Essentials

[kilogulf59]

Hello Anthony,

I was wondering if you had a personal list of what you consider essential defensive driving skills for the average person.

What’s more, are there any modifications that you recommend for that basic “family” vehicle i.e. Crown Victoria size sedan or SUVs, that improve handling etc.?

[A Ricci]

Ken I just posted a lenthy reply and it vanished...Sorry I will try to duplicate it soon but for now check out some of my articles on my web site www.1adsi.com.

I will be posting all my American cop columns as well real soon. Take care for know and I hope Im wrong and the original post pops up somewhere. See ya for now. You can contact me at info@1adsi.com as well.

[kilogulf59]

Ken I just posted a lenthy reply and it vanished...Sorry I will try to duplicate it soon but for now check out some of my articles on my web site www.1adsi.com (http://www.1adsi.com).

I will be posting all my American cop columns as well real soon. Take care for know and I hope Im wrong and the original post pops up somewhere. See ya for now. You can contact me at info@1adsi.com as well.

Will do Anthony and thanks.

Hope you find the article...D'ohhhh, I hate loosing stuff.

[A Ricci]

kilogulf59 -- I did not forget ya just needed to get another spare second...

As far as vehicle changes to the personal vehicle aways, always start with the tires. 1st check the pressure look at the side of the tire and if it says 44PSI go directly to the gas station and put 44 PSI in all four tires. Let me know what that feels like? It should start to handle a lot better. 2nd you can start to put some money in the vehicle start with higher performance tires. I once tried a set of Mich. Ultra High Performance tires and they made one of my crown vics handle like it was a Corvette -- well maybe not that good but a noticable difference. You can also hit a speed shop and start buying better performance parts. Sway bars, brakes and suspension changes but start with the tires first. Spend to much money and you should just go buy a poor mans sports car. You can pick up 97 -- 98 mustang that still has some life in it for short $$. I'm not making fun of Mustangs you Ford lovers I had a 97 4.7 Liter and miss the **** out of that car. But truthfully it is the least expensive horse power out there.



Second question about a good defensive driver: I could go on all night with this topic.

first "being aware" there is a 2 -3 hour lecture right there...
understanding how the eyes and mind work.
Perception and recognition process
reaction process
execution process
Not just knowing where to look and keeping your eyes scanning and looking ahead but understanding WHAT TO LOOK FOR. (that skill is never taught)
knowledge of time and space -- if you have time to do all the above you have space to make a manuever happen in...

second -- Physics
Sir Issac stuff...
Laws of motion and why the car does what it does...
UNDERSTANDING OF THE VEHICLES LIMITS AND WHAT IT PHYSICALLY CAN NOT DO.

Third --

TIRES -- how do those things work and realizing that they connect you to the road

4th -- Knowing your limits the vehicles limits and understanding the environment you are driving through

5th -- Brakes
ABS - NON ABS techniques and

6th -- remembering religous class and all those prayers ( they can help when the world starts to look up side down (been there)

ok well those are some of the things that are on the top of my head if I actually put my thoughts together I would have to make this topic a whole article -- HEY, that may be a good idea.

Would you read an article titled?? "So you think your a good driver, HUH"!!

What do you think the title should be? Thank you for the idea I will put some stuff together and see where the ideas lead!!


Let me know if this was what you where talking about or did I take your question in too many directions???
Anthony

[kilogulf59]

ok well those are some of the things that are on the top of my head if I actually put my thoughts together I would have to make this topic a whole article -- HEY, that may be a good idea.

Would you read an article titled?? "So you think your a good driver, HUH"!!

What do you think the title should be? Thank you for the idea I will put some stuff together and see where the ideas lead!!


Let me know if this was what you where talking about or did I take your question in too many directions???
Anthony

Anthony,

Thanks and yes, I'd read it so......write it and keep up the great work.

Oh, don't worry about 'too many directions", if you do I can sort it out any-who.

[SingleStack45]

Would you read an article titled?? "So you think your a good driver, HUH"!!



Why not....according to a National Safety Council poll...90% of us do... ;)

[SixBravo]

Sorry, I hardly post here but I really should.

It's TOO rare to see a forum topic like this. For all the safety we are concerned about, we're far more likely to die in a car accident than a shoot-out. People spend lots of money to become great shots but there isn't much discussion about avoiding car accidents.

I've been into guns since I was 7 and I've been racing cars since I was 17. I started in Rallycross and went from there. I've since been a regional chief steward (I handled worker safety) for National Automotive Sport Association and raced on a lot of tracks in the southwest. I can't tell you how many times that I've been saved by what I learned in the dirt or on the track. A Ricci gave some absolutely great advice above. But the single best thing you can do in my opinion? Go do an autocross. Go to www.scca.com and sign-up. Most of the people bring their daily driver and run the heck out of it.

People always say that if you want to get to know how you can react in bad situations, put yourself under stress. An autocross will do that to a novice driver. And it will show you the limits of your car. When you aren't dodging cones, spend the day watching other people then go talk to them about what they've done to their cars. Its a cheap way to kill a Saturday and it very well could save your life someday.

Upgrades? All new racers I meet get this order:
1) Tires.
2) Brakes.
3) Suspension. Springs first, and get linear springs. Progressive springrates yield shifting qualities and are harder to learn and/or predict. Second, shocks. Third, Torsion (sway/anti-roll) bars. Fourth, trailing arms, etc.
4) Safety equipment. Cage, extinguishers, blah. - Not really necessary on a street car.
5) Last. And ALWAYS last.. horsepower, engine, exhaust.. go-fast mods.

These are listed in matter of importance. Of all things, the tires are the only connection you have with the ground. You skimp on tires, you gamble with you and your family's life. If you've owned a set of Z-rated tires, you know what I'm talking about. The single best all-season tire (for cars) I can recommend are Fuzions. Brakes? You can make your car all sorts of fast but after you can't stop, then what does anything else matter? Someone's got a modded-out street machine thats STILL going to hit the wall because they elected to spend $1200 on a turbo kit than a brake kit. REMEMBER: Your braking system was designed to stop the stock automobile and nothing more. As for your suspension systems? Whatever. Just remember that when you alter your suspension, the vehicle will handle weather differently.

Last.. horsepower? Forget it. I've seen 83bhp Honda Civics hang with Corvettes on the track. Its about the fight in the dog and how well your car can transfer energy. Most little guys with their Honda Civics and big exhausts think horsepower is everything. I'll save you the long-winded lecture on it.. Forget it. A better suspension will apply the car's current amount of power to the ground in a more effective manner. You can put a 300hp engine in your neighbors 74 Caddy with blown shocks. It still won't go anywhere in a controlled manner.

And that's what it all comes back to: Control. Mastery of the tools we use. Go put yourselves under stress on a big skidpad and test you reactions. Figure out how your car could navigate in the worst conditions. Does anyone here seriously trust a SHTF firearm that you've never fired to the point that the slide wasn't too hot to touch? Learn your cars and trucks the same way you learn your guns. Apply the same care and they will perform just like you want - when you want.

[David Williams]

And that's what it all comes back to: Control. Mastery of the tools we use. Go put yourselves under stress on a big skidpad and test you reactions. Figure out how your car could navigate in the worst conditions. Does anyone here seriously trust a SHTF firearm that you've never fired to the point that the slide wasn't too hot to touch? Learn your cars and trucks the same way you learn your guns. Apply the same care and they will perform just like you want - when you want.

Well said.

[JMusic]

I concure.

I have not owned a car in the last 30 years that I didn't take to a parking lot and slide it around some. You would be surprised how well you can direct them in a spinout. I think lifting during an incident is the biggest mistake you can make. There are several one day course's that teach you what to do in a spin, well worth the money. You have in your hands one of the deadlist devises ever made. I've owned alot of sports cars over the years and Al's right its the suspension and tires. Accident aviodense is the key.

Jim

[G22-40]

I concure.

I have not owned a car in the last 30 years that I didn't take to a parking lot and slide it around some. You would be surprised how well you can direct them in a spinout. Accident avoidance is the key.

Jim
Now that winter is approaching (or here, depending on your location), conditions for parking lot "test driving" will be ideal. One of the best exercises you-- and any other drivers in your family-- can do is to find a big, empty lot right after it snows. The slippery surface is ideal for sliding a car around without tearing up the tires. One reason that so many people have problems controlling a skid is that it's a completely foreign feeling when a car starts to slide, and they're so startled they either fail to react or over-react. Aside from learning control techniques, sliding around on a slick surface lets you become comfortable with the feeling so you can react properly-- and avoid an accident.