Junctions are an example of a fixed hazard in that their location and layout are fixed and don't change - the decision is basically "is it safe?" and isn't generally affected too badly by "what might happen here that I don't expect"
Today, we're looking at the subject of "vulnerable road users" and if I'm honest, that means "all other road users" because we can all make mistakes and when we do so, we'd all hope that those around us act in a way that keeps things safe rather than making things worse.
To illustrate this point, I'd like to share a story from 1996. I was waiting at red traffic lights behind a Porsche as the lights changed to green. The Porsche moved off, but I saw a Landrover approaching from the right that clearly wasn't going to stop at the lights and stayed still.
The Landrover hit the Porsche with a lot of force, throwing it up onto a traffic light and I got out of my car and dialed 999 as I went to see if the Porsche driver was okay.
Whilst I was handling the 999 call, an elderly man came over and asked if I was on the phone to the Police. He asked me to pass a message on to them that "I didn't mean to do it, I just didn't see the light"
Like I said, we can all make mistakes. Modern culture means we all like to imagine that we're experts in the legalities of it all and tear this situation apart trying to answer the question of "should he be driving?", but it all boils down to a simple mistake and I'd seen it coming, whilst the Porsche driver hadn't - with the result that I was safe, and the Porsche driver was injured.
Those on 2 wheels, might change position in the road to avoid grids, cats eyes and manhole covers, those on 4 legs might find their ride spooking away from hedges and those with 4 wheels might be taken ill at the wheel or react when they see a bee trapped in the cabin with them... the possibilities are endless really, but many of the most common acts of other road users can be predicted.
For example, that Landrover SHOULD have been slowing down a long time before he got to the stop line, so the fact that he didn't stop WASN'T A SURPRISE AND NEITHER WAS IT UNEXPECTED - all it needed was for the Porsche driver to look to his right as he prepared to move and he'd have seen it.
Likewise, if you can see that you've got to pass a horse, all you've got to do is look ahead and see the oncoming traffic and you avoid getting forced to move back in too early by simply holding back until it's safer.
And if you're on a motorway and you see an HGV coming down the sliproad, it's easy to predict whether he needs the same bit of road as you or not if you look... if he does, adjust your speed and position in good time so that he can get on safely without you having to take any avoiding action.
It's very important that you comment on what is actually happening based on factual evidence rather than anything else. Assuming that people are going to walk into the road in spite of the fact that they're standing at the kerb looking carefully and clearly waiting for traffic to clear is not what this is about - that's treating everyone as though they are stupid and what's we're looking for is to identify those situations that are going wrong.
I'm not going to give any specific examples of what I'd say here, because it's all so unique to the situation, but I want you now to add commentary about other road users to what you're doing already.
So by now, your commentary includes:
- Signs and markings
- Road surface conditions
- Junctions
- Other road users
Your now at a stage where you'll find that your commentary is filling your driving. This is good. Every single one of these things you're talking about is a hazard and every single one of them could develop into a crash on the right day and by commentary driving, and going through that process of seeing the hazard (ALERT) acknowledging the risk (INFORM) and describing how to reduce the risk (MANAGE) you're stopping yourself from getting involved.
Tomorrow, we'll discuss the weather in our final blog on this subject.
Nick Heath Driver Training is located in Rode Heath on the Staffordshire / Cheshire border and provides driving training services to those looking to either improve their driving or learn from scratch. In addition to media work, we conduct Taxi Driver Assessments for local authorities and offer Advanced Driver Training and Testing, Motorway Training and Fuel Efficient Driver Training alongside refresher courses and learner driving lessons. We are ORDIT registered to provide Driving Instructor Training and are listed on the DVSA's register of Fleet Trainers so we can help you with your business needs.
More details are available on our website www.nickheathdrivertraining.org.uk
