Is there a test for "can i stop within my view?"

[Benbay001]

How would i go about working out if i can stop within the distance i can see? could i chuck something out the window and slam on the brakes at the same time, then go back to the point where the dropped object landed and see if i can see the point at which the car came to a rest?
But in all seriousness, how can i figure whether im cornering too hard? Part of me is adamant i could slow the car down if i cam across a walker mid corner, yet another part wonders whether i would be able to.
Sorry if my post makes no sense, if it doesnt, just ignore it

[Benbay001]

I was thinking more cornering on tight narrow B roads with high hedgerows. Im more than sure that my stopping distances are great on the straights.

[Benbay001]

JPJPJP said:

Have you heard the phrase limit point?

Bristol IAM website describes it well enough

http://www.iam-bristol.org.uk/index.php?option=com...

Practice that, its a good start

Limit point doesnt help you access whether you can stop. it only lets you know whether the bend tightens or opens.
Its possible that the limit point could be going away from you, so you accelerate, yet if you are already going too fast to stop in what you see then thats no good.
Limit point only helps you adjust your speed to the ferocity of the bend.
Or have i missed something?

[Benbay001]

S. Gonzales Esq. said:

Worth remembering that it's all too easy to think of the Limit Point as the point where the nearside verge meets the offside kerb. In fact, it's the furthest point you can see along the nearside kerb. If there's a group of pedestrians standing there and a truck coming the other way, then that's where you need to be able to stop.

Find a quiet bit of road and practice some emergency stops, working up to reasonable road speeds and full ABS activation. Then do this on a gentle bend and feel the difference. Next, leave a cone or similar at the kerb and drive round the bend at your usual speed, stopping when you see the cone. Be honest with yourself, and then add a bit of margin for error. Then, come back and tell us how you got on.

If your newly lowered speed into bends makes you feel like you're not making progress, compensate by really concentrating on chasing the Limit Point when the bend opens up.

Leaving a cone mid bend on a NSL road could be asking for trouble, as i dont own a private airfield.

The speed that the average driver corners at, is it low enough to be able to stop? Sometimes i do wonder. Most of the bend around my area of Dorset have ridiculously closed views.

I also worry about practicing emergency stops on a corner on a public road, "sorry i crashed, officer, i was just practicing to ensure i could avoid a crash if the time arose!"

[Benbay001]

S. Gonzales Esq. said:

You missed the bit about working up to a full stop then. Probably better to do it on an open bit of road too, but as you seem to be a bit short on common sense it might be best just to drive slower.

If you're convinced that performing a firm stop would lead to a crash and an encounter with the law, you'd best avoid it.

I know full well how quickly my car stops in a straight line, but havnt got the guts to try it whilst cornering. I guess i could find a deserted car park and brake at 30mph whilst turning, and then, assuming it remains neat and tidy, i could try it on the road, at a higher speed.

[Benbay001]

JPJPJP said:

OP, seriously for a moment this is about practice and your own judgement of being safe on the road. If you can find a local advanced driving group (IAM or ROSPA / ROADAR), I would encourage you to have at least one session with one of their observers specifically on this topic.

Ive passed. But did you mean, get extra observed drives purely on this subject?
When on a hoon (gee, i hate that word, but no substitute came to my head) I tend to slow down to "normal" cornering speeds and accelerate hard as soon as the road opens out, but even with such a drastic speed reduction, im still not sure whether id be able to stop in time, maybe im just over thinking things.

Im getting to that stage where i wish i hadnt posted this topic.

[Benbay001]

S. Gonzales Esq. said:

I'm sure you know the feeling when someone asks a question and then responds to a reply in a way that seems to ignore half the points and then deliberately misunderstand the rest.

S. Gonzales Esq. said:

leave a cone or similar at the kerb and drive round the bend at your usual speed, stopping when you see the cone.

How am i wrong to assume that you meant leave the cone on the road? If there is a curb on the stretch of road i am using then im going to see the cone long before i would if it was a tight bend with hedgerows.

[Benbay001]

Jesus fking Christ i never wanted a witch hunt!!

I give up, if anyone has anything interesting or relevant to the subject topost then post it, and i will consider replying.
Otherwise grow up, and try not to judge someones driving ability when you have never even met them, yet alone observed their driving!

[Benbay001]

WhoseGeneration said:

There is no test that, in isolation, can accommodate all potential situations.
I'm reminded of something that vonhosen once said, most overestimate the stopping distance at low speeds and underestimate the stopping distance at high speeds. I suspect, with reference to high speeds, he was talking about speeds much above NSL.
You and your car, if you want to find out, go out in varying weather conditions day and night and experiment.

Thats better, thank you.

[Benbay001]

DocSteve said:

Quite agree OP. It is a perfectly valid question. Although it is something that is drilled into you during any kind of AD training, in practice it isn't that easy as you point out. The distance you can see to be clear needs to involve the whole carriageway - you might see a tall vehicle or horse above a verge or hedge line but a tree across a road or other similar low-lying hazard will be hard to spot. It's easy to become complacent with roads that you know well too.

Centurion07 said:

By your own admission you can't tell what your stopping distance is at a given speed. Am I missing something?

If its that clear cut, wouldnt it have just been easier for you to tell me how far my stopping distances are?

[Benbay001]

Centurion07 said:

Not really because knowing the numbers isn't going to help you is it?

I couldn't tell you any braking distances off the top of my head for a given speed but I'm capable of judging whether or not I can stop in the space I can see to be clear. Even then you need to be aware that the distance you can see to be clear may become a lot shorter if some tool comes flying round the corner the other way expecting everyone else to get out the way.

To me, if you're having very definate doubts about whether you could stop or not, you're obviously cutting it a bit fine and therefore going too fast?

Maybe I've misunderstood the question?

Youre right, im a moron.