IT is a curious fact that every man thinks he is the world's best driver.

Except, as I happened to mention this morning, me.

An argument has been raging over who are the better drivers - the over-70s, who proceed with caution, or young people who have less experience but faster reactions?

Old or young, it is an extraordinary fact that if you ask any male motorist, of any age, if he is a good driver he will be aghast that you even had the temerity to ask.

He will look at you with that big-headed "Surely you must have spotted that I drive better than Jeremy Clarkson?" expression.

And the odd thing is that each of them will also grumble about how the roads are full of idiots making cock-ups with every turn of the wheel. Including most other men.

This morning I flabbergasted female colleagues by confessing that when it comes to motoring skills, I am not, perhaps, the world's greatest.

Indeed, my first experience behind the wheel saw me crashing into other vehicles with wild abandon. Admittedly, it was at a fairground, aged eight, on the dodgems.

Since then (and the passing of my driving test many moons ago), I have been known to make the odd motoring miscalculation, ranging from a waver across a white line to catching a kerb on cornering or parking.

My female colleagues, as I said, respected my frankness. Such modesty in a man talking about his driving was wonderfully disarming and refreshing, they said.

It is true, I am not the world's greatest driver. That's Lewis Hamilton.

(But, surely it goes without saying, I could run him a very close second.)

Click here to read our feature on the young v old drivers debate