Commentary driving project
Start your practise with a 30/40 minute drive around your local area on roads that you know well. As you drive looking out for road signs and markings and say out loud the name or meaning of each one as you spot it.
Example
This simple basic 'call out the signs' commentary example might be done over a stretch of road half a mile long taking 40 seconds to drive.
"Roundabout sign... Hazard warning lines in the centre of the road... Left turn only sign..... Chevrons at the roundabout... Give way lines... Direction sign for Buxton... National speed limit sign... Double white lines ahead..."
And so on...
You simply say what you see.
After the initial exercise practice this simple commentary exercise for ten minutes every time you go out in your car during the next week. When drivers do this they often find that they spot local signs or markings that they haven't seen before... Even in the road where they live! This shows that they are becoming more observant.
Every time you see a sign or marking consider its relevance and position. How helpful is it to you as a driver?
Ask yourself...
Ask yourself questions about:
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What?
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When?
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Where?
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How?
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Why?
For example:
"Why is the sign there?"
"What action do I need to take and how will it affect others?"
"When do I have to start acting upon the sign?"
"Where is the hazard indicated by the sign?"
"How will I respond?"
That's all there is for this project, easy, but very valuable and very important - remember that the ability to talk about what you are seeing ahead is an essential skill for an instructor.
If you find that this exercise is easy, continue to practise anyway...
Next: Watch the video demonstration of this exercise in Step3.