Annual road toll up 44

[veldthui]

So what happens 3 years down the track when the driver enters a corner too fast by accident for the first time? They slam on the brakes, rear end comes around, they panic and brake more, turn into the skid or let go of all controls and crash?

Better to train for any situation that could arise, than to train to drive with your hands at 10 and 2 at exactly the speed limit around town. Because no one gets through 100,000km of driving without ever mucking up at least one corner. If you have never broken traction before, if you don't know how to control a loss of traction, then regardless of whether you're a "good" driver, or whether you can stick below the speed limit, you will one day lose traction, and you will crash as a result.

I'm the only guy at work who has been working for longer than a year there, and hasn't had a crash in over 3 years and 150,000km of driving the work van. I'm also the fastest driver by far and I go through tires about 10,000km more often than the other guys in the same vans as me. I have deliberately chucked the van into corners too fast, I have over steered, I have under steered. I've driven in rain, fog, hail and shine and broken traction in it all. I've done emergency stops, swerve avoidance and given way to people about to cut me off. I've come across quite a few situations that could have resulted in a crash for an average driver, and come out dent free. Never once had a complaint against my driving and never caused a crash.

I think I have done everything possible to make my driving as safe as possible, I even indicate correctly when there's no cars or pedestrians for miles. I don't think I will ever have a crash in a 4 wheeled vehicle, I think that because I practice, mostly on a weekly basis whilst driving. I practice entering corners too fast, I practice losing traction, I practice losing traction in rain. If ever my van loses traction, I won't even have to put down my pie to drive out of it one handed.

Someone who has done everything possible to make their driving as safe as possible does not do things like deliberately chucking a van into a corner too fast and all the other shit you boast about.

[BMWST?]

Or wear out tyres 10000 k faster and boast about it

[haydes55]

Someone who has done everything possible to make their driving as safe as possible does not do things like deliberately chucking a van into a corner too fast and all the other shit you boast about.

When my van hits hidden gravel mid corner, oil patches, black ice and/or grit, I can control it and know for a fact I can safely regain traction. All because I've practiced it. I'd rather not leave the first time I lose traction to be a surprise and have only vague ideas of what to do to correct it.

On the same vane, I practice emergency braking and swerving on my bike. Am I stupid for deliberately slamming on my brakes with no need? Or should I just wait til I get cut off for my first go at emergency braking?

[Akzle]

If ever my van loses traction, I won't even have to put down my pie to drive out of it one handed.

duct tape death match?

More importantly, what kind of pie?

[caspernz]

That's very interesting.

Right, so if we take that as gospel, it'd be safer for everyone to go 71 mph than 49 mph.

Including those numpties who suck at driving, who don't know other road users exist, who can't see beyond the end of the bonnet.

Really?

Mmmm, quoting stuff a bit too literally I reckon. Improve driver training/licensing standards, then remove the overly enthusiastic enforcement on speeding, and prangs seem to go down...at least in most areas where this approach has been tried.

The downside is that the numpties who struggle to drive to start with, may tend to go even slower, thus making the gap between morons and maniacs bigger again. Then you end up with our roading network being the limiting factor...so in essence there's no easy answer to this topic

[R650R]

Better to train for any situation that could arise, than to train to drive with your hands at 10 and 2 at exactly the speed limit around town. Because no one gets through 100,000km of driving without ever mucking up at least one corner. If you have never broken traction before, if you don't know how to control a loss of traction, then regardless of whether you're a "good" driver, or whether you can stick below the speed limit, you will one day lose traction, and you will crash as a result.

I'm the only guy at work who has been working for longer than a year there, and hasn't had a crash in over 3 years and 150,000km of driving the work van. I'm also the fastest driver by far and I go through tires about 10,000km more often than the other guys in the same vans as me. I have deliberately chucked the van into corners too fast, I have over steered, I have under steered. I've driven in rain, fog, hail and shine and broken traction in it all. I've done emergency stops, swerve avoidance and given way to people about to cut me off. I've come across quite a few situations that could have resulted in a crash for an average driver, and come out dent free. Never once had a complaint against my driving and never caused a crash.

I think I have done everything possible to make my driving as safe as possible, I even indicate correctly when there's no cars or pedestrians for miles. I don't think I will ever have a crash in a 4 wheeled vehicle, I think that because I practice, mostly on a weekly basis whilst driving. I practice entering corners too fast, I practice losing traction, I practice losing traction in rain. If ever my van loses traction, I won't even have to put down my pie to drive out of it one handed.

Your an accident waiting to happen mate, I thought the way you talk about riding your bike was bad enough but this is worse. Proper faster driving would not significantly wear out tyres faster than others, but poor technique would.
You'll be the first to be let go if your employer implements any of the ACC programmes to reduce their costs which they will eventually.

50,000km a year *sniggers* lol some people would do that just commuting to work, that's nothing.

I suspect like your 'not stopping for police' policy that its all talk anyway... had a flatmate who sounded just like you once... one day he found out he wasn't as good as he thought he was. Trouble was he walked away after crossing the centreline in Hiace van but the woman coming the other way had to get rescue choppered...

[caspernz]

Your an accident waiting to happen mate, I thought the way you talk about riding your bike was bad enough but this is worse. Proper faster driving would not significantly wear out tyres faster than others, but poor technique would.
You'll be the first to be let go if your employer implements any of the ACC programmes to reduce their costs which they will eventually.

50,000km a year *sniggers* lol some people would do that just commuting to work, that's nothing.

I suspect like your 'not stopping for police' policy that its all talk anyway... had a flatmate who sounded just like you once... one day he found out he wasn't as good as he thought he was. Trouble was he walked away after crossing the centreline in Hiace van but the woman coming the other way had to get rescue choppered...

The accident can't be too far away then, if the one accident per 160,000 odd km for light vehicles remark from the insurance fella is correct...

[R650R]

The accident can't be too far away then, if the one accident per 160,000 odd km for light vehicles remark from the insurance fella is correct...

Slightly more dangerous than the rate for trucks then... remember when roadfrightners offered us the chance to be OD's the numbers then were within 6 years a new heavy truck would be almost guaranteed to have been in a serious incident of some sort. And apparently the highest risk period is first 10,000km and six months due to lack of familiarity with road feedback/blindspots etc....
Ohhh I should have bragged my last one was crash free for 860,000km before I threw the keys back at the boss....
Wonder what his fuel bill is like... bosses DO notice those...

[haydes55]

Your an accident waiting to happen mate, I thought the way you talk about riding your bike was bad enough but this is worse. Proper faster driving would not significantly wear out tyres faster than others, but poor technique would.

You'll be the first to be let go if your employer implements any of the ACC programmes to reduce their costs which they will eventually.



50,000km a year *sniggers* lol some people would do that just commuting to work, that's nothing.



I suspect like your 'not stopping for police' policy that its all talk anyway... had a flatmate who sounded just like you once... one day he found out he wasn't as good as he thought he was. Trouble was he walked away after crossing the centreline in Hiace van but the woman coming the other way had to get rescue choppered...

I never cross center lines unless overtaking, even with clear line of sight. I think I'm not very good communicating my point. I never put myself in a dangerous position, I control everything I can. I have never heard or seen a crash that I wouldn't have avoided if I was in the driver seat, driving as I do.

And yes my 50,000km/year isn't huge mileage, but it's not commuting, it's driving different roads every day. I live 2 minutes from work. I think I gain more from usual driving, than I would from commuting, brainlessly sitting in a queue of traffic back and forth every day.

[haydes55]

Wonder what his fuel bill is like... bosses DO notice those...

Funny you should ask, the only time the other guys in the same vans beat me for mileage was when I had the roof rack and ladder on. My van is also the only one on it's original gearbox, completely untouched. Quietist engine and everything still works as good as new.

I go faster by carrying more corner speed, watching further ahead and reading traffic flows, lights etc. I'm also a lot gentler on the gears and engine than the others (from what I saw when I've been in their passenger seats). Our vans are 2011 Mazda 1800i's all similar Ks bought at the same time, driven for the same reasons down the same roads. Aside from making 30,000km on a set of tires instead of 40,000km. My van is the cheapest running van in every respect.

[Kickaha]

I never cross center lines unless overtaking, even with clear line of sight. I think I'm not very good communicating my point. I never put myself in a dangerous position, I control everything I can. I have never heard or seen a crash that I wouldn't have avoided if I was in the driver seat, driving as I do.

You're just a typical NZ motorist by the sound of it

[R650R]

I think I'm not very good communicating my point.

I hope this is this problem

I never put myself in a dangerous position, I control everything I can. I have never heard or seen a crash that I wouldn't have avoided if I was in the driver seat, driving as I do.

Ohhh dear... so many others before you have thought the same, even similar lines myself when I was young.... the problem arise though when your at the edge of the performance envelope and someone else stuffs up coming your way and you have nothing left in reserve.
Perhaps while your practicing your wet road countersteer slides or fast cornering. It gets even more shit of someone sees your 'fast' driving and ends up being a witness blaming you. Just like how motorbikers get the blame cause they look fast, a fact even the police admitted on one of their tv shows one night.

At a guess I think your in your early twenties and under 30 at the most. There's a lot of shit to be seen an experienced first hand on the road over decades of driving to get to the understanding that there never is any safe fast driving or 100% avoidable encounters with other vehicles. People will do the weirdest dumbest shit you can imagine. And when they do it near your work vehicle you really want to make sure you i's are dotted and t's crossed with no one following whose just witnessed your 'good' manner of driving.... I'm no angel myself and been lucky at times, but just sayin.... keep it tidy.

[swbarnett]

had a flatmate who sounded just like you once... one day he found out he wasn't as good as he thought he was.

Exactly. Over confidence is a rider/driver's worst enemy. The way I look at it I don't think I'll ever have a major off because I never lose sight of the fact that I might.

[swbarnett]

I have never heard or seen a crash that I wouldn't have avoided if I was in the driver seat, driving as I do.

Like I said - over confidence. How can you really know if you weren't there?

[haydes55]

Like I said - over confidence. How can you really know if you weren't there?

Because I have been there quote a few times. I'm not over confident. That's why I still practise. I drive like I ride, I assume no one has seen me, I assume there is something around every corner and I assume the road is slippery.