Learnmoore Driving

Drive from Hanely to Campbell Road in Stoke on Trent with Commentry from Iain Moore Grade 6 ADI RoSPA Gold

Commentary is a very useful skill, here is an example of commentary by Iain Moore Grade Six Approved Driving Instructor RoSPA Gold with DIAmond advanced and Fleet.  It is by no means perfect, but demonstates planning ahead and good observational skills, on a short Journey from Leek, Staffordshire into Stoke on Trent.  This journey I achieved 66.8mpg from the 1.9TDI Skoda Fabia.

Positioning should take many factors into consideration

• What is the safest position?
• What position will provide the best view of the road ahead?
• How can my position help other drivers to pass?
• Positioning as a form of signal
• Where could I go if there is a problem (Escape route)

Each of these should be considered across ALL of the road space available including the wrong side of the road if necessary and safe.

Barriers to positioning include

• Understanding road markings – if it is a broken line and it is necessary and safe, use this space
• Understanding road markings – if it is a solid line and it is necessary and safe, only use this space in an emergency, or if you have no other option
• Observation of other traffic, if someone else is there, you cannot use it
• Safety and legal reasons (cutting corners)

Having said all of this, on a straight bit of normal or wide road, a ‘normal driving position’ is where the left wheel is no more than one metre (three foot) from the kerb.  Generally I think one or two foot (a third to two thirds of a metre) is ideal.  This is far enough away not to hit the kerb, but more importantly means that other road users can overtake if necessary.  Driving in the gutters can be dangerous, as they are slippery and also upset the balance of the car, especially at speed.  It also prevents splashing pedestrians in wet conditions.

On a straight narrow road, it may be necessary to drive closer to the kerb, in order to leave room for oncoming vehicles to pass, still driving too close to the edge of the road can cause the vehicle to loose traction, or hitting a kerb can be serious too. 

On bendy roads, even very slightly, where it is safe generally it is better to move towards the outer edge to give a better view around the corner, improving your view means you can see things happen earlier, and makes driving safer.  This is of course unless the position is too extreme (too near the kerb, or on the wrong side of the road) unnecessarily.  In this situation a ‘mid’ position will provide a good view (if not the best), and still be a good distance from any hazards also. 

Changing position very quickly is very unsafe, a smooth positioning taken early will

• Avoid a skid (quick steering can cause a skid)
• Inform other road users of your intentions
• Give an early view of the road ahead
• Make a smooth drive for your passengers
• Reduce wear and tear on the vehicle

 When parking a position either by the side of the road about 1-3 centimetres (about one inch) is ideal, allowing others to come by.  Ideally parked facing the correct way for safety reasons.  In a car park, particular attention to position is important to help others.  

Positioning is very much to do with controlling the space around the car, the more space you have, the better.  This gives you space to move or react into safely.  When you have no space in front or behind, this is how crashes happen.  Controlling your speed and space takes all of the factors into account and places the vehicle is a safe position to help others and to prevent collisions.

History was made in the fleet driving sector in law on the 17th February 2011; Cotswold Geotechnical Holdings were fined £385,000 following a fatal incident after the company failed to take precautionary measures to prevent health and safety risks.

This sets an important precedent for fleet managers, which should make any business who employs drivers who driver for work consider their driver risks very carefully.  As with any health and safety risks, identifying risks, judging how much risk there is, and taking reasonable measures to reduce this. 

Monitoring and assessing risk within driving can be done in a number of ways, but in my opinion the most affective is to observe drivers in everyday tasks.  Driving is one of the most risky job done on a daily basis, but is often not perceived as risky at all.  This can make the job of coaching and improvement more exciting and rewarding. 

There are many advantages to driver training, not only can this reduce risk, but can also save fuel and wear and tear on vehicles.  Simply checking that the driver has a driving licence and how many points they have is no where near enough assessment of the risks involved.  Most drivers find they learn a great deal and improve their driving greatly from even the shortest on-road or classroom training session.

 Learnmoore Fleet Driver Training and Assesments

Asking how well you use the accelerator may seem a strange thing to question but in my opinion most drivers use approximately 50% more accelerator than necessary on most drives.  How much, or how little do you actually need?  Try on the next drive to use just 10% less and see how much difference it makes.  With fuel prices on the way up, this has to help the wallet.

Timing a junction in order to reach it just at the point you can go without stopping all together is skill, but to do this without any more brake than is necessary requires practice.  However surely this is the most efficient way to drive?

Thinking of the benefits makes this a ‘no-brainer’ really, you will use less fuel, spend more time moving, rather than waiting to go.  There is likely to be less wear and tear on the car, and it is in my opinion much safer.

Of course speeding is such a thorny subject for most, but what exactly are are you gaining from going a few miles an hour faster?  In fact most of the time it makes very little difference to overall journey times, but it does mean you can pull up in a shorter distance if you drive at a slower speed.

Just try using just a little less accelerator on the next drive, and see if it makes much difference, I’m pretty sure you will see plenty of benefits, over very few disadvantages, try the challenge!

As an advanced driver, I try and drive to the best of my ability at all times, and enjoy the art of driving, but I am far from perfect.  However for most the act of driving is simply a means to an end, a way from A to B, from work to home, or taking the kids to school.

When I started my driver training in Wales, it was at this point I realised how the monotonous driving tasks had become subconscience.  Of course, this is something I have done myself, and is an easy mind set to fall into.  However the subconscious act is done with very little thought, in a routine or habit without reflection or assessment.  An example of this, was the realisation that I have driven past a huge house, with a very restricted visibility driveway on a daily basis for months without noticing that it even existed, just down to poor observation. 

Driving may not seem it, in the cosy heated cabin but is probably the most risky activity we do on a daily basis.  To demonstrate this think of a road or route you do on a regular basis.  Now answer the following questions about fixed hazards.

• How many signs are there on the route, and can you name them all?
• How many lane changes do you do on the route?
• What sort of junctions are you dealing with – give way, stop, traffic lights, unmarked?
• What are the speed limits on each part of the route?
• Which part of the route is the most risky?

If you can easily answer all of these questions you are paying reasonable attention to the hazards you view day in, day out, but what about the variable hazards?

• How many changes has there been to the road markings, layout and road signs on this route in the last month?
• Did you see more pedestrians, cyclists. motorcyclists or horses last time you did he route than the time before?
• How many times did you have to stop on your route?
• When was the last time you saw any emergency services on the route?

Thinking carefully about the observations and scenarios you come across, the hazards your are dealing with are different every time.  Very often the brain will ignore things you see as a pattern completely as you feel that these are well known.  In fact these items can change and you are very unlikely to notice them, unless you look out for them. 

Next time you do this drive, just see how much you can see, and judge if this task has improved your own driving and observational skills?

At Learnmoore Driver Training, using commentary to develop driver’s awareness has always been part of training for provisional license holders and full license holders alike.

Commentary is speaking aloud which could include:

• What your can see, hear, smell taste and feel
• An explanation of the hazard. how they develop and road features
• How you react to it, using a system e.g. MS PSLg (Mirror, Signal Position, Speed, Look & Gear) or IPSGA (Information Position Speed Gear Acceleration)
• Use of controls
• Decision thought process, planning, antipation and timing of what may happen next
• Time of day, year, road and traffic conditions

Commentary helps with

• Concentration
• Decision making
• Explanation of Speed
• Helping a trainer/coach to understand what the driver is looking at, and their choices. 

The power of commentary significantly improves most drivers concentration and helps them focus on what is required at that particular time. So many drivers do not realise how much information needs to be taken in, considered and communicated to other road users.

Commentary in Newcastle under Lyme, Staffordshire commenting on all observations and thought processes.

Many drivers are not sure how to react to blue lights from emergency vehicles, understanding their intentions and where they can get past is key to been safe.  Many drivers do not know the emergency vehicle is even there, this is one of many reasons for regular mirror checks.  The use of the car stereo can also mask the sound of sirens, making their job far more difficult. 

This clip, whist on the motorway clearly shows the lack of mirrors, or awareness which is very in-responible and could be dangerous.

Similar situation on this clip, where the White Fiesta is not aware, in fact does not have a centre mirror fitted to the car?

Using a routine like Mirror-Signal- Manouevre is usual for the emergency vehcile behind you, know they are there using your Mirror (general observations, and listening for their sirens), letting them know you have seen them with signal e.g. Left signal, signal or your position.   Being predictable makes the emergency vehicles job much easier. 

Importantly emergency vehicles need to have space and time to get past you, try to anticipate where they are trying to go, and make thier job easier.  If you pull up where there is no space for them to get past, this makes their life harder.  Consider your speed, if you slow down unnecssarily where they have no-where to come by that does not help them.  It is not always necessary to come to a complete stop in order to make it easier for them to pass, simply positioning in a better place and slowing down can make their job easier. 

When stationary, but especially when at traffic lights, leaving around a car length in front gives you space to move out of the way, often without crossing the solid stop line, which techincally would still be illegal.

This clip in Stoke on Trent Staffordshire shows how emergency vechicles would deal with town centre situations.

The highway code says

“219  Emergency and Incident Support vehicles. You should look and listen for ambulances, fire engines, police, doctors or other emergency vehicles using flashing blue, red or green lights and sirens or flashing headlights, or Highways Agency Traffic Officer and Incident Support vehicles using flashing amber lights. When one approaches do not panic. Consider the route of such a vehicle and take appropriate action to let it pass, while complying with all traffic signs. If necessary, pull to the side of the road and stop, but try to avoid stopping before the brow of a hill, a bend or narrow section of road. Do not endanger yourself, other road users or pedestrians and avoid mounting the kerb. Do not brake harshly on approach to a junction or roundabout, as a following vehicle may not have the same view as you.”

All of the following is sound advise in the fog.

The highway code says

Fog
234
Before entering fog check your mirrors then slow down. If the word ‘Fog’ is shown on a roadside signal but the road is clear, be prepared for a bank of fog or drifting patchy fog ahead. Even if it seems to be clearing, you can suddenly find yourself in thick fog.

235
When driving in fog you should

•use your lights as required (see Rule 226)
•keep a safe distance behind the vehicle in front. Rear lights can give a false sense of security
•be able to pull up well within the distance you can see clearly. This is particularly important on motorways and dual carriageways, as vehicles are travelling faster
•use your windscreen wipers and demisters
•beware of other drivers not using headlights
•not accelerate to get away from a vehicle which is too close behind you
•check your mirrors before you slow down. Then use your brakes so that your brake lights warn drivers behind you that you are slowing down
•stop in the correct position at a junction with limited visibility and listen for traffic. When you are sure it is safe to emerge, do so positively and do not hesitate in a position that puts you directly in the path of approaching vehicles
236
You MUST NOT use front or rear fog lights unless visibility is seriously reduced (see Rule 226) as they dazzle other road users and can obscure your brake lights. You MUST switch them off when visibility improves.  [Law RVLR regs 25 & 27]

229
Before you set off

•you MUST be able to see, so clear all snow and ice from all your windows
•you MUST ensure that lights are clean and number plates are clearly visible and legible
•make sure the mirrors are clear and the windows are demisted thoroughly

226
You MUST use headlights when visibility is seriously reduced, generally when you cannot see for more than 100 metres (328 feet). You may also use front or rear fog lights but you MUST switch them off when visibility improves (see Rule 236).
[Law RVLR regs 25 & 27]

251
Parking in fog. It is especially dangerous to park on the road in fog. If it is unavoidable, leave your parking lights or sidelights on.

114
You MUST NOT

•use any lights in a way which would dazzle or cause discomfort to other road users, including pedestrians, cyclists and horse riders
•use front or rear fog lights unless visibility is seriously reduced. You MUST switch them off when visibility improves to avoid dazzling other road users (see Rule 226)

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