'Binary' driving : a generational thing ?

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Mon 4 Jul 2016 10:34
'Binary' driving : a generational thing ? - RobJP

In the last few weeks, I've been a passenger with several drivers - male and female - in their 20s and 30s.

Without exception, they drive either on the accelerator, or on the brake. There's been no gradual slowing, or easing off on the approach to a bend. It's on the accelerator, then on the brake as they get close, then straight onto the accelerator out of the bend - even if another slow bend is 50 yards ahead, and they'll be braking in 2 or 3 seconds again.

So is it generational ? Are drivers now taught to drive like that ? I was always taught to drive smoothly, to anticipate, and (where possible) I drive for what's coming up 200 yards ahead.

My wife thought the same thing. After getting out on these journeys she has remarked to me "That's why we normally drive".

I'm not ancient, by any stretch (nearly 47), and I like to press on and make progress when driving. The Z4 and the 325d were certainly built for that.

But being a passenger with those drivers is exhausting

So is it me ? Is it the individual drivers ? Or is it the way people have been taught to drive in the last 20 years or so ?

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Mon 4 Jul 2016 10:40
'Binary' driving : a generational thing ? - Avant

I'd say it's more likely to be the eagerness - impetuous ness perhaps - of youth: I'm sure I drive more smoothly than I did when I first started driving 50 years ago, although like you I still like to use my car's performance.

With age and experience we (most of us) realise that we can make progress just as effectively without putting our foot to the floor every time we accelerate - so that there isn't then the need for correspondingly violent braking.

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Mon 4 Jul 2016 11:08
'Binary' driving : a generational thing ? - Wackyracer

That is a very interesting observation, I have a male relative that is your age and he has many terrible driving habits. One of which is this continuous digital sequence of throttle, throttle, brake. Regardless of the road conditions he does it, even on a free flowing motorway! Apparently (in his own opinion) he is a fantastic driver! but, it might well account for why his children were always car sick when he drove and I most certainly wasn't keen on being a passenger with him.

I don't think it's a young person thing, I think it just comes as part of bad habits.

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Mon 4 Jul 2016 13:42
'Binary' driving : a generational thing ? - madf

If drivers had to drive on snow or ice, they would learn to drive differently.

Blame global warming.

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Mon 4 Jul 2016 14:37
'Binary' driving : a generational thing ? - galileo

From my observation most seem to drive alternating throttle and brake, often because they follow the vehicle in front too closely: every time the one in front brakes, they brake.

I leave ample space so don't need to (just changed disc pads at 47000 miles, still 3mm left, most driving in a busy, hilly area.

Their mode of driving shows poor mechanical sympathy (hard on transmission) and is wasteful of fuel too.

Present instruction instilling 'gears to go, brakes to slow' must also be partly to blame, why not teach 'anticipate, leave space in front, smooth throttle movement both on and off to adjust speed'.

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Mon 4 Jul 2016 15:40
'Binary' driving : a generational thing ? - Wackyracer

I agree Galileo, Looking further ahead, not tailgating and anticipation can save alot of wear on ones ankles.

I rarely use the brakes, which is probably why I still have the original 15+ years old brake light bulbs in the car and I've only changed the pads once (with plenty still left on them) as the disks had got corroded.

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Mon 4 Jul 2016 19:19
'Binary' driving : a generational thing ? - 72 dudes

I very rarely end up being a passenger with someone in their 20's and 30's driving, but when I have, the experience has been unpleasant and as RobJP describes.

On the other other hand, I've known some drivers in my own age group (mid 50's) who are equally poor, with no apparent signs of either mechanical sympathy or the ability to observe and anticipate.

What I have noticed is that if I am being tailgated in town, it is very often done by young females. Impatient and wanting to get from A to B as fast as possible, not realising that a bit of planning and anticipation would save stress and fuel!

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Mon 4 Jul 2016 22:32
'Binary' driving : a generational thing ? - Bromptonaut

That is a very interesting observation, I have a male relative that is your age and he has many terrible driving habits. One of which is this continuous digital sequence of throttle, throttle, brake.

Not unlike my Father's style though he constantly moved the accelerator back and forth - giving a surge/slow effect without hammering the brakes. Certainly partly responsible for my childhood travel sickness.

Both my kids drive too fast and lack anticipation but not that heavy on the controls.

Other gripe is with Mrs B who cannot 'feather' the brake leading to lurchingprogress in jams.

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Mon 4 Jul 2016 23:14
'Binary' driving : a generational thing ? - RT

It's yer age - in my early 20s, we all drove like that - and then it got worse as I got older! But eventually, we all reach a point when we calm down ourselves but despise the younger generations - in my case mid-50s.

So yes, it's a generational thing - that matures as people move up in the generation scale.

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Tue 5 Jul 2016 02:35
'Binary' driving : a generational thing ? - Falkirk Bairn

Occasional visitor to FB Towers has a Fiat 500 - it is either foot down on accelerator or brake - no half ways. 15K per year around a max 10 mile radius of her home - she does not know where anywhere lies outwith a few well trodden paths.

Brakes pads on front lasted some 10,000 miles and she has a standing order in for wing mirrors (both sides). She used to lose hub caps left, right & centre - that has stopped since she got the newer car - it is now scores & the latest, a cracked alloy.

23 & had a licence for nearly 5 years - she had 5 driving tests b4 passing but had some 8 theory tests before that - she has 4 years NCB as yet despite driving the car as a weapon of mass destruction she has not hit a 3rd party, as yet!

Kerbs, traffic islands, potholes - mostly as a result of being on the phone.

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Tue 5 Jul 2016 10:34
'Binary' driving : a generational thing ? - hillman

At one time there was a theory that using the throttle to reach 30 mph and releasing it to reach 25 mph improved the economy of driving. I once was given a lift home, 18 miles, by a friend who drove that way and it really made me car sick.

New drivers are taught the mantra,"Brakes to stop, throttle to go". Perhaps that is the reason for binary driving. When I was first driving the practice was to coast up to red traffic lights or standing traffic and to engage low gear when going down hills.

I was driving up a hill in the centre of Wilmslow once and the traffic lights went onto amber so I eased off and stopped as they went onto red. Behind me there was a power dressed young woman driver who disagreed very strongly and showed it.

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Tue 5 Jul 2016 10:26
'Binary' driving : a generational thing ? - Ian_SW

For many people in their 20s and 30s, driving is the only thing they do which requires any fine motor skills in their arms or legs. They most likely work in some office job where the limit of physical skill required is operating the coffee machine. Because of this, and a general fashion for not taking any interest in driving (and hence being bothered about doing it well), this poor standard of car control has become commonplace.

It is also painful to watch many of the same generation of people attempting to do any DIY which requires any level of skill.

There are young people who do have a better degree of car control, and in my experience they almost always work in a semi-manual job or have a hobby which has allowed them to develop better hand-eye coordination.

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Tue 5 Jul 2016 22:05
'Binary' driving : a generational thing ? - bathtub tom

I've an acquaintance who not only uses their feet like this, but also their hands. There's a continual swerve from left to right as they've never learned to just apply a little pressure to the steering wheel to correct their path. Very vomit inspiring!

They've also never grasped the concept of heating/ventilation controls. Will put full heat and fan speed onto face level vents (frying the eyeballs) and then turn both off, rather than regulate them. They once owned a car with aircon for eighteen months, without realising it was fitted until I visited them!

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Wed 6 Jul 2016 13:46
'Binary' driving : a generational thing ? - galileo

Watch any daytime quiz show to see the level of knowledge/intelligence of many contestants, then remember that these people have driving licences (and are allowed to vote!)

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Wed 6 Jul 2016 13:59
'Binary' driving : a generational thing ? - Metropolis.

I'm a relatively young driver but I have always tried to drive as smoothly as possible. That doesnt mean i wont put my foot down when i'm in a rush, or brake suddenly if something I didnt spot appears, but where possible I like to anticipate what is ahead and ease off early rather than brake at the last minute. I don't think it is a generational thing, but maybe more geographical. Most of my family learnt to drive in leafy towns. One close relative that learnt in the city fits your binary description completely. Full throttle every gear to within an inch of its life and then brakes suddenly at the last minute. I'm not sure what's worse, that or people who can't maintain a steady throttle! Makes me feel like a nodding dog.

Edited by PCharlton on 06/07/2016 at 13:59

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Wed 6 Jul 2016 14:37
'Binary' driving : a generational thing ? - sandy56

Try an experiment- try to drive without using your brakes- keep distance from car in front and ANTICIPATE hazards- slow down well in advance and use gentle throttle.

There is a lot of ignorance out there and a complete lack of mechanical sympathy.

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Wed 6 Jul 2016 19:21
'Binary' driving : a generational thing ? - DirtyDieselDogg

Dammn all to do with age, I know men and woman, now in their eighties, who have been driving that way for the past 38 years.

One simply CANNOT fix stupid.

Unfortunately.

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Wed 6 Jul 2016 21:03
'Binary' driving : a generational thing ? - Engineer Andy

One of the (many) bad habits of the 'modern' driver (possibly exported from abroad, but made worse by our higher traffic levels/congestion) is how many people dive into gaps left by considerate/safe drivers who do so, not to let someone in, but to ensure they have sufficient space in front to be able to safely brake if required.

Often the cause of shunts on slip roads and on motorways, especially at peak times or when there's a lot of traffic on the roads. I see this every day on my way home from work - people bombing up in the clearer lanes and 'diving in' to any (some barely a couple of car lengths) from 70mph+ to 50 or 40 (or less) in less than a second, meaning that every vehicle behind has to jam on the brakes, causing yet more congestion and sometimes accidents.

I get really peed off when I leave the 'safety gap' (and maintain it by lifting/gently accelerating rather than severe changes in speed), only for some berk to whizz by and suddenly pull in. Yes, it more a 'young man' thing than not, but quite a lot of older drivers (normally those who can afford higher-performance saloons) and an increasing number of women are doing so. Reckless driving isn't the preserve of young blokes any more.

My advice to those that do this and the accelerate hard/brake sharply - leave a few minutes earlier if you have to keep rushing to get somewhere! Its a shame that the autorities don't take this sort of poor driving more seriously - most people (even if they cause an accident) get away without any points on their licence, and just shrug their shoulders if they have to pay a bit more in insurance to cover their 'costs' next year.

As regards people braking too hard all the time, a former work colleague (ealy 20s at the time) went through a set of brake pads in 9 months from new! As a comparison, my 10yo (owned from new) Mazda3's original pads are only 30% worn after 52k miles. Never had to get new brake pads/discs on either car I've owned (18 years of motoring and over 100k miles driving), and I'm not Captain Slow either.

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Wed 6 Jul 2016 21:15
'Binary' driving : a generational thing ? - gordonbennet

Agree with all the above, i think its now the majority who are 'on the brakes' continually.

The best one i saw a few years ago was at the wheel of a Mazda 5, he jammed himself right up the chuff of the bloke in front who was travelling at a steady speed, circa 6 feet at most bumper to bumper, and in a one mile flat road section he braked roughly 17 times if my memory serves whilst i followed at a normal distance watching this plank in astonishment without once having to touch my own brakes.

We share the roads with these people, they vote and breed.

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Wed 6 Jul 2016 23:19
'Binary' driving : a generational thing ? - hillman

Last week I was driving to visit a relative who is sick and SWMBO decided to buy grapes so we diverted by the supermarket. We picked up a white van who followed us for about 15 miles. Then we went round a bend in the road with a car parked on the opposite side and a quarry lorry passing it. There was only room for a bicycle on my side so I braked to a stop to let the lorry through. The driver of the white van came round the bend, saw the situation and braked in an emergency stop. I heard the brakes and tortured tyres so I moved forward a few feet. If the road had been wet and I had not left enough space to move forward then I and SWMBO would be suffering from whiplash now.

Not binary driving, but. This week we went the same way and saw the same car parked in the same place and the same quarry lorry approaching but, no white van.

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Wed 6 Jul 2016 23:40
'Binary' driving : a generational thing ? - Legs

No, its all about the cars. My first car at age 19 was a Ford Pinto with bald tyres and anti-lock brakes (well I never managed to get them to lock). Add some Canadian snow and well you either drive smoothly, on the throttle, or end up in a ditch. Modern cars are fantastic but they don't require a lot of skill. I think the driving test should be incremental, maybe learn on an old mini, datsun cherry etc. then move onto a more powerful car after you scare yourself a few times.

Also ban all 4x4 vehicles, seat belts, air bags and any other safety features, this will encourage safer driving.

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Wed 6 Jul 2016 23:56
'Binary' driving : a generational thing ? - galileo

What I find worrying is how often I see LGV (and sometimes coaches) tailgating.

If they do it to a car it can be intimidating and if they do it to another LGV they are likely to suffer serious injury if the guy in front brakes hard (possibly because some halfwit car driver has cut across). Or are they slipstreaming to save fuel?.

I had a mirror full of Scania grill last week doing a (SatNav checked) 52 mph in lane 1 of the M1 in an average speed camera controlled 50 limit.

What did he expect me to do, there was a stream of traffic in front and in all lanes all at about 50 mph, he's not going to get there any quicker and might as well leave a bit of a margin, there's nowhere to swerve to avoid a problem. (Especially as its not unknown for sudden stops as cambelts break etc.)

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Thu 7 Jul 2016 07:52
'Binary' driving : a generational thing ? - gordonbennet

Haven't a clue what he expected Galileo, he's another half wit of which there are many.

Unfortunately just as with cars everything has been dumbed down (made easy simple deskilled) in lorry world so any fool can do it, and that means fools who shouldn't be behind a lorry wheel at all are doing it...be assured the plank right up your chuff annoys the proper lorry drivers out there just as much as he does anyone else, not only for the obvious reasons but they tar all of us with the idiot brush.

Not as that helps much when it's you thats stuck in the car in front and nowhere to go, it is as you rightly say intimidating at best and can be frightening at the extremes especially when you are the filling car in a lorry sandwich, all anyone can do when any idiot is behind is leave a much longer than usual braking distance in front of you and force yourself not to look in any mirror whilst you can do nothing about it, out of sight out of mind.

Lorry tailgating will come to an end in due course because active cruise and automatic braking are fitted to new lorries now and will become ever more intrusive and controlling it's not something i nor other drivers who still try to do the job properly welcome because it's further deskilling and dumbing down with the ultimate motive being fully autonomous and driverless lorries, won't that be fun.

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Thu 7 Jul 2016 12:57
'Binary' driving : a generational thing ? - corax

Wouldn't it be nice if this country had quarter of the population it has now, then these discussions probably wouldn't come up quite as often.

Me antisocial. Never!

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Thu 7 Jul 2016 13:35
'Binary' driving : a generational thing ? - The Gingerous One

no, it's an age thing!

I used have complaints when I used to give friends a lift to college that I was either on the brakes or accelerator, 'digital driving, everything on either brake or accelerator'

But that was 25 years ago in my Austin Allegro driving around Cov Ring Road.

Now I am in my Jaguar XF and I want those rear brake pads to last more than 15k miles so am playing a game to see how long I can get them to last, so a lot more less digital-ness!

Stu

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Tue 12 Jul 2016 11:56
'Binary' driving : a generational thing ? - MCM57

I agree with most of the previous posters - a huge amount of people don't seem to be aware that you can lift off in advance to avoid braking for every little twist and turn inthe road; I managed to get over 100k without changing pads/discs in my Skoda Fabia

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Tue 12 Jul 2016 13:38
'Binary' driving : a generational thing ? - jc2

Not just the on/off style of driving but WHY do so many drivers feel the need to check that their brake pedal is still there every 100 yards?Brake lights going on/off every few yards even on a clear,straight road.

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Tue 12 Jul 2016 16:36
'Binary' driving : a generational thing ? - concrete

Hello RT. It is simply thoughtlessness. They seem to want to get there before they set off. This behaviour usually goes with tailgateing, speeding and a general lack of awareness of the prevailing conditions, surroundings and situation. It does seem more pronounced in the younger driver, I agree. I don't suppose for a minute they would be interested in a refresher course. I wager they think they are very good drivers. Unfortunately it sometimes takes a near miss or collision or worse, for them to realise there is a much better way of approaching driving. The exuberance of youth!

Cheers Concrete

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