Defensive Driving Clues...
Discussion
Guys,
I tend to think I am a defensive, alert and considerate driver (especially when the fiancee is in the car
), but I do drive quickly when I see an open straight motorway and generally hit 85 to 90 mph when required but I leave at least 50m to the car in front, which does leave me open to the w*nkers who move in front as I close the gap. I also look at least 100m in front of my car.
I slow when the conditions require it, i.e. other cars, rain, fog, snow on motorways; cyclists and horses on the roads always get a wide berth. I always slow to 20mph when I go past a parked bus and in school areas during drop-them-off-and-pick-them-up-times.
I find it hard at dawn and dusk and so wear my spectacles (even though the prescription is very low -0.5 in both eyes) at these times.
I drive in excess of 40k per year, mostly on motorways.
Anyone got any (possibly hard-learnt clues) as to what I can do to make myself a better driver?
I tend to think I am a defensive, alert and considerate driver (especially when the fiancee is in the car
), but I do drive quickly when I see an open straight motorway and generally hit 85 to 90 mph when required but I leave at least 50m to the car in front, which does leave me open to the w*nkers who move in front as I close the gap. I also look at least 100m in front of my car. I slow when the conditions require it, i.e. other cars, rain, fog, snow on motorways; cyclists and horses on the roads always get a wide berth. I always slow to 20mph when I go past a parked bus and in school areas during drop-them-off-and-pick-them-up-times.
I find it hard at dawn and dusk and so wear my spectacles (even though the prescription is very low -0.5 in both eyes) at these times.
I drive in excess of 40k per year, mostly on motorways.
Anyone got any (possibly hard-learnt clues) as to what I can do to make myself a better driver?
Well. I hope your estimates for how far you look ahead are low/wrong - I suspect they are. I suspect you look much further ahead than that and plan using the information too.
I try to scan from bonnet to horizon, horizon to bonnet, left to right, right to left, bonnet to horizon - kind of thing.
If you really want to improve your driving (the first sign of a good driver!) then buy a copy of "Roadcraft", read it and start trying to use the information in it. If you want help doing this you could join the IAM or Rospa's Advanced Drivers Association - they are identical.
Another good book is Paul Ripley's Expert Driving.
For an enthusuast they make great bedtime reading and putting the contents into practice will definitely improve anyone's driving...
Good luck.
I try to scan from bonnet to horizon, horizon to bonnet, left to right, right to left, bonnet to horizon - kind of thing.
If you really want to improve your driving (the first sign of a good driver!) then buy a copy of "Roadcraft", read it and start trying to use the information in it. If you want help doing this you could join the IAM or Rospa's Advanced Drivers Association - they are identical.
Another good book is Paul Ripley's Expert Driving.
For an enthusuast they make great bedtime reading and putting the contents into practice will definitely improve anyone's driving...
Good luck.
The way I ask people to visualise the scanning is like the arm and leg actions when swimming breast stroke.
Push out to the horizon equals scanning up to the horizon,
pulling back on hands out to the sides equals expanding vision out to each side as you scan back to the vehicle,
hands up and into to the body equals instrument checks,
leg kick equals mirrors, interior and both sides.
Then you do it all again and again.
>> Edited by Flat in Fifth on Wednesday 16th February 09:39
Push out to the horizon equals scanning up to the horizon,
pulling back on hands out to the sides equals expanding vision out to each side as you scan back to the vehicle,
hands up and into to the body equals instrument checks,
leg kick equals mirrors, interior and both sides.
Then you do it all again and again.
>> Edited by Flat in Fifth on Wednesday 16th February 09:39
Dwight VanDriver said:
One scan you forgot to mention Don........ rear mirror.
Horizon.....down to foreground.....rear mirror......horizon....
Just as important to be fully aware of the movement andf position of vehicles to the rear as to the front. More so these days as by God they come up fast.
DVD
Quite right DVD. I bounce around the mirrors just as you say....building up a 360 degree 3D "plan" of everything around me as well as I can manage...
Keep track of your 'escape' options. For example, on a motorway keep an eye on spaces and closing speeds on adjacent lanes so you know without having to think about it, whether you have an option to swerve to either side or brake hard. These options will come and go as traffic moves around you so your escape options might switch between 'accelerate and cut in front' to 'brake and pull out behind' as traffic passes you.
If you don't already know what your options are when the crisis happens, you can accidentally cut them off eg by braking when your best option would have been to accelerate into a gap beside you.
Similarly in built up areas, what options do you have to avoid somebody if they pulled out of that side street etc.
If the number of escape options open to you is less than one, then you should be concerned and try to do something about it.
If you don't already know what your options are when the crisis happens, you can accidentally cut them off eg by braking when your best option would have been to accelerate into a gap beside you.
Similarly in built up areas, what options do you have to avoid somebody if they pulled out of that side street etc.
If the number of escape options open to you is less than one, then you should be concerned and try to do something about it.
I tend to find myself "scanning" at different speeds depending on the information available. If there is a lot happening I will flick my eyes around the horizon and back to the car fairly quickly. But if the information level it a lot lower, maybe a deserted motorway I will "build up" and mental picture of what is going on with slower sweeps and add information to it as required. If that makes sense.... 
Roadcraft, Chapter 3
Has all the generic indicators I can think of though there may be localised specifics that would extend some of the points outlined.
Reflections in shop windows and the like together with the movement of people or vehicles in response to as ye unseen traffic are vital in an urban environment IMHO.
On motorways - ALWAYS be aware of what is going on at the furtherest distance you can see. If that is not very far either slow and leave extra space or try to find a position that does allow you see further.
Also be VERY aware of what is happening about 5 to 7 vehicles ahead if you are travelling in a typical motorway snake of vehicles. Don't ignore the rest but the sort of distance that we are talking about is you immediate early warning zone if you also want to influence what you know of what is happening behind you.
Has all the generic indicators I can think of though there may be localised specifics that would extend some of the points outlined.
Reflections in shop windows and the like together with the movement of people or vehicles in response to as ye unseen traffic are vital in an urban environment IMHO.
On motorways - ALWAYS be aware of what is going on at the furtherest distance you can see. If that is not very far either slow and leave extra space or try to find a position that does allow you see further.
Also be VERY aware of what is happening about 5 to 7 vehicles ahead if you are travelling in a typical motorway snake of vehicles. Don't ignore the rest but the sort of distance that we are talking about is you immediate early warning zone if you also want to influence what you know of what is happening behind you.
Don said:
One scan you forgot to mention Don........ rear mirror.
Horizon.....down to foreground.....rear mirror......horizon....
Just as important to be fully aware of the movement andf position of vehicles to the rear as to the front. More so these days as by God they come up fast.
DVD
Quite right DVD. I bounce around the mirrors just as you say....building up a 360 degree 3D "plan" of everything around me as well as I can manage...
I use my mental picture as a good indicator of the concentration level I'm operating at.
If, when I go to change lanes (for example) my mirror/blindspot check revals a car or bike that I wasn;t expecting to be there I know my concentration is wavering. i.e. I've not been keeping my view of the traffic round me up to date.
Iain
iaint said:
Dwight VanDriver said:
One scan you forgot to mention Don........ rear mirror.
Horizon.....down to foreground.....rear mirror......horizon....
Just as important to be fully aware of the movement andf position of vehicles to the rear as to the front. More so these days as by God they come up fast.
DVD
Quite right DVD. I bounce around the mirrors just as you say....building up a 360 degree 3D "plan" of everything around me as well as I can manage...
I use my mental picture as a good indicator of the concentration level I'm operating at.
If, when I go to change lanes (for example) my mirror/blindspot check revals a car or bike that I wasn;t expecting to be there I know my concentration is wavering. i.e. I've not been keeping my view of the traffic round me up to date.
Iain
Good point - I find that. Time to wake up and concentrate...towman said:
Does that make sense?
Yes.
Do you actually speak the words?
Presumably anyone observing this will assume you are singing or using a mobile - or have your invisible 'friend' with you ...
Good idea though.
And to add to the list -
Motorways and graded junctions - I always try (given that other vehicles can make it difficult to see) to see if anything that intends to make good progress has joined a junction I have just passed.
(I always assume that if I have just blended in making reasonable progress, anyone I am approaching will not have seen me!)
Cars are not usually too difficult to spot but bikes can play a blinder and be sitting in your smidsy spot before you know it. Bikers recognising the requirements of self preservation will usually let you know they are there in good time or even better just don't sit where they know you are less likely to see them.
Most bikers are pretty good IMO. So I always leave room for them to filter in slow moving queues and endeavour to do the same, where safe, in regular congested traffic. Moving at a more realistic speed I will make room for them to pass on the right as soon as it is practical to do so.
approaching a junction someone from opposite direction waiting to turn right possibly across the front of you. Watch their hands on the wheel, if they start moving and turning wheel probably about to go. Which way are their front wheels pointed? If already turned to the right, if they get punted up the rear they will be pushed into your path.
If someone emerging from left, as SC advises, watch the eyes, also first sign they are about to move is rotation of driven wheels.
If someone emerging from left, as SC advises, watch the eyes, also first sign they are about to move is rotation of driven wheels.
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