Does a good car make you over-confident?

Your friend is a ********, what is even more disheartening is you made the active decision to say/do nothing. I don't give a **** who my friend is, if he is endangering my life I will react to it.
 
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Here's the physics:

3 seconds at 60km/hr = 50m = about 12 car lengths.

3 seconds at 120km/hr = 100m = about 25 car lengths.

Now put your hands up if you leave that amount of space when driving. I suggested that 2 seconds following time at 120km/hr is fine. That is still about 16 car lengths. Still way more than people leave and still safe.

The 3 second rule is generic and simplflied so that people don't get confused with too many numbers. 3 seconds is meant for the weakest of the herd, like pensioners with slow reaction times and people with bad tires/brakes.
 
SaiyanZ said:
Here's the physics:

3 seconds at 60km/hr = 50m = about 12 car lengths.

3 seconds at 120km/hr = 100m = about 25 car lengths.

Now put your hands up if you leave that amount of space when driving. I suggested that 2 seconds following time at 120km/hr is fine. That is still about 16 car lengths. Still way more than people leave and still safe.

The 3 second rule is generic and simplflied so that people don't get confused with too many numbers. 3 seconds is meant for the weakest of the herd, like pensioners with slow reaction times and people with bad tires/brakes.
Click to expand...

Yeah, I don't think anyone really follows that rule religiously. I would never get close to a delivery truck or a bakkie though, if I can't see the centre mounted brake lights of the next few cars... and when I do get closer, my attention is on those brake lights. First light I see, I'm ready to brake, if needed.
 
SaiyanZ said:
Here's the physics:

3 seconds at 60km/hr = 50m = about 12 car lengths.

3 seconds at 120km/hr = 100m = about 25 car lengths.

Now put your hands up if you leave that amount of space when driving. I suggested that 2 seconds following time at 120km/hr is fine. That is still about 16 car lengths. Still way more than people leave and still safe.

The 3 second rule is generic and simplflied so that people don't get confused with too many numbers. 3 seconds is meant for the weakest of the herd, like pensioners with slow reaction times and people with bad tires/brakes.
Click to expand...

You sure the calculations are right?
I think you missed a step, try again.
 
SaiyanZ said:
Here's the physics:

3 seconds at 60km/hr = 50m = about 12 car lengths.

3 seconds at 120km/hr = 100m = about 25 car lengths.

Now put your hands up if you leave that amount of space when driving. I suggested that 2 seconds following time at 120km/hr is fine. That is still about 16 car lengths. Still way more than people leave and still safe.

The 3 second rule is generic and simplflied so that people don't get confused with too many numbers. 3 seconds is meant for the weakest of the herd, like pensioners with slow reaction times and people with bad tires/brakes.
Click to expand...

You didn't answer my question
 
McT said:
An Advanced Driving Course will definitely assist ... in making you over confident. A Defensive Driving Course is a far better idea.
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You obviously haven't done an advanced course.

Advanced driving hammers home defensive driving - how to avoid accidents by being aware of the idiots on the road.
 
The problem is that you are driving on a public road with other road users. You might be an ace driver, but the oncoming guy may not.
I good driver knows his car and its limits. That is not going to help you if the dude you are tailgating at 120km/h hits breaks brakes because of a dog running in the road.

If you want to race, go find a track in a controlled environment.

I know my Subaru is a very capable vehicle, but I am not a confident driver at high speeds so I don't push it. But is great having a car with the power and handling when you need it.
 
Typical Cappie attitude if you ask me.. In Cpt this is actually the norm, new car folk drive the absolute worse pending value of vehicle and expect everyone else to move out of the way. Cpt drivers albeit more adhering to road laws, are very unpredictable as they believe that their value of vehicle or just their intent gives them right of way.

Jhb it's a bit different and varies more on make & model of vehicle. <--- it's actually VERY predictable and the traffic violations up here are again a LOT more predictable in sense as you know drivers don't give a damn for the some stuff. whether it's got some off road features (like going 80km in standstill traffic down the side bush and swinging into the lane like taxis) or just people with nothing to lose (guys in old UNOs doing that)
 
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Have to admit my A6 tends to make me do things I never typically did. Although I have calmed down in recent years.
My wife used to often tell me to stop depending on the cars tech too much. Sigh...
 
Abs and esp can't change the laws of physics
 
garp said:
It doesn't matter what car you're driving, how many airbags, safety systems like ABS/ESP it has or not, above a certain speed, it's all the same in an accident. Which is why when you're in a good car that gives you no sensation of speed and feels like it's invincible you should be just as careful as when you're driving an old/cheap car.
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This.

From the Euro NCAP website;

Why have you chosen such a high front impact test speed?
By carrying out frontal impact tests at 64km/h (about 40 mph) we are simulating a car impacting a similar sized car where both cars are travelling the same speed of 55 km/h. This speed has been shown by accident studies to address a high proportion of fatal and severe injury accidents.
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Now take a look at what those cars look like after a 64km/h crash. If you put your 2014 BMW 5-series into a barrier or another vehicle at 120km/h+ you'd be lucky to get out alive.
 
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I do find that having a better car can cause me to drive worse. It has that capability, so I do sometimes have a bad habit of expressing my anger when I'm driving. If I'm driving a crappy 900cc rental this doesn't really help my anger issues and I quickly calm down. Whereas driving a nice Merc will allow me to feel satisfaction at venting my frustrations in this way.

I know it's bad and I try to curb it, maybe only once a year, but that is once a year I put my life in danger. Thankfully I have never had or caused an accident like that in over 15 years of driving.
 
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