Guys, I think I have become a militant defensive driver and I expect the car I am in to be driven(by friends or family members) according to my perceived safety standards. I try to be as constructive as possible and only intervene with people who I got good rapport with. Atleast that is what I think I am doing.
The reason why I am writing this is because I am back from Sweden rally along with my friend who was doing the driving duty. He drove the whole distance ~1100 kilometers. I am not sure whether this is the right thread, this is 'How to spot a bad driver'.
My question is 'What will you do, if are driven by a bad driver'.
He was constantly driving over speed limit (up to 10 to 20 kmph) but he mostly ignores the speed limit signs near towns, etc there he might be well over 30 to 40 kmph the speed limit during those reduced limits. His reasoning for doing this stunt is, he is wary of the speed limits but is extra prepared in case of emergency.
Just for an example, while going through towns on two-lane roads the speed limit usually drops from 80 to 50, but he continues to go at 80 to 90 Kmph.
Purposefully being jerky with steering inputs on curves to induce drifting. He managed to do that successfully twice. I call it a slide each being 0.5 to 2 second long and the rear might have stepped out may be half a feet, not sure. But his opposite lock to save the slide was less than a quarter turn of the steering wheel. It is no drifting in my book but he was gleaming with joy and I guess it self validated his driving prowess.
My friend seldom uses the high beam while driving
but this is where I believe I crossed the line, I made him use the high beam so that I will be at ease. The road where I asked him to use high beam was via the woods, so there is steep drops on both side of the road and there is possibility of animal crossing(deer).
He was relying on the google maps for the direction changes(phone fixed on the windshield) as well as the reflectors on the poles which are fixed near the edge of the road. I would have been happy if he followed this technique if he was doing maybe 10 Kmph below the speed limit. I found this technique to fail read the elevation changes which there were many. But the problem was he was well over the speed limit, 20 to 30 Kmph. So basically out running the reach of the headlamps.
Okay let me clarify.
- I asked him to use the high beam legally and made sure it won't blind the oncoming traffic.
- 50% of the drivers on that road had extra pair of foglamps or Led light bar and nearly all of them used high beam when ever possible.
On the last day he was doing well within the speed limits because of my constant pestering. At one point a red VW Passat over took us, he flashed the headlamps before overtaking. He(Passat) might be doing 120 Kmph, which is again 40 Kmph over the speed limit. This is via the woods btw, and few minutes after the overtake, my friend had enough and he wanted to show his skill. What followed was my scariest ride so far of my life.
So here I am stuck with a driver who is over confident with his driving skill doing well over 140 Kmph on roads he had never driven before, with constant elevation changes and ice/snow patches near the edge of the road(grip level unknown). I asked him to take it easy but my pleas fell on deaf ears, I felt so helpless. Only saving grace was he was using highbeam at least this time
![Big Grin](https://www.team-bhp.com/forum/images/smilies/biggrin.png)
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He caught up with that guy after sometime, he was again gleaming with pride over his achievement.
Him: "Macha(dude), you don't know my skills that is why you are this scared. There are people who enjoys my driving, especially *named few friends* and my father."
Me: "Okay, I admire your skills but don't you think you are taking unnecessary risks?"
Him: "No, what I have done just now is well within my limits."
Me: "But you have little knowledge about this road, leave that, so how much percentage of your skills did you use for this stunt. "
Him: "60%, yeah 60%."
Me: "60%, you have to be kidding me, I thought it was close to 90% but then I know very little about your driving style back in India."
Him: "If I went at 90% of my skill, then I would have caught up with the other guy who overtook us before."
Me: "Okay."
*Pause for few minutes.* Me: "Buddy, don't you think it is your responsibility to take care of the safety of the people who is travelling along with you."
Him: "Of course, I do take it seriously."
Me: "Will you drive like this, if your mom is sitting next to you."
Him: "If my mom is here, I will follow all the traffic rules."
Me: "Ah, nice. Can you do me a favour, just consider me as your mom for the rest of this journey."
He shrugged of my suggestion with a laughter, the rest of the journey was less dramatic, expect a 33 kilometers where we had a company of local who was doing 140 - 160 kmph on dual carriageway(speed limit 100 kmph) and my friend obliged in following him albeit keeping a 4-5 second rule.
Fellow bhpians, what would you do if you were in my shoes?