Do you use advanced driving techniques?

[MarinaDiamandis]

I did a few searches and found that existing threads only covered why and how you use/carry out these techniques.
Being a member of the IAM myself (Institute of Advanced Motorists), i'm interested to see how many, or how few members of GTP use these following methods.

So, do you use:
Rev matching
Single clutch rev matching
Double clutch rev matching
Heel-toe rev matching (single clutch)
Heel-toe rev matching (double clutch)

Observation/Planning
Roadcraft or equivalent (Commentary and advanced observation - Often used as police driver training, possibly known in the U.S as 'drive and stay alive')
Just advanced observation (Scanning in a pattern - Far distance, middle distance, near distance - More effective than just scanning ahead in general)
Just commentary (Talking about road conditions, hazards, and what you plan to do about the hazard, etc)
Acceleration/braking sense (Allowing the car to keep momentum by accelerating/braking wisely - less start/stop)
Firming up (Accelerating up to the speed limit quickly, then shifting into a more economic gear to maintain speed in)

EDIT: Thanks to Duke and wfooshee for helping me clarify certain options. Hope it helps.

 

[Danoff]

1,3,6,8, and 9

 

[Duke]

Changed.

P'raps if we knoew what some of these options were (such as Commentary or Roadcraft) we might be able to give better answers. But in general, I agree with Danoff above.

 

[wfooshee]

Yeah, we colonials don't use your version of English, and the terms are unclear to us.

To me, "commentary" is what the sportscasters do during a football game. "Advanced observation" sounds like a military scout scoping out enemy positions. Not real sure what you mean by those with respect to driving.

 

[Philly]

I'm not sure what the terms mean, so this is a guess. But I said 5 and 9. No stickshift so I can't exactly heel and toe. Unless it counts that my car does it for me.

 

[Duke]

I figured "advance observation" meant looking farther ahead than your own front bumper, and "commentary" meant cursing to yourself about what the morons up there were doing.

 

[Rentner]

I would like to heel-toe, but my legs are too long to get my knees underneath the steering wheel

 

[Kylehnat]

I'm using heel-toe a lot more now that I've had a chance to learn and practice it in a controlled environment. Not sure about what "commentary" means, but I certainly use vision to identify hazards, potential hazards, and escape plans. I don't see anything about "line" in that list, but even though we're not on a racetrack, using "racing" lines and apex makes street driving a lot smoother and keeps the car balanced during turns and lane changes.

 

[homeforsummer]

I use single clutch rev matching, roadcraft, advanced observation, commentary, acceleration/braking sense and firming up, though I wouldn't necessarily use those terms for any of them. I'd simply call it "driving sensibly".

I use most of those techniques in order to improve my fuel economy, and others when I feel like driving a little quicker.

Observation is important so you can keep momentum - I very rarely have to stop completely for traffic lights as I've anticipated when they'd change to green again and will still be rolling along in second, third or sometimes even fourth gear if the lights have changed at the right time, saving on extra energy being used to pull away again. "Firming up" is a term I've never heard before but again I'd call it "common sense", and I frequently accelerate briskly, never using too high revs to get to a crusing speed that I can use a high gear for to save fuel.

As for commentary, I don't use it as a technique as such but I often talk my way through situations which is something I learned from my driving instructor. If you're concentrating enough to be able to describe the situation then the chances are you're paying enough attention to be able to drive safely and effectively through it too.

And with rev-matching, I use this occasionally when I'm driving a little quicker just for a bit of fun. I rarely brake hard enough on the road to require heel & toe so rev-matching is the limit of my skills on this front.

What I do consider beneficial is that I drive a car with a high steering ratio, no power assistance, no brake servo and little power. If anything teaches you to drive smoother and conserve momentum, it's that combination.

 

[wfooshee]

I would like to heel-toe, but my legs are too long to get my knees underneath the steering wheel

[HIJACK]
You're going the wrong direction, or your pedals are poorly placed. Ball of your foot on the brake, other side of your foot (just behind the little toe) on the gas. Your ankle does all the work. Your heel actually still doesn't work anything, strictly speaking. Depending on how high your brake and gas are relative to each other, you probably have to get a little pigeon-toed with your right foot, but well-placed pedals keep that from being necessary.
[/HIJACK]


to homeforsummer: That slowing down to pace the lights won't win you any friends over here. I see the logic, but those behind you will just get impatient and wonder why you're blocking the road. Besides, most of our lights are on embedded sensors, so slowing down just delays the time it sees you and reacts.

As to the terms, I think "firming up" would be a common sense compromise between those who think pressing the gas more than 6 millimeters means wasting fuel. They barely move out from the light, takes them 30 or 40 seconds to reach 25 miles per hour. Ironically, they're probably wasting gas by spending too much time and distance in lower gears. Move out briskly, but not full throttle, and reach your desired speed (and gear) earlier. (I recall reading that years ago BMW tested and found 3/4 throttle to be the most efficient acceleration.)

"Commentary" would just be making yourself aware of what's going on around you. Some people might actually talk to themselves out loud, but most just keep the thought process. What's that car on the side road going to do? Where do I go if that tank truck changes lanes? Stuff like that.

"Advanced observation" I'm understanding to mean cyclic scanning. Gauges, immediate foreground, mirrors, further ahead, even further ahead, mirrors again, immediate foreground, repeat (and vary to alleviate boredom.) If you ride a motorcycle and you don't do this, you will die before your time. If you drive a car and don't do this, you will crash about every 3 years. (Just a guess, but that's based on my daughter's experience. )

"Acceleration/braking sense" isn't so much as timing the lights, but more an awareness of avoiding zooming/slowing cycles. There's a lot of rubber-band effect in heavy traffic, but when you're out there nearly by yourself, it's just goofy to mash the gas, then back off because you know you're too fast, then realize you've slowed down too much and mash the gas. It's really not that hard to hold steady pace.

And as for "observation," for God's sake if you're on a multilane highway and going the same speed as another car, don't do so in the adjacent lane!!!!! Get in line. You're going the same speed, so it's not gonna hurt anyone, and it clears the lane for faster traffic. [/RANT]

 

[Paulie]

What's the differences between the different kinds of rev matching? I haven't voted yet, but in that section at least I know I always heel-toe, but I don't know what the others are. Sometimes depending on the speed or situation, I don't have my toes on the brakes when I downshift, so I just tap the accelerator as I do it, but it's not a heel-toe shift.

 

[Keef]

1, 3, 6, 8, and 9 for me too. I do talk to myself in my mind, but not out loud.

 

[Scaff]

1, 3, 5, 8 and 9 for me


Regards

Scaff

 

[Small_Fryz]

2,5,8,9

I also miss 3rd gear a lot, just go 2nd to 4th.

 

[MarinaDiamandis]

What's the differences between the different kinds of rev matching? I haven't voted yet, but in that section at least I know I always heel-toe, but I don't know what the others are. Sometimes depending on the speed or situation, I don't have my toes on the brakes when I downshift, so I just tap the accelerator as I do it, but it's not a heel-toe shift.

Single clutch rev-matching is blipping the throttle as you hold the clutch in to change down a gear.

Double clutch rev-matching is blipping the throttle as you hold in the clutch and shift into neutral, then releasing the clutch. You then hold the clutch in again, blip the throttle, and shift into your lower gear.

The other two options are the above but using heel-toe technique.

Commentary can be out loud or in your head. While learning it's helpful to do it out loud to talk yourself into good habits. After you've grasped it well you can carry on doing it in your head.

Thanks again wfooshe for helping me explain the options. Hopefully that helps everyone.

 

[Gil]

Don't do any heel and toe anymore, as I usually drive an auto-equipped vehicle.
I tend to look far up the road, WHILE monitoring the near and middle distance.
I scan my mirrors often, keeping them PROPERLY adjusted so I can maintain visual monitoring of overtaking vehicles as they pass out of view of the inside mirror they come into the FOV of my outside mirrors.

I tend to be more "aggressive" in my passing when I'm driving my Excursion, than when I'm in my Camry....

I also tend to try to follow at a safe distance. But many idiots like to dive into my safe stopping area (after all a 4 ton SUV can stop on a dime )
I also don't "brake check" tail-gaters anymore.
I calmly move over and let them pass.
Better that they clear the Highway Patrol, than I. Besides, I rarely hurry anywhere anymore. I can't find a good reason to drive like an idiot to save less than 2 or 3 minutes on my commute.

My philosophy is simple:
I'm either on my way to work--no need to hurry the sick people will still be there when I get there. I'm not relieving anyone, so nobody has been up all night and is in a hurry to get home to bed.

OR

I'm just on my way home--The kids will be glad to see me whenever I get there, just as long as I get there. The wife will be too, but she'll be just as happy that I've not been involved in some traffic mishap, and even happier that I'm not bringing home a citation.

 

[homeforsummer]

to homeforsummer: That slowing down to pace the lights won't win you any friends over here. I see the logic, but those behind you will just get impatient and wonder why you're blocking the road. Besides, most of our lights are on embedded sensors, so slowing down just delays the time it sees you and reacts.

Most of the lights where I live are on timers so they'll change to red or green regardless of where you are. The ones which are on sensors I know about and adjust my driving accordingly.

As for holding people up or whatever, the sort of people who'll tailgate me as I'm slowing for lights will do so whether I'm rolling along, doing the speed limit or doing 10mph above the speed limit. Cretins, in other words. On the dual-carriageway sections around my place though it often means that I can skip ahead of three or four cars as they've all braked right before the lights and I'm still in second or third as they go green ready to accelerate away.

The same thing applies on the motorway really. Some people will accelerate right up to the back of a lorry that's overtaking another and brake at the last minute shedding 30mph off the speed they were doing, sitting getting frustrated and then blasting past back up to their original speed. On the other hand, I'll immediately back off slowly when I see one passing slowly up ahead if there's nobody right behind me, and invariably by the time the lorry pulls back in I'm cruising past the one it's just passed and I've only lost 5-10mph of my original speed.

As to the terms, I think "firming up" would be a common sense compromise between those who think pressing the gas more than 6 millimeters means wasting fuel. They barely move out from the light, takes them 30 or 40 seconds to reach 25 miles per hour. Ironically, they're probably wasting gas by spending too much time and distance in lower gears. Move out briskly, but not full throttle, and reach your desired speed (and gear) earlier. (I recall reading that years ago BMW tested and found 3/4 throttle to be the most efficient acceleration.)

This is exactly what I do. I always accelerate fairly briskly without thrashing the car, and then settle into my desired speed in a high gear. Makes for good progress, and doesn't waste fuel.

"Acceleration/braking sense" isn't so much as timing the lights, but more an awareness of avoiding zooming/slowing cycles. There's a lot of rubber-band effect in heavy traffic, but when you're out there nearly by yourself, it's just goofy to mash the gas, then back off because you know you're too fast, then realize you've slowed down too much and mash the gas. It's really not that hard to hold steady pace.

👍 I'd add that it's bascially common sense, and that a good example would be not accelerating hard if you know you're going to have to brake hard soon after - such as in nose-to-tail traffic, or in little residential side streets with lots of junctions (where it's also very irresponsible if there are gonna be kids or pets running around).

 

[santiagomo87]

What?? no option for use of handbrake in slippery corners?? haha JK nice poll. They should teach everyone about acceleration/braking sense, it would reduce accidents very significantly and also maybe we would have oil reserves for 10 more years