How good do people think you are at driving?

[Midwayman]

@ Midwayman,

You can get semantic about it, but if everyone drove around as fast as they could, or as fast as they felt comfortable, there would be a LOT of really bad accidents.

Right. That's why the autobahn is littered in dead bodies. But seriously I'm mostly talking about people who insist on going 60 in the left lane on a 8 lane highway when traffic is normally 70-75mph. Or the numerous people who can't be bothered to read the speed signs and drive 30-35mph on 40-45mph surface roads. Or even the people who take 10 seconds to exit the lane when turning into someplace.

In any case there is a real difference between driving skill and simply not ever having an accident. That's not semantics. If you only ever operate a vehicle far below your limits you're a) not likely to crash 'safe' and b) not likely to ever really improve and have the skills needed when something does go wrong. What people normally get all worked up about is they must assume you're driving like an insane person on public roads and putting people in danger. That's no always true. I do track days. I've done autocross. Ive done ice racing. Ive done road rally. etc, etc. Lots of places to gain skill that are appropriate venues. However I guarantee you that someone who has spent time learning to control a car on the edge and recover from slides, etc is going to react a whole lot better the first time his car oversteers on a off ramp from a puddle, snow,etc. IE the guy who is the 'safe' driver isn't necessarily a skilled driver. I just get annoyed when people saw they are 'good' drivers, meaning skilled in their mind when they really only qualify as safe.

 

[SparkyJJO]

I would think that your personality would be enough to dissuade people from riding with you.

The point is that if you are routinely scaring your passengers then you're not driving defensively. Eventually that is going to bite you in the ass.

I just hope you don't hurt anyone but yourself when you do wreck your car.

And hopefully doesn't wreck somebody else's car in the process.

 

[JCH13]

Midwayman,

The things you describe are not defensive driving, that's just being stupid,hehe. I think you and I agree.

I am right there with you on everything else too, for the most part. The autobahn is an exception to the rule though. Wide roads, generally very flat with few turns. It's pretty visible and predictable (I have ridden on the auto bahn). The interstate roads near me would be considerably more insane to drive fast on, with big grades, sharper turns, and wooded areas that are within 10-30 yards of the interstate (think deer and moose showing up unpredictably).

 

[Arkaign]

Midwayman,

The things you describe are not defensive driving, that's just being stupid,hehe. I think you and I agree.

I am right there with you on everything else too, for the most part. The autobahn is an exception to the rule though. Wide roads, generally very flat with few turns. It's pretty visible and predictable (I have ridden on the auto bahn). The interstate roads near me would be considerably more insane to drive fast on, with big grades, sharper turns, and wooded areas that are within 10-30 yards of the interstate (think deer and moose showing up unpredictably).

Oh god yes. Visibility is absolutely tops in considerations, I remember living in Charlotte, NC for about 6 months in the early 90s. Visibility was fine on the freeways, but often the side roads were really twisty, had zero shoulder, just a dropoff into a ditch or trees inches from the road, with visibility often no better than a couple hundred yards at best. Terrible conditions for driving at speed, and I'd see people whizzing around like tards on motorcycles and civics at easily double the speed limit constantly. Unsurprisingly I also saw a ton of accidents.

 

[Fenixgoon]

after doing autocross and track days, i rarely push the limits on public roads. i like to have a little fun, but nothing that would come close to causing an accident.

 

[JCH13]

I lol'd. :biggrin:

 

[Midwayman]

Midwayman,

The things you describe are not defensive driving, that's just being stupid,hehe. I think you and I agree.

I am right there with you on everything else too, for the most part. The autobahn is an exception to the rule though. Wide roads, generally very flat with few turns. It's pretty visible and predictable (I have ridden on the auto bahn). The interstate roads near me would be considerably more insane to drive fast on, with big grades, sharper turns, and wooded areas that are within 10-30 yards of the interstate (think deer and moose showing up unpredictably).

Yah. It would take a huge change in driving culture for the autobahn to work here, along with road improvements in some areas. (Around me interstates are flat and straight. They can support 100mph+ pretty easy.) Just saying that speed itself isn't the issue. Its just the mantra of people who want a 55mph speed limit for whatever reason.

 

[_Rick_]

On the same drive I had someone in the back scream in abject panic, as I was powering out of some mountain corners (as much as 100kW can power...) and be asleep like a baby fifteen minutes later.

I would say that's all the credentials that matter.

I think so far, in my current car, there were only about two or three moments, where I felt a bit scared. One was braking on gravel, when going a bit too fast, and getting zero grip, one was powering out of a switchback and getting a tad more understeer than I expected, which put me a bit closer to the barrier (and drop) than I wanted, and once when I braked downhill on asphalt, and didn't get quite the effect I wanted, entering the blind corner maybe a bit too fast for comfort (still had the safe line in the end though).

Otherwise, probably the most dangerous bit of driving I ever did was when I was moving to Geneva, and started drifting into sleep on the Swiss highway. Those highways at night are just so monotonous, and you're only doing 55mph... Well, in the end I recovered quickly from that one.

In town, I'm usually on the look-out for dangers and very careful and courteous. No point in rushing or creating a dangerous situation on purpose. Only Tuesday someone pulled a stunt on me, where I got out by carefully keeping track of what's going on. Three lane intersection, with the leftmost leading to a left turn, and the right two, doing a dogleg around the "staging area" for the left turners in the middle of the intersection. I was on the middle lane, person to the left of me just keeps going straight on, crowding me out. Luckily I had cleared traffic to the right of me, and so I just pulled over. Still, could have hit a speeding two-wheeler, in that maneuver, wasn't too sure that I could do the move. But e-braking would have probably been more dangerous... And no, there were no indicators on the car that crowded me out. Just a "surprise, I pull into you now!"

Re: the Autobahn: The problem with that, is that some people seem to believe that it is the Audibahn. Doing 140mph in the left lane is not a good idea, when the right lane is limited to 50, because that's the speed limit for trucks (sensibly). But the sense of entitlement is strong with the Audi businessmen, and they will drive like utter assholes. As soon as you have three lanes, that becomes less of an issue, but tailgating at 100 mph is commonplace on the Autobahn, and that's what makes it much more dangerous, than just the speed.

 

[Harrod]

I would say that I am an alright driver, I try to stay with the flow of traffic and don't hangout in the passing lanes.

My days of excessive speeding are over, now I just try to get decent mpg on the way to work, without causing people to get road rage.

I do get irritated when riding with someone that hangs out in the passing lane but won't exceed the speed limit. I feel that cops should issue more tickets for people who aren't passing others passing lanes. There seems to be a huge disconnect with people not wanting to break the limits in those lanes.

 

[Leyawiin]

I don't think being the DD is something to brag about.

If the owner of a nice car trusts me enough to keep it in one piece and him and a couple other people alive while they sleep on the way home I guess it means something positive (and this is a bunch of non-drinkers).

 

[Murloc]

I'm not particularly good but I've never had an accident and I drive with a regular enough speed, not like a squeezebox or a swimming bloodsucker.
I also don't let my emotional state influence how I drive.

The drivers I hate are those who fall into road rage and try to make you crash into their ass by overtaking and braking for some reason they made up in their mind (happened just once), or those who stay very forward and hang on to the wheel with their whole body (scary), or those who drive like accordions, braking randomly. Also those who stay in the passing lane when they're going slow (typical of italians).

Otherwise, probably the most dangerous bit of driving I ever did was when I was moving to Geneva, and started drifting into sleep on the Swiss highway. Those highways at night are just so monotonous, and you're only doing 55mph... Well, in the end I recovered quickly from that one.

weird, there are freeways, usually you don't have to travel for long on the 80 km/h roads, and they have curves.
But maybe there are flatter areas in that area, I don't know.

 

[natto fire]

It's all a matter of perception. Most of the people that tell me they are scared or that I drive too aggressively are very inattentive drivers themselves. They couldn't imagine driving with the tighter tolerances I do and still do their secondary(or primary) activity at the same time.

I know it is cliche to assume you are a good driver, so I try not to gloat, but I do take driving very seriously. I sometimes fall into the "most important on the road" mentality, but usually try to make course decisions that are mutually beneficial for other drivers. I log lots of interstate miles, so I get lots of time to hone these skills.

I would guess that only an eighth of my annual mileage is with a passenger(s).

 

[_Rick_]

weird, there are freeways, usually you don't have to travel for long on the 80 km/h roads, and they have curves.
But maybe there are flatter areas in that area, I don't know.

Ah, made a wrong km/h mph conversion somewhere. But even the monotony of doing 120km/h at night (and 100 in the tunnels) is quite bad after 8 hours of driving

 

[BudAshes]

My wife hates when I drive. But that's because I'm a sane, rational, proactive and cautious driver behind the wheel. I rarely speed, am attentive to almost everything going on around me, and almost always error on the side of caution rather than chance.

My wife on the other hand speeds, talks on the phone nearly every minute at wheel, rarely looks much past the hood of the car, won't get into the left hand lane to pass another vehicle until there's about 2" of space between the two vehicles bumpers and in 20 years of driving has yet to grasp the concept of "coasting".

I have a $1,000,000 insurance policy on her.

I think I'm going to take one out on her too.

 

[Murloc]

Ah, made a wrong km/h mph conversion somewhere. But even the monotony of doing 120km/h at night (and 100 in the tunnels) is quite bad after 8 hours of driving

yeah that can get boring, straight roads are the worst when sleepy.

 

[manimal]

ran a 2.62 on rz350 at road america about 12 years ago and a 2.10 in my mr2 at laguna seca when I was 20.

Now I am an old man who drives 5 over the speed limit all the time. I do acellerate like a madman at any opportunity but shut it down before a felony



Growing up in a race cart and then circle track bikes tought me a ton about how to drive at the limit.

Traded for a C50T last week and really just enjoyed riding around like an old man. Now merging onto the hwy I did stretch it out a little. Had a rider come up to me and give me a thumbs up this weekend when he was following me in brown county south of indy. He cought up to me at the gas station back in town and was cracking up at how much I was grinding....

I swear I was going close to the speed limit just that the bike has ZERO clearance....

 

[brainhulk]

Everytime I have a guest at my house, I show them deez driving skillz: http://youtu.be/VjCjXK0FPmE

They say I remind them of the STIG

 

[manimal]

Everytime I have a guest at my house, I show them deez driving skillz: http://youtu.be/VjCjXK0FPmE

They say I remind them of the STIG

my setup is sort of similar save for the race seat Good show old man! While GT is great if you have a htpc hulk you should try shift 2 with the no grip community mod.

This weekend a friend played for hours straight driving the nurburgring in a gt3 car. If you like driving you have to try that mod. I

http://www.nogripracing.com/details.php?filenr=35430

I use a G25 wheel and it works really well with it.

 

[brainhulk]

my setup is sort of similar save for the race seat Good show old man! While GT is great if you have a htpc hulk you should try shift 2 with the no grip community mod.

This weekend a friend played for hours straight driving the nurburgring in a gt3 car. If you like driving you have to try that mod. I

http://www.nogripracing.com/details.php?filenr=35430

I use a G25 wheel and it works really well with it.

I have a subscription to IRacing, are the physics better in this mod?

 

[manimal]

I have a subscription to IRacing, are the physics better in this mod?

I havent tried Iracing but the physics are better than GT or any other game I have tried including STCC the game and those other sims from a decade ago.



Give it a shot you wont be dissapointed.


I ran a 745 at the full ring in 3.0 RSR and I was sweaty when I was done.

If you load it up turn off all aids and set realism on the highest setting. Keep the ai at at the medium settings or your gonna get spanked

 

[brainhulk]

I havent tried Iracing but the physics are better than GT or any other game I have tried including STCC the game and those other sims from a decade ago.



Give it a shot you wont be dissapointed.


I ran a 745 at the full ring in 3.0 RSR and I was sweaty when I was done.

If you load it up turn off all aids and set realism on the highest setting. Keep the ai at at the medium settings or your gonna get spanked

Cool, ill have to try that. I'm getting sick of constantly buying crap for my s2000 just to keep it track worthy. Video games are much cheaper, lol

 

[manimal]

. Video games are much cheaper, lol

yes and no, my projector is 5 years old and I am itching to replace it with a 4k unit but they are still too damn pricy. I got crazy lucky and bought 4 bulbs cheap in a liquidation so that projo stays a while longer.


what projo you running?

 

[brainhulk]

yes and no, my projector is 5 years old and I am itching to replace it with a 4k unit but they are still too damn pricy. I got crazy lucky and bought 4 bulbs cheap in a liquidation so that projo stays a while longer.


what projo you running?

Epson 5020ub

 

[Remobz]

Driving is a means to an end to me. I hate it

 

[_Rick_]

Everytime I have a guest at my house, I show them deez driving skillz: http://youtu.be/VjCjXK0FPmE

They say I remind them of the STIG

Dat lag :O