Rash driver learns to love sedate driving: Here's how he managed it

My vehicle drives smoother, I am less of a risk to others on the road, and I feel more at peace!

BHPian TallBoy recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

I have been a rash and fast driver. From the time I started riding a bicycle, through my two-wheeler years, and on four-wheelers for the last twenty-five years. I have had my share of bad bruises, near misses, road rage arguments and run-ins.

My current ride, a 2016 Innova Crysta ZX, completed its 100k km service. The first day I drove it after the service, the engine sounded quite smooth and I felt I should try and keep it that way for the next couple of days. So did not press my foot to the pedal. After a couple of days, I looked at the tachometer and decided I should keep it below 1,500 and definitely not exceed 2,000. It slowly became a habit and for the last fortnight, I haven't crossed the 2,000 mark even once and have not exceeded 60 KMPH (most of my driving is in the city).

In these two weeks, I have realized that all the occasions when I used to earlier try and speed do not really require me to do so. Even at a very sedate speed, I am still getting to wherever I want to go at almost the same time. Even if I am late by a couple of minutes, I find that the heavens have not fallen, while I am getting there without taking any needless risks.

In a nutshell, I have realized how plainly stupid it was of me to be such a rash driver all these days when there was no reason to do so at all. My vehicle drives smoother, I am less of a risk to others on the road, and I feel more at peace!

This post is for three reasons:

1. A sort of confession from my end, and a commitment to myself that I shall continue to stick to this newfound driving mode
2. To elicit others' views on this topic, and,
3. Hopefully encourage others to try doing the same, even if you feel you are the safest fast driver

Here's what GTO had to say on the matter:

Great thread.

I love to drive. Period. Slow or fast, a 5-lakh rupee car or a 50-lakh rupee one, curvy highway or expressway, Bandra's lanes or curvy ghat roads. I love to drive.

Agreed with you that there is a certain pleasure in sedate driving. Enjoying the car, observing how the machine behaves, the scenery....driving is very therapeutic to me. I own two Jeeps (a '97 Classic & a '22 Thar) so have automatically learned to enjoy driving @ 80 km/h.

Doesn't mean that I don't enjoy driving hard. I do. But that's only when the roads are empty, on the highway and I'm "in the mood".

Related thread on how even boring cars can be pleasurable to drive.

Here's what BHPian vishy76 had to say on the matter:

I drive a 50-year-old 45hp car so I think I am the perfect contestant for this

The fact of the matter is that most people who follow me on social media or even know me in person think I tend to always drive hard. That's not really the truth. The driving style for me is dictated by what I am driving, where it is being driven and many times and oft what mood I am in.

If it comes down to driving hard, I typically plan a long drive at night on less crowded wide open roads or even better, highways. I seldom drive hard in the city since it's plain unsafe and it just demands too much attention with no real gain in driving pleasure or saving time.

Coming to calm and sedate drives, I don't really have an option with my Fiat. With drums on all four corners, no brake proportioning valve and no brake booster (forget ABS), I have to drive sedately below 60 km/h within city limits at least. Initially, I was under the impression that this would be a deterrent and I wouldn't end up using the car much, just like a project car should be. But, it's been the total opposite.

I have genuinely started enjoying my drives down to South Bombay. Even with empty roads at midnight or very early morning, I am never tempted to push the car at any point. I have instead started enjoying the sedate pace at which the President wafts along. Catching sight of old South Bombay with the sea breeze in the cabin. It's very calming.

Posting a pic from one such early morning drive.

I have tried driving fast on highways for quite some time in my Jetta and I got bored after less than 10-15 minutes. I prefer maintaining a cruising speed of 100-120 continuously rather than short bursts to unmentionable speeds especially when it comes to longer journeys. You don't really save much time doing this but get fatigued a lot sooner.

Here's what BHPian saket77 had to say on the matter:

Agree with the essence of this thread 100%.

Driving sedately is also an art. I love to drive on the highway in a manner where passengers don't feel when I shifted gears, brake, etc. In short, they should not know what is happening in the driving seat. I reach the destination fresh with taking less stress compared to hard driving, extract better FE thereby reducing my carbon footprint and of course using less fuel, being gentle on the car and passengers have no reason to complain. In fact, I have noticed that even timewise there is not much difference if you drive too fast or hard. And the additional stress that you take is just not worth it. I mostly drive around the 80-90 km/h range on 4-lane highways. That helps me arrive fresh and with less exertion compared to constant high-speed driving. At times there can be a short burst of speeds in 3-digit categories, but that is only for the Italian tune-up

And yes, one does have to judge when you need to accelerate hard at times to get out of tricky situations, lose the tailgaters (or give them way), etc.

Here's what BHPian vb-san had to say on the matter:

Actually fast and rash need not always go hand-in-hand. A slow driver can be rash as well – for e.g., that impatient one who cannot decide on which lane to stay in slow-moving traffic. Or a sedate driver who holds up the fast lane on an expressway.

What is important is to curb the thought of going fast irrespective of the road/situation. Drive sedately on a peaceful country road, take in the scenery, and if you are presented with a high-speed highway or a set of nice twisty roads, align accordingly and go responsibly fast.

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