Whoops! Or, Just Another Blonde Moment...

[swansonj]

Serious question: several people have commented on how rapidly a supercar like this could brake. But why? Formula 1 cars brake rapidly because (a) the aerodynamics generate massive downforce and (b) they use rubber compounds that have a high coefficient of friction when hot (at the cost of wearing out, of course). It seems unlikely supercars have F1-style tyres at F1-style temparatures, and does their aerodynamics really generate significant downforce at street speeds? Do they actually brake quicker, or is that just part of the image?

 

[swansonj]

[QUOTE 3009389, member: 45"]Huge discs and calipers made of expensive stuff.[/QUOTE]
... which surely make no difference to the limiting factor, which is adhesion between tyre and road? You can take any old bog standard saloon car and lock the brakes, so the performance of the calipers and discs is clearly not the limiting factor? The huge discs are presumably necessary to burn off the kinetic energy and the stiffer the calipers the more precise the braking action, but I don't see either of those slowing the car any quicker.

 

[Profpointy]

I don't think reflexes have improved though. The "thinking distance" at 30mph is around the length of a bus - based on half-second reflexes if I recall correctly. That's assuming you're reasonably on the ball, and before you've even touched the pedal.

 

[BrumJim]

Stiffer suspension and much lower CoG will result in less weight transference to the front, and therefore better use of available adhesion.

 

[glasgowcyclist]

I did apportion some blame to the emerging car but surely if he is pulling out into town traffic there is a fair presumption that such traffic will be doing 30mph. You judge the gap and even judge clear road by some estimate of the speed of the traffic on that road.

Pulling out you have to look two ways - which you cannot do at the same time. So you look one way, see it is clear and look the other way. The first bit of info is now possibly out of date but you rely on estimated speed to know the gap is still there and pull out.

I look more than once in each direction and I don't pull out hoping my first estimate of speed and distance still holds. Emerging from a junction with limited visibilty I'll even turn off the radio and wind the windows down so I can hear as well as see.

In towns we endlessly have peds, cyclists, cars, buses etc pulling out in front of us and need to drive to expect this. I would not want to be driving anywhere near you if you are not allowing for this in the way you drive.
You cannot blindly steam along with your "right of way" (which actually does not exist in the highway code you merely have priority) and put everyone else at risk.

I don't know why you imagine I would drive like that.

GC

 

[Joey Shabadoo]

I think if I saw a twat in a ridiculous twatmobile racing up and down a city street, I'd be tempted to pull out in front of him too. Preferably giving him as little time to react as possible.

 

[Over The Hill]

I don't know why you imagine I would drive like that.

GC

You hopefully do not but people in flash sports cars appear to drive like that. Your call if you want to defend them doing that or not.

Aren't we all supposed to be driving expecting a kid with a ball to run out in front of us and be expected to avoid them?

 

[glasgowcyclist]

You hopefully do not but people in flash sports cars appear to drive like that. Your call if you want to defend them doing that or not.

Aren't we all supposed to be driving expecting a kid with a ball to run out in front of us and be expected to avoid them?

You appear to be arguing against a point I haven't made.


GC

 

[asterix]

You appear to be arguing against a point I haven't made.


GC

OTH suggested the Lambawotsit should have been able to allow for the car pulling out at which suggestion you took a shot at him. You seemed to have gone wide, which at least is better than the Lambawotsit managed.

 

[Archie_tect]

For a moment I thought I was back in rural France...

 

[theclaud]

which at least is better than the Lambawotsit managed.

Is it?

 

[asterix]

[QUOTE 3010956, member: 45"]The driver should have anticipated the possibility that the other car may pull out in front of him and prepare for this.[/QUOTE]

It goes without saying; but we needed 6 pages plus!

For a moment I thought I was back in rural France...

In a moment, I will be.

This

will then be nearest thing to a Lamborghini Aventador in the vicinity.