of drivers makes turns without using turn signals. How often do drivers signal lane changes? How often do drivers coast through stop signs?

I'd like to see police enforce the friggin' law. Target the scofflaws. After you've gotten a couple of $200.00 tickets for not stopping at a stop sign, you WILL learn to stop (and, if you don't, a driving test won't catch it because anybody can figure out that they need to stop  at stop signs when they are being tested).

We need to catch bad drivers...not throw out a drag net for all drivers and hope we snag a bad one.

[random006]

[
Of course, what is really needed is a mandatory refresher course (and tests) every 20 years or so, with a greater frequency of testing the older you get:
e.g.:  every 10 years at 50, every 5 years at 65 and so on.

I couldn't disagree more.

The greatest single lesson from this show is that driving tests are pretty much pointless. Every single one of these menaces is a licensed driver who passed a test. This teaches us beyond question that, on any given day and with a few lucky breaks, ANYBODY can pass a driving test. Testing is worthless. Bringing people in for more testing on a regular basis is just another way for the government to inconvenience people, blow money and accomplish absolutely NOTHING for public safety (something they already do with vehicle inspections).

Rather than government targeting EVERYBODY and hoping to get lucky (which is the way governments normally enforce law), I'd like to see actual ENFORCEMENT OF EXISTING LAWS. This could actually raise revenue and TARGET BAD DRIVERS. We need to address the OFFENDERS and not EVERYBODY. I can stand at an intersection and watch 50% of drivers makes turns without using turn signals. How often do drivers signal lane changes? How often do drivers coast through stop signs?

I'd like to see police enforce the friggin' law. Target the scofflaws. After you've gotten a couple of $200.00 tickets for not stopping at a stop sign, you WILL learn to stop (and, if you don't, a driving test won't catch it because anybody can figure out that they need to stop  at stop signs when they are being tested).

We need to catch bad drivers...not throw out a drag net for all drivers and hope we snag a bad one.

And the second biggest lesson we've learned is that handing people fines doesn't work either.  How many drivers with suspended licenses are out driving?  I can tell you it isn't zero.  When they are caught - again - how many are actually thrown in jail?  For that matter, how many impaired drivers who maim or kill are put behind bars for a significant part of their lives?

Yes, enforcement is good and is part of the solution.  However, just as we must provide laws with some bite to them, we need to provide a testing system with both bite and nuance to it as well.  I know that will cost more but so will putting more police on the road, which is what it will take to do what you are proposing.

[tpl]

In favour of proper driver education and testing. Done right it would be possible to weed out some of the sociopaths and never let them have a licence at all... which would be even better than catching them later.

[safristi]

How about a TEST to teach folks to spot these IDJITS.............fortunately I have a second sense about NOTICING THEM..........................."Head swivelling while driving S L O W....fiddling with "things" while driving (FWD!!! )...it doesn't take MUCH to spot the DRECK on the ROAD...................more are being licensed DAILY .............where are the  ...   catching DANGEROUS STUNT DRIVERS AT CARNIVALS......

[Oldsguy]

I must say I've always wondered if this show was for real or if some of the people aren't encouraged by the producers to "play it up" a bit.

Oh, of course. I think in that respect it is like many of the so-called reality shows - the main reality is that there is actually a script and the only thing different from a totally scripted show is that some of the performers are not (yet) professional actors. I watch none of these type of programs - they are all just too transparently phony.

[rrocket]

I must say I've always wondered if this show was for real or if some of the people aren't encouraged by the producers to "play it up" a bit.

Oh, of course. I think in that respect it is like many of the so-called reality shows - the main reality is that there is actually a script and the only thing different from a totally scripted show is that some of the performers are not (yet) professional actors. I watch none of these type of programs - they are all just too transparently phony.

+1

[Snowman]

I must say I've always wondered if this show was for real or if some of the people aren't encouraged by the producers to "play it up" a bit.

Oh, of course. I think in that respect it is like many of the so-called reality shows - the main reality is that there is actually a script and the only thing different from a totally scripted show is that some of the performers are not (yet) professional actors. I watch none of these type of programs - they are all just too transparently phony.

  brain dead TV for brain dead audiences.

[jamie1]

I must say I've always wondered if this show was for real or if some of the people aren't encouraged by the producers to "play it up" a bit.

Oh, of course. I think in that respect it is like many of the so-called reality shows - the main reality is that there is actually a script and the only thing different from a totally scripted show is that some of the performers are not (yet) professional actors. I watch none of these type of programs - they are all just too transparently phony.

If you watch none of these "reality" shows, how would know?

[rrocket]

I must say I've always wondered if this show was for real or if some of the people aren't encouraged by the producers to "play it up" a bit.

Oh, of course. I think in that respect it is like many of the so-called reality shows - the main reality is that there is actually a script and the only thing different from a totally scripted show is that some of the performers are not (yet) professional actors. I watch none of these type of programs - they are all just too transparently phony.

If you watch none of these "reality" shows, how would know?

I would think the promos and commercials are enough for a discerning TV viewer to say "no thanks".  Or 2 minutes of actual watching.  Or word of mouth. Or worst case scenario a single episode.

The only "reality" shows I've watched with any sort of interest was "Hard Knocks" by NFL Films. It followed an NFL team in the pre-season.  I also caught an episode or two of "Pinks".  Not sure if that's reality TV or not??  Seemed more like a game show than reality show.  Anyways, that lasted a whole 2 or so episodes because the host (Rich Christensen) was insufferable.