Manoeuvre
The video above shows an example of positioning when turning right taken from the Watch, Learn, Drive video series for learners.
Having sorted out what you should be doing with your mirrors and signals, you next consider the manoeuvre itself.
Here 'manoeuvre' means any action that is taken to deal with a hazard. Your manoeuvre might not need a speed and/or position change. In some situations you will simply be using your routine to deal with a potential risk that never materialises. For example you might use the routine when going straight ahead at a priority crossroads without having to change speed or position.
Position
As touched on in the 'signals' advice, other drivers will often take more notice of your 'body language', i.e., the car's position than your signals.
You might have encountered or heard of situations where another driver has said something like: "Didn't you see my signal?" The chances are that the signal was seen, but that the brain took more notice of the car's position.
Speed
When possible make any major adjustment of your speed after you take up your position.
For example, if you were intending to turn right on a road that is wide enough for vehicles to pass on your left side and you slowed down before starting to move into position, you would hold up the following traffic.
Another example would be leaving a motorway – if you reduced your speed before entering the deceleration lane you could cause severe problem to following traffic.
When you are accelerating getting into position first will help to make the car more stable. For example, when overtaking you should move out before hard acceleration, accelerating while steering out can unbalance the car and even cause power skids.
Remember our earlier advice that, although the Highway Code recommends Mirrors - Signal - Manoeuvre, you don't have to restrict yourself to one mirror check. The red traffic light example earlier in this section demonstrates the importance of knowing what's behind at all times.
An example of speed and gear when turning left taken from our learner's video series
Acceleration sense
If you are planning your driving well ahead, your speed will often be controlled by 'acceleration sense' Gaining good acceleration sense will lower your fuel costs, reduce wear and tear on your vehicle, reduce driving stress and give your passengers a more comfortable ride.
Acceleration sense is the ability to predict the amount the road surface, camber, gradient, etc., will affect the way that the car slows down. If you get an opportunity to experience a demonstration drive by an expert driver, perhaps a police class one driver or other advanced driving expert, you might be amazed at how little the brakes are used, despite the brisk speed of the drive – this is acceleration sense in action.
A simple exercise to develop your acceleration sense is to drive on an open country road as if you have no brakes. Be sensible! Don't frighten yourself or other road users and don't take risks... But try to drive as far as possible without touching the brakes while maintaining good progress; do this by 'reading the road' (covered later in this course), planning ahead and releasing the pressure on the accelerator early.
Gear
When your speed is controlled, you can select the best gear for the manoeuvre (this may be first gear if you slow to a stop).
Complete your change of speed before selecting the gear – remember the basic rules of 'gears to go' and of skipping gears where appropriate. The gears should not be used as a form of braking in normal driving situations.
The simple rule is get the speed right first, then select the gear. If you make a mistake, being in the wrong gear will be safer than travelling at the wrong speed, you can easily remedy a gear mistake but a mistake with speed can be fatal.
There may be times when you are braking as you change gear. The 'old' rule used to be strict: finish braking before making your gear change, however, strict rules lead to inflexibility which can be a danger in itself.
As road and traffic conditions become busier and modern gearboxes allow more flexibility with speed and gear selection, 'overlapping' (changing gear whilst braking') is now an accepted practice. Having said that overlapping is 'acceptable' you will probably discover that as your forward planning and acceleration sense improves, you will use the overlap technique less and less!
Look assess decide act
Up to now we have concentrated on observation to the rear. It's obvious that you should be looking to the front and aware of any potential dangers ahead at all times...
However, if it is so obvious to look to the front why do so many accidents occur? Simply because many drivers 'see' but don't perceive.
Looking entails more than just staring out of the windscreen. You need to keep your eyes moving and stay alert.
- Will the cyclist turn?
- Will the other driver see you?
- Will the load slip off the truck?
- Will the child run out?
This kind of active observation is the most important part of becoming a defensive driver and will be covered in more detail later in 'Advancing your driving skills'.
Next: Step 6 - your practise sessions.
Before moving on the the next step revise your knowledge of the hazard routine by reading the Hazard Routine information at DriverActive.
Next: Step 6 - your practise project
