Advanced Driving Tips

[Bill Douglas]

When you do a driftie out of a corner. Only counter steer half what you think you should. The car will settle itself and you will be on your way. Sooo many off's happen because people counter steer too much and go from bad to worse to worse.

Another thing. You're coming up to a roundabout and some fulla is coming the other way and indicating. Look at his front wheels - that is where the car will be heading. He may be indicating to exit but really he is going to turn in front to you. Scary stuff.

[masraum]

Originally Posted by Bill Douglas

When you do a driftie out of a corner. Only counter steer half what you think you should. The car will settle itself and you will be on your way. Sooo many off's happen because people counter steer too much and go from bad to worse to worse.

I always thought it was because they either countersteered too little or too slowly. You can actually let go of the wheel and let the car do the steering for you, but I wouldn't recommend anyone to do that.

[stevej37]

Ezra Dyer has a very humorous write-up on this thread subject in the Jan issue of Car & Driver.
It's titled 'Wisdom of the Crowd'

[ted]

Originally Posted by masraum

I always thought it was because they either countersteered too little or too slowly. You can actually let go of the wheel and let the car do the steering for you, but I wouldn't recommend anyone to do that.

Funny when the driver is so far behind with steering inputs that the save is to let go of the steering wheel and hope the caster provides straight line projection and saves the car. Seen it on videos many times.

Stock ratio steering boxes are very slow and require more input/turns and that provides for some dramatic looking videos.

[ted]

Quote:
Originally Posted by manbridge 74 View Post
I’ve been using my left foot to brake when quick reactions are desperately needed, as in it’s hovering over the pedal ready for wandering homeless zombies or distracted drivers. Got the feel down pat from racing karts for years. Not used often when I’m in a manual trans car.

[QUOTE=DonDavis;11887005]
If you need that quick of a reaction time, it appears you are following too closely.
Increase your following distance to 4 seconds.
But I've not ridden with you, I don't know what you're doing.

Don this video will explain what he is doing.
LFB helps to transfer weight immediately to where you want it, it's about car control. Your left foot is doing nothing so why not learn to drive with both feet.

[manbridge 74]

For me it’s about reaction time. Even a bolting deer can come out of nowhere here in the city as it’s up against the foothills.

[ted]

Originally Posted by manbridge 74

For me it’s about reaction time. Even a bolting deer can come out of nowhere here in the city as it’s up against the foothills.

On the track I left foot brake because it helps me pitch or catch the car immediately, so it improves my reaction time too. I'm using it for car balance not panic braking.

Another PCA exercise is accident avoidance, where drivers practice turning to avoid an accident instead of just threshold braking in a straight line.
Not a deer but perhaps still relevant the moose test.
This test does not use any brakes and assumes the driver must react immediately and has time to only turn to avoid the moose.


Helpful book for studying driving techniques.

[DonDavis]

Originally Posted by ted

Don this video will explain what he is doing.
LFB helps to transfer weight immediately to where you want it, it's about car control. Your left foot is doing nothing so why not learn to drive with both feet.

Ok, let me rephrase. We're talking about driving on the street. I understand heel/toe and left foot braking to set the car for cornering. I also do it on the track.

But if a driver is constantly hovering their left foot over the brake for "just in case", then I say increase the following distance and relax a bit.

That's probably the biggest takeaway from driving the Smith System. Everything slowed down and my time behind the wheel is much more peaceful.

A commute to/from work should not be about wringing every second of potential drive time.

And yes, our track time makes us better on the street and better among other drivers.

Don't forget my very first post...

Originally Posted by DonDavis

And NONE of you have signed up for a class. I appreciate questions, but reserve criticizing here. It's takes real practice to adopt this properly.

[ted]

Don my background was as a NAVY and FAA air traffic controller for 30 years, 25 years as an air traffic controller instructor. A lifetime of racing at drag strips, AX, DE, TT and w2w.
Many of the Smith points are used in the safe, orderly and expeditious flow of air traffic.
In my 30 years of receiving initial and monthly atc proficiency training I have never seen anything like your style of bottom up, right to left writing?
If your presentation was in the traditional top to bottom, right to left form and you distilled your points down a bit I might be able to actually read all of it.


THE 5 KEYS TO SMITH SYSTEM DRIVING
Aim High in Steering.
Get the Big Picture.
Keep Your Eyes Moving.
Leave Yourself an Out.
Make Sure They See You.

Stopping 15 feet before the painted line at a stop sign signals to me that a driver has not yet reached the intersection or leaving large spaces in front of a preceding car that driver is creating an opening for another car to enter.

Your writing and extreme detail seems more like something intended to please your company's insurance carrier so that your company can qualify for lower insurance rates?

Thanks for sharing it, looks like you spent a lot of time on it.
Seriously you have a bright future as an instructor at any mandatory 2 day in person traffic school.

Originally Posted by DonDavis

Many of you know I was a Certified Smith System driving instructor for over 10 years. It really transformed my driving.

[masraum]

I'm super curious about the bottom-up format.

I'm sure there's a reason. The only reason that I can come up with is possibly to force greater focus/concentration while reading.

[DonDavis]

Hey Ted, sounds like you're late to this thread.

Did you actually read my first post?

I never said those sheets came from Smith.

Originally Posted by DonDavis

And these are NOT the primary Keys for driving Smith. They are...

Aim High in Steering
Get the Big Picture
Keep your Eyes Moving
Leave Yourself an Out
Make Sure They See You

Also, I had no idea you are deeply involved in my company's insurance biz!

Did you actually read my posts about that?

[DonDavis]

Originally Posted by masraum

I'm super curious about the bottom-up format.

I'm sure there's a reason. The only reason that I can come up with is possibly to force greater focus/concentration while reading.

Originally Posted by DonDavis

One of my Recertification Instructors was a retired commercial pilot.

He made Quick Reference sheets for the class that were modeled after pilot manuals. They were read up from the bottom. I might still have them.

Really a great guy and his class was my favorite.

Originally Posted by masraum

If you find it, take a pic or scan it or something!

[masraum]

Originally Posted by DonDavis

Doh! I swear I read your posts, and now that I see that again, it clicks that I read it the first time. I think since I have gone back and re-read the sheets a couple of times, I'd forgotten.

Interesting. I'm going to have to see if I can find anything about the bottom-up thing.

[DonDavis]

Did the words "modeled after pilot manuals" not come through?

[ted]

Originally Posted by DonDavis

Hey Ted, sounds like you're late to this thread.

Did you actually read my first post?

I never said those sheets came from Smith.

Also, I had no idea you are deeply involved in my company's insurance biz!

Did you actually read my posts about that?

Yeah and lost interest in anything you have to say so moving on.
Good afternoon.

[island911]

That chart numbering seems to be off...

[DonDavis]

^^^ Brilliant! haha

[Jeff Hail]

Don, thanks for bringing it.

When I was 15.5 years of age my parents were smart to put me through Safeway Drivers Education program. It was the Smith System which was taught as the basis for protocol and it works.

A friend of mine who is a retired CHP trainer taught the Smith System at the Sacramento Academy in the late 1970's and 80's. Most of the practices are still taught today in law enforcement but may have been stolen and plagarized in modern publications. Again the system works.

Another two friends: One a flatbed operator and another a long haul driver have been through the system. It works.

I find myself out of habit falling back on what I learned. Think "Space Cushion" .

[DonDavis]

Sure thing Jeff, and thank you for the nod!

Driving is incredibly personal. We all drive around by ourselves the vast majority of times. Sure, there are outliers, but in general we establish our own habits and techniques by ourselves.

Trying to share something this complex with a BBS in just a few sentences/paragraphs is dicey, at best.

Folks really underestimate the value in Advanced Driver training.

It's not about telling drivers they are doing something wrong, it's about enhancing their abilities and creating a more peaceful drive.

Our love for cars brought us to this board. We share stories, tools, tips. tricks, all of it.

But suggesting these tried/true techniques and out come the pitchforks and fire.

Thanks again!

[masraum]

Originally Posted by DonDavis

Sure thing Jeff, and thank you for the nod!

Driving is incredibly personal. We all drive around by ourselves the vast majority of times. Sure, there are outliers, but in general we establish our own habits and techniques by ourselves.

Trying to share something this complex with a BBS in just a few sentences/paragraphs is dicey, at best.

Folks really underestimate the value in Advanced Driver training.

It's not about telling drivers they are doing something wrong, it's about enhancing their abilities and creating a more peaceful drive.

Our love for cars brought us to this board. We share stories, tools, tips. tricks, all of it.

But suggesting these tried/true techniques and out come the pitchforks and fire.

Thanks again!

I'm glad you posted them. I have saved them, and may type them up top down because reading bottom up is a pain.