Pass Plus - lesson two
All weather driving
Driving in adverse weather conditions is a challenge that comes to all of us sooner or later
It is much better for you if you have already had some training in the subject. The advice that you receive in this lesson
will help to keep us all safer
There are many different weather conditions that you will encounter whilst driving. Changing weather can be the most dangerous. Some changes in driving conditions are predictable (you would not be suprised if it rained after looking at dark clouds for the last twenty miles) whilst others can take you more by suprise, such as driving from shadow into direct sunlight.
Unfortunately it is a practical impossibility for your instructor to re-create all of the possible variations of weather that they are going to talk to you about in the lesson.
It would be a bloody amazing piece of technology that could perform that trick
and unfortunately we do not posess it yet.
Observation - Vision
We will be talking to you about this in quite some detail. You do not need to be a genius to realise that if you cannot see others or they cannot see you then there is going to be trouble.
The importance of being seen can not be underestimated and we will be discussing the different weather conditions that can create problems, not just the obvious ones. Reflection and dazzling and how to cope with both of them whilst driving.
The environmental effects that can be felt inside your vehicle could effect driving too. If the temperature changes quickly enough or more moisture is suddenly found in the air then your screens could mist up. It would be nice to know what to do about that wouldn't it?
Assessing - Deciding - Acting
In its basic form this is what you do at every junction.
Assess the junction, decide whether it is safe to go or not then either stay or go depending upon your decision. If you did not move then you simply repeat the process until it is safe.
There are however factors that need to be taken into consideration when dealing with bad weather. Ask yourself some of the more basic questions. How would you predict and compensate for a really fast crosswind? What is the fog code? Do you know what differences in particular the different weather types have upon the road surface and your braking distances?
The answer to the last one may seem obvious but think about it a little. Some weather may cut your visibility but not your grip. Wouldn't it be great to automatically know the answers to these questions and more?
Skidding
Much to the consternation of many this is not something that we intend to practice on the public roads. Our intention is to highlight for you the main causes of skidding. Explain the contributory factors, which can be both human as well as mechanical, and make sure that you understand how to correct a skid should you ever be unfortunate enough to be involved in one.
Pass Plus deliberately excludes teaching high speed skidding which has been shown to encourage new drivers to attempt to practise and so increase their accident risk.
(When I first read the paragraph above in the official instructor guide to the pass plus course I thought that they were kidding. Then I remembered the mad people I see on the roads every day and had no trouble at all believing it).
Alcester, Ansley, Arley, Atherstone, Barwell, Bedworth, Bulkington, Coleshill, Coventry, Earl Shilton, Fenny Drayton, Galley Common, Higham on the Hill, Hinckley, Kenilworth, Leamington Spa, Mancetter, Nuneaton, Polesworth, Rugby, Southam, Stratford upon Avon, Studley, Warwick, Wellesbourne, Whitnash.
