Driving Information

Cockpit Check

Make sure that car is ready for you to drive and you must check the following
  • All doors are closed properly
  • Parking brake is on
  • Seat is comfortable and in correct position
  • Steering wheel firmly locked and in position
  • Head restraint is adjusted properly - it will reduce the risk of whiplash injuries
  • Mirrors are correctly adjusted to the best view
  • Seat belt is fastened and adjusted correctly
  • The best driving position
  • Fuel is enough for driving
  • Gear in neutral (P or N for automatic)
  • And before driving again check parking brake

It's important to carry out the cockpit checks in the correct order and make sure that seats are comfortable and adjusted, mirrors are adjusted correctly.

Legal Responsibilities
  • To fastened seatbelt before start driving
  • Making sure any child under 14 traveling in the car wears a seatbelt


Safety Checks

Appropriate safety and good maintenance is vital
  • Petrol level check
  • Check of engine level oil
  • Check of water and other fluids i.e. screen wash ,coolant, brake fluid
  • Check of electric i.e. front rear lights, hazard warning lights, indicators, horns and other warning devices.
  • Check of correct pressure of tyres, how to measure and what is correct tread depth and the tyres wall
  • Daily weekly vehicle check
  • When vehicle requires professional maintenance and service


Control And Instruments

  • Foot control including the clutch, accelerator, food brake pedals
  • Hand control including parking brake, steering wheel, indicators, headlights and gear stick
  • Other controls –use of horn (when ,where and what reason), windscreen wipers, demister and heated windows and other control of car if there any
  • The meaning and function of each element of the instruction panel including the warning lights and speedometer

Remember
It is important to have good and correct control awareness


Moving Away And Stopping

  • Be able to carry out both maneuvers on level ground, on hill, at an angle and straight ahead
  • Use of MSM(Mirrors-Signal-Manoeuvre)
  • Use of PSL(Position-Speed-Look)
  • Observation(what is happing around), awareness of blind spot
  • Accelerator, clutch and footbrake co-ordination so manage to move off and slow down safely and smoothly
  • Be able to use the parking brake and steering competently
  • Know where and when to look, what to look for and how to act safely
  • Be able to identify suitable stopping places
  • Know when and where to signal

Important
M - use mirror to check the position of traffic around and behind
S - show others what you intend to do. Always signal in good time
M - a change in speed or position
P - correct position of vehicle
S - speed adjustment
L - final look before start to steer


Safe Positioning

  • Use the MSM and PSL routine
  • Follow the principles of lane discipline, plan a head and move into correct lane in good time
  • Understanding the affects of narrow or wide road
  • Keep a safe position during normal driving and around bends
  • Take up the correct position on a one way street
  • How other vehicle like lorries ,motorcycles, cyclist need to position themselves
  • What clearance need to leave when passing stationary vehicles or obstructions

Remember
Always remember to plan ahead and make sure that you are in correct lane in good time


Mirrors-Vision And Use

  • Effective use of all the mirrors at all times
  • When and how often to use the mirrors
  • Use of MSM and PSL
  • Why need to use the mirrors and importance of regular updates
  • How to act on what you see in mirrors
  • Knowledge of interior and exterior mirrors and how mirrors differ
  • The effect of flat, concave and convex mirrors and interpret what you see in them
  • What area mirrors can cover and where the blind spots are

Note
Blind spots are between what you can see when looking in mirrors and what you can see looking forward


Signals

Correct signals are important part of driving and you should know
  • Why it is necessary to give signals(to let others know what you intend to do)
  • When and how to give signals(it is important to time your signal to allow others to respond safely)
  • When and how to give arm signal
  • When signals are not required
  • The significance of other type of signals including brake, hazard, reversing and warning lights
  • How to read signals given by traffic controllers

Note
Always use signals that are shown in The Highway Code


Anticipation & Planning

You should always be aware of what is going on around you
  • Use the MSM and PSL routine
  • Identify hazard from clue and respond to them safely
  • Use scanning techniques to enable you to plan ahead so that you can priorities how you will deal with hazard you encounter
  • Anticipate the actions of all types of road user i.e. Cyclist, Motorcyclist, Pedestrians, Animal, Emergency Vehicles
  • Take special care when you cross cycle lanes and watch out for cyclists passing on your left
  • Look for motorcyclists ,especially at junction and in slow moving traffic
  • Take special care with the very young, the elderly and disabled pedestrians
  • Give horse riders as much room as possible and pass them slowly
  • Emergency vehicles –don’t panic, check where they’re coming from and try to keep out of their way, if necessary pull into the side of the road and stop

Remember
You will need to plan ahead to deal with static hazards like traffic lights and road works


Use of Speed

  • National speed limits and restrictions for different types of road and any restricted speed limits for the road you are on
  • Appropriate speed for road, weather and traffic condition
  • Appropriate speed to use where pedestrians and traffic clamed areas
  • Stopping distance for vehicle in different conditions and how to calculate a safe separation distance


Other Traffic

  • Meeting -where parked cars or obstructions on the side of the road. Prepare to give way to oncoming traffic. On narrow roads may need to use passing places
  • Crossing –while crossing make sure the correct position of your vehicle
  • Do not cut the corners or take the turn too wide
  • Overtaking-only if you can do so legally and safely
  • Always use MSM and PSL routine
  • Why and when to give way
  • The significance passing place, warning signs ,road marking and how to deal with obstructions
  • How to drive on all road type

Remember
Pedestrians have priority if they are crossing the road into which you are turning


Junction

  • T-junctions and Y junctions- you need to make sure you position yourself so that you get the best view of the road you are turning
  • Slip roads- these are there to help you match your speed to that of the traffic on the main road
  • Cross roads- always check who has priority as you approach a crossroad and be aware of the moment of any other traffic
  • Unmarked junctions-always remember no one has priority
  • Other type of junctions- urban and rural roads ,dual carriage ways and one way streets
  • Always use MSM and PSL routine
  • You should understand rules for turning at, entering into and emerging from a junction
  • You should understand significances of advance warning signs and road marking
  • You should understand rules of priority especially dealing with unmarked junctions and importance of good observation


Roundabouts

There are different types of roundabouts
  • Mini Roundabouts-you will need to adjust your speed on approach because there is less room to manoeuvre and less time to signal
  • Multiple and Satellite Roundabout-Assess the layout of the roundabouts by looking at the signs on approach. Teat each roundabout separately
  • Standard Roundabouts- you should know how to approach and negotiate roundabouts even when there are no road marking directly into your particular lane
  • Traffic light controlled Roundabouts- priorities will often be different to normal roundabouts here
  • Understanding of effective observation, positioning of vehicle are essential
  • Understanding of who has priority and the procedure for leaving a roundabout.


Pedestrian Crossing

You should be aware of the basic rules which apply to all pedestrian crossings
  • Pelican, Puffing, Toucan crossings are controlled by lights
  • Zebra crossing is not controlled by lights
  • School crossing patrols are not always at marked crossings
  • Split crossing includes crossing which are staggered and those which have a central refuge
  • Good understanding of when you need to stop for pedestrian who are waiting to cross
  • Understanding of the times and places where there is likely to be high risk
  • Understanding of the effects of different weather conditions and your ability to see and stop safely
  • Ability to recognize the different types of crossing from their visual characteristics


Dual Carriageways

  • Always drive confidently when using urban and rural dual carriageways and clearways
  • Joining a dual carriageway is it to adjust your speed if there is a slip road and join where there is a suitable gap. If there is no slip road ,join as you would any other road
  • You should always choose correct line and when leaving the dual carriageway you should choose correct lane in good time
  • Always use MSM and PSL routines
  • Good Understanding of speed limits on the dual carriageway is important
  • Understanding of advance warning signs and information and how you should respond to them
  • Understanding of the effects of different weather conditions and your ability to see and stop safely i.e. when it’s wet you need to increase your stopping distance and be aware, the spray from other vehicle may affect visibility


Turning the Vehicle Around

  • You need to always turn your vehicle safely in narrow road or wide road, try not to hit or touch the kerbs at the end of each manoeuvre
  • Try to choose quiet road where you have a good view in all directions
  • Observe carefully all round throughout the manoevre especially checking your blind spot
  • Always steer in the correct manners and co-ordinate the hand and foot controls so that vehicles moves smoothly
  • Always avoid to becoming a obstruction to other road users
  • Do not take too long to complete the turn
  • Always choose safe , convenient and legal place to turn where you have plenty of room


Reversing

  • It is important to safely reverse your vehicle under full control around left and a right corner including square and gently curved corners as well as on the straight
  • You need to be confident reversing on a level road and on gradient
  • Steering in the correct manner while keeping close to the kerb without hitting
  • Use always effective all round observation
  • Always choose safe , convenient and legal place to turn where you have plenty of room
  • Always avoid to becoming a obstruction to other road users
  • Always take account of the front of the car swinging out as you turn the corner
  • You can undo your seat belt while you are reversing if it interferes


Parking

You need to be able to consistently do the following
  • Co-ordinate your foot and hand controls well
  • Steer in the correct manners
  • Keeping a reasonable distance from other vehicles
  • Carefully observe all round throughout the time you are manoeuvring
  • Signal wherever necessary
  • Always check the pedestrian and make sure there is no obstruction
  • Always try to steer while your car is moving


Emergency stop

  • Safely stop your car as quickly as possible
  • Understanding of how to co-ordinate the brake and clutch pedals so that car comes to halt under full
  • Understanding of how different roads and weather conditions can affect the way you stop safely
  • Understanding of how to control skid if one occurs
  • Understanding of control how to move away safely again after you have made an emergency stop
  • Understanding the effect of ABS brakes


Darkness

  • Drive safely on all type of road in darkness
  • Always drive with confidence on urban roads the variety of different lights can be distracting i.e. Vehicle lights, street lights, shop lights
  • Always remember the main source of light on rural road will be your headlights
  • Be aware of mixture of lighting on single and dual carriageways
  • Good understanding of how darkness affects your visibility and therefore your speed and stopping distance especially in bad weather is important
  • Understanding of when you need to use your lights and which lights to use and importance of keeping lights clean
  • Understanding and knowledge of use of horn at night
  • Understanding of how to park safely and legally in dark


Weather Condition

  • Fog-remember- fog is often patchy so your level of visibility can change very quickly. You have to know when to use your lights and which lights to use in poor visibility
  • Ice and snow-check weather forecasts and only travel if it’s absolutely necessary
  • Bright sunshine-be aware of the glare. This may cause when the road is wet or the sun is low
  • Wind-you may be affected by the gusts of winds around buildings and always take extra care when passing motorcycle in the wind
  • Rain-wet roads mean longer stopping distance. Your visibility may be affect by the spray of other vehicles
  • It is important to understand the warning signs and signals that may be used
  • Understanding of how to avoid skidding and aquaplaning and how to control them if they do occur and when to use your lights and which lights to use in poor visibility
  • Always remember, when the roads are wet, you need to double your stopping distance and in icy condition, you may need ten times the distance


Environmental Issues

It is essential to understand how driving affects the environment
  • Air pollution-you should be aware of the effects that vehicle exhaust gasses have on the climate, human health and health and safety of others
  • Understanding the beneficial effects of catalytic converter on the environment
  • Try to avoid making unnecessary noise especially when traveling at night in residential areas
  • You can minimize your effects on the environment by changing your driving style so that it could cause less damage to the environment
  • Maintain your vehicle in good condition
  • Dispose vehicle waste such as tyres, batteries and oil correctly
  • Reduce your fuel consumption by limiting your use of air conditioning and remove any unnecessary load
  • Use the highest possible gear without making the engine struggle