I play the no brake game all the time: saves on fuel and less wear on the brakes. But keep in mind that when you engine brake by shifting down instead of braking, braking is applied on the front axle (FHD) or rear axle (RWD) instead of all 4 wheels when you actually use the brake. This may imbalance the car if going around corners in wet weather conditions and shifting down several gears in very quick successions
Fantastic mate. Proper Petrolhead comment. I didn't even think of this. You would have to have some serious heavy feet to lock up the wheels on a downshift though, but absolutely something to keep in mind!
I had to do this recently because my front brakes were riding metal on metal and my pads weren't going to be in for another week, I could still brake but it was uncomfortable 😂 I would downshift to slow down. I have a sequential in my Elantra and it handled it like a champ 🫡
The contrasting game is watching people ahead of you, zooming up to a stopped line of cars. You can tell which drivers are not driving/looking/thinking ahead. Lots of them out there. Even more fun in the USA, when it is a 6000 lb SUV or truck. Glad I'm not paying for their brake replacements. And they are probably squawking hardest about gas prices.
@@WowCoolHorse your profile picture tells me everything i need to know. The fact am dignifying you with this response in lowering me. Go be a void of cognition elsewhere unic.
I've always been driving with "brake as least as possible" since I got my first car (manual transmission). When I commute on the highway, I leave proper distance from the car ahead and lift off the gas (or downshift) when I see them brake while keeping my foot hovering over the brake pedal in case they brake hard. It takes a lot of getting used to, knowing your car's gear ratio and knowing how to read traffic, etc... but if timed correctly: your car will slow down enough that by the time you catch up to the car ahead they'll get off the brakes. I found this incredibly helpful in planning situations where you have to change lanes to escape a gridlock. You just have more control.
I'm glad to know that I am not the only one in this world who plays the no-touch-brake game🎉. Keep doing what you're doing man. Love the work you do here.
*I'm glad to know that I am not the only one in this world who plays the no-touch--brake game. 🎉. Keep doing what you're doing, man. Love the work you do here.
I am a quite experienced driver (over 30 years) and I came across this channel and instantly subscribed to it. Of course, I know the topics addressed here, but they are presented interestingly. Good job! Keep up!
I didn’t even know there was a no brake game!! But I’ve been slowing down with just my gears on my commute to work and it’s great to integrate into your driving to help plan ahead as you mentioned.
The no brake game is probably the most fun game to play 😂 just the car engine breaking itself slowly is just satisfying, especially little slope of the road, angled a bit down, that just makes the car run at consistent speed.
Only had my licence for 4 months and hadn't realised I play the no brake game naturally in an automatic, on town and country roads. I hover in case I need to brake, but use anticipation and engine braking. Respect for the machinery.
Great video - I'm over 60 and still try to make every journey smoother than the last - regularly playing the no brake game.....managed to travel from York to just beyond the end of M1 in London without braking!
Can't say I fully agree with these tips, Tip 1, make corners more risky to improve visibility which you are less likely to need if using a either a racing line or just driving at a sensible speed through the corner, i.e. are you encouraging or trying to enable driving too fast slightly more safely? Tip two great in theory, smoothness, efficiency etc but as your learner driver example proves even you are going to sometimes do this at the wrong time, so really in reality you shouldn't do this at all because efficiency and smoothness and speed are not the only considerations, safety is one, and for road safety drivers being consistent is key. Hence road rules exist to help know what to expect from others. Tip 3 sure you can use this to develop your habbits of scanning the road further ahead, but you probably shouldn't be playing games while you drive, and there is other effects to adding engine braking excessively, if you're able to play this game to the nth degree coming off the gas a mile before a roundabout I would argue this is unrealistic, people also need to get places promptly. Don't get me wrong I'm all for increasing your driving skills etc but please don't forget it's not a game, you're not on a race track, when playing your no brake game and your several miles into not using your brakes and arrive at a roundabout and there is a gap before an oncoming car that's a bit too small are you going to take it or spoil your record? would you argue your judgement is not altered by the game? And were you alert enough to other potential risks while you're focused on beating your record?
Whenever I hear this man's advice I can't help but feel a very similar way I felt when listening to Neil DeGrasse Tyson explain how it is so much better to Not use a phone case and physically play around with your phone in your hand as it would make you more confident with it. At first he seemed enlightened, on to something. Later Kind of pretentious. The Thing is, he might be right. Who knows, who cares, its his phone. But in this case, you should care. There are other people on the road for gods sake. This guy is giving rather selfish advice that is actually beneficial and effective in Theory but in practice very possibly dangerous. He might be skilled enough for it but many people are not and are better off the more "boring" normal way. And is he skilled enough really? You never know until you fail. And he openly confessed that he failed the roundabout thing a coupe of Times. That should be it. Done. If its a risky, unconventional thing you're advising that doesn't work at least 99% of the time, don't. And 99% is generous. Do not ever put yourself and others in danger on the road.
I'm with you. Regarding the visibility line, the approach is fine, but you really want to tighten up so that you exit the bend tight to the kerb - as far away from oncoming traffic as possible. It's worth checking out the great book Advanced Driving by John Lyon, published by Haynes (of Haynes Manuals fame). From page 129 he discusses this technique and explains why it's so important, plus the fact that your speed needs to be linked to your visibility (a point missing from this video) - Always keep the car to a speed where you can stop safely, well within the distance you can see to be clear. Mick, if you read this I note that you filmed this in the area I live and teach. Check out coming off the Bennetts Bank roundabout towards Ketley and try it as I described, it's where I introduce my students to the technique. I don't don't fundamentally disagree with the techniques you're showing here, but more needs to be made of adequate observations before making decisions to use these techniques.
@@xAandreyYx#1 I fully agree with, I was sceptical initially but after watching the examples the road almost looks straight. If everyone listened to this it would be most beneficial because the oncoming traffic would be giving you more room too
Another great little film Mick! I think I mentioned the 'no braking' game in the comments of your previous video, and how we used to play it 30 years ago when I was driving 30k+ miles a year for a job. Another step for that game is trying to hit speed limits at the correct speed, without braking. In your example here you did it really nicely - going from the 60 to the 40 limit. The pinnacle of the game is to slow to the lower limit and hit the limit, precisely, at the sign 🤣 On roundabouts; the instructor I had 25 years ago for my IAM training had a great phrase, that I still repeat in my head today as I approach them - "looking to go, anticipating a stop". It really hones one's vision and thinking. Keep up the great work Mick, loving all these films 👏
It's funny, I had the beginnings of an idea for this video but I'm pretty sure it was your comment that put all the pieces into place! Thank you! Yeah I'm not a master of the game to be fair, but I'm sure lots of people can get introduced to it now :)
One thing about tip two that rubs me the wrong way and sends off red flags for me is the changing of lanes so suddenly. While driving I always indicate and always make sure I’m never jumping between lanes like that in a way that can cause conflict, especially when you turn across another lane to make a turn
I’m not an experienced driver by any means but one thing my instructor taught me was whilst utilising engine braking drivers behind you will not be aware of you slowing down as no brake lights will be applied unless you apply pressure to the actual brake pedal. So be sure to keep this in mind if using engine braking to significantly reduce your speed
The racing line is great as long as you know the road and/or can see through the corner. If it turns into a long bend that sharpens you could get into trouble. Your 'visibility' line is good but I would be worried about oncoming traffic cutting the corner. Perhaps staying in the middle of the lane, slightly to the right is a good compromise. I'm not sure if encouraging people to change lanes through the roundabout is a good idea. I know you mentioned disclaimers and specified that one must be careful but flying through the roundabout changing lanes isn't responsible driving. In saying that, it does look safer to do on those large roundabouts you have in the UK. Most roundabouts here in NZ are about a third of the size. I'm in the Alfa Romeo owners club and we have track days every few months to test the limits of our cars. Slowing to a safe speed before the corner or rounabout is always the best technique. 😊
I love how you said "better, faster, safer". If you drive fast and have to go over the lanes, don't turn the headlights off in time and so on, then you are clearly driving faster than you can.
In the no brake game, you suggest shifting down. This implies that you are engine braking. The problem with that is that while it saves wear and tear on the brakes, in increases wear and tear on the transmission. Transmissions are the heart of a car that is far and away the most expensive component of a car and wearing out the transmission generally means writing off the whole car. So no, I do not think this is a wise game at all. Brake pads are cheap and east to replace, just use the brakes to slow down & save the transmission.
@@johnchristian7788 manual or auto, it matters little. By the time tranny is done, there is comparatively so little value left in the rest of the car, probably also has bad rings scored cylinders & pistons etc from also from engine braking. It's just not likely to be worth the cost of repair by the time the tranny is done, unless it was faulty at manufacture & the car is still quite young & in otherwise good condition.
No, it suggests you're not over speeding and giving enough room to the car in front of you, so that you can simply stop hitting the gas pedal instead of staying too close and needing to break every time there's a tiny reduction in the other's speed
Fun to hear about the no braking game. This is something my driving instructor used to emphasize a lot back in the day. Definitely something to work on, so a good tip to make the flow of traffic more smooth! So many people just touch the brakes for a moment when there's no real reason to do so, for example when going over a slight bump on the motorway. Could be related to cruise control and being scared by the momentary increase in momentum? Very odd behaviour nonetheless. Same goes for people who keep their brakes engaged over a long distance throughout a slow and slight corner. I guess they prefer to replace their brakes earlier rather than later. Good tips as always!
I like doing the no brake thing, like you said it makes you so much more engaged with driving. I will say that when there are vehicles behind me I will at least blip the brake to signal my intentions
I love your first advance driving tip about the visibility line around a corner. One of my advanced driving tips is that oncoming cares more often than not are across the line seperating the lanes and are on your side of the road. A tip that won't probably put you into a head-on collision is when forward visibility is limited and there's a car ahead of you- keep that car in sight at all times following closely enough to make a quick stop if necessary without hitting them, the road that you can't see ahead is clear until the car ahead of you either crashes or stops.
Hi my friend. I really do not need your advices because i have exactly the same driving philosophy and capabilities like you and i just love to listen to your beautiful english language! You are one Intelligent gentleman on the road! Greeting from an excellent Serbian intelligent gentleman on the road 😊💪🇷🇸🇫🇴
Nice one. I've been doing the "no brakes game" for a while during my commuting and aside of the better gas mileage I haven't had any brake job done since about 4 years. It's a funny way to spend and pollute less, so why not.
The racing line I was taught is not the apexing line you show. The racing line I was taught is not apexing the corner, but start a little later, on the outside & finish the turn on the inside just where the bend finishes. The point of this is that it sets you up for the next bend which is usually the opposite direction turn. This is what happens when a road is following the contours of a ridge. Erosion creates ravines down the sides of the ridge leaving the natural contour line that the road follows doing a series of tight opposite hand curves. If you apex the 1st turn, you will be on the wrong side of the lane for the next turn. Of course, turns don't always follow this pattern, but that tends to happen in more open terrain where the corners are not tight and you get to see what is happening early, so you can just drift across the lane to the new outside. If on the other hand you apex a turn & the next turn is bad for you, are caught out further down the road where you have less time to set up the next turn. So, while apexing looks good on paper, it is actually a poor strategy in practice.
Good to know Im not the only one critisizing these tips. They sound interesting and all.. but as I remeber what my driving instructor once told me: "If you drive you dont only have to think for yourself, but also for others". Wich baisicly means to drive as predictable as posible and think about what other people want to do. I cach myself predicting a lot of time what others driver are going to do, switching lanes, taking a turn, trying to merge etc. I just want to point out that a good portion of crashes we see on youtube "could" be avoided just by examining the trafic around and trying to understand what the other are trying to do. And taking the racing line in a roundabout ist the funniest thing ever, I feel like a rally driver😅
I have just realised I am doing it for few years but JUST for fuel economy. From today I became a car player and will get more fun from it:) Also planning to make some non sense night driving tonight:D Thank you for sharing your experience, UR a good speaker also. And nice to hear safety is on top of all that! // Greetings from Poland!
The “visibility line” seems quite dangerous to me. I guess in wide roads with bends that aren’t that tight like in the video it might be fine but if the visibility is completely blocked like in proper mountain roads and/or if the road is less than 2 lanes wide like is common in mountainous countries, u’re better off lifting ur foot off the gas and staying as far off the white line (normally u should stay in the center) as possible as it’s very common for ppl (especially motorbikes) to cut accross the white line(s) at high speeds and in hairpin bends u won’t see it until it’s too late. Can’t tell u how many near misses I’ve had even when staying well in my side of the road!
I hate people who hug the visibility line. When you're driving fast and at the speed limit there's nothing worse than people sticking themselves out in the middle of the road. There isn't enough time to react if someone is coming. Instead, I always focus on staying on the left. So on the left that it's literally impossible to have a collision or to be at fault for one. What are your thoughts on this?
I don't think in all my years of driving I've ever seen someone drive the visibility line. Lots of people cutting across the middle of the road to straighten it. But never someone using it correctly. On right-hand corners the visibility line is literally hugging the left side of the lane, so I half agree...
After watching this I realised it’s not just me who avoids braking at all costs during daily driving. So much more satisfying when you’re not taking off from every intersection or red light at a standstill and rather coast along.
I have played the no brake game for years in a manual, it is always fun. I work on the basis that the car behind me is going to question whether my brake lights are working😅 As regards taking the wider line around corners can I suggest that you think twice about doing this on French country lanes, as French drivers seem to take it to the extreme and will regularly be over the centre line on sharp corners and travelling at speed. Good video!
Mick I have just watched your video on how to take bands,I think it would be better if you kept both hands on the wheel ,it would send a much better message on safe driving
I live in a mountainous area and have an auto transmission car. The car by itself it very good at anticipating which gear is needed, it doesn´t coast when you lift off but changes down. However, by using the manual paddles it is possible to avoid brake use even on some pretty steep downhill sections. I live in Spain and here there is a common myth that it saves fuel to coast downhill, which may have been true decades ago. A modern car with your foot off the gas and using engine compression, not the case, you will be using no or little fuel.
Great video as always! Just wanted to drop a small note on Don't Brake Game from mechanical point of view; while it's a fun game that may help you with fuel economy and grow your perception of distance it's not the best idea to use it as actual breaking technique in case of automatic gearbox cars. In manuals this game is simply called engine breaking and it works great due to how the transmission works but automatic gearboxes have torque converters which nullify engine breaking and in turn leave the passive breaking power to environment and physics. So unless you're driving a manual, be very cautious when playing this game. Cheers!
@@MickDrivesCars I think manufacturers are moving away from automatics that "coast." The last two torque converter "slush boxes" I had were programmed to down shift automatically if you started coasting. My current car has a CVT and in sport mode will engine break pretty aggressively.
Enjoyed the video bro. The no-brakes is especially challenging on a city road. It's a lot to do with observation, planning, accelerator sense and positioning. I use no brakes all the time on country roads. It is fun. I drive an automatic and I use Sport mode (like you say) for better accelerator response. Because the gearbox is holding on to lower gears, lifting off the accelerator (and getting that wonderful zero fuel consumption condition) will give better deceleration. I would ask you, however, to keep your hands on the wheel! For the sake of my sanity 😅
I've been a natural no-braker since I started driving for some reason. Recently, when my sister started learning to drive, the first thing I said was, "The brake pedal is your masochist friend. Don't be afraid to step on it." To be honest, I've been in multiple situations where I ended up having to brake hard because I'm too stubborn to press that damn pedal (most are not really dangerous situations. It’s just me stubbornly hoping the light will turn green and letting the vehicle coast to the absolute limit, then ending up braking hard. I say hard because I usually do a smooth stop, so it’s more like a jerky stop.)
The do not brake game is basically nominal status quo for driving a manual. I’m convinced that everyone who is physically able should mandatorily do their first few years on the road with a manual car - fundamentally different driving experience, makes you more aware.
Fantastic advice on two approaches and explained thoroughly. I normally use the Racing line but thought about the other alternative. I have an advanced driving qualification and am an ex driving instructor. I am learning so much more watching these videos. Well done Mick.
Great video, I have been playing the no break game for years to save on fuel, helps me a lot seeing so far ahead and interpreting obstacles. A lot of times, I can go through red lights without breaking by slowing down and waiting for it to change as I approach
The "no-break-game" is quite useful, not only to extend your brake pads' life but also for becoming more familiar with engine breaking on slopes and slippery road surface. And yes it is more efficient on manual than on automatic gearbox
Appreciate Telford appearing a fair few times throughout this video (even if you did confuse the learner driver there!) as it's a decently long way from London. Big fan of playing the no brake game in my Leaf by changing the strength of the regenerative braking to get maximum range efficiency
@@MickDrivesCars I'll make sure to keep an eye out for the Megane RS whilst I'm out and about - I grew up here but only recently moved back a few months ago. Also I'm sure you're already aware but just in case, the A442 through Kidderminster is a fun bit of road I definitely see you enjoying
I play the No Brake game driving the curves of the Northern California coast highway : when going uphill-to de accelerate take foot off gas, accelerate thru the turn.
Great tips! Even though I don't drive a car neither do I have a driving license, I will definitely re-watch this video when I will get a license and after learning the basics!
Lane width is actually a very good point. Few people realize that her in america, our interstates have 12 ft wide lanes. And most cars are around 6 feet wide
I drive everywhere using my brakes as little as possible, it's almost a game to get the person following me to tell me my brake lights don't work 😂 limo stop is a must as well, makes your driving so much more pleasant and enjoyable. Driving isn't a chore it's a hobby
The no brake game and using the lower gears in an auto is a lot of fun. It's also fun to be able to drop to 3rd on the highway to make a pass and being immediately sent right into the heart of the powerband. I've also used this with a bad caliper to get me home without a tow. Pulled the e-brake for 10 -> 0mph, but otherwise used the gears. Hell, I might as well get a manual for my next car.
I can't wait till I pass my driving test, that no brake thingy seems very interesting, and probably can apply a lot of it for my test and lessons as well
@@MickDrivesCars hey! Yeah I will. planning ahead is the main thing I am struggling on, both me and my instructor noticed a good improvement on this today, so thanks!
got my license the other week, im from austria, but they actually taught us the visibility line thing and the engine break as fundamentals really early on
This video makes me incredibly nervous for new drivers to see. Please, I beg you: stay in your lane (re: “tip” #2) - and be a predictable driver. Safety is the most important thing and being a safe driver is being a predictable driver. When a driver is just starting out and learning (and frankly, this is the case for years as experience is gained), these ‘advanced’ “tips” should simply be avoided. Please, just practice as normal. Learn to drive defensively.
as a learner driver, I try to drive as smooth as possible (with some bad gear changes, silly mistakes etc), but when I drive around corners or even when i am about to stop at a red light i try to not use any brakes and just use gears/rev matching (when successful, mastered it on the sim, not irl - 80% there imo) to slow down, trying to stay on the outside of the apex is quite hard, but I do get your point of further increasing planning ahead idea, also the no brake game does seem a little fun, but definitely when I am really confident on my driving and the roads I'm driving LOL, great video
While I get the break game concept, tons of experienced drivers who drive for a living suggest the “neutral and break” instead of downshifting because of the corrosion on the clutch everytime you change the gear. Breaking pads are cheap, a new clutch is expensive, but of course it depends on the situation. (This is applied mainly when doing a full stop. For example if you’re in 4th and you see a red light, just put it in neutral and break, instead of downshifting 4>3>2 stop.
See I don't like this because there's no engine braking in neutral... I would rather just lift and stay in the same gear until idle revs if you wanted to save the clutch
Going into neutral is a bad idea. If something goes wrong on the road and you need to act quickly, a split second can make a big difference - and you can’t act if you’re not in gear.
Neutral is not safe, I try the no gear shift game, I prefer to decelerate, brake gently and stay at the same gear. Brakes are far more cheaper to replace than clutch and transmission.
Thanks for teaching people how to drive like an asshole Mick. Entering a roundabout fast and changing lanes twice while doing so is great driving advice! Only second to pushing the lane limits while driving fast to scare the shit out of the incoming car from the opposite lane because you have "better visibility". We should all drive like that from now on, see what happens.
Mick emphasised the safety issues. And driving in the UK is quite different to here in Australia. Hedges in the UK are a real menace. Also remember Mick emphasised staying in his lane when cornering. He is not drifting into the oncoming lane.
@@allanbriggs9007 Who said he is drifting into any lanes? If two cars do what he is suggesting from opposite lanes, that is an accident. If the person on the opposite lane panics just for a second thinking you are going to cross the lane (even if you don't), that is an accident. The advice on the roundabouts is not only illegal but crazy dangerous. These are not "advanced driving techniques" These are " asshole driving techniques" If you did any of those in your driving test in UK, Australia or wherever, you will fail immediately. Try explaining to your driver instructor that you were just employing an "advanced driving technique" when you enter the roundabout fast and switched lanes twice. Sorry but he emphasized 0 safety issues. The man barely touches the steering wheel on the left corner when driving 60 MPH for gods sakes. Even his steering is unsafe. That is an asshole behind the wheel. Not a safe driver.
Half the folks on the road barely know how to correctly use a roundabout, I'd hate to think what would happen if another chunk of drivers start purposefully misusing them because 'trust me bro, I know what I'm doing.' These tips are only good for folks who *actually* know what they're doing, but there's too many people out there who only *think* they know what they're doing - who are not great drivers in reality - and in their hands these techniques are gonna cause accidents.
I passed my advanced driving test a few years back and I’m certain I would have failed if I had driven with my hands waving around off the steering wheel like this. Nonetheless I found the video helpful. The most useful phrase I was taught at roundabouts was “Ready to slow but looking to go”.
Some more "dynamic" driver friends are floored at my fuel efficiency from doing the no brake strategy, planning ahead is imo the most important thing you can do for everything from efficiency to safety to just general comfort. It's not like i drive slow, when there is a safe space to do it, full throttle pulls in a 5cyl are one of lifes greatest joys, but to also enjoy the fuel efficiency, don't waste the pull, aka plan ahead so that you slow down enough without the brakes. For example I do a pull at a particular road almost every time up to "about" 100kmh and then let off at a specific point so that I arrive at the 50 limit perfectly with no brakes at all. It's quite interesting to see that full throttle (at least in a diesel) really isn't that much less efficient, it's the poor planning and wasted braking afterwards that ends up eating the mpg, something that really boggles my mind on the highway, just how many times some peoples brake lights come on for simply lack of planning
It's interesting how I actually do all of these naturally without much thinking about it because I try to be as economical driver as possible while driving a bit faster
The first one, I learned inadvertently while driving my kid to the nanny. She lives in a cul de sac (the European kind) that is a single car's width type of countryside village road with size only for one vehicle. Basically I was arriving at the same time as nanny's neighbour and noticed him driving way to the right in his old R5 (those are old French people, of course he's been driving the same R5 for decades). And since then I've done the exact same (in my old beat up twingo previously owned by an older lady who bought it new in the early 20's, of course that's the only thing a new driver can afford in France)... Anyway it's pretty useful because now I can see a car going the other way much earlier and going backwards to let them out is easier (I'm always the smallest more manoeuvrable, I'm in a twingo, remember...)!
My city has decided it was a good idea to add roundabouts at many side street intersections which essentially have my a fun circuit course late night in a focus. They did good 😅
for even smoother shifts I use to try and match the rotation of the crankshaft and the transmission by slightly pressing the accelerator before releasing the clutch pedal, reducing the jolt of going suddenly from 1000 rpm to the rotation needed to keep the speed of the wheels
To adress the problem with the 2nd thing. There is one 2 lane roundabout we drive through often (we live outside UK so we drive on the right) and if you were to exit the roundabout from the inside lane while another car wanted to countinue going from the outside lane, and you had a collision, you would be at fault because they were on your right side. Be extra careful of others if you're doing this.
The UK police roadcraft manual, both for cars and motorcycles, specifically advises that the gears should not be used to slow a vehicle down. My nephew was downgraded on his RoSPA motorcycle test for this. Using the gears doesn't indicate that you are intending to slow down to a following driver/rider, as the brake light will not come on. If one uses lower gear to give more engine braking, one should depress the brake pedal/lever briefly if there us a following vehicle to signal one's intention.
I've only been driving a few years now, but with each passing year, I try to get better at the no-brake game, recently I've been getting pretty good at it, or at least only using them to slow down enough to downshift properly.
I have been using both the first and third techniques, but the second one I'd really like to discourage anyone from using. There was this time when I was trying to enter a busy roundabout on the right lane. A taxi approached from the left lane and as both of us entered the roundabout, the taxi driver used this "technique" and we almost had a crash. Lucky that I was fine since I was about a second slower than the taxi, but imagine what could have happened. It's true, it may be a bit more convenient, but I would not risk a crash for saving just a few seconds. Even under safe conditions.
There’s a way to trick the automatic cars to be able to play this game. If u tap the brake for a moment (not too hard) then the gearbox will usually shift down and then u usually don’t have to use manual mode as much. But it doesn’t always work well. Like for example when u’re on a steep incline u will have to use manual mode to reap those benefits.
Nice suggestion in theory concerning road placement around bends. On first world roads it’d be reliably achievable. Sadly the UK roads, at least ‘oop North, are more aligned with 3rd world expectations. Navigating a bend is therefore all about looking down and dodging the blasted potholes. Looking up tends to involve a lot of loud thuds, burst tyres and bouncing around.
I needed to replace my rear brakes desperately, but I was waiting for my next paycheck. I figured out how to engine brake on my own, and taught my girlfriend how to do it. Turns out that was a mistake, because during that week, she would regularly put it into first gear from 30 to 40 mph
I drive a manual truck (Toyota Tacoma) and rarely have to use the breaks. I tap them quickly as I am gearing down as to let the tailgater know I am stopping. That is the danger of the no brake game so pay attention your rear view mirror when doing that. Lol I could never drive in Britain because of which side you all drive on! It trips me out to watch your vids! 'll sub cause you asked nicely!
Haha thanks, I've got a growing US audience - I'd love to know, anything you'd specifically like me to make a video on that's more relevant for you guys?
Have you done a vid on how to drive well in the rain? I live in a very wet area and am used to it but Americans can use all the advice they can get. In this country they hand out driver's license willie nilly to any one. It would also be fun to see the differences in licensing requirements between our countries. I love my country but our drivers suck...Thanks for an entertaining channel!
We actually have a marking for eco driving here too but how much it's actually used is unclear. I think as long as you're not bouncing off redline you're probably ok :)
Some observations, if I may, from a Police Advanced Driver, ex-IAM examiner with 30 years Advanced/TPAC experience. (1) The "visibility line" as you call/show it is held too long in your examples. You still use the apex when driving for visibility, just slightly later than using the racing line. Slow in, fast out. You don't simply hold the white line. Also, you must always be prepared to give up your position. (2) If you're going to give "advanced driving" examples, please don't hold the steering wheel with one hand, at 5 o'clock position, facing down. Both hands should be on the wheel at all times, unless needed for something else. (2) "Straight-lining" roundabouts is a speed skill only, but should not be employed with other traffic nearby. People struggle with lane discipline generally, and this promotes poor behaviour. Is it faster? Yes. We do it on blues and twos, but ONLY when safe. (3) Trying not to use the brakes is a genuinely good idea. We do this all the time.
Hi Mick, I'm fin France, and I Love your videos, which are very high-quality and educational. I'm part of the 6% who subscribe to and enjoy your content.
You can only use the right hand lane to go ahead at a roundabout when there are two lanes exiting ahead i.e. you stay in your lane throughout the manoeuvre
I have played the no brake game...without brakes , had air in the pipes and needed to push the pedal to the floor...and even then it was weak at best ,about 1cm off the floor tiny bit of brake power then abs shuddered the front end ,but I'm now a pro at down shifting ,i can now rev match into 1st gear 😂
When I joined Royal Mail you had to pass a driving assessment before being able to drive a van. I was assessed by an ex motorway Police Man. He agreed with all you said except the roundabout. Boy did he not like that😅
I actually drive and try not to touch the brakes in highways, it trains you to plan ahead and look really way ahead of the cars to plan. It helps with fuel efficiency but also makes us more aware IMO. It is really impossible to try that in traffic in India, we have a lot of unpredictable people in the cities.
In South Africa, we drive like that at the roundabout and it’s intuitive cause everybody knows it. That no brake game wouldn’t work in South Africa because we have taxi drivers who stop wherever they want, at anytime!!😂😂
Tip 1: Adjust your road position so you can see better. Tip 1 advanced: Adjust your road position so you can BE SEEN better. Tip 2: Roundabout shortcut to save fuel and have fun. Tip 2 advanced: always use indicators to communicate and put your foot gently on the brake pedal during decelleration. Tip 3: Try not to brake (helps anticipating). Tip 3 advanced: Do trigger the brakelights to communicate with traffic behind you.
My problem with the visibility line is if the other person is breaking the lane it puts you in a position to risk an accident. Yes, you can see you’re going to hit, but if you take the racing line youre further away from the person crossing into your lane
The visibility lane was a new tip for me, thank you for sharing, Mick. Also, looking at the roads, seems like you live in the same place as Clearview Driving, pleaseeee, make a video together, it would be a joy to watch you in the same vid 😄
Enjoyed this right to the end, then I saw one of those mini speed bumps I hate those things. If they have to have them, make them full ones with less height.
Forget the no brake game. What about the no hands game? During a time when I was doing a regular 100km commute, I would try many things to try and alleviate the boredom. One was to see how much of the drive I could do without putting hands on the steering wheel and using my knees instead. The road had some good windy sections but often not a lot of traffic. My best effort was the whole 100km trip except for one particularly tight hairpin and the last few hundred metres to my gate. If that sounds stupid enough, I won't scare you with some of the other things I tried😄
hahaha - knee steering guide coming soon. I may be known to enjoy a macdonalds muffin in the morning while steering with my knee. I won't tell anyone if you don't ;)
I play the no brake game all the time: saves on fuel and less wear on the brakes. But keep in mind that when you engine brake by shifting down instead of braking, braking is applied on the front axle (FHD) or rear axle (RWD) instead of all 4 wheels when you actually use the brake. This may imbalance the car if going around corners in wet weather conditions and shifting down several gears in very quick successions
Fantastic mate. Proper Petrolhead comment. I didn't even think of this. You would have to have some serious heavy feet to lock up the wheels on a downshift though, but absolutely something to keep in mind!
@@MickDrivesCarsaha you can tell you love having this channel! Thanks for the lessons Mick.
I had to do this recently because my front brakes were riding metal on metal and my pads weren't going to be in for another week, I could still brake but it was uncomfortable 😂
I would downshift to slow down. I have a sequential in my Elantra and it handled it like a champ 🫡
This is especially important to keep in mind in the winter with ice on the road if your car is RWD
fair point, but over 80% of your braking force is always through the front wheels, so in a RWD car you'd be balancing out the wear
been doing the no brake game without realising it, it's so satisfying to glide up to a red light just as it turns green and sail straight through
1000%
The contrasting game is watching people ahead of you, zooming up to a stopped line of cars. You can tell which drivers are not driving/looking/thinking ahead. Lots of them out there. Even more fun in the USA, when it is a 6000 lb SUV or truck. Glad I'm not paying for their brake replacements. And they are probably squawking hardest about gas prices.
@@scottanthony3426True😂
Yess, I love the feeling
Tip: Video Speed = 1.25X
I’ve been doing that and it sounded completely normal but looks like he’s doing 70 on the back roads 😭
@@joecrocker950 70 on the country roads is legal.
@@osmacar5331 MPH not KPH, 70mph is 110kmh lol
It’s an 11 minute video
@@WowCoolHorse your profile picture tells me everything i need to know. The fact am dignifying you with this response in lowering me. Go be a void of cognition elsewhere unic.
I've always been driving with "brake as least as possible" since I got my first car (manual transmission). When I commute on the highway, I leave proper distance from the car ahead and lift off the gas (or downshift) when I see them brake while keeping my foot hovering over the brake pedal in case they brake hard. It takes a lot of getting used to, knowing your car's gear ratio and knowing how to read traffic, etc... but if timed correctly: your car will slow down enough that by the time you catch up to the car ahead they'll get off the brakes. I found this incredibly helpful in planning situations where you have to change lanes to escape a gridlock. You just have more control.
100% proper petrolhead comment 👊
No it doesn’t I’ve been driving for a few years and just got my full license a month ago, took me 2 weeks to be at this level
I'm glad to know that I am not the only one in this world who plays the no-touch-brake game🎉. Keep doing what you're doing man. Love the work you do here.
Good to hear! I think it's so fun and useful at the same time :)
haha, you betcha, here in asia it's rare to spot some drivers doing that, not saying it's legendary rare, but rare as in it's between rare to common.
*I'm glad to know that I am not the only one in this world who plays the no-touch--brake game. 🎉. Keep doing what you're doing, man. Love the work you do here.
*Good to hear! I think it's so fun and useful at the same time. :)@@MickDrivesCars
Loool eyes lit up when I saw ‘no touch brake game’ do that every drive
I am a quite experienced driver (over 30 years) and I came across this channel and instantly subscribed to it. Of course, I know the topics addressed here, but they are presented interestingly. Good job! Keep up!
11:01 The pause when the bus is approaching 😂 I can relate
I didn’t even know there was a no brake game!! But I’ve been slowing down with just my gears on my commute to work and it’s great to integrate into your driving to help plan ahead as you mentioned.
Better fuel economy too!
@@MickDrivesCarsgetting 50mpg now!
The no brake game is probably the most fun game to play 😂
just the car engine breaking itself slowly is just satisfying, especially little slope of the road, angled a bit down, that just makes the car run at consistent speed.
Super satisfying
Only had my licence for 4 months and hadn't realised I play the no brake game naturally in an automatic, on town and country roads. I hover in case I need to brake, but use anticipation and engine braking. Respect for the machinery.
Great video - I'm over 60 and still try to make every journey smoother than the last - regularly playing the no brake game.....managed to travel from York to just beyond the end of M1 in London without braking!
Haha it had to be London to ruin the streak :D
Can't say I fully agree with these tips, Tip 1, make corners more risky to improve visibility which you are less likely to need if using a either a racing line or just driving at a sensible speed through the corner, i.e. are you encouraging or trying to enable driving too fast slightly more safely? Tip two great in theory, smoothness, efficiency etc but as your learner driver example proves even you are going to sometimes do this at the wrong time, so really in reality you shouldn't do this at all because efficiency and smoothness and speed are not the only considerations, safety is one, and for road safety drivers being consistent is key. Hence road rules exist to help know what to expect from others. Tip 3 sure you can use this to develop your habbits of scanning the road further ahead, but you probably shouldn't be playing games while you drive, and there is other effects to adding engine braking excessively, if you're able to play this game to the nth degree coming off the gas a mile before a roundabout I would argue this is unrealistic, people also need to get places promptly. Don't get me wrong I'm all for increasing your driving skills etc but please don't forget it's not a game, you're not on a race track, when playing your no brake game and your several miles into not using your brakes and arrive at a roundabout and there is a gap before an oncoming car that's a bit too small are you going to take it or spoil your record? would you argue your judgement is not altered by the game? And were you alert enough to other potential risks while you're focused on beating your record?
Whenever I hear this man's advice I can't help but feel a very similar way I felt when listening to Neil DeGrasse Tyson explain how it is so much better to Not use a phone case and physically play around with your phone in your hand as it would make you more confident with it. At first he seemed enlightened, on to something. Later Kind of pretentious. The Thing is, he might be right. Who knows, who cares, its his phone. But in this case, you should care. There are other people on the road for gods sake. This guy is giving rather selfish advice that is actually beneficial and effective in Theory but in practice very possibly dangerous. He might be skilled enough for it but many people are not and are better off the more "boring" normal way. And is he skilled enough really? You never know until you fail. And he openly confessed that he failed the roundabout thing a coupe of Times. That should be it. Done. If its a risky, unconventional thing you're advising that doesn't work at least 99% of the time, don't. And 99% is generous. Do not ever put yourself and others in danger on the road.
I'm with you. Regarding the visibility line, the approach is fine, but you really want to tighten up so that you exit the bend tight to the kerb - as far away from oncoming traffic as possible. It's worth checking out the great book Advanced Driving by John Lyon, published by Haynes (of Haynes Manuals fame). From page 129 he discusses this technique and explains why it's so important, plus the fact that your speed needs to be linked to your visibility (a point missing from this video) - Always keep the car to a speed where you can stop safely, well within the distance you can see to be clear. Mick, if you read this I note that you filmed this in the area I live and teach. Check out coming off the Bennetts Bank roundabout towards Ketley and try it as I described, it's where I introduce my students to the technique. I don't don't fundamentally disagree with the techniques you're showing here, but more needs to be made of adequate observations before making decisions to use these techniques.
Tip #2 He wasn't considerate to on-coming traffic entering the roundabout since he only used the indicator once to exit the roundabout.
I remember this Neil DG video, I actually listened and have enjoyed my phone so much more since. @@xAandreyYx
@@xAandreyYx#1 I fully agree with, I was sceptical initially but after watching the examples the road almost looks straight. If everyone listened to this it would be most beneficial because the oncoming traffic would be giving you more room too
Another great little film Mick! I think I mentioned the 'no braking' game in the comments of your previous video, and how we used to play it 30 years ago when I was driving 30k+ miles a year for a job. Another step for that game is trying to hit speed limits at the correct speed, without braking. In your example here you did it really nicely - going from the 60 to the 40 limit. The pinnacle of the game is to slow to the lower limit and hit the limit, precisely, at the sign 🤣 On roundabouts; the instructor I had 25 years ago for my IAM training had a great phrase, that I still repeat in my head today as I approach them - "looking to go, anticipating a stop". It really hones one's vision and thinking. Keep up the great work Mick, loving all these films 👏
It's funny, I had the beginnings of an idea for this video but I'm pretty sure it was your comment that put all the pieces into place! Thank you!
Yeah I'm not a master of the game to be fair, but I'm sure lots of people can get introduced to it now :)
Sadly most people nowadays are like oh a 40 sign coming up, let’s continue with 70 until I really have to break hard.
One thing about tip two that rubs me the wrong way and sends off red flags for me is the changing of lanes so suddenly. While driving I always indicate and always make sure I’m never jumping between lanes like that in a way that can cause conflict, especially when you turn across another lane to make a turn
I’m not an experienced driver by any means but one thing my instructor taught me was whilst utilising engine braking drivers behind you will not be aware of you slowing down as no brake lights will be applied unless you apply pressure to the actual brake pedal. So be sure to keep this in mind if using engine braking to significantly reduce your speed
The racing line is great as long as you know the road and/or can see through the corner. If it turns into a long bend that sharpens you could get into trouble. Your 'visibility' line is good but I would be worried about oncoming traffic cutting the corner. Perhaps staying in the middle of the lane, slightly to the right is a good compromise.
I'm not sure if encouraging people to change lanes through the roundabout is a good idea. I know you mentioned disclaimers and specified that one must be careful but flying through the roundabout changing lanes isn't responsible driving. In saying that, it does look safer to do on those large roundabouts you have in the UK. Most roundabouts here in NZ are about a third of the size.
I'm in the Alfa Romeo owners club and we have track days every few months to test the limits of our cars. Slowing to a safe speed before the corner or rounabout is always the best technique. 😊
I do this on most empty roundabouts in the north island here in nz
I love how you said "better, faster, safer". If you drive fast and have to go over the lanes, don't turn the headlights off in time and so on, then you are clearly driving faster than you can.
In the no brake game, you suggest shifting down. This implies that you are engine braking. The problem with that is that while it saves wear and tear on the brakes, in increases wear and tear on the transmission. Transmissions are the heart of a car that is far and away the most expensive component of a car and wearing out the transmission generally means writing off the whole car. So no, I do not think this is a wise game at all. Brake pads are cheap and east to replace, just use the brakes to slow down & save the transmission.
Exactly 👍
When you mentioned writing off the whole car, are you talking about an automatic transmission?
Just curious!
@@johnchristian7788 manual or auto, it matters little. By the time tranny is done, there is comparatively so little value left in the rest of the car, probably also has bad rings scored cylinders & pistons etc from also from engine braking. It's just not likely to be worth the cost of repair by the time the tranny is done, unless it was faulty at manufacture & the car is still quite young & in otherwise good condition.
No, it suggests you're not over speeding and giving enough room to the car in front of you, so that you can simply stop hitting the gas pedal instead of staying too close and needing to break every time there's a tiny reduction in the other's speed
Fun to hear about the no braking game. This is something my driving instructor used to emphasize a lot back in the day. Definitely something to work on, so a good tip to make the flow of traffic more smooth! So many people just touch the brakes for a moment when there's no real reason to do so, for example when going over a slight bump on the motorway. Could be related to cruise control and being scared by the momentary increase in momentum? Very odd behaviour nonetheless. Same goes for people who keep their brakes engaged over a long distance throughout a slow and slight corner. I guess they prefer to replace their brakes earlier rather than later. Good tips as always!
Watching other people's brake lights is another fun game to play lol, most really have no idea.
I do the 'no brake game' for traffic lights and upahead queues but haven't thought about trying it in other scenarios
Nice, you can literally do it everywhere when there's no traffic :)
The roundabout tip is extremely dangerous in the wrong hands
Agreed
Just drive right through the roundabout!
I like doing the no brake thing, like you said it makes you so much more engaged with driving. I will say that when there are vehicles behind me I will at least blip the brake to signal my intentions
I love your first advance driving tip about the visibility line around a corner. One of my advanced driving tips is that oncoming cares more often than not are across the line seperating the lanes and are on your side of the road. A tip that won't probably put you into a head-on collision is when forward visibility is limited and there's a car ahead of you- keep that car in sight at all times following closely enough to make a quick stop if necessary without hitting them, the road that you can't see ahead is clear until the car ahead of you either crashes or stops.
Hi my friend. I really do not need your advices because i have exactly the same driving philosophy and capabilities like you and i just love to listen to your beautiful english language! You are one Intelligent gentleman on the road! Greeting from an excellent Serbian intelligent gentleman on the road 😊💪🇷🇸🇫🇴
Nice one. I've been doing the "no brakes game" for a while during my commuting and aside of the better gas mileage I haven't had any brake job done since about 4 years. It's a funny way to spend and pollute less, so why not.
Exactly what I love to hear! Smoother driving + less bills :)
The racing line I was taught is not the apexing line you show. The racing line I was taught is not apexing the corner, but start a little later, on the outside & finish the turn on the inside just where the bend finishes. The point of this is that it sets you up for the next bend which is usually the opposite direction turn. This is what happens when a road is following the contours of a ridge. Erosion creates ravines down the sides of the ridge leaving the natural contour line that the road follows doing a series of tight opposite hand curves. If you apex the 1st turn, you will be on the wrong side of the lane for the next turn. Of course, turns don't always follow this pattern, but that tends to happen in more open terrain where the corners are not tight and you get to see what is happening early, so you can just drift across the lane to the new outside. If on the other hand you apex a turn & the next turn is bad for you, are caught out further down the road where you have less time to set up the next turn. So, while apexing looks good on paper, it is actually a poor strategy in practice.
Good to know Im not the only one critisizing these tips. They sound interesting and all.. but as I remeber what my driving instructor once told me: "If you drive you dont only have to think for yourself, but also for others".
Wich baisicly means to drive as predictable as posible and think about what other people want to do. I cach myself predicting a lot of time what others driver are going to do, switching lanes, taking a turn, trying to merge etc.
I just want to point out that a good portion of crashes we see on youtube "could" be avoided just by examining the trafic around and trying to understand what the other are trying to do.
And taking the racing line in a roundabout ist the funniest thing ever, I feel like a rally driver😅
I have just realised I am doing it for few years but JUST for fuel economy. From today I became a car player and will get more fun from it:) Also planning to make some non sense night driving tonight:D Thank you for sharing your experience, UR a good speaker also. And nice to hear safety is on top of all that! // Greetings from Poland!
The “visibility line” seems quite dangerous to me. I guess in wide roads with bends that aren’t that tight like in the video it might be fine but if the visibility is completely blocked like in proper mountain roads and/or if the road is less than 2 lanes wide like is common in mountainous countries, u’re better off lifting ur foot off the gas and staying as far off the white line (normally u should stay in the center) as possible as it’s very common for ppl (especially motorbikes) to cut accross the white line(s) at high speeds and in hairpin bends u won’t see it until it’s too late.
Can’t tell u how many near misses I’ve had even when staying well in my side of the road!
I hate people who hug the visibility line. When you're driving fast and at the speed limit there's nothing worse than people sticking themselves out in the middle of the road. There isn't enough time to react if someone is coming. Instead, I always focus on staying on the left. So on the left that it's literally impossible to have a collision or to be at fault for one. What are your thoughts on this?
I don't think in all my years of driving I've ever seen someone drive the visibility line.
Lots of people cutting across the middle of the road to straighten it. But never someone using it correctly.
On right-hand corners the visibility line is literally hugging the left side of the lane, so I half agree...
After watching this I realised it’s not just me who avoids braking at all costs during daily driving. So much more satisfying when you’re not taking off from every intersection or red light at a standstill and rather coast along.
I have played the no brake game for years in a manual, it is always fun. I work on the basis that the car behind me is going to question whether my brake lights are working😅 As regards taking the wider line around corners can I suggest that you think twice about doing this on French country lanes, as French drivers seem to take it to the extreme and will regularly be over the centre line on sharp corners and travelling at speed.
Good video!
Mick I have just watched your video on how to take bands,I think it would be better if you kept both hands on the wheel ,it would send a much better message on safe driving
you should watch his video on one handed driving😂
I wish youtube had a mirror video option for those of us driving on the right side of the road :(
Hahaha I absolutely LOVE this idea. I'll find a way to do this
@@MickDrivesCars that would be great Mick! Cheers from a late bloomer on the road haha!
I live in a mountainous area and have an auto transmission car. The car by itself it very good at anticipating which gear is needed, it doesn´t coast when you lift off but changes down.
However, by using the manual paddles it is possible to avoid brake use even on some pretty steep downhill sections.
I live in Spain and here there is a common myth that it saves fuel to coast downhill, which may have been true decades ago. A modern car with your foot off the gas and using engine compression, not the case, you will be using no or little fuel.
Great video as always! Just wanted to drop a small note on Don't Brake Game from mechanical point of view; while it's a fun game that may help you with fuel economy and grow your perception of distance it's not the best idea to use it as actual breaking technique in case of automatic gearbox cars. In manuals this game is simply called engine breaking and it works great due to how the transmission works but automatic gearboxes have torque converters which nullify engine breaking and in turn leave the passive breaking power to environment and physics. So unless you're driving a manual, be very cautious when playing this game. Cheers!
I have a dual-clutch automatic and it works great. Do torque converters really not have engine braking? I wasn't aware of this.
@@MickDrivesCars I think manufacturers are moving away from automatics that "coast." The last two torque converter "slush boxes" I had were programmed to down shift automatically if you started coasting. My current car has a CVT and in sport mode will engine break pretty aggressively.
@@AlanAnt is it same with BMW iX B mode??
@@GreatTaiwan electric cars slow more aggressively than ICE cars.
Enjoyed the video bro. The no-brakes is especially challenging on a city road. It's a lot to do with observation, planning, accelerator sense and positioning. I use no brakes all the time on country roads. It is fun.
I drive an automatic and I use Sport mode (like you say) for better accelerator response. Because the gearbox is holding on to lower gears, lifting off the accelerator (and getting that wonderful zero fuel consumption condition) will give better deceleration.
I would ask you, however, to keep your hands on the wheel! For the sake of my sanity 😅
Thanks for the kind words :)
Oh god. Yes. I did this in today's video too. I have a problem called talking with my hands. I'll hang my head in shame.
@@MickDrivesCars I have the same: I talk with my hands too. But never when driving!
The no break game is great. Once for April fools I had the breaks take out of my neighbors car. I get out of jail next Thanksgiving
I’m American…2/3 don’t apply to me due to us driving on the other side of the car and other side of the road…yet, watched til the end. A+ video.
I drive manual and i like to play a no break and no clutch game, changing gears on the engine time. Its really fun.
I've been a natural no-braker since I started driving for some reason. Recently, when my sister started learning to drive, the first thing I said was, "The brake pedal is your masochist friend. Don't be afraid to step on it."
To be honest, I've been in multiple situations where I ended up having to brake hard because I'm too stubborn to press that damn pedal (most are not really dangerous situations. It’s just me stubbornly hoping the light will turn green and letting the vehicle coast to the absolute limit, then ending up braking hard. I say hard because I usually do a smooth stop, so it’s more like a jerky stop.)
The do not brake game is basically nominal status quo for driving a manual. I’m convinced that everyone who is physically able should mandatorily do their first few years on the road with a manual car - fundamentally different driving experience, makes you more aware.
Fantastic advice on two approaches and explained thoroughly. I normally use the Racing line but thought about the other alternative. I have an advanced driving qualification and am an ex driving instructor.
I am learning so much more watching these videos. Well done Mick.
engine brake in manual transmission is still a godsend to this generation. its so useful in slope roads, you can apply the no brake game there as well
110%
Great video, I have been playing the no break game for years to save on fuel, helps me a lot seeing so far ahead and interpreting obstacles. A lot of times, I can go through red lights without breaking by slowing down and waiting for it to change as I approach
The "no-break-game" is quite useful, not only to extend your brake pads' life but also for becoming more familiar with engine breaking on slopes and slippery road surface. And yes it is more efficient on manual than on automatic gearbox
The wide line at corners is so much better, allows you to step into the throttle earlier on exit too
Appreciate Telford appearing a fair few times throughout this video (even if you did confuse the learner driver there!) as it's a decently long way from London.
Big fan of playing the no brake game in my Leaf by changing the strength of the regenerative braking to get maximum range efficiency
Yeah I've actually moved up here :)
No brake game is completely overpowered in electric cars, not only do you save energy but you regen even more
@@MickDrivesCars I'll make sure to keep an eye out for the Megane RS whilst I'm out and about - I grew up here but only recently moved back a few months ago. Also I'm sure you're already aware but just in case, the A442 through Kidderminster is a fun bit of road I definitely see you enjoying
B4373 to bridgenorth has been the best I've found so far - I'll try your road and let you know if I find any more gems
Bro all of these tips break the laws and put people in danger
I play the No Brake game driving the curves of the Northern California coast highway : when going uphill-to de accelerate take foot off gas, accelerate thru the turn.
I always think you should keep both hands on the steering wheel at all times
I strongly agree with this comment. Do as I say, not as I do :)
Great tips! Even though I don't drive a car neither do I have a driving license, I will definitely re-watch this video when I will get a license and after learning the basics!
Lane width is actually a very good point. Few people realize that her in america, our interstates have 12 ft wide lanes. And most cars are around 6 feet wide
I drive everywhere using my brakes as little as possible, it's almost a game to get the person following me to tell me my brake lights don't work 😂 limo stop is a must as well, makes your driving so much more pleasant and enjoyable. Driving isn't a chore it's a hobby
The no brake game and using the lower gears in an auto is a lot of fun. It's also fun to be able to drop to 3rd on the highway to make a pass and being immediately sent right into the heart of the powerband. I've also used this with a bad caliper to get me home without a tow. Pulled the e-brake for 10 -> 0mph, but otherwise used the gears.
Hell, I might as well get a manual for my next car.
Love doing the no brake game in the blackwall and limehouse link tunnel
I can't wait till I pass my driving test, that no brake thingy seems very interesting, and probably can apply a lot of it for my test and lessons as well
Be careful out there mate, get the basics down first then implement this stuff once you're confident 👊
@@MickDrivesCars hey! Yeah I will. planning ahead is the main thing I am struggling on, both me and my instructor noticed a good improvement on this today, so thanks!
got my license the other week, im from austria, but they actually taught us the visibility line thing and the engine break as fundamentals really early on
This video makes me incredibly nervous for new drivers to see. Please, I beg you: stay in your lane (re: “tip” #2) - and be a predictable driver. Safety is the most important thing and being a safe driver is being a predictable driver. When a driver is just starting out and learning (and frankly, this is the case for years as experience is gained), these ‘advanced’ “tips” should simply be avoided. Please, just practice as normal. Learn to drive defensively.
as a learner driver, I try to drive as smooth as possible (with some bad gear changes, silly mistakes etc), but when I drive around corners or even when i am about to stop at a red light i try to not use any brakes and just use gears/rev matching (when successful, mastered it on the sim, not irl - 80% there imo) to slow down, trying to stay on the outside of the apex is quite hard, but I do get your point of further increasing planning ahead idea, also the no brake game does seem a little fun, but definitely when I am really confident on my driving and the roads I'm driving LOL, great video
For now just focus on learning to drive normally. Once you got some time of driving "correctly" under your belt, then start to implement this stuff 👍
While I get the break game concept, tons of experienced drivers who drive for a living suggest the “neutral and break” instead of downshifting because of the corrosion on the clutch everytime you change the gear. Breaking pads are cheap, a new clutch is expensive, but of course it depends on the situation. (This is applied mainly when doing a full stop. For example if you’re in 4th and you see a red light, just put it in neutral and break, instead of downshifting 4>3>2 stop.
See I don't like this because there's no engine braking in neutral...
I would rather just lift and stay in the same gear until idle revs if you wanted to save the clutch
Going into neutral is a bad idea. If something goes wrong on the road and you need to act quickly, a split second can make a big difference - and you can’t act if you’re not in gear.
Neutral is not safe, I try the no gear shift game, I prefer to decelerate, brake gently and stay at the same gear. Brakes are far more cheaper to replace than clutch and transmission.
Thanks for teaching people how to drive like an asshole Mick. Entering a roundabout fast and changing lanes twice while doing so is great driving advice! Only second to pushing the lane limits while driving fast to scare the shit out of the incoming car from the opposite lane because you have "better visibility". We should all drive like that from now on, see what happens.
Mick emphasised the safety issues. And driving in the UK is quite different to here in Australia. Hedges in the UK are a real menace. Also remember Mick emphasised staying in his lane when cornering. He is not drifting into the oncoming lane.
@@allanbriggs9007 Who said he is drifting into any lanes? If two cars do what he is suggesting from opposite lanes, that is an accident. If the person on the opposite lane panics just for a second thinking you are going to cross the lane (even if you don't), that is an accident. The advice on the roundabouts is not only illegal but crazy dangerous. These are not "advanced driving techniques" These are " asshole driving techniques" If you did any of those in your driving test in UK, Australia or wherever, you will fail immediately. Try explaining to your driver instructor that you were just employing an "advanced driving technique" when you enter the roundabout fast and switched lanes twice. Sorry but he emphasized 0 safety issues. The man barely touches the steering wheel on the left corner when driving 60 MPH for gods sakes. Even his steering is unsafe. That is an asshole behind the wheel. Not a safe driver.
Half the folks on the road barely know how to correctly use a roundabout, I'd hate to think what would happen if another chunk of drivers start purposefully misusing them because 'trust me bro, I know what I'm doing.'
These tips are only good for folks who *actually* know what they're doing, but there's too many people out there who only *think* they know what they're doing - who are not great drivers in reality - and in their hands these techniques are gonna cause accidents.
I passed my advanced driving test a few years back and I’m certain I would have failed if I had driven with my hands waving around off the steering wheel like this. Nonetheless I found the video helpful. The most useful phrase I was taught at roundabouts was “Ready to slow but looking to go”.
Some more "dynamic" driver friends are floored at my fuel efficiency from doing the no brake strategy, planning ahead is imo the most important thing you can do for everything from efficiency to safety to just general comfort. It's not like i drive slow, when there is a safe space to do it, full throttle pulls in a 5cyl are one of lifes greatest joys, but to also enjoy the fuel efficiency, don't waste the pull, aka plan ahead so that you slow down enough without the brakes.
For example I do a pull at a particular road almost every time up to "about" 100kmh and then let off at a specific point so that I arrive at the 50 limit perfectly with no brakes at all. It's quite interesting to see that full throttle (at least in a diesel) really isn't that much less efficient, it's the poor planning and wasted braking afterwards that ends up eating the mpg, something that really boggles my mind on the highway, just how many times some peoples brake lights come on for simply lack of planning
Couldn't have said it better myself
I do the no brake game as just my normal driving on a daily🥳🤣it makes your car journey enjoyable by just rev matching and downshifting.
Proper Petrolhead comment.
🏎️💨 here's your sticker
It's interesting how I actually do all of these naturally without much thinking about it because I try to be as economical driver as possible while driving a bit faster
The first one, I learned inadvertently while driving my kid to the nanny. She lives in a cul de sac (the European kind) that is a single car's width type of countryside village road with size only for one vehicle. Basically I was arriving at the same time as nanny's neighbour and noticed him driving way to the right in his old R5 (those are old French people, of course he's been driving the same R5 for decades). And since then I've done the exact same (in my old beat up twingo previously owned by an older lady who bought it new in the early 20's, of course that's the only thing a new driver can afford in France)...
Anyway it's pretty useful because now I can see a car going the other way much earlier and going backwards to let them out is easier (I'm always the smallest more manoeuvrable, I'm in a twingo, remember...)!
My city has decided it was a good idea to add roundabouts at many side street intersections which essentially have my a fun circuit course late night in a focus. They did good 😅
for even smoother shifts I use to try and match the rotation of the crankshaft and the transmission by slightly pressing the accelerator before releasing the clutch pedal, reducing the jolt of going suddenly from 1000 rpm to the rotation needed to keep the speed of the wheels
I love playing the no touch brake game
To adress the problem with the 2nd thing.
There is one 2 lane roundabout we drive through often (we live outside UK so we drive on the right) and if you were to exit the roundabout from the inside lane while another car wanted to countinue going from the outside lane, and you had a collision, you would be at fault because they were on your right side.
Be extra careful of others if you're doing this.
The UK police roadcraft manual, both for cars and motorcycles, specifically advises that the gears should not be used to slow a vehicle down. My nephew was downgraded on his RoSPA motorcycle test for this. Using the gears doesn't indicate that you are intending to slow down to a following driver/rider, as the brake light will not come on. If one uses lower gear to give more engine braking, one should depress the brake pedal/lever briefly if there us a following vehicle to signal one's intention.
I've only been driving a few years now, but with each passing year, I try to get better at the no-brake game, recently I've been getting pretty good at it, or at least only using them to slow down enough to downshift properly.
I have been using both the first and third techniques, but the second one I'd really like to discourage anyone from using. There was this time when I was trying to enter a busy roundabout on the right lane. A taxi approached from the left lane and as both of us entered the roundabout, the taxi driver used this "technique" and we almost had a crash. Lucky that I was fine since I was about a second slower than the taxi, but imagine what could have happened. It's true, it may be a bit more convenient, but I would not risk a crash for saving just a few seconds. Even under safe conditions.
There’s a way to trick the automatic cars to be able to play this game. If u tap the brake for a moment (not too hard) then the gearbox will usually shift down and then u usually don’t have to use manual mode as much. But it doesn’t always work well. Like for example when u’re on a steep incline u will have to use manual mode to reap those benefits.
Nice suggestion in theory concerning road placement around bends. On first world roads it’d be reliably achievable. Sadly the UK roads, at least ‘oop North, are more aligned with 3rd world expectations. Navigating a bend is therefore all about looking down and dodging the blasted potholes. Looking up tends to involve a lot of loud thuds, burst tyres and bouncing around.
West midlands roads are a bomb site too lol
I needed to replace my rear brakes desperately, but I was waiting for my next paycheck. I figured out how to engine brake on my own, and taught my girlfriend how to do it. Turns out that was a mistake, because during that week, she would regularly put it into first gear from 30 to 40 mph
I drive a manual truck (Toyota Tacoma) and rarely have to use the breaks. I tap them quickly as I am gearing down as to let the tailgater know I am stopping. That is the danger of the no brake game so pay attention your rear view mirror when doing that. Lol I could never drive in Britain because of which side you all drive on! It trips me out to watch your vids! 'll sub cause you asked nicely!
Haha thanks, I've got a growing US audience - I'd love to know, anything you'd specifically like me to make a video on that's more relevant for you guys?
Have you done a vid on how to drive well in the rain? I live in a very wet area and am used to it but Americans can use all the advice they can get. In this country they hand out driver's license willie nilly to any one. It would also be fun to see the differences in licensing requirements between our countries. I love my country but our drivers suck...Thanks for an entertaining channel!
Ask and you shall receive my friend (Check out today's video) :)
The no brake thing is required on the Polish driving exam and is called "eco-driving".
We actually have a marking for eco driving here too but how much it's actually used is unclear. I think as long as you're not bouncing off redline you're probably ok :)
Some observations, if I may, from a Police Advanced Driver, ex-IAM examiner with 30 years Advanced/TPAC experience. (1) The "visibility line" as you call/show it is held too long in your examples. You still use the apex when driving for visibility, just slightly later than using the racing line. Slow in, fast out. You don't simply hold the white line. Also, you must always be prepared to give up your position. (2) If you're going to give "advanced driving" examples, please don't hold the steering wheel with one hand, at 5 o'clock position, facing down. Both hands should be on the wheel at all times, unless needed for something else. (2) "Straight-lining" roundabouts is a speed skill only, but should not be employed with other traffic nearby. People struggle with lane discipline generally, and this promotes poor behaviour. Is it faster? Yes. We do it on blues and twos, but ONLY when safe. (3) Trying not to use the brakes is a genuinely good idea. We do this all the time.
Hi Mick, I'm fin France, and I Love your videos, which are very high-quality and educational. I'm part of the 6% who subscribe to and enjoy your content.
Thank you mate! We're up to 7% now :)
Happy to have been apart of that 6% for a while 👍🏼
You can only use the right hand lane to go ahead at a roundabout when there are two lanes exiting ahead i.e. you stay in your lane throughout the manoeuvre
I have played the no brake game...without brakes , had air in the pipes and needed to push the pedal to the floor...and even then it was weak at best ,about 1cm off the floor tiny bit of brake power then abs shuddered the front end ,but I'm now a pro at down shifting ,i can now rev match into 1st gear 😂
When I joined Royal Mail you had to pass a driving assessment before being able to drive a van. I was assessed by an ex motorway Police Man. He agreed with all you said except the roundabout. Boy did he not like that😅
I would still advise indicating off of the roundabout if you are cutting through, very selfish to those on the other side if you dont
First and Third Tip are great!
The 2nd one is ehhh especially if you live in US where we barely have roundabouts and everyone is confused all at once.
awesome! for someone who just started driving, these are gold
Thanks mate! Be careful implementing them, like you saw in the roundabout clips it's really easy to confuse someone
@@MickDrivesCars absolutely.
I actually drive and try not to touch the brakes in highways, it trains you to plan ahead and look really way ahead of the cars to plan. It helps with fuel efficiency but also makes us more aware IMO. It is really impossible to try that in traffic in India, we have a lot of unpredictable people in the cities.
In South Africa, we drive like that at the roundabout and it’s intuitive cause everybody knows it. That no brake game wouldn’t work in South Africa because we have taxi drivers who stop wherever they want, at anytime!!😂😂
Tip 1: Adjust your road position so you can see better.
Tip 1 advanced: Adjust your road position so you can BE SEEN better.
Tip 2: Roundabout shortcut to save fuel and have fun.
Tip 2 advanced: always use indicators to communicate and put your foot gently on the brake pedal during decelleration.
Tip 3: Try not to brake (helps anticipating).
Tip 3 advanced: Do trigger the brakelights to communicate with traffic behind you.
My problem with the visibility line is if the other person is breaking the lane it puts you in a position to risk an accident. Yes, you can see you’re going to hit, but if you take the racing line youre further away from the person crossing into your lane
My driving instructor always encouraged me to play the “no brake-game”
You are welcome in Bangladesh to teach the no brake game. Here we have to brake every 5 seconds.
Thank you Mick…bless!
Blessings unto you too sir.
Visbility line induces so much body roll in cars that aren't wide, heavy and low to the ground.
The visibility lane was a new tip for me, thank you for sharing, Mick. Also, looking at the roads, seems like you live in the same place as Clearview Driving, pleaseeee, make a video together, it would be a joy to watch you in the same vid 😄
Funny enough I actually moved away from London and this video is filmed in my new small town.
I don't think Clearview is from around here
Oh, that is sad to read 🥲
Thanks for the reply
Enjoyed this right to the end, then I saw one of those mini speed bumps I hate those things. If they have to have them, make them full ones with less height.
Forget the no brake game. What about the no hands game? During a time when I was doing a regular 100km commute, I would try many things to try and alleviate the boredom. One was to see how much of the drive I could do without putting hands on the steering wheel and using my knees instead. The road had some good windy sections but often not a lot of traffic. My best effort was the whole 100km trip except for one particularly tight hairpin and the last few hundred metres to my gate. If that sounds stupid enough, I won't scare you with some of the other things I tried😄
hahaha - knee steering guide coming soon. I may be known to enjoy a macdonalds muffin in the morning while steering with my knee. I won't tell anyone if you don't ;)
Whatever you do, unless required to make an adjustment, keep both hands on the steering wheel, otherwise known as having control of your vehicle.
Damn I already do all of these. I did not expect this at all.