Cornering Video

[Reg Local]

Just posted my introduction to advanced cornering on Youtube:

https://youtu.be/nJgll4p9QJc

Mods, this one isn't monetised and doesn't include any adverts, so I'm pretty sure it's compliant with the PH rules.

[Reg Local]

Mad Chemist said:

Hi Reg,

Great video, as usual.

Just one question for you. You spend a lot of time on the off-side of the road and I noted that many motorbikes use this road. Are you not concerned about bikes blasting past you on the straights and the inherent risk of you moving out and coming into contact with then? In my experience, even though I check mirrors very regularly, modern bikes can accelerate so fast that you may just not see them in time as you move into the off-side lane (very often in your case), and most bikers will not be expecting you to use all the road.

Thanks again,

Mad.

No.

As others have already suggested, I'm carrying out very regular mirror checks so the chances of a bike or other vehicle catching up with me and moving into an overtake without me noticing them first are negligable.

One of the problems with videos like this is that I'm concentrating on specific skills - in this case, cornering - so the commentary has to fit the subject matter. In other words, although I'm carrying out regular mirror checks, scanning into entrances and driveways, identifying specific road signs and a thousand and one other things, I'm mostly only talking about my plans and actions relating to the corners. Because that's what the video is about.

I've plans to do a video specifically about observations and planning which will include mirror checks, so look out for that one later in the year.

[Reg Local]

DocSteve said:

Good video, thanks.

One thing that this reminded me of is the situation where an offside position is taken on the approach to a left hand corner and, similar to one section of your video, there is an oncoming car some distance away but would be able to see the offside approach that you are making. Although I would only do this if this part of the manoeuvre will be over before the two cars are going to pass (as you point out), do you think there is a risk that the oncoming driver will become concerned that you are "out of control" or "driving like a madman on the wrong side of the road" etc, leading to them either doing something unnecessary or just becoming unduly irritated? And if so should we take that into account? In practice I've never come across anyone showing any displeasure from me doing this (it's usually overtaking that does that..) but using the whole road where suitable seems to be something that few people do, especially as there is a fixed mindset in most drivers that one should avoid going on to the "wrong side" of the road unless overtaking and even then only for the shortest time possible!

Steve

It's a consideration, yes. In the video I talk about the advantages of an offside position on approach to left-handers, but these advantages don't outweigh the usual safety considerations - one of which is "how will other drivers react?".

If there is an oncoming vehicle in view in the distance, I'll still take an offside position on approach, but I may taper my entry in to the corner more than I would if the road were clear. By "taper my entry", I mean start moving diagonally across to the nearside so that I'm to the left of the white centre-line before actually turning in to the corner. This approach makes it obvious to the oncoming driver that I'm returning to the nearside, rather than seeing me hanging out on the offside till I get right up to the corner, which may give the wrong impression.

It's a compromise, of course, but for the right reasons and you still get around 80% of the advantages of a normal offside approach and turn-in.

Puzz2 said:

How's the next book coming along, Reg?

Very well thanks - I've been writing quite a bit over the last couple of months and it's probably 80-85% done now. I'm aiming to have it published in the next 4-6 weeks. Here's my first draft of the cover:

[Reg Local]

Well, some sections of the book cover how to reduce the severity of an unavoidable accident...

However, the title may yet change completely before publication...

Edited by Reg Local on Sunday 13th March 17:32

[Reg Local]

Bluetoo said:

is it not frowned upon by both Roadar and (to a lesser extent?) IAM to 'offside' approach bends? if so anyone using video reviews on you tube to get hints and tips on advanced driving as part of their preparation for a test may be mislead, any RoADAR or IAM examiners enlighten?

I've never tested for RoADAR, but I have for the IAM and I'd be perfectly happy if a candidate used the full width of the road where it was safe and appropriate.

Having said that, please bear in mind that these videos are essentially my own take on "advanced" driving. They stick to the basic Roadcraft principles, but they also include my own interpretations, explanations and advice. They can be used as an accompaniment to a course of instruction or observation, but you should always be guided by your own observer, instructor or examiner when it comes to preperation for test day.

[Reg Local]

With hindsight, I think I may have picked the wrong road for an "introduction" to cornering - that particular road has such open views and well sighted corners that there are far more opportunities to take an offside position than on most other British roads.

I'll revisit cornering again at some time in the future with some footage from less well-sighted roads where the furthest you can go offside is a little nip off the centre-line.

Still - it was a nice run out!

[Reg Local]

rainmakerraw said:

(did you get my Xmas email about meeting up again?)

I did - my sincere apologies for not replying.

I'll reply in the next couple of days.

[Reg Local]

The difficulty with making these videos is that you're trying to make the drive fit the commentary, rather than making the commentary fit the drive. In normal commentary driving, you'll drive along and talk abouth the whole range of upcoming hazards, what you're going to do about them and how you're going to negotiate them.

In these videos so far, however, I've been breaking driving down into its constituant parts and looking at individual aspects of driving - braking, system, gear changing and in this case, cornering.

So I have a pre-planned delivery in my head which needs to be delivered in the right order and in context.

You're correct that there was no real advantage of going offside at the 3.35 point, but it was for demonstration purposes only. If I was travelling at very high speed along that road, there would have been some advantage to an offside position there. At the speeds I'm travelling at in the video, I didn't really gain an advantage, but I arrived at the corner just as I was talking about how to position for a left-hand bend, so it seemed appropriate to "do as I do" at that point.

I'm still at the very early learning stage in making these videos and I'm sure I'll get better as time goes on.