[TallBoy]

I have been a rash and fast driver. From the time I started riding a bicycle, through my two wheeler years, and on four wheelers for the last twenty five years. I have had my share of bad bruises, near misses, road rage arguments and run-ins.

My current ride, a 2016 Innova Crysta ZX, completed its 100k KM service. The first day I drove it after the service, engine sounded quite smooth and I felt I should try and keep it that way for the next couple of days. So did not press my foot to the pedal. After a couple of days, I looked at the tachometer and decided I should keep it below 1,500 and definitely not exceed 2,000. It slowly became a habit and for the last fortnight, I haven't crossed the 2,000 mark even once and have not exceeded 60 KMPH (most of my driving is my in the city).

In these two weeks, I have realized that all the occasions when I used to earlier try and speed do not really require me to do so. Even at a very sedate speed, I am still getting to wherever I want to go in almost the same time. Even I am late by a couple of minutes, I find that the heavens have not fallen, while I am getting there without taking any needless risks.

In a nutshell, I have realized how plainly stupid it was of me to be such a rash driver all these days when there was no reason to do so at all. My vehicle drives smoother, I am less of a risk to others on the road, and I feel more at peace!

This post is for three reasons:
1. A sort of confession from my end, and a commitment to myself that I shall continue to stick to this new found driving mode
2. To elicit others' views on this topic, and,
3. Hopefully encourage others to try doing the same, even if you feel you are the safest fast driver

[GTO]

Great thread .

I love to drive. Period. Slow or fast, 5-lakh rupee car or a 50-lakh rupee one, curvy highway or expressway, Bandra's lanes or curvy ghat roads. I love to drive.

Agreed with you that there is a certain pleasure in sedate driving. Enjoying the car, observing how the machine behaves, the scenery....driving is very therapeutic to me. I own two Jeeps (a '97 Classic & a '22 Thar) so have automatically learned to enjoy driving @ 80 kmph.

Doesn't mean that I don't enjoy driving hard. I do. But that's only when the roads are empty, on the highway and I'm "in the mood".

Related thread (Is it necessary for "fun-to-drive" to only involve fast + tight handling cars? I don't think so!) on how even boring cars can be pleasurable to drive.

[vishy76]

I drive a 50 year old 45hp car so I think I am the perfect contestant for this

The fact of the matter is that most people who follow me on social media or even know me in person think I tend to always drive hard. That's not really the truth. Driving style for me is dictated by what I am driving, where it is being driven and many a times and oft what mood I am in.

If it comes down to driving hard, I typically plan a long drive at night on less crowded wide open roads or even better, highways. I seldom drive hard in the city since its plain unsafe and it just demands too much attention with no real gain in driving pleasure or saving time.

Coming to calm and sedate drives, I don't really have an option with my Fiat. With drums on all four corners, no brake proportioning valve and no brake booster (forget ABS), I have to drive sedately below 60 kmhr within city limits atleast. Initially I was under the impression that this would be a deterrent and I wouldn't end up using the car much, just like a project car should be. But, it's been the total opposite.

I have genuinely started enjoying my drives down to South Bombay. Even with empty roads during midnight or very early morning, I am never tempted to push the car at any point. I have instead started enjoying the sedate pace at which the President wafts along. Catching sight of old South Bombay with the sea breeze in the cabin. It's very calming.

Posting a pic from one such early morning drive


I have tried driving fast on highways for quite some time in my Jetta and I got bored after less than 10-15 minutes. I prefer maintaining a cruising speed of 100-120 continuosly rather than short bursts to unmentionable speeds especially when it comes to longer journeys. You don't really save much time doing this but get fatigued a lot sooner.

[praveen789]

I totally agree with the benefits of a being a sedate rider. After upgrading from an Xcent to an Octavia, the turbo push was addictive and I loved the thrill of aggressive driving. I wanted more so even went for a Stage 1 tune. However, after my kid started travelling with me more often, I consciously slowed down and I feel it is so much more peaceful this way. Giving way sometimes to people who are driving in a hurry doesn't really end up delaying my much but it definitely makes the whole driving experience more enjoyable.

So much so that after I had moved back to stock (before giving for servicing this year), I have not remapped the car again as I feel it is more than sufficient for my current style of driving.

[saket77]

Agree with the essence of this thread 100%.

Driving sedately is also an art. I love to drive on the highway in a manner where passengers don't feel when I shifted gears, braked, etc. In short, they should not know what is happening in the driving seat. I reach the destination fresh with taking less stress compared to hard driving, extract better FE thereby reducing my carbon footprint and of course using less fuel, being gentle on the car and passengers have no reason to complain. In fact, I have noticed that even timewise there is not much difference if you drive too fast or hard. And the additional stress that you take is just not worth it. I mostly drive around the 80-90KMPH range on 4 lane highways. That helps me arrive fresh and with less exertion compared to constant high speed driving. At times there can be a short burst of speeds in 3 digit categories, but that is only for the Italian tune-up

And yes, one does have to judge when you need to accelerate hard at times to get out of tricky situations, lose the tailgaters (or give them way), etc.

[One]

Originally Posted by TallBoy

I have been a rash and fast driver. .....

In these two weeks, I have realized that all the occasions when I used to earlier try and speed do not really require me to do so.

You have probably driven across the entire spectrum of how to drive so probably know exactly the mindset in all of these scenarios. Very commendable change by you

________________________________________

The only issue with sedate driving is that if one is driving with constant acceleration & then constant velocity, one gets to experience a few new things:

- Get tailgated a lot more leading to potentially more rear ending cases (especially true around speed breakers)
- Get honked at a lot more
- Change of lane in front of the car a lot more
- Sudden acceleration by overtaking folks a lot more
- Get cut in a lot with safe distance in front getting occupied by another vehicle

Getting overtaken a lot more is totally fine but the dangerous reaction of others as above tends to somehow mar the driving experience and potentially impacts safety as well..

Only wish that sedate driving (apt speed rather than slow speed) did not make one subject to higher chance of collateral damage

[vb-saan]

Actually fast and rash need not always go hand-in-hand. A slow driver can be rash as well – for e.g., that impatient one who cannot decide on which lane to stay in a slow-moving traffic. Or a sedate driver who holds up the fast lane on an expressway.

What is important is to curb the thought of going fast irrespective of the road/situation. Drive sedately on a peaceful country road, take in the scenery, and if you are presented with a high-speed highway or a set of nice twisty roads, align accordingly and go responsibly fast.

[shankar.balan]

A really Lovely thread. Thank you for starting it.
Actually everyone here is so right. There is such a genuine pleasure in driving at a pace which allows you to enjoy the world around you and smell the roses so to say.
Irrespective of what car you drive and how fast that car can go, it is not always necessary to be constantly pushing the speed limits. As it is our daily lives are already frenetic and fast paced.
I ve recently driven to Ooty and back in my Gypsy. Enjoyed every moment. It’s fun to drive a low horsepower slower car fast, that’s for sure. But the word ‘fast’ is very relative. In that Gypsy, 60kmph or 70kmph seems and feels very fast. And it is a lovely light well geared vehicle to enjoy to the hilt up and down those hill roads.
Then I ve recently driven to Madras and back in my Mini. It has such a beautiful growly sound that the whole aural pleasure part, can be enjoyed just as much driving at a comfortable pace, as otherwise. So we drove to Madras and back driving in the 90-120 kmph range for the most part. Thoroughly enjoyed the drive. It is such a pleasure that car I cannot even begin to describe it.
And a couple weeks ago we did Bangalore Hyderabad and back in my Thar. Again a comfortable pace. 90 to 100 kmph almost all the way, except occasional bursts at 110kmph. And it was fun, talking and chatting and looking at the world around us and generally enjoying life.
I have decided very clearly that this is the ‘better’ way to live, drive and enjoy life.

[TallBoy]

This is perhaps the best test of one's driving skills - where passengers should not know what is happening in the driving seat and they can just take in the pleasure of the journey and the company.

Originally Posted by saket77

Agree with the essence of this thread 100%.

Driving sedately is also an art. I love to drive on the highway in a manner where passengers don't feel when I shifted gears, braked, etc. In short, they should not know what is happening in the driving seat.

Very true about frenetic and fast paced lives, why add a car to it!

Glad you are enjoying this easy and far superior way.

Originally Posted by shankar.balan

Irrespective of what car you drive and how fast that car can go, it is not always necessary to be constantly pushing the speed limits. As it is our daily lives are already frenetic and fast paced.

I have decided very clearly that this is the ‘better’ way to live, drive and enjoy life.

[sreerknair]

Precisely the reason why I love CVTs. Even if I want to drive aggressive, the transmission will ask me to go smooth. There is always some rattle toys inside my car to keep our son engaged when we travel. And when I am driving alone, now I easily get reminded by the noise of these toys if I am being aggressive Drive smooth, even these rattle toys stay silent.

[AutoNoob]

Originally Posted by TallBoy

I have been a rash and fast driver. From the time I started riding a bicycle, through my two wheeler years, and on four wheelers for the last twenty five years. I have had my share of bad bruises, near misses, road rage arguments and run-ins.

I have realized that all the occasions when I used to earlier try and speed do not really require me to do so. Even at a very sedate speed, I am still getting to wherever I want to go in almost the same time. Even I am late by a couple of minutes, I find that the heavens have not fallen, while I am getting there without taking any needless risks.

In a nutshell, I have realized how plainly stupid it was of me to be such a rash driver all these days when there was no reason to do so at all. My vehicle drives smoother, I am less of a risk to others on the road, and I feel more at peace!

Thanks TallBoy for sharing this . In the quoted three paragraphs, you seem to have narrated my story as well . May be the start of fifth decade of life brought some valuable sense to me; it just happened.

As mentioned by other members, while driving sedately, I do follow speed of traffic in my lane and don't hog overtaking, not being hindrance to other road users.

Another advantage of changed driving. Last week only, I completed a 450km trip in a hatchback. It returned 23.6+kmpl with 100% AC on 80% highway drive close to the speed limits. Earlier it used to return only about 19~20kmpl.

[GeeTee TSI]

Great thread and discussion

As with most of our brethren, I loved accelerating
With my first car the GT TSI, I was doing it a lot and reliving arcade games over ghats. With age and also certain life events, I now only seek sedate comfort and a Jeeves like smoothness hustling the vehicle is what I practice.

While I started honing my sedate driving skills for a co passenger prone to car sickness, it has now become a way of life even in my solo drives. No amount of taunts or egging will make me a boy racer now, no matter what car I drive. However I still enjoy my zero to speed limit launch over a traffic light, but a gentle one

Reiterating some valid points of caution already quoted in earlier posts

• Majority of the morons don't respect the speed limit nor the ideal speed for a lane. I stick to the left lane(s) as much as possible if cars want to outgun me
• Published speed limit reigns supreme, period. I do not judge if the roads can take higher speeds
• Avoid opportunistic lane changes (tolls or gaps in traffic). If I cannot indicate well ahead, I do not pursue that manoeuvre
• Using cruise control goes very well with sedate driving. I am however mindful of not blocking out others avoiding an identical speed to the one on the adjacent lane
• Coming from the car sickness aspect again, stomping on the brakes greatly upsets the poise of the car, also spooking the traffic behind. I practice throttle control to reduce speeds as much as possible, which makes the whole motion smoother
• The imaginary glass of water on the dash is a good way to practice sedate driving

The ultimate compliment (which I take for granted) is when my (belted) co passengers all enjoy a nice snooze on highway drives including the front passenger who volunteered to stay awake.

[DCEite]

I resonate with this thread.

Off late, I have been trying to drive sedately and calmly, without unnessary sudden speed bursts or hard braking.

What I have personally observed is that one arrives at the destination in a more calm and peacful state of mind. The happy hormones (is it called "Serotonin" ?) seem to be at the highest after a sedate and calm drive.

What also helps and what I would always recommened everyone is to roll all windows up and always turn on Climate control/AC, even in winters. The more you are cut off from the honking and traffic noise, the more calm you feel your innerself and in turn the more calmly one drives without anxiety.

[commander.sri]

Very well described - Tallboy! I have always been a throttle swagger in the past during those cool single anthem days of enjoying the amazing acceleration our turbos whistle out.

Post family and responsibilities took over, especially after our family was blessed with a beautiful daughter - 10 years later, today - I enjoy the sedate drives up-shifting at around 2k rpms (just after my 9th gen Garrett VGT turbo kicks-in) hovering around 50-60 kmph.

As in for foodies on a diet plan, cheat days are always a delight! I cherish waking my ever-resting speed junkie once in a while taking pleasure of my installed pedal box in sport plus mode of course in safe driving conditions.

[Cresterk]

Agreed, here are some other things I noticed when I started driving more sedately and smoothly:

1. Full tank lasts a lot longer. Just accelerating lightly or even maintaining the same speed instead of constant acceleration and deacceleration leads to a dramatic improvement in mileage, especially if you are driving a petrol car.

2. You don't feel stressed out or tired even after driving for hours as your brain isn't constantly calculating the velocities of all the other cars on the road as you try to overtake.

3. You don't really notice the time passing as you feel very relaxed. A 1 hour drive feels like a lot less and on longer 6-8 hour drives, you feel the need to take breaks less often.

4. Even if you drive like a maniac, it's not possible to hold higher speeds for too long on our roads as you will inevitably come across traffic or some other obstacle that requires you to slow down considerably. This will reduce your average speed to about the same as if you had just driven normally.