Thread: Drawing Attention...

Originally Posted by DanP

A few weeks ago, I saw a bloke drive into the local Safeway car park, through a no entry sign and then parks in the disabled zone. So I thinks, he's worth a check. When I check the car (while he's in the shop) I find that it's unregistered.

Basically an anti-social d*ckhead who thinks the rules of society don't apply to him.

And what would have happened if he'd run into somebody in his un-registered and un-insured car? No doubt he's probably on welfare so any poor sod that he hit would have Buckley's of getting anything out of him. :mad:

These wastes of space really annoy me :mad: . You must see far too many of them in your job.

Yep,
Yep,
Yep and...

Yep. :mad:

I see why so many go that way, they get the views on life from their parents who are no hopers themselves. Where are we going wrong in society?

Don't envy your job Dan, you get to see the creme of the crop.

Thanks for that Dan.

Too many times you hear people say "where are the cops when they're needed?" Well you helped get one idiot off the road - thankyou.

TAC will cover unregistered vehicles in the case of an accident, but they won't tell you that.

Talking about TAC their TV ad was a feature of the driving course I did last year. Got to do stops from 50 and 60km/h and the difference is significant. The cars too were interesting. Newer cars with ABS handled the wet crash stops more easily. We were stunned that the Toyota Avalon there had no ABS and was prone to just locking up and skidding through for miles. Tires likely had something to do with it as well.

Anyway got a good day out learning about keeping proper space, safety zone etc etc being cool and managed while driving etc. Have to recommend it to everyone. The course I did was from Jim Murcott's school but there are other good ones around too.

A day on the race track learning about handling your car only makes you more conservative on the road. Likewise you become more aware of others on the road too.

Studley

I think everyone should have to do advanced driving course to get their licence.

In relation to following distance, nobody (including me) keeps sufficient space these days. The two second rule is a good guide, but next time you're out, check yourself and a few other cars around you. NO ONE keeps a two second gap.

Dan

Originally Posted by Studley 2436

A day on the race track learning about handling your car only makes you more conservative on the road. Likewise you become more aware of others on the road too.

Studley

Couldn't agree more, Studley.

I did a similar course about 6 or 7 years ago. Learned far more than I would have imagined prior to doing the course. We all think we're good drivers, don't we? It's an eye-opener to realise how much you didn't know, or had forgotten or were simply choosing to ignore.

One of the things that really stuck in my head was the need to leave a 2-second gap between you and the vehicle in front (in dry conditions - double or treble that in the wet). This means that people will inevitably pull in front of you. So you drop back to leave a 2-second gap. Then someone else pulls in front - and so on.

The course instructor asked us to give the system a try and count the number of people who pull in front. I did this a couple of times over the next few weeks. On a 35-minute drive to work, an average of 18 people pulled into the 2-second gap. By dropping back each time to maintain the safe distance, I added 36 seconds to my journey. Kinda puts a proper perspective on the dickheads who tailgate on the freeway at over 100 kph.

Col

Leaving the correct space is a problem. As soon as you drop back to leave a little safe distance some clown jumps into it, so you drop back again and another clown comes along.
Nice guys finish last

Macca

Maybe so Macca but I haven't found that here. I don't really concern myself too much with counting the two seconds but I do leave a really big gap in front of myself. Here in Adelaide when you change lanes people have a bad habit of trying to close the gap so you can't pull in front of them.

The big advantage in keeping a good gap in front is that your view is greatly improved. You can see a lot more of what is going on down the road. You can see your way through the traffic better and save time in your trip. Closed up hard on the car in front you are reduced to driving on the front cars tail lights. That isn't safe or smart. Back end pile ups are the most common accident on our roads. If someone is too close behind you are more likely to slow down for your own safety and also just to spite the driver behind for monstering you which adds time to his trip. Hopefully he will push past and go and have his accident elsewhere. He hasn't helped himself by pushing. How often do you get stuck behind cars making turns? You can avoid that by keeping a decent gap. Parked cars likewise and if something happens two or three cars in front you can make a decision to keep yourself out of an accident or being an accident because you could see it in time. Driving on the tail lights makes it very likely you will be trapped and crash or at best lose time stuck in traffic you could have avoided.

Studley

Nowhere to pass on our roads, so you can maintain a 60 second gap if you want to. But how do you get the guy behind you to maintain a 2 second gap?

I've only ever had one driving lesson in my life. It was a couple of years ago when I went for and got my Heavy Rigid licence. I needed it so I could drive a reasonable sized truck to QLD to pick up some timber. I paid for the course and licence test out my own pocket - all in the name of woodwork. The course, driving test and written test were all completed in one day for about $800.

I enjoyed doing the course as it confirmed things I had picked up just from experience plus it taught me quite a few other things that I hadn't really considered before or things where I needed improvement.

Being brought up in the bush on a farm meant you were driving trucks and tractors before kindergarten. I only started driving a car when I was 16 as driving cars was considered a bit wimpish. If you were 15 and hadn't driven a semi yet - well you wouldn't make that too public amongst your mates.

Fortunately times have changed because three year olds driving tractors solo is dangerous as is driving on the road without some form of proper training.

I suggest the formal driver training today is a bit ordinary though when you see the "graduates". Perhaps they should put them on a track to get their hearts in their mouths when in skids and slides.

I can't see how a kid with no experience can do ten 45 minute lessons and be adequately prepared for controlling a vehicle under less than ordinary conditions.

I might do one of those advanced driving courses one day - thanks for the idea.

Originally Posted by silentC

But how do you get the guy behind you to maintain a 2 second gap?

Machine gun?

He probably lived only a 5 minute walk from the shops too

Originally Posted by DanP

NO ONE keeps a two second gap.

You leave a slight gap between cars in Sydney and its an open invitation for someone in the lane beside you to jump in, even if there is no speed advantage