The popular media and road safety clubs have long campaigned against high speed driving. There is a great deal of disagreement about this issue. Let's consider the overall effects of high speed driving.
It is the accepted belief worldwide that speed is the number one factor in road incidents and is counteracted through legislation and technology. Use of these has taken away a driver's freedom to plan an acceptable speed in keeping with the driving situation.
A learner driver asked why the standard urban speed limit in the United Kingdom is 30mph. This is an interesting question. Speed limits relate to stopping distances so a road with junctions, bends and other hazards less than 23 metres apart would need to have a speed limit where a car could stop safely within that distance, namely 30mph. As a road moves away from built up areas and hazards become situated further apart the available stopping distance increases and so the speed limit can increase in accordance.
The trouble here is that a constant speed limit does not take into account random factors in the driving situation. It is a fact that most accidents take place below the posted speed limit. Again driving skills are being eroded as it is the decision taken on a reasonable speed which is a skill whereas simply obeying a speed limit is not. Learner drivers will actively increase speed along a busy road with parked cars and pedestrian activity simply because the speed limit sign makes it legal. They do not yet have the skills required to decide for themselves what a safe speed is and there is definite danger in simply obeying signs. This is common even among qualified motorists. Learners need to be taught to make their own decisions based on what is in front of them to control the level of danger.
Sound laws which reflect society's attitudes usually achieve a high level of voluntary compliance. Laws relating to legal limits do not invite compliance. When a motorist is fined for breaking speed limit laws there is not so much a feeling of guilt about breaking the law, more a sense of being unfairly judged. They have not been judged on the danger level of the driving but on an arbitrary speed limit enforced by a camera. This does nothing to promote respect for motoring law nor to help drivers in their own decision making or sense of responsibility. There is a feeling of entrapment as cameras are placed where a motorist is most likely to break the limit and not where it would be most dangerous to break it.
Upon being caught for speeding a motorist is given the choice of paying a fine and taking points on their license or attending a speed awareness course. From an instructor's perspective the second option is the better yet attendance is regarded with embarrassment by drivers rather than being seen as a learning opportunity. This is a dangerous attitude as it shows a poor view of driver education and yet it is education and responsible free thinking drivers who will make the road safer, not just arbitrary speed limits.
Driving Instruction Check Test Criteria – Risk Management
The test of continued fitness to instruct is changing for driving instructors in order to take a more client centred approach. This replaces a system which placed importance on fault finding and demands more direct pupil involvement. Risk management is a main topic in the new version of the test so let's take a look at this.
Teaching Roundabouts on Driving Lessons
Today's roads feature some very busy and complex roundabouts. Multi lane roundabouts with multiple junctions and tight mini roundabouts occur in close proximity to each other. These environments demand a wide range of driving skills. Let's look at what driver trainers need to teach regarding roundabouts.
What are Traffic Light Workshop Schemes?
When a motorist fails to stop at a red light they may opt to take a traffic light workshop course. This replaces endorsement points and a fine. The course is designed to make motorists aware of the danger of failing to stop at red traffic lights and hopefully change driver behaviour.
