Defensive Driving

[Yucca-Man]

I don't think I've seen it mentioned yet, or if it was it needs to be re-mentioned:

Don't let your 'friends' decide how you should drive!!
Stupid teen driving tricks (watch how fast it goes, look ma no hands, etc) are a MAJOR killer of teens and people killed by teens...remember that YOU are the driver, and YOU are in control of that vehicle. If your backseat passenger starts yelling and disrupting your concentration, pull over and give them the option of either getting the F*** out or shutting the F*** up. Be firm about it and live to see another day.

There is a kid in Parker, CO who should have gone to prison but plea-bargained out afte his "stupid teen tricks" that killed three of his passengers and the driver of an oncoming vehicle. Don't be that kid.

 

[RichP]

so THAT'S what those things are there for! I'll be dammed! I use em just cause i like the clicking noise......lol!

Damn, you must be from boston originally..... or learned how to drive there...:banghead:

 

[DDCxj]

Damn, you must be from boston originally..... or learned how to drive there...:banghead:

Whats wrong with Boston?

Massachusetts has the best and most friendly drivers in the country. We are never in a hurry, never drive crazy at all or make eratic moves, always wait a few seconds after the light turn green to slowly get on the throttle, we never get angry, no one-digit waves here, never any yelling, and we ALWAYS use our turn signal for the correct purpose.




Reality check......it really is the opposite of all that. So, if you want to learn how to be a defensive driver, come to Mass. You can't have defense without an offense. If you can be a defensive driver here, you can do it anywhere.

 

[RTicUL8]

From a father with teenage girls: NO GIRLS IN YOUR CAR!!! Unless your future father-in-law is riding shotgun :thumbup: :laugh3:

 

[8Mud]

The 5 basic rules of defensive driving are:

1. Aim high in steering - look way ahead, not just 10 ft. in front of your vehicle
2. Get the big picture - be aware of everything in front, back , and on the sides
3. Keep your eyes moving - don't stare straight ahead - use your mirrors
4. Leave yourself an out - don't get trapped - always have an escape route
5. Make sure they see you - use your lights, signals - don't drive in other's blind spots

Also...

Lift and cover - take your foot off the accelerator and cover the brake when going through intersections.

Look both ways when going through any intersection...even when you have the green light (this has save me a couple of times).

Following distance should be one car length for every 10 mph. Even more in inclement weather.

Even though you may have the right-of-way, don't INSIST on it. Meaning don't force your way merely because you can.

I've had a commercial driver's license for about 12 years now. My job literally depends on driving safely.

The number one rule should be...NO CELL PHONES.

I like number "4", which has saved my rear more times than I can count.
If you expect the other guy to do something really dumb, you will rarely be disappointed.
Something I learned riding a bike, that I carried over to the car. When you get in the comfort zone, things will invariably turn to shit, before you can react. Force yourself to stay alert, keep your mind on driving, daydreaming will get you killed.
It usually takes awhile ( a couple of few years) to have situational awareness, happen automatically. In the mean time, there is a lot going on you have to think about, constantly checking your mirrors and possible trouble spots ahead etc. After a few years, it becomes automatic and not having to think about the basics so much, you are able to concentrate on big picture more, which makes things easier and safer.
A guy I´d guess 19-20 or so, passed me in a school zone (doing about 40), I backed off the gas quick, started braking (carefull not to lock them up) and swerved right. I saw him coming quick from the rear, knew he was going to try something dumb and knew he didn´t have enough time to clear me and oncoming traffic. I had to thread the needle between his rear bumper and a three foot drop off. I had to use the bicycle lane (almost a sidewalk) to do it. I pulled up next to him at the next stop light. If there hadn't of been so many witnesses around, I probably would of dreamt up something to adjust his attitude a little. I did mention, if he wanted to step out of the vehicle and settle it one on one, instead of with bumper cars, I was more than willing. He decided making faces and monkey noises, was as far as he was willing to take it. Anybody can screw up occasionaly, some people just plain need an atitude adjustment, catastrophy looking for a place to happen.

 

[UNCC_99XJ]

Damn, you must be from boston originally..... or learned how to drive there...:banghead:

actually mom grew up in NJ, so close enough....LOL

 

[PavementSux87XJ]

Here's at tip for country roads at night ..........

if theres a powerline running along the road look for a glare on the wire
it'll show you the glare from another cars headlights before you can see their lights (it usually works really good on a curve

 

[Dirt]

Also the majority of pain in the ass fender benders ( I think 80-90%) happen while backing up be very careful when doing so. That's something that stuck with me from a recent aggressive driving course.

Another thing that's good to do is go into high alert mode when it's wet out. (especially on deer ridden country roads) Seriously try to sit up and pay attention. I even started doing the whole 9 & 3 o'clock steering position (but only under wet conditions) because I found out it really does help you.

Also I like the way one of you suggested the release the gas and hover over the brake pedal at intersections. Good advice.

 

[bjoehandley]

Xjohnnyc's #4 has saved my butt more than once too, and I have to agree with everything said here. I have a habit of thinking most of the drivers out there got there liscense in a Cracker Jack box (and most around here seem to drive like it anyway), so I always try to be the better driver.

Also the majority of pain in the ass fender benders ( I think 80-90%) happen while backing up be very careful when doing so. That's something that stuck with me from a recent aggressive driving course.

Dirt's got a good point here too, alway be careful in parking lots and take it easy while driving through or leaving a parking spot (from either direction!) I almost hit a couple of kids in a parking lot a several years ago when they shot out between two parked cars on generic mini scooters in front of me, luckily for them, I was cruising about 5-10mph in the lot in my Dodge Shadow ES (light, for it big tires, suprisingly good brakes) and got it stopped quick. If I had been driving like most people seem to, I'd had drilled atleast one if not both of them hard! One thing I always thought was funny was people compaining that trucks/vans/suvs were a danger in parking lots because you could back out of a spot and get hit, but if you take your time backing out you can't easily suddenly appear infront of somebody driving through the lot (that seems to be the problem, the person leaving the spot "just appears" in front of another motorist), and drive slow through the lot so ot takes less time to stop your vehicle if somebody just pops it in reverse (also look for tail/brake/reverse lights, that can indicate an upcoming sudden movement) and starts to back up with out looking. I also try to keep an eye on pedestrians and cyclists, especially at night near local bars (one of my customers told me he hit a drunk that fell infront of a GTI he used to own while doing 40 in a 35, tearing the drunk up pretty bad and then the drunk tried suing him for the injuries.) I seam to see alot of j-walkers in the town I work in, especially at night arouind the bars and stores that sell alcohol.

 

[87CherokeeChief]

Thanks for all the great tips guys. I have a lot of friends who i know are pretty bad drivers, most of them i wouldnt even consider riding the the car while they drive, i am one of the few teens i trust. i think in part having the lifted xj has made me a little better of a driver, mainly since i dont speed. someone mentioned their friend was killed. i can relate to that, 4 guys i know were in a bad 1 car accident, 3 were killed and 2 of them were very good friends of mine, had known them since i was about 3 years old. yes, it was due to drugs and inexperience, so that is my main reason for asking these things. thanks for everything so far guys.

Brett

 

[XJ Dreamin']

Tailgating is one of the stupidest and riskiest behaviors possible when driving, but most people do it anyway. No matter how close you follow, you are guaranteed to reach your destination only about 3 seconds sooner than you would if you followed safely.

Oh, man. This brings back a bad, bad memory. I was on a two-lane state highway in Missouri. It was something like 4 or 5 in the afternoon: still plenty of light. I was following a car that was going 50 mph, 5 mph below the speed limit. I was keeping a 3 second interval. I know most classes teach 2 seconds, but my Dad always taught 3 seconds on dry, 10 on wet, and infinite on ice and snow. Anyway, this is a highway that I grew up on. I know it like the back of my hand. We're on a twisty section with no good passing lanes, but I know that we are approaching a right-left chicane with, afterward, a nice long straight. So, as we enter the right-hand part of the chicane I start to pull up, anticipating the passing lane ahead. Halfway through the left-hand turn the car in front does a little dive to the inside: just half a lane or so. So, I'm right on his butt, halfway through a left turn and he dekes to the left. I think, "What the hell.." Before I can do anything, from right beside his rear-right tire appears this blimp size, perfectly spherical, bloated racoon. I go, "Oh shit!" just as my front-right hits him - phoomf! Just like that...that is exactly the sound it made. Now, I'm driving an old '70 Fury. The one with the kick panel vents that draw air from somewhere around the fender well. I would have sworn pieces of the racoon came up through the vent. I never actually found any pieces of him, but the smell drove right through that cabin like a U238 sabot. Picture me now: still halfway through a turn, 50 mph, retching with my head out the window, weaving all over the damn place. I got home and before I could even tell my story my Mom is "What is that smell?" I had to drive for the next three days with my head out the window everywhere I went. Nobody would come near my car.

The moral of the story is the same as everybody else here has said. Give yourself room to react. Don't go blasting into blind situations with no where to go. You never know what might be in your path. Might be a bloated racoon: might be a kid on a bike. That's how my brother went: he was 11.

Take 5-90 up on that offer. At one time my Dad thought he would get into road racing. Build up a TR-3 and everything. Even went to driving school for it. He passed that education on to me and that has saved my butt more than once when folks have pulled up to a stop, stopped and then started without looking, right in front of me. It's happened three times and I was able to steer clear everytime, using what he taught me. 5-90, if I could get away from here, I'd be there tomorrow. That is the most valuable offer I've heard in a long, long time.

 

[XJ Dreamin']

How new? Had your license six months yet?

Let me know when you get there (it gives the thing time to dry, gives you time to get some practical solo experience - but not so much that we've got to kill too many bad habits...) come up with a week-end you can kill, come on down, and I'll give you some lessons. I've been through high-speed, E&E, foul weather, and defensive driving - I can probably help you with what you'd like to know. I won't go into teaching you controlled head-on collisions - but I'd bet I can help keep you out of most collisions...

It's a lot easier to teach directly than it is to just tell you - I've been through this with my two boys, and four of my nieces.

5-90

I'm sure 5-90 would make this part of his instruction to you, but after the class you have to practice on a regular basis. Anytime I change tires, brakes or anything to do with handling I find a nice clear straight section of blacktop and practice controled stops (not panic stop: controled stop), emergency lane change, and do a little weaving against the suspension rebound to get a feel for where the handling limits are. But, get the class under your belt first.

Lets be careful out there.

 

[Beej]

Read my thread on the 'Benefits of Driving an SUV'...

 

[Nevada City Sparky]

Watch out for Trucks!

Be sure and watch out for trucks when on the highway. Alot of folks don't realize that truck drivers have a HUGE blind spot along their flanks. When passing a truck, do it quickly and safely and assume he can't see you. DON'T EVER tailgate a truck.

 

[cherokee89]

I think the simple fact that you have the brains to ask these questions and try to learn already puts you above most fresh drivers. Kudos, to you!

I think people should know their vehicles, and how they will behave in various situations. If you can find a place where it will be safe, do some tests. Brake hard in the wet/snow and get familiar with the feeling of sliding. Not that you should try to slide your Jeep, but it may happen, and you need to know what to do when it does. Take it really easy at first. A big open parking lot would be a good place for this.

Wear your seatbelt, and don't move the vehicle if anyone isn't buckled in. Kids get killed all the time because they were ejected. If anyone thinks it isn't cool, fawk 'em. Walking away is always cool. Having your dead body extracted from the windshield is never cool.

Speaking of windshields, keep that thing clean!! All windows should be clean. The glare that dirt and grime can make is dangerous. Good lights, clean windows and good wiper blades are a must. You want as much visibility as you can come up with.

Do not be the guy sitting at the bottom of the on ramp!! You are getting on a highway, and you should be doing highway speeds. It is a lot easier on everyone involved if you do not try to pull into 60MPH traffic at 35MPH. This can cause huge wrecks. Also, accelerate when changing lanes. I am not saying floor it, but give it a little. At least hold your speed. The past umpteen women I have ridden with scare the hell out of me on the highway. They become very timid on the highway, and that is no place to nancy out. Your confidence will build with time, but just try not to get too afraid out there. Have respect for what you are doing, but just know there are a-holes with a lot less skill and brains out there, and they are getting from A to B.

Finally, I suggest you take a day trip in your car. Be well rested, and prepared to pull over if needed. Maybe take a parent. Road trips teach young drivers a lot. They are usually pretty easy, but you need to know what it is like to drive for a few hours without stopping. Just watch out for signs of fatigue. You can fall asleep while driving and you won't even know it. It could be for a half a second, or it could be for a minute. It only takes the wrong half a second to possibly kill yourself and others.

Hope we are helping. Thanks for having the balls to ask.

 

[87CherokeeChief]

Finally, I suggest you take a day trip in your car. Be well rested, and prepared to pull over if needed. Maybe take a parent. Road trips teach young drivers a lot. They are usually pretty easy, but you need to know what it is like to drive for a few hours without stopping. Just watch out for signs of fatigue. You can fall asleep while driving and you won't even know it. It could be for a half a second, or it could be for a minute. It only takes the wrong half a second to possibly kill yourself and others.

Hope we are helping. Thanks for having the balls to ask.

I have actually taken a few day trips shortly after i got my license. I have driven from Sacramento to South Lake Tahoe multiple times(about 2 hrs) and have also driven there in the snow and rain, which up highway 50 which takes some skill and smarts. i also have driven with my parents down south to san louis obispo many times which is about 5 and a half hours. my biggest accomplishment was this summer, my parents let me drive alone to my cousins house in Eureka, which was a good 6 hour drive.

I'll have to find an empty parking lot to practice some stuff in...

Thanks for the tips

Brett

 

[mg614]

If you can't stop- Take aim!!!