[FORTified]

Originally Posted by SS-Traveller

https://practicalmotoring.com.au/voi...natural-skill/

https://practicalmotoring.com.au/car...better-driver/

Hope these 2 articles help explain things a little better.

Thanks for sharing.
They are a good reading.

However, I still didn't understand how they make driving a less instinctive activity, especially on Indian road. Your instincts, especially on indian roads, are your best saviors. You need those to help you make your split second decisions, which make or break, in panic braking situations.

If you think otherwise, I respect your thoughts still.

[Thad E Ginathom]

Anticipation is the Number One Driving Skill. I see it to be hugely lacking on Indian roads.

Originally Posted by FORTified

However, I still didn't understand how they make driving a less instinctive activity, especially on Indian road. Your instincts, especially on indian roads, are your best saviors. You need those to help you make your split second decisions, which make or break, in panic braking situations.

Once you have driven a car for even a few weeks, the ability to change gear, and, even to know when to change gear, becomes pretty-much automatic, right? We do not think very much about it; we just do it. It is not instinctive: it is a learned skill.

Similarly, most of driving is not instinctive, but is a collection of learned skills, abilities and wisdoms. Nature did not make us into car drivers: learning to drive did. With hugely variable degrees of success,

[LoneRidder]

Originally Posted by FORTified

Thanks for sharing.
They are a good reading.

However, I still didn't understand how they make driving a less instinctive activity, especially on Indian road. Your instincts, especially on indian roads, are your best saviors. You need those to help you make your split second decisions, which make or break, in panic braking situations.

If you think otherwise, I respect your thoughts still.

I am no Psychology expert. But through the studies that I have done, can surely say you are mixing the term 'reflexes' with instincts.

Instincts are natural impulse resulted through learned behavioural pattern. A better learning process (could be driving too) can help in better instincts.

So yes, you can learn and unlearn your 'instinct'.

Watch-out, instincts is also hereditary! What you learn goes to your future generation

[Sankar]

Originally Posted by FORTified

Thanks for sharing.
They are a good reading.

However, I still didn't understand how they make driving a less instinctive activity, especially on Indian road. Your instincts, especially on indian roads, are your best saviors. You need those to help you make your split second decisions, which make or break, in panic braking situations.

If you think otherwise, I respect your thoughts still.

On Indian roads you can't trust your instincts. Anticipation and its good to have good reflexes.

[SmartCat]

Originally Posted by Sankar

Here is an example of lack of sufficient anticipation on my part getting me into trouble. My reflex action to target for the least damaging option and ABS helping me steer without skidding helped get out of this situation. No damages to the vehicle or tyres.

The Swift Dzire already hit the cones after braking and skidding (see the tyre mark) and was coming to the left lane to park. The other Innova driver also handled the situation very well good reflexes.

It's not your lack of anticipation, but lack of visibility. The Innova ahead was blocking your view. He saw the slow moving DZire on left lane and braked earlier than you did. You had only indirect inputs that something was wrong - his glowing tail-lights & subsequent realization that the Innova was decelerating rapidly.

At higher speeds (100 kmph plus), its better to let the other vehicle move ahead. Or you should overtake him and get it done with. Following another vehicle at high speeds negates risks under certain circumstances, sure, but also adds to risk sometimes.

[Sankar]

Originally Posted by smartcat

It's not your lack of anticipation, but lack of visibility. The Innova ahead was blocking your view. He saw the slow moving DZire on left lane and braked earlier than you did. You had only indirect inputs that something was wrong - his glowing tail-lights & subsequent realization that the Innova was decelerating rapidly.

At higher speeds (100 kmph plus), its better to let the other vehicle move ahead. Or you should overtake him and get it done with. Following another vehicle at high speeds negates risks under certain circumstances, sure, but also adds to risk sometimes.

If i was that Innova in front with good visibility would it have helped? Not unless the Dzire guy decided to speed up his transition from the center to extreme left. If not the other Innova would not have had the gap to go ahead.

I saw his glowing brake light and braked as soon as i processed that information which is at about 10-11secs in that video and still ahead of his braking point.

Lack of anticipation of what could hide beyond the corner in this case i didnt anticipate there would be cones and triangle beyond that corner. Forward visibility was good i was able to see the brake light react to it and see the obstruction ahead and see a safer position to steer towards to. Even the other Innova ahead cannot see into the corner.

The workers should have placed the warning before the entry into the corner.

[SS-Traveller]

Originally Posted by Sankar

... Innova driver also handled the situation very well good reflexes.

I keep counting those seconds. The gap is less than 2 seconds. At 100 kmph the recommended gap is 3 seconds.

[Sankar]

Originally Posted by SS-Traveller

I keep counting those seconds. The gap is less than 2 seconds. At 100 kmph the recommended gap is 3 seconds.

Yes it was close, should not have been close . I would mind the gap in future.

[SS-Traveller]

Originally Posted by Sankar

Yes it was close, should not have been close . I would mind the gap in future.

As a matter of fact, the Innova broke the 5-second rule on a blind curve. Caused him to brake hard, almost unable to stop. He barely managed to wriggle through.

[ecenandu]

Originally Posted by Sankar

Here is an example of lack of sufficient anticipation on my part getting me into trouble.

Is it only the lack of anticipation or does the speed also played a role?

[Sankar]

Originally Posted by ecenandu

Is it only the lack of anticipation or does the speed also played a role?

Actually everyone in that video had a role and none played it too well.
In retrospect it was a good learning experience for all involved. Hope others can learn from this. That is why i posted it here.

[ecenandu]

Originally Posted by Sankar

Hope others can learn from this. That is why i posted it here.

True, I'm happy that you shared this video and that too with speed overlay.

What I learned is higher the speed, you have less time to react and the importance of lane discipline.

[LoneRidder]

Originally Posted by Sankar

On Indian roads you can't trust your instincts. Anticipation and its good to have good reflexes.

The other Innova driver also handled the situation very well good reflexes.

While I agree with your and Innova's reflexes and good luck saved your day, both the vehicles were driven like a cat and dog chase. In less than 13 seconds, there were 3 lane changes.

I guess you were tail gating him for some time, which resulted you being in blind spot. Possibly better driving would have helped in better handling!

[Sankar]

Originally Posted by ecenandu

True, I'm happy that you shared this video and that too with speed overlay.

What I learned is higher the speed, you have less time to react and the importance of lane discipline.

In this particular situation it would have been worse if the cars were on fast/right lane. Reason? The obstruction ahead would have come up into view only much later because it was a curve and the obstruction was on same lane.

See the Swift in the video, that car was probably doing a lower speed (relatively) but was on the fast/right lane it braked in a straight line (see skid mark) and hit the triangle. If he was on the slow/left lane he would have proceeded ahead without incident, so he was on the correct lane for his speed i assume.

[tharian]

Sankar's video is good example of why on Indian highways , although the roads are well paved and marked, at the same it is not safe to do high speeds.

We are still lagging behind when it comes to good effective signage's/alerts on highways although they are 4 or 6 laned.

There could have been an alert kept a couple of hundred meters before regarding the deviation, all the more important since it was a curve.

Rather expect the un-expected on our roads.