SHOCKER!!!! I've embraced driving like a granny
Discussion
Until 3 and a bit years ago my driving was best described as "press on"
With light traffic on a motorway I'd sit in the high 80's
On A-roads it would be NSL plus ??? if appropriate ie no children or kittens on the horizon
In heavy traffic Id be in lane 3 doing whatever speed the bunch allowed cursing whenever someone pulled into the gap between me and the car ahead
I was naturally immortal and despite winging it never had a sniff of interest from the law
And then I got stuffed with 6 points due to a non driving related incident - another story............
Driving on 6 points is fairly sobering, 2 indiscretions with a hidden camera van on the same trip and you're toast, consequently I started driving Miss Daisy
3 years down the line and I lost the points a few thousand miles ago, and do you know what - I still drive like Im driving Miss Daisy!
A few things have contributed to this
The first is that it's just so much more relaxing cruising around instead of fretting about where the next camera's going to be
My language in the car has improved massively as well, and its just so much more peaceful and relaxing
Fuel consumption has naturally increased markedly since backing off too
But the biggest bombshell is that Ive noticed the travelling times for my most frequent journeys arent actually that much different from when I was heavily woofing it
On a recent 300 miler the difference really was inconsequential much to my surprise
I never thought Id say this but driving to the speed limit (mostly) has been very therapeutic
For balance Id also say that the discipline when you try and join lane 3 in heavy traffic is just shocking and you still cant beat the odd hoon on a quiet road early in the morning before plod gets out of bed LOL
Cheers!
I'm with you and that philosophy, taking the sedate way IS much more relaxing and doesn't take much longer than going for it.
Yesterday I drove from north of Leiceter to Salisbury, traffic was ok, but weather was meh, with rain and spray. Most of way i kept it at 60-65, watching the clowns in the outside lane nose to tail, in spray, braking, accelerating and I could see the tension in their faces.
I don't feel superior to people who need to drive like that, I actually feel sorry for them potentially stressing themselves into an early grave.
Yesterday I drove from north of Leiceter to Salisbury, traffic was ok, but weather was meh, with rain and spray. Most of way i kept it at 60-65, watching the clowns in the outside lane nose to tail, in spray, braking, accelerating and I could see the tension in their faces.
I don't feel superior to people who need to drive like that, I actually feel sorry for them potentially stressing themselves into an early grave.
Amen brother!
For some reason though I am still inclined to press on when I am late or am in a race against rush hour queue build ups as I generally try to leave really and get to my destinations before the queues.
it doesn't make a lot of difference other than to hammer consumption and i need to stop it as it's pointless.
A nice hoon in the v8 occasionally is nice though.
For some reason though I am still inclined to press on when I am late or am in a race against rush hour queue build ups as I generally try to leave really and get to my destinations before the queues.
it doesn't make a lot of difference other than to hammer consumption and i need to stop it as it's pointless.
A nice hoon in the v8 occasionally is nice though.
numtumfutunch said:
Until 3 and a bit years ago my driving was best described as "press on"
With light traffic on a motorway I'd sit in the high 80's
On A-roads it would be NSL plus ??? if appropriate ie no children or kittens on the horizon
In heavy traffic Id be in lane 3 doing whatever speed the bunch allowed cursing whenever someone pulled into the gap between me and the car ahead
I was naturally immortal and despite winging it never had a sniff of interest from the law
And then I got stuffed with 6 points due to a non driving related incident - another story............
Driving on 6 points is fairly sobering, 2 indiscretions with a hidden camera van on the same trip and you're toast, consequently I started driving Miss Daisy
3 years down the line and I lost the points a few thousand miles ago, and do you know what - I still drive like Im driving Miss Daisy!
A few things have contributed to this
The first is that it's just so much more relaxing cruising around instead of fretting about where the next camera's going to be
My language in the car has improved massively as well, and its just so much more peaceful and relaxing
Fuel consumption has naturally increased markedly since backing off too
But the biggest bombshell is that Ive noticed the travelling times for my most frequent journeys arent actually that much different from when I was heavily woofing it
On a recent 300 miler the difference really was inconsequential much to my surprise
I never thought Id say this but driving to the speed limit (mostly) has been very therapeutic
For balance Id also say that the discipline when you try and join lane 3 in heavy traffic is just shocking and you still cant beat the odd hoon on a quiet road early in the morning before plod gets out of bed LOL
Cheers!
Really?With light traffic on a motorway I'd sit in the high 80's
On A-roads it would be NSL plus ??? if appropriate ie no children or kittens on the horizon
In heavy traffic Id be in lane 3 doing whatever speed the bunch allowed cursing whenever someone pulled into the gap between me and the car ahead
I was naturally immortal and despite winging it never had a sniff of interest from the law
And then I got stuffed with 6 points due to a non driving related incident - another story............
Driving on 6 points is fairly sobering, 2 indiscretions with a hidden camera van on the same trip and you're toast, consequently I started driving Miss Daisy
3 years down the line and I lost the points a few thousand miles ago, and do you know what - I still drive like Im driving Miss Daisy!
A few things have contributed to this
The first is that it's just so much more relaxing cruising around instead of fretting about where the next camera's going to be
My language in the car has improved massively as well, and its just so much more peaceful and relaxing
Fuel consumption has naturally increased markedly since backing off too
But the biggest bombshell is that Ive noticed the travelling times for my most frequent journeys arent actually that much different from when I was heavily woofing it
On a recent 300 miler the difference really was inconsequential much to my surprise
I never thought Id say this but driving to the speed limit (mostly) has been very therapeutic
For balance Id also say that the discipline when you try and join lane 3 in heavy traffic is just shocking and you still cant beat the odd hoon on a quiet road early in the morning before plod gets out of bed LOL
Cheers!
You mean your mpg figure has increased or that your fuel consumption has decreased I take it?
I've been doing this for a while - I do enjoy accelerating hard and encourage others to do so when I'm a passenger because I don't have to pay the fuel bills. 
Fun's in the corner, trying to choose the right line to avoid losing speed unnecessarily (where safe, obviously blind hairpins it's powerslide oversteer in my Golf
).
What I've noticed is that you still get people in a rush to get somewhere taking risks on urban roads but by planning carefully, I'm often no more than a couple of car lengths behind them after a mile or two without the extra risk of having to exchange insurance details as the speeders/risk takers.
Fun's in the corner, trying to choose the right line to avoid losing speed unnecessarily (where safe, obviously blind hairpins it's powerslide oversteer in my Golf
).What I've noticed is that you still get people in a rush to get somewhere taking risks on urban roads but by planning carefully, I'm often no more than a couple of car lengths behind them after a mile or two without the extra risk of having to exchange insurance details as the speeders/risk takers.
I try this from time to time but driving at 55-60 on a Mway just gets you in with the trucks, who either box you in, sit on your arse or pass you covering you with spray.
And I find that a long journey at "relaxed" speed rather has that effect and I tend to lose concentration. Getting back up to the speed limit brings me back and I concentrate more.
And I find that a long journey at "relaxed" speed rather has that effect and I tend to lose concentration. Getting back up to the speed limit brings me back and I concentrate more.
I recently sold all the cars I owned with the exception of my Land rover Discovery, it will go faster than 70 but it really isn't comfortable, so a steady 60-65 is much better.
In doing so I realised it made me feel less agitated than I would if I was trying to keep up in the outside lane, journey times were about the same and I'd use a lot less fuel! I even sat at 56 following a lorry for the best part of 10 miles and stayed as calm as a cucumber!
In doing so I realised it made me feel less agitated than I would if I was trying to keep up in the outside lane, journey times were about the same and I'd use a lot less fuel! I even sat at 56 following a lorry for the best part of 10 miles and stayed as calm as a cucumber!
You're not really talking about driving like a granny though are you? Unnecessarily stopping at every junction/roundabout even when clear? 45 in NSL, continue at 45 through a 30 limit village past the school? Go that slow in lane 1 that trucks have to pass you?
What you're describing is where I've come to land as a result of commuting 25k miles a year. I tend to have cruise on slightly below the limit on the motorway meaning I don't use the brakes anything like as much as people trying to press on and prefer thinking ahead and knowing the traffic flow in sections of the road to improve my journey.
If I try and batter on, at best it saves me 3 minutes over my hours journey. Thumps my fuel economy by 10-15 though and leaves me open to talivans on the open sections where you can get up some pace.
There's also something quite satisfying in having someone stomp past you doing 80 odd, 3 times in one journey because they can't read traffic and much like Pepe Le Pew, my more sedate pace is more than enough to keep up with them.
What you're describing is where I've come to land as a result of commuting 25k miles a year. I tend to have cruise on slightly below the limit on the motorway meaning I don't use the brakes anything like as much as people trying to press on and prefer thinking ahead and knowing the traffic flow in sections of the road to improve my journey.
If I try and batter on, at best it saves me 3 minutes over my hours journey. Thumps my fuel economy by 10-15 though and leaves me open to talivans on the open sections where you can get up some pace.
There's also something quite satisfying in having someone stomp past you doing 80 odd, 3 times in one journey because they can't read traffic and much like Pepe Le Pew, my more sedate pace is more than enough to keep up with them.
I'm with you OP; I do about 60 miles a day on motorways, and due to the nature of the thrusting execs, builders vans etc all travelling bumper to bumper in lane 3 I simply avoid going in it, and I sit at between 60 and 70, lorries permitting, in the left hand lanes.
Up til last year I was lift sharing with my boss who used to scare the bejesus out of me - Audi A5, straight over to L3 and up the arse of the car in front. It was just a brake-test-fest. Not relaxing at all.
Our journey times were identical.
Up til last year I was lift sharing with my boss who used to scare the bejesus out of me - Audi A5, straight over to L3 and up the arse of the car in front. It was just a brake-test-fest. Not relaxing at all.
Our journey times were identical.
Cruise on at 75 means that I never get caught by the cameras, especially the new, sneaky ones behind the overhead gantries. Go with the flow in urban areas.
The Mrs hates it though when dealing with traffic because she feels the need to slow down, take stock and THEN make a move.
Someone earlier hit the nail on the head - smoothness is the key. Anticipation and reading the road conditions make for such smooth progress. I also find politeness goes a long way to make for a more relaxing journey.
Hmmmm...maybe we should all club together and write a book - Zen Motoring
The Mrs hates it though when dealing with traffic because she feels the need to slow down, take stock and THEN make a move.
Someone earlier hit the nail on the head - smoothness is the key. Anticipation and reading the road conditions make for such smooth progress. I also find politeness goes a long way to make for a more relaxing journey.
Hmmmm...maybe we should all club together and write a book - Zen Motoring
Back when I was about 25 and got my first company car (a lovely Golf GTI 16v), I managed to rack up 11 points in the space of 3 months. They were:
44 in a 40 - 3 points
34 in a 30 - 3 points
96 on the M40 - 5 points
As a consequence, I drove like an absolute saint. I press on, but I stick with the mantra I had back when I was treading on egg-shells - never be the quickest car on the road. It seems to work for me, but those 2 1/2 years with 11 points were nervy times!
44 in a 40 - 3 points
34 in a 30 - 3 points
96 on the M40 - 5 points
As a consequence, I drove like an absolute saint. I press on, but I stick with the mantra I had back when I was treading on egg-shells - never be the quickest car on the road. It seems to work for me, but those 2 1/2 years with 11 points were nervy times!
My commuting pace is very relaxed. I travel from just outside Cambridge to just south of Heathrow twice a week and if I mong it in L1 with the lorries, maintaining big gaps and using L2 to pass only when necessary I find my journey takes exactly the same amount of time as it would if I was pretending to drive a white, German diesel. Thankfully not many people realise this.
I find my pace largely depends upon what car I'm driving. I used to drive moderately quickly in my BMW's - really fast in my Z4M and then too fast in my 911 recently. My wife wasn't best pleased with the serious speed I was having fun with on a trip home from Cornwall not so long ago and I will admit to feeling it was quite stupid myself later on. Fun, however.
In my 4x4's, I was as the OP described, making good time by driving efficiently but not rapidly or aggressively and within the legal limits. It felt good. I was less stressed travelling through London and surrounds wafting around high up in my Discovery - noting the drivers who were making hard work of it and feeling far more relaxed than them, I'm sure.
I've returned to the large SUV, 4x4 as of today. That doesn't mean I won't get another 911, I will - but then it will only be a weekend toy as I find I'm far happier driving sedately to get about my business and a 4x4 encourages that with its heavier, ponderous movement. That's not to say the large truck can't move quickly, it can, but takes more 'effort' so it is easier to lapse into a more relaxed driving style that for day-to-day driving, I ultimately prefer.
In my 4x4's, I was as the OP described, making good time by driving efficiently but not rapidly or aggressively and within the legal limits. It felt good. I was less stressed travelling through London and surrounds wafting around high up in my Discovery - noting the drivers who were making hard work of it and feeling far more relaxed than them, I'm sure.
I've returned to the large SUV, 4x4 as of today. That doesn't mean I won't get another 911, I will - but then it will only be a weekend toy as I find I'm far happier driving sedately to get about my business and a 4x4 encourages that with its heavier, ponderous movement. That's not to say the large truck can't move quickly, it can, but takes more 'effort' so it is easier to lapse into a more relaxed driving style that for day-to-day driving, I ultimately prefer.
I find having a fairly gutless car helps (1.6 HRV) that doesnt handle like a sportscar.
Around where I live there are several areas where temporary speed limits are in place, one was NSL down to 30 for the next 12 months. Its tricky sitting at 30 when theres no traffic, clear road and no real reason for the reduction but the number of times people sail past me doing 30 at 50+ just beggars belief.
I do a fair amount of driving for work so cant afford to lose the licence, many miles are done in my van towing a trailer so the easiest way is to sit back and just accept youre going no faster than 60 anywhere.
There was a good Mythbusters on only last night about the very thing, stay in one lane or zip about changing to the moving lane. Even on a 2 hour journey the driver that stayed in lane was less than 2% later than the guy stressing out swapping lanes. 120 seconds wasnt much of an achievement for the extra stress and hassle.
Around where I live there are several areas where temporary speed limits are in place, one was NSL down to 30 for the next 12 months. Its tricky sitting at 30 when theres no traffic, clear road and no real reason for the reduction but the number of times people sail past me doing 30 at 50+ just beggars belief.
I do a fair amount of driving for work so cant afford to lose the licence, many miles are done in my van towing a trailer so the easiest way is to sit back and just accept youre going no faster than 60 anywhere.
There was a good Mythbusters on only last night about the very thing, stay in one lane or zip about changing to the moving lane. Even on a 2 hour journey the driver that stayed in lane was less than 2% later than the guy stressing out swapping lanes. 120 seconds wasnt much of an achievement for the extra stress and hassle.
schmalex said:
Back when I was about 25 and got my first company car (a lovely Golf GTI 16v), I managed to rack up 11 points in the space of 3 months. They were:
44 in a 40 - 3 points
34 in a 30 - 3 points
96 on the M40 - 5 points
Reminds me of my ex gf (biggest hooters you ever saw 44 in a 40 - 3 points
34 in a 30 - 3 points
96 on the M40 - 5 points
). When I first started seeing her back in 1993 I sent her directions to my place and on this little map I indicated where there was almost always a speed trap and in big red letters DO NOT SPEED HERE.She racked up 9 points in six weeks all from the same speed trap - the one on my little map
. She spent the next three years driving like a tortoise.Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff