Forward Planning

Forward planning is the skill of planning well ahead

Forward Planning - This is possibly the most important skill that you will learn - Forward Planning

Of all the things that you will be taught forward planning is the most important. If you can imagine all of the other procedures as bricks in a wall then forward planning is the cement.

Driving should be a stress free experience. If you know anyone who becomes stressed while driving they probably either drive too fast for the conditions in which they find themselves or they fail to forward plan effectively. Possibly both.

Imagine that you are in a car which is stationary alongside a lamp post. There is a straight road ahead of you and weather conditions are clear. I want you split the road ahead into three bands based upon distance. The nearest band to you is from the bonnet of your car to the next lamp post, this area is known as the 'near distance'. The second band, known as the the 'middle distance' is from the first to the second lamp posts. Everything between the second lamp post and the horizon is known as the 'far distance'.

Everyone knows to look at their 'near distance'. Beginners generally concentrate on this piece of road more than any other when they first start. It may suprise you to learn that some experienced drivers do too.

Most drivers will look as far as the middle distance but no farther. They find that this keeps them safer and they do not get too many surprises. Occasionally they may find themselves stuck in a position where one driver or another has to reverse out, or manoeuvering very slowly if they find themselves facing someone else whose observation is no better than theirs. If only one of them had looked farther down the road and planned ahead then those situations could be avoided. This is the basis of forward planning.

Your car is moving now and you are turning left. As soon as you are far enough around the corner you should be looking for the 'near distance' in the new road. There may be an immediate meet situation. If there is not then you should check the 'middle distance' for hazards, be they developing hazards or potential hazards. If there is nothing yet that demands your immediate attention then you should look into the 'far distance' for hazards.

This is the pattern of observations that you should develop. Near distance, middle distance, far distance, full set of mirror checks and repeat. As soon as you do find a situation ahead of you that forces you to consider changing speed or direction then you can make an early decision about which procedure to invoke next. It may just be a stationary vehicle, or a meet situation. On the other hand it could be the local idiot emerging from a side road without looking. Every village has at least one!

If you spot a hazard in the near distance then your reaction has got to be immediate. In the middle distance you have a little time to plan ahead. If you can get used to planning in the far distance then you have the makings of a good driver.