Question: Which saves more gas?

A) Improving a car’s fuel economy from 25 to 50 MPG
B) Improving from 10 to 15 MPG

If you said A, you’re mistaken. You've fallen for the MPG Illusion, which has long distorted US car & climate policy.

Me in Vox 🧵

vox.com/future-perfect…

What does it actually take to drive one of these?

Well, if you listen to the old timers, they would tell you when trucks were made of wood, men were made of steel... or some other such cliche

But let's talk about the actual driving licence. Bet you have never been told this🧵

Always check wheel bearings on quads. You’d not want any harm to come to your rare Border Collie Hydra cross in the event of an accident.

Let's have a look at this, I am reminded so often that most people don't necessarily understand what they are looking at with this industry, so it might be quite interesting to dissect.

We call this a Bridge Strike, when you understand a bit more you can see why they happen 🧵

When cars breakdown, it’s stressful.

Things like bad weather, cold, and noise may well tempt you to stay in your vehicle, but please - DONT!

It’s not worth it. Get away from your vehicle!

#RoadSafety

With manufacturers beginning to produce smaller EV models we should see a real impact as the market expands. Looking forward to an AWD EV that can replace my 965kg Suzuki Ignis for getting around rural roads in all weathers. Most people do not need these large status symbols.

Petrol isn't too expensive, it's too cheap. If it were too expensive cars would be getting smaller, not bigger.

Oversized SUVs and trucks kill people in crashes, catalyze climate change, and widen inequality. And the problem is getting worse.

A 🧵 about my deep dive on car bloat, in Slate

ALWAYS GET OUT TO SAFETY IF YOU BREAK DOWN IN A DANGEROUS PLACE.

Thankfully the driver of this Focus which broke down in a lit area of the A13 at Stanford Le Hope did just that before calling 999 whilst warning approaching traffic.

Sadly, a van driver wasn't paying...1/2

This is important, possibly even more so for the UK.

Should leave £80m/mile for land acquisition…, just a suggestion.

This is an X-ray of someone who was involved in an RTC - with their feet on the dash.

Just don’t. Ever.

Airbags deploy through a dash panel at 200 MPH.

Imagine your knees into your face at 200 MPH following an RTC - the end.

#RoadSafety

Though I don’t fully agree with Tom on his ‘roundabout bantz’ (signal if it will help other drivers understand your intentions, without confusing them), these things often frustrate other road users. Frustrated road users will make mistakes that can affect you.

Robert MacFarlane talks of medieval “Isolarion” maps; maps that describe in great detail specific areas whilst leaving the spaces between these places blank.

Cape Wrath would be represented by the lighthouse at its northern tip. The 100 miles south would be blank. Of no value

They propose storing it

Like how we store water when it doesn't rain

Yep, you’ve got twice the ability to get moving and accelerate, but no grip advantage when steering or braking. Add in the extra weight and higher centre of gravity and if your ambition outweighs your skill and patience, you’ll be in trouble.

This is a quiz question on our basic 4x4 familiarisation course. Add in the extra weight of a pick-up truck and…, well, let’s just keep a long way back from my little 3pmsf tyre clad hatchback please.

If you are waking to snow this morning and need to travel, be prepared and drive to suit conditions.

Allow more time for journeys & ensure you and your car are ready for all eventualities.

#RoadSafety #Preparedness #winter #winter driving