Better driving - The Golden Rule Of Speed

It seems to me that one of the biggest areas of disagreement and confusion between drivers is what constitutes a good use of speed.

Let's take it as a given that EVERYONE WANTS TO ARRIVE AT THEIR DESTINATION SAFELY and then look at the various attitudes towards use of speed that we see commonly on the roads.

Firstly, you've got those drivers who value shorter journeys and arrival times in their definition of good use of speed. Those drivers want to arrive on time and often describe themselves as driving "safe but fast"

At the other end of the scale, there is the "slow drivers are good drivers" types, who need little prompting to remind you that there is a difference between "a limit" and a "target" and appear NOT bothered about arriving on time

There's even a group, that I like to refer to as the "forty fivers", who seem to swap between the other two ends of the scale, driving at 45mph on the rural roads and dual carriageways because "speed kills" but then continue at 45mph through 30mph speed limited areas

From a professional point of view, what is good use of speed?

Well, for me it's very simple to put into words in one sentence...

You should drive as fast as you can as long as you don't exceed the posted speed limit and can always stop CALMLY within the distance of road you can see to be clear

If you think about it, it's an almost perfect rule of driving and as such, it is sometimes referred to as "The Golden Rule Of Speed" - if you can stop calmly within the space you can see if clear in front of you, then you shouldn't, in theory, ever be able to crash!

I say "in theory" because obviously things do change as we drive down the road and there is always the potential for something to happen that you genuinely didn't expect. I don't like to go down the "expect the unexpected" route here, because by definition, if you expect something then it isn't unexpected, but...

No matter how good you think you are, nobody is perfect and we will ALL be caught by surprise from time to time!

Give the Golden Rule Of Speed some thought and you can see how well it will fit into your driving. There are three component parts:

"Drive as fast as you can" - helps you to meet your objectives of getting there quickly

"As long as you don't exceed the posted speed limit" - keeps you on the right side of the law

"Can always stop calmly within the distance you can see to be clear" - this is the bit that really does the trick! It means that you can always stop easily, having taken into account weather and road surface conditions along with local issues such as parked cars or overgrown hedges. This bit of the Golden Rule means that you should never have to do an emergency stop, but of course, on the assumption that none of us are perfect, we are well placed to deal with those moments of surprise.

The Golden Rule Of Speed...

"Drive as fast as you can, as long as you don't exceed the posted speed limit for the road and can always stop calmly within the distance you can see to be clear"

Nick Heath Driver Training is a driver training business located in Rode Heath, South Cheshire providing training for drivers with different levels of experience. We conduct advanced driving (and taxi driving) examinations on behalf of Diamond Advanced Motorists, are Fleet registered, ORDIT registered (to provide DVSA approved standards of Driving Instructor Training) and of course, we teach learner drivers to drive as well! Franchise opportunities are also available for fully qualified ADI's. More details are available on our website www.nickheathdrivertraining.org.uk

Climate change & what drivers can do to help...

Earlier this week, protesters from the group Extinction Rebellion again held events in several major cities in the UK to raise awareness of the environmental problems we face.

As drivers, we contribute significantly to the pollution problem. There are around 46 million vehicles on the roads and if every one of those drivers took a few simple steps to reduce their pollutant output, it'd add up to make a considerable difference.

The thing here is to think about percentages. Every one of the following steps is a little step in the right direction that will add up over time to reduce your overall contribution to the climate problem. It's a bit like saving your points at the supermarket where a few pence every time adds up to something better.

A lot of these ideas require you to look far ahead and plan, give them some thought...

Consider not using the car at all

I know that public transport often leaves a lot to be desired and if I'm honest, I'd never consider taking the bus anywhere (unless I'm in London) because it's so pathetically inadequate - for me, the option is between driving and walking when it comes to things like going to the shop to get lottery tickets or picking the kids up from school

Get in it... and drive!

Remember the percentages - if the engine is running, then you're producing pollutants and using fuel. For every 10 minutes that the engine is idling without going anywhere, you use enough fuel to drive 1 mile. Does the engine need to run whilst you program your sat nav?

Keep the engine speed down

But not too much because a struggling, overly oppressed engine is just as bad and can affect your ability to respond safely in an emergency! Diesel powered cars are probably most fuel efficient between 1,500 and 2,000 rpm and Petrol powered cars are best between 2,000 and 2,500rpm

Use engine braking

For those that aren't sure, engine braking is what we call it when you lift off the gas pedal and the car slows down (before you press the brake) and modern cars use ZERO fuel when you're slowing down using engine braking so if you use engine braking for 200 meters as you approach a queue of traffic, then that's 200 meters of FREE motoring and ZERO emissions

Slow to Flow

Due to a law of physics called inertia, your car takes a lot of energy to start moving, so a lot of fuel can be saved (and pollutant gas production avoided) by simply timing your arrival at lights and other queues to avoid stopping. Even if you're still moving at 2mph at the point where the traffic lights change to green for you, then you're still avoiding inertia (which is an eco friendly driver's enemy) and making use of another law of physics, momentum (which is an eco-friendly driver's friend)

Nick Heath Driver Training is a multi-car driver training business located in Alsager, South Cheshire and serving the surrounding areas. We offer a range of driver training options from the absolute beginners through to helping experienced drivers improve themselves through to helping advanced drivers and professional drivers. We are ORDIT registered

0800 820 20 38

SIX tips to improve your chances of passing your driving test - observations

If you look at the top reasons for failing, then you quickly see that a pattern emerges where people are simply not constantly looking around them and keeping track of either information provided to them or the activity of other road users.

Failing your driving test for not observing effectively is not only the main cause of failing your test, it's also the main root cause of car crashes - here are some tips...

• BASICS! Look as far ahead as you can and keep your eyes moving. Imagine that your eyes are like your headlights on a dark country lane at night - if they're on main beam, you notice so much more!!

• MIRRORS - There are THREE mirrors on the car, so make full use of them, particularly when changing direction, but also before signalling or altering your speed

• MANOEUVRES - Before reversing, make sure you have a good look around you, including the blindspots and keep looking throughout the manoeuvre in case something changes - don't just rely on the mirrors, you'll notice benefits from periphery vision if you look through the windows too! 

• MOVING OFF SAFELY - When moving off from the kerb, make sure you pay particular attention to the blindspots and mirrors - nobody should have to change their driving because you've pulled off from the kerb in front of them

• JUNCTIONS - When dealing with junctions, make sure you look carefully in all directions, particularly where other vehicles have priority over you. If you can't see very well, or if the picture is a complicated one, slow down and give yourself plenty of time. Consider the peep and creep technique, especially if you're emerging into another road

• POSITION FOR NORMAL DRIVING, USE OF SPEED AND RESPONSE TO TRAFFIC LIGHTS, ROAD SIGNS OR OTHER ROAD USERS - Road signs, road markings and signals are all intended to communicate information to you. Actively look for these items of information and use them to make sure you are always aware of the speed limits, what lanes you should be selecting and whether anyone's actions may affect you at all. Remember that traffic lights at junctions will change if they've been on the same colour for a while, pedestrians have total right of way on Zebra crossings and that when pedestrians press the button on a signal controlled crossing, the traffic lights may change immediately

Nick Heath Driver Training is a multi-car driver training business based in Alsager, South Cheshire and providing a full range of driver training services for drivers at all levels from learner through to advanced and professional drivers. We are ORDIT registered and can help experienced driving instructors with their preparations for a standards check as well as training new driving instructors from scratch. If you'd like more information about how we might be able to help you, please visit our website or give us a call on 0800 820 20 38

Driving Instructor Training - Tips to pass your standards check

That day when the letter drops through the door to tell you that you are due to present yourself for a standards check is a day that prompts feelings of dread for many ADI's. Nobody likes to be tested, checked over or assessed and even where people generally do a great job, the ultimate consequences of failing to meet the required standard on a standards check can include having your name removed from the register of Approved Driving Instructors and loss of your career and business... it's no wonder that people suffer sleepless nights over it and the DVSA have elevated this worry even further in recent years by starting to call the Examiners conducting these checks "Enforcement Officers"

Here are my tips to help you do well on the day...

1. REMEMBER THAT OUR JOB IS TO DEVELOP DRIVER SKILL

This one will seem really obvious to those reading this who are simply interested in reading blogs about driving and who aren't Driving Instructors, but we often forget that our intended "end product" is a driver who has the skills to deal with different road and traffic conditions as they go about their daily lives.

Therefore, when you're planning the lesson that you will give in front of the examiner, think about the day to day skills these drivers need like "effective observation", "anticipation" or "safe use of speed" rather than "pedestrian crossings", "roundabouts" or "traffic lights" - most learner drivers SHOULD have learnt a lot about these subjects as they've gone through life anyway, from the early days of Peppa Pig telling them how the cross a road, to being walked to school by their parents, to looking out of the window as they are passengers in cars. In a discussion about how these features on the road all work, most people would be able to tell you most of it without having passed a driving test.

2. PLAN THE ROUTE, BUT DON'T OVER PLAN THE ROUTE

If your lesson is skill based, rather than subject based, then all you really need is a block local to the test centre (just because that's where you meet your examiner) where you can discuss the skill you're working on and practice it. As long as there are opportunities for development of your pupil, then it doesn't matter exactly what is on the route or how busy the area is. It's good to have various hazards present on the route and it's good to mix left and right turns in equal measure. It's also good to have plenty of places to stop and chat with the pupil about things that have been going well (or not so well) and it's also good to always be reasonably close to the test centre so you can get back in good time to be debriefed by your examiner.

Over the years I've seen many people fall into the trap of planning the route to death and worrying more about that than they do about pupil development. As examples, I know instructors who have had problems "teaching" pedestrian crossings because "nobody wanted to cross the road" and others that have driven for miles and miles on dual carriageways without leaving or rejoining the carriageway and with nowhere to pull over and chat about how the lesson was going. These are examples of instructors "offering their pupils the chance to gain experience" rather than "offering their pupils the chance to develop those good driving skills that will last long term"

3. INVOLVE YOUR PUPIL IN DISCUSSIONS ABOUT DRIVING

This will be another one that will make those who aren't doing the job day in, day out raise an eyebrow, but it's a regular mistake that Driving Instructors make!

The trouble is that WE were all taught to drive using a very instructor lead, experience based approach where our Driving Instructors basically thew us in at the deep end and applied loads of direct instruction and intervention with the dual controls. Being as we were taught that way, that's what we all think Driving Instructors should do these days too! Applying this approach on a standards check is likely to result in low scores in almost all competencies (unless the pupil has asked you to do it that way).

Research shows that an approach in which the pupil feels as though they have an active part to play in the learning process is more effective. It CAN take longer to get people to the standard needed to pass a driving test, but the longer term results are clear - we are better drivers if we're are taught this way!

Dozens of coaching courses that have been developed since the change from "check test" to "standards check" can also confuse people - we're not there to talk the pupil through life's rough patches like a therapist would and it IS okay to lead the discussion... just involve the pupil in it and allow them to have some input!

4. LISTEN

This is one of those "if I had a quid for every time" moments and it's something that affects a huge number of driving lessons. It's very common to chat with other instructors who have stories such as "she's on her 3rd go at this now and she keeps failing for the bay park exercise. I've told her that she can do it okay but she's just not very confident" In other words, this pupil is repeatedly feeling as though she's fluking the bay park with her instructor and has tried to speak up, but they haven't listened to her and have just constantly reassured her that her fears are unfounded... and now she's on her 3rd test!

The basic problem is that we have certain EXPECTATIONS of our learners and make ASSUMPTIONS about them. As a result, if we ask a question to which we expect the pupil to know the answer, then we are in danger of failing to not really listen and not really pick up on them giving us an incorrect answer. In the example above where the young lady isn't happy with her parking but has gone for test anyway, the Instructor might be assuming that she is just a bit nervous about taking the test. This failure to actually listen affects us all, from PDI's through to experienced ADI's, Advanced Driver "Observers" and Driving Instructor Trainers - we all assume things about our clients; we all like the sound of our own voice too much and we all ignore our ears!

The answer is to try to listen actively. Keep your mind open and recognise that is it possible that the pupil knows more about the subject than you do (which is of particular importance if you're asking them about what THEY think about something). It's also worth remembering that some answers aren't verbal... you can tell a lot about where somebody's looking for example by looking at their eye movement or how they're feeling by looking at their body language.

5. REMAIN NON-JUDGEMENTAL

Car crashes involve normal people who are generally trying their best to get from A to B without drama and we, as Driving Instructors, should take every opportunity to educate our pupils by talking to them in that spirit. We know that drivers are more likely to do things like speeding for example when faced with pressures of life (perhaps work schedules or a family emergency) and therefore we are all at risk of driving dangerously if we find ourselves in a situation in which our "buttons are pressed" - this isn't an excuse for the behaviour, just a summary so that we understand it.

If you point out and dismiss bad driving you see on the road as being the actions of "idiots" then you're creating a belief that there are two types of driver on the roads - "ourselves and everyone we know" (who are great drivers) and "all the other idiots" (who cause all the crashes). The result is that your pupil's attitude is likely to meander away from taking personal responsibility for their own safety and towards one in which their actions are always perfect and the blame for any problems lies with the "other idiot" - try to keep any discussion about other road users open minded and focused on the reasons why that driver might be behaving like that... or don't mention it at all!

Nick Heath Driver Training is an ORDIT registered, multi car driver training business operating in Alsager, South Cheshire and covering the surrounding areas. We help people at all levels to improve their driving through Learner Driving Lessons, Experienced Driver Training, Advanced Driver Training, Fleet Driver Training and Driving Instructor Training. For more details, please visit our website or give us a call on 0800 820 20 38

Daily vehicle checks

Anyone who is either a professional or an occupational driver will have been trained in the importance of completing regular checks of the vehicle to ensure that it is roadworthy and prepared for the journey you are about to undertake.

Failing to ensure that your vehicle is in a good, roadworthy condition can lead to all sorts of issues with the police, ranging from a fixed penalty notice (fines and points) through to having your vehicle seized.

If you're driving in relation to your work, you might think that your employer is responsible for the condition of the vehicle, but this is wrong - in the eyes of the law, it is the driver who decides to drive a defective vehicle. If you have been on a Fleet Driver's course through work, part of this will include a discussion with the trainer about the importance of checking the vehicle over, and a record that you have attended this course is proof to the authorities that employees that drive for business have been educated in the need for vehicle checks.

So what are they?

Well, an easy way to think about vehicle checks is to use the FLOWERY system... and you should consider carrying out your pre-vehicle checks every time you drive a new car, or regularly enough to ensure that there can't be any problems (for example, check the oil or tyre pressures once a week unless you have reason for concern, but check fuel, lights and tyre condition daily)

Fuel

Have you got enough fuel for the journey you're intending to make, including a bit extra to allow for unexpected circumstances?

Lights

Are all the lights on the car working correctly?

Are the lenses clear so people can see them?

Are the lenses free from damage?

Oil

Has the engine got enough oil?

Water

Is there sufficient engine coolant in the header tank?

Is there plenty of window washer fluid?

Electrical

Are there any warning lights on the dashboard?

Red lights mean that the vehicle can't be driven at all, but amber lights are generally advisory. All warning lights should be investigated as soon as possible and repairs carried out

Rubber

Are the tyres correctly inflated and free of damage?

Do the wipers clear the screen properly?

Yourself

This one is often overlooked!

Are you in a fit state to drive?

Have you had any medication that might affect your driving at all?

Are you mentally alert and able to focus on driving to the best of your ability?

Nick Heath Driver Training is a multi car driver training business operating is South Cheshire and North Staffordshire. We have male and female instructors and are ORDIT and Fleet registered.

More details can be found on our website www.nickheathdrivertraining.org.uk

Why can't everyone just get along?

This week, I've been reading about a campaign that has been carried out recently by Auto Trader. The campaign was started after 1 in 3 road users said that they'd been involved in a road rage incident over the last year with 1 in 5 of them saying that the experience left them feeling physically unsafe.

These figures are for ALL road user groups bunched together, but a large proportion of these incidents involve cyclists and pedestrians - vulnerable road users who should definitely NOT be feeling unsafe when they use the roads!

The campaign's main aim was to promote harmony between the different road user groups and involved handing out various hi-vis vests and things to vulnerable road users in an attempt to make them more visible on the roads and to promote the campaign website which, rather than just raising awareness of Auto Trader (a comment made by many on line, and it's probably fair to say that any involvement in any campaign by any commercial business is likely to bring in a marketing advantage to some extent), contained helpful tips on reducing hostility on their website for ALL ROAD USER GROUPS.

Whilst well meaning, the campaign has attracted a mixed response with many cyclists and pedestrians (pedestrian versus motorised vehicle collisions are on an upward trend at the moment) claiming that it seemed to put the onus on THEM to keep themselves safe... I fail  to see what the complaint is in that really? Why wouldn't you take responsibility for your own safety?

Those of you that are driving instructors will know full well about the regular Standards Check process that we have to go through, but for those who aren't in the trade, let me just quickly explain. A Standards Check takes place every 4 years as a condition of an Approved Driving Instructor's entry onto the register of approved driving instructors and is conducted by a specially trained DVSA Driving Examiner. They observe a lesson and mark the quality of the work against a standard by looking for evidence that certain questions were answered... one of those questions is "Did the trainer maintain an appropriate non-discriminatory manner throughout the session?"

That question was included to try and encourage trainers to make sure that the problems and challenges faced by all road users, particularly those with a certain vulnerability such as cyclists and pedestrians, but also those with control problems like HGV's and buses are discussed in the car with learner drivers in a manner which involves mutual respect, co-operation and equal accountability for road safety. Road safety is everyone's responsibility and collisions always involve normal people like you and me rather than the "idiots" everyone likes to blame it on. (On that subject, isn't it funny how you don't know anyone who drives like an idiot, and don't drive like one yourself, but you hear that a lot of drivers see lots idiots when they're out on the road? Odd isn't it... it's like some people think that everyone they know is okay, but if they don't know them, then they're an idiot - it's a nice character trait to have that is isn't it!)

So as a driving instructor, I will talk with my drivers about cyclists not using cycle lanes sometimes because of the poor condition of the road, or their vulnerability to skidding on manhole covers and that sort of thing, and I'll include in this plenty of talk about mirrors and knowing what's happening around you... keeping a cyclist (and it could be any road user really, I've just chosen them because I need to choose somebody) safe starts firmly with seeing them!

So why the resistance to making yourself more visible?

I'm noticing more and more cyclists these days wearing black gear whilst out on the roads. I also notice them taking up a very aggressive position on the road, potentially blocking an entire lane and making themselves hard to overtake. Now the theory here is to you are forced to wait for the correct gap in oncoming traffic before overtaking them which in turn makes you much more likely to leave the right amount of space (which should be around 2mtrs and would usually put you into the path of oncoming traffic anyway, so it makes no real difference to a good driver's overtaking manoeuvre) by not offering an opportunity to squeeze past, but surely making yourself into an inconvenience is one of the reasons for the increase in road rage events we're seeing and if you're dressed in black too, then you're going to get hit by an inattentive driver (not that that's okay, but it's going to happen if you put yourself in harms way). The advice to ride in that position is actively encouraged by the national cycling groups, that's why you're seeing so much of it (I assume the black clothing is a fashion thing - I haven't seen anyone advising cyclists to wear black).

Yet... when somebody suggests they wear a hi-vis vest to make yourself more visible... cyclists attack that as not being their responsibility - I don't understand that!

On the social media feeds recently, I asked the question "how tolerant are you of cyclists?" and the results surprised me - 70-80% of the respondents came back saying that they felt they were very tolerant of cyclists. I must admit, I expected that there'd be a definite "we don't like them" answer, but it wasn't, people generally accepted that the bikes were free to share the road with them.

So where does it come from? Cycling is a great way of getting fit and seeing some countryside. So is walking. The Highway Code contains rules for both on staying safe when using the roads and that involves wearing bright or reflective clothing - why not? I know you get bad tempered people riding bikes, driving cars, driving trucks and walking... but why so much disharmony? Don't we all just want to use the roads in peace?

HGV's have got massive blind spots - WHY not stay out of them?
Cyclists might swerve around grids so they don't fall off - WHY not leave loads of space as you pass?
Horses might be scared as you approach them on the road - WHY not slow down for 20 seconds?
Pedestrians could fall into the road - WHY not go round corners at speeds that allow you to stop easily?
ANYONE can make a mistake - WHY not make it less likely to happen?

I'm fully behind Auto Trader's campaign and it's a shame I've read some of the comments I've read this week... perhaps what people really need to do is start seeing more good in things and try to just get along with each other a bit more.

Nick Heath Driver Training is a multi-car driver training company based in and around Alsager in South Cheshire / Stoke On Trent. We provide driver training for all levels of driver from the complete novice who holds a provisional licence, to those training to become Approved Driving Instructors or those looking to complete an advanced driving qualification through Diamond Advanced Motorists (including the taxi driving assessment) More details can be found on our website www.nickheathdrivertraining.org.uk

Pedestrian Crossings vs Traffic Lights

One aspect of driving that I see people getting more and more confused over is spotting the difference between traffic lights and pedestrian crossings. This confusion is causing people to stop when they shouldn't which leads to congestion and encourage people to cross the road when they shouldn't, which increases the danger to the pedestrians.

The key thing to look out for is the presence of ZIG ZAG road markings. These are only used at pedestrian crossings and they disallow overtaking and prevent people from parking or pulling up at the side of the road in the area covered by the zig zags. These rules at pedestrian crossings create safer crossing conditions for the pedestrians.

At traffic light controlled junctions of course, the aim is to control the flow and interaction of traffic approaching on different roads. In it's most basic form, traffic in one direction gets green lights whilst others are held back at red lights and after 20 seconds or so, that situation is reversed and it reverses again after another 20 seconds or so. At those junctions with a strong pedestrian presence, this cycle is actually three way, so we have 2 cycles of green lights followed by 1 cycle for the pedestrians to cross which usually means that ALL traffic lights are on red. In other words, the pedestrians are being treated as a normal road user that requires an opportunity to negotiate the junction. To help reduce congestion, the pedestrian phase is usually skipped unless a pedestrian has pressed the crossing button to indicate that they are waiting to cross the road.

The reason for ALL of the lights changing to red when the pedestrians cross is that if any of them were on green whilst the pedestrians were crossing the road, you'd have a situation where drivers turning right and exiting a junction might come across pedestrians walking in the road. If that happens, then obviously the drivers need to stop to create a safe situation for the pedestrians to get out of the way but it would never be engineered to be like that due to increased risk to the pedestrians AND the congestion it would cause.

So if you see no Zig Zag road markings, then you are approaching traffic lights and not a pedestrian crossing. At all traffic lights, remember that the red one means stop JUST BEFORE THE STOP LINE. Stop lines are on the approach to junctions or crossings and not on the exits.

Whilst we're on the subject... people learning to drive often don't realise that there are different types of pedestrian crossing:

• Zebra Crossings have yellow flashing lights on poles that are often painted black and white and the crossing area itself is painted black and white. Pedestrians are encouraged to stop and waiting for traffic to stop for them at these crossings, but it is important for vehicular traffic to recognise that the pedestrians CAN just walk out if they like without looking and any traffic that hits them will be automatically to blame - the pedestrians have a RIGHT OF WAY to cross the road and are protected by law.
• Pelican Crossings are traffic light controlled. You press the button and wait for the green man signal (which comes on after the red lights have stopped traffic) before crossing the road. They can be identified by looking at the button (which has the word WAIT on it) and at the cones for the red and green men signals (which are across the road on these types of crossings, facing the pedestrians). The thing to remember about these crossings is that there is a flashing amber light after the red one that replaces the red and amber "get ready to go" signal. As with the flashing yellow light at the Zebra crossing above, you can drive over this crossing at this time as long as everyone has finished crossing the road.
• Puffin Crossings are the head of a family of crossings. They are very much like pelicans, but they use sensing technology to be more intelligent. If you press the button and then cross before the lights change, the button will cancel. If you are slow to cross the road, then they will keep the lights on red until you are finished. These crossings have the red and green men signals for the pedestrians on their buttons and there is no flashing amber phase of the lights.
• Toucan crossings are puffins at which cyclists can ride over.
• Equestrian Crossings are puffins that can be used by horse riders.

Nick Heath Driver Training is a driver training company based in Alsager, South Cheshire. We offer a variety of driver training courses from the complete novice, through to those looking to improve their skills in preparation for an advanced driving test, those undergoing training for work related driving and those considering a career as an Approved Driving Instructor. More details can be gained by visiting our website www.nickheathdrivertraining.org.uk

Driving test myths

It's very nearly 15 years since I became a Driving Instructor now and throughout those years, the number of changes I've seen is steadily increasing. The driving test is constantly evolving to reflect changes in the way we use the roads and changes in our attitudes towards the way we use the roads.

One thing that doesn't change though, are some of the myths that surround it - let's take a look at three of the most common ones.


"You must hold your hands at quarter to two and shuffle the wheel for your driving test"

This one is possibly the mother of all myths!

I remember being told this when I passed my learner level driving test back in 1991, but when I think back, I don't actually think I heard it from my Driving Instructor! I heard it from everyone else including my friends (who were all fresh out of school like me and couldn't drive, like me, so what qualifications did they have to go around saying that really?) and my Mum and Dad (who had limited experience on the subject, having taken just three driving tests between them 20 years before and were routinely crossing their arms when steering in front of me without apparently suffering any bad consequences). I'm pretty sure that my actual Driving Instructor, who was very experienced and would have overseen many driving tests over the years (I estimate that I'm approaching 1000 tests at the time of writing), didn't actually tell me not to cross my arms and cite it as a reason for failing a test.

The situation now, as it was when I took my ADI qualifying exams in 2005, is that Driving Examiners don't mind how you steer the car or hold the wheel as long as you demonstrate good control of your car - if it mounts the pavement as you negotiate a bend, then you'll fail for steering, regardless of how you held the steering wheel.

Having said that, the quarter to two method of holding the wheel remains the best grip as it is balanced and comfortable and feeding the wheel through the hands remains the advised way of steering as it leaves the space in front of the driver clear for the airbag to deploy if necessary and leaves it easy to adjust the car's line as it goes around a corner... but it's not mandatory and this one's a myth for certain!


"Driving Examiners have to pass a certain percentage of people each week to control how many people are on the roads"

Now I know that a few of my fellow Driving Instructors go around fuelling this one which is a shame because it isn't true.

As I passed my driving test on the first attempt back in 1991, I have no idea of what my own Instructor would have said if I'd failed. I am aware that quite a few of my friends came back saying it at the time though - "it wasn't my fault, I didn't do anything wrong, we could only get a test on a Friday and the examiner had obviously passed his quota for the week and had to fail me"

It just doesn't work like that - there'd be in court if a driving test candidate could prove that they were always compliant with the Highway Code or that a certain coloured car that was "forced to take action" didn't exist and of course, we ALL have dashcams now, so that evidence is not only there, it's recorded!

The really big problem with this though is the "it wasn't my fault" bit - if you fail your driving test, it is ALWAYS your fault! To think otherwise is to leave yourself open to the prospect of failing multiple attempts at the test and following on from that, the possibility of having regular crashes (which are also your fault, no matter what the Police and insurance company says - you should protect yourself from the bad driving of others and failing to do so is just as bad as them making a mistake). People who don't take personal responsibility for their own actions and blame everyone else for anything that goes wrong on the roads are a danger to us all!

The driving test has always been about reading the road. Look around you, take in the information presented to you (including information you gain by watching what other road users are doing to try and anticipate their actions without assuming that they're always going to do the worst possible thing - the majority of people are just trying to get somewhere and aren't stupid). If you do this and do it well you will very likely pass your driving test, it's that simple.


"You have to set your mirrors up to one side a bit so that the examiner can see you check them"

The mirrors are fitted to the car so you can see what's happening behind and to the sides of your vehicle and you should never alter your current speed or road position without checking the mirrors first and considering how your move will affect traffic around you. In addition to that, you must always know what's going on back there, so check regularly enough to remain updated of any changes in the traffic behind and to the sides.

Driving Examiners, like Driving Instructors, spend a lot of time in training observing what is happening to their sides. They only have the one mirror fitted to their side of the windscreen, so they develop very good peripheral vision. As much as it looks like they're only watching the road, both Examiners and Instructors are actually constantly looking at you to make sure that you do what you're being asked to or are supposed to do - they don't miss mirror checks!

Now having said that, I do believe that there is sometimes a fair and honest response from a learner driver that they felt that HAD checked the mirrors before acting and that they hadn't been seen and were subsequently unfairly "accused" of not checking. What I believe is happening here is that the learner doesn't understand what it is they're actually looking for in the mirrors, leaving them thinking that they just need "a quick glance every few seconds" in order to be seen to be using the mirrors correctly, when in fact, we're looking not only at the movement of the eyes, but the operation of the brain too - in other words, does the driver appear to be acting safely and sensibly on what they see in the mirrors and could they change their intended action if something unusual was happening around them.

My advice on the use of mirrors is to search out hazards in the road that have the potential to cause you to change your current position or speed and use these as a prompt to check your mirrors. When you do so, look AT the mirror, so you can accurately take in what it shows you (the head movement helps an observer, but isn't essential) and check at least two mirrors as part of each check - start with the centre one, and add a side one as appropriate to increase the field of rearward vision or to check alongside the car before it moves that way. The final bit of advice is to do all this early enough to be able to change your plan if you see something in the mirrors that requires you to do so - if there is a cyclist alongside you before you turn left for example, you can't turn left with them there and it's not good seeing them after you've set the turn in motion, it's too late.

So if you're preparing for your driving test at the moment, there's hopefully some tips in there to try and keep you focused on the kind of mindset you're trying to develop - these myths and comments people make are not helpful to you in trying to achieve your goal. National pass rates are around 47% and remain pretty much constant regardless of what the changes are made to the actual content of the test and I'm sure that many more people would be successful if they simply changed their attitude towards what they're doing - the driving test is actually a test of your ability to drive, and if you believe you'll only learn after passing it (which is another myth we could talk about) they you'll never pass, because you'll never demonstrate an ability to drive... unless of course you're just lucky on the day, and you don't really want a result based on that either really do you?

Nick Heath Driver Training is a multi-car driving school operating in the areas of Alsager, Crewe, Sandbach, Congleton, Biddulph and Audley and all of the surrounding areas. We offer a one stop shop for driver training from the complete novice learners who are looking to obtain a driving licence for the first time, through refresher training and pass plus to advanced driving qualifications and Driving Instructor training. If you think we can help you, click on our website or call 0800 820 20 38 for more details

Is your vehicle ready for winter?

As I write, there are headlines in the newspapers warning us of the usual winter from hell. Apparently, "the beast from the east 2" is about to sweep over our country bring with it, what can only be described as entirely normal weather for the time of the year. We should expect cold weather, a cutting chill in the wind and frosty mornings for a bit, but let's be honest, whilst what's forecast is quite usual for a winters day in January so headlines like that shouldn't cause unnecessary concern.

Taking all that into account, it's a shame really that every year, people do fall foul of the weather when it flexes its muscles a bit. You could end up with fixed penalty notice, having a crash or without your car if you don't take a few simple precautions before driving.

1. CHECK YOUR TYRES - they should be inflated to the correct level stated in your cars handbook, they should be free of damage and the tread depth should be at least 1.6mm. General advice on tread depth is to plan for new rptyres when the tread is less than 3mm as that's when stopping distances start to increase with tyre wear.
2. CHECK YOUR LIGHTS - all of the lights should work and the lenses should be clear. It's more about people seeing you than you seeing where up you are going. There is no problem at all with driving with light on at all times (dipped headlights, not sidelights) as motorcyclists do. You will never know if a driver emerging from a junction only saw you because your lights were on.
3. CHECK YOUR FLUIDS - the oil, coolant and brake fluid should all be checked regularly of course, but in bad weather, you can use your washer fluid incredibly quickly! It might need topping up daily in the worst of conditions. Detergents are available from garages and the concentration should be kept strong in winter to prevent freezing. Being unable to clear your windows due to an empty or frozen washer system can attract an on the spot fine.
4. CLEAR YOUR WINDOWS - one of the most basic ways to cause a crash is to be unable to see where you're going and it can quite rightly attract an on the spot fine if you drive without clearing your windows of frosts or snow properly. The best way to do it is to use a scraper and to run the engine for a few minutes to warm it up. DO NOT leave the vehicle unattended whilst it warms up - it could get stolen and its illegal to leave a car with its engine running for that reason. De-icey fluids are available but notoriously ineffective and pouring warm water over the windows can cause them to crack. When you're driving, make good use of the ventilation / heating system and heated windows to keep them clear.
5. CLEAR SNOW OFF YOUR CAR BEFORE YOU DRIVE - snow and ice flying off the roof of your car can hit following traffic and cause the drivers to lose control, and as a result, it's illegal to drive away without completely clearing your vehicle of snow. You can get proper brushes for this from places like Halfords or you can just use your arm if you're robust enough!

If you do these things, you should be able to cope with most of our "bad" weather easily enough. The only other bit of advice I'd give is to make sure you have warm clothing on, that your phone is charged and don't be afraid to make alternative arrangements for your journey if the police issue an "only drive is completely necessary" warning through local news outlets and social media. As much as people moan, an inch of snow doesn't happen very often and therefore IS a big deal in this country and the vast majority of us could rearrange our day to stay off the roads if we wanted to.

www.nickheathdrivertraining.org.uk

Nick Heath Driver Training provides a range of driver training services to people of all levels of experience in the town of Alsager and its surrounding area. We offer learner driving lessons, pass plus, driver improvement / refresher courses, advanced driver training, advanced driver testing and driving instructor training / franchising.

For more information abouthowwecan help you, call 

0800 820 20 38