by TR4ffic » Thu Sep 26, 2013 4:40 pm
Ditto previous posts. I did start writing this yesterday so there has been some overlap…
I think the advice from that Driving Instructor is a bit confusing and counter-productive. This could also be summarised as, ‘He doesn’t know what he’s talking about’…! Hopefully, after reading this, you won’t think the same of me…
Of course, any advice you are given will always be tempered by the type of hazard you come across and its context within your journey. In other words, the all-encompassing, it depends…
As for different types of hazard, your approach/ethos for dealing with static hazards (bends, junctions, etc.) and dynamic hazards (other road users, pedestrians, etc.), things that can and do move about (sometimes unexpectedly), will rightly vary.
I would say, in general, that you don’t want to be getting on the brakes as soon as a hazard hoves into view – I can’t see how this can ‘keep the journey as smooth as possible’ but, to the contrary, will produce a jerky, erratic drive that won’t instil confidence in your passengers of your driving ability.
It is the implementation of ‘the system’ or IPSGA or, as new Roadcraft now seems to prefer, PSGA with I (Information) sitting across all phases (or whatever you’d like to call it) that should set you apart from other road users; the observation, forward planning, anticipation and commitment that will turn almost any hazard into a non-event and turn every drive into what seems like a sunny Sunday afternoon outing into the countryside. No hassle. No fuss…
Once you’ve got your speed right for the road/conditions, observation and forward planning will allow you to see and anticipate hazards ahead and, where conditions allow, ahead of traffic in front of you. Start reacting to those hazards by an adjustment in position and/or a change in speed (that may be just taking your foot off the gas), or just noting a potential hazard and increasing the frequency of checks. It may be a potential hazard that doesn’t materialise but if you noted it – checked around you, checked your position and speed – at least you are prepared should that hazard materialise.
In some cases, you can deal with a hazard by increasing speed – not braking. For example…
Coming up behind a cyclist or parked car on the nearside with a car approaching in the distance; good observation and forward planning, a move out towards white line to improve the view, a quick speed/distance calc, some commitment and you can accelerate past the cyclist/parked car and back safely to the nearside safely with no fuss. If your first instinct was to break you could miss the opportunity and be down at 5mph behind the cyclist or stopped waiting for the approaching car to pass – Not good progress… However, your good observation and planning should be mindful, in a similar situation, of not ‘dragging’ closely following traffic through with you; they may not see the approaching car and will blindly follow you through. So, in that situation, it may be safer to slow/stop. It depends…
Equally, in the same situation, when you decide it’s not safe to proceed having done the speed/distance calc, you can reduce speed earlier (possibly brake if necessary), allow the approaching car to pass, you’ll already have selected the correct gear for the speed and you’re away. Get it right and you’ve hopefully maintained a higher average speed through the hazard.
The long and the short of it is that you’re not going to get a definitive answer on here and, as others having pointed out, you need to get out and practise – preferably on an observed drive. What I can say, with some certainty, is that you don’t want to be braking at the first site of a hazard and, more importantly, there’s no need to.
And lastly, I hope I haven’t given others an opportunity to nit-pick just because I’ve been brave enough to put finger to keyboard. All roads/conditions/circumstances vary – what works in one place today, won’t necessarily work tomorrow. It depends…
Riveting – The most fascinating job you could ever have..!
Nick
IAM Member since 1985