How would an experienced driver have handled this?
in [Drive]
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From: Steve Firth on 18 Jul 2010 19:30 Mike Ross <mike(a)corestore.org> wrote: > It also referred to a TRAILER: "...and didn't > expect my spot behind the horse trailer to be closed up...". Saying the post > referred to a carriage doesn't change the fact that it clearly referred to a > TRAILER. <yawn> It first mentioned a CARRIAGE. Does writing it in capitals help you to understand that?
From: steve robinson on 18 Jul 2010 19:38 Dave Head wrote: > On Sun, 18 Jul 2010 18:50:01 +0000 (UTC), "steve robinson" > <steve(a)colevalleyinteriors.co.uk> wrote: > > > Dave Head wrote: > >> Yes, a following car blocking the area behind the horsetrailer is > >> following too close. At 20 mph, that's 58 ft following distance > for >> the recommended 2 seconds following distance, and should be > >> available to pull into. > > > > Was this the very same gap the op pulled out of , whilst its > > stupid to drive so close its not an offence > > It is in Virginia - its called tailgating. It can be charged as > reckless driving and can get you up to a year in jail. But that's > Virginia, one of the more repressive states in the union. Most > other places, its a fine. This is UK legal > > >> Again, do you have a muffler problem? The critter isn't going to > >> know if you have the throttle wide open otherwise, and passing > is a >> full throttle proposition on a 2 lane road. > >> > > No i dont , however high revving engines emit far more noise , > > You have a muffler problem. My WRX under full throttle is still > quiet. I can't hear it well enough to know when to shift. I just > can't hear it. Have to use the tach. Inside the car yes outside no > > > will > > often frighten horses and cause them to bolt or behave irratically > > not a wise thing on a two lane road . > > Yeah, I guess, if you're making a bunch of noise. > > > The highway code even refers specifically how to pass horses > > Haven't seen that one for a while.
From: smurf on 18 Jul 2010 20:23 Jo wrote: > Hello all, > > I'm quite shaken as I had a brush with the grim reaper today :( > > Coming off a roundabout, I was driving along an A-road immediately > behind a horse carriage doing 20 mph in a 60 mph road. I was about 150 > yards past the roundabout and a queue of cars had built up behind me. > > I felt pressured into overtaking the horse carriage. It was too slow > for 3rd gear and I was in 2nd gear. Be your own person, dont over take if you dont feel it is safe to do so, just accept you are going to be a few minutes later then you expect to be. I regularly travel down an A road thats notorious for having very few *safe* places to overtake, combine that with it being single lane and a regular route for slow moving lories and agricultural tractors makes it a serious hazard for those without patience. Just chill out, relax and wait until it is safe.
From: Jo on 19 Jul 2010 03:49 Hello all, Apologies for being unclear as to the nature of the vehicle I was trying to overtake - it was a truck with a metal horse-box attached. I do not know if there were horses within the box as the slats on the wall were quite narrow. I have read all your responses and will reply to some later today (I am busy until after lunch, then I have the rest of the day off). In general some comments: * I'm not sure how useful additional driving lessons will be. When I took my driving lessons we rarely did overtaking into a lane with oncoming traffic - maybe 2-3 times cumulatively in all my lessons. * You are right I shouldn't feel pressured by other drivers. In a wider context I shouldn't feel pressured by other people into doing things I don't want to do, but that's me and I'm trying to change. Middle child syndrome :( * I will take advice that I should hang back to overtake rather than start just behind the vehicle. My instructor might have mentioned that but I think I forgot! I just tried to instinctively start as close behind the vehicle I'm trying to overtake as possible to keep the overtaking distance to a minimum. It does affect one's view of the road ahead and means you're doing a lot of accelerating in the lane of oncoming traffic. * What is the legal position on exceeding the speed limit while overtaking? I remember my instructor saying it was still not allowed, but how does the law view it practically? * My fumbling with the 2-3rd gear change was because I was rushing it. The gear stick entering the 3rd gear position felt stiffer than usual, and on my car it is usually the 1st gear that feels stiff. So for a moment I panicked thinking I had engaged 1st gear instead of 3rd gear (disastrous when trying to overtake!), so I had to disengage the stick back to middle-neutral, depress the clutch, look at the gear stick to make sure I got it right and then re-engage the clutch. All taking precious seconds. * My car has a 1.2 litre engine so I understand it has very little power. I drove for a bit some years ago on an Aussie L licence before I came to England. I drove my parent's car which had much better acceleration and an auto gearbox! * I'm feeling better today. Thanks for your comments, especially the constructive and helpful ones. I was visibly shaking yesterday after the incident. * All the other girls in our shared house are students of about my age with similar levels of driving experience, if they do drive at all. So while they could offer comfort they can't offer much in the way of advice. At some point on a quiet road I will have to test the maximum speeds of my different gears with a floored accelerator. Thanks again. Jo
From: Terry on 19 Jul 2010 04:42
IanAl wrote: > On Sun, 18 Jul 2010 06:39:56 -0700 (PDT), Jo > <joanna.hamilton90(a)gmail.com> wrote: > >> Hello all, >> >> I'm quite shaken as I had a brush with the grim reaper today :( >> >> Coming off a roundabout, I was driving along an A-road immediately >> behind a horse carriage doing 20 mph in a 60 mph road. I was about 150 >> yards past the roundabout and a queue of cars had built up behind me. >> >> I felt pressured into overtaking the horse carriage. It was too slow >> for 3rd gear and I was in 2nd gear. The horse carriage seemed to speed >> up as I was overtaking them (but can't be sure). I sped up to about >> 30mph and was now astride the rear wheels of the vehicle. I fumbled >> the 2-3rd gear change (seemed stuck and cost me a few seconds to try >> again) and oncoming traffic lead by a truck was now too close. There >> was enough space if I didn't fumble the 2-3rd gear change and didn't >> expect my spot behind the horse trailer to be closed up so quickly >> >> So having no choice I floored the accelerator to 60mph on 3rd gear. > > Should have used 2nd. Or reverse |