Six Steps to Safe Summer Driving
In honor of the recent Independence Day holiday and the beginning of prime road trip season, Yahoo! Autos spoke to professional driver Tanner Foust, who with years of road, rally and drifting competitions under his belt, knows a thing or two about keeping the car on the road and avoiding costly accidents.
Foust, 34, has been driving since he was a young boy, offers up some proven racecar driving tips that also apply to everyday driving situations.
“With driving in general, it all comes down to common sense,” says Foust. “Common sense is what can save your life. Driving is a sport, and it’s unique because it is something we do everyday. I feel that if I was in an emergency, I’d have an advantage because it’s something I practice every day. Drifting, stunt driving and rally racing, they are all basically like driving in an emergency situation.”
Tanner Foust’s Top Driving Tips
1. Avoid the Target
One of the main problems in an accident is “target fixation.” Look at it like this; if you mash on the brakes and stare at the bumper in front of you, you are going to hit that bumper. If you look at the escape lane, you have a much better chance of getting there. Just like in any sport, you look where you want to go.
2. Avoid Distractions
If you’re paying more attention to the cheeseburger in your hand than the road in front of you, it’s a big problem. Eating in the car and not paying attention on a whole are huge distractions. Pay attention and you can help prevent accidents.
3. Anticipate Everything
Try to see things before you get to them. In any performance-driving situation, it helps if you keep your eyes up and look further down the road then you are used to. It keeps you from being surprised. In racing, anticipation is everything, and the same applies to everyday driving.
4. Know Your Car
For any motor sport or stunt driving, the most important thing is to know the equipment you are strapping yourself into. All good stunt drivers carry an air pressure gauge because tire pressure has one of the most pronounced effects on performance. For your own car, it helps to be aware of your car’s safety features, like anti-lock brakes and traction control. Also, monitor your tire pressure. Keeping track of the simple things helps.
5. Don’t Stress
With drifting, people only see the violence. But as a driver, it’s all about remaining calm in the face of stress and danger. When you are calm, you make the proper decisions. When you are stressed, you make mistakes and your natural instincts kick in. Natural instincts are not conducive to driving well. The main advantage that professional drivers have over everyday drivers is that they have replaced natural instinct with proper technique.
6. Stomp and Steer
Racing and emergency situations are in some cases very similar; for example, under maximum breaking it is very easy to lock up the brakes and skid. Most people in an emergency will mash on the brakes and hold them hard, even as they try and steer around obstacles. With normal braking systems this will result in a straight skid, and the steering wheel will have no effect on the direction of the car. The brakes need to be released in order for the car to turn. This technique is called “separation of controls” and is a basic racing technique. However, with anti-lock brakes (ABS), stomping on the brakes and steering at the same time will work. The ABS system will balance the traction between steering and braking, allowing you to accomplish both tasks simultaneously.
Top Road Trip Cars
Now that you are armed with the safety tips, Yahoo! Autos gives you the top road trip cars for that long summer ahead.
2007 Porsche Boxster S
What We Think:
While there are roomier convertibles for your summertime road trip, none of them offer the same spirited driving experience as the Boxster S, refreshed for 2007. While the S-model is ten grand more for what seems to be a larger engine, it is worth it for the satisfaction of the extra torque off the line and the higher top end speed. Perfection does not come cheap and neither does a Porsche.
At a glance:
Price: $55,500
Engine and drivetrain: 3.4-liter inline flat-6 Boxster engine with fuel straight injection, 295 horsepower, 251 lb-ft torque; 6-speed manual or Tiptronic S automatic transmission; rear-wheel drive.
MPG: 20 city/28 hwy.
2008 Audi TT 2.0 Coupe
What We Think:
Audi completely redesigned the iconic and brand-making TT Coupe for 2008, making it longer and wider and adding a whole slew of amenities. We like the 2.0T model for its lighter weight, turbocharged engine, S tronic transmission and a competitive price point.
At a glance:
Price: $34,800
Engine and drivetrain: 2.0-liter inline 4-cylinder engine with fuel straight injection, 200 horsepower, 207 lb-ft torque; exhaust turbocharger with intercooler; 6-speed S tronic automatic transmission; front-wheel-drive.
MPG: 22 city/29 hwy.
2008 Ford Escape Hybrid FWD
What We Think:
Ford's 2008 Escape Hybrid has a fuel economy improvement of 14%, seating made from 100% recycled material, an all-new interior and refreshed sheet metal. The Escape Hybrid is a real-world solution to those vexing gas prices.
At a glance:
Price: $25,075
Engine and drivetrain: 2.4-liter inline 4- Atkinson Cycle Engine and Electric Motor, 133 horsepower, 124 lb-ft torque; Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT); front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive.
MPG: 34 city/30 hwy (FWD), 29 city/27 hwy (AWD)
2008 Dodge Avenger SE
What We Think:
While the midsize segment is one of the most competitive in the automotive world, the new Dodge Avenger holds its own. What the Avenger offers most is choice from the base SE to the loaded R/T–from multiple engines and transmissions to different option packages–the new Dodge looks and drives really well and presets a compelling midsize option.
At a glance:
Price: $18,995
Engine and drivetrain: 2.4-liter inline 4-cylinder engine, 173 horsepower, 166 lb-ft torque; 4-speed automatic transmission; front-wheel drive.
MPG: 21 city/30 hwy
2008 Buick Enclave CX
What We Think:
If it’s good enough for Tiger Woods, it’s good enough for the rest of us. While your short game won’t improve much from driving the all-new Enclave, it will impress other members at the club. As the top of the range of GMs all-new Lambda platform–stable mates include the GMC Acadia and Saturn Outlook–the Enclave impressed us with its build quality, smooth ride, room for seven and interior design.
At a glance:
Price: $32,790
Engine and drivetrain: 3.6-liter, 6-cylinder engine, 275 horsepower, 251 lb-ft torque; 6-speed automatic transmission; rear-wheel drive or optional all-wheel drive.
MPG: 16 city/ 24 hwy (FWD), 16 city/ 22 hwy (AWD)
