I'm getting better at driving

"zeontestpilot" (zeontestpilot) 03/20/2015 at 08:43 • Filed to: Michigan

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Or at least reaction time. Yesterday I was headed home on the same dirt road as always. I came up to the part in the pic (pic is old, there isn't any more snow), the S turn. I admit I was going a bit too fast, enough for me to gently apply the brake, only to feel the rear end start to succumb to momentum. I immediately responded by applying the gas instead, to 'power' the car through the turn.

I know, I know, this isn't crazy or epic but it's proof that I'm not being a stagnant driver. I still have much to learn about driving, but I am proud that I'm adapting myself to react better.

I can memorize a road all I want, learn every turn and angle necessary to master it, condition myself to do it right everytime. But the reaction time for a unknown variable is what I'm truly interested in mastering. Being able to see a deer, and passively response to counter it is what I strive for. Not freak out, apply the brakes, turn the wheel sharply, and hit a tree.

LuczOr > zeontestpilot 03/20/2015 at 12:32

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You're on the right track. That's basically my theory of driving. I push my car pretty regularly to get used to the dynamics and the reaction time when going at a higher speed. It came in handy one evening a few months ago when I crested a hill on a 45mph back road and was greeted by two pairs of headlights. One set of headlights was in the oncoming lane and the other was in my lane coming straight for me. They couldn't have been much more than 200-300 ft in front of me and that distance disappears pretty fast when you're both doing 45mph. I was able to react fast enough to dodge him by putting all 4 tires off the right side and getting back on the road in one fluid motion. You can see below that there isn't much shoulder. The car was nearly in the drainage ditch. Luckily I was driving my wife's Rav4 at the time so it didn't get too upset by the brief offroad excursion.

My wife was in the passenger seat and all she could do was close her eyes and wait to die. She thought we were done for. I'm not sure what was more surprising to her: seeing an oncoming car in our lane, or realizing that I had just avoided possible death where she would have been helpless.

This was easily my most harrowing driving experience as well as my greatest driving success. Also one of my most confidence inspiring moments. It's a good thing that I push the Rav4 on the curvy roads on a regular basis because I have that car's handling dialed in. It was more of a reaction than action. Man and machine reacting as one singular survival instinct.

zeontestpilot > LuczOr 03/20/2015 at 12:49

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I totally understand what you're talking about. I may drive a pt cruiser, but I try to push my limits regularly. I even know the reason I slid, they recently re-graded the road, and they left a thin layer of dust and rocks. I'm not sure why, they always do that. A car can't get a good grip when that layer is on the road.

I've try to take those turn without applying brakes, to turn the car at just the right angle so I can make both turns easily. I probably pressed the brakes because I was going to quick. Instinct if you will.

I'm glad you guys made it though!