Whats your best driving tip?

[ripcord]

90 mph by myself is safer than being in a NASCAR style wreck if someone in the slower pack of vehicles makes a mistake. All it takes one idiot not paying attention to cause a big accident.

Trust me, cruising at 90 is very safe especially if traffic is very light.

Situational awareness is very important on the highway at any speeds.

The correct answer to a pack of vehicles going the speed limit is to slow down and follow from a safe distance. Constantly passing slower traffic at 90 is way more dangerous. Driving at 90 makes you much more likely to get in an accident. Crashing at 90 increases the risk of a fatal accident by an order of magnitude than crashing at 60.

Both the risk of crashing and the risk of serious injury and death increase as speeds increase. Driving faster than the average speed increases the risk of crash as well and the risk scales up the bigger the difference. The science here has been clearly demonstrated since the 1950s.

https://safety.fhwa.dot.gov/speedmg... - The Relation Between Speed and Crashes.pdf

The money quote:

The exact relation between crashes and speed depends on a large number of factors. In general
however, the relation is very clear and has been shown in a large number of studies: the higher the
speed, the greater the probability of a crash. At the same percentage increase in speed, the crash rate
on rural roads increases more than the crash rate on urban roads. The crash rate is also higher for an
individual vehicle that drives faster than the other traffic on that road.

 

[Jetronic]

Don't park on rails.

 

[duck__dodgers]

pay attention to what the locals are going.

If all of the locals are avoiding the far left lane, there's a reason. you are not in the one corner of the US where peeps have excellent lane discipline, lol

 

[fdcg27]

Drive gently and always be aware of others around you.
Having to brake hard in street driving is an indication of failure.
If you see someone driving aggressively and slaloming through traffic, let them cut in front of you.
They are an accident waiting to happen and you don't want to be involved in it.
Finally, letting someone get in front of you is not a sign of weakness. Street driving is a cooperative endeavor not a race and karma is real.

 

[macarose]

Drive at or slightly slower than the flow of traffic.

The goal is to make you aware of those who are driving erratically so that you avoid them.

Also if it's red or a stop sign... coast. It's not only better for your MPGs and brakes, but it also lets you better negotiate the dangers in that intersection.

Finally ignore idiots. But be kind to others who share the road. Especially truckers. They just want a stress free life.

 

[raaizin]

the smith method:

Smith System is a defensive driving technique that focuses on five key rules to help drivers stay safe:

• Aim high: Look at least 15 seconds ahead to scan for traffic and hazards
  
  
  
• Get the big picture: Be aware of your surroundings at all times
  
  
  
• Keep your eyes moving: Constantly scan your environment to stay alert
  
  
  
• Leave yourself an out: Maintain safe following distances and avoid situations that could box you in
  
  
  
• Make sure they see you: Remove assumptions about other drivers

 

[TiGeo]

Something I forgot to add to my posts above...I watch for people's eyes at intersections. If they aren't looking at me I assume they will pull out. Got that from road cycling for years.

 

[Vercingetorix]

Something I forgot to add to my posts above...I watch for people's eyes at intersections. If they aren't looking at me I assume they will pull out. Got that from road cycling for years.

I knew a guy who when crossing intersections on foot, mentioned that if you make eye contact, they won’t run you over.

 

[TiGeo]

I knew a guy who when crossing intersections on foot, mentioned that if you make eye contact, they won’t run you over.

I would think so. On the bike you are not as visible and that was always my rule approaching any stop sign/intersection where someone could go. Eye contact or I was stopping/slowing until I got it.

 

[Vercingetorix]

I would think so. On the bike you are not as visible and that was always my rule approaching any stop sign/intersection where someone could go. Eye contact or I was stopping/slowing until I got it.

One of my major gripes these days is pedestrians in crosswalks don’t even look, light says walk and they walk without even turning their head to see if traffic has stopped. Darwin in action.

 

[TiGeo]

One of my major gripes these days is pedestrians in crosswalks don’t even look, light says walk and they walk without even turning their head to see if traffic has stopped. Darwin in action.

Right on red is a very dangerous situation for pedestrians as many drivers don't stop and just use it as a rolling/yield. In the end the pedestrian has the RoW and it will be fault of the driver but I'd rather be alive than right. Much like a driver going through a green light...should they have to look? No. Should they look for folks running it? Yes.

 

[Triple_Se7en]

Always drive like your brakes dont work

That practice will sometimes increase accidents-rates, as many drivers out there will attempt to pass the Slow Pokes that do 10 MPH below speed limits..... especially on city roads / streets.

In adding my own driving tip, look both ways when the light changes from red to green for you. Sometimes the red light runners are several seconds late. Sometimes the red light runners are multiple.... as many as 3 or 4 in a row.

 

[2009Caraman]

That practice will sometimes increase accidents-rates, as many drivers out there will attempt to pass the Slow Pokes that do 10 MPH below speed limits..... especially on city roads / streets.

In adding my own driving tip, look both ways when the light changes from red to green for you. Sometimes the red light runners are several seconds late. Sometimes the red light runners are multiple.... as many as 3 or 4 in a row.

Yeah maybe. It definitely applies when I drive an 18spd though. Our mechanics love it when we're easy on the brakes.

 

[TiGeo]

That practice will sometimes increase accidents-rates, as many drivers out there will attempt to pass the Slow Pokes that do 10 MPH below speed limits..... especially on city roads / streets.

In adding my own driving tip, look both ways when the light changes from red to green for you. Sometimes the red light runners are several seconds late. Sometimes the red light runners are multiple.... as many as 3 or 4 in a row.

This. My mom taught it to me and I've sworn by this basic tip...I can't count how many dash cam videos are posted where this would have saved them from being hit...regardless of fault.

 

[dubber09]

Don't use phone except via Bluetooth, let aggressive tailgater go past you.

 

[dbias]

I drive my personal cars the same as I did the 40k lb fire engines during my career as a firefighter.
1. Don’t tailgate
2. Drive for the weather conditions
3. As you approach an intersection lift foot off of accelerator and cover the brake pedal.
4. Lean slightly forward when checking side mirrors to help scan the blind spot. Blind spots on a fire engine are huge. Don’t hangout beside one.
5. Expect others to do something stupid.

 

[97prizm]

I'm not sure if this was ever illustrated in my drivers Ed class years ago, but my brother told me to always know where all the vehicles are on the road around you, so you can change lanes quickly if needed without having to look at your mirrors first. The other was try to make sure people dont stay right next to you. Pretty sure that second one's in the drivers Ed book, but I swear most people these days barely even pay attention to what's in front of them lol

Steer into the skid, and don't mash the brake pedal if you don't have abs (which I did on my 84 Honda Accord in high school).

 

[andrew_j]

Never ever believe the other driver , passenger, cop directing traffic or flagger it’s safe to go. You and only you should still validate.

Watched a few accidents this way.

 

[Dave P.]

If you’re going to speed on the interstate don’t do it alone

and don't be the last car. Preferably be somewhere in the middle of the pack. The lion always gets the slowest Wildebeest!

 

[The motor guy]

Never ever believe the other driver , passenger, cop directing traffic or flagger it’s safe to go. You and only you should still validate.

Watched a few accidents this way.

I take it the cop isn't going to take the blame for being wrong. lol