Very nearly got into an accident earlier!!
Dropped a friend off home after cadets, just coming up to a set of lights, they started to change - soo...I applied my brakes - fairly firmly, nothing recklessly stupid (like 80mph in a 30 zone, slam brakes on - more like 28-30 in a 30 and steady and firm pressure) when my wheels just locked and slid straight over the line. LUCKILY it was quiet and even more lucky for me, the junction is pretty big, so although I was well over the line - I wasn't in the flow of traffic.
Yes, it is a little wet, and no, I didn't leave it to a stupidly short distance (I had allowed [or so I thought] enough extra distance to stop in). I even did a "proper" emergency stop nearer home (very quiet road, used on test routes for exactly that) and applied much firmer pressure on the brakes - noo problem, perfectly controlled stop, no skidding that time.
Only been driving "properly" a month (today in fact).
In one way, I'm glad I went through it without panicking (still very calm - not quite shrugging it off, but not "OMG - I COULDA DIED!!").
What have I learnt through this?
Well, first of all - no matter what - stay calm.. I know it sounds easier said than done - but I don't think it is - the training really does kick in!! (That may be helped by my cadet background a bit - used to the whole training thingy). Second of all, and perhaps more importantly - if you think it's enough room - it isn't!! Give it a bit more!!
In hindsight, it would probably have been safer overall to keep going and go through "borderline".
Ahwell. Just thought I'd share.
Sean
Dropped a friend off home after cadets, just coming up to a set of lights, they started to change - soo...I applied my brakes - fairly firmly, nothing recklessly stupid (like 80mph in a 30 zone, slam brakes on - more like 28-30 in a 30 and steady and firm pressure) when my wheels just locked and slid straight over the line. LUCKILY it was quiet and even more lucky for me, the junction is pretty big, so although I was well over the line - I wasn't in the flow of traffic.
Yes, it is a little wet, and no, I didn't leave it to a stupidly short distance (I had allowed [or so I thought] enough extra distance to stop in). I even did a "proper" emergency stop nearer home (very quiet road, used on test routes for exactly that) and applied much firmer pressure on the brakes - noo problem, perfectly controlled stop, no skidding that time.
Only been driving "properly" a month (today in fact).
In one way, I'm glad I went through it without panicking (still very calm - not quite shrugging it off, but not "OMG - I COULDA DIED!!").
What have I learnt through this?
Well, first of all - no matter what - stay calm.. I know it sounds easier said than done - but I don't think it is - the training really does kick in!! (That may be helped by my cadet background a bit - used to the whole training thingy). Second of all, and perhaps more importantly - if you think it's enough room - it isn't!! Give it a bit more!!
In hindsight, it would probably have been safer overall to keep going and go through "borderline".
Ahwell. Just thought I'd share.
Sean