Driving Tips

[regency]

avoid driving in Sacramento, there is no enforcement of traffic laws & it's lawless.

Steve

[Bill Douglas]

Originally Posted by Hugh R

UPS teaches this, look for proof that the car/truck turning, whether against you or cross traffic from you, is actually turning, don't depend on their turn signal, look for their front wheels actually turning, before you pull out.

I do this too at roundabouts. Their wheels turn before the car turns - don't trust anyone.

[look 171]

Teach him to text with his phone at the 12 o'clock position of the steering wheel. This way he can keep his eyes on the road instead of looking down trying to hide the phone from the cops.

I ride a bike on the sidewalk at about 10, eventually riding on the street in traffic. I learn to read all the bad habits of drivers and become aware of my surroundings

[Bill Douglas]

While we are talking driving tips... On the motorway if someone seems to be following you, or a road rager situation, overtake some cars in the fast lane then cut across a couple of lanes and take an off ramp. The other guy is stuck in the fast lane. Another one is pull up to a stop sign and wait until some cars approach then pull out (a safe distance) in front of them, then get the hell outta there.

[Jims5543]

My older son did the Tire Rack Street survival driving school when he was newly licensed and had a little experience under his belt.

I highly suggest it for any 16-21 year old.

I am not sure if all the schools are the same. At this one they had an 18 wheeler in the parking lot after lunch with about 15 cars parked around it. They had every kid get in the driver seat of the 18 wheeler to see that all 15 cars could not be seen by the driver.

Many of the parents there asked to get in too and we were all shocked by what the trucker cannot see.

Each kid gets their own SCCA or PCA (or whatever group is sponsoring the event) driving instructor.

The instructor has them check their tire pressure, then pop the hood and show them how to inspect all the fluid levels in the car and explain how to recognize what each one smells like in case there was a leak that could be a problem.

Then they do some classroom time, explaining handling dynamics of the car, similar to a classroom session at a DE except geared more to novice drivers and not centered around performance driving.

Then they go out and do an emergency breaking situation in a straight line triggering the ABS (if equipped) or threshold of the brakes. Repeat a few times then try doing it while turning, as in avoiding an accident.

Then the go onto a dry skid pad, induce oversteer then try to recover from it.

Then they move on to a course laid out where they will be doing a decently high speed accident avoidance. The idea here is to disrupt the car and have them recover it.

Then back to a wet skid pad for some more rain simulation sliding and recovering.

They put it all together on a small Autocross course with no timing. Where you see the kids confidence in car control really take form. Then they throw in a curve ball.

They have the kid take out their phone and try to perform a task while driving on the Autocross course.

Best $75 I ever spent.

The last time I posted a link I broke a thread. Just take the spaces out of this one.

http: //www.streetsurvival. org/

[Seahawk]

Depends on the child.

My daughter is a great driver, has been since she started driving on the farm. She is aware, doesn't tailgate, etc. Easy peasy.

My son was different. Good skills and situational awareness on the road but he had what we termed "parking lot narcolepsy": as soon as he got off the highway into a parking lot is was like all the synapse fuses in his brain popped.

No grandma walking to her car was safe. Seriously, it was weird.

[RKDinOKC]

Texting at 12 'oclock? How about just pulling over if it's so important it can't wait!! Better alive than replied.

Road Ragers - Never get out of the car! If you are stuck in traffic and they get out of their car, start honking your horn to get attention, most likely someone will video it.

Our local police department does a Saturday driving class. It does all that, classroom instruction, car inspection, braking, avoidance, backing, handling, skid pad. Took the class to see what it is like and learned if you see my reverse lights come on and are no taller than a cone, RUN!

[Tervuren]

Originally Posted by MikeSid

So he's 6 years old?
Have him play football, soccer or ultimate Frisbee.
Until he can actually drive, practicing things that help his mind gauge relative speed, angles, open space, exit strategy, etc. will be more valuable than axioms that he will not have the context to fully understand.

At 6 years old, he can also race carts. I have a buddy whose daughter has driven gas powered 5hp carts on dirt tracks since she was 5 years old. She has progressed to larger hp as she has gotten older. She'll be way ahead of the curve when she gets behind the wheel on public roads.

I'm the only one in the family that took up driving on the PC.

I'm also the only one in the family that hasn't been in an at fault accident.

I think you may be on to something.

[Bill Douglas]

Young kids, take them to the go-cart track. They will learn about braking, drifting, counter steering, all in one happy 15 minutes.

[74-911]

No matter what the red lights or signs say, you only have the right-of-way if everyone gives it to you...

and

tonnage rules.

[Bob Kontak]

Originally Posted by Hugh R

UPS teaches this, look for proof that the car/truck turning, whether against you or cross traffic from you, is actually turning, don't depend on their turn signal, look for their front wheels actually turning, before you pull out.

This is EXACTLY what the cop told me in 1972 when I took my drivers test at 16. To the word.

[Bob Kontak]

Originally Posted by GothingNC

Always look for a way out.

This embraces not tailgating.

Speaking of turn signaling..............

50 year old friend got nailed yesterday for turning his blinker on too close to the corner. State police car right behind him. He did it twice. Pulled him over.

Officer saw him put his seat belt on. First thing he said was, "Nice seat belt work". Then he looked at the six pack of aluminum cans with twist off wide mouth tops missing one can. Said, "Where you taking the beers, Sir." Friend says "Home, Sir".

Officer says "I am going to ticket you for no seat belt, Sir". Friend says, "Thank you, Sir"

God bless the Ohio State Patrol.

[Heel n Toe]

Turn the cellphone off and throw it in the glove box or door pocket... your job is to drive and get where you're going without running into someone... or letting someone else run into you.

Also, don't hold your beer between your thighs. You'll freeze your nuts off and the beer will get warm.

Use the cupholder.

[petrolhead611]

And don't call the turn signal the blinker, it is the indicator.

[RKDinOKC]

No matter how compelling, freeing, or right it may feel...DO NOT DRIVE NAKED on public roads or highways!!!

[wdfifteen]

Always wear clean underwear.

[wdfifteen]

Originally Posted by petrolhead611

And don't call the turn signal the blinker, it is the indicator.

Wait - the turn signal is the indicator? And all these years I've been calling it the turn signal.

[RKDinOKC]

If the turn signal is an indicator and NOT a blinker, then why is it called blinker fluid and not indicator fluid?

[petrolhead611]

If you think of it as the indicator, you might just remember to indicate,unlike the majority of lazy young drivers I encounter these days

[matthewb0051]

Originally Posted by legion

My oldest is still 10 years from driving. I've been thinking lately of some things I should teach him when it's time to teach him to drive.


3) On the interstate, watch what the semis are doing. They have CBs and talk to each other. If they all slow down there is probably a speed trap coming up. If they all exit the interstate together, there may be a bad accident or other detour ahead.
.

I just went through this for real. Dude is driving to school now, God help me.

The deal with semis is more than that. I had to let him feel the aero effect that they have when beside them and it pulls your car closer to them. He felt it immediately along with the outward aero push you get when passing them.

That may have been my greatest fear was that he would drift right into their wheels.