Babs asked a good question and got lots of good answers, I'd like to share something that I think is also important in terms of braking.
Babs' post:
Last weekend I was scooting down the highway at the posted limit (ahem)
in the far left lane, the truck in front of me jumped out of the lane to reveal a stalled U-haul truck smack in the center of my lane.
*gulp* I couldn't dive out of the lane and the "breakdown lane" was full of other cars and people so on with the binders..
Once I had the brakes set (80% front 20 rear or so) The next thing I did was look in the rear view mirrors!!
Why?
I practice "panic" braking pretty regularly. Feeling out the rear as it slides, staying on control with the front braking very hard. etc..
How many drivers do this?
You have three pretty large discs and one 5th the weight of even a small
car. Your safe 80- 0 time/distance is a fraction of the average car.
Even if you have a Ferrari on your tail I wouldn't bet he has as good a relationship with his braking limits as you..
So, once you are sure you are not going to crash into the object in front,
make sure you aren't going to be crushed from behind. When in traffic or just cuising take some time to think "where can I escape to right now if I had to?"
I remember being in my car, on the highway, when there was a incident that stopped traffic. I stopped pretty fast (four wheel disks on a light sports car) and when I looked in my rear view there was a fella, smoke pouring from his tires and swerving right to left as he tried to stop, I had no escape route as I was by this time stopped, he lost control completely, spun into the next lane and was creamed..
He got close enough for me to see the terror in his face..
I'm thankfull I was in a car that day and I have never forgotten that lesson..
Babs' post:
Last weekend I was scooting down the highway at the posted limit (ahem)
in the far left lane, the truck in front of me jumped out of the lane to reveal a stalled U-haul truck smack in the center of my lane.
*gulp* I couldn't dive out of the lane and the "breakdown lane" was full of other cars and people so on with the binders..
Once I had the brakes set (80% front 20 rear or so) The next thing I did was look in the rear view mirrors!!
Why?
I practice "panic" braking pretty regularly. Feeling out the rear as it slides, staying on control with the front braking very hard. etc..
How many drivers do this?
You have three pretty large discs and one 5th the weight of even a small
car. Your safe 80- 0 time/distance is a fraction of the average car.
Even if you have a Ferrari on your tail I wouldn't bet he has as good a relationship with his braking limits as you..
So, once you are sure you are not going to crash into the object in front,
make sure you aren't going to be crushed from behind. When in traffic or just cuising take some time to think "where can I escape to right now if I had to?"
I remember being in my car, on the highway, when there was a incident that stopped traffic. I stopped pretty fast (four wheel disks on a light sports car) and when I looked in my rear view there was a fella, smoke pouring from his tires and swerving right to left as he tried to stop, I had no escape route as I was by this time stopped, he lost control completely, spun into the next lane and was creamed..
He got close enough for me to see the terror in his face..
I'm thankfull I was in a car that day and I have never forgotten that lesson..
Comment