Spatial Awareness/ Road Position when overtaking vehicles
Discussion
Hello, long time lurker here, newbie member.
Fairly new driver (2 years) looking to improve my knowledge and skills as I have battled a lot of nerves/lack of confidence since passing. Taken pass plus and some advanced lessons, read Reg local's books.
One of my main problems is my spatial awareness (yes i am a female). I am working on it but-
I particularly struggle overtaking larger vehicles on bigger roads.
I tend to drive too far to the right - my right hand side wheels sometimes straddling the white line on the right. I want to stay central, because I know there is room- it just doesn't look it, as I approach the vehicle i am overtaking, it 'feels' like my left side is so close to it - and instinct tells me danger- move right.
Are there any tips to help overcome this? It's stopping me from wanting to drive on the motorway incase I mess up and end up too far over. i ended up driving on the cat's eyes once with an instructor as we were overtaking lorries. it was a little hairy.
I've taken further instruction and i'm still working on it. At slower speeds it's not so bad.
TIA
Fairly new driver (2 years) looking to improve my knowledge and skills as I have battled a lot of nerves/lack of confidence since passing. Taken pass plus and some advanced lessons, read Reg local's books.
One of my main problems is my spatial awareness (yes i am a female). I am working on it but-
I particularly struggle overtaking larger vehicles on bigger roads.
I tend to drive too far to the right - my right hand side wheels sometimes straddling the white line on the right. I want to stay central, because I know there is room- it just doesn't look it, as I approach the vehicle i am overtaking, it 'feels' like my left side is so close to it - and instinct tells me danger- move right.
Are there any tips to help overcome this? It's stopping me from wanting to drive on the motorway incase I mess up and end up too far over. i ended up driving on the cat's eyes once with an instructor as we were overtaking lorries. it was a little hairy.
I've taken further instruction and i'm still working on it. At slower speeds it's not so bad.
TIA
Thanks for the replies.
Reg - Thank you for the detailed answer, very useful and appreciated.
Looking into the distance is a very good point, I do feel more at ease when I do this and 'train' my brain to not focus on the great big vehicle seeping into my vision. I need to do it more though!
Noted about the high winds too - I live near the m62 and this is notorious, with the volume of HGV's using it and the frequent windy conditions, i'm definitely not eager to use this motorway at the best of times!
An advanced driving instructor told me always look at my available space, and try to drive to the middle of it. I found this very useful for driving through tight gaps, but the knack evades me on these bigger roads when i'm driving at speed!
To the pp who said about checking my mirrors to see where my wheels are on the road - I also do this, a couple of quick glances on the run up to passing the vehicle,which helps me gage where I am, but it's as I am about to overtake and am looking 'ahead', that I always seem to twitch my steering wheel over to the right.
I think another issue is learning that it will look closer than it is when I pass the HGV, but it can still be done safely. I need to get used to this, I learned to drive in my early 30's and feel i'm lacking certain natural and learned skills that may have been rectified by now if i'd passed as a youngster.
I would be really interested in booking a defensive driving session with Reg.
My parents live over your way and it it is something i've thought of looking into. Cheers
Reg - Thank you for the detailed answer, very useful and appreciated.
Looking into the distance is a very good point, I do feel more at ease when I do this and 'train' my brain to not focus on the great big vehicle seeping into my vision. I need to do it more though!
Noted about the high winds too - I live near the m62 and this is notorious, with the volume of HGV's using it and the frequent windy conditions, i'm definitely not eager to use this motorway at the best of times!
An advanced driving instructor told me always look at my available space, and try to drive to the middle of it. I found this very useful for driving through tight gaps, but the knack evades me on these bigger roads when i'm driving at speed!
To the pp who said about checking my mirrors to see where my wheels are on the road - I also do this, a couple of quick glances on the run up to passing the vehicle,which helps me gage where I am, but it's as I am about to overtake and am looking 'ahead', that I always seem to twitch my steering wheel over to the right.
I think another issue is learning that it will look closer than it is when I pass the HGV, but it can still be done safely. I need to get used to this, I learned to drive in my early 30's and feel i'm lacking certain natural and learned skills that may have been rectified by now if i'd passed as a youngster.
I would be really interested in booking a defensive driving session with Reg.
My parents live over your way and it it is something i've thought of looking into. Cheers
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