A & C Driving School

Safety Tip of the Week



Always Look well ahead of you

OBSERVATION

It is imperative that you use correct and effective observation for safe driving. This means that you must not only look at what is going on ahead of you or behind you but you must act appropriately on what you see.

For example if you are taking the next left turn, then you must first check your main mirror to access if it is safe for you to put on your indicator.

What would make this action unsafe?

If there was another vehicle intending to overtake you on the left and they are in the process of undercutting you then by putting on your signal you may cause the other motorist to react suddenly.

What should I do?

Once this hazard has been identified then you wait for the other vehicle to pass you by and then you can put on your signal safely.
After you turn on your signal you must then check in your left hand side wing mirror to see if any other vehicles have decided to come up on your inside, then a quick check in your left blind spot will put your mind at ease that there is no one else that can interfere with your safe transition into the correct lane position for turning left.

Observation does not stop here.

You must then prepare to turn into the new road by slowing down to the appropriate speed and looking into the road you are about to enter.

Why do I need to look into the road I am about to enter?

There are a number of hazards that can present themselves inside the new junction, for example:

• Stationary vehicles
• skips
• traffic reversing out of driveways
• ramps

When you look into the road you are about to enter you will be able to identify if a potential hazard is developing and enable you to react to it in an appropriate manner.

You do not want any sudden re-actions, everything must be calm and smooth.

Remember effective observation and mirror checks are to be made, not just checking the mirror because that is the right thing to do.

If you do find that there is a situation that makes you change your speed or direction (this is the definition of a hazard) then you can react appropriately and in good time.