Understanding your vehicle’s dynamics is more important than you may think
Understanding your vehicle’s dynamics is one of the essential keys to driving safely on our roads.
To illustrate this point, we can compare driving a vehicle to the way we stand upright. We do not really realize it, but in that position, to maintain our balance, we are constantly adjusting the movements of our body.
This is something every driver should learn to apply to their own vehicle. All it takes is understanding a few principles.
In driver training courses, we are taught speed limits, stops, the proper way to merge onto a highway, and, in short, everything related to good driving practices. And that list is far from exhaustive, especially when you consider that there are more than 750 regulations governing driving.
What we tend to forget, however, is that several laws of physics do not appear in the Highway Safety Code but have a major impact on driving.
A matter of safety
To ensure our safety and that of others, it is essential to fully understand how our vehicle behaves.
All too often, drivers who have lost control of their car have no idea what caused the skid.
Most of the time, they automatically think of speed, believing it to be the sole cause of the loss of control. And yet, the way we use the steering wheel, brakes, and accelerator, as well as when we use them, matters just as much, if not more.
First, it’s important to understand that as speed increases, dynamic forces become more significant. To maintain control of your car, it’s essential to be aware of the contact patch between your tires and the road, an area that can vary depending on the situation.
When accelerating, for example, you’ll notice a shift in weight toward the rear.
This is why you’ll feel pressed into your seat. It’s easy to see that the tire contact patch will do the same, meaning it will increase at the rear because the acceleration force will shift more weight there. Conversely, at the front, the opposite phenomenon will occur. The contact patch will decrease, making the front of the vehicle lighter and, consequently, more prone to tire slippage.
In these circumstances, even if you turn the steering wheel as far as possible, the vehicle will respond less effectively and may even refuse to go where you want it to go. This is called understeer.
When braking, the opposite happens. The increase in weight toward the front increases the contact patch of the front tires, while the contact patch of the rear tires decreases. In such conditions, when you begin braking, make sure you are travelling in a straight line as much as possible, because if the braking force increases while you turn the steering wheel, the rear tires may also begin to skid.
A little smoothness goes a long way
To effectively manage traction, both at the front and rear, remember that it is essential to drive as smoothly as possible.
The best way to maintain control of your vehicle is to brake gradually while driving in a straight line. When it’s time to turn the steering wheel, you can then release the brake gradually.
Similarly, when you exit a turn and begin to straighten the steering wheel, you can start to press the accelerator. Not before.
You will also notice that the higher the speed and the more slippery the road, the more gently you will need to handle the steering wheel and pedals. Even when lifting off the gas pedal at high speeds, the car’s weight will shift forward, which could cause the rear of the car to skid. Braking too abruptly could also reduce the front tires’ grip and cause understeer.
This is why understanding your vehicle’s dynamics is so important for safe driving. Anticipating the maneuvers you need to make and fully understanding your car’s behaviour will help you stay in control and drive more safely, for yourself and for others.
This article was written by an external contributor. The opinions expressed are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Promutuel Insurance.
