Prophylactic Braking
Speed Kills
- Proper Slowing
- Do Not Touch that Brake Pedal !!!
- Proper Braking
- Engaging the brake pads and brake drum/disk enough to significantly slow or even to stop the vehicle.
- Prophylactic Braking
- Touching the brake pedal enough to heat the brake pads and brake drum/disk but not enough to truly slow the vehicle.
A week ago I took a trip along I-5 to Salem. About halfway there I saw flaming wreckage off the Southbound lanes. Sad. On the return trip the next day I saw an overturned pickup with a mangled 18-wheeler nearby in the Northbound lanes. I did not stop in either instance as there were already plenty of looky-loos interfering with the first responders.
During the intervening time I took three trips to US-101 and back to I-5 via different routes. Count them, six routes through the coastal range, up steep grades and down curvy steep grades. For each route I can count on the fingers of one hand the number of times I used the brakes to slow my vehicle. While following other vehicles I lost count of the number of times I observed prophylactic braking. At no time did I exceed the speed limit, but I always "caught up" with the worst case offenders as we threaded through the curvy bits. You see I actually know how to drive through curves. Most (particularly the prophylactic braking zealots) haven't a clue, even though they have "better" vehicles than I. Oh, and before you chastise me for going too fast through mountain road curves be aware that a speed advisory is not the same as a speed limit. Oh, and drifting does not necessarily require the screeching of the tires.
I hope none who read this habitually drive over the speed limit. If you do, please stop doing that: I would rather not think of scraping your bloody carcass off the road. And, I need all the readers I can get. Also, unless you have the requisite skill set, please keep moving past accidents, and drive smart. Finally, please, learn to control your vehicle before something bad happens to you.
Comments
90% of drivers think they are better than average
Bathurst, J., Walton, D. (1998) “An Exploration of the Perceptions of the Average Driver’s Speed Compared to Perceived Driver Safety and Driving Skill.” Accident Analysis and Prevention, 30, 821-30
I mean, mathematically they could be, but only if the distribution is horribly skewed by the other 10% being dangerous maniacs. Which doesn't pass the smell test because we test drivers for minimal competence, so the distribution "wall" is at the low end, not the high end...
We can’t save the world by playing by the rules, because the rules have to be changed.
- Greta Thunberg
In every driving situation . . .
I hope I am not the best driver in the group. I make mistakes and it would be really nice if others are savvy enough to ameliorate the consequences. I think the single most common error is the feeling of invulnerability that is concomitant with being in what appears to be a safe container. After-all people don't get killed in the movies during those spectacular crashes.
I strive to be realistic, even when I learn that the Academy driving instructor was impressed with my daughters driving skills.
Add winter driving in the mix, and braking can cause full loss
of control. I actually have to brake more in summer at stop signs because the weeds are 2+' high on the verges, can't see into a T-intersection. Not generally a winter problem unless snowbanks are over 4' high. First snow is when I see SUVs belly-up. And I may have to lookie-lou to make sure inhabitants of box are not hanging by seatbelts. But not in traffic.
Hey! my dear friends or soon-to-be's, JtC could use the donations to keep this site functioning for those of us who can still see the life preserver or flotsam in the water.
I biked down a volcano while on vacation in Hawaii,
and we could smell people's brake pads burning as they went past. There were even road signs telling people to put it in a lower gear and let the engine hold the car back. Not many paid attention. The bike leader said they see accidents with a car off the road about once a week.
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Pikes Peak used to have a lot of accidents
You know how they almost eliminated accidents on Pikes Peak? They removed the guardrails. Suddenly people stopped driving like reckless a-holes.
“He may not have gotten the words out but the thoughts were great.”
BTW, I first read your title as, "Prophylactic Breaking,"
and thought maybe you were going to be a Daddy! Heh.
Please check out Pet Vet Help, consider joining us to help pets, and follow me @ElenaCarlena on Twitter! Thank you.
Well That was a long time ago . . .
and a typo quickly corrected . . .
... good advice all around, PR --
When Cicero had finished speaking, the people said “How well he spoke”.
When Demosthenes had finished speaking, the people said “Let us march”.
Maybe I should open a driving school?
Good on the Wallet
I have a 29 yr. old Chevy S-10 pickup I parked around back 3 years ago due to the body being about to fall off which I now only use for driving around the "back 40". The 4-cylinder, manual 5-speed was like new and had 29,000 miles on the odometer when I bought it. It now has 366,000+ and during the time I racked up those miles I changed the brake pads 2 times on the front and once on the rear. Anticipation!
Nature is my religion; the earth is my temple.