Speed Awareness
Its perhaps no surprise that speed is one of the biggest causes of car accidents amongst not only all groups of drivers, but especially those that have just passed their test.
And not a lot of people know that if a new driver accrues six points on their licence, say for speeding, within two years of passing their test, they can be banned. Furthermore, they have to take their driving test again.
New drivers are a vulnerable group, mainly because passing the test is only a small part of what’s needed to stay out of trouble on the roads. Most drivers draw subconsciously on years of experience, so new drivers are at a disadvantage from the start.
But they can be helped.
Helping New Drivers Appreciate Speed, Quickly
The first rule, stick to the speed limits. It might sound glib, but if you don’t speed, you don’t get caught and with the number of speed traps around, if you do speed, you will get caught quite quickly.
The main difficulty is learning how to recognise the changes in speeds on certain roads. Nowadays road can have a bewildering number of different speeds and a great deal of attention is needed to make sure you respond quickly enough.
How to Help New Drivers Figure Out Speed, Quickly
Look out for the speed limit signs, as all public roads should have them, but that’s in the ideal world. They might be inadvertently hidden, or just difficult to see, so if you’re stuck, there is a general rule.
Look at the street lights. If there are no signs, but street lights, then generally the speed limit is 30mph. If there are no street lights, then the national speed limit applies: 60mph on a single carriageway, and 70mph on a dual-carriageway.
But be especially careful on urban dual-carriageways, as many of these are now 50 mph, if not 40mph and catch out the unsuspecting driver.
If you happen to be towing a trailer, then different speeds apply (see the latest edition of the Highway Code), but it’s generally 10mph below each limit. So, on a motorway, pulling a trailer means no faster than 60 mph and one other thing, you can’t use the outside over-taking lane; it’s illegal and if you do, expect to be stopped by a police car.
Does Speeding Cause Accidents?
Yes. Despite what drivers might think, speed does cause accidents. Speed cameras, although hated by motorists who see them as a tax raising exercise, have brought down accident numbers wherever they are positioned.
Driving at a Safe Speed
Firstly, don’t exceed the speed limits. That’s a given. Do not think that on a fine day, with great visibility, and few cars around, you can speed along a motorway. Unfortunately, no matter how hard you try to justify it, individual drivers cannot for themselves decide the speed limit. So just because you think its safe to speed, doesn’t mean it’s right.
Likewise, how many drivers have you seen who drive at 40 mph along a country road – when they could drive at 60 mph – then enter a built-up area with say a 30 mph and continue along at 40 mph, as though their car was set at that speed.
And how about the drivers who stick religiously to the 30 mph speed limit, even though it might be foggy, or icy and they should be driving slower.
The point is, that a good driver understands and sticks to the speed limits, but drives within those limits according to the road conditions at the time.
Many people end up involved in road traffic accidents due to the lack of care by other road users. In numerous cases, these accidents can be avoided by learning some essential defensive driving techniques.
There are a variety of ways of incorporating defensive driving into your every day driving life and they will help keep you safe on the road.
Broadly speaking, defensive driving is a type of driving that helps steer you away from problems on the road. By combining the techniques of defensive driving, you can save not only fuel and your tyres, but most importantly, the lives of others.
What Makes a Good Driver
When most people consider what makes a good driver, the obvious descriptions are: cautious, considerate, alert, skilled and courteous. These all have their own merit in what makes someone a good driver, but defensive driving is much more than that.
Defensive driving requires that you take a psychological approach to driving and educate yourself on not only your own driving ‘triggers’, but those of others.
For many people who end up involved in car accidents, simple emotions and distractions can be the root cause. If you’re feeling aggressive, stressed, competitive, lazy or fatigued, your judgments can be drastically altered.
Your reaction time to potential hazards may be inferior also, as well as your emotions heightening you to potentially act in a way you normally wouldn’t.
All of these emotional triggers can be dangerous for a driver and that’s why it’s important to recognise them and deal with them.
Defensive driving must take into account not only what can be seen, but also what can’t. Look for the hazards even before they arise and be ready to deal with them correctly.
Defensive Driving Courses in the UK
There are a variety of defensive driving courses available throughout the UK. Some are as short as a few hours, whilst others are spread out over a variety of sessions and skill levels. Most importantly, they should all teach you advanced forward planning in your driving and a positive attitude towards driving overall.
Many defensive driving courses will feature one-on-one instruction where you will drive a car in a controlled manner, teaching how to utilise the techniques in your everyday driving.
Generally, you will begin with some kind of assessment drive in which your instructor will point out any inadequacies in your driving style.
From there, you will be given a demonstration drive followed by a full instructional drive. At the end of the course you will be given a completion record, often in the form of an advanced driving certificate
You can then continue on to further defensive driving courses if you wish. The price range for such courses is wide and varied, so try looking in your local directory for driving schools who offer defensive driving locally.
The Goal of Defensive Driving
The most important goal when completing a defensive driving course is to feel more confident, calm and in control behind the wheel. They will teach you tricks and tips to prevent you from speeding and hopefully from avoiding a car accident. If you can act rationally on the road and always stay aware of others, you are on your way to becoming a good defensive driving expert.