The thinking so far

Based on the video shown on the previous page:

If I start by taking a learner around the route twice, we will drive for approximately five minutes and cover 2x crossroads on each circuit. I would only introduce the staggered crossroad the third time around.

We would go around the block twice in the first five minutes and encounter 4x crossroads.

If we then go around the block twice more, this time with the learner being aware of the staggered crossroads, we will encounter a further 6x crossroads. 

With the repetitions, we have now practised 10x crossroads in ten minutes.

The reason for not mentioning the staggered crossroad the first time around is simply to build the learner up gradually and allow time for discussion. 

Any more than 10x crossroads in the first ten minutes would probably lead to 'overload'. The one-minute average spacing allows time for discussion on the move between the crossroads.

As the learner's skill increases, you can introduce more content – one way to do this is to move to a different, more demanding route; sometimes, you can achieve this by doing the same route in the opposite direction. 

But I'm going to show you how, using the same route for another 4x circuits, the learner could get a massive 28x more opportunities to practice.

Crossroad skills

Watch the video on the next page to see how the same route can offer 'intensive' crossroad practise.

The video refers to two other places where 'crossroad skills' are needed. These are not crossroads, however, they are junctions where the road layout and parked vehicles require the same planning, speed and observation as at an actual crossroad.

Next: Same route - but (even) more opportunities...