Female drivers and snow.
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From: Keith on 6 Jan 2010 15:41 On 6 Jan 2010 at 17:46, Ret. wrote: > Yes - you're probably right. I did say right at the start of the snow > that it was not driver's fault because a) many of them had never > driven in such conditions before, and; b) no-one has ever taught them > to drive in such conditions. > > I was loudly decried and other posters argued that it was just 'common > sense'. I don't agree. There are techniques that are necessary for > driving on slippery surfaces that need to be taught. Most drivers don't know how to drive in ice and snow, and they aren't able to think it out for themselves. Some of them are too dumb to realize this, others are just too lazy or too incompetent to find out. That's the fact of the matter, and it's not unrelated to the fact that half of all drivers are below average intelligence. Over a third of them couldn't manage 5 GCSE passes. Given this, why is it that when the AA and RAC spokesmen have appeared on the TV and radio over the past few days, they've complained about a lack of gritting, advised people not to drive if they don't need to, advised them to keep a blanket and shovel in the car, but NOT ONCE have I heard them give any practical tips: use high gear, low revs; use engine braking to slow; slip the clutch for extra traction. This stuff is not just for Michael Schumachers. It's not just for rocket scientists. It's simple stuff that anyone can do - IF they know about it.
From: Chris Bartram on 6 Jan 2010 16:33 Ret. wrote: > Yes - you're probably right. I did say right at the start of the snow > that it was not driver's fault because a) many of them had never driven > in such conditions before, and; b) no-one has ever taught them to drive > in such conditions. > > I was loudly decried and other posters argued that it was just 'common > sense'. I don't agree. There are techniques that are necessary for > driving on slippery surfaces that need to be taught. > > Kev I was one of the decriers actually. Most of the people that don't have a clue are like that because they are not interested, or don't listen. I had no 'training', just listened to what my old man said, and used a bit of reasoning. It's all about physics. I did learn a few extra bits on a 4wd activity day, but I'd been driving 20 years by then.
From: DavidR on 6 Jan 2010 16:35 "Keith" <keith(a)mailinator.com> wrote > > but NOT ONCE have > I heard them give any practical tips: use high gear, low revs; But what is the reasoning? Please don't regurgitate the old wives' "there is more torque". > use engine braking to slow; slip the clutch for extra traction. Eh? There *is* ever only so much traction.
From: Chris Bartram on 6 Jan 2010 16:47 DavidR wrote: > "Keith" <keith(a)mailinator.com> wrote >> but NOT ONCE have >> I heard them give any practical tips: use high gear, low revs; > > But what is the reasoning? Please don't regurgitate the old wives' "there is > more torque". > >> use engine braking to slow; slip the clutch for extra traction. > > Eh? There *is* ever only so much traction. > > > I've never got that one either. I can only presume it's aimed at people that can't uset the clutch or throttle properly. It tends to result in one of two things: either a burnt out clutch by slipping at against a screaming engine, or wheels spinning faster as the gearing is higher. As you say, there is a given amount of traction. If you apply more power than there is grip for, the wheels spin. If you don't, they don't. If you're lucky, there's enough grip to move the car.
From: Steve Firth on 6 Jan 2010 16:47
DavidR <curedham(a)4bidden.org.uk> wrote: > "Keith" <keith(a)mailinator.com> wrote > > > > but NOT ONCE have I heard them give any practical tips: use high gear, > > low revs; > > But what is the reasoning? Please don't regurgitate the old wives' "there is > more torque". Umm, actually it's the opposite. There's less torque in higher gear and less torque at low revs. This is a matter of fact, not a matter of old wives' tales. |