Advanced driving tips

[derekpara]

Would any of you care to offer an advanced/defensive driving tip ?

ie: give three indicator flashes before beginning a motorway lane change (ensuring it is safe to begin the manoevre). Similtaneous signal/move is too common.

[Loosehead]

Get BMW and then the rules of the road do not apply, you can do what you like and all the other drivers will get out of the way!

[CT]

Think the same applies to 4x4's as well.

[Grunty]

A simultaneous signal is a step up from the one that says "I have just pulled out in front of you".

[Jay70]

Audi A3 drivers are the new Volvo and BMW drivers combined. Every time I see a really stupid manoeuvre it seems to be by an A3 driver.

[Loosehead]

Right I'm selling the beamer and getting an A3

[darkstar]

Depends. Roadcraft the Police Handbook says you should warn a vehicle you are about to overtake by flashing Headlights well before.and use indicators Driving Manual says roughly the same ( flashing headlights only as warning ) But we tend to use the horn and flashing headlights for the wrong reasons

[qapmoc]

On a slightly serious note, one rule which I try to stick to and especially get into new motorcycle riders is - never move into/through a piece of road that you can't actually see. I have seen so many people do this error such as pull out round a bus and hit something they had not seen coming. If you can't see then wait until you can.

[dilligaf]

If you stay in lane three all the time you wont have to worry about indicating. Watch the ones behind and see how they indicate when they have to move to lane two to pass on your nearside. Let them wear their bulbs out, not you. Also they will be more likely to suffer from high blood pressure.

[spaced]

Sod the BMW, get the Skoda Octavia VRS or the Honda Accord 2.2 sport or executive.

[sddsddean]

As a truck driver, can someone please tell me which rule in the Highway code states " All car drivers must make the most dangerous manouveur possible to overtake the lorry in front at all costs. This manouveur should only be carried out if your next left turn is within 200 yards forcing you to slam the brakes on immediately after making the manouveur".

I await the caustic comments about truck drivers!!!

[derekpara]

I'm enjoying the humour - and the criticism, but what about a few more safety/driving tips. Then perhaps we go around upsetting truckers ! Sorry, sddsddean. I know exactly what you mean, and seen it done to you blokes many times-and to me too when I was driving HGVs. I think everyone should spend time driving trucks and riding bikes ( pedal & motor).

I'm not a perfect driver, but am always trying to improve, even after 40 years, and I think that's the secret. Make every journey a learning and improvement exercise.

[Grunty]

There are as many opinions as there are drivers, which you can see from this site over the months. My favourite is - Drive at a speed so that you can stop in the distance you can see to be clear.

[Big Nose]

Aren't you forgetting the Merc drivers. They seem to think that the indicators are to let the drivers behind them know that they are slowing down. Personally I find brake lights quite effective.

[wallis1007]

Hate to say this but indicating before a manouvre does not make it safe to do so. I know what you mean though. One piece of defensive driving I was taught is, when stopping behind stationary traffic, pull up approx one car length behind the car in front until another car has stopped behind you. Apparantly this is in case the car behind hits you, then hopefully you wont shunt the car in front as well. P.S. CT I drive a 4x4 and it aint me who owns the road .Unlike those numbnut boy racers in their ponced up corsa's and such. Mine is a real one,not for taking the kids to school or parking on kerbs.

[derekpara]

The technique you describe wallis1007 , and it's a good one, is known as 'Tyres and Tarmac'. You pull up behind stationary vehicles at a distance so that you can see their tyres and some of the road. This protects you against ' roll back', and allows you to pull around them if they break down or there is an emergency. (Army technique)

[Alltorque]

Tip of the week : Join your local IAM group and they'll teach you to drive properly, for free. Pass the test and you can getter cheaper insurance; and possibly a longer life for you and your car.

[Toureman]

Hi,

Grunty has picked out the best advice on advanced driving,

NEVER DRIVE AT SUCH A SPEED AS YOU CANNOT PULL UP WELL WITHIN THE DISTANCE YOU CAN SEE TO BE CLEAR!

If every driver followed this advice accident rates would plummet! it has always been a favourite of mine.

[derekpara]

Thanks, Toureman. Yes, that is good advice, but perhaps I have got this wrong. What you and Grunty are suggesting would apply if an obstruction, say on a country lane, was stationary. If it was moving, surely you would have to be able to stop in HALF the distance, to allow the oncoming vehicle to do the same ? Correct me if I'm wrong.

I've been a passenger in a car on country lanes many times times and thought that if someone comes round that bend at the same speed we'll never be able to stop in time. Interesting discussion.

[DaveWoolhouse]

Derekpara, to answer your question in relation to stopping in the distance you can see to be clear. Advanced drivers (myself included) will always make allowances for other drivers on the road. In a country lane situation, we would only tavel at an appropriate speed, making allowance for the fact that the vehicle heading towards us may be speeding, may/may not be licensed (and therefore may/may not be trained), etc. Also, we would take into account road conditions, poor weather/bright sunlight etc. In response to indicating when changing lanes, If we ALL used the MIRROR-MIRROR-SIGNAL-MANOEUVRE technique, then we would never signal if there wasn't a place for us to change position to. Signalling without a place to move to is as bad, if not worse, than failing to signal at all.