Advanced
Driving is all about anticipation and forward planning. Reading
the road ahead and getting clues will help you anticipate and plan
much more effectively. Apart from the official road signs there
are many clues on your road, which many may see but don’t
note and react to. This is where advanced driving techniques are
of such great benefit.
Reading
clues on the road and the surrounding areas is not rocket science!
All it requires is a little observation. Giving a running commentary
will often amaze you; you’ll realise how observant you are
as a driver. Advanced driver training will help develop these skills.
Below
are some scenarios that can all be seen as clues whilst driving.
Parking
Stops. Always check if there are any vehicles parked.
Try to gauge their actions. Are they about to move off? Are
they just stopping?
Mud
on the Road. It’s always worthwhile checking
for mud on the road. This will give you an indication there
may be a slow moving tractor ahead. It’s also essential
to take note of this on corners as mud can cause a loss of
traction.
Entrances.
It’s a good idea to try to get a good look into any
entrances onto the road for people, traffic, and animals.
Notice in this picture the motorist has the additional task
of dealing with a corner so good planning is paramount.
Micro
Climates. This is no geography lesson but understanding
that in winter, parts of the road that are out of direct sunlight
can still be icy, many hours after the rest of the road has
become ice-free. More on Micro climates here.
Watch
those power lines! To assist with your planning along
an unfamiliar stretch of road it is sometimes worth seeing
what route power lines take as often they will follow the
side of the road, helping you to identify if the road ahead
is straight or bends. Please never totally rely on this as
roadside power lines are sometimes diverted across fields!
Corners.
If you are unsure about how tight a corner is try to notice
the speed at which the cars are coming towards you from the
corner. If they are creeping round the chances are it’s
quite sharp. This is only one out of many factors you really
should consider when negotiating a corner!
This list is not exhaustive but highlights some of the things you
should consider when you are driving. Next time you are out in the
car why not test yourself and see what clues you can pick up on?
Discover
more advanced driving tips on Google
Forward
Planning is essential
- so is keeping within speed limits. However, a speed limit
is a limit - not a target. Be prepared to drive not only
within the speed limit, but should conditions dictate drive well
below them.! Often on rural roads the speed limit is far higher
than can be safely reached, even in good driving conditions.
