Driving Tips

[getbak]

Originally Posted by Bonded

Thanks for the tips thus far!

So say I am merging on Deerfoot, I match the speed of the highway, don't brake and speed up or slow down to pick a spot?

Deerfoot is the only road that really scares me. I figure I will just keep right and keep up with traffic for the start and take it easy.

Match the speed of the traffic and signal your intentions. People will generally give you a gap to fit into...take it. If you don't take advantage of the gap, people will take away the gap because they don't want to be stuck behind your wishy-washy ass.

Here's a good rule of thumb: Is more than 50% of your vehicle in front of the front bumper of the vehicle in the lane you're wishing to move into (can you see at least one of their headlights in your side mirror)? If yes, accelerate so that all of your vehicle is in front of theirs, and merge in front of them. If no, take your foot off the accelerator (but don't step on the brakes) and merge behind them. In no situation is it correct to match your speed to theirs and expect them to slam on their own brakes to give you enough space to complete the merge.

Regardless of whether you're merging onto Deerfoot, or driving on Deerfoot and people are merging into your lane, you should never really need to touch your brakes. Either take your foot off the gas to slow down slightly, or put your foot down to speed up slightly.


Unless you are exiting Deerfoot at the next exit, don't drive in the far right lane, stay in the middle lane and keep up with the flow of traffic (only drive in the far left lane if you are passing someone in the middle lane). That will keep the far right lane open for people who are merging onto Deerfoot and people who are soon exiting.



Of course, all of this advice assumes ideal conditions (and that other drivers aren't driving like idiots). Adjust your driving for the prevailing conditions of the road at the time and in reaction to other people's poor driving.

[Cheerio]

Originally Posted by Fluffy Bunnies

I was exaggerating for comedic effect, I dont actually laugh and zoom by, burying people in a giant wave of snow. But since the effect is lost, here goes...


The biggest reason people get in collisions (notice I didnt say accidents. Accidents implies an absence of fault) is poor driving skills. Actual knowledge of how to drive in winter conditions, along with how to handle your vehicle in the event of a something catastrophic are critical.

How many of you know what ABS is? Do you know how it behaves? Do you know what to do if they lock up/go out on you? What is ESP/ETC, etc.. when it comes to skidding control programs? Do you know what they mean? Do you know how it handles and what it does to your vehicle? Do you have 2WD, 4WD or AWD? What is the difference and how do they behave on slippery roads?

The majority of people out there dont have a clue about the essentials to winter driving, yet they hop in their Honda Civic and go cruising like its no big deal.

Want some winter tips? Here you go:

-Brush your #####ing car off. Not just the windshield. Not just the windows. EVERYTHING. When you get a decent amount of speed up, that snow blows off and creates a whitout for the guy behind you. Same goes for your lights. Especially brake lights. I need to know when you hit your brakes. That would be swell.

-TURN YOUR GODDAMNED LIGHTS ON. Do I really need to explain this?

-Maintain your vehicle properly. Have good wiper blades, plenty of washer fluid and make sure they work. Have a new/dependable battery in your car. This is essential to starting and running it. My buddy works for AMA and the vast majority of calls he goes to are battery related. He opens the hood and sees a 10 year old battery that is encrusted with acid, and has been boosted countless times. People wonder why they break down in -30 weather on Deerfoot. Inflate your tires. Change the oil regularly. Make sure belts in the engine arent cracked. All these things are so preventable. If you have enough money to buy a car, put gas in it and insure it, then you have enough to maintain it. If you dont, take the bus.

But most of all, you need to know your vehicle. Like I mentioned before, you need to know how it behaves and how to handle it. Drive defensively. If Deerfoot is down to 60 km/h then so be it. Dont go whipping by because you havent skidded out, YET.


And before any of you ask what my credentials are or my expertise, here they are:

15 Years of driving professionally. Started driving for a job since I left HS, and have driven tons of vehicles. Civics up to 18 wheelers.

Not once getting into an at fault collision on the job. Ive put over 1,000,000 kms in vehicles (not exaggerating). No tickets either.

Driving 12 hours a day at least 4 days a week. Seen it all.

My safety record speaks for itself. This is a topic I have considerable knowledge on.

Dont be afraid to ask anything.

Who has the right of way at a 4-way stop?

[3 Justin 3]

Originally Posted by stampsx2

But it's killer on the transmission.

True, but I get out.

[DownhillGoat]

Originally Posted by 3 Justin 3

True, but I get out.

Says the guy bragging that he doesn't have winter tires.

[Jayems]

If you're going to merge onto a major road, like the QEII, don't do it at 60-80km/hr.

This happens, and I'm not kidding, every. single. day. on southbound Edmonton Trail in Airdrie going to SB QEII. People, usually just going straight south to get to Yankee Valley, just meander on the highway well below the speed limit, with absolutely no consideration for the drivers already on the road going 110km/h+ or me behind them, trying to get up to speed without dying.

[ben voyonsdonc]

A tip: if you are on a major road and approaching a merging lane, don't change lanes into the lane that people are merging into...unless you absolutely have to. It is a courteous move to actually change lanes to the left to give room to those who are merging onto the road.

[para transit fellow]

Originally Posted by Jayems

If you're going to merge onto a major road, like the QEII, don't do it at 60-80km/hr.

This happens, and I'm not kidding, every. single. day. on southbound Edmonton Trail in Airdrie going to SB QEII. People, usually just going straight south to get to Yankee Valley, just meander on the highway well below the speed limit, with absolutely no consideration for the drivers already on the road going 110km/h+ or me behind them, trying to get up to speed without dying.

technicallity: That isn't a merge situation, it is a lane change problem

[Wormius]

Originally Posted by Jayems

If you're going to merge onto a major road, like the QEII, don't do it at 60-80km/hr.

This happens, and I'm not kidding, every. single. day. on southbound Edmonton Trail in Airdrie going to SB QEII. People, usually just going straight south to get to Yankee Valley, just meander on the highway well below the speed limit, with absolutely no consideration for the drivers already on the road going 110km/h+ or me behind them, trying to get up to speed without dying.

Let's not put all of the blame on the drivers trying to merge. If people are speeding in the lane that somebody is trying to get into, it forces the merger to slow down and wait until so they don't get rear-ended by somebody doing 120 in the right hand lane. If everybody just does the speed limit in that lane it makes it easier.

[para transit fellow]

Originally Posted by Wormius

Let's not put all of the blame on the drivers trying to merge. If people are speeding in the lane that somebody is trying to get into, it forces the merger to slow down and wait until so they don't get rear-ended by somebody doing 120 in the right hand lane. If everybody just does the speed limit in that lane it makes it easier.

a sucessfull merge depends on the a) the driver entering and b) the driver in the right lane. Too often I have been screwed over by the driver not letting me in to the traffic.

[JohnnyHowDoO'duya]

People need to get the frak out of the way. I understand speed limits, but people who drive like they are scared of the road, need to move over!

Nothing more frustrating thn being behind some one driving timidly.

[Super Nintendo Chalmers]

Originally Posted by para transit fellow

a sucessfull merge depends on the a) the driver entering and b) the driver in the right lane. Too often I have been screwed over by the driver not letting me in to the traffic.

I know someone who was trying to merge but had a car in the lane he was trying to merge into repeatedly cut him off. But since he is a police constable in an unmarked car, he got to tell the driver what he thought about that.

[puckluck2]

This thread was made for 4x4. Surprised he hasn't chimed in.

[4X4]

Originally Posted by Iginla

This thread was made for 4x4. Surprised he hasn't chimed in.

Sorry, I got banned for a week for telling a bunch of dicks that they were dicks.

[jayswin]

Originally Posted by 4X4

Sorry, I got banned for a week for telling a bunch of dicks that they were dicks.

Yeah, that was one of the weakest sin-binnings I've ever seen on CP. You must have pissed off a mod in some other thread or something.

[4X4]

Originally Posted by flameswin

Yeah, that was one of the weakest sin-binnings I've ever seen on CP. You must have pissed off a mod in some other thread or something.

No, I did it right after we were warned to cut it out. Which I guess I understand. Dammit.

Anyway, I probably shouldn't have said that. Dont fricken ban me again, or I'll have to become like puckluck and flip.

[jayswin]

Just come back as fourbyfour.

[normtwofinger]

Or 4X4 Low.

[Wormius]

4x2x2?

[Fluffy Bunnies]

Originally Posted by Cheerio

Who has the right of way at a 4-way stop?

The person that stops first. Unless you get there at the same time in which its the vehicle on the right.

Dont feel bad for not knowing. Most Calgary drivers still havent figured this out.

[Cheerio]

Originally Posted by Fluffy Bunnies

The person that stops first. Unless you get there at the same time in which its the vehicle on the right.

Dont feel bad for not knowing. Most Calgary drivers still havent figured this out.

Good to see you have learned that since your last time here