​
Let’s have a bit of a history lesson about the evolution of roads.
Originally, people used to walk everywhere. Like sheep on a moor, people would tend to follow the same route time after time. Eventually, some form of track would appear on the ground, which would be visible from a distance. More people would see and use the track, and so the track becomes more established and wider. When horses and other animals were used as forms of transport, they used the same tracks.   

​Then horses and other animals were used to pull carts and carriages along the tracks. Thses tracks became known as carriageways.
​

​Jumping ahead good few years, cyclists would also use those tracks. Eventually the internal combustion engine was created, and cars and lorries also started using the tracks. After the Great War, more and more vehicles became popular, more affordable, and more efficient and powerful. Indeed, their power was measured in “Horse Power”.

​
Where feet and hooves could cope with a rough track surface, the round wheels of vehicles were not particularly good at driving along wet or rough tracks. Eventually, due to heavy and struggling use of tracks by wheeled vehicles, “someone” invented “tarmac” as a suitable surface for tracks to make them smoother and more useable by the four-wheeled vehicles. Hence the “road” was invented. All a road is/was, is a track that had been used for many hundreds of years, covered in a material that would allow the new “vehicle” to travel along them more easily. Because of the heavy use of many of the roads, the pedestrians kept to the sides of the carriageways in order to stay safe.

Some tracks were not used heavily, and therefore it was uneconomical to resurface all the tracks. These tracks were designated as bridlepaths rather than roads, simply because they were unsuitable for vehicles. Some “paths “ are known as RUPPS, or Roads Used as Public Paths, and there are also Green Lanes, which have been classified as roads, so that vehicles can use them, but they are not covered with a hard surface, but instead, left open to the elements and vegetation - thus the name “Green Lane”. Some tracks were unsuitable for horses, and were known as footpaths, because that’s all they were suitable for. 
So, the evolution of a road starts with a single footpath through the countryside, becoming used more and more frequently and heavily, then horses and other animals also used the same track (with or without a cart or carriage behind them), then cyclists, then and only then did vehicles make an appearance. With that in mind, the first “Road user” would have been a pedestrian, then a horse-rider, then cyclist, then and only then did motor vehicles start to use them.
Apart from motorways; pedestrians can use any path or road (unless informed otherwise), horses can use any bridlepath or road (part from motorways, or informed otherwise), as can cyclists. Motor vehicle are only allowed to use roads, they are not permitted to use footpaths or bridlepaths.
So, it seems that roads were originally footpaths, that were upgraded and upgraded until they became the routes that we are familiar with. Bearing in mind their origins, pedestrians, horses (and other animals), and cyclists all have the right to continue using the routes that they have done for centuries. 

Now a quick question - Who has priority on the road? I think there are a number of possible answers:
Whoever was there first?
The most vulnerable one?
The one which has least control?
The one that is the most traditional form of transport?
... are all possible answers.


I am absolutely sure that no pedestrian, or horse rider, or carriage driver wants to travel along the roads as we know them - I am fairly confident that they, and you, would prefer to wander along a quiet and safe footpath, or bridlepath, than walk along a narrow bit of rough tarmac, with many noisy,  fast and polluting vehicles screaming past you every few seconds. 
I am also absolutely sure that horse riders and carriage drivers feel exactly the same as any pedestrian, in that they also don’t want to be travelling along a busy road unless they have to. This need to use the roads may be because more and more bridlepaths and footpaths are being left unmaintained, so that they have started reverting back to its original and natural habitat, which means that the rider needs to balance the inconvenience of an un-maintained track against a less-safe, but faster travelling road.  It may be because more and more paths are being upgraded to roads, taking away the exclusive and safe rights of the pedestrians, horses and cyclists. It may be that the need and popularity of horse-riding has decreased, which means that drivers are less used to finding and dealing with the Other Road Users on the road. This lack of familiarity might bring a  lack of expectation, and lack of experience in how to deal  with the ORU’s. 

There are many people who think that horses should not be on the roads, and many of those people are the horse riders themselves. Unfortunately it is a necessary evil for many people. Many people think that horses should not be on the roads because they don't have insurance, or they don't pay "road tax". Most horse riders don't want to be on the roads simply because they don't feel safe amongst the other traffic, just like a pedestrian or cyclist might not feel safe either.
​
The vast majority of horse riders are covered by some form of Third Party insurance, whether it is via a Group or Society that they belong to, or specialist horse insurance.
Horses don't have to pay road tax for at least a couple of reasons: "Road Tax" is based on the harmful emissions given out by the "Vehicle" - horses do not emit any harmful pollutants (Except a bit of methane now and again). The other reason is that the horses were there before the roads were. They cannot be forced to pay for what they don't need, just like vintage cars don't have to have seat belts, because the cars were there before the seat belts existed.
Cyclists and bicycles are the same - they don't need the road, and they don't produce pollutants. They will most likely be covered by Third Party insurance from their house insurance, or a cycling club.

There is a term used in the Highway Code, and other books, talking about Vulnerable Road Users. These vulnerable users include everyone on the roads, but I think the books are trying to highlight the plight of a certain type of user. This type of user seems to have certain common features: they travel much slower than most, they are open to elements, they have little or no lighting available to them compared to others, they are not as common as motor vehicles, they don’t have to have any kind of training or licence requirement in other to use the transport routes available to them. 

​Here’s a short list of Vulnerable Road Users; it won’t be a complete list, and I welcome any suggestions:
young children on foot, 
young children on their new bicycle
young children on their new bicycle without their stabiliser wheels for the first time
parents with push-chairs, or young children with them
elderly, infirm people, maybe reliant on a walking stick or frame
The couple coming out of the church having just got married, with their enlarged family and friends all around them too
The family rushing to see an infirm relative in the A&E department won’t be concentrating on road safety, they will have other things on their minds
mobility scooter users
people in a hurry to get from one shop to another, in the rain with their hoods up, or umbrellas down
cyclists with over-laden bicycles
horse riders
carriage drivers
runners
charity walking/ running events
shepherds moving their flocks
dog walkers taking their dogs to the woods, or footpaths  

​
Other “Users" of the roads
sheep
cows being taken for milking 
Dogs that have got lost, and are frightened and panicking 
deer
wild boar
wild horses that have lived in that environment, such as dartmoor exmoor, welsh hills etc, for thousands of years
badgers
​
Could all of the above be classed as Vulnerable Road Users? 

​Is it safe? Am I sure?


During my drive to work on saturday morning through the Forest, I came across a scene on the road.
Two vehicles  were damaged, on the same side of the road. A lady was wandering around on the grass verge flapping her arm about, and a man was staggering across the road in front of me, and then collapsed onto the other grass verge...
Mirrors, hazards lights on, stop somewhere safe... No phone signal!
She's screaming, so she's alright for a bit. He's rolling around a bit, struggling to breathe, complaining about a pain in the chest.. No obvious injuries, no blood, no gurgling noises. Yes he had been wearing a seatbelt, yes the airbags had gone off, yes, of course its going to hurt! Check the vehicles.. Are there any other passengers or casualties? No! Thank goodness for that!
Someone finds a signal and calls in for help. 
Luckily there was an Event happening at the Speech House field. One of the guys was an ex combat medic, and called in their own paramedic car from Beechenhirst. They turned up fast, and started working with the two casualties.

Car engines were off, but the rear windscreen washer was going at full squirt,  as if it was trying to help wash the debris off the road. Some of the Event guys turned up with some big bolt cutters to isolate the battery, permanently. The rear washer gave up and waited for the council road sweeper to take over cleaning the Tarmac.

Paramedic car turns up, calm, caring,  organised, efficient. Brilliant. Nothing for us to do now except make sure the other traffic turns round safely, they will have to find their own diversion route. 
Remember what you saw, nothing more, nothing less. Someone mentioned seeing something, but I didn’t see it, so I wont talk about it. Dont forget anything that I did see. The police will need everything I can give them, but it must be accurate. 
Ambulance turns up soon after the fast response car had arrived. They start doing their thing, dealing with the casualties, making notes of the damage to the cars and drivers seats, with photos to back it all up, presumably incase the hospital staff need to check the possible cause of an injury, to work out how much force was involved in the collision.
Police turn up. They are organised. They have obviously had too many chances to work out the best system to use to check safety, find witnesses, check casualties, keep traffic away from the scene. Road blocks are in place straight away. Casualties and witnesses are talked to, to get the basic information. Photos are taken, visibility and lighting conditions are checked. Tyres are checked to see if a puncture was the cause of the collision. No, not this time. Then to start talking to witnesses in more detail this time.. Was I the first one on scene? What did I see? Who got out of which vehicle? Where did they go? What did they say? Who moved that bit of debris? From where? Why? Were the vehicle engines still running? Who turned them off? Where are the keys? More questions, more questions.
Ambulance is on its way back, road is cleared enough to allow traffic to pass, while recovery vehicles are organised for the two cars.
My incar Video recorder has recorded my drive, and the whole scene as it happened. It turns out that I arrived immediately after the impact, and the car was still spinning on the Tarmac. Clouds of radiator steam and airbag gases pouring out of each vehicle. Drivers escaping out of the cars, and then going into shock. Crowds of people running from the Event to see if they can help. Unfortunately I was not in the right place at the right time to see the collision happen. I was about two seconds too late, so it wasn't recorded, but the cause is thought to be known.

Apparently, it is believed that, allegedly...
 A vehicle was driving to the Event. The driver passed the entrance before the driver had a chance to slow safely, so the car was driven to the next junction to turn round, safely. As the car was approaching the entrance from the other direction, the driver was looking into the field to ensure it was the right Event. Unfortunately, the driver then turned across the road, into the gateway, just as another vehicle was driving along the road in the opposite direction.

Next time you hear me ask " is it safe, are you SURE?" you know why I am asking. Scanning and Planning. All-round Awareness. If you're not sure, slow down! If you’re still not sure, slow down more!
It all makes sense.

​Dear Mrs Deer, it was a surprise to meet you this morning, after so long not seeing you in your normal area... I thought you had moved to another area of the Forest.
Your family seems to have grown since I saw you last, was that three little Bambis I came across this morning?
We must stop meeting like this in the future! 
Dear Mr ABS Inventor, thank you for creating your box of magic, all the Bambis appreciated it, though maybe not at the time whilst they were practicing their ice skating skills on the road. 
Dear Mr or Mrs "Whoever invented coffee", thank you for including whatever component that perks us up in the morning, and lets us be more attentive to the road we are travelling early in the morning.
Lessons learned?..
Stay aware of potential hazards on the road, they normally appear at the most awkward time.
My right foot pressed too hard on the brake pedal, as an instinctive response to a number of dear on the road, in the headlight splash. 
Damp roads have less grip than dry roads.
ABS does what it is designed to do. It is NOT designed to stop the vehicle more quickly than correct braking. ABS allows the driver to steer whilst braking hard.
the Focus can do an amazing slalom around numerous dear on the road, whilst cornering over the crest of a damp road.
I don't think I was travelling too fast for the road conditions... I think I braked too hard for the road conditions and what I found on it.
Either way, I would not have been able to stop well within the distance I can see to be safe. I got it wrong. I learned from it. 
A shot of adrenalin in the morning certainly wakes you up!
Nobody was harmed in the making of this article.

Stay safe out there everyone - driving is not about just passing a test, it's about being a continuing us learning experience.

Stay safe deer, you're much more beautiful when you are in your own natural environment, rather than trying to travel across the one that we humans use.

I believe that staying safe on today's roads is helped by all the road users using a bit of common sense, and making the effort to minimize the potential risks to an acceptable standard.
Driving has to involve risks. By its nature, people travelling to different directions, at different speeds, and with differing amounts of experience on the roads, is going to involve risk. Safe "driving" involves managing those risks, normally by minimizing them to an acceptable level.
The Highway Code number 48 states that..."Safety equipment and clothing. All horse-drawn vehicles should have two red rear reflectors. It is safer not to drive at night but if you do, a light showing white to the front and red to the rear MUST be fitted. 
Law RVLR 1989 reg 4"
It is sad to see that people are willing not only to flaunt the Law, but to put other people and animals at risk.
This video was taken on 18th June 2015, on the Gloucester Northern Bypass.

The UK Driving Test celebrates its 80th Birthday this month.

Despite some rumours that are circulating, I am not old enough to remember the Test when it started, and I certainly cannot remember each and every change that has taken place, but there have been many changes..
The Theory part of the Test used to be  at the end of the Driving Test, and would be a couple of questions from your Examiner, normally about a couple of road signs. 
That then changed to a separate Test, using multiple choice questions, to assess your understanding of signs and procedures.
The Hazard perception videos were introduced a few years ago, where you had to show how well you could identify a possible hazard as it developed infront of you. At the very beginning it seemed to always be the same man in a white jacket, holding a cardboard box, and a large Wilkie talkie, so that someone could tell him when to walk into the road from behind a van.
More and more real-life video clips were introduced, and the very recently it was changed to CGI videos, where the lighting conditions could be changed, or skid marks could be put onto a road as a clue, and so on.

The Driving Test has developed over the years as well... The types of roads used would change, the reversing skills would be changed, then one reverse was removed, to make way for about 10 minutes of independent driving, where you are asked to follow a series of directions, or to follow signs. 
At present, some Test Centres are being used to trial a new format of test, where there is more time dedicated to Independent driving, following directions given by a satellite navigation system. They are also thinking of testing your ability to pull up on the right side of the road, as well as the left side, parking forwards into a bay, and then reversing safely (?) out of it again. Maybe some of these sections will be included in future tests, maybe not. If they are to be included, we will be given plenty of notice and time to acquire these skills, though they will be covered when you are learning to drive anyway.

The conditions and types of roads have changed massively over the years, as have the number, types, and technology within the cars on the road. At one time it was said that over a 10- year period, the number of vehicles on UK roads doubled. Add in better tyres, AntiLock Braking Systems, Electronic Stability Programs,Power steering, Air conditioning, the types and prices of fuel, and many other factors as well.
The road And traffic conditions are very very different today, compared to the past

I was thinking about making a comment about the dangers and risks of driving in heavy rain, talking about the driver's vision, extra noise from the wet roads and the rain landing on the roof, less grip and therefore longer stopping distances.

Then I thought: "No, don't do that"

I thought I would send an open comment to all the pedestrians out in the rain (Not that they should be reading social media whilst out on the roads, in the rain).

I thought I would remind them that most drivers are very conscious about road safety, especially in adverse conditions. This just a reminder that whilst we are doing what we can to keep everything safe, other road users also need to think about safety.

Please give us a chance to help keep you safe, by making the effort to look up or around the edge of the hood that you have pulled up, please peer out from underneath the umbrella you might have pulled down as far as possible, please don't turn up the volume of your ipod so much that you drown out (pun intended) the noise of approaching vehicles. Please don't shelter out of sight as well as the rain, and then just "leg it" straight across the roads without looking.

I am sure that lying in the road puddles will get you wetter and colder, and spoil your day more, than just taking a moment to check that it really is safe to venture out onto the roads in this horrible weather. So, don't let yourself get hit by a vehicle.. it will spoil everybody's day. Even the Ambulance Crews and Police don't like driving or attending a casualty in the rain.

Everybody, please take your time, and play your part in keeping the British roads as safe as you can.

1. Road works (288)
288
When the ‘Road Works Ahead’ sign is displayed, you will need to be more watchful and look for additional signs providing more specific instructions. Observe all signs - they are there for your safety and the safety of road workers.

• You MUST NOT exceed any temporary maximum speed limit.
• Use your mirrors and get into the correct lane for your vehicle in good time and as signs direct.
• Do not switch lanes to overtake queuing traffic.
• Take extra care near cyclists and motorcyclists as they are vulnerable to skidding on grit, mud or other debris at road works.
• Where lanes are restricted due to road works, merge in turn (seeRule 134).
• Do not drive through an area marked off by traffic cones.
• Watch out for traffic entering or leaving the works area, but do not be distracted by what is going on there. Concentrate on the road ahead, not the road works.
• Bear in mind that the road ahead may be obstructed by the works or by slow moving or stationary traffic.
• Keep a safe distance - there could be queues in front. To obtain further information about road works, see Conversions and further reading.
• Law RTRA sect 16

6. Reversing (200 to 203)
201
Do not reverse from a side road into a main road. When using a driveway,
reverse in and drive out if you can.

202
Look carefully before you start reversing. You should use all your mirrors check the ‘blind spot’ behind you (the part of the road you cannot see easily in the mirrors)Check there are no pedestrians (particularly children), cyclists, other road users or obstructions in the road behind you.
Reverse slowly while: 

• checking all around
• looking mainly through the rear window
• being aware that the front of your vehicle will swing out as you turn.

Get someone to guide you if you cannot see clearly.

The Driving Standards Agency has just announced via a Press Release, that it is merging with VOSA today.

"The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency will replace the Driving Standards Agency (DSA) and the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency (VOSA) with responsibilities for setting, testing and enforcing driver and vehicle standards in Great Britain.

There will be a gradual introduction of the new agency name ahead of the formal launch in April 2014, with no change to the level or quality of services during the transition period.

 You can read a full announcement from the Department for Transport."

This is a note on how I change a tyre, it is not the way to change a tyre. Different people, and different car manufacturers have differing ways of doing it. Always read the instructions.
If you do not feel confident, then do not attempt it. Get a suitable person to help you. This is another good reason for being a member of a break-down organisation



What does it feel like to have a puncture whilst driving?

You will normally know that you have potentially got a problem with the tyre, because you have probably just hit the kerb, or driven over a glass bottle, or something similar.


You may just find that the steering is not as “sharp” as it was a moment ago, the car may be gently (or not so gently ) be pulling to one side or the other.

You might find that you can hear a “ticking” noise, made by a screw / nail etc making contact with the road surface as you are driving, hitting the tarmac at each rotation of the tyre.

On one occasion we had just rolled to a stop, and parked. We both looked at each other whilst we could “sense” that the car was dipping on the left side, as the air gently escaped.

 Sometimes  it is just obvious that you have got a tyre problem.

Where to stop?

Easy answer… somewhere safe, but soon, before you shred the tyre between the wheel rim and the road.

Do not brake hard to slow the vehicle down, but brake gently, until you are sure you can still control the steering safely whilst braking.

Try to get off the normal driving position on the road, but try to stop where the ground is both level and firm, firm enough to hold the jack steady as you change the tyre.
 
Warning triangle or no triangle?
The Highway Code recommends that you place an appropriate  warning triangle 45m before the car, on the same side of the road. It should be placed before a bend, or before the summit of a hill, to give other road users warning of the hazard ahead. Please keep in mind that the typical stopping
distance of a car travelling at 40mph is 36m, and at 70mph it is 96m. I would ensure that I give the other road users as much warning as I sensibly can. Care should be taken when setting out, or collecting the triangle, as you will be walking away from, and facing away from, the oncoming traffic. Try to keep well off the road as you walk to position or collect the triangle.

Where is the spare tyre? Or is it just a can of sealant?
Different cars keep the “spare” in different places. Some are under the car boot, and need to be released from under the car, or from inside the bottom of the boot. Some cars have the spare resting in a compartment in the bottom of the boot. Either way, you are probably going to have to unload the contents of the boot before getting proper access to the spare. Some cars have a full-sized spare wheel, the same size as the other four. Some have a “Space-Saver” tyre, narrower and lighter than a full-size tyre. But you are still going to have to fit the full-sized tyre somewhere in the car until you can get it fixed and refitted. Some cars just have a can of compressed  “sealant”, that fits onto the tyre valve, and sprays into, and fills up, and temporarily block the tyre and the puncture, as long as it is a small puncture.
If the tyre is ripped I don’t think a spray can is going to fix the  problem.

How to secure the  car
Ideally you will be able to park the car off the road, on a solid and flat surface. I’m sure that if you explained the situation to a house-owner, or farmer, they would be willing to let you borrow part of their driveway for a few minutes.

I always leave the car in first or reverse gear, with the handbrake fully applied. The idea is to make the car as stable as possible, whilst it will be balanced on only three wheels. You definitely DO NOT want the car to roll or move at all when it is resting on the jack. A couple of stones, or bits of old fence post, or branches, could be used to chock the wheels and secure the car so that it cannot be rolled forwards or backwards by mistake. Auto stores normally sell pairs of plastic wheel-chocks that could be stored permanently in the boot.
 
The tools you will need, and getting ready
So, we have the car safely secured and level off the road, we have got the spare tyre out, together with the jack, and spanners, and maybe we need the locking wheel-nut key as well.

Now we need to work out how to use the jack, and where it should be positioned so that it lifts the car without damaging it. Instructions for this will be in the car’s manual, if you still have it. Try to keep the equipment clean, and within easy reach of where you will be changing the tyre.

Removing the tyre
I set up the jack so that is in place, ready to lift the car. I place the spare tyre under the side of the car, within easy reach, so that if the jack collapses when we are removing the damaged tyre, the car will drop onto the spare tyre, not onto the ground. When this happens, hopefully the brake system will not be damaged by hitting the ground. You will also have a bit of space to remove and reset the
jack before trying again. It also means that if your toes were under the car when the jack collapses, then hopefully you won’t damage them, and hopefully you won’t ever put your toes under the car again.

Once the jack is tensioned, I then loosen all the wheel nuts on the damaged wheel. I only loosen them enough to be able to turn them with fingers, not a spanner, I do not take them off.

I then lift the car on the jack until the tyre is clear of the ground, leaving enough room for the spare, inflated, round tyre to be fitted easily and quickly. Once the tyre is high enough, I then remove all but one nut completely from the tyre, and put them somewhere clean and close-by. I then gently remove the last nut, putting it with the others. Gently removing the damaged wheel, I place that under the car, so that it becomes the “toe-saver”. 
  
Replacing the tyre
Gently and calmly removing the spare from under the car, I fit it gently onto the car, and immediately refit one nut finger-tight, and then all the others, again, finger-tight, ensuring that the wheel is correctly fitted to the car. Once the spare tyre is fitted onto the car, I then remove the toe-saver tyre, and lower the jack so that the car is resting gently on the ground again. 
Lowering the jack until the tyre grips the ground, I then tighten the nuts onto the wheel. Don’t tighten each one completely, working round the tyre in a circle, but work on one nut, then go the opposite one, then to the other opposite one, almost as if you are “joining the dots” to draw a star shape. Tighten them all evenly, ensuring the wheel is correctly fitted. Once the tyre nuts are fully tightened, I then fully lower the jack


Tidying up
So, the car is fixed temporarily. You now need to pick up, clean, and pack away all the equipment you have used, including the damaged tyre. Try to get into the habit of putting it all away correctly, so that is ready to be used again next time.

Reduced speeds with the spare tyre
Most spare tyres have a label on them, stating that the maximum permitted speed on that tyre is 80Kph, or 50mph. This is because the tyre is normally narrower than the other tyres, which in turn means that there is less grip for steering, acceleration, and braking than the other tyres.

If using the sealant can, I believe that the speed is still limited, and you should only travel a short distance on that damaged tyre.

Getting the tyre fixed or replaced
Get the tyre fixed or replaced as soon as you can. The longer you delay it, the more likely you are to forget about it, until the next puncture, when you will wish that you had not delayed the repair. 
 
Damage to the tyre may need the tyre to be replaced because of the size, the type, or the position of the damage. Do not hesitate… get the problem fixed!
 
As a general rule, you only have a puncture at any one or combination of the following situations:

You are in a hurry
It is raining
It is dark
It is snowing
It is muddy
It is a client’s first driving lesson
You are on a massive hill
You have just changed a tyre a couple of miles ago
You are smartly dressed.

Can I suggest the following?
You keep a torch in the car
You know where the locking wheel-nut key is
You learn how and where to put the jack
You keep a couple of plastic or rubber gloves in the boot with the jack etc
You keep an old car mat spare in the boot, for you to kneel on, or to put the nuts on

And most importantly…
You practice!

 It's cold, dark and wet, and everyone just  wants to get "there" as quickly as possible.



I think the above statement sums up a typical winter afternoon/evening quite well. It also hints at some of the problems ahead, for drivers, riders, and walkers alike. 
 
Cold and wet weather can very easily produce condensation in vehicles and a rider's helmet visor. It produces the perfect conditions for pedestrians to start hurrying, with their hoods up, and umbrellas and eyes down;  hardly conditions to encourage good levels of awareness! According to the Highway Code, wet roads can double the stopping distance of a vehicle, due to reduced grip
between tyres and road. The wet leaves lying on the road are not going to help that grip either, if it is very cold, there may also be ice forming, or still lying around from early morning.


When people are in a hurry, they are normally prepared to take risks. Maybe they think they can hurry across the road in a gap that they would not normally even consider as being suitable. Maybe, if they are looking at the oncoming headlights, they do not notice the cyclist coming on his bike, wishing that he had bought new batteries for his lights. Maybe they didn't see the cyclist because they could not see sideways through the hood they are wearing. Maybe the driver cannot easily see the pedestrian, dressed in a long dark coat, with hood up and brolly down, because their  windscreen is still a bit steamed up, and there are hundreds of raindrops on the windscreen, obscuring the driver's  view.


Once the danger is seen, nothing is going to change for at least 2/3second, because that is how slowly the average driver reacts, and New Drivers may take twice as long to identify the scene as
hazardous. At 30mph we are travelling at 13 metres per second; so at least 8metres are going to be covered between seeing the hazard, and starting to brake. I think some "firm braking " is going to be needed... Now! Unfortunately though, we cannot brake too firmly, otherwise we risk losing grip, and control of, the car.


To sum up... Road users are in a hurry, in bad conditions. No-one has good visibility, no-one has good grip, but may still may be legally travelling at 13metres every second, and yet people are still
prepared to take risks.


How can we minimise these risks? Luckily, there are a number of things... The correct mix of screen-wash, that won't freeze in these condition, is a useful starting point, together with a pair of new windscreen wipers to clear the outside of the windscreen. De-icing all of the windows and mirrors will help us to be able to see out. De-misting the insides of all the windows properly before moving off is an absolute necessity. Looking well ahead, and keeping your eyes moving is going to help you have time to see and identify potential hazards before you get too close to them. Anticipating where the next hazard may be, will get the driver ready to react. For example, maybe there is always a deep puddle just around a corner. Or there may be no-one at the Pedestrian Crossing, but you may remember that the school pupils always rush around "that corner" to get to the Crossing point.


Keeping your brakes checked and in good condition will help you slow down the speed of the wheels efficiently. Keeping plenty of even tread on all of your tyres (including any spares) will help those tyres to maintain grip whilst slowing down. Tyre pressures are also extremely important. If tyres are incorrectly inflated, it can affect road-holding capabilities when turning, aquaplaning, endurance of the tyre, fuel consumption, as well a braking capabilities.


The type of tyre used, and it's tread pattern. Some tread patterns are designed for higher speed driving, such as  motorways. Some are designed for maximising grip in wet conditions. Standard
tyres are designed for general use, but their grip and efficiency reduces greatly at temperatures lower than 7 degrees centigrade. Winter tyres are made using a rubber mixture that does not become stiff or brittle in cold conditions, and therefore are much more suitable for cold seasons. There is a marked improvement in steering and braking control in cold conditions when changing
from standard to winter tyres. The tyres can be swopped over at the beginning and end of the cold seasons. Some garages will even store your unused tyres, ready to swop back for you as the seasons
change.


Reducing your speed can greatly reduce your stopping distances. For example, using wet road braking distances: Reducing speed from 60 to 30mph will reduce the stopping distance from 146m to just 46 metres, From 40 to 20mph reduces the stopping distance from 72m to 24metres. So, halving your speed reduces your stopping distance to a third, not by a third,  but to a third. Reducing speed from 30 to 20mph will halve the stopping distance.


To sum up... In bad conditions, road users need to be able to see the hazards, and be seen They need to be able to react promptly. They need to be able to stop promptly, in control.


The answers...?
 Don't rush 
Clear the windows and mirrors properly, and keep them clear 
See and be seen. 
Be considerate to other road users 
Is it safe? Are you sure? 
Maintain your vehicle properly, maybe timing the annual service to be ready for winter 
If in doubt slow down. 
If you are still in doubt, maybe you should stop? 

What are they for?

The aim of a roundabout is to keep traffic flowing whilst arriving and departing in different directions, within a restricted area.

Basic principles of dealing with roundabouts:
Wveryone will always drive clockwise round the roundabout.
Start preparing for the roundabout as soon as you are aware that it is getting close. The earlier you start preparing, the earlier you will be ready for it. The earlier you start looking at the traffic flow on the roundabout, the easier you will find it to merge into the flow of traffic.

Give priority to traffic approaching from your right, unless directed otherwise by signs, road markings or traffic lights

Normally, "Left & Ahead is the Left hand lane, Right and right round, use the right hand lane" If this rule does not apply, there will be signs warning you how to choose your lane, as you approach the roundabout.

If there are not multiple lanes on the approach road, try to show your intentions by moving towards the left or right edge of the one lane that is available to you.

When your junction is the next one on the left, check your mirrors, signal left, and start "unwinding" towards and into the left lane (or part of the single lane).

If there are two lanes approaching the roundabout, there will be two lanes on the roundabout itself, but there may not be two lanes in the exit you are leaving on.

Mini ones, normal ones, large ones, multiple ones:

Mini roundabouts are normally in very restricted, normally slow-speed areas, such as housing estates. They are normally just a circle of paint on the road, rather than a "structure". This means that, if needed, vehicles can drive onto the paint without damaging anything. It is important to remember that you should always aim to drive round the roundabout, not over it. Larger vehicles may not be physically able to turn the vehicle in such a small area, and this way, they are able to turn without damaging road or vehicle.

Normal Roundabouts are normally a 4-way junction, with a (typically) grass "hub" in the centre. There may be one or two lanes on each approach route. They can be found at the edges of towns, or through roads, taking traffic round towns, where there is more room available.

Large Roundabouts are normally found on the outer ring-roads of a town, on dual carriageways, at motorway junctions, or other major road junctions They will normally have four or more junctions, and at least two lanes on the approaches. The flow of traffic may be controlled by traffic lights onto and on the roundabout. More and more roundabouts are being changed to "spiral lanes" where you get into the lane you need as you approach the roundabout, and then that lane will spiral off at the exit you want, if you have chosen the correct lane to start with. The Golden Rule here is that once you are in a lane, you need to stay in that lane, even if it takes you the wrong way. If you start changing lanes on these roundabouts, you are likely to be putting yourself and others in danger.

Multiple roundabouts are just that... multiple roundabouts. They are not "double roundabouts"; they are two different roundabouts that happen to be close, or next to, each other. Each roundabout should be treated as a separate roundabout. To my knowledge, there will always be a Give Way line between the two roundabouts. You deal with the first roundabout, and then approach, and give way, at the next one.

Advance warning signs, and lane warnings.

Mini roundabouts often do not have any signs showing destinations. There should always be a blue circular sign with three white arrows pointing in a clockwise circle. It will be at the entrance to the mini-roundabout. It can be used to judge the location of the roundabout, as you may not be able to see the roundabout as you approach, maybe due to traffic or parked cars.

Normal and larger sized roundabouts will have destination signs as you approach: green ones are for distant destinations on major routes, white ones show local destinations, and minor roads.

If the lane design is NOT normal, then there should also be a white sign showing the lanes needed to get to the different exits. There should also be white information painted on the roads. If you choose and get into the wrong lane, go where that lane takes you, you can always find somewhere safe to turn round after the roundabout, and try approaching it again.

Approach speeds

Generally, you can approach the entrance to a roundabout at a running speed, and in the correct gear for that speed. Most of the traffic on a roundabout will be travelling at some sort of running speed, it may be a jog, or it may be a sprint speed. All of these speeds can normally be achieved in second gear. At this speed, you can continue onto the roundabout, mixing with the other traffic, which will be doing a similar speed. If you need to stop and wait for a break in the traffic, it is very easy to stop quickly from a running speed, in a short distance.

Look into the future for a gap that you will be able to use.

By this I mean that you should try to look ahead of yourself, so that you may be able to predict when there will be a gap in the traffic flowing on the roundabout, that you may be able merge into.

You may be able to notice that a vehicle is joining the roundabout at junction 1, with its right indicator showing, signalling that it will be turning to his right, or junction 4. That means that it will be blocking junctions 2 and 3. That, in turn, means that the traffic in junction 3 will have to give way to the vehicle coming from their right. There might well be a gap in the traffic flow that you may be able to use to your advantage.

Lane discipline.

Generally, if you are going to exit at either junction 1 or 2, you will be approaching in lane one, and staying in that lane.

If you are turning right, or right round, back the way you have come from, you will approach in the right hand lane, and stay in that lane until you pass the junction before yours. At that point you should carefully “unwind” into lane 1, to exit the roundabout in lane 1. If your exit has two lanes, you can exit straight into lane 2, but be aware that lane 2 may merge back into lane 1 within a very short distance.

How and when to signal.

The principle for signalling is to show your general exit direction as you approach it, and then signal left when your junction is the next road on your left.

If you are taking the first exit on the roundabout, then you will signal left as you approach the roundabout, and keep it on until you leave it.

If you are going right (or right round) at the roundabout, you should signal right as you approach the roundabout, keeping it on until your exit becomes the next one on your left, at which time you should signal left.

If you are taking an intermediate exit, do not signal until your exit is the next one on your left. Your lane position will indicate your general intention, until you can confirm it with a left indicator.

The "12 O'clock Rule".

Is a myth. It does not exist in the Highway Code. It is not a Rule, because it does not, and cannot, apply to all roundabouts. Many roundabouts have the second exit (the road Ahead) which is located before or after the 12 O’clock position.

At all times, be aware of pedestrians crossing near the roundabout, vehicles which may be straddling lanes, either through necessity or by mistake, motorcyclists which may be in your blind spots whilst you are turning, and for cyclists or horse-riders, who may take a position different to motor vehicles. They are generally advised to stay on the outside edge of the roundabout, nearest any pavement, even though they may be turning right at the roundabout. They should use arm signals to inform other road users of their intentions.

Above all, be aware of the movements of other road users, and how they may affect you.
Keep an eye on where you are exiting, and stay in the lane you need to be in.
Signal as soon as you can without confusing others.
Travel at a steady speed on the roundabout, so that others can make plans based on your speed and position.

I was driving to a client this morning, and braking gently to join the back of a  traffic queue. As we all came to a halt, I noticed that I could not see one of  my brake lights being reflected back from the vehicle behind me.
Luckily it was dry, and 16degrees, and I also had two other brake lights working.

I know that some may consider me as a bit of a  dinosaur, who learnt to drive before they invented electric indicators. Lucky I remember how to use arm signals as indicators and brake warnings. Reaching a garage safely, I got a replacement bulb. Even more luckily, I had a suitable screwdriver in the car. Having replaced the bulb, I found that the brake light was still not working, nor was the indicator , nor was the reversing light. Hmmm....

A trip to the Ford garage resulted in my car being squeezed into a fully-booked workshop, to find out what the problem is.

When I bought the car, Bristol Street Ford very kindly agreed to wire my illuminated roofbox into the lighting cables at the back of the car, as an "off the record" favour. Unfortunately, ever since then, rainwater has been dripping along the cable, down into the wiring plug in the rear lighting assembly, corroding the plugs  and bulb connections. When I replaced the bulb, I disturbed the
corrosion and it no longer works. The car will need a new bulb holder, and complete wiring plug. The roofbox wiring also needs to be "adapted" so that the water cannot drip into the lighting again.
Hopefully the parts will be delivered to Bristol Street Ford in Cheltenham first thing tomorrow, and the work carried out immediately.
Hopefully today's and tomorrow morning's clients can move their lessons to later on in the weekend, so as not to slow the progress they are making.
Despite the fact that the roofbox wiring is not
covered by Ford's warranty, Ford are replacing the bulb assembly, the wiring connection plug, and the roofbox wiring under the Ford warranty. It will be done as soon as the parts arrive tomorrow (hopefully).

Many thanks to the Service Team at Ford in Cheltenham for fantastic and prompt support, and to my clients who are able to change their plans to fit in with this problem.
http://www.bristolstreet.co.uk/find-a-dealer/ford-cheltenham/ford-fiesta-in-cheltenham/

Transport Research Laboratory’s report

There have been articles appearing in the media about changes to the way “Young Drivers” can learn to drive.
There has been research and questions asked about how to improve driver training.

Please remember that nothing has been decided yet, nor will anything be decided for a long time.

At present, people can start learning to drive on the public highways at the age of 17. They can take their Driving Test at 17, and once they have passed the Test, they are then able to drive on any public roads, anywhere in Britain, without any further training, or any limitations other than limitations that apply to all drivers. 
That means that a Young Driver can pass their Test, and then drive straight from the Test Centre where they live, along any motorway, at any time of day, in any weather conditions, in any traffic conditions, to any destination they wish, as long as they and the car are on the road legally.

Government Press Release. It seems that the Overhaul of Driver Training was instigated by British Motor Insurers concerned about the high insurance premiums being charged to Young Drivers, not by Bodies wanting to improve Road Safety. 
I think the priority is wrong. Surely we should be concentrating on improving the quality of British Driving because it will save lives and injuries, not because of the price of insurance? The insurance premiums should naturally reduce in time to reflect the lower risks of driving. It should not be the reason for improving Driver Safety. 

I have just been viewing the BBC website to find out what has been published by them.

They mention a minimum learning period of at least one year, including at least 100 hours of supervised driver training, and at least 20 hours of supervised driver training at night. 
It does not state that all those hours have to be with an Approved Driving Instructor.
I am a firm believer that the more hours of constructive driving experienced, the better the driver will become, regardless of age.

Once the test is passed, there will be a Probationary period, which could include a curfew, and those under 30 will be banned from carrying passengers also under 30.
I think this is unlikely to work in its present wording; how will a new father under 30 years old carry his new child to school, hospital, shopping etc?
How will the Probationary Driver be able to receive further training if their Approved Driving Instructor is also under 30?

There is talk of a lower alcohol limit for Probationary Drivers.
I think it should be at least lowered for everyone. Could it be an alcohol limit of Zero? Why not?

Statistics show that 20% of deaths on British roads involved drivers aged 17-24 years old.
That is a very high, and scary statistic, which needs to be improved drastically, and fast.

Who is driving for the other 80% of the deaths? 
Why are all drivers not being targeted to improve road safety?

According to ROSPA (Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents):

In the mid 1980s there were about 5500 road deaths each year. In 2012 there were 1754 road deaths.
This drop in numbers is encouraging, and shows that British drivers are becoming safer. 
Are British Drivers becoming safer, or are the roads they are driving on becoming safer?

But we still need to remember that 5 people die on British roads EVERY DAY, and that does not include all the others who are injured, or those, including close and distance family members who are traumatised. That is a horrendous statistic. It has to be changed, across the whole range of ages, not just one section.

RoSPA's Causes of road deaths in the UK states:
Common causes of these unnecessary tragedies include:
Speeding
Around 400 people a year are killed in crashes in which someone exceeds the speed limit or drives too fast for the conditions.
Drink Driving
Around 280 people die a year in crashes in which someone was over the legal drink drive limit.
Seat Belt Wearing
Around 200 lives each year could be saved if everyone always wore their seat belt.
Careless Driving
More than 300 deaths a year involve someone being "careless, reckless or in a hurry", and a further 120 involve "aggressive driving".
At-work
Around one third of fatal and serious road crashes involve someone who was at work.
Inexperience
More than 400 people are killed in crashes involving young car drivers aged 17 to 24 years, every year, including over 150 young drivers, 90 passengers and more than 170 other road users.

I think what we need to do now is to improve our skills of controlling the vehicle, and our awareness of risk factors. This is nothing more that we are trying to do at present. 
Choose an Approved Driving Instructor who can help you learn to drive safely.
Learn to drive safely, with a safe attitude, and you should be able to minimise the risks in driving.

We cannot wait until there is a new Law before we bother trying to stay safe.. that could be another two years away, or more. With 1754 road deaths each year, we cannot wait that long. 

When the Government has made its decision, we can work from there. 

Once we have "sorted" the "Young Drivers", perhaps we need to urgently start on all the other Drivers as well.

I travelled 300 miles yesterday, mostly along the M4 and M25.
 
I was prepared for middle-lane hoggers, tail-gaters, speeders, and huge amounts of commuters all trying to switch lanes into gaps between cars that were simply not big enough.
 
What I found was free-flowing traffic (admittedly large volumes of it), travelling at sensible speeds, and with good gaps between them. Despite the large amount of traffic, I reached my destination much earlier than I expected.

I even found drivers using the services to take a break, walk around a bit, have some refreshments, and then continue driving. Typically this break was for about 20 minutes.
 
I was beginning to think that there had been a massive change in driver attitudes about motorway driving... could everyone have seen the light, understood the risks, and started driving sensibly?
 
On the way back from London, on a Friday evening (probably the worst commuting time of the week), my Satellite Navigation system showed that the M25 was virtually stationary from junction 9 to 16.

“Here we go; this is where the ‘fun’ will start!” 
No, not a bit of it, well, maybe a tiny bit of it. People were patient, considerate to others. Yes, of course there were a few vehicles cutting across lanes through gaps that were a bit ‘cosy’. On the whole, the traffic stayed safe, and moving, slowly, but moving nonetheless. The variable speed limits were clearly visible on the gantries overhead, and it allowed the traffic to keep moving at a steady, but slow, pace.
 
As the skies got darker, they also got wetter. Dreading the worst, I prepared myself for people driving too close in the new conditions, not adjusting speed or spaces as was needed. Wrong again! Speeds slowed (a bit), gaps increased (a bit), headlights came on, vehicles changed lanes or speeds
smoothly (mostly).
 
What has happened to the reputation of Mad Motorway Motorists? Where
have they gone?

The answer is that I couldn’t find (many of) them. Drivers seem to be recognising the futility of rushing into non-existent gaps at reckless speeds. They seem to be much more relaxed and considerate to others. The vast majority of them are happy to indicate their intentions to others before they change speed or direction. Most of them are happy to reduce their speed to increase a
gap so someone else can use it. Most of them are willing to change lanes early, to create a gap for others to be able to do what they are indicating.
 
Have the motorways become safe places at last? I think the answer (based on that one trip to and from London) is that they have become lass dangerous than before.
 
BUT:
Unfortunately, during the 308 mile trip, I still passed six different “incidents”. They had all made it to the hard shoulder. Four of them involved two vehicles. These all involved large dents and damage to the front of one vehicle, and damage to the rear of the other. My presumption is that cars were following each other too close for the speed they were doing, and the rear vehicles drove into the back of the vehicles in front. It seems that not everyone was thinking about stopping distances and ‘safety bubbles’.
 
One of the others was a trailer that had a puncture, and had swerved hard before stopping. 

The final one involved an articulated lorry and a small car. The car had damage to the front left corner of the engine bay, and it was facing “upstream” to the traffic. You can only wonder what had happened for this to be the result.

All the incidents were being attended and helped by either the Police or the Highways Support Agency vehicles.
 
So it seems that although people are conscious of the risks of high-speed driving, there are still people who are willing to risk their (and others’) safety in the hope that they will get to their destination just a few minutes faster than the rest of us.



It seems that the old system of; 
Look Well Ahead, 
Keep Your Eyes Moving, 
Spot The Problems, 
KEEP SPACE, and 
Be Seen 
are still as important as ever.


Driving at speed is tiring: take a break before  you get tired. Get out, walk around, eat or drink something. Drive on when you are ready. Do it again when you need to. 

Constant monitoring of your;
Mirrors, signals, positioning, speed and gears, and looking well ahead
is just as vital here as it is on any other road.
 
Thank goodness that the emergency services are still able to monitor
the busy roads, and react to whatever they find.

Thank goodness that the motorways have still got hard shoulders that
are used as hard shoulders, not full of other traffic when used as extra lanes
where there is congestion. 

Thank goodness that the only ambulance I saw all day was parked in the
Chievely Service area.

The Highway Code (Motorways)

We've just completed a 2-hour driving session, using the country roads of the Cotswolds, to practice anticipating the next potential hazard that we may come across, and how are we going to prepare to deal with it. 
We were getting quite good at thinking about the tractor that may appear, the amount of pheasants on the road, the steep damp narrow roads, the areas of loose gravel at the bottom of those hills, and how our grip is affected by all of these.

In a few months time, we might also have to think about the possibility of;
being blinded by the sun, low in the sky, as we come over the crest of a hill,
driving round a corner, straight into a deep puddle lying across the road,
deer moving from woodland to grasslands and dawn or dusk,
patches of fog in the bottom of dips in the countryside,
icy sections of roads, where the sun never reaches the tarmac because it is in the trees,
the list can go on, and could be endless.

Tyres are designed to be used at specific pressures on specific cars, to produce the optimum amount of grip.
Windows are designed to be seen through. If they are dirty, or covered in snow or ice, or misted up on the inside, you won't be able to see where the road goes, and what the next hazard is.
Lights are designed to shine brightly, but if they are covered in mud, frost or snow, they cannot do the job they are there to do.

Drive safely, expect the unexpected, and be ready to react to whatever may be next.

I have just introduced a new system for booking and paying for lessons.
The idea is that the customers will pay a deposit upfront for their driving lessons.
The deposit is non-refundable, and valid for one calender month from the date of payment. The lessons can be taken at any time that is available in my work diary; it can moved earlier or later through the month, but only within that calender month.
If you use up the deposit before the month is finished, then you are able to pay another deposit, which will be valid for a month from that date.
There is no penalty for late cancellations.
There is discount available for booking block lessons.
Payments can be made by cash or cheque, by PayPal, or direct payment into a bank account.
If you would like to, you can start using this system immediately, rather than waiting until 15th October, which is the official start date for the change.

I have decided that the block booking payment will be enough to cover 8 hours of driving, because the majority of customers normally have one 2-hour session each week, totalling 8 hours per month. The discount will drop the hourly rate from £24 per hour, to £22.50 per hour.

If you want to continue paying each week, then you will need to pay a week in advance, and there will no discount available for this system of paying. 

More details are available on my Terms & Conditions Page

It's Autumn again.

Those words that the Weathermen love to bandy about:
Shorter days, Sunshine and showers, sun low in the sky, lovely clear frosty mornings,
misty patches. To a photographer these phrases may produce all sorts of ideas for beautiful, atmospheric landscape photos. Then that same photographer has to think about driving to the correct place to take the photos.
They become a different challenges.
Shorter days. The sunrises later, and sets earlier. Many commuters will be driving in the dark both to and from work, maybe for the next 4 months. If the sun does appear during the drive, it will be coming slowly just over the horizon, shining brightly along the roads, and into mirrors.
Sunshine and showers. That means the sun could well be shining brightly, and reflecting off wet tarmac or puddles, back up off the road, into a driver's eyes. That same sun is going to produce areas of bright sunshine, and areas of deep shadows.
It's raining, then it's not, then it is again. Wipers on, wipers off, wipers on again. Are the wiper blades sliding smoothly and quietly across the screen, clearing all the liquid as it goes? If the wipers are not doing their job, get rid of them. Replace them as soon as you can with a new set. Sunglasses on, sunglasses off. Do they keep steaming up when you wear them? Maybe you need to bring them into the house with you at night, so they don't get so cold at night, so they don't steam up as soon as they get close to your warm face.
Clear frosty mornings. Make sure the windscreen (both inside and out) and mirrors are completely clear of frost, ice, or snow before you drive off. There is no point driving, if you cannot see where you are driving, and is it safe to drive there? No harsh braking, no harsh steering, no harsh acceleration. Drive smoothly.
Make sure that your lights are visible, and working. It is also a legal requirement to ensure your number plate is visible. Highway Code rules Icy and snowy weather (228 to 231).
Misty patches. They are so atmospheric, peaceful, and beautiful to a photographer, sudden and frightening to a driver. That same driver may be driving safely along a dry bright road, and go round a bend, or into a dip, or up over a slight rise, or a bridge, and drive straight into a patch of mist or fog, where the road surface will be damp, the temperature will be colder because the sun cannot burn through the mist onto the road surface, and, of course, that same driver can see considerably less than just a few moments ago. This needs an urgent but careful reduction in speed, to match the sudden change in visible stopping distance.

The general guidance and advice would be to give yourself extra time to warm the car up before travelling. Make sure you can see out of all the windows and mirrors, that the wipers are working properly, and be prepared for sudden changes in weather and driving conditions. Keep back from the vehicle in-front, giving you more time to slow down gradually. Be aware.

Further suggestions and Rules can be found in: 
My Pages on driving in bad weather
The On-line Highway Code

Is it safe? Am I sure?

During my commute to work on Saturday through the Forest, I came across a scene on the road.

Two vehicles  were damaged, on the same side of the road. A lady was wandering around on the grass verge flapping her arm about, and a man was staggering across the road in front of me, and then collapsed onto the other grass verge...

Mirrors, hazards lights on, stop somewhere safe... No phone signal!

She's screaming, so she's alright for a bit. He's rolling around a bit, struggling to breathe, complaining about a pain in the chest.. No obvious injuries, no blood, no gurgling noises. Yes he had been wearing a seatbelt, yes the airbags had gone off, yes, of course its going to hurt! 

Check the vehicles.. Are there any other passengers or casualties? No! Thank goodness for that!

Someone finds a signal and calls in for help. 

Luckily there was an Event happening at the Speech House field. One of the guys was an ex combat medic, and called in their own paramedic car from Beechenhirst. They turned up fast, and started working with the two casualties.

Car engines were off, but the rear windscreen washer was going at full squirt,  as if it was trying to help wash the debris off the road. Some of the Event guys turned up with some big bolt cutters to isolate the battery, permanently. The rear washer gave up and waited for the council road sweeper to take over cleaning the Tarmac.

Paramedic car turns up, calm, caring,  organised, efficient. Brilliant. Nothing for us to do now except make sure the other traffic turns round safely, they will have to find their own diversion route. 

Remember what you saw, nothing more, nothing less. Someone mentioned seeing something, but I didn't see it, so I won't talk about it. Dont forget anything that I did see. The police will need everything I can give them, but it must be accurate. 

Ambulance turns up soon after the fast response car had arrived. They start doing their thing, dealing with the casualties, making notes of the damage to the cars and drivers seats, with photos to back it all up, presumably incase the hospital staff need to check the possible cause of an injury, to work out how much force was involved in the collision.

Police turn up. They are organised. They have obviously had too many chances to work out the best system to use to check safety, find witnesses, check casualties, keep traffic away from the scene. Road blocks are in place straight away. Casualties and witnesses are talked to, to get the basic information. Photos are taken, visibility and lighting conditions are checked. Tyres are checked to see if a puncture was the cause of the collision. No, not this time. Then to start talking to witnesses in more detail this time.. Was I the first one on scene? What did I see? Who got out of which vehicle? Where did they go? What did they say? Who moved that bit of debris? From where? Why? Were the vehicle engines still running? Who turned them off? Where are the keys?more questions, more questions.

Ambulance is on its way back, road is cleared enough to allow traffic to pass, while recovery vehicles are organised for the two cars.

My incar Video recorder has recorded my drive, and the whole scene as it happened. It turns out that I arrived immediately after the impact, and the car was still spinning on the Tarmac. Clouds of radiator steam and airbag gases pouring out of each vehicle. Drivers escaping out of the cars, and then going into shock. Crowds of people running from the Event to see if they can help. Unfortunately I was not in the right place at the right time to see the collision happen. I was about two seconds too late, so it wasn't recorded, but the cause is thought to be known.

Apparently, it is believed that, allegedly...

 A vehicle was driving to the Event. The driver passed the entrance before the driver had a chance to slow safely, so the car was driven to the next junction to turn round safely. As the car was approaching the entrance from the other direction, the driver was looking into the field to ensure it was the right Event. Unfortunately, the driver then turned across the road, into the gateway, just as another vehicle was driving along the road in the opposite direction.

I was told later in the day that both drivers were out of hospital, bruised and battered, but safe. "Good news - incredibly lucky, the best result possible in the circumstances".

Two vehicles collided

Two casualties

Two paramedic vehicles used

Two police vehicles used

Two vehicles written off

( and a two hour commute )

Next time you hear me ask " is it safe, are you SURE?" you know why I am asking. 

Scanning and Planning. 

All-round Awareness. 

If you're not sure, slow down!

It all makes sense.

The news tonight reported that well over 100 vehicles were involved in a massive collision on a bridge leading off the Isle of Sheppey during this morning's commuting time.

Amazingly, thank goodness, there were no fatalities.

The news reported that the bridge has no hard shoulder running along the edge of it. There is no lane dedicated for use by the Emergency Services in the event of an emergency. There is no lane that vehicles could use in an emergency to avoid colliding with, or being hit by, other vehicles.  There is no lane that could be used in an emergency by people trying to leave the site of a collision, without having to clamber around the vehicles involved in the collision. 

There a plans by the Government, to start using existing hard shoulders as extra lanes on some motorways, to ease congestion, at very little cost. They say that there will be refuges for emergencies every half mile or so.

 I beg to suggest that we should keep our hard shoulders as hard shoulders, to be used whenever there is an emergency. As shown by today's event, emergencies can happen at any time, with almost no warning. Although today's cars are very reliable mechanically, I suggest that we cannot plan ahead for a collision, and clear the hard shoulder ready for the Emergency Services. That hard shoulder needs to be available all the time.

The news also reported that there were no gantry signs above the carriageway so that the speed limit could be lowered in the event of fog.

Surely the drivers can see the vehicles ahead of them disappearing into mist or fog, and start adjusting their speed and "safety bubble" accordingly? Surely it makes sense for people to drive with enough space in front of them, to be able to slow or stop safely? In fact, The Highway Code states in Rule 126:

"leave enough space between you and the vehicle in front so that you can pull up safely if it suddenly slows down or stops. The safe rule is never to get closer than the overall stopping distance (see Typical Stopping Distances diagram, shown below)

allow at least a two-second gap between you and the vehicle in front on roads carrying faster-moving traffic and in tunnels where visibility is reduced. The gap should be at least doubled on wet roads and increased still further on icy roads

remember, large vehicles and motorcycles need a greater distance to stop. If driving a large vehicle in a tunnel, you should allow a four-second gap between you and the vehicle in front.

If you have to stop in a tunnel, leave at least a 5-metre gap between you and the vehicle in front."

I am well aware that if you leave a gap in front of you, that it will be filled by someone else. If that happens, just ease off the gas pedal for a few seconds and build up the safety gap in front of you again. Even if you have to do that a number if times on a journey, then you will only arrive at your destination a few seconds later than you planned. That extra time would probably less less time than you having to wait at a red light at a junction, that's all.its not a lot. It's not going to get you sacked.

Surely it makes sense to drive safely, carefully, and with enough attention to be able to see what is happening around you, and to do something about it when it starts happening?

Why do people drive so fast and so close to each other, that a collision is inevitable when something goes wrong?

If in doubt, slow down. 

If still in doubt, stop. 

You cannot hit anything if you are not moving. 

Leave enough time to complete your journey safely. Do not rely on luck, and the fact that you've survived without crashing so far, that it's not going to happen to you. It has just happened to over 100 families. Luckily, today, in that particular collision, there were no deaths. There were some serious injuries, but there were no deaths, this time. Despite that, over 100 families have been directly affected by that collision today. Over 100 extended families are changing the way they think about travelling.

Please, learn from others, drive safely. You are responsible for your actions and your safety. No-one else, just you.

http://www.andrewknightdriving.org.uk/driving-in-the-fog.html

Mrs. Ledys Rowe
XXXXX
Shurdington
Cheltenham
GL51 XXX

19th August 2013

To Whom It May Concern

I am writing to recommend Andrew Knight as a fully qualified, knowledgeable and experienced Driving Instructor.

Although I obtained my driving license in my home country of Venezuela in 1989, also my USA (Texas) driving license in 2005 and have driven motor cars globally ( Venezuela, Germany, Malaysia, Holland, Italy, USA) for over 20 years I struggled to pass my UK drivers license on two occasions with a previous Driving Instructor based in Cheltenham which shattered my self-confidence.

Andrew restored my self- confidence in just 10 lessons and I successfully passed my driving test at the first attempt under Andrews’s tutorage.

I have no hesitation in recommending Andrew.

Mrs. Ledys Rowe