Many many years ago I had a boss who had not long passed his driving test. His first car was a company car. He wasn't a great driver. His car was off the road and they gave him a 2.0L Granada Automatic in the interim. He was moaning about how slow it was away from the lights. I suggested that a simple technique of both feet to the floor - one on throttle the other on brake - followed by an instantaneous release of the brakes would give him a faster getaway.
I had forgotten who I was talking to and neglected to to tell him in simple terms - "Only try this in a straight line on a dry road".
Near the office was a traffic light controlled T junction with a lovely wrought iron security fence alongside the bar of the T (double glazing firm in those days IIRC).
A few days after our conversation, he tried the tactic at this junction. He embedded the poor Granada in the fence backwards. Fortunately he didn't hit anyone else and wasn't hurt.
The problem with common sense is that it is rather uncommon.
