Guardian News
There may be trouble ahead...
9:20am Saturday 18th February 2012
ROAD safety charity the IAM is offering weekly motoring tips from Britain’s top advanced driver, Peter Rodger. This week he is advising on identifying hazards.
• Look further ahead so you see things earlier and have more time to deal with them.
• Think about what could happen – a side road may have a car in it, a parked lorry may have a pedestrian crossing behind it – anticipate what may develop.
• Use road signs and understand their message - junction signs give early notice that a driver may be trying to pull out into your path.
• Observe others and what they are doing. Expect and plan for their actions as they develop.
• Use your mirrors so that you are aware of who is behind you and what is going on – especially motorcyclists and cyclists.
• Hazards include bends and junctions. Expect that there may be a car emerging or a cyclist around the bend, this will allow you enough time to respond safely.
IAM chief examiner Peter Rodger said: “Hazards can be anything from a tree branch to a child walking along the pavement. Anticipating what other road users might do is key to being prepared and becoming a safer driver.”
To help drivers stay safe this winter, the IAM has launched a new website, drivingadvice.org.uk, with traffic updates, weather forecasts and tips on how to drive safely in winter.
Tips cover rain, snow, ice, fog and wind – everything you can expect in a typically unpredictable British winter. Check it out before you travel.