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Post by the light works on Aug 9, 2015 1:19:27 GMT
testing hands free calling behind the wheel.
also, on the B-side, high speed chase in reverse.
my first comment: I have found that in general, hands-free isn't. worst case; the earpiece Mrs TLW bought me required me to hold it in place with my hand in order to hear and be heard.
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Post by Antigone68104 on Aug 9, 2015 2:22:03 GMT
Not a game night, so I could watch this one without DVRing.
Reverse car chase: I was always under the impression that reverse gear was inherently a lower gear and couldn't go as fast as the higher forward gears. But when I was in school lack of penis = banned from all shop courses, so what do I know? They managed to get that car going a lot faster than I would have expected.
Hands-free vs phone-in-hand: I know several people who use their cell's speakerphone because it's "safer", I hope they were watching tonight.
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Post by the light works on Aug 9, 2015 2:23:26 GMT
okay, my thoughts. I still want to see if the driving is any better with a passenger doing the same distractions. I am beginning to have the opinion that distracted driving is distracted driving, whether it is a passenger, a phone, a hamburger (which I understand is also illegal in California) or just a lot on your mind. What I see happening is the tests is people being overwhelmed with input to the point of missing critical details.
driving in reverse: I was surprised that the car was capable of the velocity.
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Post by the light works on Aug 9, 2015 2:38:41 GMT
Not a game night, so I could watch this one without DVRing. Reverse car chase: I was always under the impression that reverse gear was inherently a lower gear and couldn't go as fast as the higher forward gears. But when I was in school lack of penis = banned from all shop courses, so what do I know? They managed to get that car going a lot faster than I would have expected. Hands-free vs phone-in-hand: I know several people who use their cell's speakerphone because it's "safer", I hope they were watching tonight. this is somewhat close to home for me, as my office is my truck - I am optimally either driving or swinging tools - and I definitely can't talk on the phone and swing tools. I would guess I field an average of 2 calls per day while driving. - so do I try to use hands free and try to keep the call short; or do I dive for the shoulder to stop? |
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Post by ironhold on Aug 9, 2015 3:25:46 GMT
Backwards driving: Unfortunately, this is something that I have experience with.
Out in the more rural part of my route, I've got a customer who wants their newspaper by their garage door. Thing is, [1] their driveway is as long as a normal city block and [2] unless the homeowners park their vehicles just so, I don't have enough room to properly turn the car around. Thus, I have to go down the driveway, get out of the car, drop the newspaper off, and then back the car down their driveway. Making matters even worse is that I've got a drainage ditch to worry about, meaning that I must keep the car on their driveway (which, fortunately, is two cars wide) or else I'm in big trouble.
Given how I have to have the car laden down, I don't have enough room to do what the expert demonstrated on the show. Instead, I have to alternate between checking my central rear-view mirror (I almost never check my sides) and looking out the front window. One thing about the 1990 Buick Skylark is that there's a small pillar on the rear deck (re: the part behind the rear bench) that's got a third brake light. My personal vehicle has a discolored part right at the center bottom of the mirror. If I do it right, I can line this discolored part up against the pillar to center the mirror, and then use the bumper stickers I have on my rear window to check the elevation of the mirror (I should have all three visible on the edges).
Once I get it in place, the mirror doesn't lie when it comes to letting me know what's behind me. From there, I just have to periodically look out the front windshield to ensure that I'm not angled too dramatically in any direction.
Granted, I can't go too fast when I'm doing this; I just simply put the car in reverse and let the engine push itself under its own power. But it gets the job done.
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Post by the light works on Aug 9, 2015 3:40:45 GMT
Backwards driving: Unfortunately, this is something that I have experience with. Out in the more rural part of my route, I've got a customer who wants their newspaper by their garage door. Thing is, [1] their driveway is as long as a normal city block and [2] unless the homeowners park their vehicles just so, I don't have enough room to properly turn the car around. Thus, I have to go down the driveway, get out of the car, drop the newspaper off, and then back the car down their driveway. Making matters even worse is that I've got a drainage ditch to worry about, meaning that I must keep the car on their driveway (which, fortunately, is two cars wide) or else I'm in big trouble. Given how I have to have the car laden down, I don't have enough room to do what the expert demonstrated on the show. Instead, I have to alternate between checking my central rear-view mirror (I almost never check my sides) and looking out the front window. One thing about the 1990 Buick Skylark is that there's a small pillar on the rear deck (re: the part behind the rear bench) that's got a third brake light. My personal vehicle has a discolored part right at the center bottom of the mirror. If I do it right, I can line this discolored part up against the pillar to center the mirror, and then use the bumper stickers I have on my rear window to check the elevation of the mirror (I should have all three visible on the edges). Once I get it in place, the mirror doesn't lie when it comes to letting me know what's behind me. From there, I just have to periodically look out the front windshield to ensure that I'm not angled too dramatically in any direction. Granted, I can't go too fast when I'm doing this; I just simply put the car in reverse and let the engine push itself under its own power. But it gets the job done. I physically cannot look out the back of most of the vehicles I drive. in my work truck and my quick attack engine, I have actually repurposed the center mirror to check my passenger side blind spot. instead I have gotten pretty well practiced at driving backwards with the driver's side mirror. as long as I can put my driver's side where I want it, the passenger side will be fine. |
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Post by Antigone68104 on Aug 11, 2015 14:51:14 GMT
I don't know how many of you have Twitter accounts, but I've seen several posts over there challenging the hands-free results because (paraphrased) if that were accurate, it would be against the law for anyone to have passengers because of all the resulting car wrecks (end paraphrase).
It wasn't the law when I learned to drive, but IIRC isn't that the exact reason some states won't let teen drivers have passengers who aren't family members? Because the kids are too busy yakking to pay attention to the road?
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Post by the light works on Aug 11, 2015 15:11:19 GMT
I don't know how many of you have Twitter accounts, but I've seen several posts over there challenging the hands-free results because (paraphrased) if that were accurate, it would be against the law for anyone to have passengers because of all the resulting car wrecks (end paraphrase). It wasn't the law when I learned to drive, but IIRC isn't that the exact reason some states won't let teen drivers have passengers who aren't family members? Because the kids are too busy yakking to pay attention to the road? plus the cumulative effect of teenage bad judgement. |
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Post by WhutScreenName on Aug 14, 2015 14:08:36 GMT
I don't know how many of you have Twitter accounts, but I've seen several posts over there challenging the hands-free results because (paraphrased) if that were accurate, it would be against the law for anyone to have passengers because of all the resulting car wrecks (end paraphrase). It wasn't the law when I learned to drive, but IIRC isn't that the exact reason some states won't let teen drivers have passengers who aren't family members? Because the kids are too busy yakking to pay attention to the road? I don't know all the laws/regulations right now, but I do know that they have changed/become more strict since I started driving. I'm actually going to need to brush up on them as my niece has asked me to teach her, and my own daughter will be of driving age in about 3 years. |
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Post by silverdragon on Aug 18, 2015 10:25:43 GMT
First shock when finding reverse in a BIG-Rig, two reverse gears.
I was quite young, but I had never heard of having more than one reverse?...
Second surprise, but not quite as shocking, the high-low also affected the gears.
In effect, in that ruck, I had four usable gears...
Except the ratio's were not that simple.
Instead of low 1 low 2 high 1 high 2, its was low then high 1, then low then high 2.
Why?.. the explanation makes sense.
Reversing 40 odd tons, you need a little grunt to "break" away from stationary, then unless you want to do 200yds in slower than an asthmatic snail pace, you need to go up a cog, as you only have 300rpm change to play with.
And reversing in crawler "Solo"[bobtail} no trailer is just a pain in the backside anyway. in the GET A BLOODY MOVE ON sort of way?....
Longest reverse I ever did, non-stop, half mile.
Well... when I say half mile, I did get out a couple of times to walk a difficult corner?...
This was a pre-arranged stop where it would not be possible to turn round down that lane, so we all knew it was a reverse back out again.
No I do NOT want to do that again....
Its not the time thing, its not the difficult thing, its more the boredom?.
Heck bored?.. just how can you do that when you are constantly engaged on all mirrors with limited view and using all of you skill?...
Its just its slow grind and my mind started getting to play tricks ....
I hated it.
Because of my different driving skill set, I have stated that the Kids will NOT ask me to teach them test standard driving.
The car test has changed MUCH in the last 20-30-40 years, unless you are well versed in modern test standard, a simple "You need professional help" disclaimer and the exact explanation I just used, "I dont know what the modern test even is these days how can I teach you" sort of way, will do much to alleviate the problem.
I say that you should NEVER do the initial teach the kids to drive, find an instructor who will use a car-park for the initial wobble test, and use that instructor until they have basic competence to stay up with the rest of the traffic with confidence, and not be a 15mph in a 40 zone rolling road block bloody learner...
Then you can be the practise session driver.
At that time, you can let THEM drive, to what they have learnt, and let them tell YOU what the modern requirements are, all you are are the required passenger until they pass.
Also, with a grade zero rookie who never pressed a pedal before, unless you have dual controls, how do you take control in a panic emergency?...
Trust me on this, get a professional in to do the first 20 hrs or so, you will thank me for that.
If however your kid is a natural, good on them, may I wish them many years of good safe pleasant driving and welcome to the club.
We all had to start somewhere...
I learnt in 40 ton or more hay wagons on a farm, after showing I could drive a tractor pretty well.
After that, driving a Mini was sort of too easy to believe...
Except that I took corners half-a-bloody-mile from the kerb, I forgot how small they were.
That and NOT seeing a trailer in the mirror....
My kids, however, are looking forward to passing the test, as they then have access to my training, where I will teach them to Drive
As in, it will be ME that teaches them the pass-plus after all the legal obligations, the proper use of mirrors, the life-saver, the clutch-less gear change, the proper Motorway high speed training (legal limit) and when NOT to be a plank driving.
As in, do what I say not what I do.........
Oh yeah, I have double standards.
When they have as much experience as me, they can drive like me, until then, they are "Greenhorn".
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Post by breesfan on Aug 20, 2015 1:46:32 GMT
That was very interesting with the driving. I think you are distracted no matter what, whether if you have a kid in the back seat, dog in the car or talking to someone in the passenger seat.
The driving backwards, I'm not sure you can do that for a long period of time but it was cool to watch Adam and Jamie race.
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Post by watcher56 on Aug 20, 2015 2:43:42 GMT
There is a big difference between talking to someone on the phone and talking to someone in the seat next to you. The person in the seat next to you is in the same environment you are are will react in a way that is much less distracting than someone on the phone.
For example, if you are talking to someone on the phone and you need to brake suddenly, you will probably stop talking while carrying out the emergency maneuver. The person on the other end of the phone has no idea what is happening and will probably come back with "what?" or "are you still there?" or some such. Just listening to that takes some attention away from what you are doing. Under the same conditions, the person in the seat next to you will be aware of the situation, stop talking and let you handle the situation with your full attention.
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Post by the light works on Aug 20, 2015 3:14:46 GMT
There is a big difference between talking to someone on the phone and talking to someone in the seat next to you. The person in the seat next to you is in the same environment you are are will react in a way that is much less distracting than someone on the phone. For example, if you are talking to someone on the phone and you need to brake suddenly, you will probably stop talking while carrying out the emergency maneuver. The person on the other end of the phone has no idea what is happening and will probably come back with "what?" or "are you still there?" or some such. Just listening to that takes some attention away from what you are doing. Under the same conditions, the person in the seat next to you will be aware of the situation, stop talking and let you handle the situation with your full attention. yeah, mrs TLW usually yells at me when I fail to notice a traffic light because she is talking to me. |
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Post by silverdragon on Aug 20, 2015 5:13:25 GMT
On the show of Dangerous Driving, I call a hall of fame for "Common knowledge" of the WHOLE BOARD, we have I believe discussed it a couple of times and we all know that hands free or hand full, distracted driving whilst talking on the phone is a bad idea.
To have it proved beyond doubt?...
To have it constantly fail "test" procedures?...
Can it be proven you would fail a driving test of basic proficiency>,
If so, can we now ban ALL phones from cars whilst driving?.
That will bring a little more safety to the roads.
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On the fact a normal car can do 50 in reverse.....
Who knew?.
I have never tried to do 50 in reverse.
To be honest, I dont think I ever tried doing more than about 10 to 15 in reverse....
On the long-distance over 100 yds thing, in an above post, Thats done at less than walking pace most of the time.
For the turn round in your seat thing, I think I was taught that trick many years ago, but gave up on it now I have back problems, but yeah, if it works.....
But you cant do that in a heavy van or wagon.
No rear view from a window.
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Post by the light works on Aug 20, 2015 13:43:51 GMT
On the show of Dangerous Driving, I call a hall of fame for "Common knowledge" of the WHOLE BOARD, we have I believe discussed it a couple of times and we all know that hands free or hand full, distracted driving whilst talking on the phone is a bad idea. To have it proved beyond doubt?... To have it constantly fail "test" procedures?... Can it be proven you would fail a driving test of basic proficiency>, If so, can we now ban ALL phones from cars whilst driving?. That will bring a little more safety to the roads. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- On the fact a normal car can do 50 in reverse..... Who knew?. I have never tried to do 50 in reverse. To be honest, I dont think I ever tried doing more than about 10 to 15 in reverse.... On the long-distance over 100 yds thing, in an above post, Thats done at less than walking pace most of the time. For the turn round in your seat thing, I think I was taught that trick many years ago, but gave up on it now I have back problems, but yeah, if it works..... But you cant do that in a heavy van or wagon. No rear view from a window. I think I backed my old engine at more than 15 MPH, but I could also shift gears in reverse. |
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Post by c64 on Sept 23, 2015 12:05:44 GMT
driving in reverse: I was surprised that the car was capable of the velocity. This depends on the car. There is no rule or law how the reverse gear has to be made. The classic 3 speed manual gearbox has the reverse gear installed almost the way the other gears are installed, just smaller cogs and an additional one in the middle to reverse direction. Actually it is not really sitting between the cogs on the input and output shafts, it's more like a triangle with the additional cog fixed to the gearbox housing. Usually, the bearing is rather crude and the cog improperly lubricated. It is not meant for driving, just for slowly backing up. The VW Golf ("Rabbit") has a 4-speed manual transmission but it is closely related to the classic 3-speed transmission. The lifetime of the reverse gear cog is about 20 minutes max speed in reverse. Then the reverse cog usually comes loose destroying the entire gearbox. I often had joined a classic car club meeting at a restaurant. Once someone said: "I'd wager my reverse gear on it." and had lost his bet. After midnight when we were about to drive home, he was unable to back up his car out of the parking space. Then the guy who had won the bet knocked at his window, said "Betting debts are debts of honour, but I guess you can have your reverse gear back!" and handed him a cog. In this particular car, the reverse cog has a crude friction bearing and is meant to be exchangeable. The cog is bolted to the back of an inspection lid of the gearbox. Easy to replace - or steal. The classic 3-speed gearbox usually has straight teeth on the reverse gear cogs and since they can take less torque, the gear ratio is usually somewhere between 1th and 2th gear. So the classic 3-speed manual transmissions can actually drive a bit faster in reverse than forward in 1th gear! For most classic 3-speed transmission cars, this gives you 20mph or 25mph. The NSU Ro80 even 60mph and more! Not that this will last for more than a few minutes! The more modern 4-speed transmissions and all 5/6-speed ones have the reverse gear in a different location of the gearbox and there are no restrictions how you need to do it. Usually they are helical gearing so there is no torque limit and to make backing up more safely, the reverse gear is shorter than the 1th gear so the car will only move around half as fast as it can in 1th gear. Automatic transmissions are very different. Here, the reverse gear is usually fully independent of all other gears. Compared to a manual transmission, automatic ones don't have a 1th gear since they have a torque converter. So a 3-speed auto translates into a 4-speed manual. And due to size restrictions, the reverse gear ratio is similar to the lowest forward gear so an automatic transmission in reverse usually beats a manual transmission in 2th gear. And then there are vehicles which have no main reverse gear, they use a intermediate transmission for backing up. Those can have as many reverse gears as it has main forward gears. The modern ones are electronically locked so you can have 2 reverse gear ratios at best, but the classic ones often can drive backwards as fast as they can forwards. The most famous vehicle was made by DAF. It is equipped with a belt driven variomatic transmission and so it had to have an intermediate transmission gearbox just for the reverse gear. The variomatic doesn't care if you have selected forwards or backwards on the intermediate so this car is capable to drive almost 100mph into both directions! |
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