Re: [A/S] trailer hitches/Speed Limits/Defensive Driving

["Carol and Oliver Filippi" <ofilippi@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

I have a completely different view on defensive driving.  I think the whole
concept is too negative.  Perhaps PROACTIVE driving might be a better
choice.


I prefer techniques that I developed as a former world class sailboat racer
[which also included trailering a sailboat to many regattas, and the
accompanying trailer driving experience which came with it].  These
techniques are not original. I observed an old  New York City bus driver
employ them as the traffic in front of his bus seemed to magically disappear
as he smoothly guided his bus down 5th Avenue in heavy traffic.

With a racing sailboat, one does not have an accelerator pedal, or a brake
pedal; hence a major emphasis is on MAINTAINING speed (or squeezing out a
little more speed) and momentum.  This requires the skipper (the guy who
steers the boat) to THINK AHEAD.  This also means ANTICIPATING the actions
of
your competitors as well as the consequences of your own actions.

Inexperienced skippers often sail into holes which close up and become
traps.  They hit
another boat or violate a racing rule and are disqualified from the race.

Drivers who get into accidents often do essentially the same thing.  They
get into
situations with little room for error (or way out) or assume an unreasonable
(or
specific) behavior on
the part of an adjacent driver which may not take place.

Using this sailboat racing concept while driving with a trailer is an
excellent parallel, since (like the sailboat) one doesn't have the
maneuverability or braking
and acceleration while towing a trailer that one would have with the tow
vehicle alone. Thus, (marginal) driving techniques that might work without
the trailer
could cause major grief with the trailer.  Your acceleration and
maneuverability are significantly limited, hence the need to anticipate
where the vehicles around you are likely to be, a few seconds to a half
minute or more into the future is essential. In addition, one has to allow
for some
unpredictable (and predictable) behavior of the surrounding vehicles.  Using
all of this input, the tow vehicle driver can steer a course that is both
safe and efficient (maintain speed most of the time).  [Note that one's
elapsed time is
reduced, not by going fast, but by not slowing down.]  Frequent use of
the brakes is a sign of poor planning ahead.

Also, (as strange as this sounds) one can frequently come out ahead by going
behind rather than by (the more dangerous technique of)
trying to out gun and cut in front of another vehicle [sailboat racing
really hones
this skill].  The result is a smoother, less harrowing drive.

The key is to get an overall view of the road and the traffic.  Then match
your lane selection and driving tactics accordingly.  An important technique
is to try to maintain good visibility ahead [don't tailgate an 18 wheeler or
other large RV] (thereby improving your ability to anticipate, and minimize
panic situations).  Try to always leave yourself some place to go.  For
example, in heavy traffic on a freeway,  this means the extreme left or
right lane (assuming shoulders exist on both sides).  The right lane is less
likely to attract the attention of the highway patrol, though.

In California, for some reason, the Highway Patrol does not enforce the law
requiring entering merging traffic to keep clear of the right lane freeway
traffic. Thus, the onramp drivers expect the right lane thru driver to move
over one lane to the left to let them in.  With a long load (trailer) this
can get very dangerous, often forcing panic stops or rapid slowing.  So, the
technique is to drive in the right lane, but as an entry ramp gets near,
plan for a convenient transition to the second from the right lane BEFORE
reaching the on ramp (at which point you are in a real thru lane, and don't
have to worry about the merging traffic).  If the traffic is very heavy, and
the on ramps frequent, your best bet is to stay in the lane second from the
right. The distance you follow the vehicle in front of you is a compromise
between the "proper distance for the speed" one finds in the text books, and
the risk it creates in being cut off by other vehicles (especially the
merging ones on the right).  Thus it may be a lot safer to follow the
vehicle in front a little closer, but only if you can see beyond the vehicle
in front and further up the road.

The bottom line to all this is that good, safe driving requires
concentration and thinking - especially anticipation, and a driving style
which is not unpredictable to the surrounding traffic. (You want the other
drivers to have a good idea as to what you are likely to do next.)

I could go on with many more examples if anyone wants to hear them.
Meanwhile, I'll just sign off and wish you all well (me included).

Good luck,

Oliver Filippi