Chelmsford Advanced Motorists

Essential tips

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  • Manoeuvring - (reversing around a corner, parallel parking, etc)
  • What is the minimum level of Cockpit Drill that I should do?
  • While your foot is on the brake (in most instances), you should have both hands on the steering wheel.
  • Whichever way you turn, always start with a 'pull' from the top rather than a 'push' from the bottom. If you have been tending to push first, try 'pulling' first and you will notice a dramatic improvement in the smoothness and control of your steering.
  • All loss of speed must be completed before you enter a bend. When the speed is correct, then change gear and 'drive' the bend (maintain a constant speed whilst negotiating the curve).
  • Two ESSENTIAL rules for safer motorway driving - maintain a safer following distance, and exercise good lane discipline.
  • If there's ever a doubt about whether you should overtake, don't.
  • Brakes to slow, gears to go! When there is following traffic try to use your Brakes to slow, using your Brake Lights as a warning signal to following traffic (especially tailgaters !) that you are slowing - and allow enough time to slow smoothly.
  • Keep both hands full of steering wheel, until you know what you're going to do with them! This will help you to eliminate changing down through the gearbox.
  • Look for a reason to not signal! Looking for a reason to NOT signal requires you to do a comprehensive all round evaluation of your environment and you should try to only give a SIGNAL when another road user will benefit from it - but if there's ever any doubt about whether to signal or not, you should SIGNAL!"
  • The basic driving rule is - Be able to stop, on your own side of the road, in the distance that you can see to be clear!
  • ...and on a single track road - Be able to stop in half the distance that you can see to be clear! (So that the other vehicle can stop too!)
  • Only a fool breaks the two second rule! This is the rule for a safe following distance (in DRY weather!) To test this, start saying the phrase as the car in front passes an object (e.g. a road bridge) and if you pass the same object before you finish the phrase - you're too close! DOUBLE this in the wet!
  • Should I apply the handbrake? Try this guideline - If you're stopping to stop, handbrake up. If you're stopping to go, not necessarily so!
  • Leave the problem behind behind (when accelerating away from a hazard).
  • IMPROVE YOUR CONCENTRATION - You can improve your levels of concentration, observation and anticipation by practicing doing a running commentary. Try to pick out, and say out loud, anything you see that is going to cause you to change (or consider changing) speed or direction. Then say out loud what you are going to do about it!
  • You cannot talk about one thing and think about another, and if you are talking about the road and your driving plans, then your levels of concentration, observation and anticipation will improve.
  • ROUNDABOUTS - Read the Highway Code for general rules on the use of roundabouts but, where there are more than two lanes entering the roundabout, make sure you are not caught in the middle when you begin to move away - "try to be first or third, but never equal second".
  • The Ten Commandments of motoring