Commentary Driving: Step 2 - What is a Commentary Drive?
Commentary is simply 'thinking out loud'.
All the time that you driving your brain is actively processing information received through the senses. Your eyes, ears, fingertips, the seat of your pants and even your sense of smell will provide the information for your driving decisions.
Approaching the situation shown in the photo above you would be considering the 'Go' sign, the debris on the road surface, the movement of workmen on the right, what is happening behind and so on. A commentary translates this mental process into words. A basic level commentary for this situation might be:
"The sign says go, I'm checking to see if it is safe to proceed..."
Some people ask "Do I have to be an advanced driver before trying to give a commentary?"
Commentary driving is a valuable training tool, it forms part of the process of becoming an advanced driver and lays the 'talking skills' foundation for becoming an instructor but you don't have to be an advanced driver in order to start commentary practise - in fact, basic commentary driving can sometimes be useful when practised by learner drivers.
The ability to give a driving commentary will help you to improve your concentration level and to drive systematically. These are two of the key areas that need development when learning to drive at the advanced standard required for ADI Part-Two.
Quite a lot of drivers find it difficult to talk and drive at the same time. The reasons for this range from the variation in the ways that our brains (as individuals) process information, through to the simple fact that some people are embarrassed about talking out loud as they drive.
When trying commentary driving for the first time some drivers slow down as they struggle for words to describe the ever changing scene ahead. In extreme cases the commentary can cause problems if one aspect of the driving scene is dwelt on for too long.
The ability to give a running commentary, like any other aspect of driving, improves with constant practice. Although not needed for ADI Part-Two learning to give a driving commentary will be well worth the effort and practise.
Next: Keeping the commentary simple