Alertness Flashcards
What should you be aware of while driving?
Other Road users Pedestrians Signs and road markings Weather conditions The area you're driving through
Keep scanning the road ahead and to the sides, and assess the changing situations as you drive.
Before you move off you should…
Use your mirrors to check how your actions will affect traffic behind you.
Look around for a final check, including checking the blind spots atound your car.
Signal, if necessary.
What is a blind spot?
The area behind you that you’re unable to see in mirrors.
How can you get a clear view?
If you can’t see behind you when reversing, ask someone to guide you to make sure that you reverse safely.
If your view is blocked by parked cars when you’re coming out of a junction, move forward slowly and carefully until you have a clear view.
What should you look out for when overtaking?
Vehicles coming towards you
Whether you’re near a junction - vehicles could come out of the junction while you’re overtaking.
Whether the road gets narrower - there may not be enough space for you to overtake.
Bends or dips in the road, which will make it difficult for you to see traffic coming towards you
Road signs that mean you must not overtake.
Whether it is safe, legal and necessary
That you have enough time to complete the overtaking manouevre
How can you make sure other road users know you’re there?
Switch on your lights when it starts to get dark, even if the street lights aren’t on.
Where you can’t be seen, such as at a hump bridge, you may need to use your horn.
If you’re following a large vehicle, stay well back - this will help the driver to see you in their mirrors. Staying back will also help you see the road ahead much more clearly. This is especially important if you’re planning to overtake the vehicle.
If you can’t see a large vehicle’s mirrors, the driver can’t see you.
What should you do with road signs and markings?
Follow their advice Slow down if necessary Circles - giver orders Triangles - give warnings Rectangles - give information Yellow lines painted at intervals across the road - encourage drivers to reduce their speed, you often see them on the approach to a hazard like a roundabout or a reduced speed limit.
What should you do when you turn onto a dual carriageway?
Check that the central reservation is wide enough for your car to stop in, especially if you’re towing a trailer. Do this in case you have to wait before joining the traffic. If there’s not enough space for your vehicle, only emerge when it’s clear both to the right and left.
Dual carriageway - a road that has a central reservation to seperate the carriageways.
Central reservation - an area of land that sepeares opposing lanes of traffic.
How should you approach traffic lights that have been green for some time?
Be prepared to stop because they may change.
When do road conditions make it more difficult to anticipate what might happen?
The weather is very wet or windy The light is poor The traffic volume is heavy The route you're driving is new to you You need to be particularly aware of what's happening around you.
What vulnerable road users should you watch out for?
Pedestrians approaching a crossing, especially young, older, or disabled people who may need more time to cross the road.
Cyclists - always pass slowly and leave plenty of room, especially if the cyclist is young and may have little experience dealing with traffic.
Motorcyclists, who may be difficult to see.
Horses, which may be startled by the noise of your vehicle - pass them slowly and leave plenty of room.
Why should you always be ready to stop?
However prepared you are, you may still have to stop in an emergency.
Keep both hands on the wheel as you brake to help keep control of the vehicle.
How can staying focused make you a safer driver?
Driving takes lots of concentration - as well as controlling the car, you need to be aware of what’s happening on the road and what could happen next. Stay focused on driving and try not to get distracted.
Always plan your journey so that you know which route you need to take and you have regular rest stops.
How can you avoid tiredness?
You won’t be able to concentrate properly if you’re tired. It’s particularly easy to feel sleepy when driving on a motorway especially at night.
Don’t drive continuously for more than 2 hours.
Keep fresh air circulating in the car.
If you start to feel drowsy, leave at the next exit, find a safe and legal place to stop and take a break.
Have a cup of coffee or other caffeinated drink but remember this is only a short term solution, not a substitute for proper rest.
Have a short nap if possible.
What should you do about distractions?
It’s easy to be distracted by what’s happening in your car. Devices like phones, music players and navigation systems can divide your attention between the road ahead and what you’re hearing.
Loud music will also affect your concentration, and will make it difficult to hear sounds outside the car.
Losing concentration or just taking your eyes off the road can be disastrous - at 60mph you travel 27 miles in one second.
Be careful that passengers don’t distract you - joking about ot having an argument can pull your attention away from the road for vital seconds.
You can also be distracted by objects hanging in the car, starting or adjusting any music or radio, looking at a map, talking into a radio.
Using a phone while driving is illegal - it also drastically increases the chance of a collision. Even using a hands free phone isn’t safe because you can still be distracted from driving by making a call.
Switch you phone off or put it on voicemail.
Wait until you’re parked legally in a safe place before you use your mobile phone to retrieve messages, make a call, send or receive texts or go online.
If you’re driving on a motorway you should leave the motorways and stop in a safe place before using your phone.
If you have a navigation system, stop in a safe place before programming the system.
If you lose your way on a busy road, turn into a side road as soon as possible, stop and check a map.
You could also be distracted by incidents on the road. Don’t slow down or try to see what is happening - continue with your journey and keep your concentration on your driving.
