Advanced Driving

When you are driving day to day you may come across events and situations which can be difficult to react to while in a car. In these circumstances you will be required to react quickly and use advanced driving techniques. Here you will find some advanced driving tips which may come in handy if you encounter a hazardous situation. The tips on this page are also useful for helping you in every day situations such as driving on the motorway, avoiding an accident, driving with children and the general driving tips to help you become an advanced driver.

Adverse weather and Hazardous Driving

The weather in the UK can be highly unpredictable so if you drive you will probably experience driving in a whole range of conditions. Here you can find tips on how to drive in adverse weather or hazardous conditions.

Driving in adverse weather

The main situation that would cause you to use advanced driving techniques is in adverse weather. You should try and avoid driving in adverse weather conditions where possible. If you have to drive in bad conditions make sure you have the following supplies:

	A spade (if it is snowing).
	A blanket in case your journey is stopped and you have to stay in your car.
	A charged phone in case you break down or your journey is delayed.
	Food and drink in case your journey takes longer than expected.

You should also carry items highlighted in our car safety kit.

Driving in wet weather

In the UK, the most common and likely weather condition to impact drivers is heavy rain. Here are some advanced driving tips for driving in wet weather:

• Leave more space than usual between you and the car in front as stopping distance will be increased.
• Take care not to splash pedestrians or cyclists.
• Drive slower if your visibility is impaired by the rain.

Look out for large puddles as they may be deeper than they appear. If a puddle looks too large to cross, do not risk going through it; turn around and find another route. Flooding is common in heavy rainfall in the UK and it can cause disruption on the roads as roads are closed. Therefore, during heavy rainfall, try and listen to local radio or news so you can change your route if roads are closed to avoid being stuck in traffic.

Driving in icy and snowy weather

Over the past few years snow and ice has become an increased problem in the UK, and a problem that forecasters predict will continue to become an issue in years to come. Driving in snow and ice can be treacherous so you should try and avoid driving in these conditions if possible. Try and make alternative arrangements if need be such as working from home or walking to your destination.

If you have to drive in the snow, be aware that you may be prosecuted if you do not do the following:

• Clear all snow and ice from windows,
• Make sure your number plate and lights are clean and visible,
• Your windows and mirrors are clean and free of mist,
• Remove all snow from the vehicle so that it does not fall off the car while it is in motion causing danger to other vehicles.

You should also make sure you drive with the most care possible, low speeds are essential. If you feel yourself skidding ease off the break or accelerator and try to steer into the skid. Avoid heavy breaking or fast acceleration in snow as it may result in you skidding and crashing.

Driving in the event of a hazard

Hazards are a constant risk for drivers as there are so many possible hazards on the road. Hazards include pedestrians unexpectedly walking out onto the road, debris on the road, animals running in front of a vehicle and much more. You should always be looking out for hazards while you drive and try and react as quickly as possible if you come across a hazard.

Driving in fog is highly risky as your visibility is dramatically reduced and you have less chance of seeing a hazard. Therefore you should drive slowly with your lights on to give you as much chance as possible to react to a hazard.

If you feel you would like to improve your knowledge of how to react to hazards, how to drive in adverse weather conditions or simply how to become a better driver, you should consider taking an Advanced Driver course.

If you find yourself driving on the motorway and you come across a hazard you should drive with extra care and attention. If you are new to driving or have little experience driving on the motorway, then read our guide below for motorway safety. You will find tips and advice which will help you become a confident motorway driver whatever hazards you encounter.

Motorway Driving

Although cars reach the highest speeds on motorways they are actually the safest roads in the UK. However, due to the speed of traffic on motorways, collisions are often more serious or dramatic on motorways. You should make sure you have full knowledge of motorway driving rules before you venture onto a motorway to keep yourself and other drivers safe.

Driving on the motorway

Here you can find advice on how to drive safely on the motorway and how to avoid an accident:

What is a motorway?

A motorway is a main road used for high speed traffic, often with more than 2 lanes travelling in each direction. The 2 different directions of traffic are separated by a barrier called the central reservation to avoid collisions.

On a motorway vehicles are permitted to travel at the national speed limit which in the UK is 70mph (about 113kph). Drivers towing a caravan or trailer or driving a goods vehicle above 7.5 tonnes max laden weight cannot drive over 60mph (about 97kph) on a motorway.

New to driving on the motorway

If you have never experienced driving on a motorway you may feel nervous about your first time. You should rest assured that driving on a motorway is actually safer than driving on normal roads. This is because everyone is travelling in the same direction, technically everyone should be travelling at the same speed and drivers do not need to look out for hazards such as pedestrians or parked vehicles.

Learner drivers are not permitted to drive on the motorway, even if accompanied by an experienced driver. Only drivers with a full license can drive on the motorway.

Rules of the motorway

If everyone obeyed the rules of the motorway then the chance of an accident would be dramatically reduced. The rules for the motorway are as follows:

	Do not travel faster than 70 miles per hour. Traffic police will often place themselves at various locations along the motorway to catch people who are speeding. If you get caught travelling at speeds excessing 100mph you risk being taken to court and losing your driving license. Speeding is also very dangerous and that is why restrictions are in place.
	Only move out of the left-hand lane to overtake. The two right hand lanes are designed for overtaking so use them for their purpose. Always indicate when moving out so other drivers know what you are planning on doing.
	Never “sit” in an overtaking lane of the motorway, only use them to overtake another vehicle. Drivers can be prosecuted for “sitting” in the middle lane or being “middle lane drivers” as it holds up the rest of the motorway.
	Use your mirrors when moving between traffic. You should also check your blind spot by glancing over your right shoulder. Checking your blind spot is essential as sometimes bike riders do not show up on your mirror.
	Obey traffic warning and signals. They are there for your own safety and warn of possible dangers ahead. You will usually see warning signs on the central reservation and are controlled electronically so they can be updated in the event of an incident. They usually provide warnings for bad weather, hazards on the road or a traffic collision.
	Never exceed the speed limit in a restricted speed section on the motorway. Restricted speed sections are more difficult to drive through and this is why speed limits are put in place. Most restricted speed areas have average speed cameras so you cannot get away with speeding.

Things you must never do on a motorway

There are certain maneuvers which are illegal on motorways. If caught doing any of these maneuvers then you will be fined and may get taken to court depending on the severity of your act. On the motorway you must never:

• Reverse your vehicle.
• Cross the central reservation.
• Drive against the flow of traffic.
• Overtake a traffic jam by using the hard shoulder.

Avoiding an accident on the motorway

Accidents can happen on the motorway as everyone is travelling that much faster that people cannot react as quickly as on normal roads. Therefore, to avoid an accident, you should make sure you use your mirrors, concentrate on the road ahead and are fully awake. If you feel a bit tired, pull into a motorway service station and have a sleep or have some food and drink as a pick me up.

If you come across an accident you should follow the actions listed in the Highway Code.

Motorway signals

Motorway signals are electronic and appear on motorways to warn you of a hazard ahead. Hazards can be anything from poor weather, fog, accident or debris on the road. Pay attention to the signs and obey any instructions they may provide.

Overtaking lanes

There are 3 lanes on a motorway. All drivers should stay in the left-hand lane unless they are overtaking someone. To overtake follow these steps:

• Check your mirrors,
• Match your speed to other driver’s in that lane,
• Make sure it is clear to move over,
• Check your blind spot by briefly looking over your shoulder,
• Keep an eye out for other drivers moving out onto other lanes.
• Move over carefully.

Joining the motorway

Often, joining on the motorway can be the most nerve racking part of the motorway experience as you need to enter a space and make sure you get up to speed. However, it is quite straightforward and as you do it a few times you will become more confident with the process. You will get onto a motorway using a road on the left called a slip road. As you approach the motorway from the slip road make sure your speed matches that of the other drivers, check it is safe to join and check your blind spot for motorbikes. You should then remain in the left hand lane and only overtake if you need to.

Missing your Exit

If you miss your exit do not panic or cause danger trying to get back onto your exit. Instead, stay on the motorway and get off at the next exit. Here you will able to get on the opposite motorway to find your exit again.

Leaving a motorway

Leaving the motorway is usually easier than joining the motorway. You stay in the left hand lane as you approach your exit and move into the slip road as you approach the exit. Make sure you indicate left before getting on the slip road so other drivers know what you are doing.

When you leave the motorway and start driving on normal roads you may feel like you are going slower than you actually are; so 50mph may feel like 30mph. This could result in you breaking the speed limit. To avoid this situation check your speedometer to make sure you are going at the correct speed.

Avoid Distractions

When you drive on the motorway, make sure you have everything you need within hands reach. Put anything that may distract you out of reach and switch off electric devices. It is probably worth putting your phone on silent so that it does not distract you as it is illegal to use your phone while driving. The biggest distraction for commuters is other people in the car. If there is a group of you travelling feel confident asking them to be quiet if you want to concentrate and make sure they don’t try and distract you. If you are travelling with children in your car then follow the advice below.

Driving with children

There is a lot of responsibility when driving with children in the car as you have to keep them safe throughout the journey and at the same time make sure they are entertained while not being distracted yourself. There are also regulations on how you should keep children safe in the car. Here are a few tips and information that should hopefully make driving with children a more enjoyable experience.

Children’s safety in the car

Seatbelts: It is up to the driver to make sure children wear a seatbelt at all times in the car. If your child consistently takes off their seat belt try these techniques:

Tell your child why they must wear a seatbelt and leave it on at all times. Let them know it can be dangerous if they remove it. Show them that you wear a seatbelt so that they copy you. Keep children entertained and distracted from their belt by bringing along their favourite toys or playing in car games.

You can buy “anti-tampering” devices to prevent them undoing their belt while you travel. However, these are not recommended as they may affect the working of the seatbelt or make it difficult to remove the child in the event of an accident. Because of this the RoSPA (Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents) does not recommend using any “anti-tampering” device.

If your child does undo their seatbelt you must pull over as soon as it is safe to do so and put it back on them. Make sure you consistently check they have put their seatbelt on until it becomes natural for them to do it on their own.

Child Seats: If a child is under 1.35 metres (about 4 foot, 5 inches) tall they will need to use a baby seat, child seat, booster seat or booster cushion. Make sure you fit any seats or restrains exactly to the manufacturer’s description.

Child Entertainment: Driving with children can be quite an experience as any parent will tell you. Children often become bored and irritable which means they can start acting up or get upset. A cheeky or upset child can be quite a distraction for drivers which puts drivers at higher risk of an accident. In the Highway Code (section 102) it states that “Children should be kept under control” at all times in the car. Therefore it is the driver’s responsibility to keep children calm and entertained while in the car without impacting the quality of their driving.

A great way of keeping your child entertained and avoid them distracting you from your drive is by using an audio book. You can usually buy these on CDs, Cassettes or download them to an audio device. They will keep the child enthralled for the length of the story with no effort on the driver’s part.

You can also play some classic in car games such as I Spy, or sing songs to distract the children from causing mischief.

Driving with a baby on board

For new parents it can be extremely nerve racking to drive with a baby in the car. It may be worth investing on an in car sign saying “Baby on Board”, that way all of the drivers around you will know you are driving with a baby and why you may be driving more cautiously than usual.

You must not drive with a baby on your lap. You can get really good baby car seats which also make it easier to move your baby around while they are asleep. It is safer to fit your baby seat into the rear of the car and not onto the front seat. If your car has front passenger airbags you must never put your baby seat in the front seat. Baby seats that fit into a car facing backwards are a lot safer than those that face forwards as they protect the baby’s neck and head in an accident.

If your baby becomes upset or distressed while in the car try not to let them distract you. Pull over where is safe and then tend to your baby.

If you want to make sure both you and your baby or other passengers are safe in the car then read the tips below before setting off on your journey:

Driving Tips

You can improve your safety while driving and reduce the chance of an accident by following these general driving rules:

Preparing for your journey

Before you start your journey:

DO check all mirrors are positioned correctly before you start your journey.

DO wear a seatbelt, even if you are travelling a short distance.

DO check all passengers wear their seat belt.

DO place children in a correctly fitted car seat.

DO check you know your route before you set off.

DO keep a car safety kit in your car.

DO lock doors while you are inside your vehicle.

DO keep your driving license on you when you drive.

DO keep some warm clothes in your car incase you breakdown.

Things you should never do before you start your journey:

DON’T ever place a baby car seat on a front passenger seat with an air bag.

DON’T leave handbags or expensive goods on front passenger seats. Someone can easily open your door at a traffic jam and steal anything on the front passenger seat.

DON’T leave anything in your car when it is unattended.

DON’T risk having no car insurance.

On the road

Once you start your journey remember these tips:

DO check your blind spot before pulling out.

DO look out for cyclists and motorcyclists.

DO pass cyclists carefully and with a wide birth.

DO give way to pedestrians at pedestrian crossings.

DO slow down for horses.

DO avoid potholes where it is safe to do so.

DO take a break if you are tired.

DO respect other drivers.

DO stay calm while you drive. If you become anxious or worked up after a situation, pull over and take a minute to calm down.

DO be patient with learners. Remember you were a learner once.

DO stop if the police request you to stop, you can ask for ID through a window if you are not sure whether or not they are the police.

DO ask to see a mechanic’s ID if you breakdown.

DO stand a small distance from your car if you break down.

DO always have headlights on when driving in poor light.

On the road you should bear these actions in mind:

DON’T travel with too many people in your vehicle.

DON’T drive on a motorway over 60mph if you are towing a caravan.

DON’T drive in snow or icy conditions unless the journey is essential.

DON’T exceed the speed limit.

DON’T travel through a red light unless it would be very unsafe to stop.

DON’T drive with your fuel light on, always make sure you have enough fuel.

DON’T drink and drive.

DON’T use your phone and drive unless you have a hands-free system.

DON’T smoke, drink, eat, apply makeup or do anything that may distract you while driving.

DON’T take drugs.

DON’T drive on medication that makes you drowsy.

DON’T drive if you are tired.

DON’T lose your temper while driving.

DON’T drive if you are feeling emotional as you won’t be fully focused on the road.

DON’T stop or drive home if you think you are being followed. Drive to a public place or a police station.

DON’T pull out on other drivers or cause them to break suddenly.

DON’T intimidate other drivers.

DON’T let other drivers intimidate or anger you.

DON’T lie to the police if you are stopped.

DON’T park illegally.

Maintaining your vehicle

Maintaining your vehicle can help you save money or even avoid an accident. To maintain your vehicle:

DO clean your car and make sure the windscreen and mirrors are always clear.

DO always make sure your number plates are clearly visible.

DO check your tyres on a regular basis for tyre pressure.

DO replace tyres if they are bald.

DO regularly service your car.

DO keep your anti-freeze/coolant topped up by using the manufacturer’s recommended product.

DO have your car MOT tested.

DO regularly check the water and oil in your car.

DO take your car to a garage if you think something could be wrong. The longer you leave it, the worse it could get.

DO check your handbook if any warning light comes on while you are driving.

When you maintain your vehicle remember:

DON’T ignore warning lights that indicate there may be something wrong with your car.

DON’T overload your vehicle.

DON’T take your car to a garage you don’t trust.

DON’T avoid service and MOT tests.

If you have read all these tips and feel like you still have a long way to go before you are an advanced driver then consider taking part in an advanced driving course.

Advanced Driving Courses

Road accidents are either caused by human driving error or technical failure on behalf of the car. This page provides some really useful tips to help you become a confident driver and avoid being in the situation where you cause an accident through your mistakes. On top of these tips provided on this page, you can also reduce the chance of human error by working on your driving technique through a driving course. There are a range of driving courses available to make you a more confident driver . A few programmes are as follows:

IAM

A road safety charity offering courses for motorists, motorcyclists and cyclists to improve their driving skills.

Skills for Life programme: From £139

DRIVER SKILLS

From London to Scotland, Driver Skills offer courses all round the country.

Advance Driving Course on the road: From £169

RIDE DRIVE

Advanced driver training to improve road safety and awareness.

On-road Advanced Driving Course: From £142.98

ROSPA ADVANCED DRIVERS ASSOCIATION

There are a range of RoSPA approved Advanced driving instructors around the country. Visit RoSpa to find out the nearest instructor to you.

Benefits of a driving course:

• It can reduce the cost of your car insurance in some cases.
• Makes you a more confident driver.
• Improves your skills and knowledge on driving in poor weather conditions.
• Improves your hazard spotting skills.
• You can learn how to reduce your fuel consumption to save you money.

You do not need to have completed your Pass Plus to do an Advanced Driving course. Pass Plus differs from Advanced Driving as Pass Plus is aimed at new drivers looking to gain confidence in driving, whereas Advanced Driving is for relatively experienced drivers looking to increase their knowledge and develop driving skills.

According to RoSPA, advanced drivers are 25% less likely to be involved in an accident, so your life is worth the time and money spent on the course.