Hawkwell driving schools: Rayleigh and the surrounding areas
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The following sections are all
written by Alan:
essentials
new pupil's page
best driving tips
driving test secrets
independent driving
driving on snow and ice
show me tell me
technique
general
control basics
safety drills
using the mirrors
left & right turns
one way streets
junctions
give way priority
giving warnings
zebra crossings
dual carriageways
roundabouts
mini-roundabouts
country lanes
overtaking parked cars
manoeuvres
general
reversing
parallel parking
bay parking
turn in the road
emergency stop
Hawkwell Driving School
www.drivingschoolrayleigh.co.uk
Rayleigh
Thundersley
Hullbridge
© 2011
Give way and emerging:
Give Way priorities :
The three to remember are:
When turning right, if you are on the major road, give way to oncoming traffic on the major road from directly ahead, even if they are turning left.
At roundabouts, and mini-roundabouts, give way to the right (anything that's going to turn into the driver's door).
At a Give Way junction: Give way to the major road, to the right, and to the left: because there may be a car overtaking from the left on your side of the road.
Give-way junctions:
At junctions you must give way to the major road in BOTH directions. You need to look both ways before crossing the line, and still be able to stop behind the line if you see something coming!
Approach any give-way with the intention of stopping. Have a decision point, which for normal approach speeds would be about a car length back from the line. If you can see adequately BOTH ways by your decision point then carry-on, else continue to stop at the Give-way line. In practice you will find that you need to stop at nearly every junction (unless the visibility is exceptional in both directions). You can change into 1st gear as you look both ways.
Decision point explanation: if you are travelling at 10mph, your reaction distance is 10 ft (3M), and your stopping distance is 5ft (1.5M). This gives a total stopping distance of 15ft (4.5M), or about a car length. To be able to stop behind the line, you must react by at least one car length away.
Stop junctions:
Where there have been a number of accidents, Give-way junctions are often changed to STOP junctions. The same give way priorities apply, but even if you can see for miles in both directions, you must stop at the line (photo below). This is a legal requirement, and attracts penalty points on your licence if you don't stop completely (wheels not turning).
Staggered stops:
In extreme circumstances, where you can't see a thing: Use staggered stops - edge out then stop, edge out then stop, edge out then stop, etc. This is until you can see adequately (probably at least 100 metres in each direction). This method allows anyone approaching the chance to see your bonnet, and react to you, even if you can't see them.
The video below illustrates this:
Check, check, and double check any time that you have to give way. Be aware that you often only see what you expect to see - not necessarily what is actually there.
This is called Selective attention. If you are having a conversation with a friend, and concentrate on what they are saying, you only hear what they are saying. You don't hear all the surrounding conversations, or noise. If you only look for cars, you only see cars.
Watch the following video to see what we mean:
Look out especially for dull coloured cars, which merge into the background. Motor cycles, and cyclists can be especially difficult to see, particularly if they are in an unusual road position. Motor cycles can be following closely behind another vehicle, and hidden from your view. At night lookout for cars without headlights on.
Emerging through a queue:
When emerging through a queue of traffic, either to cross lanes or to turn right you must stop behind the give way line. When someone lets you out - Stop at the centre line. Stopping at the centre line is essential so that anyone overtaking the queue (possibly a motorcycle) has time to see you and react to you before you pull out in front of them
Frequently asked questions:
Question:
When I am waiting at a junction, the car next to me often goes before I do. Am I being hesitant?Answer:
The most important thing to know is that you will only get marked down for hesitancy if the examiner is sitting there thinking "Why didn't we go then?" If it's busy and you can't go, that's not your fault.Secondly the dynamics are completely different for left, right, and straight ahead. If you are turning left, and pulling out, you are still in front of an approaching car from the right after you've emerged. Someone turning right next to you will be completely clear of them straight away.
Also the turn is a bigger radius on a right turn so the pull away can be faster.
Question:
When I can't see at a junction I often come out too wide when I pull out. What causes this?Answer:
You are probably edging out so that you can see before you begin to steer. For a left turn you should begin your turn about half a metre before you get to the give-way line (exactly how much before will depend on the radius of the kerb). Just try to keep a constant distance from the kerb as you turn, remembering that the back of your car will cut in a little.Because you are sitting on the right-hand side of the car, by turning sooner, you will be able to see more without sticking your bonnet out too far.
On a right turn you should begin steering as soon as you move over the line.
Your track, the course that you steer, should be the same whether you are edging out because you can't see, or emerging normally because you can see. Otherwise you may pull out safely with effective observation, but be wedged half-way across the road, not able to get around because you haven't got enough room to complete the turn.
Question:
I often have problems controlling the speed when I am pulling out. What can I do?Answer:
Control the clutch and your speed as though you are doing a manoeuvre, until you’ve got the wheels straight. Pull away, then keep your speed steady until you have done all your steering. If you accelerate too early, before your steering is complete, you will veer off in the wrong direction. The first part of the turn is the important part. So the sooner you turn-in, the sooner you can straighten, and the sooner you can accelerate.