Stopping Distances

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Over the years the most common statement I’ve heard from pupils is:

“I’ve learned all the stopping distances on dry and wet roads just in case I’m asked in the driving test.” To me the correct reason for knowing this information has been lost all because to most of us, these are just another figure. I’m often asked, “How do I know for example what distance 169 metres is?

The reason for knowing this information should not be a means of being able to answer questions correctly in your driving test. These distances are given to keep everyone safe on the road where if the vehicle in front of you stopped suddenly that you would have enough distance between you and it to react and stop safely.

When during a lesson I’m talking to a pupil about stopping distances. I try to put it in terms that we all easily understand and give a visual way of seeing what that distance is.

We have all been stopped in a queue of traffic either as a passenger or the driver and so would know what 3 or 4 cars in a queue would look like. The average car is 4.5 meters in length.  The below guide should help get a handle on what the different stopping distances look like. Click on below charts for larger images.

Road Position

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Road position on the straight - The correct road position is less than one meter from the left hand side of the road (kerb or hard shoulder)

Road Position turning left from a two way street - Keep within a meter from your left both on approach and during your turn. Remember not to swing wide. The same applies when turning left from a one way street. Always indicate to other road users in good time what you’re doing before you do it

Road Position tuning right from a two way street - Do your mirror, signal and blindspot routine. Move over towards the center line on the road staying close to it without crossing it. If there is no center line painted on the road, imagine where the line would be.  When you have assessed a safe time to commit to turning right, drive forward until the front of your vehicle is at the center of the road you are turning into. This is the point to start to turn as it will line you up perfectly to be within a meter of the kerb or road side. Always look into the road you are turning into before you drive forward into the junction. Remember not to over shoot the turn which is known as a swan neck.

Road Position turning right from a one way street - Do your mirror, signal and blindspot routine. Move over towards the right hand side of the road and from this point carry out the same procedure as you would when turning into another road from a two way street.

Road Position in traffic lanes - stay in the center of your lane.

Zebra Crossing

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How to recognise a Zebra Crossing
Black and White striped road markings – flashing amber light on either side of the road. Also as zip zag lines before it. You will also see these zig zag lines on approach to other crossings as well.

How to approach a Zebra Crossing.
On approach to a zebra crossing the flashing amber lights are very noticeable. At this point you must check all mirrors and when you have accessed the following traffic adjust your speed safely for the crossing. Be on the look out for pedestrians that may be making their way towards the zebra crossing to cross. You may not need to stop. Predict what may happen when you reach the crossing. If somebody is about to cross stop your car at least a couple of meters before the first line you come to. This is a broken white line going across the road.

Why give so much room when stopping?
It can be very intimidating when a vehicle has stopped very closely to where you are about to cross.

Do I need to use the handbrake while waiting for someone to cross and if so why?
Yes always use the handbrake while waiting. The reason for this is if you were shunted by the following vehicle your feet would leave the pedals causing you to roll forward injuring somebody.

Can I wave to somebody to cross at the crossing?
No, never wave to pedestrians or other traffic. Why? Because if you were to wave, the oncoming traffic may read your signal to be for them, this would cause great mix up and create a dangerous situation. However you may try to make eye contact with the person about to cross. They are then in no doubt that you have seen them and are stopping to let them cross.

Can I drive on once the pedestrian has crossed passed my vehicle?
No, you must wait until the person has completed the crossing and has both feet on the footpath. Why? The person without thinking may change their mind and go back to the side where they started.

What should I do before proceeding to drive on?
Check mirrors – as to the whereabouts of following traffic. Side mirrors for cyclists and pedestrians. Check that everybody has completed their crossing. Release handbrake and proceed if safe to do so with caution.

Pedestrians

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This BlogSpot is only a brief outline on the topic of Pedestrians. The most important thing to remember is to use defensive driving (expecting the un-expected) at all times.

Eg.
What is that pedestrian going to do? Are they going to step off the path? Will they stay on the path? Will that child fall at the edge of the path? What to do, what to do.
When it comes to other road users there will be lots of different scenarios which may happen.

When approaching nearby pedestrians, slow down to a speed that will allow you to stop your vehicle quickly and safely. This may seem like the logical thing to do, but I’ve found that more often than not drivers don’t adjust their speed in time. Follow the usual routine with mirrors. When you are about to press your footbrake, glance in your rear view mirror to assess what’s happening behind you, Glance in your right and left wing (side) mirrors to check for cyclists coming up on your sides or pedestrians at path edge. This sounds like a lot of checks to do before dealing with the pedestrians up ahead but these can be done at a glance.

Now that you’ve checked your mirrors and adjusted your speed to suit the situation, you need to focus on what the pedestrian is going to do.

NEVER stop to let a pedestrian step off the footpath unless it is a place set for pedestrians to cross, for example, zebra crossings, pedestrian crossings etc.  Why? Because, you are putting them into a potentially dangerous situation, remember the oncoming vehicle may not have seen you stop for the pedestrian and may not even be aware of what’s happening on your side. And so, may hit the pedestrian with their vehicle.

However if the scenario is different and the pedestrian steps off the path and goes to cross in front of you, then of course you must stop and allow them to cross. In this case the pedestrian has put themselves in potential danger.

There is only one type of situation where you may stop to let a pedestrian cross the road in front of you, and this is in a one way street where you are the only vehicle to take into consideration what is happening. Although, you must do checks before you stop for the pedestrian. You must check that the following vehicle has sufficient time to react when you are stopping. Also do the usual observation around your vehicle. So, even in this situation there are dangers which can occur.

There is one other thing to remember, don’t ever beckon the pedestrian, you must let the decision to cross be theirs.

I would recommend at all times leaving the pedestrian on the path where they are safe, and let them judge for themselves when it seems safe to cross.

Corner Reverse - Left, Right, Left?

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Q. Which way do I turn the wheel when doing my corner reverse?
A. Always turn the wheel the same direction as you would going forward.

If you want the vehicle to reverse to the left, turn the wheel to the left, as you would if you were moving forward. Apply the same rule going back to the right.
If you want the vehicle to go back to the right,
There are only three directions for steering needed when doing a corner reverse. Left, Right, Left. When you perfect the manoeuvre, you will only need two steering directions turns. Left then Right. The left hand corner reverse is one of the manoeuvres required for a test.

On approach to the corner that you intend to reverse around at a later stage. Have a look into the road to make sure there are no obstacles and how the corner curves.

·    Park to start your reverse (At least 5m from the corner) and drive straight back        looking around all the time.

·    Turn left when you see the curve of the corner disappears from your rear window and appears in the back passenger window.

·    Just before turning look back to your right down road from where you came.

·    After you have turned the corner keep going back and towards the left until you see the straight kerb at the center point of your rear window.  This is when you turn to the right (which will stop the car going further to the left and it will bring the front of the car in neatly and parallel to the kerb).

·   Then straighten your wheels by turning back to the left to allow the car to drive straight  back to where you will park finishing the manoeuvre. (At least 5m from the corner)

The temptation is there to turn too much; this is called over-steering. Don’t give yourself unnecessary work. Turn gradually and smoothly, see where the car is going before turning more. If the car is turning as you want it to, then leave it be, don’t turn the steering wheel more.

I hope this helps to take the confusion out of which way to turn the wheel. Feedback from my pupils is where I get my tips and this is what I have found helps it click with pupils. It’s what I call an AH! Moment as in AH, I get it now.

EDT - Essential Driver Training programme

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What does the (EDT) stand for?
Essential Driver Training

What is it?
EDT is covers the 12 Accident high risk situations for example

LESSON 1: CAR CONTROLS AND SAFETY CHECKS
LESSON 2: CORRECT POSITIONING
LESSON 3: CHANGING DIRECTION
LESSON 4: PROGRESSION MANAGEMENT
LESSON 5: CORRECT POSITIONING in more complex situations
LESSON 6: ANTICIPATION AND REACTION
LESSON 7: SHARING THE ROAD
LESSON 8: DRIVING SAFELY THROUGH TRAFFIC
LESSON 9: CHANGING DIRECTION in more complex situations
LESSON 10: SPEED MANAGEMENT
LESSON 11: DRIVING CALMLY
LESSON 12: NIGHT DRIVING

Lessons 1 - 8 must be taken first and must be taken in order. Lessons 9 – 12 may be taken in any order after lesson 8 has been completed.
Any person getting their first learner permit with a start date on or after 4th April 2011 must complete a minimum 12 hours of Essential Driver Training, with an RSA registered Approved Driving Instructor (ADI) before they can sit their driving test. The 12 EDT lessons will be spread over a six month period and must be supported by practice and tuition as required.

Will I only need 12 lessons?
The 12 lessons on their own will not be sufficient to become a safe driver as the 12 lessons only cover high risk areas of driving and do not cover the entire Learner driver syllabus.  Applying the feedback of your instructor, getting lots of practice and studying the recommended reading is all vital.

In addition to the mandatory lessons with an ADI the learner driver should also undertake ongoing practice with their Sponsor. This practice is a vital part of the learning process, and the role of the Sponsor is an essential part of the learning to drive process. Their role is to accompany and support the learner driver as they practise and build on the skills they have learned in their lessons with the ADI. The RSA recommends that the learner driver practises the skills learned in each compulsory EDT lesson with their Sponsor for at least three hours before their next lesson.

The insurance industry will be announcing special offers and discounts for learner drivers taking EDT lessons.

Who can be a Sponsor?
Your Sponsor can be a family member, relative or close friend. Or indeed your ADI can be your Sponsor. The best Sponsor would be someone who has a vested interest in your progress. Therefore it is essential that the learner driver chooses a person with whom they feel comfortable and who has had a full clean driver’s licence for a minimum of two years and has lots of driving experience.

What is the role of a Sponsor?
A Sponsor supervises the learner driver’s driving practice between lessons. The Sponsor must be able to give a learner driver time and commitment to help them learn to drive. They must stay calm and patient under pressure and demonstrate good driving behaviour themselves.

On a final note a Logbook will be given to the pupil when they arrive for their first lesson. There is a fee for this and prices may vary with different ADI's.

Progress - To Go OR Not To Go

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Progress is a category in the driving test. It covers nine different areas; moving off, on the straight, overtaking, at cross junctions, at roundabouts, turning right, turning left, changing lanes and at traffic lights.

The reason behind this being part of your test I agree with, but the way people perceive it to be, I don’t agree with. I have found that people, who come to me after having done a driving test before, take unnecessary risks at junctions and roundabouts. When I ask, was that the safest time to move out? I hear over and over again, I got marked in my last test for progress.

Believe me there is not a single tester in the world who wants you to kill yourself on the road. Their job is to ascertain that you are a safe and competent driver making good on the spot judgements which keep both you and other road users safe.
You will only be marked for progress if you have not taken a safe opportunity to join the other traffic. Again, testers do not want you to take unnecessary risks.

So, here is a tip I hope you all find useful when you come to a junction or roundabout ....
Q. How do I judge a safe gap to join other traffic?

A. If the vehicle already on the road you are joining, has to break to make room for you - Don’t Dare

If you can join the other traffic without forcing them to slow down for you, - Don’t Dawdle (but do remember to allow for the fact that you will be slower moving off than the other traffic already in motion).