Assembled by David Eastwood
I have selected three articles from past newsletters to share with you. I have not amended them, but even though they are over 20 years old, they are still relevant today. The first is David Wornham, past Chairman and Observer explaining why it is important for advanced drivers to be able to make good progress.
The second is an interesting history of Roadcraft. Our Observers often have to convince Associates of the benefits of adopting the planned system of car control. It is a system that was introduced at the newly established Metropolitan Police Driving School at Hendon, just over 90 years ago. It has been continuously updated, honed and refined, but in essence has stood the test of all that time. And as anyone who has studied Roadcraft knows, the system is a way of approaching hazards that is methodical, safe and leaves nothing to chance. It is the essence of Roadcraft.
The third piece is about zip merging. Zip merging is when two lanes merge into one. Drivers in lane two should not merge left early, but should drive up to the merge point. Vehicles from each lane should then merge in turn at the point where the lanes merge. This has been a recommendation in the Highway Code since 2007. Eighteen years on and most drivers have still not cottoned on!
Do we Need Progress?
Observers occasionally, but regularly, receive queries from Associates on the real need for "progress" when we encourage them to drive up to the speed limit whenever it is safe and appropriate to do so.
It is said that we should be encouraging more economical methods of driving and I agree that, not only we should, but indeed do so. This is best done by gentle acceleration, earlier easing off the accelerator pedal before gentle braking, using flexible gears by not changing up too soon to avoid labouring the engine (which is less apparent in modern cars), anticipating hills and bends and by not using lower gears as a means of slowing the vehicle.
It is worth reminding all that we aim for a standard to pass the Advanced Driving Test and, to become Advanced Drivers, we must prove our competence at higher speeds within the Law and safety. However, we must also remember that true advanced drivers are able to adjust their driving not only to the road, weather and traffic conditions but to suit the needs of loads and passengers.
We may choose, quite properly, to drive gently when chauffeuring, sight-seeing, with senior citizens, car-sick-prone children or fragile goods and when we realise, with increasing age, that our observation, anticipation and reactions are becoming slower. We must not forget, however, to watch for tails of traffic and use of lay-bys or junctions to let them pass. So why the need to prove the ability to "progress" to pass the advanced driving test?
Let's put it this way. We, as human beings, are "designed" to travel no faster than running speed which I guess will vary around 10 mph. However, when driving, we are throwing ourselves along the road in a tin box at speeds of up to 70 mph so we have to learn to adapt our thinking and reactions to cope. Do you remember how it felt to drive following the last time you had a two week holiday without driving? A little quick, I expect, as you became re-accustomed to the faster speed. If your driving is always a sedate 45 mph and you are called upon to take a sick relative urgently to hospital you will naturally wish to drive at a faster speed. If you have no recent experience of driving at 60 to 70 mph it may well be that you become a far greater hazard and your potential life saving journey becomes a life threatening one!
Another point in favour of developing brisk progress is that the skills of reading and driving smoothly through corners need to be enhanced at higher speeds and the results of bad planning are more readily felt at higher speeds so enhancing the learning process but, hopefully, only by discomfort rather than leaving the road! Let's not also forget that safe, smooth and economic progress will add to the enjoyment of driving.
A few words of warning on over-use of progress. Having successfully completed the advanced driving course we have proved our capability of using progress safely, comfortably and legally. Let us all be aware of the danger of overconfidence. Reading the limit point of bends well, driving around them under perfect control and vehicle balance is fine, but if we forget the golden rule of always driving at a speed to be able to stop easily on the correct side of the road in the distance we can see to be clear (or, in the case of single track roads, at half that speed) can lead to a crash and the title of "Former Advanced Driver"! My favourite words to remind me of this is "tree trunks" meaning that, around every bend or brow of a hill there may be a fallen tree blocking the road. The question "can I stop?" often leads to a little less pressure of the "gas" pedal! Don't forget: Keep it on the black stuff, preferably wheels downwards.
David Wornham
