Thu 19 June 2008 - Keep your wheels straight
Jeez, at this rate, most posts this week might be transport-related. (See the cover of the Age this morning?)
Back when I was learning to drive, one of the things that stuck in my head (thanks to Andre the driving instructor) was that when turning right, one should keep the steering wheel in the forward position until actually moving to make the turn. The reason being that if someone smashes into the back of you (particularly a problem if you’re not using a dedicated turning lane, and they weren’t paying attention) you’ll get bumped forward, rather than into the oncoming traffic.
It’s something that’s stuck with me.
Apparently my sister also learnt this, and it’s stayed with her too, because recently she was waiting to turn right, and another car hit her from behind. She rolled forward, rather than into the traffic.
So it really works. It’s good advice, and personally I cringe a little when I see people doing otherwise.
(Thankfully nobody was hurt; but she was shaken, and the students in the bomb that banged into her had insurance issues…)