Definition

Noun: - Good judgment in avoiding trouble or accidents on the road: The practical ability to drive or navigate traffic safely and skillfully, involving awareness, anticipation, and sound decision-making.

Usage

"Road sense" is an uncountable noun. It describes an innate or developed skill, not a specific action. It is often used when discussing driving ability, safety, and experience. - It is commonly used with verbs like have, show, demonstrate, lack, and develop. - It is often modified by adjectives like good, excellent, poor, or natural.

Examples

• New drivers need time to develop good road sense.
• She has excellent road sense and rarely gets into stressful situations.
• The accident wasn't about speed; it was a complete lack of road sense.
• Cycling in the city requires strong road sense and constant vigilance.

Advanced Usage

• To have no road sense: A strong criticism implying someone is a danger on the road.
  • He constantly brakes for no reason; he has absolutely no road sense.
• Road sense comes with experience: A common saying indicating this skill is learned over time.
  • You can't teach that in a classroom; road sense comes with experience.

Variants and Related Words

• Roadworthiness (n): The mechanical fitness of a vehicle for safe use on the road. (Note: This relates to the vehicle, not the driver's skill).
• Defensive driving (n): The practice of driving to avoid accidents despite the actions of others or poor conditions. This is a specific technique that contributes to good road sense.

Synonyms

• Traffic sense: Very similar in meaning, though slightly less common.
• Driving savvy: A more informal synonym.
• Situational awareness (on the road): A more technical term focusing on the perceptual aspect.

Antonyms

• Carelessness (on the road)
• Recklessness (behind the wheel)

Related Idioms and Phrases

• A good head for driving: An informal idiom similar to having good road sense.
  • To be a taxi driver in this city, you really need a good head for driving.
• To be a menace on the road: Describes someone who severely lacks road sense.
  • Since he got his license, he's been a menace on the road.

Noun

1. good judgment in avoiding trouble or accidents on the road