Chapter 1 Becoming a Better Driver Flashcards
What makes a good driver?
- critical and honest self-awareness and understanding of your characteristics, attitudes and behaviour, which are necessary for safe driving
- taking action to keep identified risks to a minimum
- awareness of your limitations and those of the vehicle and the road
- awareness of the risks inherent in particular road and traffic situations
- concentration and good observation
- continuously matching the direction and speed of the vehicle to the changing conditions
- skilful use of vehicle controls
What are the three core competencies that are the foundation of all driving?
- the knowledge and skills to drive safely
- an understanding of factors that increase your risk of a collision
- the ability to accurately assess your driving behaviour
What are the seven task-specific competencies for a police driver?
- Multi-tasking
- Alertness
- Attention distribution
- Situational awareness
- Anticipation
- Planning
- Making judgement
What are the commonest causes of collisions?
-driver error 3/4
- action based on poor judgement 1/6
- being careless, reckless or in a hurry 1/6
Who is the most likely to be involved in a collision?
- Young drivers, especially young male drivers.
- people who drive at work are more likely to be involved in a collision
What is critical learning from experience?
Recognise our resistance to accepting responsibility and use every near miss and collision as a learning opportunity.
What are the four levels of the driving task?
- human factors that affect your driving
- the purpose and context of your journey
- traffic situations
- vehicle and vehicle control
What are the human factors that cause risk for emergency service drivers?
- distraction due to multitasking and in-vehicle technology
- driving stress
- operational stressors
- time pressure and the purposes of the journey
- ‘noble cause’ risk-taking
- ‘red mist’
Using the GDE matrix describe the personal risks and possible self assessment questions for Human factors?
Potential risks
- personal tendencies, motivates or attitudes that might affect driving
- risk taking, impulsive personality, operational stress, competitiveness, over confidence, justifying risk taking for noble causes, distraction caused by family or financial problems
Possible self assessment questions
- How easy is it to detach yourself from wider problems or stresses when you get into a vehicle?
- Do you tend to react to or disengage from other road users aggressive behaviour?
- Do you know how operational stress affects your driving?
Using the GDE matrix describe the personal risks and possible self assessment questions for journey?
Potential risks
- unfamiliar route, time pressure, peer pressure, distraction due to multi-tasking, red mist or fatigue
Possible self assessment questions
- Are you fit to drive?
- What can you do to reduce the risk of general distraction? Or distractions from operational tasks?
Using the GDE matrix describe the personal risks and possible self assessment questions for traffic?
Potential risks
- Maintain a high level of alertness in traffic, scanning the road so you can anticipate what’s likely to happen next. Risks could include loss of concentration, failure to look properly or weather conditions
Possible self-assessment questions
- What are the traffic, road and weather conditions?
- How should you adjust your driving for the conditions?
Using the GDE matrix describe the personal risks and possible self assessment questions for vehicle?
Potential risks
- always drive within your vehicles capabilities. An unfamiliar vehicle increases your risk
Possible self assessment questions
- is the vehicle fit to drive?
- are the seat and steering wheel adjusted for best position and comfort?
- Do you know how it’s safety features behave?
