In4mation 21 July 2014

Issue 21

July 2014

www.rospa-southeastessex.org.uk

The ‘System’ of car control

For more information see Roadcraft and our website.

The Newsletter of South East Essex Advanced Drivers

Chairman Scott Mildren

Secretary Merv Whitney

Treasurer Alison Morris

Publicity Officer

Newsletter Editor Terry Joyce

Deputy Chairman Steve Andrews

Editorial Hello, Apart from the flash flooding and heatwave, the weather has been great for driving. I have been flying a few times as I need to do a number of hours to keep my licence. It is interesting to see the roads from above.

I have taken a number of aerial pictures like this one of the A130/A132 junction at Rettendon.

See page 9 for more

Please let me know if you change your email address.

Can you have look at our Facebook page please and like the page. https://www.facebook.com/SouthEastEssexAdvancedDrivers

Our last Group Night of 2014 is on Wednesday 29th October. Please make a note in your diaries.

http://www.rospa-southeastessex.org.uk/

Terry Joyce [email protected]

Our Committee

to our members who have taken a test.

To our new members: Rachel Watts, Peter French,

Martin Sklenar, Stephen Grew, Maria Grew, Joanne Farmer

and Paulos Sabbah.

Name Grade Tutor

Simon Taylor Silver Merv Whitney

Tom O'Byrne Gold Merv & Terry

Sabiha Ali Gold John Ockmore

Julie Mildren Silver Terry Joyce

Ian Bolton Gold Clive Smitth

Dr James Rawes Bronze Ron Adams

Courtney Rogers Bronze Merv Whitney

Tracey Kernaghan Silver John Ockmore

This Newsletter will be sent to all members that have an email address.

Please let me know if you change it.

Guidelines for Candidates and Tutors

Taking the RoSPA Advanced Car Test

In March 2014 RoSPA issued new Guidelines for Candidates and Tutors. The full guidelines can be seen here

http://www.roadar.org/drivers/info/car-test-guidelines-march-2014.pdf

I am aware that I might be trying to teach you how to suck eggs as a lot of the information in these guidelines you will probably have heard but it won't hurt to hear it again.

Before taking the test you should study the current editions of The Highway Code and Roadcraft. Without a good knowledge of both you are unlikely to obtain a high grade.

By helping you to improve your observation, planning and vehicle control you can progress in a safer, smoother and easier manner. This will reduce stress and fatigue for yourself and your passengers and reduce wear and tear on your vehicle. Who knows it may one day save a life, possibly yours or someone dear to you.

All our Examiners hold a UK Police Advanced Driving qualification and a number of them are also qualified Police Instructors. Many of these people are still serving Police Officers and work shifts, consequently they may have taken time off work to conduct your test

The RoSPA advanced test is monitored and approved by the DSA and a RoSPA Gold is widely regarded as the highest civilian driving standard available. It must be stressed that those who obtain a Silver are to be congratulated, this is a very high standard and those who achieve Bronze, drive to a standard which is significantly above that required to pass the appropriate DSA test.

The test is based on the Police Foundation publication ‘Roadcraft, The Police Drivers Handbook’ and the Highway Code. A thorough understanding of both Roadcraft and the Highway Code will be required to pass the test at a high standard.

During the test the Examiner will be looking at how you deal with the situations that present themselves and assessing the good, and inevitably not so good, elements. The on road section of the test will generally be between 45 minutes and 1 hour 15 minutes but this can vary depending on road and traffic conditions.

You may be asked to give a commentary during your test. The purpose of this is to demonstrate to the Examiner your use of The System, your observations, planning and decision making. You should describe what you see, your assessment and proposed driving plan. If you do not wish to give a commentary then the Examiner may ask questions to assist them assess your level of observations and awareness.

Respect your vehicle and do not ask too much of it. Always drive within the capabili-ties of the vehicle you are in whilst not being afraid to allow it to give you its

Continued on Page 5

Guidelines for Candidates and Tutors continued

optimum performance. There is a difference between driving a vehicle positively and progressively and ‘thrashing’ it.

Advanced drivers demonstrate an ability to drive at a speed within the legal limit that is safe for the situation. The Examiner will be looking for you to drive in a manner that is safe, smooth, systematic and making progress where it is appropriate whilst also showing consideration for others. It is however, possible to be too considerate and thereby adversely affect your own opportunities to make progress during the test. In order to achieve the correct balance it is vital that you concentrate fully at all times.

Concentration is a prerequisite of advanced driving and distractions are an ever pre-sent element with which you must deal whilst displaying a calm controlled approach to your driving. As part of this the Examiner may ask you questions relating to the condi-tions encountered.

One of the skills of an advanced driver is the ability to see hazards and situations de-veloping earlier than lesser skilled drivers. This is achieved by constantly scanning all around taking in the near, middle and distant views as well as to the rear. Smell and sound can also play a significant part in this. In this way the advanced driver has more time to plan and deal with situations and can also anticipate the actions of other road users, almost appearing to do so automatically. This skill is just as relevant in lower speed limits as it is on the open road.

You must always be able to stop on your own side of the road in the distance you can see to be clear. The Examiner will look at the line you take on the approach and through the corner, did it give you the best view with appropriate safety margins, was your speed of approach correct and were you in the right gear? You will be expected to control the vehicle smoothly and accurately maintaining vehicle stability through correct use of the controls and good observation and planning.

The practice of crossing the centre of the road to straighten a series of bends is one that causes significant discussion. If the circumstances are appropriate it can contrib-ute to safety, stability and progress. This is however an action that requires a high level of skill, observation and planning to execute correctly. Whilst there are positives the potential for coming into conflict with, or causing confusion to other road users can be significant and must always be taken into consideration. If in the opinion of the Ex-aminer, the candidate causes their own or another road user’s safety to be compro-mised, they will fail the test. You must also ensure that crossing any road markings at any time does not compromise safety or stability

Following the test the Examiner will discuss the road section of the test with you cov-ering both the good points and those areas that could be improved. The Examiner will then tell you if you have passed the test and if so what grade you have obtained. A taster of the Guidelines edited by Terry Joyce Please read the full Guidelines.

http://www.roadar.org/drivers/info/car-test-guidelines-march-2014.pdf

Roadcraft

Overlapping in some circumstances it may be helpful to overlap braking with the gear change by braking before the hazard but changing gear to-wards the end of the braking required to negotiate the hazard. Roadcraft states “If you use this technique, it must be part of a planned approach to a hazard. Begin applying the system at the same time and in the same place as you would normally. The system is not compressed”. Situations where the brake/gear overlap may be appropriate are at low speed turns into left and right junctions especially going downhill. This is more relevant when being followed closely by another vehicle. Incorrect use of the brake/gear overlap Brake/gear overlap has a bad reputation because it is frequently misused by drivers who approach a hazard too quickly. They key to negotiating the hazard correctly is to get the speed right. This can be achieved in some circumstances using acceleration sense but more often than not with braking. Most Associates don’t brake firmly enough on the approach to bends and therefore carry a little too much speed into the bend. Once you have started breaking lightly don’t be afraid to use quite a lot more braking, what this does is allow you to assess the severity of the bend more accurately, then reduce the braking in a controlled manner, not just taking your foot off the brake pedal and then in control take the re-quired gear for the bend. An overlap that is not properly planned results in late, excessive braking and rushed gear changes. Braking late and rushing a gear change can de-stabilise your vehicle at exactly the point where you need greatest stability to negotiate the hazard.

Extracts from Roadcraft edited by Terry Joyce

Changes in The Official Highway Code (Revised 2007) © Crown copyright 2007

253

Motorways

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/TravelAndTransport/Highwaycode/DG_069858

Link below to online Highway Code

36

Prohibited vehicles. Motorways MUST NOT be used by pedestrians or holders of provisional motorcycle or car licences. Motorcycles under 50 cc, cyclists, horse riders, certain slow-moving vehicles and those carry-ing oversized loads (except by special permission) also MUST NOT use motorways. Agricultural vehicles and powered wheelchairs/powered mobility scooters (see Rules 36-46 incl) are also banned from motor-ways.

[Laws HA 1980 sects 16, 17 & sch 4, MT(E&W)R regs 3(d), 4 & 11, MT(E&W)(A)R, R(S)A sects 7, 8 & sch 3, RTRA sects 17(2) & (3), & MT(S)R reg 10]

Called Invalid Carriages in law)

There is one class of manual wheelchair (called a Class 1 invalid car-riage) and two classes of powered wheelchairs and powered mobility scooters. Manual wheelchairs and Class 2 vehicles are those with an upper speed limit of 4 mph (6 km/h) and are designed to be used on pavements. Class 3 vehicles are those with an upper speed limit of 8 mph (12 km/h) and are equipped to be used on the road as well as the pavement.

This rule has been changed and laws added.

Rules for users of powered wheelchairs and mobility scooters

37 When you are on the road you should obey the guidance and rules for other vehicles; when on the pavement you should follow the guidance and rules for pedestrians.

46

These vehicles MUST NOT be used on motorways (see Rule 253). They should not be used on unrestricted dual carriageways where the speed limit exceeds 50 mph (80 km/h) but if they are used on these dual carriageways, they MUST have a flashing amber beacon. A flash-ing amber beacon should be used on all other dual carriageways (see Rule 220). Laws RTRA sect 17(2) & (3), & RVLR reg 17(1) & 26

Rules 36 - 46 were introduced to the Official Highway Code in 2007.

The links below are to websites that you may have an interest in. Please

let me know if any of them are not working. Email me if you think of any

websites that may be of interest.

Internet Links

Highway Code online

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/TravelAndTransport/Highwaycode/index.htm

Know your traffic signs

http://www.direct.gov.uk/prod_consum_dg/groups/dg_digitalassets/@dg/@en/@motor/documents/digitalasset/dg_191955.pdf

Tyresafe

http://www.tyresafe.org

Drive Alive

http://www.drive-alive.co.uk

Winter Driving Tips

http://www.rospa.com/roadsafety/adviceandinformation/driving/winter-driving-tips.aspx

Our Facebook page

https://www.facebook.com/SouthEastEssexAdvancedDrivers

Layer Marney Tower. There are some wonderful driving roads on the way.

Here are a couple of pictures of roads in Essex. You can see more here.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/boxster986/sets/72157645579898267

A good road to practice bends at higher speeds and the occasional overtake

See our website for links to Google Earth and Streetmap.

Bedloes Corner is the junction on the A1245 with Rawreth Lane and Church Road. It is controlled by traffic lights.

From the North: You cannot turn right. See the arrows on the diagram. You turn left just before the lights and then turn right. You can then enter Church Road by going straight on at the lights.

From the south: A1245 turn left at traffic lights

For anyone approaching from the Wickford/Shotgate direction the hall can be reached via the A129, turn left into the old London road, passing The Chichester. There is a width restriction when you enter Church Road.

Our Group meetings are held in the Village Hall at Rawreth Located in Church Road, the post code is SS11 8SH.

Group Nights 2014

Wednesday 29th October

Make a note in your diary!

www.rospa-southeastessex.org.uk