Drive like a Race Car Driver - Stay Safe and Stay Fast?

I receive many interesting comments but this one challenged me.  I quote it:

“It was my Dad who told me to drive like a race car driver, stay safe and stay fast.  You two may be on to something here.”

“Hmmm!”  Well, maybe yes and maybe not quite.

Being a Dad (and Granddad) myself, I would never want to question parental advice but if we could take the liberty, perhaps a little amplification of this advice might make it a little more palatable for many who would consider it pretty controversial!

There’s no question that the race car driver will possess many skills and attributes that will keep him or her safer on the highway but said driver would always want to remember one very important little detail.  It’s the highway, not the race track!

Why does it make a difference?  It’s pretty basic.  On the race track you are driving with fellow drivers who are also highly skilled.  On the highways you’re probably not.  Big difference!

On the race track, you’re driving to win – to be first at the finish line.  You do what you gotta do to make that happen.  On the highway you’re driving to get to Grandma’s house, alive and in one piece.  You gotta do what you gotta do to make that happen.  And you gotta do it together with drivers who may be far less skilled than you are. 

 

So what’s the Driverthink take on this advice?  Well, lets explore a few of the pro’s and con’s – the do’s and don’ts  of driving like a race car driver on busy boulevards.


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The biggest advantage the race car or any really skilled driver has, is that this driver really knows his machine.  He has the skills to operate that machine to its limits – and the advantage of knowing what those limits are.  Most importantly, he knows how the machine will handle not only under normal conditions but also if something nasty should happen.

The average highway driver has probably never even done doughnuts in a snowy parking lot and might not have a clue when his buggy is about to go sideways.

The skilled driver is keenly aware of strange concepts like over steer, under steer and throttle steer and, in her “unconsciously competent” state, will always be in tune with how these characteristics are affecting her chariot of choice.   The average driver might not even know she’s riding on radials.

With those finely tuned skills in hand, the skilled driver is quite capable of driving fast – and doing it safely.  But we’ve also seen drivers who are unsafe at any speed outside of the driveway – and on the highway, we’re driving with them.  Gotta give them some space to self-destruct without taking us out in the process.

It is the politically incorrect opinion of Driverthink that driving (reasonably) fast (only if possessed with the skills to do so) is probably safer that driving slowly on the highways.  It keeps you alert.  It keeps you finely tuned.  You are always analyzing the traffic flow around you and situational awareness is at its peak.  It is also easier to position yourself where you’re most comfortable in traffic.

If the slow lane is doing limit plus ten and the fast lane is limit plus infinity, poking along at limit less five might not be the safest place to be.  You probably won’t get a ticket but you may very well get clobbered.  It’s the reality of driving.

But let’s look at some no-no’s.  Some of the things that a race car driver can get away with on a race track can be lethal on a highway occupied by drivers on Cruise Control.

On the race track, drivers draft other drivers.  One car will pull right up on the back bumper of another, leaving a gaping gap of maybe 2 inches at speeds well north of 100 mph.  They do this for a variety of reasons (airflow being one of them) but they do so knowing that the front driver isn’t going to panic and will probably be able to control the car if it actually does get tapped.  On the highway, that’s called tailgating and it’s probably one of the most dangerous things we can do.  Relying on the skills of another driver to keep you alive on the highway?  Not somewhere this driver wants to be!

On the race track, drivers will pass another car and slip in front of it with only inches of clearance.  They can do this knowing the other driver won’t likely panic and will probably check up to keep from getting spun sideways into the wall.  On the highway, that’s called “Cutting someone off” and all assurances about the skills of the other driver go out the window.  It’s not only extremely rude, it’s extremely dangerous.  At best you’ll get a middle digit.  At worst, said driver can panic and you may end up wearing a toe tag.

On the race track, driving together is close.  On the highway, safe distance between you and other traffic is critical, be it in front of you, on your side or in back of you.  Again, we aren’t gunning for the finish line.  Grandma is waiting!

Another racing technique is “cutting the Apex”.  This basically involves taking the shortest route on a curve, cutting close to the inside corner of the track and then powering out of the curve.  On the highway, you’re in driving lanes.  While you can often safely power out of the curve, cutting the Apex will take you to the very side of your lane.  If there’s another driver beside you, that driver may not have your skills.  He probably won’t cut the Apex with you and in fact may very well invade your lane.  Ooops!  Crunch time.  Probably better to apply your throttle steer and keep it centered in the lane.

There are certainly many racing techniques that can effectively be applied on the highway but always remember the cardinal rule of highway driving.

Keep a safe distance between you and the buggies bunched up around you.

If the fact that that a local Gendarme may view you as an ideal revenue source doesn’t bother you – yes, you can drive fast and safely on the highway.

But any racing technique that takes you too close to the other buggies bopping along with you?  Nah.  Don’t think so!

 

And Thanks – for a very intriguing comment!

 

 

 

 

 

Posted by Frank Miller at 10/26/2010 12:26 PM
Categories: Driving Experience, Know your Machine, Driving Skills
Tags: Racing on Highways Driving Skills Driving Experience
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