daredevil racing doctor
JONATHAN Palmer drives to survive. As the 31-year-old star of the Tyrrell
grand prix team, you would expect him to be concerned about safety. But
Palmer is also a qualified doctor and, as a houseman at hospitals in
Sussex in the early 1980s, he has seen his fair share of the horror of
road accidents.
"There is so much hostility on the roads, it's dreadful. What we need is
co-operation, not antagonism. Road users should help one another far more
in order to make their journeys easier.
"If
this means letting the other driver overtake more easily, then do it. Ease
to the left a bit or back off the throttle to let him come in neatly," he
explained.
Palmer qualified at Guy's Hospital in London in 1979, but took a year's
break in 1981 to concentrate on motor racing. He had already won the
Formula 3 championship and had been offered Formula 1 test drives with the
front-running teams, Williams, McLaren and Lotus.
Now,
as a full-time racing driver, Palmer clocks-up an incredible 20,000 miles
a year behind the wheel of his Tyrrell either testing or racing.
When
he is not racing, he is either behind the wheel of his Ford Granada or at
the controls of his helicopter.
Macho power
exercise
"ON
THE ROAD, egos and arrogance are the problem today. Too many people are
too concerned with the driving of others, rather than their own. They
regard it all as a competitive business," says Palmer. Driving on the
roads ought not to be a macho power exercise, he says. It's a big enough
challenge already, with more and more vehicles, more traffic signs and
more hazards.
"Most
drivers think learning finishes with the driving test when, in fact, it's
only the start. When I passed my medical finals, I certainly wasn't ready
to be the definitive doctor. The same applies to driving."
Palmer urges that we take nothing for granted on the road, and says
fullest use of our faculties and senses is indispensable.
"Undoubtedly, it's not as safe to drive if you're deaf, or being blasted
by very loud music, because you miss a lot of clues. An important one is
hearing the horn of another car.
"It's
also essential to hear a car overtaking. And sounds can tell you plenty
about your own car, what it's doing and when to change gear. You could be
changing up too early when the engine's lugging, or over-revving.
"If I
didn't use my ears in a racing car, I couldn't drive it properly. Contrary
to boy-racer opinion, you don't change up when you see 10,000 revs on the
rev counter, but by ear. Otherwise you'd have to take your eyes off the
road.
"Though I tend to drive fairly quickly, I've not had a serious road
accident in 14 years – touch wood. And that comes from being attentive,
seeing potential danger situations build up, and taking precautionary
action.
"You
have to watch other vehicles all the time, and the drivers too – which way
their heads are turned as they approach from a side road, whether they're
paying attention or gossiping, whether they've bothered to look in the
mirror during the past couple of minutes and are aware you're there."
So
important is clear vision that Palmer declares himself a real stickler for
clean windscreens. "It's not just the outside. What drives me mad is the
muck that accumulates on the inside.
"If
the screen isn't absolutely as clean as you can make it, you'll be blinded
by glare from the sunset or oncoming headlights. This is accentuated by
the modern car's sharply-raked aerodynamic windscreen.
“In
winter, it's appalling how many times you see people driving down the road
with the windows all frosted over and a handkerchief-size patch of
windscreen cleared. They should be disqualified for that.
"Five
minutes before I drive off, I go out to start the engine, turn on the
heater, and scrape off all the ice.
“Another of my pet hates are people who drive with dipped headlights all
the time, even when there's no other traffic on a country road. They may
reason that they don't need main beam because they're travelling slowly.
"But
they're not using the full illumination at their disposal. So they can't
see properly. And you can't see to overtake safely without switching your
own lights to main beam."
Fog lights often
misused
BRITISH DRIVERS are now much better at lighting up in poor conditions,
thinks Palmer. Though he says high-intensity rear fog lights are often
misused. “It drives me mad, and it's often dangerous – especially in rain
where all they're doing is creating dazzling red haloes around their cars,
particularly at night. And it's also unclear whether they're braking or
just driving at a steady speed."
Even
when he's racing on a very bright day, he spurns sunglasses. "Most people
wear them for practical reasons, but I dislike them – maybe because
they're often worn for posing.
"They
put you in a little bit more of a cocoon in terms of integrating your
forward view with peripheral vision – looking in the mirror or seeing cars
coming alongside you."
Palmer advocates a relaxed, yet attentive, approach whether in slow-moving
London traffic or motoring quickly across country.
"I
sit quite upright so I can operate all the controls properly while always
firmly supported by the seat. And I'm a great believer in reducing
tension.
"Hold
the wheel with as much force as you need – which isn't a lot these days
but let the rest of your arms, you neck, back and legs relax.
"It
might sound a bit corny, but believe me there are lots of times when this
is invaluable in stressful situations – when you're stuck in a jam, late
for an appointment, driving in fast traffic, or the kids are screaming.
"If
we can rid ourselves of tension, which uses a lot of energy for no result,
we substantially reduce the amount of effort needed to drive."
It's not speed
that kills
PALMER IS A great believer in a good night's sleep. "It's all very well
setting out on a long journey after getting to bed at four in the morning
but, sooner or later, that will do for your concentration. Rest periods en
route have to be a commonsense compromise. Holiday makers have more
opportunity to take a break than business people with deadlines."
Talking behind the wheel is another of his bętes noires. "I'm not clever
enough to drive properly and talk at the same time, regardless of what
speed I'm doing. I don't know about other people. Time and again, you
follow somebody who doesn't see you in the mirror because he's yakking.
"When
eventually he does pull over and you overtake, he's upset. He waves his
fist and flashes his lights as if you're the biggest road hog in the
world. Yet he's not been paying attention for the past couple of miles. We
do have to encourage people to concentrate better.
"Speed in itself doesn't kill. The trouble is too few people have any real
appreciation of how much more attentive they have to be as speed builds
up"
Britain's 70mph limit is now well out of date, Palmer believes. "The
realist fact these days is that cars can cruise happily at 85-90mph on
uncrowded motorways. It's not dangerous at all.
"If I
had my way, the limit would 100mph – high enough for people not to feel
they have to drive up to it all the time. They'd each adopt speeds they
feel comfortable at. There wouldn't I bunching, and there'd be greater
pressure sure to develop good lane discipline.
"Police should put more emphasis on careless driving mistakes than
speeding. We all know that a 1967 Morris Oxford, 11 months after its last
MoT and with a 17-year-old at the wheel, is lethal on a wet motorway at
68mph, but that's under the limit.
"Yet
the guy doing 93 in his new Sierra and harming no-one is the one who is
pulled up, gets three points on his licence and a Ł70 fine."
Belt-up in the back of the car
FROM
HIS vantage point, Palmer is far better qualified than most to judge the
value of seat belts. "I'm a total advocate. I was amazed at the ridiculous
resistance when they were being made compulsory
"They
should be worn by all occupants. When I'm in the back, I'll wear a belt.
If somebody doesn't want to wear a front seat belt, I won't drive them – I
don't want the responsibility.
"You
couldn't drive a racing car without a harness because you'd be flung
around so much by the 3-4g braking and cornering forces.
"In
an accident, you're subjected to 15-30g. If I can't support myself in a
racing car, then no way can anybody do it in a sudden impact where the
forces are five to ten times greater."
Bad
eyesight is a big danger
THE
DRIVING test eyesight check – reading a number plate with 3˝in letters
from a distance of 75ft or the newer smaller ones from 67ft – is a minimum
requirement for safe driving, Palmer believes.
"Motorists with weak vision are a big danger. They say they're OK because
they can see the car ahead. But they're the sort who'll suddenly slow
without warning to 25mph on a busy dual carriageway when they're trying to
read a signpost because they can't do it sufficiently far in advance.
"Anyone who suspects his or her eyesight is not normal should have yearly
checks. Their passengers and other road users deserve that level of
responsibility.
"You
have to learn to look – concentrate and absorb what you see. It's one of
the most fundamental concepts in driving on road or track.
"Planning ahead is far, far too rare.
"Many
drivers follow too closely on motorways because they're looking no further
than the tail of the vehicle just ahead. They should position their cars
more deliberately, a little bit offset with a view through its screen or
down the outside, so they can see what's developing up the road.
"I
can't tell you the number of times something's happened and I've put my
brakes on before the driver in front of me has even reacted. Trying to
anticipate better than the next bloke is a good game to play."
1,790 words
Copyright © by
Anthony Howard
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