I drive 30+ miles one way 4 days a week on a divided highway 4 lane that was built back in the late '90s, and the speed limit is 65, meaning most people do 70 MPH. It is in great condition, but it lacks one thing - Those knobby edges that warn the driver when they are too close to the edge. Outside of the pavement is gravel. It is graded about every other month to keep the gravel level with the highway. However in a weeks time after grading there is about a 2" drop off and then after a couple of weeks the drop on the edge is about 4 inches. That is where the problem comes in.
IN my drive 4 days a week, every week, I can see where someone dropped off the edge and then JERKED the steering wheel hard left to get back on the road, and then the front tires catch on the pavement with the hard left direction of the tires and spins around, usually over into the median. Black tire marks tell the tale! Occasionally someone will almost correct and then overcorrect and end up back off the road of the outside lane. A few times I could see where a car or vehicle rolled over in the overcorrection.
I have told my daughters and my wife numerous times, if your wheel drops off the pavement, DO NOT JERK the Steering wheel. Let Off the Gas, and let the rocks make their noise and gently steer the car onto the road, But DO Not Jerk the steering wheel.
After warning one daughter once, she asked me: Dad, what do you do when you are in a panic moment like that? ME: "Just as I said. Yes I have run off before. But I had enough presence of mind to do just as I told you. No problem, just a lot of loud noise, but safely moving back onto the road"
I realize that some people panic in situations like that.
How is your driving skills in sudden situations?
(I wish the highway department would put those bumps on the edge to warn people when they are too close.
IN my drive 4 days a week, every week, I can see where someone dropped off the edge and then JERKED the steering wheel hard left to get back on the road, and then the front tires catch on the pavement with the hard left direction of the tires and spins around, usually over into the median. Black tire marks tell the tale! Occasionally someone will almost correct and then overcorrect and end up back off the road of the outside lane. A few times I could see where a car or vehicle rolled over in the overcorrection.
I have told my daughters and my wife numerous times, if your wheel drops off the pavement, DO NOT JERK the Steering wheel. Let Off the Gas, and let the rocks make their noise and gently steer the car onto the road, But DO Not Jerk the steering wheel.
After warning one daughter once, she asked me: Dad, what do you do when you are in a panic moment like that? ME: "Just as I said. Yes I have run off before. But I had enough presence of mind to do just as I told you. No problem, just a lot of loud noise, but safely moving back onto the road"
I realize that some people panic in situations like that.
How is your driving skills in sudden situations?
(I wish the highway department would put those bumps on the edge to warn people when they are too close.
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