Photo by Jaromír Kavan

Originally Posted On: This Is How to Drive Fast While Remaining Safe | Go Motors

 

What’s the fastest you’ve ever driven?

If you know how to drive fast, you probably have a good idea of what going 100 miles per hour feels like. However, 100 mph pales in comparison to the speeds that today’s supercars can achieve.

Take for instance the Ferrari LaFerrari with a top speed maxing out at 217 miles per hour. The Ferrari LaFerrari is such an incredible machine, it can go from zero to 60 mph in less than 3 seconds!

The thrill of going fast is guaranteed to be short-lived if you don’t know how to drive your car like a pro. To help you out, we’ve created this short, but complete guide, all about driving safely at high speeds. So, take a look. By the time you’re done reading, you’ll be ready to get behind the wheel of a supercar!

How to Drive Fast and Safe

Learning how to drive fast isn’t the same thing as learning how to drive recklessly. Instead, fast can be synonymous with efficiency, and focused.

When you’re driving a supercar it’s all about tuning in to what the vehicle is telling you. By paying attention to the smoothness of the ride, and noticing any issues the moment they pop up, you’ll be putting yourself in the best position to avoid an accident.

Next, on our list of car safety tips, let’s talk about how you should position yourself. When you’re driving at high speeds, you can’t afford to sit in a non-advantageous position. Instead, your seats must be adjusted not just for comfort, but also for safety.

To make sure your seat is in a safe, and comfortable position, begin by sitting down in the car. Next, notice how difficult it is for your right foot to reach the gas and pedal. The goal should be for your right foot to be able to reach the gas and brake pedal with ease, while also being able to maintain proper posture.

What does proper posture look like when driving? Sitting properly in a supercar looks a lot like sitting properly at a desk. Your back should be straight, and your arms should be able to comfortably reach the steering wheel.

Slouching is never a good idea since this will make it more difficult for you to make micro-movements at high speeds. When your feet can easily reach the pedals, your back is straight, and your arms are a comfortable length from the steering wheel, you’ll have the perfect seating position.

Car Safety Steering Wheel Tips

Where should your hands be on the steering wheel when you’re traveling at high speeds? It’s recommended that you place your hands at the 9:00 and 3:00 positions. If you were facing an analog clock, your left hand would take the position of the number 9, and your right hand would take the position of the number 3.

You might be thinking that 10:00 and 2:00 are the proper positions for driving. You’d be right if we were talking about traveling at normal speeds.

For everyday driving, 10:00 and 2:00 are the perfect hand positions for being able to handle your vehicle. However, when you’re driving a supercar at fast speeds adjusting the position of your hands will make it easier for you to maneuver the car. You can think of the 9:00 and 3:00 position as a power position since it allows you to steer the wheel with more force.

Proper Foot Position

If you’re supposed to change the position of your hands when you’re driving a supercar, does that also mean you should change the position of your feet? Nope!

Only professional drivers should attempt to operate a vehicle using both feet. It’s a complicated technique, and without the proper training, you’re almost guaranteed to get into an accident.

Instead, you can rely on the traditional foot positions, only allowing one foot to operate both petals. Certain supercar models will have a footrest for your non-active foot to sit on. You should always make use of the footrest so that you can have a sense of balance while you’re driving.

Take Your Time

Next, when it comes to learning how to drive fast, time is your friend. If you’ve been driving for a few years, you probably feel fairly confident about your driving skills. The fact that you’re considering operating a supercar shows that your certain enough of your driving abilities that you would be willing to put them to the test at high speeds.

However, while being confident about your ability to drive is a wonderful trait to have, being overly confident can be a downfall. If you’ve never had the privilege of sitting inside a supercar before, then you’re in for a real shock when you see what the dashboard looks like.

 

Different supercar models have dashboards that look like they belong in an alien spaceship. For instance, if you rent a Porsche, you’ll get to see some of the newest dashboards features out there. Features like intricate controls, knobs you’ve never seen before, and all sorts of information right at your fingertips.

Start from square one as you familiarize yourself with the different dashboard settings and features. There’s nothing wrong with spending an entire day exploring the car’s capabilities from the comfort of your driveway.

Do a Practice Run in the Country

When you feel comfortable enough to take the car out on the road, we suggest avoiding the busy city streets. Instead, plan on spending a day out in the country, and away from the hustle and bustle of everyday traffic. It’s out there in the country that you’ll be able to truly become one with your vehicle.

If it’s your first experience driving a supercar on your own, it’s one that you’ll never forget. Savor every moment as you feel the car’s different features, here the engine sounds, and go faster than ever before!

Clear-Minded Driving

It might sound like a no-brainer, but you should never drive at fast speeds when you’re feeling emotional. Emotional driving is a type of distracted driving, and every day around 8 Americans lose their lives to a distracted driver. If you don’t want to hurt yourself, or someone else, only drive when you have a clear mind.

On the subject of driving with a clear mind, it’s never okay to operate a supercar after drinking alcohol. It doesn’t matter if your blood alcohol limit is at the legal limit, your judgment could still be impaired.

A super-fast speeds, all it takes is a fraction of a second for you to lose control of the vehicle. Whether you’re emotional, inebriated, or just a little tired, don’t drive fast or slow if you don’t have a clear mind.

Be a Smooth Operator

Next, another important habit to adopt when driving quickly is the habit of making smooth movements. When you’re driving a regular vehicle, you have the luxury of being able to jerk the steering wheel left or right without destabilizing the car.

However, finely tuned supercars can easily be thrown off balance with jerky movements. When you move the steering wheel, make a concentrated effort to do so gracefully and smoothly. You should ease into whatever movement you’re making, and it should flow.

Smooth operating is one of the biggest principles for driving fast, safely. That means you’ll need to pay attention to every move you’re making, whether it’s your hand moving the steering wheel, or your feet pressing the pedal.

Never jam down the gas or brake pedal in a supercar. Instead, accelerate or decelerate by pressing the pedal with consistent pressure.

Are you driving a supercar with a manual transmission? The principle of smoothness applies to shifting between gears too. Consciously, and carefully, manipulate the stick shift from one gear to the next.

The more you practice being smooth, the easier it’ll get. However, you’ll never master the art of smoothness if you’re not willing to take your time when you’re first learning the vehicle. Don’t rush into driving the car at high speeds. Instead, thoroughly learn all of the features and functions of the vehicle so that you can maintain smoothness, even when you’re flying by at what feels like the speed of light.

Use Stability Controls and Electronic Traction Features

Last but not least, we suggest using stability controls and electronic traction when you’re driving at high speeds. It used to be a point of pride to get into a supercar, and automatically turn off all of the automatic features.

By turning off the features you were sending a message out to the world that you were tough, and didn’t need help operating your vehicle. However, stability controls and electronic traction make it possible for you to be safer than ever before. Switching off these features only puts you at a disadvantage.

Thanks to advancements in technology, stability controls aren’t as heavy-handed as they used to be. The non-intrusive safety features are welcomed by professional drivers, and you should take advantage of them as well.

Practice These Car Safety Tips

There you have it! Now you know how to drive fast, even when you’re traveling at high speeds. After reading this article, what’s one safety tip that you could incorporate into your daily driving?

Did you realize the need to finally adjust your seat, so that you’re in a safe driving position? For the best experience, follow all of the safety tips you just read, even when you’re driving at normal speeds. Are you ready for more tips like the ones in this guide? Check out the rest of this site!