I’ve noticed recently that I rarely drive my car above 60mph. I seem to have gotten used to moving at 55 and any faster is scary I used to do 90-100mph and think nothing of it, nowadays I rarely reach 70. Driving truck taught me patience.
A bad habit I picked up though is flooring the accelerator, not good but after the 2nd set of traffic lights I usually remember to stop doing it. Anothre is browsing my phone in my car forgetting I’m not high up and others can actually see me do it I’ve also gotten used to crappy audio and I’m pleasantly surprised every time I turn the music on in the car, it’s kinda cool actually.
What are some good/bad driving habits you’ve picked up?
Still look at bridge heights, and go to use the exhaust brake.
There’s a low bridge near my house, although I rarely go under it. But the other week as I was just about to go under it, I literally braced for impact thinking I was about to hit it I felt that split second of sheer dread and horror at the expected crash.
I have a habit of setting my car cruise control to 56mph. I’ve also caught myself signalling to turn right when I’m slowing down because I’m trying to use an exhaust brake that isnt there! Oh yeah, and coasting downhill, got to keep them telematics scores good!!
Never understood the coasting down hill thing, as I pointed out in a previous post surely the engine is using fuel turning itself instead of gravity doing it for free? The newer DAFs seem to stay in gear until they reach 97 kph then bring on the exhaust brake if necessary to keep it at that speed then when the speed drops below 97 it goes into neutral presumably to save a bit in gear wear at the expense of fuel burn. I have experimented at night when there’s little other traffic on the road having disabled the eco roll setting and at various times knocked the cruise control off so that by the time I go over the crest of a hill the speed would have dropped to maybe 70 kph the speed picks up then going down the hill often just about getting to 90 kph then back on the power. I’d imagine that should be good for telematics as I’m surprised when i can do Heathrow to Addlestone back to Heathrow using less than 150 litres. Though to be fair the fact that the previous driver may have filled the tank well above the initial click could account for that also…
I’ve slowed down a lot in recent years, I’m a lot happier plodding in lanes 1 and 2 around 60mph. I don’t mind mingling with lorries, but I do try to stay out of the blind spot wherever possible, I’ve also learnt 60 in my car is about 55/56 anyway.
I do wish my car had a decent exhaust brake some days, there is a few times I’ve put the wipers on
I never use my phone it stays out of arms reach to avoid temptation, hands free/Bluetooth is on and if I need to use it I’ll pull into a lay-by.
I’m no speedster but don’t see the appeal of ‘mingling with the lorries’ whilst in my car, especially to the point where your going slightly slower so your a bit awkward to pass. I’d just feel like I was getting in the way.
I prefer the cars to be passing me when i’m driving a truck and I think most truck drivers are the same, so drive my car in respect of that.
rob22888:
I’m no speedster but don’t see the appeal of ‘mingling with the lorries’ whilst in my car, especially to the point where your going slightly slower so your a bit awkward to pass. I’d just feel like I was getting in the way.
I prefer the cars to be passing me when i’m driving a truck and I think most truck drivers are the same, so drive my car in respect of that.
I’ve never understood the mentality of a car driver on a multi lane road who will willingly overtake the first of two lorries running quite close and then pull in between them. I often wonder if they see it as a security thing and it makes them feel safe? The last place I’d want to be in my car is between two heavy fast lumps of metal.
Rowley010:
Don’t tell the big gangster hard man diesel dog He will want to run you off the road and beat you up for not driving as fast as you possibly can.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
and if i wasnt a wee wuss that didnt want banned and couldnt fight for toffee then thats what would happen.
or
once again,
is it only me that sometimes wants to imagine the road commander/tractor/cyclist/horse rider would explode in a hail of cannon fire from the in dash weapon system ?
Rowley010:
Don’t tell the big gangster hard man diesel dog He will want to run you off the road and beat you up for not driving as fast as you possibly can.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
and if i wasnt a wee wuss that didnt want banned and couldnt fight for toffee then thats what would happen.
or
once again,
is it only me that sometimes wants to imagine the road commander/tractor/cyclist/horse rider would explode in a hail of cannon fire from the in dash weapon system ?
Well. No I wouldn’t want anyone to get hurt for it, but yes I think all of us would wish they’d disappear until we’ve gone passed.
Rowley010:
Don’t tell the big gangster hard man diesel dog He will want to run you off the road and beat you up for not driving as fast as you possibly can.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
and if i wasnt a wee wuss that didnt want banned and couldnt fight for toffee then thats what would happen.
or
once again,
is it only me that sometimes wants to imagine the road commander/tractor/cyclist/horse rider would explode in a hail of cannon fire from the in dash weapon system ?
Well. No I wouldn’t want anyone to get hurt for it, but yes I think all of us would wish they’d disappear until we’ve gone passed.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
if you can see and appreciate that perspective then surely you can see that everyone being held up by you thinks the same way irrespective of whether your sitting on the speed limit or not?
i often wish that just for a couple of minutes i could turn myself into big mad mental ■■■■■■ dave ,barge in front of tractor/cyclist/plobber,slap them silly and throw them over the nearest hedge after their keys and not give a monkeys about the ban,fine,prison sentence…its nice to dream…
Rowley010:
Don’t tell the big gangster hard man diesel dog He will want to run you off the road and beat you up for not driving as fast as you possibly can.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
and if i wasnt a wee wuss that didnt want banned and couldnt fight for toffee then thats what would happen.
or
once again,
is it only me that sometimes wants to imagine the road commander/tractor/cyclist/horse rider would explode in a hail of cannon fire from the in dash weapon system ?
Well. No I wouldn’t want anyone to get hurt for it, but yes I think all of us would wish they’d disappear until we’ve gone passed.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
if you can see and appreciate that perspective then surely you can see that everyone being held up by you thinks the same way irrespective of whether your sitting on the speed limit or not?
i often wish that just for a couple of minutes i could turn myself into big mad mental ■■■■■■ dave ,barge in front of tractor/cyclist/plobber,slap them silly and throw them over the nearest hedge after their keys and not give a monkeys about the ban,fine,prison sentence…its nice to dream…
Really? It’s a little different isn’t it. A horse or cyclist is doing perhaps 5-10mph in a 30mph or 40mph speed limit. I’m doing 30mph in a 30mph speed limit or 40mph in a 40mph speed limit. If you get annoyed at someone doing but not exceeding the speed limit then you shouldn’t bother driving. Simple.
dieseldog999:
if you can see and appreciate that perspective then surely you can see that everyone being held up by you thinks the same way irrespective of whether your sitting on the speed limit or not?
i often wish that just for a couple of minutes i could turn myself into big mad mental ■■■■■■ dave ,barge in front of tractor/cyclist/plobber,slap them silly and throw them over the nearest hedge after their keys and not give a monkeys about the ban,fine,prison sentence…its nice to dream…
Your posts do make me chuckle dd999. You remind me of a couple of drivers at our place. Permanent road rage, constantly rushing, no doubt hoping for a blowie off the planner for getting “that impossible job” done. Trouble is, they keep getting these “impossible jobs” given because they’ve gotten them done before. They then spend half their time ■■■■■■■■ and whining about them.
They then spend the other half their time slagging me and others off because we earn more than them due to being hourly paid despite doing less jobs. The best bit is, the planners dont give a toss!
Nothing on the back of my truck is so important that I’m prepared to either a) lose my licence/liberty or b) kill someone. And let’s be honest, the papers are filled with examples of both.
Thinking about it, there should be a c) I’m not prepared to give myself a heart attack by stressing out over some pillock who cant and shouldnt drive.
once again,
is it only me that sometimes wants to imagine the road commander/tractor/cyclist/horse rider would explode in a hail of cannon fire from the in dash weapon system ?
[/quote]
Well. No I wouldn’t want anyone to get hurt for it, but yes I think all of us would wish they’d disappear until we’ve gone passed.
[/quote]
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
if you can see and appreciate that perspective then surely you can see that everyone being held up by you thinks the same way irrespective of whether your sitting on the speed limit or not?
i often wish that just for a couple of minutes i could turn myself into big mad mental ■■■■■■ dave ,barge in front of tractor/cyclist/plobber,slap them silly and throw them over the nearest hedge after their keys and not give a monkeys about the ban,fine,prison sentence…its nice to dream…
[/quote]
Really? It’s a little different isn’t it. A horse or cyclist is doing perhaps 5-10mph in a 30mph or 40mph speed limit. I’m doing 30mph in a 30mph speed limit or 40mph in a 40mph speed limit. If you get annoyed at someone doing but not exceeding the speed limit then you shouldn’t bother driving. Simple.
[/quote]
^^^^^^^^^^^^
apart from speed camera locations and such then its really not normal for most to sit at 30 or 40 without causing massive roadrage,dangerous overtaking type tailbacks.
if thats something your not aware of then perhaps you should consider retiring from driving asap??
if i was on hours or whatever then i would still be cracking on to a reasonable degree.
i dont need to impress any pointy shoe,i just do the job to suit myself which in general terms means ignore any speed limit to whatever degree i think is sensible and safe for the time of day and road conditions.
theres millions of us similar to myself with the only lunatic being the driver overtaking you.
its something that seldom happens to me,but if im toodling along nicely and someone want to shake the bushes flat lit,then ive no probs assisting them past me and letting then get where they want to go.
in general terms any boat traffic into cairnryan reaches carlisle within a few mins of each other with only one or two legal eagle plobbers being the exception.
every single docking is the exact same,though its more fun at night.
dieseldog999:
once again,
is it only me that sometimes wants to imagine the road commander/tractor/cyclist/horse rider would explode in a hail of cannon fire from the in dash weapon system ?
Well. No I wouldn’t want anyone to get hurt for it, but yes I think all of us would wish they’d disappear until we’ve gone passed.
[/quote]
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
if you can see and appreciate that perspective then surely you can see that everyone being held up by you thinks the same way irrespective of whether your sitting on the speed limit or not?
i often wish that just for a couple of minutes i could turn myself into big mad mental ■■■■■■ dave ,barge in front of tractor/cyclist/plobber,slap them silly and throw them over the nearest hedge after their keys and not give a monkeys about the ban,fine,prison sentence…its nice to dream…
[/quote]
Really? It’s a little different isn’t it. A horse or cyclist is doing perhaps 5-10mph in a 30mph or 40mph speed limit. I’m doing 30mph in a 30mph speed limit or 40mph in a 40mph speed limit. If you get annoyed at someone doing but not exceeding the speed limit then you shouldn’t bother driving. Simple.
[/quote]
^^^^^^^^^^^^
apart from speed camera locations and such then its really not normal for most to sit at 30 or 40 without causing massive roadrage,dangerous overtaking type tailbacks.
if thats something your not aware of then perhaps you should consider retiring from driving asap??
if i was on hours or whatever then i would still be cracking on to a reasonable degree.
i dont need to impress any pointy shoe,i just do the job to suit myself which in general terms means ignore any speed limit to whatever degree i think is sensible and safe for the time of day and road conditions.
theres millions of us similar to myself with the only lunatic being the driver overtaking you.
its something that seldom happens to me,but if im toodling along nicely and someone want to shake the bushes flat lit,then ive no probs assisting them past me and letting then get where they want to go.
in general terms any boat traffic into cairnryan reaches carlisle within a few mins of each other with only one or two legal eagle plobbers being the exception.
every single docking is the exact same,though its more fun at night.
[/quote]
No your rushing about and breaking speed limits because you think your a hero to your transport manager who gives you more work than what can legally be done but you break speed limits and get it done. Your transport manager doesn’t really give a toss about you so your getting your self wound up and risking points on your licence for no reason.
I used to do 90-100mph and think nothing of it, nowadays I rarely reach 70. Driving truck taught me patience.
I’ve also gotten used to crappy audio and I’m pleasantly surprised every time I turn the music on in the car, it’s kinda cool actually.
apart from down hill 
(Que the Sunday driver quotes…).
I felt that split second of sheer dread and horror at the expected crash.
He will want to run you off the road and beat you up for not driving as fast as you possibly can.
