6:54 my rule about overtaking is my "the 20mph rule" - IF IT IS 100% SAFE - I need to be ABLE to go 20mph faster than what I am overtaking. Basically on a NSL road the overtakee needs to be going 40mph or less. On a 50mph road the overtakee needs to be going 30mph or less. For me that means tractors (or really slow vehicles), horses, cyclists and that is about it. Other cars.... nah, it is never worth the risk IMHO (unless they are going really slowly).
Roads are busier, opportunities less and the result is people have lost the skill to overtake. Now you see long ques of vehicles behind slower moving ones. All driving is a risk, nothing is 100% safe, each driver has a different balance of risk to progress. If someone has a different balance to you, that does not make either of you wrong. Ashley is on the risk averse side in my opinion, and that's fine. I don't mind exceeding the limit in an overtake, the balance of time exposed to risk from speed is different from yours, and that's fine too.
@@peterthompson9854 I am risk averse too (more so than my younger self). An overtake has really got to be worth it in my opinion. If all I am going to gain is one place then forget it... it needs to be a pass on a slow vehicle with a clear road in front of it.
“Can I stop?” is the most important question anyone should be asking when driving along country lanes. Cyclists, people, horses and wild animals are all potential hazards around the next blind corner not to mention that big pothole that could break the control arm from underneath the car
Also need to account for “meeting yourself” coming the other way, so you need to be able to stop in *half* the distance you can see to be clear - because the person the other way needs the other half.
Ashley - you amuse me with your description of these roads as 'country lanes' In Devon those would all be main roads ! To us Devonians, a country lane is a single lane with passing places (and sometimes no passing places at all). And look at all those lovely straight sections - what luxury.
3:56, enjoyment from driving. It easy to get pessimistic over the clogged roads full of traffic and think back to the days when the roads seemed to be half empty, except that wasn’t the case, When I think back to the 1970’s I have memories of being stuck in the back seat in stationary traffic queues with dad driving us to holiday spots, uncomfortable seats, windows open because it is hot as hell, everyone getting irritable and bad tempered. And now I think about a 6 hrs journey I did last Xmas, stuck in horrendous traffic on the M25 and then roads chock a block for the rest of the way, and I remember sitting there in a big comfy seat, with air conditioning, nice music playing on an excellent sound system, cruise control, and thinking to myself, this ain’t so bad and arriving at the other end in good spirits and quite relaxed. And then a couple of weeks ago while at work I took a short cut through the South Downs in the middle of the day, the roads were almost empty, it was sunny, and I thoroughly enjoyed the drive Thinking “you know what, I am getting paid to do this”
Yes, I'm a trade plate driver, I too was enjoying a quiet drive over the South Downs and the Surrey Hills in a new Audi A4 S Line, enjoying the drive and the fabulous scenery!
I used to make regular trips from Uxbridge to Oxford on a motorbike (to go and bankrupt myself in Blackwell's). The M40 runs straight from Uxbridge to Oxford, the A40 meanders. I always took the A40 and had gentle fun rather than the misery of just sitting at a constant 70 mph on the motorway. It probably took twice as long but it was half the hassle.
Nicely done Ashley. I felt for you trying to make progress with those terrible potholes. I think the pleasure that you can get from 'spirited' driving actually comes from exercising restraint - only using the car's performance when it's safe and not exceeding the speed limit or the safe speed (whichever's the lowest). In other words, the satisfaction comes from feeling you're in control and managing risk well, not going hell for leather - that's just stressful. Combine sharp observations and showing restraint with using the controls smoothly and progressively (steering, gears, brakes), reading the road through the limit point and balancing the car as you say. Like you, I don't do this 'maximise safe progress' style of driving very often these days - I prefer to see the mpg climbing rather than the speed. I like your idea that 'with great horsepower comes great responsibility!'
I agree on the overtaking…99% of the time I’m happy to trundle along behind whilst leaving a gap for anyone who wants to make progress. Myself I find the added risk of overtaking out ways the gain in ‘time’.
I got a few negative comments on a video I uploaded about helping others that wish to overtake. It was in relation to those that close gaps to prevent an overtake whereas I will leave a gap for those to use should they wish to pass I, like yourself, am happy to trundle along. Unless of course it is a really slow vehicle and perfectly safe to pass. Chances are we will all be at the next red light anyway
If I'm on an A road with basically no junctions or traffic lights etc I will overtake if there is a long enough straight (but I'm very fussy and need a properly good straight, plus if I know the road so I know a long straight is coming) but otherwise I don't bother (unless they are sitting at like 30-40 in a 60)
I like watching driving videos like Ashley’s to improve my driving and find the hazard perception aspects particularly useful. I have toyed with the idea of attempting an advanced driving course. But one thing that I think I would fail on is ‘making progress’. I understand, as an advanced driver you are expected to drive at the maximum speed permitted, whether that’s national speed limits or any other speed limits below that, 20, 30, 40, 50 depending upon road type, this of course depending on conditions. I cannot understand how some country roads are designed as national speed limits. ‘Making progress’ in my opinion, is largely dependent upon the type of car. I used to have a 2009 2.0 L Citroen C5 which had loads of power and I would be confident in overtaking when it was safe to do so, knowing I had that power. I can’t do that now in my 1.4 Hyundai i20.
@@boblawrence5011 even with low power cars if you drop it down a few gears before overtaking you can still get up to the speed limit when overtaking quickly enough. Just a matter of getting all the power you can out the little engine. Well down to a point at least, not going to be overtaking in a Trabant or Citroen 2cv etc
6:57 that was the only minor point when I did the IAM test, that I missed a overtaking 'opportunity'. It was a similar situation, a long line of traffic on a country road and the 'opportunity' was fleeting to say the least; probably only someone familiar with the road would have attempted and it was the first time I'd driven it. Ultimately pointless anyway, not worth the additional pollution.
It is one of the few reasons that puts me off doing IAM or similar, the constant need to get in front and push forward through traffic I am never going to drive witg blue lights or sirens and I am not going to overtake a car purely to reach the traffic lights before them. The state of the roads these days I often think you need to leave cars the same 1.5m as we do cyclists in case of a large hole in the road that needs to be avoided
@@smilerbob it's actually fun driving in a way that sees opportunities and takes them. And you never know when you might need that skill to make good but safe progress in, for example, a family emergency. (Been there.) But the IAM test also marks you on your ability to show restraint. When I did my last IAM Roadcraft test, right from the start I turned down an overtake opportunity. I explained in my commentary that I was not convinced it was going to be a good step to take given that, even though we were on a motorway, we were taking the next junction anyway. My examiner commented favourably on that restraint in the feedback afterwards. So, yes, as long as you demonstrate the ability to plan for overtakes and can justify why you didn't take them on, you would be absolutely fine in the IAM. It's seldom black and white: quite often there's a safety concern that you can legitimately cite for not taking on an overtake. For example, I remember once being out with an IAM Master friend and I commented that, although I was on a wide A road with a good overtake opportunity on, I was not going to take it because I could see up the nearside of the car in front and the continuous white line at the left hand side of the road was broken by dashes about 400 yards further on. That meant there was a small exit way and a car might emerge. As soon as I said it, a small car DID come up to the line! Although it stopped ok, my companion was amazed. It was a real Ashley moment - calling out something just before it happened. 😁 Would that we could all be that good all of the time!
@@R04drunner1 I fully understand that and there are times where I will overtake but it has to satisfy a few things for me. The first one is my car, it is 18 years old with almost 160,000 on the clock. The last thing I want to be doing is knocking it down a gear to het the acceleration to pass someone already doing 50mph+ on an NSL road. A bit on the extreme side but I think you understand that one The other requirements are the usual legal, necessary and safe and for me, unless the driver is going particularly slow for the road or I know there aren’t lights or junctions likely to hold us up, most overtakes for me are unnecessary…except for the family emergency you talk about which was a few months ago for me and then around 6 years ago. Even then, I chose my moments carefully…although 6 years ago it was a little easier as I had a nice 2L TDCi with good overtaking grunt. Which brings me back to my first point, my current car although a 1.6L petrol can sometimes feel like it is dragging if that makes sense Appreciate that all the tests and everything is commentary based and as long as it is explained why something is being done, or not, then it shows thought behind the decision making and not simply going through the motions. As for doing an Ashley, I have been doing that a lot lately. Doing a lot of theory with a family member and as I am talking explaining things, such as leaving a slightly larger gap to the vehicle in front to see ahead in the road, a pedestrian will suddenly step into the road ahead where I then brake at the same time as the vehicle in front as we both see it happening. Or the best one recently was when I said we need to watch the vehicle coming the opposite direction as they will try to overtake the cyclist over small chevrons (~1m in width) and sure enough they did and I was already slowing and ready to get as far left as possible to create a bigger passing gap
The last time I drove proper spirited was a few months ago when we got a phone call to say a family member was unwell. I didn’t break any speed limits, I didn’t tailgate and didn’t take unnecessary risks but did accelerate quicker than usual and used more of the lane around corners. The journey was 6 miles and roughly the same journey time as driving normally just with added cognitive loads throughout…hence why I don’t drive that way all the time as it is more tiring than it is enjoyable
I've done experiments over a 158 mile journey (multiple times). The difference from "normal" steady driving, to "spirited" driving, was, at best, 12-15 minutes. We're talking all road types incorporated, from motorway to mountains. Never broke a speed limit, or cut corners, but overtook when possible and accelerated to speed limits as soon as safe. Fun, but not so good for economy and not so mechanically sympathetic.
@@androidcaller7902 Yeah, and those long journeys are the only ones there's any actual difference. I've done some experiments on my daily commute (about 20 km or 12,5 mile). The difference on that distance (no traffic lights, pretty much all quiet country roads in the Netherlands) was at most 30 seconds. But instead of doing 23-ish km on a litre of fuel, it was more like 18 or 19. It's just not worth it...
20:52... amazing... I move out early to see around the corner before committing, but never thought of saying out extra long to let the other car know it's clear.
If you have never thought to do that, chances are you would not have taken Ashley's que that it was clear, in which case Ashley's positioning may have prevented you from overtaking because you felt that you did not have clear vision as he'd kept his car positioned blocking your view. It could also be argued that your decision to overtake was lead by the decisions of another drivers positioning and was not your own and you should not delegate your driving decisions to another road user. Ashley's actions also put his car closed to a driveway exit with a high hedge and wall (x2) restricting the view of an emerging car or "child on a bike". Still amazed? You see, I'm not saying that Ashley was wrong, but any driving decision can be viewed in several ways. Was the action of helping the driver behind (who may not have even pick up on the message) enough of a benefit to balance the increase risk from the closer pass of the driveways?
Hi mate, honestly I felt quite sad when you said you don’t really enjoy driving much these days but I totally understand why you say that, it’s because you’re a driving instructor and you drive day in and day out, it can get very boring and very repetitive doing the same thing day in and day out, I completely agree with everything that you said in the video, just because you have a powerful sports car it doesn’t mean that you can always put your foot down and floor it everywhere, like you said you have to always have safety in your mind and drive to what you can see, reduce your speed when you can’t see and increase your speed when you can see but always thinking in your mind what if there is a pedestrian walking on the road around this corner where I can’t see, I think it’s very important to make as much progress as you possibly can but always have safety in your mind as your number 1 priority and concern, I’m not the perfect driver and nobody is but thank you so much for taking the time to make these videos, honestly they educate us more than you’ll ever know and I’m so grateful and so thankful for that mate. 👍 🙃
If your job was an accountant studying spreadsheets etc, would you go home and after supper say ' I think I'll relax by having a look at some other spreadsheets"?!! Bit of a bus man's holiday!
35:40 My favourite road in my youth was GREENS ARMS ROAD from Chapeltown near Bolton to the A666. It is a mad, bad narrow country road where I used to do 60mph on it most times I drove it. The longer version of the route started at the bottom of Bradshaw Road and took in Bury Road into -[edit] Edgworth. (Obviously I kept the speed down in the 30 limits). It was utterly crazy thing to do now that I think back on it. One corner was a blind off-camber flick with a stone wall to the right..... yep, taken at 60mph... Other corners were of course slower, but one could still hustle through them. Then there was the 60 down to 15 as one crossed over the railway line via two right angle bends..... BONKERS.... I'd still have the confidence to do it now, but only if I knew the road was closed to traffic coming the other way! Check it out on google maps, makes Ashley's road look like a major A-road.
I tend not to drive fast to make progress, I more do it for fun since I drive a low power car (less than 100hp) it's quite fun to use all the power and go the grand heights of the speed limit
I passed my driving test several months ago, but I don't have a car. I want to keep learning, and watching good videos helps me a lot to see and learn new things. Sometimes, I send my driving instructor a message and ask for a little drive around just to keep learning and keep things as fresh as possible because I don't want to lose too much.
Already we have caught up with traffic… One resson I no longer drive spirited on the roads as you eventually catch up with the next vehicle at some point. Not saying I don’t get a move on when needed…I just don’t do it most of the time these days
Indeed. I'd much rather just drive at a decent pace without other traffic in front of me, than making great progress, only to end up driving behind a row of cars at the same speed anyway.
Hi Ashley I just wanted to say I have been watcher of your channel for a while now and this inspired me to look into becoming an instructor. Anyway today I have passed my ADI part 2 and I have found your videos to of been a big help. So many thanks
3:06 Already at this early point in the video I am thinking how I am so similar in my approach to those sharp bends. Partly natural ability (as in I know my own isn't like a racing driver) but also understanding the limits of the car. When I was learning to drive, my mum told me to expect an idiot around every corner. That was nearly 25 years ago and the other road users haven't improved.
Absolutely superb video, Ashley. Chock full of insights and totally rivetting. 12/10 from me. Loads of comments I noted as well. Apologies for long list below, my enthusiasm probably got the better of me. (As an aside, I think FWD is good coming out of corners because you can get the power down earlier i.e. once the front wheels are pointed in the right direction. On a RWD you need to wait until the rear wheels are aligned with the fronts before pressing the loud pedal down. Otherwise you can get trapped into one of those "Oh look, another video showing a Ford Mustang exiting the road backwards" scenarios.) 1) 3:38 (and others) really nice downshift with rev match. Does the car do that automatically or was it you? 2) 3:49 Sad to hear that driving doesn't give you much enjoyment. That drive was a thing of beauty: a mix of artistry, science and education. I guess I can understand given that you do it so much. I am 61 years old, have been driving for 43 years, and still enjoy the challenge of working out how to be better every single time I take a car out. It makes driving fun. Every day a school day. 3) 6:59 you mentioned that the Advanced Driving organisations put too much emphasis on overtaking. I had often wondered about your perception on the importance of making progress and how it differs from the Advanced Driving approach. I can see your point and you made it well. I personally would say I still enjoy making progress SAFELY (the SAFELY has to be the emphasis) but I can also see the point of a more relaxed form of driving. In fact, I used the more relaxed approach today deliberately because I had plenty of time plus passengers who would appreciate a more leisurely journey. That was even before viewing your video. I'd say your point is a fair one. 4) 10:37 I totally agree with your point about the benefits of driving a car with a "bit of poke". In fact, your car's engine sounds great under load: a very nice growl. I'd also point out the ability to accelerate fast is not only useful when emerging from junctions, it's also super useful when merging onto motorways and it's handy for those occasions when overtaking - even if it is a slow moving cyclist. 5) 11:35 Very nice work with the Lexus. Really good flow and intelligent use of car body language (as well as the early right turn signal) to show the other driver your intentions and hence allow them to make best use of the road. When the Lexus moved out to lane 2 at the lights, that truly was an "Ashley moment" - predicting the future yet again! 6) 14:26 "Speed limits do drop for a reason" - absolutely, such a pearl of wisdom. One that all too many drivers don't seem to think about. Nice one. 7) 16:52 The mirror was to the right but the entrance (a driveway) was actually to the left. As you say, however, the mirror is handy. I think it does three things for you. Number 1, it warns you of a hazard (a restricted opening). Number 2, it helps you see if a vehicle is emerging before you could normally see that vehicle. And, number 3, it makes it less likely that a vehicle will emerge just when its dangerous. Another nugget of wisdom worthy to remember. 8) 17:14 "slow in a straight line". 100% yes, best for stability. Yes, you can slow when turning but it's not great for stability even if done gently. Just because your car has ABS doesn't mean you have to use it. 😉 Same for seat belts! 9) 20:53 Help the other guy behind me. 100%. Keeping out shows the car behind that it's safe to overtake as well. Gem. 10) 22:00 Another Ashley moment - predicting the future. Beautiful example of why, after getting good visibility through the corner, you keep to the left hand side going round a left hand corner - the oncoming car was definitely for cutting that corner! 11) 24:50 Change speed at crucial moments. 100% agree. Too many drivers just drive at the same speed regardless of circumstances. An extreme example is the car that does 40 mph in a national speed limity, then stays at 40mph when entering a 30 zone. Smooth variation of speed is the sign of a master driver. 12) 25:22 You cannot drive a sporty car to its fullest potential on roads. 100% agree. And that's a frustrating part of driving, I suppose, when you have something tasty like a Focus ST. But learning that with great power comes great restraint is so important. Again, another gem of wisdom. 13) 29:21 coming up to the dangerous crossroads at an appropriate (reduced speed) and with your foot on the brake. 100% agree. I would add to that: with a finger on the horn button! Absolutely AWESOME video @ashley neal. Thanks for posting it, I enjoyed every minute.
35:07 I am pychic this time as the word PRIDE had popped into my head much earlier in the video. A lot of people don't have pride in what they do these days, driving, working, hobbies etc. Having PRIDE in what you do - and DISCIPLINE too - makes doing anything that much better and enjoyable. It all starts with how one leaves the car unattended - is it straight and centred in the space, both from the kerb and from vehicles front and back. On the move there are a million things to be proud of, (or not as the case maybe)..... Try and cut out of daily life doing anything you are not proud of.
Nice video of advanced driving techniques,. The issue with overtaking, Ashley, is not whether there is a need for it in a particular situation but when I was a RoSPA Giold Diploma Examiner, I was looking for the candidate to consider the overtake, decide if it was safe and achievable and to telll me about it even if they decided not to do it. and to tell me why they didn't. I would then know the thought process of the candidate and know whether they were at the standard that would get them their award. Clearly, if there were numerous overtaking opportunities which were safe and achievable and they didnt taker them, their award would probably be at a lower level than it might otherwise have been,. Equally, if they took an opportunity that proved not to be safe they would blow the whole assessment. no matter how good everything else may have been. So, it is an assessment of a driver's ability, skill and awareness which is arrived at by careful scrutiny of their attitude and behaviour as well and not necessarily by the number of times they diecided on an overtake or not.. I hope that helps clarify that point.
When I was young, I probably took some chances with overtaking that I shouldn't have, to get past drivers that I really didn't need to pass. In most cases, overtaking makes a very marginal difference to your journey time, but adds a lot of extra stress and risk. If the vehicle in front is traveling significantly below the speed limit, it can be worth overtaking, but even then it's often not worth stressing over, because they are often things like farm vehicles moving between fields, and will often turn off a couple of minutes later anyway.
I used to drive everywhere on two wheels. I was lucky and have never had an accident (or caused one to my knowledge), but with age, and a job as a trade plate driver that demands I drive long distances, in new cars that don't belong to me, I have found the joy and stress free existence that awaits those who drive defensively and at or below the limit. Generally roads are so busy that the car that tore past you half an hour earlier ends up just in front of you at the next junction. I still enjoy driving, and I still enjoy driving my car fast when conditions allow, but in terms of stress levels, for both the car and driver, it's better to sit back and enjoy the ride!
Great video as always Ashley. I cant remember the last time i drove a car in a spirited way, i just dont get chance now to go out on my own and have fun in a car and i definitely would not drive like that with my family with me, im definitely more constrained now a days than i was 20 years ago before kids arrived, but im not saying if the conditions was perfect and i knew the vehicle i was driving was up to the job id definitely drive in a spirited way, i still love driving it gives me great pleasure just driving normally, but just every now and then why not.
10:48 Good to hold back, even if you could have got out and going. Just because you could, doesn't mean oncoming car knows/expects that, and may take pre-emptive evasive action and potential knock on effects
23:54 I also find when I do drive like this pushing and pinching, it is disproportionately more mentally fatiguing, and I really notice at the end of the drive
As someone building a 500bhp hatchback.... You don't get much opportunity to use the power on a public road. I do a lot of motorsport at the weekends so I do get to go flat out (even on public roads at times!), but when I'm driving day to day there's no real opportunity to use a massive amount of power. However, you can go one of two ways - You can drive something that's pretty slow, but hugely engaging to drive. Clio 172, MX5 etc. You can drive it hard without worrying so much about your speed. Most modern hot hatches have moved quite far away from this concept unfortunately. Or with some really fast stuff, the whole feeling of driving normally in something that reminds you constantly that you're only tickling the throttle can be quite entertaining. Walking quietly but carrying a massive stick. One of the most important things I'm thinking about with my big power build is to not ruin the midrange. I tend to find that I can very comfortably sit in 3rd or 4th, always stay nicely in the power band, and add/remove speed as and when my limit point moves in/out. Very entertaining. You should try AutoSOLO or sprinting/hillclimbing, you'll probably find something quite local to have a go at safely and legally exploring the limits of the car.
I drive spiritedly pretty much every time it's safe to do so but I also don't drive all that much. I work from home a lot so I usually only drive my car twice a week so when I do I like to enjoy it a bit. I find I get most of my enjoyment from the sound of my car, so like you showed here I like to put my foot down a little and run through the gears to get up to speed but I don't go over the speed limit because my insurance is already high enough without getting points or worse losing it - just isn't worth it for such little gain. I actually quite often find my self slowing down more for a corner then I know I need to just becuase it gives me more head room to then put my foot down a litte on the exit while still being nice and safe
The last - and only(?) - time I have seen a spirited drive on here was in your BMW M3. I seem to recall that traction control was permanently on. I've come to the conclusion that you can have more fun driving a slow car quickly as opposed to being forced into driving a performance car slowly. Admittedly the line is drawn at a Citroën 2CV....... That would be torture 😮. I prefer rear wheel drive. Why is that? Several reasons. 1) Better balance in general [50:50 front/rear weight]. 2) Less chance of suffering from understeer. Granted - oversteer is a risk. 3) No "torque steer". With reference to point 3 @Ashley - do you get this under heavy acceleration? I'm aware that some cars do have a Limited Slip Diff that helps to negate this but it is not always offered. Stay safe out there.
Brilliant comments. I was thinking of the M3 video too! Yes, driving a small car quickly (and SAFELY) can be as much fun as driving a fast car with restraint. But, as Ashley said, having a car with a bit of grunt can be handy in some situations.
@@R04drunner1 Very true. I once avoided getting hit by a stolen Escort Cabriolet due to a 3 litre engine and dropping down a cog manually instead of the delay (Auto box) waiting for the kickdown. It was close........ Too close for comfort, mate. Appreciate your reply. Thx 👍
Having a performance car does end up just being frustrating a lot of the time as you can’t progress and enjoy it. Think the way to go is having something comfortable but quick enough to overtake safely.
Exactly. What i am missing on UK motorways is drivers of vans and cars which can safely build up and use a legal DIFFERENTIAL speed to not make me worried how to stop for their spine or skull in an emergemcy . 😅
I have not driven in a "spirited way" for many years. I get more satisfaction from driving as safely as possible now. Truth is that driving for me is an occasional necessary evil, I'd rather be on my bicycle, the mental and physical health benefits to me are huge, i also like the social interaction that i get from cycling.
You say that you have not driven in a spirited manner for many years. I'm seeing a correlation in other people between things like erectile dysfunction, gray hair and never driving in a spirited manner. It is possible to drive in a spirited manner whilst being safe. Life is too short to skip the enjoyment of a spirited (yet safe) drive. I've been driving in a spirited manner for many decades and have never had a crash or even a close call in doing so. Some people choose to live boring lives. I choose not to.
One thing that I think a lot of people don't appreciate (or forgot, or don't know) on roads like this is that all the corners are different shapes and that affects how fast (or indeed how slow) you can go through them. I suspect most incidents are caused when the corner changes shape halfway through.... AND also the shape of the corner is different from the other direction. A case in point (if one misjudged it) is a right hand bend that tightens half way through. Traffic coming the other way has an opening left hand bend so will be potentially accelarating out of it quite quickly. We on the other hand have gone in too quickly and are checking up on the exit.
"Diminishing radius turn" is a phrase that strikes fear into the heart of motorcyclists that like to ride in a spirited fashion. There's no feeling more unpleasant then getting half way through a turn as close to maximum speed that you feel is safe to find it is still tightening. Encountering a few of those when I was an inexperienced biker taught me to be much more conservative with my corner entry speeds, fortunately quite early on in my biking career and without incident other than perhaps a change of underwear.
I did a lot of driving today….for economy. 56.8mpg average on E10 Petrol Beat my previous record for the tank range too. So the complete opposite. But….i was still doing 55-57 in a 60mph, and 30 in a 30 etc. What I find as happened today, a faster car accelerates away…..and then I catch them at the next major roundabout or lights. I’ve seen it happen before but today the car in question disappeared for about 5 mins (yes it was the same car - custom plate) Also I note I drive more consistently, so I went a long way without using the brakes or stopping….btw keeping moving is more efficient than stopping even when idle-stop is working. Like flowing from corner to corner….imagine your in a Toyota Prius but cheaper and that’s how it mostly feels. So my 84PS shopping car-automatic-can rev to 8,000……(VETEC) can you imagine how that looks from a shopping car 😂 Btw the end of dashboard view makes me feel sea sick 😂 I should have said also, I have noticed over the last year, a number of compact SUVs seem unable to keep up with me as a flow thru the bends. I don’t know wether it’s down to said budget compact SUV using the chassis from a Vauxhall Astra or wether it’s the human behind the wheel….and remember, I don’t have a fast, sporty handling car…it’s a bit jelly in the corners, so what’s happening.
How many go for full acceleration upon emerging in situations like 10:37 and end up spinning the wheels due to the steering being turned and reduced grip on the drive wheels? Good use of emerging in first gear and accelerate in second gear. The most under used gear changes are 2nd -> 4th 2nd -> 5th 3rd -> 5th
Additionally to this… Have you considered doing a similar video but instead of having all of those horses under the bonnet doing it in a 1990’s 1L 4-speed Vauxhall Nova? I can hear the commentary now “This gap here is perfrectly fine for most cars but in this one you need to at least treble it before considering emerging. Also, it is recommended to give yourself 20 yards before the give way lines so you are at least rolling a little bit as you emerge” 🤣
@@huwprice881 Until the car in front leaks some oil / diesel and it starts raining 😉🤣 But understand that one having owned a RWD myself. All fine until it snowed…now that was an experience 😁
Great to hear you talking limit points, not heard it mentioned since being taught it in the 70s on an Ambulance/ Police course. Do you teach it for standard test? Great if you do and the pupils grasp it. 😊
@ashley_neal exactly. Driving instructors (I don't know if you do, Ashley) will sometimes cover the rear view mirror and ask the learner what is behind them. If they don't know then they haven't been keeping a constant check in the mirrors to know what is behind them.
Ashley might actually get more enjoyment from driving a small "zippy" NA 1.4l car around the country roads, than his wider (and heavier) Ford or Golf GTI. Those are better suited to tracks than country roads (for safe, spirited driving).
09:58 - would you say that's a risky join from the van? Surely the van turning in will have blocked the view somewhat. Just because someone is turning off a dual carriage does not mean the way is clear enough to emerge without impeding traffic.
Having watched a crash that occurred for exactly that reason on another channel yesterday I'm gonna say "possibly risky". The road was clear for a long way, as we can see from when Ash reaches the junction. If the van observed properly _before_ the other van blocked his view then he ought to have known that and it was safe. So it all hinges on whether the van had a good enough view to decide that before the other van blocked his line of sight - that's unknown to us because it's too hard to judge from the video.
@@ianmason. I doubt it. The way the same van driver turned right at the junction with a blind corner a little earlier I think they have no perception of risk or how much russian roulette they are playing. Another example of someone given white van drivers a bad name.
I was going to say i hope you encounter farm traffic as it does cause stress for both parties ,the tractor and trailer on the bend was a good example of 2 very aware drivers sorting out a potential risk you slowed to make the tractor aware you had seen him and that he was already emerged from the road , the tractor driver had good vision being high up to see in the opposite direction that the road was clear which is why he felt he could emerge from the junction into traffic , i think most will think ,he put vechiles coming the other way at risk , but it was good situational awareness .
As an observer with the IAM, when considering overtakes we think about SLAP. Is the overtake Safe? Is the overtake Legal? Does the overtake Achieve a valid objective? What would be the Perception from non-advanced drivers? Aside from the obvious first to, this means we wouldn't always push for overtake, for instance if we were coming into a lower limit, or if there is a very long string of vehicles with no real opportunity to move past them. And finally would be the perception? Would a non-advanced driver think 'Nicely done, they took good advantage of that safe opportunity', or would they think 'What's this maniac doing!?'. If it's the latter, the overtake still isn't on (even if we deem it safe with our observation, anticipation and planning), as being unpredictable and startling other road users increases the risk for everyone.
I love you use of 'Spirited' . Been a long time since I could find a low / no traffic place where I felt I could safely let the needle creep up. Your emphasis on reading the road surface is lacking by most drivers here in the USA (blame Automatics for some of that, as there is little reason to anticipate a gear change)
Driving round a corner with a speed to match the limit point of your viewing distance. Surely the faster you go, the faster your limit point also moves?
0:15 sorry mate, I almost forgot to ask, is it ok to stop on the yellow zigzag lines if you’re in a stationary queue of traffic? Some driving instructors say yes and some say no but I think it’s the same with all clearways, don’t stop unless it’s outside of your control, like last year for example, I was driving home from work on a 24 hour clearway but I had to stop because there were roadworks and a stationary queue of traffic and a red traffic light, please correct me if I’m wrong but I think all no stopping clearways are the same, don’t stop except for reasons outside of your control.
You aren't breaking the rules if you stop on the zig-zags outside a school for reasons beyond your control or if directed to do so by a constable, traffic warden or school crossing patrol. But think why they are there, it's to a create a zone of clear visibility around the entrance/exit to a school. So, if you can, it's best to hold back before them, and only pass them when you can do so in one motion without the possibility of being forced to stop and becoming a barrier to the visibility that the zig-zags are trying to create. I appreciate that other drivers will often conspire to try and stop you from taking the optimum approach. As for clearways, don't stop unless it is for circumstances beyond your control which includes stationary traffic, instructions from police, traffic wardens, signs, etc. If you do have to stop for circumstances beyond your control that's OK.
Hi mate, thank you so much for replying, I really do appreciate it. 🙃 That’s it, yellow zigzag lines are there to create a zone of clear visibility around the entrance and exit of a school to keep the school kids safe so as you said it’s best to keep them clear at all times if you can but they are clear ways because sometimes they have a no stopping sign with days and times but it’s ok to stop on any clear way (24 hour clearway, bus stop clearway, yellow zigzag lines clearway) for reasons outside of your control, like earlier on for example, I was driving to work and there was a stationary queue of traffic ahead of me because of the red traffic light, there is a bus stop with a thick solid yellow line along the kerb which means that other vehicles are prohibited from stopping except for reasons outside of your control, there is also a sign with the no stopping clearway sign and it says no stopping except buses but like with all clear ways it’s ok to temporarily stop if it’s for reasons outside of your control, some yellow zigzag lines are also found outside of hospitals fire stations police stations and ambulance stations but most of the time they have yellow box junctions which of course you can’t stop in unless you’re turning right and your exit road is clear and you’re only prevented from proceeding due to oncoming traffic or vehicles in front of you also turning right, also, of course, in the Highway Code there is a rule attached to yellow box junctions but there are no rules attached to yellow zigzag lines but zigzag lines means no parking so if you parked on them or stopped on them to let out a passenger or to pick up a passenger you’d definitely get a fine and penalty points on your licence.
Also, rule 238 of the Highway Code states you MUST NOT wait or park or stop to set down and pick up passengers on school entrance markings when upright signs indicate a prohibition of stopping, so it’s basically saying that if yellow zigzag lines don’t have a sign then there are no laws backing them up and you shouldn’t park on them or pick up and drop off passengers on them but if you do then you haven’t committed an offence because there is no sign, however, if a yellow zigzag has a mandatory upright no stopping sign then you would be breaking the law if you park on them or if you stop on them to pick up or set down passengers but whether there is a sign or not it’s ok to temporarily stop on them for reasons outside of your control, for example a stationary queue of traffic, that’s how I see it anyway.
Excellent video Ashley and noticing more sensible speed limits on country roads. National speed limi no longer makes and perhaps should be 40. Appreciate your reminder about driving to the road not the speed limit keeping alert to all risks.
Drive to your ability and the conditions, (road, and weather). Respect other road users. That way, you'll reach your destination safely, and so will everyone else.
Seemed to be about 5 miles that drive and I don't recall seeing a single cyclist, let alone being held up by one for 5 miles; which is what usually happens according to some commenters on here! Well, maybe here's an idea for a video - a half-hour drive where you tally up all the time spent waiting for other drivers (sat at traffic lights, waiting at give ways, following slow moving motor vehicles etc.) and all the time spent waiting behind a cyclist (if you can find one!). Then compare the results.
Sad but quite expected that 'frustration' appears in so many comments. Basically most mean 'I'm frustrated that others are allowed to use the road I am using'.
Ashley have you heard of a channel called "Mick Drives Cars"? He essentially does videos on safe spirited driving, quite similar to what you were doing on the B road at the start of the video. I would be interested to hear your thoughts about his driving
@@ashley_nealI agree, i’ve seen him drive on the other side of the road on a blind bend, and recommending tailgating to request faster speed or better land discipline, quite unsafe. Not everything he says is wrong though. Could be fun to make a video analysing him, i’m sure the algorithm would like it lol
@@GamerLad98I've just watched one video and it seems typical on other videos, but his hand positioning on the steering wheel is comoletely wrong. Most of the time he has only one hand on the wheel as he is gesticulating so much, and secondly when he does have two hands the position is always below 'quarter to three' when the correct position is 'ten to two'. He could easily be prosecuted for driving most of the time with just one hand on the wheel - 'driving without due care and attention'.
@@johncranna You're behind the times. Quarter to three is now recommended over ten to two by most authorities. The recommendation in Roadcraft, which is as close to a "bible" as we're going to get is "... allow your arms to drop so that your hands are in a comfortable position on the wheel rim - between ten to two and quarter to three, depending on your steering wheel indentations.". Neither position is objectively "correct", whatever gives a particular driver best control for them with a particular vehicle is what they should be doing, and picking someone up on which of the two they choose as a way of criticising them isn't helpful. For what it's worth I'm a ten to two guy, but I was taught when _that_ was the official recommendation.
@@ianmason. My 2001 edition of Road craft shows the hands at 10 to 2 and the test says "at about the quarter to three or ten to two position". The moulding on his steering wheel indicates that a ten to two position is preferred.
The amount of people who drive fast but don't necessarily know how to drive fast is very worrying in this country. They have zero idea how braking and turning can affect a cars balance...
Ashley, have you completed your IAM training? I’ve noticed some of your terminology such as limit points is something you’re taught on an advanced driving course
@@ashley_nealnice one. If everyone had a read through roadcraft and applied some of the principles the roads would be a much better place, especially chapter one
The speed bumps you went over... My Focus ST's engine tray seems to scrape along the top of them. 😂 Do you seem to have that issue, by chance? Mine's a 2020 model, so I've pretty much got the same chassis.
Ashley has said "Not accelerating or decelerating", my old motorcycle instructor used to say "constant power through bends", and an automotive engineer (designer) I knew said "getting the forces on the tyres settled before a bend, and then keeping the magnitude of those forces the same all the way around the bend". "Balance" is the seat of the pants feeling you get when you've learned what those more technical sounding descriptions feel like. If the car feels like it wants to follow the bend it's balanced, if you feel you're fighting it, or the car feels unsettled, or the car's attitude changes without deliberate control inputs during the bend than it's not balanced. It's as applicable to a Nova as a Ferrari, and also to anything on two wheels.
I love your videos, but surely 64 on your speedometer would have been classed as speeding if you got into an accident? I'm sure I heard its the speed on your dial the police go by? Or is that just a scare story some instructors tell learners?
I drive for fuel economy these days. With the price of petrol being what it is, I can't afford to drive like a lunatic, even if I wanted to 😋 As for speed limits, I do try to keep to them as much as I can, but the ridiculous over-use of 20mph limits makes me angry sometimes. There is a *_dual carriageway_* in London that is 20mph, WTF is *_that_* all about..? 🙄
Totally agree with so many stupidly low speed limits these days. I also experienced a stonking wide dual carriageway in London with a 20mph. You could safely drive 50mph+ along there (I think that would have been the limit not so long ago), and it was painful to drive at such a slow speed. It actually made me feel anxious and vunerable at that speed, as I was getting blasted past by e-bikes (the illegal sort) doing 40mph+. The other 4-wheeled vehicles were inches from your rear bumper, but too afraid to actually overtake in the overtaking lane, so lots of non-staggered driving.
@@ashley_neal I would like to point out that on one of your motorbike video you overtake a van and you say you had to brake the speed limit to get passed ,so is that ok becase you are a driving instructor ???
Nah, nowadays, I like to take it easy. Spirited drives can be fun but I need to be a 100% sure it's safe and worth it. + I don't really like the added fuel consumption and wear on components of my car.
With nearly 300 horsepower it's hard to resist the loud pedal now and then. And why not? Soon even the fun of the ICE will be taken from us. Get it while you can.
You don’t want to meet yourself coming the other way. So on lanes with limited visibility you need to be able to stop well before the distance you can see to be clear as the obstruction will 99% of the time, be moving and coming towards you. And they may be going too fast and not paying enough attention.
@@JohnR31415 depends on the road and the situation. You could see a 1/4 mile clear to a very sharp right bend. So an approaching car would have to be going relatively slowly to negotiate that whereas you have a clear run So you have most of the space. But the judgement of what speed is suitable at what point is constantly changing.
A small point: Around 30 minutes into the drive you turned left. There was no-one around you at the time to benefit from a signal so it wasn't necessary. If you ask me what the thinking is behind my comment, Ill be happy to expand:-)
It will soon be time for a similar video on your motorcycle. Hopefully, you'll enjoy that more. There's no way you are going to be able to stick to "riding for the channel only". Sadly I find that safe smooth riding doesn't look exciting for the UA-cam audience and it looks really slow. Do I drive/ride in a spirited fashion? Yes, all the time, but it is calm and relaxed. No hurry, just taking opportunities where they develop. Progress isn't just about MPH.
@@juddy_1997 check the sign at the side of the road. Only one second between the car in front and then Ashley passing it. 2 seconds should be minimum gap left.
It's safe and recommended if you use effective observations, of which Ashley clearly does. You don't have to stick dead centre to your lane on every roundabout.
Would staying in the middle of lane one have increased risk with the vehicles potentially emerging? @richy_rude stop driving so routinely and adapt what you were doing to suit your surroundings.
@@ashley_neal using "perfect" lane discipline all the time is on the same page as always indicating regardless of the situation. Done purely out of habit, rather than out of observations and spatial awareness
@@ashley_neal i wouldn’t say pointless, it’s on my phone and it actually makes me drive differently, and of course watching your videos has improved my overall driving, IMHO.
@@ashley_neal a delivery driver who was tracked commented to me that apps like that actually encourage dangerous driving. Sometimes it is safer to accelerate fast (such as in the situation you showed) rather than gently and sedately. My friend got marked down by the app for doing the right thing. Or accelerating to join a motorway and merge safely into a gap in the traffic in lane 1. Same idea.
Didn’t watch all of this. Got bored. But saw enough to confirm that “performance” cars are a waste of time. I don’t watch Ashley Neal videos to see silly racing about.
if you think of a Focus ST as a 'performance car' then you don't know about anything about cars. And because you don't know anything about cars you have no interest in driving (And because you have no interest in driving you shouldn't be doing so).
15:25 Meanwhile the van driver,
"What is he beeping for? He beeped at me again! Did he just flip me off?!"
😆
6:54 my rule about overtaking is my "the 20mph rule" - IF IT IS 100% SAFE - I need to be ABLE to go 20mph faster than what I am overtaking. Basically on a NSL road the overtakee needs to be going 40mph or less. On a 50mph road the overtakee needs to be going 30mph or less. For me that means tractors (or really slow vehicles), horses, cyclists and that is about it. Other cars.... nah, it is never worth the risk IMHO (unless they are going really slowly).
Roads are busier, opportunities less and the result is people have lost the skill to overtake. Now you see long ques of vehicles behind slower moving ones. All driving is a risk, nothing is 100% safe, each driver has a different balance of risk to progress. If someone has a different balance to you, that does not make either of you wrong. Ashley is on the risk averse side in my opinion, and that's fine. I don't mind exceeding the limit in an overtake, the balance of time exposed to risk from speed is different from yours, and that's fine too.
@@peterthompson9854 I am risk averse too (more so than my younger self). An overtake has really got to be worth it in my opinion. If all I am going to gain is one place then forget it... it needs to be a pass on a slow vehicle with a clear road in front of it.
“Can I stop?” is the most important question anyone should be asking when driving along country lanes. Cyclists, people, horses and wild animals are all potential hazards around the next blind corner not to mention that big pothole that could break the control arm from underneath the car
True but it’s massively frustrating to be stuck behind someone driving at a safe speed
@@frogsplorerif they are doing a safe speed for them, why should it bother you so much?
@@neiloflongbeck5705 because on country roads you can’t get past so can be stuck there for miles and miles
@@frogsplorer you probably drive a 'car' (And I use this term very loosely) that can only speed in a 30.
Also need to account for “meeting yourself” coming the other way, so you need to be able to stop in *half* the distance you can see to be clear - because the person the other way needs the other half.
Ashley - you amuse me with your description of these roads as 'country lanes' In Devon those would all be main roads ! To us Devonians, a country lane is a single lane with passing places (and sometimes no passing places at all). And look at all those lovely straight sections - what luxury.
Also throw in the steep hills
3:56, enjoyment from driving.
It easy to get pessimistic over the clogged roads full of traffic and think back to the days when the roads seemed to be half empty, except that wasn’t the case,
When I think back to the 1970’s I have memories of being stuck in the back seat in stationary traffic queues with dad driving us to holiday spots, uncomfortable seats, windows open because it is hot as hell, everyone getting irritable and bad tempered.
And now I think about a 6 hrs journey I did last Xmas, stuck in horrendous traffic on the M25 and then roads chock a block for the rest of the way, and I remember sitting there in a big comfy seat, with air conditioning, nice music playing on an excellent sound system, cruise control, and thinking to myself, this ain’t so bad and arriving at the other end in good spirits and quite relaxed.
And then a couple of weeks ago while at work I took a short cut through the South Downs in the middle of the day, the roads were almost empty, it was sunny, and I thoroughly enjoyed the drive Thinking “you know what, I am getting paid to do this”
Yes, I'm a trade plate driver, I too was enjoying a quiet drive over the South Downs and the Surrey Hills in a new Audi A4 S Line, enjoying the drive and the fabulous scenery!
I used to make regular trips from Uxbridge to Oxford on a motorbike (to go and bankrupt myself in Blackwell's). The M40 runs straight from Uxbridge to Oxford, the A40 meanders. I always took the A40 and had gentle fun rather than the misery of just sitting at a constant 70 mph on the motorway. It probably took twice as long but it was half the hassle.
Nicely done Ashley. I felt for you trying to make progress with those terrible potholes.
I think the pleasure that you can get from 'spirited' driving actually comes from exercising restraint - only using the car's performance when it's safe and not exceeding the speed limit or the safe speed (whichever's the lowest). In other words, the satisfaction comes from feeling you're in control and managing risk well, not going hell for leather - that's just stressful. Combine sharp observations and showing restraint with using the controls smoothly and progressively (steering, gears, brakes), reading the road through the limit point and balancing the car as you say.
Like you, I don't do this 'maximise safe progress' style of driving very often these days - I prefer to see the mpg climbing rather than the speed. I like your idea that 'with great horsepower comes great responsibility!'
I agree on the overtaking…99% of the time I’m happy to trundle along behind whilst leaving a gap for anyone who wants to make progress. Myself I find the added risk of overtaking out ways the gain in ‘time’.
I got a few negative comments on a video I uploaded about helping others that wish to overtake. It was in relation to those that close gaps to prevent an overtake whereas I will leave a gap for those to use should they wish to pass
I, like yourself, am happy to trundle along. Unless of course it is a really slow vehicle and perfectly safe to pass. Chances are we will all be at the next red light anyway
If I'm on an A road with basically no junctions or traffic lights etc I will overtake if there is a long enough straight (but I'm very fussy and need a properly good straight, plus if I know the road so I know a long straight is coming) but otherwise I don't bother (unless they are sitting at like 30-40 in a 60)
I like watching driving videos like Ashley’s to improve my driving and find the hazard perception aspects particularly useful. I have toyed with the idea of attempting an advanced driving course. But one thing that I think I would fail on is ‘making progress’. I understand, as an advanced driver you are expected to drive at the maximum speed permitted, whether that’s national speed limits or any other speed limits below that, 20, 30, 40, 50 depending upon road type, this of course depending on conditions. I cannot understand how some country roads are designed as national speed limits.
‘Making progress’ in my opinion, is largely dependent upon the type of car. I used to have a 2009 2.0 L Citroen C5 which had loads of power and I would be confident in overtaking when it was safe to do so, knowing I had that power. I can’t do that now in my 1.4 Hyundai i20.
@@boblawrence5011 even with low power cars if you drop it down a few gears before overtaking you can still get up to the speed limit when overtaking quickly enough. Just a matter of getting all the power you can out the little engine. Well down to a point at least, not going to be overtaking in a Trabant or Citroen 2cv etc
@@sgkingly8392 agree, although my first (company) car was an 850 cc Renault 5. I used to plan my overtakes a mile in advance!
6:57 that was the only minor point when I did the IAM test, that I missed a overtaking 'opportunity'. It was a similar situation, a long line of traffic on a country road and the 'opportunity' was fleeting to say the least; probably only someone familiar with the road would have attempted and it was the first time I'd driven it. Ultimately pointless anyway, not worth the additional pollution.
It is one of the few reasons that puts me off doing IAM or similar, the constant need to get in front and push forward through traffic
I am never going to drive witg blue lights or sirens and I am not going to overtake a car purely to reach the traffic lights before them.
The state of the roads these days I often think you need to leave cars the same 1.5m as we do cyclists in case of a large hole in the road that needs to be avoided
@@smilerbob it's actually fun driving in a way that sees opportunities and takes them. And you never know when you might need that skill to make good but safe progress in, for example, a family emergency. (Been there.)
But the IAM test also marks you on your ability to show restraint. When I did my last IAM Roadcraft test, right from the start I turned down an overtake opportunity. I explained in my commentary that I was not convinced it was going to be a good step to take given that, even though we were on a motorway, we were taking the next junction anyway. My examiner commented favourably on that restraint in the feedback afterwards. So, yes, as long as you demonstrate the ability to plan for overtakes and can justify why you didn't take them on, you would be absolutely fine in the IAM. It's seldom black and white: quite often there's a safety concern that you can legitimately cite for not taking on an overtake.
For example, I remember once being out with an IAM Master friend and I commented that, although I was on a wide A road with a good overtake opportunity on, I was not going to take it because I could see up the nearside of the car in front and the continuous white line at the left hand side of the road was broken by dashes about 400 yards further on. That meant there was a small exit way and a car might emerge. As soon as I said it, a small car DID come up to the line! Although it stopped ok, my companion was amazed. It was a real Ashley moment - calling out something just before it happened. 😁 Would that we could all be that good all of the time!
@@R04drunner1 Yep - With my IAM associates I try to explain that Progress and Restraint are the two sides of the same coin.
@@R04drunner1 I fully understand that and there are times where I will overtake but it has to satisfy a few things for me. The first one is my car, it is 18 years old with almost 160,000 on the clock. The last thing I want to be doing is knocking it down a gear to het the acceleration to pass someone already doing 50mph+ on an NSL road. A bit on the extreme side but I think you understand that one
The other requirements are the usual legal, necessary and safe and for me, unless the driver is going particularly slow for the road or I know there aren’t lights or junctions likely to hold us up, most overtakes for me are unnecessary…except for the family emergency you talk about which was a few months ago for me and then around 6 years ago. Even then, I chose my moments carefully…although 6 years ago it was a little easier as I had a nice 2L TDCi with good overtaking grunt. Which brings me back to my first point, my current car although a 1.6L petrol can sometimes feel like it is dragging if that makes sense
Appreciate that all the tests and everything is commentary based and as long as it is explained why something is being done, or not, then it shows thought behind the decision making and not simply going through the motions.
As for doing an Ashley, I have been doing that a lot lately. Doing a lot of theory with a family member and as I am talking explaining things, such as leaving a slightly larger gap to the vehicle in front to see ahead in the road, a pedestrian will suddenly step into the road ahead where I then brake at the same time as the vehicle in front as we both see it happening. Or the best one recently was when I said we need to watch the vehicle coming the opposite direction as they will try to overtake the cyclist over small chevrons (~1m in width) and sure enough they did and I was already slowing and ready to get as far left as possible to create a bigger passing gap
The last time I drove proper spirited was a few months ago when we got a phone call to say a family member was unwell. I didn’t break any speed limits, I didn’t tailgate and didn’t take unnecessary risks but did accelerate quicker than usual and used more of the lane around corners.
The journey was 6 miles and roughly the same journey time as driving normally just with added cognitive loads throughout…hence why I don’t drive that way all the time as it is more tiring than it is enjoyable
I've done experiments over a 158 mile journey (multiple times). The difference from "normal" steady driving, to "spirited" driving, was, at best, 12-15 minutes. We're talking all road types incorporated, from motorway to mountains. Never broke a speed limit, or cut corners, but overtook when possible and accelerated to speed limits as soon as safe. Fun, but not so good for economy and not so mechanically sympathetic.
@@androidcaller7902 Yeah, and those long journeys are the only ones there's any actual difference. I've done some experiments on my daily commute (about 20 km or 12,5 mile). The difference on that distance (no traffic lights, pretty much all quiet country roads in the Netherlands) was at most 30 seconds. But instead of doing 23-ish km on a litre of fuel, it was more like 18 or 19. It's just not worth it...
20:52... amazing... I move out early to see around the corner before committing, but never thought of saying out extra long to let the other car know it's clear.
If you have never thought to do that, chances are you would not have taken Ashley's que that it was clear, in which case Ashley's positioning may have prevented you from overtaking because you felt that you did not have clear vision as he'd kept his car positioned blocking your view. It could also be argued that your decision to overtake was lead by the decisions of another drivers positioning and was not your own and you should not delegate your driving decisions to another road user. Ashley's actions also put his car closed to a driveway exit with a high hedge and wall (x2) restricting the view of an emerging car or "child on a bike". Still amazed? You see, I'm not saying that Ashley was wrong, but any driving decision can be viewed in several ways. Was the action of helping the driver behind (who may not have even pick up on the message) enough of a benefit to balance the increase risk from the closer pass of the driveways?
Hi mate, honestly I felt quite sad when you said you don’t really enjoy driving much these days but I totally understand why you say that, it’s because you’re a driving instructor and you drive day in and day out, it can get very boring and very repetitive doing the same thing day in and day out, I completely agree with everything that you said in the video, just because you have a powerful sports car it doesn’t mean that you can always put your foot down and floor it everywhere, like you said you have to always have safety in your mind and drive to what you can see, reduce your speed when you can’t see and increase your speed when you can see but always thinking in your mind what if there is a pedestrian walking on the road around this corner where I can’t see, I think it’s very important to make as much progress as you possibly can but always have safety in your mind as your number 1 priority and concern, I’m not the perfect driver and nobody is but thank you so much for taking the time to make these videos, honestly they educate us more than you’ll ever know and I’m so grateful and so thankful for that mate. 👍 🙃
If your job was an accountant studying spreadsheets etc, would you go home and after supper say ' I think I'll relax by having a look at some other spreadsheets"?!! Bit of a bus man's holiday!
@@WayneTulip-zm9gw perhaps you might like to elaborate on why you think that was a stupid, silly reply.
35:40 My favourite road in my youth was GREENS ARMS ROAD from Chapeltown near Bolton to the A666. It is a mad, bad narrow country road where I used to do 60mph on it most times I drove it. The longer version of the route started at the bottom of Bradshaw Road and took in Bury Road into -[edit] Edgworth. (Obviously I kept the speed down in the 30 limits). It was utterly crazy thing to do now that I think back on it. One corner was a blind off-camber flick with a stone wall to the right..... yep, taken at 60mph... Other corners were of course slower, but one could still hustle through them. Then there was the 60 down to 15 as one crossed over the railway line via two right angle bends..... BONKERS.... I'd still have the confidence to do it now, but only if I knew the road was closed to traffic coming the other way! Check it out on google maps, makes Ashley's road look like a major A-road.
I hasten to add that if something was coming the other way I would slow down.... but probably nowhere near as much as I should have done....
I tend not to drive fast to make progress, I more do it for fun since I drive a low power car (less than 100hp) it's quite fun to use all the power and go the grand heights of the speed limit
100% agree when I'm out with my wife's small 1.2 litre Suzuki Swift. It's fun, but we MUST remember to keep it safe - as I am sure you do.
Excellent narration and explanation again Ashley. Asking the right questions and 'what if' moments that many drivers don't consider.
Regardless of your car's power - this is the consideration that every driver should give at all times. Well done Ashley.
I passed my driving test several months ago, but I don't have a car. I want to keep learning, and watching good videos helps me a lot to see and learn new things. Sometimes, I send my driving instructor a message and ask for a little drive around just to keep learning and keep things as fresh as possible because I don't want to lose too much.
Already we have caught up with traffic…
One resson I no longer drive spirited on the roads as you eventually catch up with the next vehicle at some point. Not saying I don’t get a move on when needed…I just don’t do it most of the time these days
Indeed. I'd much rather just drive at a decent pace without other traffic in front of me, than making great progress, only to end up driving behind a row of cars at the same speed anyway.
Hi Ashley
I just wanted to say I have been watcher of your channel for a while now and this inspired me to look into becoming an instructor.
Anyway today I have passed my ADI part 2 and I have found your videos to of been a big help.
So many thanks
Congratulations!
Information, position, speed, gear, acceleration. Living the 'system'.
3:06 Already at this early point in the video I am thinking how I am so similar in my approach to those sharp bends. Partly natural ability (as in I know my own isn't like a racing driver) but also understanding the limits of the car.
When I was learning to drive, my mum told me to expect an idiot around every corner. That was nearly 25 years ago and the other road users haven't improved.
Absolutely superb video, Ashley. Chock full of insights and totally rivetting. 12/10 from me. Loads of comments I noted as well. Apologies for long list below, my enthusiasm probably got the better of me.
(As an aside, I think FWD is good coming out of corners because you can get the power down earlier i.e. once the front wheels are pointed in the right direction. On a RWD you need to wait until the rear wheels are aligned with the fronts before pressing the loud pedal down. Otherwise you can get trapped into one of those "Oh look, another video showing a Ford Mustang exiting the road backwards" scenarios.)
1) 3:38 (and others) really nice downshift with rev match. Does the car do that automatically or was it you?
2) 3:49 Sad to hear that driving doesn't give you much enjoyment. That drive was a thing of beauty: a mix of artistry, science and education. I guess I can understand given that you do it so much. I am 61 years old, have been driving for 43 years, and still enjoy the challenge of working out how to be better every single time I take a car out. It makes driving fun. Every day a school day.
3) 6:59 you mentioned that the Advanced Driving organisations put too much emphasis on overtaking. I had often wondered about your perception on the importance of making progress and how it differs from the Advanced Driving approach. I can see your point and you made it well. I personally would say I still enjoy making progress SAFELY (the SAFELY has to be the emphasis) but I can also see the point of a more relaxed form of driving. In fact, I used the more relaxed approach today deliberately because I had plenty of time plus passengers who would appreciate a more leisurely journey. That was even before viewing your video. I'd say your point is a fair one.
4) 10:37 I totally agree with your point about the benefits of driving a car with a "bit of poke". In fact, your car's engine sounds great under load: a very nice growl. I'd also point out the ability to accelerate fast is not only useful when emerging from junctions, it's also super useful when merging onto motorways and it's handy for those occasions when overtaking - even if it is a slow moving cyclist.
5) 11:35 Very nice work with the Lexus. Really good flow and intelligent use of car body language (as well as the early right turn signal) to show the other driver your intentions and hence allow them to make best use of the road. When the Lexus moved out to lane 2 at the lights, that truly was an "Ashley moment" - predicting the future yet again!
6) 14:26 "Speed limits do drop for a reason" - absolutely, such a pearl of wisdom. One that all too many drivers don't seem to think about. Nice one.
7) 16:52 The mirror was to the right but the entrance (a driveway) was actually to the left. As you say, however, the mirror is handy. I think it does three things for you. Number 1, it warns you of a hazard (a restricted opening). Number 2, it helps you see if a vehicle is emerging before you could normally see that vehicle. And, number 3, it makes it less likely that a vehicle will emerge just when its dangerous. Another nugget of wisdom worthy to remember.
8) 17:14 "slow in a straight line". 100% yes, best for stability. Yes, you can slow when turning but it's not great for stability even if done gently. Just because your car has ABS doesn't mean you have to use it. 😉 Same for seat belts!
9) 20:53 Help the other guy behind me. 100%. Keeping out shows the car behind that it's safe to overtake as well. Gem.
10) 22:00 Another Ashley moment - predicting the future. Beautiful example of why, after getting good visibility through the corner, you keep to the left hand side going round a left hand corner - the oncoming car was definitely for cutting that corner!
11) 24:50 Change speed at crucial moments. 100% agree. Too many drivers just drive at the same speed regardless of circumstances. An extreme example is the car that does 40 mph in a national speed limity, then stays at 40mph when entering a 30 zone. Smooth variation of speed is the sign of a master driver.
12) 25:22 You cannot drive a sporty car to its fullest potential on roads. 100% agree. And that's a frustrating part of driving, I suppose, when you have something tasty like a Focus ST. But learning that with great power comes great restraint is so important. Again, another gem of wisdom.
13) 29:21 coming up to the dangerous crossroads at an appropriate (reduced speed) and with your foot on the brake. 100% agree. I would add to that: with a finger on the horn button!
Absolutely AWESOME video @ashley neal. Thanks for posting it, I enjoyed every minute.
35:07 I am pychic this time as the word PRIDE had popped into my head much earlier in the video. A lot of people don't have pride in what they do these days, driving, working, hobbies etc. Having PRIDE in what you do - and DISCIPLINE too - makes doing anything that much better and enjoyable. It all starts with how one leaves the car unattended - is it straight and centred in the space, both from the kerb and from vehicles front and back. On the move there are a million things to be proud of, (or not as the case maybe)..... Try and cut out of daily life doing anything you are not proud of.
Really enjoyed that, though still can't picture Ash revving it in 2nd and 3rd despite having watched it 😂
Thanks Ashley. A nice relaxing drive through the beautiful Lancs countryside.
I'm the same nowadays. I used to clock up miles for enjoyment, but now driving is to get me somewhere I need to be.
Nice video of advanced driving techniques,.
The issue with overtaking, Ashley, is not whether there is a need for it in a particular situation but when I was a RoSPA Giold Diploma Examiner, I was looking for the candidate to consider the overtake, decide if it was safe and achievable and to telll me about it even if they decided not to do it. and to tell me why they didn't.
I would then know the thought process of the candidate and know whether they were at the standard that would get them their award. Clearly, if there were numerous overtaking opportunities which were safe and achievable and they didnt taker them, their award would probably be at a lower level than it might otherwise have been,. Equally, if they took an opportunity that proved not to be safe they would blow the whole assessment. no matter how good everything else may have been.
So, it is an assessment of a driver's ability, skill and awareness which is arrived at by careful scrutiny of their attitude and behaviour as well and not necessarily by the number of times they diecided on an overtake or not..
I hope that helps clarify that point.
When I was young, I probably took some chances with overtaking that I shouldn't have, to get past drivers that I really didn't need to pass. In most cases, overtaking makes a very marginal difference to your journey time, but adds a lot of extra stress and risk. If the vehicle in front is traveling significantly below the speed limit, it can be worth overtaking, but even then it's often not worth stressing over, because they are often things like farm vehicles moving between fields, and will often turn off a couple of minutes later anyway.
I used to drive everywhere on two wheels. I was lucky and have never had an accident (or caused one to my knowledge), but with age, and a job as a trade plate driver that demands I drive long distances, in new cars that don't belong to me, I have found the joy and stress free existence that awaits those who drive defensively and at or below the limit. Generally roads are so busy that the car that tore past you half an hour earlier ends up just in front of you at the next junction. I still enjoy driving, and I still enjoy driving my car fast when conditions allow, but in terms of stress levels, for both the car and driver, it's better to sit back and enjoy the ride!
Great video as always Ashley. I cant remember the last time i drove a car in a spirited way, i just dont get chance now to go out on my own and have fun in a car and i definitely would not drive like that with my family with me, im definitely more constrained now a days than i was 20 years ago before kids arrived, but im not saying if the conditions was perfect and i knew the vehicle i was driving was up to the job id definitely drive in a spirited way, i still love driving it gives me great pleasure just driving normally, but just every now and then why not.
10:48 Good to hold back, even if you could have got out and going. Just because you could, doesn't mean oncoming car knows/expects that, and may take pre-emptive evasive action and potential knock on effects
23:54 I also find when I do drive like this pushing and pinching, it is disproportionately more mentally fatiguing, and I really notice at the end of the drive
As someone building a 500bhp hatchback.... You don't get much opportunity to use the power on a public road.
I do a lot of motorsport at the weekends so I do get to go flat out (even on public roads at times!), but when I'm driving day to day there's no real opportunity to use a massive amount of power.
However, you can go one of two ways - You can drive something that's pretty slow, but hugely engaging to drive. Clio 172, MX5 etc. You can drive it hard without worrying so much about your speed. Most modern hot hatches have moved quite far away from this concept unfortunately.
Or with some really fast stuff, the whole feeling of driving normally in something that reminds you constantly that you're only tickling the throttle can be quite entertaining. Walking quietly but carrying a massive stick.
One of the most important things I'm thinking about with my big power build is to not ruin the midrange. I tend to find that I can very comfortably sit in 3rd or 4th, always stay nicely in the power band, and add/remove speed as and when my limit point moves in/out. Very entertaining.
You should try AutoSOLO or sprinting/hillclimbing, you'll probably find something quite local to have a go at safely and legally exploring the limits of the car.
I drive spiritedly pretty much every time it's safe to do so but I also don't drive all that much. I work from home a lot so I usually only drive my car twice a week so when I do I like to enjoy it a bit. I find I get most of my enjoyment from the sound of my car, so like you showed here I like to put my foot down a little and run through the gears to get up to speed but I don't go over the speed limit because my insurance is already high enough without getting points or worse losing it - just isn't worth it for such little gain. I actually quite often find my self slowing down more for a corner then I know I need to just becuase it gives me more head room to then put my foot down a litte on the exit while still being nice and safe
The last - and only(?) - time I have seen a spirited drive on here was in your BMW M3.
I seem to recall that traction control was permanently on.
I've come to the conclusion that you can have more fun driving a slow car quickly as opposed to being forced into driving a performance car slowly. Admittedly the line is drawn at a Citroën 2CV.......
That would be torture 😮.
I prefer rear wheel drive. Why is that? Several reasons.
1) Better balance in general [50:50 front/rear weight].
2) Less chance of suffering from understeer. Granted - oversteer is a risk.
3) No "torque steer".
With reference to point 3 @Ashley - do you get this under heavy acceleration?
I'm aware that some cars do have a Limited Slip Diff that helps to negate this but it is not always offered.
Stay safe out there.
Brilliant comments. I was thinking of the M3 video too!
Yes, driving a small car quickly (and SAFELY) can be as much fun as driving a fast car with restraint. But, as Ashley said, having a car with a bit of grunt can be handy in some situations.
@@R04drunner1 Very true.
I once avoided getting hit by a stolen Escort Cabriolet due to a 3 litre engine and dropping down a cog manually instead of the delay (Auto box) waiting for the kickdown. It was close........
Too close for comfort, mate.
Appreciate your reply. Thx 👍
Having a performance car does end up just being frustrating a lot of the time as you can’t progress and enjoy it.
Think the way to go is having something comfortable but quick enough to overtake safely.
Exactly. What i am missing on UK motorways is drivers of vans and cars which can safely build up and use a legal DIFFERENTIAL speed to not make me worried how to stop for their spine or skull in an emergemcy . 😅
I have not driven in a "spirited way" for many years. I get more satisfaction from driving as safely as possible now.
Truth is that driving for me is an occasional necessary evil, I'd rather be on my bicycle, the mental and physical health benefits to me are huge, i also like the social interaction that i get from cycling.
You say that you have not driven in a spirited manner for many years. I'm seeing a correlation in other people between things like erectile dysfunction, gray hair and never driving in a spirited manner. It is possible to drive in a spirited manner whilst being safe. Life is too short to skip the enjoyment of a spirited (yet safe) drive. I've been driving in a spirited manner for many decades and have never had a crash or even a close call in doing so. Some people choose to live boring lives. I choose not to.
One thing that I think a lot of people don't appreciate (or forgot, or don't know) on roads like this is that all the corners are different shapes and that affects how fast (or indeed how slow) you can go through them. I suspect most incidents are caused when the corner changes shape halfway through.... AND also the shape of the corner is different from the other direction. A case in point (if one misjudged it) is a right hand bend that tightens half way through. Traffic coming the other way has an opening left hand bend so will be potentially accelarating out of it quite quickly. We on the other hand have gone in too quickly and are checking up on the exit.
"Diminishing radius turn" is a phrase that strikes fear into the heart of motorcyclists that like to ride in a spirited fashion. There's no feeling more unpleasant then getting half way through a turn as close to maximum speed that you feel is safe to find it is still tightening. Encountering a few of those when I was an inexperienced biker taught me to be much more conservative with my corner entry speeds, fortunately quite early on in my biking career and without incident other than perhaps a change of underwear.
I did a lot of driving today….for economy.
56.8mpg average on E10 Petrol
Beat my previous record for the tank range too.
So the complete opposite.
But….i was still doing 55-57 in a 60mph, and 30 in a 30 etc.
What I find as happened today, a faster car accelerates away…..and then I catch them at the next major roundabout or lights. I’ve seen it happen before but today the car in question disappeared for about 5 mins (yes it was the same car - custom plate)
Also I note I drive more consistently, so I went a long way without using the brakes or stopping….btw keeping moving is more efficient than stopping even when idle-stop is working. Like flowing from corner to corner….imagine your in a Toyota Prius but cheaper and that’s how it mostly feels.
So my 84PS shopping car-automatic-can rev to 8,000……(VETEC) can you imagine how that looks from a shopping car 😂
Btw the end of dashboard view makes me feel sea sick 😂
I should have said also, I have noticed over the last year, a number of compact SUVs seem unable to keep up with me as a flow thru the bends. I don’t know wether it’s down to said budget compact SUV using the chassis from a Vauxhall Astra or wether it’s the human behind the wheel….and remember, I don’t have a fast, sporty handling car…it’s a bit jelly in the corners, so what’s happening.
Nice to see you doing your advanced driver training 👍😄
How many go for full acceleration upon emerging in situations like 10:37 and end up spinning the wheels due to the steering being turned and reduced grip on the drive wheels?
Good use of emerging in first gear and accelerate in second gear. The most under used gear changes are
2nd -> 4th
2nd -> 5th
3rd -> 5th
Additionally to this…
Have you considered doing a similar video but instead of having all of those horses under the bonnet doing it in a 1990’s 1L 4-speed Vauxhall Nova?
I can hear the commentary now “This gap here is perfrectly fine for most cars but in this one you need to at least treble it before considering emerging. Also, it is recommended to give yourself 20 yards before the give way lines so you are at least rolling a little bit as you emerge” 🤣
Not a problem in my RWD BMW! 😉
@@huwprice881 Until the car in front leaks some oil / diesel and it starts raining 😉🤣
But understand that one having owned a RWD myself. All fine until it snowed…now that was an experience 😁
@@smilerbob 😂
We need to make sure we share this one. Ashley drove in a spirited way on British roads and now needs new suspension. 😆
Great to hear you talking limit points, not heard it mentioned since being taught it in the 70s on an Ambulance/ Police course. Do you teach it for standard test? Great if you do and the pupils grasp it. 😊
At 31:26 when Ashley brakes heavily for the tractor I was expecting a very quick check in the centre mirror.
I know who's around all the time.
@ashley_neal exactly. Driving instructors (I don't know if you do, Ashley) will sometimes cover the rear view mirror and ask the learner what is behind them. If they don't know then they haven't been keeping a constant check in the mirrors to know what is behind them.
Ashley might actually get more enjoyment from driving a small "zippy" NA 1.4l car around the country roads, than his wider (and heavier) Ford or Golf GTI. Those are better suited to tracks than country roads (for safe, spirited driving).
09:58 - would you say that's a risky join from the van? Surely the van turning in will have blocked the view somewhat. Just because someone is turning off a dual carriage does not mean the way is clear enough to emerge without impeding traffic.
Having watched a crash that occurred for exactly that reason on another channel yesterday I'm gonna say "possibly risky". The road was clear for a long way, as we can see from when Ash reaches the junction. If the van observed properly _before_ the other van blocked his view then he ought to have known that and it was safe. So it all hinges on whether the van had a good enough view to decide that before the other van blocked his line of sight - that's unknown to us because it's too hard to judge from the video.
@@ianmason. I doubt it. The way the same van driver turned right at the junction with a blind corner a little earlier I think they have no perception of risk or how much russian roulette they are playing. Another example of someone given white van drivers a bad name.
Thank you for this Ashley.
Was a good watch 😊
I was going to say i hope you encounter farm traffic as it does cause stress for both parties ,the tractor and trailer on the bend was a good example of 2 very aware drivers sorting out a potential risk you slowed to make the tractor aware you had seen him and that he was already emerged from the road , the tractor driver had good vision being high up to see in the opposite direction that the road was clear which is why he felt he could emerge from the junction into traffic , i think most will think ,he put vechiles coming the other way at risk , but it was good situational awareness .
As an observer with the IAM, when considering overtakes we think about SLAP. Is the overtake Safe? Is the overtake Legal? Does the overtake Achieve a valid objective? What would be the Perception from non-advanced drivers? Aside from the obvious first to, this means we wouldn't always push for overtake, for instance if we were coming into a lower limit, or if there is a very long string of vehicles with no real opportunity to move past them. And finally would be the perception? Would a non-advanced driver think 'Nicely done, they took good advantage of that safe opportunity', or would they think 'What's this maniac doing!?'. If it's the latter, the overtake still isn't on (even if we deem it safe with our observation, anticipation and planning), as being unpredictable and startling other road users increases the risk for everyone.
The golden rule is that it's a speed LIMIT, when safe to do so, not a minimum speed target!
At the beginning Ashley talks about speed being shown, points out it is on the screen but we cant see the screen a lot of the time.
I love you use of 'Spirited' . Been a long time since I could find a low / no traffic place where I felt I could safely let the needle creep up. Your emphasis on reading the road surface is lacking by most drivers here in the USA (blame Automatics for some of that, as there is little reason to anticipate a gear change)
Ashley, I have a pretty full explanation of how speed limits are decided if you'd like it. It might help with your training.
Driving round a corner with a speed to match the limit point of your viewing distance. Surely the faster you go, the faster your limit point also moves?
The time for you to reach your limit point at any given moment is dependent upon your speed and how far you can see up the road without interruption.
0:15 sorry mate, I almost forgot to ask, is it ok to stop on the yellow zigzag lines if you’re in a stationary queue of traffic? Some driving instructors say yes and some say no but I think it’s the same with all clearways, don’t stop unless it’s outside of your control, like last year for example, I was driving home from work on a 24 hour clearway but I had to stop because there were roadworks and a stationary queue of traffic and a red traffic light, please correct me if I’m wrong but I think all no stopping clearways are the same, don’t stop except for reasons outside of your control.
You aren't breaking the rules if you stop on the zig-zags outside a school for reasons beyond your control or if directed to do so by a constable, traffic warden or school crossing patrol. But think why they are there, it's to a create a zone of clear visibility around the entrance/exit to a school. So, if you can, it's best to hold back before them, and only pass them when you can do so in one motion without the possibility of being forced to stop and becoming a barrier to the visibility that the zig-zags are trying to create. I appreciate that other drivers will often conspire to try and stop you from taking the optimum approach.
As for clearways, don't stop unless it is for circumstances beyond your control which includes stationary traffic, instructions from police, traffic wardens, signs, etc. If you do have to stop for circumstances beyond your control that's OK.
Hi mate, thank you so much for replying, I really do appreciate it. 🙃 That’s it, yellow zigzag lines are there to create a zone of clear visibility around the entrance and exit of a school to keep the school kids safe so as you said it’s best to keep them clear at all times if you can but they are clear ways because sometimes they have a no stopping sign with days and times but it’s ok to stop on any clear way (24 hour clearway, bus stop clearway, yellow zigzag lines clearway) for reasons outside of your control, like earlier on for example, I was driving to work and there was a stationary queue of traffic ahead of me because of the red traffic light, there is a bus stop with a thick solid yellow line along the kerb which means that other vehicles are prohibited from stopping except for reasons outside of your control, there is also a sign with the no stopping clearway sign and it says no stopping except buses but like with all clear ways it’s ok to temporarily stop if it’s for reasons outside of your control, some yellow zigzag lines are also found outside of hospitals fire stations police stations and ambulance stations but most of the time they have yellow box junctions which of course you can’t stop in unless you’re turning right and your exit road is clear and you’re only prevented from proceeding due to oncoming traffic or vehicles in front of you also turning right, also, of course, in the Highway Code there is a rule attached to yellow box junctions but there are no rules attached to yellow zigzag lines but zigzag lines means no parking so if you parked on them or stopped on them to let out a passenger or to pick up a passenger you’d definitely get a fine and penalty points on your licence.
Also, rule 238 of the Highway Code states you MUST NOT wait or park or stop to set down and pick up passengers on school entrance markings when upright signs indicate a prohibition of stopping, so it’s basically saying that if yellow zigzag lines don’t have a sign then there are no laws backing them up and you shouldn’t park on them or pick up and drop off passengers on them but if you do then you haven’t committed an offence because there is no sign, however, if a yellow zigzag has a mandatory upright no stopping sign then you would be breaking the law if you park on them or if you stop on them to pick up or set down passengers but whether there is a sign or not it’s ok to temporarily stop on them for reasons outside of your control, for example a stationary queue of traffic, that’s how I see it anyway.
Excellent video Ashley and noticing more sensible speed limits on country roads. National speed limi no longer makes and perhaps should be 40. Appreciate your reminder about driving to the road not the speed limit keeping alert to all risks.
Drive to your ability and the conditions, (road, and weather). Respect other road users. That way, you'll reach your destination safely, and so will everyone else.
Seemed to be about 5 miles that drive and I don't recall seeing a single cyclist, let alone being held up by one for 5 miles; which is what usually happens according to some commenters on here! Well, maybe here's an idea for a video - a half-hour drive where you tally up all the time spent waiting for other drivers (sat at traffic lights, waiting at give ways, following slow moving motor vehicles etc.) and all the time spent waiting behind a cyclist (if you can find one!). Then compare the results.
@@shm5547 stop playing the victim
@@ashley_neal how is that playing the victim? Anyway, I think that's a good idea for a video.
Sounds like a plan 'Why do some cyclists like to play the victim?'
Sad but quite expected that 'frustration' appears in so many comments. Basically most mean 'I'm frustrated that others are allowed to use the road I am using'.
Ashley have you heard of a channel called "Mick Drives Cars"? He essentially does videos on safe spirited driving, quite similar to what you were doing on the B road at the start of the video. I would be interested to hear your thoughts about his driving
I've challenged Mick a couple of times on some of the things he talks about. Don't follow his advice.
@@ashley_nealI agree, i’ve seen him drive on the other side of the road on a blind bend, and recommending tailgating to request faster speed or better land discipline, quite unsafe. Not everything he says is wrong though.
Could be fun to make a video analysing him, i’m sure the algorithm would like it lol
@@GamerLad98I've just watched one video and it seems typical on other videos, but his hand positioning on the steering wheel is comoletely wrong. Most of the time he has only one hand on the wheel as he is gesticulating so much, and secondly when he does have two hands the position is always below 'quarter to three' when the correct position is 'ten to two'. He could easily be prosecuted for driving most of the time with just one hand on the wheel - 'driving without due care and attention'.
@@johncranna You're behind the times. Quarter to three is now recommended over ten to two by most authorities. The recommendation in Roadcraft, which is as close to a "bible" as we're going to get is "... allow your arms to drop so that your hands are in a comfortable position on the wheel rim - between ten to two and quarter to three, depending on your steering wheel indentations.".
Neither position is objectively "correct", whatever gives a particular driver best control for them with a particular vehicle is what they should be doing, and picking someone up on which of the two they choose as a way of criticising them isn't helpful. For what it's worth I'm a ten to two guy, but I was taught when _that_ was the official recommendation.
@@ianmason. My 2001 edition of Road craft shows the hands at 10 to 2 and the test says "at about the quarter to three or ten to two position". The moulding on his steering wheel indicates that a ten to two position is preferred.
The amount of people who drive fast but don't necessarily know how to drive fast is very worrying in this country. They have zero idea how braking and turning can affect a cars balance...
I think most people drive or have driven spiritedly and/or aggressively, especially in their younger days. It's just human.
Hi & thank you Ashley
Ashley, have you completed your IAM training? I’ve noticed some of your terminology such as limit points is something you’re taught on an advanced driving course
I'm fleet trained and I am well-versed in roadcraft.
@@ashley_nealnice one. If everyone had a read through roadcraft and applied some of the principles the roads would be a much better place, especially chapter one
The speed bumps you went over... My Focus ST's engine tray seems to scrape along the top of them. 😂 Do you seem to have that issue, by chance? Mine's a 2020 model, so I've pretty much got the same chassis.
Generally mine’s ok over the bumps.
I’d be interested to see how you drive on the Isle of Man and national speed limits over there
Now THAT would be a video I'd bookmark 😀
@@R04drunner1 boy racers being unaware of what that sign actually means over there
"Balanced" throttle, bear in mind the last car I drove was a 1.2 Nova. Is balanced a feel thing? I can't fathom balanced.
Not accelerating or decelerating 👍
Ashley has said "Not accelerating or decelerating", my old motorcycle instructor used to say "constant power through bends", and an automotive engineer (designer) I knew said "getting the forces on the tyres settled before a bend, and then keeping the magnitude of those forces the same all the way around the bend". "Balance" is the seat of the pants feeling you get when you've learned what those more technical sounding descriptions feel like. If the car feels like it wants to follow the bend it's balanced, if you feel you're fighting it, or the car feels unsettled, or the car's attitude changes without deliberate control inputs during the bend than it's not balanced. It's as applicable to a Nova as a Ferrari, and also to anything on two wheels.
@@ianmason. 👍👌
so do you use the viofo a139? i thought you used the a229 haha
I love your videos, but surely 64 on your speedometer would have been classed as speeding if you got into an accident? I'm sure I heard its the speed on your dial the police go by? Or is that just a scare story some instructors tell learners?
I drive for fuel economy these days. With the price of petrol being what it is, I can't afford to drive like a lunatic, even if I wanted to 😋
As for speed limits, I do try to keep to them as much as I can, but the ridiculous over-use of 20mph limits makes me angry sometimes. There is a *_dual carriageway_* in London that is 20mph, WTF is *_that_* all about..? 🙄
Totally agree with so many stupidly low speed limits these days. I also experienced a stonking wide dual carriageway in London with a 20mph. You could safely drive 50mph+ along there (I think that would have been the limit not so long ago), and it was painful to drive at such a slow speed. It actually made me feel anxious and vunerable at that speed, as I was getting blasted past by e-bikes (the illegal sort) doing 40mph+. The other 4-wheeled vehicles were inches from your rear bumper, but too afraid to actually overtake in the overtaking lane, so lots of non-staggered driving.
I am an advanced driver / motorcyclist and I always drive to make progress do I sometimes break the speed limit yes do, I ever drive reclessly no ,
Do you feel as though you can break the speed limit because you've had some further training?
@@ashley_neal 😂
So speed limits don't apply to anyone that considers themselves "advanced"? Or is it just you they don't apply to? Genuine question.
@@ashley_neal I would like to point out that on one of your motorbike video you overtake a van and you say you had to brake the speed limit to get passed ,so is that ok becase you are a driving instructor ???
@@BanjoPixelSnack have you ever driven at 32 in a 30 ? If so you too have broken the speed limit
I used to drive everywhere on two wheels too.. in my xr3i 😂
Love to see you on a track day one day!
G'day Ash from Tasmania 🇦🇺
Take it to the nürburgring and let Misha take a crack at it, if spirited driving is something you're interested in, no one does it better than Misha!
Can we see you do a track day, be fun to see you going to the limit and maybe beyond.
Nah, nowadays, I like to take it easy. Spirited drives can be fun but I need to be a 100% sure it's safe and worth it. + I don't really like the added fuel consumption and wear on components of my car.
With nearly 300 horsepower it's hard to resist the loud pedal now and then. And why not? Soon even the fun of the ICE will be taken from us. Get it while you can.
Christ they need to sort that 30 sign out at 23:00.
When driving quickly, it is best to keep both hands on the wheel and not wave them about Ashley!
You don’t want to meet yourself coming the other way.
So on lanes with limited visibility you need to be able to stop well before the distance you can see to be clear as the obstruction will 99% of the time, be moving and coming towards you. And they may be going too fast and not paying enough attention.
“Well before” = in half that distance at the most…
@@JohnR31415 depends on the road and the situation. You could see a 1/4 mile clear to a very sharp right bend. So an approaching car would have to be going relatively slowly to negotiate that whereas you have a clear run So you have most of the space. But the judgement of what speed is suitable at what point is constantly changing.
A small point: Around 30 minutes into the drive you turned left. There was no-one around you at the time to benefit from a signal so it wasn't necessary. If you ask me what the thinking is behind my comment, Ill be happy to expand:-)
It will soon be time for a similar video on your motorcycle. Hopefully, you'll enjoy that more. There's no way you are going to be able to stick to "riding for the channel only". Sadly I find that safe smooth riding doesn't look exciting for the UA-cam audience and it looks really slow. Do I drive/ride in a spirited fashion? Yes, all the time, but it is calm and relaxed. No hurry, just taking opportunities where they develop. Progress isn't just about MPH.
I might do the same route for the first one to compare!
😊👍
Do a track day, then you'll enjoy driving again!
That camera’s pretty crap, overheated twice if not more times in the 2 videos I remember
6:22 the camera may distort, but IMHO that is a little close to tailgating.
Definitely not
@@juddy_1997 check the sign at the side of the road. Only one second between the car in front and then Ashley passing it. 2 seconds should be minimum gap left.
@@chrisl1797 it was a safe distance for the speed they were travelling.
Responsibility
11:13 *Poor lane discipline* 🙄
It's safe and recommended if you use effective observations, of which Ashley clearly does. You don't have to stick dead centre to your lane on every roundabout.
Would staying in the middle of lane one have increased risk with the vehicles potentially emerging? @richy_rude stop driving so routinely and adapt what you were doing to suit your surroundings.
@@ashley_neal using "perfect" lane discipline all the time is on the same page as always indicating regardless of the situation. Done purely out of habit, rather than out of observations and spatial awareness
You’ve just reduced your DriveScore points 😊
I agree. Driving safely according to the app still lowers your score. Shows you how pointless it is.
@@ashley_neal i wouldn’t say pointless, it’s on my phone and it actually makes me drive differently, and of course watching your videos has improved my overall driving, IMHO.
If you use it for that reason, I agree it can be of good use.
@@ashley_neal a delivery driver who was tracked commented to me that apps like that actually encourage dangerous driving. Sometimes it is safer to accelerate fast (such as in the situation you showed) rather than gently and sedately. My friend got marked down by the app for doing the right thing. Or accelerating to join a motorway and merge safely into a gap in the traffic in lane 1. Same idea.
😁😁😁😁😁😁😁😁😁😁😁😁😁😁😁😁😁😁😁😁😁😁😁😁
Just stop oil warriors will not be watching this!😂😂😂😂😂
Didn’t watch all of this. Got bored. But saw enough to confirm that “performance” cars are a waste of time. I don’t watch Ashley Neal videos to see silly racing about.
if you think of a Focus ST as a 'performance car' then you don't know about anything about cars. And because you don't know anything about cars you have no interest in driving (And because you have no interest in driving you shouldn't be doing so).
It's a shame, as the video was far from racing about.
The handbrake turn he did around that hairpin was ace.
@@richy_rudeGo on then. Tell us about your car. I feel like you want to.
@@chrisl461 Probably a Corsa B 1.0L. 🤣
Driving instructor admits to speeding 🫣🤷🏼♂️!?!?
👆 Joking by the way 😉