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We have dealt with cornering forces, and we have dealt with how to read a bend by use
of The Limit Point Analysis (Vanishing Point) method, in previous chapters within this
series. Now we are going to talk about where to position the car on the road.
As you know by now the ideal cornering situation is to have the vehicle travelling at the
right speed, in the right gear, and for it to be in that state of preparation before any
steering input is given. However, that is only a part of it, as your cornering performance
will also be affected by where you place the car on the road. But what is the right
position on the road when dealing with bends?
There are different views of the same road from within the same car
When you are driving your car, and if you have someone with you as a front seat
passenger, at the approach to a right hand bend, which one of the two will have the
best view of the road ahead? Your passenger of course, and when you approach a
bend to the left, who has the best view on that occasion? Thatll be you.
Whilst we cannot keep swapping seats in accordance with twists and turns of the road,
we can get the same effect, and better, by altering the lateral position of the whole
vehicle, and this is how it is done.
taking the corner wide. If the exit to a right hand bend is blind, and you have
committed yourself to the racing line, things could get rather tight in the middle if luck
was not on your side.
the point where he would be clipping the centre white lines would not be the apex.
That clipping point would perhaps be a third of the way into the bend, or even less.
That being the case, what would happen beyond the real apex, because now that
driver will be driving at the nearside road edge, instead of following it.
In this next diagram we have shown one of those bends that starts out as one thing,
and then becomes another.
As you can see, this one winds up about threequarters the way through, becoming
tighter. This is not an occasion where you want to be found hugging the centre lines,
because now you are definitely going to find yourself driving at the hedges.
At the position of the car image that is the second one back from the front the driver is
going to have to do something pretty quickly if he is to stay on the carriageway, and
that something is going to have to be more steering, and possibly some firm braking as
well. But what is that going to do for the balance of the car?
Driving to The Centre Line on Approach Can Send You Into The Bushes
It doesnt pay to arrive at a right hand bend whilst hugging the centre of the road
either, no matter what lay out of right hand bend it is. Going into a bend on what we
call the Shallow Line will make the curve far greater in severity than if a deeper
approach position were to be used.
In this diagram we have projected the course of the white saloon car as if the driver is
using the same degree of steering input as the driver of the red car.
As the white car driver is using the shallow entry bend position, the steering input is
applied slightly later. As a consequence, unless the amount of applied steering
changes, which as you know is not healthy midbend, that entry position will place the
car on the verge at the exit.
Obviously there are factors that can have an adverse effect upon using the optimum
line and these have to be taken into consideration.
Examples are broken or sunken road edges, as well as accumulated dirt and debris
being present, all of which may reduce tyre grip. If it is not safe to keep the car tight to
the nearside then dont do it, but keep as far from the conflict zone in the centre as is
safe.
As with every facet of road driving, we always need to study the road surface and
surrounding environment to consider what effect the conditions will have upon our
ability to remain in control of the vehicle when we stop, or try to complete any other
particular function.
Learning to use the appropriate line when you approach and negotiate a right hand
bend is difficult, because your natural instinct will be telling you to pull the car off line
towards the road centre. Just remember that area is called the Conflict Zone for a
reason.
It takes lots of determined practice to get it right, and the best way is to start by doing
it at slower speeds, and by getting into position very early before the bend begins. It is
certainly more difficult than the left hand bend.
When this is mastered, a winding rural road can be driven at a reasonable pace, but
with hardly any use of the brakes. When it all comes together like this you really have
reached the point where driver and machine are working in perfect harmony.
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