Look at other road users and assess their
- Speed
- Behaviour
- Possible intentions.
If you're not observing effectively, you can't assess a traffic situation correctly.
At junctions theres no point in just looking if your view is obstructed, for example, by parked vehicles. You must also move carefully into a position where you can see without moving out into the path of oncoming traffic.
- Look
- Assess and
- Decide before you
- Act
Thats what effective observation is all about.
Observing what's ahead
A skilful driver constantly watches and Interprets what's happening ahead.
Always drive at such a speed that you can stop safely within the distance you can see to be clear.
A good driver will constantly scan the road Ahead and to the side and, by frequent use Of the mirrors, be aware of the situation behind.
Approaching a bend - Ask yourself
- Can i see the full picture?
- How sharp is the bend?
- Am I in the right position?
- Is my speed right?
- What might I meet?
- Could I stop if I had to?
Approaching a junction - Ask yourself
- Have I seen the whole junction?
- Can other drivers see me?
- Am I sure they have seen me?
- Have I got in escape route if they haven't?
Left- hand drive vehicles
If you are driving a left- hand drive vehicle, take special care and make full use of your mirrors.
Zone of vision at a junction
Your zone of vision is what you can see as you look forward and to the side from your vehicle. As you approach a junction, your zone of vision onto another road usually improves.
You may need to get very close before you can look far enough into another road to see if it's safe to proceed. The last few feet are often crucial.
Sometimes parked vehicles restrict your view so much that you need to stop and inch forward for a proper view before you emerge.
Screen pillar obstruction
The windscreen pillars can cause obstructions to your view of the road. You should be aware of this effect, particularly when
- Approaching junctions and bends
- Emerging from junctions
Road users such as motorcyclists, cyclists and pedestrians may be completely obscured by the pillar.
You should be aware that some 4x4s have Very large blind spots - they can obscure groups of pedestrians, a motorcyclists or a small car.
Other road users
it can be difficult to see Some other road users, especially when you are emerging from a junction. Those who are particularly at risk are
-
Pedestrians; they frequently cross at a junction and often find it difficult to judge the speed and course of approaching traffic
-
Cyclists; they can be difficult to see, because they can easily be obscured by trees and other objects, especially if they are riding close to the side of the road. They might be approaching at a higher Speed than you expect
-
Motorcyclists; like cyclists they are often less easy to see than other traffic, but they are likely to be moving much
faster than cyclists.
Always make sure it's safe to proceed.
Never rely solely on a quick glance - give yourself time to take in the whole scene. If another vehicle or a pedestrian is not in your zone of vision, you're not usually in theirs.
Making eye contact with other road users helps you to know whether have seen you.
Observing traffic behind You
You should always know as much as you can about the traffic behind you.
Before you move off, change direction or change speed, you need to know how your action will affect other road users.
You must also be aware of traffic likely to overtake.
Using your mirrors
Using your mirrors regularly and sensibly enables you to keep up to date with what's happening behind, without losing touch with what's going on in front. They must be clean and properly adjusted to give a clear view.
When should you use your mirrors?
Before you signal or make any manoeuvre.
For example, before
- Moving off
- Changing direction
- Turning right or left
- Overtaking
- Changing lanes
- Slowing or stopping
- Opening a car door.
Looking around
you should look around to checking your blind spot before moving off.
A quickly sideways glance
This is Sometimes helpful, for example, to check Your blind spot
However, looking around on the move can be dangerous particularly when driving at high speeds. In the time you take to look around, you lose touch with what's happening in front.
Remember that a vehicle travelling at 70 mph (112 km/h) covers around 30 metres about 100 feet) per second. Even if it only takes half a second to look around, you will still have travelled 15 metres (about 50 feet).
Just looking is not enough!
you must act sensibly on what you see. Take note of the speed, behaviour and possible intentions of traffic behind you.
Another driver's blind spot
Avoid driving in another driver's blind spot for any longer than necessary.
Approaching green traffic lights
Ask yourself
- Low long have they been on green?
-
Are there many vehicles already waiting at either side of the junction? (if there's a queue, the lights are probably about to change.)
- Do i have time to stop?
-
Can the vehicle behind me stop? If its a large goods vehicle, it might need a greater distance in which to pull up.
Don't
Another driver might anticipate the change of signals by accelerating away while the lights are still showing red and amber. A combination of these actions by drivers often results in a collision that could be avoided.
Traffic signals not working
Where traffic signals are not working, treat the situation as you would an unmarked junction and proceed with great care. |
