madness

[perlmonger]

I've just been reading (on cix:bikers if anyone cares) that the UK Official Line on learning to drive now is that using engine braking or even, Pry Mincer forfend, changing down to get more engine braking is bad, wrong and generally verboten.

I can just see all these new, approved drivers coming down a hill in Wales or the Highlands or the Pennines or anywhere not in Lincolnshire or East Anglia happily controlling their speed in 5th with their brakes until the magic smoke exits from their poor overstressed brakepads and they end up performing a graceful loop over a drystone wall followed by a plummet to a reservoir 500 feet below.

Still, their clutchplates won't wear out, so that's ok...

Comments

[perlmonger.livejournal.com]

Well, to be blunt, anyone so fuckwit ignorant and stupid as to drive is such circumstances without using their brakelights (not necessarily their brakes) to indicate to those following what they're doing shouldn't be allowed to drive.

The same applies to morons who gaily drift across traffic before a junction and, finally, start signalling when there's no possible remaining doubt about where they are going.

But, hey! I don't suppose learners are taught clear, unabiguous signalling these days. That might require thought.

[ex-stevewpal562.livejournal.com]

True, but as I said, I think the emphasis on engine vs. control braking had more to do with being legally explicit as opposed to teaching common sense, regardless of whether or not using engine braking at a particular time would be common sense. :-)

(One could hope that Darwin's law would eliminate the worst offenders except that, sadly, the worst offenders almost always end up taking a few innocent lives with their final driving error.)

Natasha pointed out to me yesterday that she just has a couple of years to go before she's authorised to get behind the wheel of a vehicle. And Jordan will be there in much less time. Start fearing for the future of the human race in the vicinity of Sammamish...