Best driving techniques/tips/advice

Indicate guys, Indicate. Ive seen cyclists indicate better than some motorists.

Gnome on your 2nd point about driving distance. I do practice that however in medium to heavy traffic I always get selfish pricks who think that my driving distance means that they can now take that space inbetween me and the car infront of me.

Can somebody clarify if you should leave your parked car in gear or in neutral (on a levelled surface)? I've been driving for 2 years and I've been leaving it in neutral while parked because thats what K53 told me to do.
 
CrazYmonkeY159 said:
Can somebody clarify if you should leave your parked car in gear or in neutral (on a levelled surface)? I've been driving for 2 years and I've been leaving it in neutral while parked because thats what K53 told me to do.
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I leave it in first when parked.

Also guys keep left past right, even at traffic lights stops. People always seem to stop in the middle. It causes traffic to back up. Especially if the **** at the robot wants to turn right and everyone else wants to go straight.
 
CrazYmonkeY159 said:
Indicate guys, Indicate. Ive seen cyclists indicate better than some motorists.

Gnome on your 2nd point about driving distance. I do practice that however in medium to heavy traffic I always get selfish pricks who think that my driving distance means that they can now take that space inbetween me and the car infront of me.

Can somebody clarify if you should leave your parked car in gear or in neutral (on a levelled surface)? I've been driving for 2 years and I've been leaving it in neutral while parked because thats what K53 told me to do.
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Gear, unless you plan on being towed.
 
A car should be in neutral, with handbrake up when parked on level ground. Obviously, if parked on a slope, it's best to leave it in gear.

As for maintaining a 2 second gap, or a distance of a couple of car lengths in heavy traffic, it is possible, and if anyone squeezes in, simply fall back again....you actually aren't going backwards- but you ARE saving stress levels, and wear on brake pads, as your braking will tend to be gentler if you are not sitting on someone's bumper. The fact that you also now have more space to avoid an accident should be a no brainer.
 
czc said:
I leave it in first when parked.

Also guys keep left past right, even at traffic lights stops. People always seem to stop in the middle. It causes traffic to back up. Especially if the **** at the robot wants to turn right and everyone else wants to go straight.
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I leave it in reverse gear.
 
czc said:
Why?

I change at 2000 - 2500 rpm.
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That's entirely dependent on where a car delivers its torque. A Formula 1 would only be happy with gearchanges at 16000 rpm, whereas a diesel would be happier at under 2000 rpm. Each car is different, so you cannot lay down a blanket speed or rev limit on gear changes.
 
My brother always told me to brake to a suitable speed before a sharp curve or a turn, and not during, as the car may slide.

EDIT: Sorry I noticed that Gnome got to this before I did, thanks Gnome:

Gnome said:
- Accelerate through corners. This is a big one, you can go through corners at much higher speed if you accelerate. If you don't accelerate you can still go through a corner at higher speed than braking however. NEVER break through corners unless you absolutely have to. Especially if it rains. If go around a corner in the rain at speed and brake the tires will lose grip and the car will be completely out of control.
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When you are being overtaken, for the love of all that is holy, do not accelerate.
 
Gnome said:
I'm not sure how that works on older cars but modern cars the click is caused by a ratchet. Depressing has no effect on the cable, it simply forces the spring loaded finger away from the half spherical gear. The cable is directly attached to the back of the ratchet beam which forms no part of the ratchet mechanism.

Example: http://mchitch.com.au/shop/images/mchitch installations 1661.jpg
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Thats the problem! It the rachet that actually causes people to 'over' tighten the e-brake, because it makes it much easier. So effectively you are wearing 2 parts: the pawl and gears of the ratchet and putting unnecessary strain on the e-brake cable causing it to stretch. You'd be surprised how little force is actually required to fully engage the e-brake.
 
I drive by 2 rules

1. Never assume
2. Constantly think "what if..." and plan ahead accordingly for the "what if...."
 
4ePikanini said:
I drive by 2 rules

1. Never assume
2. Constantly think "what if..." and plan ahead accordingly for the "what if...."
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Hi, Welcome to this forum all the way from the 4x4community forum...

Agreed. Point 2 very very relevant to offroading as well.
 
Contrary to what many, many, many Johannesburg drivers believe... Amber traffic lights are a warning that the light is about to turn red. It's not a secret signal to you, and you alone, that you have the next five or so seconds to shoot the red light you are approaching. People hooting and flashing their lights at you are not cheering your cool, bad-ass on, rather they are expressing their dismay at how close you came to killing their loved ones... Flashing obscene hand gestures and shouting profanities at the people hooting and flashing their lights at you doesn't make you any cooler or more bad-ass than you already clearly think you are.

/Rant over.
 
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RedWill said:
Switch on your headlights at sunset or during twilight, before dusk.
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I drive with my headlights on on a permanent basis... or let's just say they switch on if the ignition goes on. You can see oncoming traffic so much better during the day too.
 
froot said:
I drive with my headlights on on a permanent basis... or let's just say they switch on if the ignition goes on. You can see oncoming traffic so much better during the day too.
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I find that to be distracting in urban environments.
 
Archer said:
I find that to be distracting in urban environments.
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I find that to be dependent on the vehicle. I dip my beams properly as to not cause glare for the car in front of me.
It is particularly useful on the highway though, or "bigger roads".
 
Few things I've learnt:

all my changing lanes constantly in traffic - yeah maaaybe it helped and other times it hindered. So now I do this crazy thing, called leaving 5 minutes earlier, stick to one lane, put some cool music on.

I've realised that I'm not a perfect driver. I mess up. Sometimes I think I'm in the right when I'm actually completely wrong. And occasionally I drive like an idiot. So I try my hardest to recognise and minimise these instances and also to afford others some courtesy if they mess up.
 
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