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    Driving Techniques

There are many skills and techniques that an advanced driver develops during their training. This page lists some of them

IPSGA (System of Car Control)

Acceleration Sense

Safety Line

Aims of Advanced Driving

Brakes and Gears

Observation Links

IPSGA

When you learned to drive, you were taught to use Mirror, Signal, Manoeuvre. An advanced driver expands on this by using the System of Car Control. The System of Car Control is a way of approaching and negotiating hazards which is methodical, safe and leaves nothing to chance. It is made up of 5 phases Information, Position, Speed, Gear and Acceleration or IPSGA.  

Acceleration Sense

Acceleration sense is the ability to vary your vehicle speed in response to changing road and traffic conditions by accurate use of the accelerator. This works in conjunction with advanced observation, allowing you to plan your drive and react earlier to potential hazards and improves fuel economy by reducing the frequency of braking.

Safety Line Position

The safety line position is the safest position for a vehicle to occupy on the road in relation to the actual and potential dangers existing at that moment. This allows you to make progress while driving but keeps you and other road users safe.

Aims of Advanced Driving

There are 3 aims of advanced driving

1. Safety ~ our main priority is to make all drivers safer on the road and reduce the number of accidents and near misses that occur daily on the roads.
2. Car Sympathy/Passenger Comfort ~ getting the most out of your car by reducing excessive wear from harsh braking and rough gear changes whilst giving your passengers a smooth and comfortable journey
3. Progress ~ making progress where it is safe to do so. Advanced drivers don't dawdle around the roads but drive at the speed limits when the road, traffic and weather conditions allow while keeping themselves and other road users safe.

Brakes and Gears

As a rule of thumb you should use your brakes to slow and gears to go. There are a large number of drivers who select lower gears to abruptly reduce the speed of their vehicle in addition to braking harshly. This is bad for the economy of the drive and uncomfortable for passengers. Advanced drivers make all their gear changes and braking smooth and progressively making for a smoother drive.

Observation Links

An observation link is a technique that allows an advanced driver to anticipate the hazards they are likely to meet at any given time. Reaction speed is up to three times faster to a hazard that is expected than that which is not.

Some examples of observation links

1. Cluster of light posts ~ A town, roundabout or junction ahead.

2. A hedge row at right angles to the road - possible junction up ahead.

3. Wheelie bins on the pavement - possible bin lorry ahead.

4. Fresh horse manure on the road - possible horses ahead.

5. Children's washing on a washing line - possibility of children playing.

6. Bus - Passengers standing up inside - May stop ahead.

7. In icy conditions a slow moving vehicle with yellow flashing lights may be a gritter.

8. A "wait" light illuminated on a traffic crossing may mean that the lights will change to red to allow pedestrians to cross.

9. Cones or barriers on the road may indicate that there are men at work on the road.

10. Bus stops at the side of the road indicate that you are on a bus route and may come across a bus.

11. A ball bouncing across the road - watch out for its owner following without looking.

12. A cat running across the road  - watch out for a dog following it!

13. A stopped bus up ahead - look out for people crossing in front of it.

14. If a car pulls in up ahead, watch out for doors opening.

15. Cows in a field at a fence could jump over the fence onto the road (The grass is always greener!).

16. An ice cream van will mean that there is an increased risk of children running out onto the road.

17. Play parks may also mean that there are more children around who may run onto the road.

18. A pub at the side of the road may have drunk people walking/staggering/falling or driving nearby.

19. A clear sky (stars are visible) could indicate a drop in temperature and icy conditions on the roads.

20. Lit lampposts in daylight could suggest that there may be a maintenance vehicle ahead on the road.

For more detail on these techniques, take the Skill for Life challenge!

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Last modified: 07/03/2010