This is part of BASIC air law that ANYONE takes, in my experience the main cause of these problems are due to not seeing the other aircraft. This can be due to poor lookout (airmanship) OR just hard to see aircraft, remember you may be able to see him, but you may be harder to see due to your paint scheme or background (eg. sun behind. Personally I always teach students to assume that the other aircraft has NOT seen them so be prepared to avoid weather you have right of way or not.
Generally, awareness of other aircraft and what to do about avoiding is well taught, but many pilots have not been near an instructor for many years up to now (and a 2 yearly check cannot sort out all faults - there may not be other aircraft in the area to "not see")so don't blame instructors.
[ 30 August 2001: Message edited by: foxmoth ]