Many towns and cities have areas with very narrow roads not suited to modern volumes of traffic. New driver can have severe difficulty in negotiating a safe path in cramped driving conditions. Lets look at some of the issues involved in teaching driving on narrow roads.
When confronted with oncoming vehicles the first thing to do is decide on priorities. When cars are parked on your side of the road then oncoming cars have priority. When cars are parked on the opposite side of the road then you get to proceed first. When cars are double parked, one on each side of the road then there is equal priority. A good level of forward planning and anticipation is necessary in this situation. If two cars meet in a narrow gap and other cars are following close behind then the road can easily become gridlocked.
When you see a parked vehicle on your side of the road check mirrors and pull to the right of your lane for an early view of the road ahead, if no other cars are approaching in the other direction then just drive on through. If something is coming the other way and you think the gap is big enough then drive through the gap slowly. Remember, less space means less speed. You must be able to stop if someone gets out of a parked car. If a car is coming and there is no room for you to get through then wait in what's called the hold back position. Slightly to the right of your lane and two to three car lengths back from the obstruction. This way you can see and be seen. Many drivers make the mistake of pulling too far to the left and too close to the parked car, following traffic will tend to drive past and block you in if you do this.
In older parts of town where streets are really crowded you may get parked vehicles on both sides of the road with only enough room for one car to fit down the middle. Now cars in both directions have equal priority. Here's where your ability to communicate with other drivers comes into play. If the other car speeds up and moves towards the middle then hold back and let them through. If they slow down and seem to be giving way then proceed with caution. Many qualified drivers will flash their headlights to signal that they are giving way and this is frowned upon by driver trainers. According to the Highway Code the flashing of headlights is merely a signal to warn others of your presence so it's meaning is open to interpretation. Always check it is clear if someone flashes you and don't flash your headlights if it could mislead anyone. You will learn more about driving through the crowded parts of town during driver training.
Driving Instruction Check Test Criteria – Risk Management
The test of continued fitness to instruct is changing for driving instructors in order to take a more client centred approach. This replaces a system which placed importance on fault finding and demands more direct pupil involvement. Risk management is a main topic in the new version of the test so let's take a look at this.
Teaching Roundabouts on Driving Lessons
Today's roads feature some very busy and complex roundabouts. Multi lane roundabouts with multiple junctions and tight mini roundabouts occur in close proximity to each other. These environments demand a wide range of driving skills. Let's look at what driver trainers need to teach regarding roundabouts.
What are Traffic Light Workshop Schemes?
When a motorist fails to stop at a red light they may opt to take a traffic light workshop course. This replaces endorsement points and a fine. The course is designed to make motorists aware of the danger of failing to stop at red traffic lights and hopefully change driver behaviour.
