From: Alex Heney on
On Sun, 18 Jul 2010 23:10:05 +0100, %steve%@malloc.co.uk (Steve Firth)
wrote:

>Alex Heney <me8(a)privacy.net> wrote:
>
>>
>> But that is not what most cars are, and it is most certainly NOT true
>> of any modern front wheel drive car.
>
>No, they would slither all over the road, run wide and then kill you.
>Unless you lifeted off then they would go backwards off the road and
>kill you, probably.
>

Fine.

In that case, I must have had several dozen crashes in the last year,
at an absolute minimum, given that I almost always "floor it" when I
overtake (including dropping gears as necessary to get the best
acceleration), unless the weather /road conditions dictate otherwise.

Since I haven't, that *proves* beyond any doubt whatsoever that you
are talking absolute bollocks.

>
>You really know nothing about driving a car Heney.

I know 100% more about it than you appear to.

I am not a perfect driver, by any means. I've had accidents that were
my fault, usually do to lapses in concentration (but never at speeds
over about 20mph, and never due to "flooring it"). And I've currently
got 6 points from two separate fixed penalty speeding offences.

But I do know how most modern cars behave when you accelerate as hard
as you can.

And it isn't *remotely* how you suggest, except in extreme conditions.
--
Alex Heney, Global Villager
Real men write self-modifying code.
To reply by email, my address is alexATheneyDOTplusDOTcom
From: Alex Heney on
On Mon, 19 Jul 2010 00:49:05 -0700 (PDT), Jo
<joanna.hamilton90(a)gmail.com> wrote:

>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.
>

Additional lessons post-test are usually very different to the lessons
designed to get you to pass the test.

They serve a different purpose, and if they aren't different, then
they are a waste of time.


<snip>
>* 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?
>

3 of the 6 points I currently have for speeding were for precisely
that :(

On the A5 somewhere between Llangollen and Oswestry, 2 years ago. I'd
been following somebody who was doing between 45 and 50 (60 limit) for
some time with no overtaking opportunities. When we finally hit a
decent straight with nothing coming, I floored it to get past, and
only saw the camera van in a parallel side road as I pulled in - done
for 72 in a 60 limit, even though there cannot have been more than 200
yards in the entire journey when I was significantly above 60.


In general, they won't do you if you are within 10% + 2 of the limit,
but the law allows them to do so, and it isn't unknown.


--
Alex Heney, Global Villager
There's no future in time travel
To reply by email, my address is alexATheneyDOTplusDOTcom
From: Jo on


Paul wrote:
> On 19 July, 08:49, Jo <joanna.hamilto...(a)gmail.com> wrote:
> > 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.
>
> And there is another problem, you shouldn't even have noticed the
> slats, you should have been concentrating on the road and oncoming
> traffic, not the contents of the trailer (or maybe trying to see the
> horses inside).
>
> The use of the word truck also suggests this was a pretty long outfit,
> 25 foot or more, you need even more time and space for overtaking
> then.

From my recollection the truck with its horse carrier box was about as
long as two vans but under the length of a container lorry.

> Why was the "truck" going so slow, or is there more to this than you
> have said (was it just moving off from a standstill for example) ?, no
> way would I expect any truck and trailer combination to be doing 20MPH
> unless it had a problem, was just setting off, or was in fact in a
> 20MPH limit zone.

It was certainly going as slow as that and I distinctly remember it
was a 2nd gear speed.

> Anyway, you've gained valuable experience, and also now know how to
> pass a horse and carriage AND a horse trailer.

I'll try not to be pressured by other drivers into doing something
silly again.

Thanks.

Jo
From: Jo on


Alan wrote:
> "Jo" <joanna.hamilton90(a)gmail.com> wrote in message
> news:cc357b2e-5fa8-446f-b65b-8c46eb71b8da(a)w12g2000yqj.googlegroups.com...
> > 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.
> > The oncoming traffic went to the left of their lane to make way for me
> > and three vehicles were astride at one point.
> >
> > If you were in that situation what would you have done? I couldn't
> > have gone back and it seems the only way was to get past and in front
> > of the horse trailer.
> >
> > Thanks for any advice. Please don't flame me I'm a new driver and my
> > confidence has been badly shaken today already :(
> >
> > Jo
>
> The problem lies here "I felt pressured into overtaking ". As a much more
> experienced driver I couldn't care how long I hold up traffic behind me. If
> I'm not happy to go, I'm not going to go.
>
> Alan

Being too eager to not rock the boat or be an inconvenience to people
is unfortunately part of my disposition. I'm trying to change that and
grow a thicker skin though.

Jo
From: Jo on


Farmer Giles wrote:
> "Jo" <joanna.hamilton90(a)gmail.com> wrote in message
> news:cc357b2e-5fa8-446f-b65b-8c46eb71b8da(a)w12g2000yqj.googlegroups.com...
> > 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.
> > The oncoming traffic went to the left of their lane to make way for me
> > and three vehicles were astride at one point.
> >
> > If you were in that situation what would you have done? I couldn't
> > have gone back and it seems the only way was to get past and in front
> > of the horse trailer.
> >
> > Thanks for any advice. Please don't flame me I'm a new driver and my
> > confidence has been badly shaken today already :(
> >
> > Jo
>
> Hello Jo
>
> I've been driving for 47 years, and I think in that time I mght have made
> the occasional mistake! We have all done similar things, to what you
> describe, on occasions. In the circumstances that you found yourself you did
> ok - although, perhaps, it might have been better if you had exercised a bit
> more patience and not tried to overtake when you did. New drivers almost
> invariably feel pressured by other drivers. The important thing to (always)
> remember is that safety is paramount, so ignore other drivers - who are
> often aggressive and self-righteous (and wrong!). When I was teaching my
> daughter to drive, I remember that she was always overly concerned about
> what other drivers were thinking - was she driving too slowly, taking too
> much time at road junctions, etc, etc - I always told her to ignore other
> drivers, and simply do what she thought was best - and what was safe. I give
> the same advice to you.

Thanks Farmer Giles. Your post made me feel much better :)

Jo