Driving techniques

Mr Benevolent

I've been looking into this lately (the theory I mean, I don't have access to a car in Australia) and there are a lot of things I never thought of with regards to handling. Understeer and oversteer for instance, they get a lot of people into trouble because they don't expect it to happen. Mainly boy racers, but it's still relevant to an everyday driver. Another thing is weight transfer, meaning less grip during acceleration and braking in a FWD car.

Knowledge of these things seem to contribute to driving safety, especially in the wet. So do you know of any driving techniques that could help the average Irish motorist drive more safely?

Note: I'm not talking about sticking to the ROTR here, which would certainly contribute to better driving safety, I'm talking about specific driving techniques you find useful on the road.

Some useful techniques and explanations here

SV

The section on racing lines is very interesting.
Cheers for the link!

Midnight_EG

I actually notice that I 'use a racing line' when I'm driving, you know, hitting the apex etc.

Mr Benevolent

Midnight_EG wrote: »

I actually notice that I 'use a racing line' when I'm driving, you know, hitting the apex etc.

Eh? How do you do that on a two way road?

Midnight_EG

Ok, then, while keeping within the lines like.

Mr Benevolent

Midnight_EG wrote: »

Ok, then, while keeping within the lines like.

Midnight_EG

It's actually the truth -.-

Mr Benevolent

Midnight_EG wrote: »

It's actually the truth -.-

I think I'll stop using smileys so much, they're easily misinterpreted. I believe you. On with the thread!

Esel

Roadcraft (the book). End of.

Zube

esel wrote: »

Roadcraft (the book). End of.

That's the wheel-shufflers manual, right?

mickdw

I think a very important thing is to know what your actual car does in given situations.
How it brakes wet & dry, how it handles itself braking hard on a bend in emergency, does it tend to let go at the back or just push on straight ahead.
Be aware of which wheels are driven and how this is actually pushing or pulling car ( The number of people who dont know this is surprising )
Learn how it loses grip under exceleration and how to control it.
Learn how to position the car on entry to bends to create the best route through the corner in relation to carrying effortless safe speed while also being aware of oncoming traffic.

Cookie_Monster

This is why you should all go up to somewhere like the Sallygap and throw the car around as much as possible and see what you can get away with learn how it reacts

CarMuppet

esel wrote: »

Roadcraft (the book). End of.

Agreed...

[FONT=&quot]and, a racing line on a public road not necessary the 'best' line to take around a bend.. 'casue there are no guys waving yellow flags for you..


[/FONT]

afatbollix

im a fan of left foot braking... can go through a set very quick tho if your pushing for a while..

Also as my new car has very soft suspension im getting used to throwing the weight of the car around..

galwaytt

Slow in, Fast out.

glaston

http://www.drivingfast.net/car-control/rev-matching.htm

I read about rev matching a while back, gave it a try and now I use it all the time. Just makes the drive seem smoother.

Later tried to move on to heel and toe, disaster!

Anan1

Confab wrote: »

Eh? How do you do that on a two way road?

There are times when it's actually safer to be on the wrong side of the road.;)

SouperComputer

galwaytt wrote: »

Slow in, Fast out.

Thats a Myth Fast in, even faster out

There's good books to be read about the basics. Also, doing a course at Mondello for example. Please dont pr1ck about with understeer, oversteer etc on the road

glaston wrote:

Later tried to move on to heel and toe, disaster!

Keep trying, in a safe place of course. Some cars pedal layouts arent ideal. Smaller cars tend to be easier, aside from the pedals being closer together, the bite point for the brakes usualy conincides roughly with the accelerator.

corktina

only brake ( and accelerate sharply) on the straight....keep those feet to yourself on the bends....

Oh and dont buy front wheel drive....:):rolleyes:

Midnight_EG

corktina wrote: »

only brake ( and accelerate sharply) on the straight....keep those feet to yourself on the bends....

Oh and dont buy front wheel drive....:):rolleyes:

Would you like all us death-bound 18 year old chung fla rapid animal drivers driftin round the N7 on-ramps in high powered skylines and silvias?


Or can I stick to my civic and enjoy the noise it makes while I sit in comfort in a recaro seat while sticking to the speed limit, going straight?

peasant

As far as safety is concerned, the most important driving techique is to learn to look (and think) ahead. Expand your field of vision beyond the numberplate of the car in front, keep your distance and keep an overwiev of the situation.
Recognise and anticipate what is going to happen next and be prepared for it.

Try to drive as smoothly as possible, avoiding sharp acceleration and panic braking or hectic steering maneuvres. Not only is that safer, it's also more economical.

(and if Gaybo reads this ...smooth doesn't neccesarily equate with slow )

corktina

Midnight_EG wrote: »

Would you like all us death-bound 18 year old chung fla rapid animal drivers driftin round the N7 on-ramps in high powered skylines and silvias?

i thought i said the opposite to that...try using the pedals IN MY CAR and you'll be facing back the way you came....:D:D

Midnight_EG

corktina wrote: »

Midnight_EG wrote: »

Would you like all us death-bound 18 year old chung fla rapid animal drivers driftin round the N7 on-ramps in high powered skylines and silvias?

i thought i said the opposite to that...try using the pedals IN MY CAR and you'll be facing back the way you came....:D:D

What car is that? I've probably driven one, but your original post made it sound like we should all avoid FWD cars :rolleyes:

P.C.

galwaytt wrote: »

Slow in, Fast out.

Where have I hear that before?

Oh, yes - an ex-girlfriend used to say that to me.

There is a lot you can learn about how your car handels in different situations.

Oh, and what peasant said.