dbg@ihldt.UUCP (dbg) (04/28/84)
I agree that applying brakes in a panic is seldom appropriate. But if I am to make an error in judgement (happens to the best of us) I prefer to SLOW DOWN while doing so. I believe that the default reaction should be braking. Hopefully we never (as drivers) have to resort to the default, and, even more hopefully, we NEVER panic behind the wheel. case study: Once while hauling a boat I attempted to pass another car hauling a boat. As I pulled into the oncoming lane and got beside the duo I was passing I realized that oncoming traffic was a little too close to finish the pass (car and boat weren't quick and agile enough). I applied the brakes to fall back into my lane. The driver of the car-boat I was passing decided to brake at the same time to allow me to complete the pass. There we were side by side both applying our brakes now with great vigor. In my judgement I HAD to continue to brake. I could not be sure that the other driver would sense the impass and begin accelerating at the same time I tried to re-attempt the pass. At that point I was left only with the default -- BRAKE. Fortuneately the oncoming traffic was not that close and we had time to resolve the situation. ihldt!dbg
jlw@ariel.UUCP (04/29/84)
All those wonderful defensive driving courses teach brakes only driving. I've also heard of people who have had court cases go against them when they attempted to accelerate out of an accident situation and didn't make it. The presumption is that they wouldn't have been fined if they'd braked regardless of the consequences. Joseph L. Wood, III AT&T Information Systems Laboratories, Holmdel (201) 834-3759 ariel!jlw
an@hou2h.UUCP (A.NGUYEN) (04/30/84)
-- > ihldt!dbg: > I agree that applying brakes in a panic is SELDOM appropriate. I don't agree. Braking is appropriate in at least 50% of potential accident situations (city streets, divided highways, cars all around you, no place to go, etc). Improper braking is what gives braking a bad name. With over-boosted power brakes such as found on Detroit's finest, one can lock the wheels with hardly any effort, especially at low speeds, and most people do just that! Au