Train Drivers - has train driving affected your car driving?

[455driver]

My wife asked me to pick her up after a night out and I asked for 12

I would have asked for 57 more!

 

[muz379]

I think I do this - if the lights are at red a long way in advance, I'll slow down/change down (forgot all this glide up to the lights in whatever gear you're in b*****ks that we seem to get taught - use of engine braking plus ready to go immediately if the lights change rather than then having to faff around with the gears - I did surprise my instructor when he found me doing this) which probably does annoy those behind me. In traffic I also tend to just move along at a steady rate rather than constant accelerating/braking (such I know that in my car, 2nd gear with no acceleration will give a steady 10mph which is useful for crawling in traffic on some of our local roads in rush hour...it is a lot less knackering, too!)

Indeed thats what I do , if I see a red in the distant just ease off the throttle and start shifting down through the gears . Most the time the light will change and youll still be carrying some speed so wont have to worry about stopping or anything like that . I was actually taught like that though . Apparently its eco driving and all that .

As for traffic , again the same as you I know that 2nd gear at idle will just give me a bit below 10mph , but also if I have to accelerate its not as jerky as first gear is getting going .Not that fussed if a gap builds up . Same principle as traffic lights . No point accelerating up to 10-15mph to then slam your brakes on as the car in front has done the same . The only issue I find sometimes doing this is if a gap builds up between you and the car in front someone is bound to steal it .

A downside of them was also apparent on one of the police TV series (I forget which one) - a 4x4 with electronic parking brake breaks down in the middle (or outside) lane of the motorway - ordinarily the cops would push/tow the vehicle off to the hard shoulder. Not in this case, the parking brake refused to come off (as the ignition wasn't running, presumably) and they had to get a recovery truck to literally drag it off the motorway, parking brake still applied!

My father rented a renault scenic a few years ago for a family trip as his daily driver was not big enough for 4 adults and luggage for a long journey . One of the things they made him aware of when he collected the car was the location of a lever under the boot floor which will release the electronic parking brake if it gets stuck on . Apparently at the time it had happened on a few occasions .

Thanks to you, and everyone else, who has replied, it seems to be another gimmick because they can rather than an actual improvement, okay it will help some less physically able drivers but for the vast majority its a waste of time.


My pet hate, being blinded by the (stupidly bright) brake lights of the car in front.
Why is brighter always better, I see lorrys where the LED tail lights are brighter than the bulb brake lights of the tractor unit which is bloomin stupid.
You should be able to tell what lights are on simply by looking at them, not by when they get brighter or dimmer.

.

It does indeed seem to be a just because we can , and obviously electronic is always better . Particularly if you are a car manufacturer who needs to rake in extra money on parts sales when things break . No doubt the electronic contraption to electronically apply and release a handbrake , or electronically assist starting on hills cost a lot more than the old handbrake cable .

I do remember seeing one car manufacturer advertising the extra space saved between the front passenger seats as well . Wow what will we do with all this extra space :roll: Ive already got two cup holders and a little tray to keep my fuel clubcard or change or whatever so what do I need more space for And mine is a particularly small car .

I dont mind bright brake lights especially on motorways and dual carriageways at night , they can help you see whats going on ahead from further away . as long as Im not sat in a queue of traffic staring at them for long periods of time . I usually hold the brakes for about 5 seconds unless they have just changed or something then if its obvious we aren't going somewhere handbrake and release . If im on the way to work or somewhere familiar I know the light sequences anyway so I know what to do .

Its the same as people who drive about with fog lights on or main beam when its not appropriate . Do the little symbols in their dashboard not mean anything to them .

 

[Peter Mugridge]

I wonder if there have yet been any accidents caused by someone getting used to such a system in a work vehicle and then rolling back in their own

Not on the same subject but certainly very relevant, I read of an instance once in which a very tired senior Spitfire pilot at the height of the Battle of Britain ( Squadron Leader or higher ) rear ended another car while driving home for a couple of days leave after a particularly intense week.

Apparently he did recognise that he was coming up behind another car, but instead of overtaking he pulled backwards on the steering wheel...

He was let off in the circumstances.

 

[PermitToTravel]

Brilliant

 

[talltim]

Related, but off-topic. I keep trying to dial 9 for an outside line at home...

 

[Tomnick]

Similarly, I've been known to answer the phone at home by declaring myself to be the signalman at whichever box I've been working most recently. I do, of course, always prompt the local Indian takeaway to repeat everything back when placing an order with them!

 

[carriageline]

Similarly, I've been known to answer the phone at home by declaring myself to be the signalman at whichever box I've been working most recently. I do, of course, always prompt the local Indian takeaway to repeat everything back when placing an order with them!

I have (rather embarrassingly) when ringing a local mechanic, after they answered "hello ABC autos", I then went into robot "hello ABC autos this is..." And then thought what the hell am I doing

It's funny the habits we get into. The other day I said the letter 'H' (I was at home!), and it sounded so strange as I use the phonetic alphabet for everything now, even in general conversation. Then there is zero instead of 'oh', and say again instead of what/pardon. I need some time off I think , I often get strange looks!

On the note of driving, although I'm not a driver it had affected me. Line speed instead of speed limit for example. The other day I was a passenger in a friends car, who missed the lights go green. "It's come off mate" was my reply!

 

[455driver]

I wonder how many of the people who have said it hasnt effected them dont realise that they just do (railway like) things without realising?

 

[Tomnick]

It's funny the habits we get into. The other day I said the letter 'H' (I was at home!), and it sounded so strange as I use the phonetic alphabet for everything now, even in general conversation. Then there is zero instead of 'oh', and say again instead of what/pardon. I need some time off I think , I often get strange looks from the other half!

I'm fully expecting our little 'un to come out with "Alpha, Bravo, Charlie..." on her first day at school!

 

[carriageline]

I'm fully expecting our little 'un to come out with "Alpha, Bravo, Charlie..." on her first day at school!

Might aswell start her off early!

 

[Latecomer]

I have never confused the controls of either train or car and I drive both quite differently. Judging by the average depot car park I would be quite surprised if a lot of drivers didn't sometimes break the speed limit!

Most people tend to think they are a good car driver, but I would like to think that I have only ever tried to use performance when safe to do so and I don't drive aggressively, in fact I tend to let other drivers have their rages and calmly carry about my business.

Don't take this as a comparison between the two (because they are completely different), but I do think if you have a measured and safety concious approach to car driving then it is one of the attributes you can carry forward to being a good train driver. And yes there are some drivers who are more competent than others when it comes to train handing, alertness, anticipation and responsiveness. Clearly most carry a high degree of safety awareness, but there can be marked differences in train handling given some of the experiences I've had as a passenger!

 

[muz379]

Most people tend to think they are a good car driver, but I would like to think that I have only ever tried to use performance when safe to do so and I don't drive aggressively, in fact I tend to let other drivers have their rages and calmly carry about my business.

I think some drivers out there think that they are a good driver therefore they can break the speed limits and drive using their phone stuff like that .

Then there are people who measure good driving as sticking to the speed limits and obeying signs and the law etc .

 

[455driver]

I think some drivers out there think that they are a good driver therefore they can break the speed limits and drive using their phone stuff like that .

Then there are people who measure good driving as sticking to the speed limits and obeying signs and the law etc .

And there are those like me who are genuinely good drivers!

A good drive drives within the limits of the road, traffic, weather, vehicle etc , keeps a good look out for anything that could be an issue, drives smoothly, adjusts their driving style if anything changes etc etc at all times.

Do I speed? Well actually yes I do on occasion!
Should I? No of course not but pushing the car towards its limits at stupid oclock in the morning on a quite motorway can be quite fun.

Oh the cars limits are quite low in the scheme of things and if I tried to get into 3 figures I reckon the pistons would exit through the bonnet!

 

[MR_P]

Its made it more expensive for me, buggers put up my insurance for being a driver :?

 

[455driver]

Its made it more expensive for me, buggers put up my insurance for being a driver :?

Eh, thats not right, mine went down when I got a job on the railways.

 

[ChiefPlanner]

Not a driver - but I always "prep" the car , check seals , first aid box and equipment. If I come across a failed red light on a crossing - tell the guard , sound horn and proceed at caution to the next clear signal and tell the signalman I have arrived.

At approaching a red light - I shut off and coast , keeping the car in perfect control and wait for it to clear....

 

[arabianights]

My wife asked me to pick her up after a night out and I asked for 12

Can someone explain this to those of us wot dont get it?

 

[455driver]

Can someone explain this to those of us wot dont get it?

He asked his wife for 12 hours pay to go and pick her up.

 

[G136GREYHOUND]

I don't see any correlation between train driving and car driving, but I will say I don't drive my car around constantly wondering how it's going to look on a download and worrying about how much hassle is going to drop on me from a great height when I don't apply 5 notches on the hand brake and put the gear stick in neutral when stopped at a traffic light

 

[fowler9]

I don't see any correlation between train driving and car driving, but I will say I don't drive my car around constantly wondering how it's going to look on a download and worrying about how much hassle is going to drop on me from a great height when I don't apply 5 notches on the hand brake and put the gear stick in neutral when stopped at a traffic light

There is no correlation. Train drivers would get sacked if they carried on like most car drivers.

 

[muz379]

And there are those like me who are genuinely good drivers!

A good drive drives within the limits of the road, traffic, weather, vehicle etc , keeps a good look out for anything that could be an issue, drives smoothly, adjusts their driving style if anything changes etc etc at all times.

Do I speed? Well actually yes I do on occasion!
Should I? No of course not but pushing the car towards its limits at stupid oclock in the morning on a quite motorway can be quite fun.

Oh the cars limits are quite low in the scheme of things and if I tried to get into 3 figures I reckon the pistons would exit through the bonnet!

personally pushing it to the "limits" on the motorway is not really what I find tempting .

Its those winding NSL country roads where temptation really calls for me . The kind of bends where you dont have to be exceeding the speed limits for it to be fun but it can also be downright dangerous even at the speed limit . I dont speed personally(aside from the unintentional drifting over it we have all done ) I value my license far too much to get points but those kind of roads do become tempting . Especially on a motorbike

 

[Legzr1]

I value my license far too much to get points but those kind of roads do become tempting . Especially on a motorbike

Take it to the track.

The fine and inconvenience when/if you're guilty of dangerous driving would pay for a good few days at a local circuit

 

[HowardGWR]

My understanding of a train driver's first duty is that he ensures that his locomotive (or mu) does not move unless so instructed. So I imagine that such an attitude would be a healthy one, if carried over to road driving. I did appreciate the posters who mentioned looking ahead and anticipating events, resulting in less braking and acceleration. I have wondered whether in-car distractions prevent people doing this and whether tail-gating is their method of expecting the driver in front to let them know when to brake!

 

[455driver]

personally pushing it to the "limits" on the motorway is not really what I find tempting.

My cars 'limits' are not much above the 70mph and are probably below what some people call 'cruising' speed, all things are relative!

 

[muz379]

Take it to the track.

The fine and inconvenience when/if you're guilty of dangerous driving would pay for a good few days at a local circuit

Oh I agree completely which is why I never give into the temptation .

Its not the fines that put me off , its the possibility of loosing my license as well as the possibility things could go horribly wrong on a public road and someone innocent could be killed or seriously injured as a result of my actions . Plus the risk to myself particularly when on a bike . All you have to do is come flying round a bend and encounter a slow moving tractor and leave yourself with nowhere to go and carrying a lot of speed and it could be all she wrote
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Im not saying people arent killed or seriously injured on tracks . But at least if you are involved in a collision on a track and kill another person that person too has consented to the risk of that happening and knows it is a possibility .

On a public road your stupidity or arrogance could lead to someone else dying who has not consented to that risk and thats just selfish .

 

[MR_P]

Eh, thats not right, mine went down when I got a job on the railways.

I know, I was shocked they put it up by £40, would have cost me £50 to cancel :-x

I asked what the reason was as was told it was because I was going to be driving car at all hours where as my old job was 9-5. - Just an excuse if you ask me

They have lost my business when it comes to renewal time.

 

[SPADTrap]

My understanding of a train driver's first duty is that he ensures that his locomotive (or mu) does not move unless so instructed. So I imagine that such an attitude would be a healthy one, if carried over to road driving. I did appreciate the posters who mentioned looking ahead and anticipating events, resulting in less braking and acceleration. I have wondered whether in-car distractions prevent people doing this and whether tail-gating is their method of expecting the driver in front to let them know when to brake!

She does the same, too!

 

[GearJammer]

There is no correlation. Train drivers would get sacked if they carried on like most car drivers.

Im willing to bet most train drivers DO carry on like most car drivers....... when driving their cars.

Its actually quite concerning the number of you that are admitting to not concentrating on what you are actually doing (driving a car) but have your minds elsewhere (at work).

Nice to see a few people say that driving a train in no way affects the way they drive a car as they are both completely diffrent.... that's the response I prefer to see.

 

[edwin_m]

Not on the same subject but certainly very relevant, I read of an instance once in which a very tired senior Spitfire pilot at the height of the Battle of Britain ( Squadron Leader or higher ) rear ended another car while driving home for a couple of days leave after a particularly intense week.

Apparently he did recognise that he was coming up behind another car, but instead of overtaking he pulled backwards on the steering wheel...

Could have been worse ... at least he didn't reach for the firing button.

 

[TDK]

What really annoys me is when the Pendolino drivers don't indicate at junctions