Too smooth???

[LaSarthe+Back]

Driving home last night from a friend's birthday party as the designated driver, my girlfriend said that she gets uncomfortable because she cannot feel when I come off the accelerator and onto the brake (and vice versa), until the goal of braking or accelerating - to a certain degree has been acheived. Therefore, she can not tell that we are braking for bends. She said, with reference to a set of double bends, "But when I look at the speedo, you're going no faster than I would, so I don't know why I feel nervous!"

I said that it's a result of smoothness, to which she replied "I don't like it!" She's not the best of passengers, telling me that people are braking when I can see the situation/hazard they are braking for develop well ahead of time and planned for it.

So, my question is can you be too smooth? Anybody else had this issue raised?

Cheers,
Andy

edited for terminology

Edited by LaSarthe+Back on Saturday 26th January 20:51

[DJ_AS]

I think the question - "can you be too smooth" - is like "can a meal be too tasty"?!

Don't worry about it, its your girlfriends issue - congratulations for being so smooth that it freaks her out!

[WhoseGeneration]

LaSarthe+Back said:

Driving home last night from a friend's birthday party as the designated driver, my girlfriend said that she gets uncomfortable because she cannot feel when I come off the accelerator and onto the brake (and vice versa), until the goal of braking or accelerating - to a certain degree has been acheived. Therefore, she can not tell that we are braking for bends. She said, with reference to a set of double bends, "But when I look at the speedo, you're going no faster than I would, so I don't know why I feel nervous!"

I said that it's a result of smoothness, to which she replied "I don't like it!" She's not the best of passengers, telling me that people are braking when I can see the situation/hazard they are braking for develop well ahead of time and planned for it.

So, my question is can you be too smooth? Anybody else had this issue raised?

Cheers,
Andy

edited for terminology

Edited by LaSarthe+Back on Saturday 26th January 20:51

What a good thread to start.
I have, for a while, been thinking along similar lines with reference to how most seem to drive.
No, you cannot be too smooth.
I suspect though and this is what I have been thinking about, that most drivers "need" the feel of braking and acceleration.
Somehow that means that they feel they are driving and in control.
Smooth, flowing progress is so out of the experience of most.
They are not taught it in "basic" training and so few go on to further training that would impart it.

[RabD]

Give her a copy of roadcraft to read so that she can come to properly appriciate a true master at work.


In the meantime just take her getting freaked out as a compliment.

[Santa Claws]

Maybe perhaps what she is 'seeing' with her eyes doesn't relate to what her body is 'feeling' due to the smoothness of the ride.

Virgin trialed a tilting train in the UK in the mid 90s I believe. It was built so well that people were feeling rather sick riding it because as far as their mind was concerned what they were SEEING didn't relate to what they were FEELING.

So, do a few handbrake turns and real aggressive acceleration/braking to spice things up a bit. She'll still feel bad and may chuck up, but at least you tried.

[7db]

Perhaps it's her way of telling you that she fancies a bit of rough?

[LaSarthe+Back]

Thanks for the comments everyone. I told her she'd just have to get used to it! Perhaps even if she'd like to join up!

7db said:

Perhaps it's her way of telling you that she fancies a bit of rough?

I saw your name as the last post and thought you might have a constructive point!

Thanks for making me laugh!

[7db]

...sorry...

[LaSarthe+Back]

7db said:

...sorry...

no worries!

any comment's better than no comment!

Edited by LaSarthe+Back on Monday 28th January 00:38

[andyj2]

I get exactly the same comments from my gf..... including the "they're braking up ahead".... yes I know dear, that's why I've taken my foot off the accelerator, and I'm covering the brake should I need to use it !!!

[DJ_AS]

andyj2 said:

I get exactly the same comments from my gf..... including the "they're braking up ahead".... yes I know dear, that's why I've taken my foot off the accelerator, and I'm covering the brake should I need to use it !!!

Reminds me of something that happened when giving a lift to my ex, and her mum and sister (mum and sister are nervous passengers).

The car in front was braking to turn right so I backed off and started to brake. At which point both mum and daughter paniced and screamed 'STOP' so loud that I nearly shat my pants and pulled an emergency stop. Luckily there was no one behind me.

'What is it?' I enquired a little flustered...
'He was turning right'
'I know'
'Oh, sorry...'

I did give them a lift again and they were much better behaved

Oh, and someone said to me once that my gearchanges weren't smooth. 'You can hear the engine revving' they said. That'll be the throttle blip then...

[hardboiledPhil]

I'd look to give a passenger a ride style that they were expecting. Or if they had no expectations then a really smooth ride.

It seems no great hardship to me if your passenger wants you to be a bit less smooth. Just brake/accelerate a bit harder to keep them happy.

Super smooth can be a bit boring sometimes

[944Nick]

This would be a good opportunity to put your commentary skills to good use, or to brush them up if they're in need of honing.

If you commentate about what you're seeing, the risk it poses and how you propose to deal with it (and perhaps your contingency plan if things get worse) then your girlfriend will be able to see that you're completely in control of the driving process and will lose her fears.

I have seen this approach work very successfully on many occasions.

regards
Nick

Edited by 944Nick on Monday 28th January 16:42

[p1esk]

hardboiledPhil said:

I'd look to give a passenger a ride style that they were expecting. Or if they had no expectations then a really smooth ride.

It seems no great hardship to me if your passenger wants you to be a bit less smooth. Just brake/accelerate a bit harder to keep them happy.

Super smooth can be a bit boring sometimes

Over the 47 years that Mrs TripleS has been my principal passenger - in which we've covered a great many miles together - she assures me she has hardly ever felt anxious about my driving. To be honest I think have been some occasions when she ought to have been, but that's another matter!

Strangely enough I've now started to receive more criticism from her, and this seems to have emerged this past couple of years, i.e. since I started hanging out with some of these advanced driving dudes, but that's OK; it simply means it's their fault, nothing to do with me.

Apparently my driving is now somewhat boring, and I can only assume this is because I now seldom indulge in the sort of 'clog and anchor' style which livened up our Jaguar days. On the other hand she complains about me being 'erratic' as she puts it, which presumably relates to my new policy of tootling very leisurely through built up areas, and applying some boot when we pass the derestriction signs.

You just can't please some people.

[BertBert]

so to play DA, it cannot be a good thing to have a style of driving that scares the shit out of passengers no matter *how* clever it is.

Bert

[crisisjez]

944Nick said:

This would be a good opportunity to put your commentary skills to good use, or to brush them up if they're in need of honing.

If you commentate about what you're seeing, the risk it poses and how you propose to deal with it (and perhaps your contingency plan if things get worse) then your girlfriend will be able to see that you're completely in control of the driving process and will lose her fears.

I have seen this approach work very successfully on many occasions.

regards
Nick

Edited by 944Nick on Monday 28th January 16:42

Most normal people would think you barking mad, commentary is a little like stamp collecting, only impressive to other stamp collectors.

Course your passengers will politely nod and smile.... cos they`re British.

[p1esk]

crisisjez said:

944Nick said:

This would be a good opportunity to put your commentary skills to good use, or to brush them up if they're in need of honing.

If you commentate about what you're seeing, the risk it poses and how you propose to deal with it (and perhaps your contingency plan if things get worse) then your girlfriend will be able to see that you're completely in control of the driving process and will lose her fears.

I have seen this approach work very successfully on many occasions.

regards
Nick

Edited by 944Nick on Monday 28th January 16:42

Most normal people would think you barking mad, commentary is a little like stamp collecting, only impressive to other stamp collectors.

I thought it was being suggested in the case of nervous passengers, and not necessarily as standard procedure.

[944Nick]

It's just a description of what you're seeing and doing about it.

It's not supposed to be "impressive". But it does show a nervous passenger that you know what you're doing, assuming that you do.

Nick

[crisisjez]

Having a great deal of experience with nervous passengers they will only be listening to the tone of voice.

You would do just as well to engage them in a lovely chat about something they are interested in.

All you would do with commentary would be to heighten their awareness of each hazard as it is identified.

That wont relax them.

[dibbers006]

Chauffeurs are known to 'rough up' the ride a little when impatient clients are urging progress as the feeling of speed is easily faked to a passenger!