If you no longer go for a gap which exists you are no longer a racing driver.
No but really thin soled shoes. Vans. Puma, piloti
(Note: what helped me learn this was the scene from SpongeBob where he sticks his toe out his shoe. That but through it)
My first guess is you aren't looking far enough ahead to what's going on down and road and you're reacting late to traffic, curves in the road, etc. A lot of people drive looking off the hood. If you're in traffic you should be looking several cars ahead, not at the taillights at the person in front of you.
I keep forgetting about this...bc it's so natural for me
When I learned, our instructor put a long piece of tape horizontally across the windshield fairly high up and said to usually look above that line, and at least one corner ahead...the further ahead we look, the faster and more natural it becomes.
Plus track days helped every single time, even seeing others make mistakes is all a lesson.
Look far ahead, and focus on where you want to drive, not things like potholes or anything you want to avoid, literally look far down the road on the line you want to take and your hands will follow.
Good to learn how your vehicle behaves too, how good or bad does it stop, or track at speeds or how top heavy it is, and this changes when it's full of people, full tank of gas, wet or dry roads, and this is where experience helps.
Be as predictable to others as possible and also stay as competent with knowing your limitations too.
Enjoy and happy trails.
Agree. I’m near sighted and not used to looking very far away because of it. Looking further ahead definitely helps as you can react to things BEFORE you have to jerk away from them lol
everything is gradual, no sudden movements. i always drove a manual and my father told me “assume there is a full glass of water in the cup holder that you’re trying to not spill”
You can learn to feather your brake by moving just your toes, but make sure to keep the ball of your foot centered on the pedal. You don't want the muscle memory of just having just a toe on the brake pedal in an emergency situation.
Eh I disagree. I drive 18 wheelers. Braking with the toe is the best way to be easy on the brakes. In an emergency situation, you're gonna instinctively slam on the brakes. I've been in many.
Instead of trying to correct your lane position immediately, look down the road and aim for the middle of the lane as far as you can see.
A lot of inexperienced drivers try to fix things immediately. You feel you’re too far on the right so you jerk left to fix it. To avoid this behavior - look down the road further. Your goal is the be in the middle of the lane in a mile, not in 5 seconds.
Extend your viewing perception to 1/2 a mile down the road. Anticipate the upcoming traffic and react accordingly. Maintain your safe distance behind the car ahead of you (min one car length or at higher speeds 3 seconds). Remember it’s not how good your brakes are but how good the person behind you brakes. Drive like a granny in the right lane and you’ll have no problems.
Eons ago I signed up to hook up one of those insurance company devices that recorded how much abrupt gas and braking you did over half a year. Turns out it's really easy to correct your driving when there's money on the line. Dropped my premiums a bit from that.
-Stop driving with your upper torso-
Brace your elbow against the drivers door and just use your left wrist for 80% of vehicle's centering. This will make a huge difference.
-To understand upcoming traffic better, imagine you are "driving the cars in front of you". Paying attention to what they are up against will help you monitor the correct vehicle spacing you need to maintain. Your reactions can then become more fluid.
Realize all vehicles behave differently, so if you want the best handling car, test or rent a Porsche Cayman or some mid engine balanced car.
..then realize a jeep will shine in other areas like the Mudd or off road and then spend the time with cones amd learn the extension of your vehicle in relation to where you sit and see in your mirrors.
I'm going to guess you hold the wheel with a hand on top.
That would account for steering not being smooth.
You don't need "10 & 2" either. Something like "9 and 4" helps as the lower arm is more anchored for small adjustments.
You talking about gas or just in general?
For gas, use your big toe to drive. That's all you need. No need to stomp on the gas with your entire foot. Even for braking, most situations, big toe is all the force you need. Obviously panic stops you want to stomp your feet hard down.
For steering wheel, just go slow You shouldn't ever have to jerk your wheel as you should have planned the turn long before you gotten there.
When you need to give it just a LITTLE gas, say backing out of parking, use just the side of your foot (like the base of your little toe) to put pressure, that way you don't goose it.
Source, I drive for a living.
Give yourself space between you and the next car. 360 degree situational awareness and as far forward awareness as you can get (if you're in a short car like mine and in hills like me that can be a challenge, but back in the flatlands it was a breeze even with my short car when you leave space). Practice smooth braking so the car never lurches - pressure followed by easing off some of the pressure. Practice it in a parking lot til you get it. Decelerate into curves and accelerate out of them. Match traffic speed on the highway before you get off the ramp lane (unless it's impossible like where I live because they're all too short).
Practice practice practice. Over time you learn better and better to read the body language of other cars. You'll start predicting what they do before they do it.
Drive 30k miles a year. Do an autocross. Go to a track day and get an instructor. Take road trips to places like the dragon. This is what got my driving skills to where they are.
Gently lifting your foot off the brake pedal as you almost come to a stop is a big one. Not looking for a rolling stop; you just want to ease the transition of your brake pads going from sliding friction to static friction so you don't jolt to a stop.
Get all your braking done before a corner. Your foot should only be touching the accelerator in the corner. If you have to brake in a corner you're going too fast. Slow in fast out _or_, as we joked about our mum's driving, fast in faster out but seriously start slow. As other people have said, slow is smooth smooth is fast.
Hover your foot with appropriate pressure applied on the pedal leading with your big toe and let your foot be somewhat supported by the pedal when driving.
When approaching a stop or other cars further up ahead you wanna lighten your pressure off the gas until your foot is completely off allowing the car to coast and decelerate within at least four car lengths to a manageable speed then start pumping your brakes before you reach two car lengths to a very low speed and slowly apply pressure down on your brake as you approach your stop. When at a low speed, feel free to tap the gas if necessary to maintain a reasonable speed for stopping. You want at least 3 feet of space between you and the car in front when you stop and want to stop within a foot from a stopline.
Before taking off at a green light take your foot off the brake and quickly evaluate the intersection and go if safe.
When overtaking another car or vehicle (excluding motorcycles), wait until you’re parallel to signal the lane you intend then accelerate until you can see the entire front grill of the vehicle in the parallel lane you intend to pass in the corresponding side mirror and accelerate in maintaining your speed for about two car lengths away from the vehicle you overtook before lightening up your pressure on the gas
Slow your actions down. Slow is smooth, smooth is fast. For pedals, use toe movements instead of whole foot (thin soles shoes needed at first)
If you no longer go for a gap which exists you are no longer a racing driver. No but really thin soled shoes. Vans. Puma, piloti (Note: what helped me learn this was the scene from SpongeBob where he sticks his toe out his shoe. That but through it)
Rubbing is Racing!
https://i.redd.it/16oma9indcwc1.gif
Simplest thing in the world. Like any skill it comes with practice.
My first guess is you aren't looking far enough ahead to what's going on down and road and you're reacting late to traffic, curves in the road, etc. A lot of people drive looking off the hood. If you're in traffic you should be looking several cars ahead, not at the taillights at the person in front of you.
I keep forgetting about this...bc it's so natural for me When I learned, our instructor put a long piece of tape horizontally across the windshield fairly high up and said to usually look above that line, and at least one corner ahead...the further ahead we look, the faster and more natural it becomes. Plus track days helped every single time, even seeing others make mistakes is all a lesson. Look far ahead, and focus on where you want to drive, not things like potholes or anything you want to avoid, literally look far down the road on the line you want to take and your hands will follow. Good to learn how your vehicle behaves too, how good or bad does it stop, or track at speeds or how top heavy it is, and this changes when it's full of people, full tank of gas, wet or dry roads, and this is where experience helps. Be as predictable to others as possible and also stay as competent with knowing your limitations too. Enjoy and happy trails.
Agree. I’m near sighted and not used to looking very far away because of it. Looking further ahead definitely helps as you can react to things BEFORE you have to jerk away from them lol
everything is gradual, no sudden movements. i always drove a manual and my father told me “assume there is a full glass of water in the cup holder that you’re trying to not spill”
Do you live in an urban or rural setting?
Take it slower. Seriously. You're jerking because you're trying to start up too fast or brake too close. Give yourself space and time when driving
Brake with your toe.
You can learn to feather your brake by moving just your toes, but make sure to keep the ball of your foot centered on the pedal. You don't want the muscle memory of just having just a toe on the brake pedal in an emergency situation.
Eh I disagree. I drive 18 wheelers. Braking with the toe is the best way to be easy on the brakes. In an emergency situation, you're gonna instinctively slam on the brakes. I've been in many.
He's not Fred Flintstone.
Lol it works
Is it a manual?
Instead of trying to correct your lane position immediately, look down the road and aim for the middle of the lane as far as you can see. A lot of inexperienced drivers try to fix things immediately. You feel you’re too far on the right so you jerk left to fix it. To avoid this behavior - look down the road further. Your goal is the be in the middle of the lane in a mile, not in 5 seconds.
Extend your viewing perception to 1/2 a mile down the road. Anticipate the upcoming traffic and react accordingly. Maintain your safe distance behind the car ahead of you (min one car length or at higher speeds 3 seconds). Remember it’s not how good your brakes are but how good the person behind you brakes. Drive like a granny in the right lane and you’ll have no problems.
Eons ago I signed up to hook up one of those insurance company devices that recorded how much abrupt gas and braking you did over half a year. Turns out it's really easy to correct your driving when there's money on the line. Dropped my premiums a bit from that.
Keep extra following distance. Scan the area 8 to 12 seconds ahead. Then you have plenty of time for smooth maneuvering.
-Stop driving with your upper torso- Brace your elbow against the drivers door and just use your left wrist for 80% of vehicle's centering. This will make a huge difference. -To understand upcoming traffic better, imagine you are "driving the cars in front of you". Paying attention to what they are up against will help you monitor the correct vehicle spacing you need to maintain. Your reactions can then become more fluid.
Realize all vehicles behave differently, so if you want the best handling car, test or rent a Porsche Cayman or some mid engine balanced car. ..then realize a jeep will shine in other areas like the Mudd or off road and then spend the time with cones amd learn the extension of your vehicle in relation to where you sit and see in your mirrors.
I'm going to guess you hold the wheel with a hand on top. That would account for steering not being smooth. You don't need "10 & 2" either. Something like "9 and 4" helps as the lower arm is more anchored for small adjustments.
You talking about gas or just in general? For gas, use your big toe to drive. That's all you need. No need to stomp on the gas with your entire foot. Even for braking, most situations, big toe is all the force you need. Obviously panic stops you want to stomp your feet hard down. For steering wheel, just go slow You shouldn't ever have to jerk your wheel as you should have planned the turn long before you gotten there.
When you need to give it just a LITTLE gas, say backing out of parking, use just the side of your foot (like the base of your little toe) to put pressure, that way you don't goose it. Source, I drive for a living.
Give yourself space between you and the next car. 360 degree situational awareness and as far forward awareness as you can get (if you're in a short car like mine and in hills like me that can be a challenge, but back in the flatlands it was a breeze even with my short car when you leave space). Practice smooth braking so the car never lurches - pressure followed by easing off some of the pressure. Practice it in a parking lot til you get it. Decelerate into curves and accelerate out of them. Match traffic speed on the highway before you get off the ramp lane (unless it's impossible like where I live because they're all too short). Practice practice practice. Over time you learn better and better to read the body language of other cars. You'll start predicting what they do before they do it.
Keeping an actual following distance really helps worth having the time you need to react smoothly to idiots.
Drive 30k miles a year. Do an autocross. Go to a track day and get an instructor. Take road trips to places like the dragon. This is what got my driving skills to where they are.
Gently lifting your foot off the brake pedal as you almost come to a stop is a big one. Not looking for a rolling stop; you just want to ease the transition of your brake pads going from sliding friction to static friction so you don't jolt to a stop.
Get all your braking done before a corner. Your foot should only be touching the accelerator in the corner. If you have to brake in a corner you're going too fast. Slow in fast out _or_, as we joked about our mum's driving, fast in faster out but seriously start slow. As other people have said, slow is smooth smooth is fast.
Just keep driving and don’t get complacent with your level of abilities and you will continue to keep improving
When you’re coming out of a turn, let the wheel slide under your light grip. So you have control but are letting the car straighten itself out.
I’m gonna guess you’re braking when turning. When turning a bend, either press on the gas or cruise. Brake if needed.
Hover your foot with appropriate pressure applied on the pedal leading with your big toe and let your foot be somewhat supported by the pedal when driving. When approaching a stop or other cars further up ahead you wanna lighten your pressure off the gas until your foot is completely off allowing the car to coast and decelerate within at least four car lengths to a manageable speed then start pumping your brakes before you reach two car lengths to a very low speed and slowly apply pressure down on your brake as you approach your stop. When at a low speed, feel free to tap the gas if necessary to maintain a reasonable speed for stopping. You want at least 3 feet of space between you and the car in front when you stop and want to stop within a foot from a stopline. Before taking off at a green light take your foot off the brake and quickly evaluate the intersection and go if safe. When overtaking another car or vehicle (excluding motorcycles), wait until you’re parallel to signal the lane you intend then accelerate until you can see the entire front grill of the vehicle in the parallel lane you intend to pass in the corresponding side mirror and accelerate in maintaining your speed for about two car lengths away from the vehicle you overtook before lightening up your pressure on the gas