Funny Picture Thread [14]

A Guy said:

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A Guy

Well here is the thing - environmentalist tell you to use engine breaking by using clutch as it uses less fuel but safety people tell you to use brakes. Of course, on our side of the pond, we are skilled at doing both the same time - great for taking side turnings when you see it at last minute - not so good on the tyres though LOL.

cereberus said:

Well here is the thing - environmentalist tell you to use engine breaking by using clutch as it uses less fuel but safety people tell you to use brakes. Of course, on our side of the pond, we are skilled at doing both the same time - great for taking side turnings when you see it at last minute - not so good on the tyres though LOL.

I was raised in the days of stick shift only, always pushed the clutch in to shift to a lower gear then let it out and ease off on the accelerator/foot pedal to allow the engine compression to slow the car or truck, save the brakes until needed. First car I drove that had an automatic transmission was a Buick in '56 High School Driver's Ed.

Berton said:

I was raised in the days of stick shift only, always pushed the clutch in to shift to a lower gear then let it out and ease off on the accelerator/foot pedal to allow the engine compression to slow the car or truck, save the brakes until needed. First car I drove that had an automatic transmission was a Buick in '56 High School Driver's Ed.

That is how I was taught but it has been shown using brakes is safer because in an emergency your reactions are more trained. Also it is clearer to people behind you are slowing down as brake lights show reducing rear end shunts.

After years of travelling at high speed on the crowded M25, I definitely agree with this. Brakes can be replaced, people cannot.

cereberus said:

Well here is the thing - environmentalist tell you to use engine breaking by using clutch as it uses less fuel but safety people tell you to use brakes. Of course, on our side of the pond, we are skilled at doing both the same time - great for taking side turnings when you see it at last minute - not so good on the tyres though LOL.

I did an advanced driving course for work. They got very upset with my engine braking and insisted that I use the breaks and clutch and only "block change" the gears rather than dropping though them.

kado897 said:

I did an advanced driving course for work. They got very upset with my engine braking and insisted that I use the breaks and clutch and only "block change" the gears rather than dropping though them.

Same with me. The old arguments about brake wear used to apply perhaps back in days of drum brakes but not since disk brakes.

Brakes are designed to slow a car by direct action. Engine braking is an indirect action.

The basic point is always assume an accident can occur at any time - slowing by brakes is quicker and hence safer. You may get a rear end shunt from idiot behind but statistics show rear end shunts are more dangerous to guy behind.

Once you get hang of it, it is fun taking bends at high speed (on test tracks only) and changing down from fifth to third or even second in one go, and then flooring it coming out of bend. I do not advocate doing this on public roads of course - LOL.

cereberus said:

Same with me. The old arguments about brake wear used to apply perhaps back in days of drum brakes but not since disk brakes.

Brakes are designed to slow a car by direct action. Engine braking is an indirect action.

The basic point is always assume an accident can occur at any time - slowing by brakes is quicker and hence safer. You may get a rear end shunt from idiot behind but statistics show rear end shunts are more dangerous to guy behind.

Once you get hang of it, it is fun taking bends at high speed (on test tracks only) and changing down from fifth to third or even second in one go, and then flooring it coming out of bend. I do not advocate doing this on public roads of course - LOL.

Yeah, that's the way I do it now too. I think the reason I did it the other way was because I learned to drive on a motor bike with a cyclical gear box.

kado897 said:

Yeah, that's the way I do it now too.

The most obvious thing people forget is why do we have brake lights?

To tell the person behind you are slowing down of course!