This weeks newsletter is about "defensive driving", and was prompted by a near collision which I saw at the "yorkshire grey" roundabout this week.
Defensive Driving
Defensive driving is a technique which involves putting safety above all else, and is inherently the opposite of 'competitive driving'
A defensive driver will question the intentions of other road users and will always expect the unexpected.
The incident at the roundabout involved a driver in the left lane, turning right. The driver behind had not anticipated that someone in the left lane of a roundabout would turn right, and so did not allow any room for that event.
The driver of the car in the red lane was lost, and indicated too early, fooling the other driver to believe they were leaving the roundabout in the left lane of a dual carriageway.
The driver of the car in the green lane hadn't anticipated this possibility, and tried to turn left (into the right lane of the dual carriageway) just as the other car (unexpectedly) crossed his path.
If they had collided, who would have been responsible?
In my opinion they both would. The first driver should have chosen their lane more wisely, and signalled more effectively. The second driver should have been aware that the first driver might do that! Sounds harsh on the driver in the green lane, but if you want to stay in one piece, you need to look out for the mistakes of others, and make allowances.
To quote the DSA handbook "Your safety lies mainly in your own hands. The better your control of your vehicle and road space, the safer you'll be."
Have a great weekend...
Congratulations!
Two Passes this week!
As you can see from the pictures, Huong could not quite believe it, whereas Verdiana was overcome with emotion.
As always it is great to see people pass, but horrible to say farewell. Keep in Touch!
If you want some more info, check my website at:charltondriving.com
If you need to email me about anything driving related then please do. Please do not cancel lessons via email though, as I may not receive the notification in time. neil@charltondriving.com
For further information still, this is a great website: smartdriving.co.uk