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In the "Sliplane mimsers" thread people have said that slowing down is sometimes a better option than "flooring it". When I did my various HGV training courses in the dim distant past I was specificly taught accelerator control. ie, Dont accelerate when you can see that you will soon have to slow or stop (smooth progression). I know it is simple and logical but how often do you see people blast away from a hold up only to brake heavily at the obvious one just up the road? I was taught that accelerator control is as important as clutch control, is it taught today in either car or HGV training?
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I was taught that on a IAM course in the 80s as well. Although I remember Jackie Stewart writing n Motor or Autocar in the 70s saying use the brakes to chop speed - brake pads are cheaper to replace than transmissions.
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Dont accelerate when you can see that you will soon have to slow or stop
This is a major cause of "caterpillaring" in queues. In extremes, e.g. on motorways, it can leat to traffic belting along at 90, slowing to stopped, and repeating the process. In lower-speed queues, it's really irritating - if people tootled along at the appropriate speed, leaving enough space, things would progress much more smoothly.
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FT, you're absolutely right, and I think the enforcement of the appropriate speed is the reason that the M42 variable speed control experiment has been such a success. Yes, it's a bit dull pootling along at 50 for 12 miles or so, but it beats sitting in jams for an hour.
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That sort of accelerator control certainly seems to be encouraged in the advanced driving/Roadcraft world. I don't know about basic learner driver training.
Sometimes accelerating (as distinct from "flooring it") can be a way to avoid a hazardous situation developing. In that case I think handling the hazard would and should take priority over smooth progression, even if you know that accelerating means you will soon have to brake again.
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Flooring it can have some benefits as I found out !
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I agree that acceleration can be as usefull as deceleration in avoiding hazards, but how do people learn the skill? Hopefully not the hard way. Does the average driver know (or care) about smooth progression? Obviously all BRs are way above average drivers. :-)
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I agree that acceleration can be as usefull as deceleration in avoiding hazards but how do people learn the skill?
Well, having started this thread with reference to the sliplane mimsers, we're now back to the discussion the other day about retests and such like.
Most people probably don't learn the skill at all because our system is set up so that passing the basic driving test is seen as the end of any formal learning about driving.
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I think many people look ahead as much in driving as they do in 'real' life - i.e. getting into unsustainable levels of debt & the like, not thinking they might lose their job when they get a mega mortgage etc. etc.
So, to expect the poor dears to pay any attention to efficient driving habits & generally imrpoving their roadcraft, is I fear, a forlorn hope.
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Ah yes...
Acceleration Sense:
The ability to vary the speed of the vehicle when braking is not demanded.
...a dying art indeed.
dvd
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I thought vans had two position accelerators, on or off. Or is that only white ones?
Edited by Old Navy on 19/12/2008 at 14:54
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The smooth and appropriate use of controls is a skill that not all can master, I knew someone who failed several HGV tests because he could not steer smoothly and eventually gave up. What is easy for some is not easy for all.he is probably driving his car around roundabouts as if they are square.
Edited by Old Navy on 19/12/2008 at 15:19
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