Community Chat

[occasionalrain]

There are a lot of winding roads and hills where I live. Often, instead of braking prior to entering a curve and accelerating through it, as they should, they brake through the curve. 

How is it that so many drivers don't know to brake before a curve or turn, not through it? 

[geezerette]

When I was learning to drive it was a requirement to have to take a driver's education course.  You had to pass a written test as well as a drivers (on road) test before you were allowed to apply for a learner's permit.  Braking before a curve was one of the things we learned in those classes.

Nowadays, no classes are required before applying for a state driver's license in the state where I live.  

[Icegoddess]

I learned to drive on those curving roads out in the country long before I got any permit.  My father did this with both of us.  He would take the back way to get back to the highway and have us drive.  The only thing I found concerning were a couple of wooden bridges.  But Daddy was sitting right next to me, so I'm sure he could grab the wheel if my aim was off, or just tell me to stop.  

I was probably 13 or 14.  My sister got an earlier start because she was tall.  I'm short, so he had to wait until my feet would reach the pedals.

He also made us change a tire before he would let us take the driving test, and taught us how to parallel park.  I still don't like doing it because people pull up right behind you.  I also still don't like stopping on a hill.  I drive a stick.  I got stuck on one last week in a line of traffic behind a school bus that apparently broke down.  

[wagirl]

I was never taught how to drive into a curve---I took drivers ed in high school. I slow down going into a curve  and then brake/accelerate  as needed. And I'm 70--learned to drive at 16---maybe it a regional thing--I lived in Seattle so not many windy, curvy roads-

[Kachina624]

@occasionalrain  People, especially flatlanders, also have no clue how to drive in the mountains.

When decending a steep slope, instead of leaning on the brake the whole way down, you should shift the car into second gear and the engine will instantly help slow the car, saving the brakes.

Yes, I'm talking about a car with automatic transmission.

[simplyfriends]

I brake when I need to and accelerate when I need to.  If there's a hazard in the road or maybe a blind spot I act according.  Sometimes you can't help it.  

[Desertdi]

I live in a mountain pass...with BLIND CURVES.    The speed limit is 15mph.    Braking is a necessity if there is anyone oncoming...just for safety sake... 

[tiny 2]

When I'm up at my mountain house I observe people braking before the curve but they are still going too fast so they end up being forced to brake in the curve to keep it on the road. I use my gears. Brakes are expensive.

[ValuSkr]

Some people like to ride the brake.  I guess they don't understand how unnecessary it is - if they'd only slowed down in advance - and how it creates wear and tear on the actual brakes.  Common sense but some folk don't have it.

[occasionalrain]

I live in the NE. We get snow and we drive past those who brake through a curve and slide off the road into a ditch, if they're lucky, and into a tree, house, or down a hill if they're not. Rain storms find them off the road too.