Section 1 - Alertness Flashcards
What should you be aware of:
Other road users, pedestrians, signs, road markings, weather conditions, the area you’re driving through
What should you do before you move:
Use your mirrors to check how you’ll affect traffic behind you, look around including blind spots, and signal if necessary
What to do if your view isn’t clear:
Ask someone to guide you with reversing - for coming out of a junction, move slowly and carefully until you do have a clear view
What to look for before overtaking:
Vehicles coming towards you, whether you’re near a junction (cars could come from it), whether the road gets narrower, bends/dips (which make it difficult to see approaching traffic), road signs that mean you mustn’t overtake
What to think about before overtaking:
Whether it’s safe, legal, necessary, and you have enough time to finish the manoeuvre
How to be seen by others:
Switch on your lights when it starts to get dark, use the horn if necessary (like at a hump bridge), stay well back from large vehicles so they can see you in their mirrors (which also helps see the road clearly, especially if overtaking)
What do circular signs do:
Give orders
What do triangular signs do:
Give warnings
What do rectangular signs do:
Give info
What to do when turning right onto a dual carriageway:
Check the central reservation is wide enough for your vehicle to stop in in case you have to wait before joining traffic
What to do if the central reservation isn’t wide enough for you to stop in:
Only emerge when it’s clear to the right and left
What should you watch out for with green traffic lights:
If they’ve been green for some time, be prepared for them to change and for you to need to stop
What makes anticipation harder:
When the weather is wet/windy, when the light is poor, when there’s lots of traffic, or when you’re driving a new route
What are some vulnerable road users:
Pedestrians approaching a crossing, cyclists (pass slowly with lots of room), motorcyclists (hard to see), horses (may be startled - same as bikes)
What should you make sure you do when you brake:
Keep both hands on the wheel so you don’t lose control
What should you plan in your journey:
The route and any rest stops
How to avoid tiredness when driving:
Don’t drive for more than 2 hours without a break, keep fresh air circulating, if you feel tired stop and take a break at the nearest available legal and safe place - drink coffee as a short term solution or have a nap
What can you legally use your phone for when driving:
Nothing. No. Stop first.
What must you be able to do to drive:
Decide if you’re fit to drive (too tired/emotional/ill/non-sober), manage passengers, be aware at all times, drive at such a speed that you can always stop in the space ahead of you
What must you know/understand to drive:
How poor posture/seating position can make you tired, how to deal with passengers, that some cars have pillars that obstruct your view, and how to deal with that, and how to read the road ahead
