Making Suitable Progress

Making Reasonable Progress

Making suitable progress is easier than it sounds

When you move off or turn into a new road you should make reasonable progress (accelerate using the power of the engine and the different gears) to a reasonable road going speed. A reasonable road going speed is not necessarily the speed limit. If there are hazards on the road then a lower speed may be more appropriate. As long as you so not show undue hesitation in making progress to a suitable speed then all will be fine.

Maintaining suitable progress along the roads is also important but again, it pays to remember that the speed limit is not necessarily a suitable speed to be doing.

Making Progress

Making Good Progress in town

Town roads are frequently populated with hazards. Stationary vehicles, often parked in daft places. Oncoming vehicles, more junctions to be dealt with and loads of traffic are all common in town settings. Making progress in this setting is difficult. If you are turning into a road with plenty of parked vehicles, especially if it is not the widest of roads, self impose a 20 mph speed limit. If a school is kicking out then maybe 15 mph or even 10 may be more appropriate. No one will thank you for making progress to 30 mph in such circumstances even though it is the speed limit.

As your lessons progress you will become more accustomed to deciding whether your progress and speed is appropriate or not. Guidance helps but making suitable progress is one of those things where your judgement will improve with experience.

As a general rule of thumb, the more traffic there is the gentler you want your progress to be.

Making Progress

Making Suitable Progress in the countryside

Making suitable speeds in the countryside depends largely upon how far you can see. Quite often the speed limit is 60 mph even though it is nothing like suitable. Making reasonable progress in the countryside can be more difficult because the road conditions change quicker.

There are places that you could not make progress to 60 mph but that is still the speed limit. For example in the countryside there may not be any warning at all of a bend of up to ninety degrees or more. Try to take this corner at sixty and you will fly through the hedge. In these areas you should still make good progress but only up to a suitable speed for the road ahead of you that you can see to be safe. Reasonable progress is good but you must stay safe.

The thing to remember is that if you can stop within the distance that you can see then you are safe. You should not make progress to a speed higher than this under any circumstances.

Making Progress

Making suitable progress - Courtesy to animals

In the countryside different hazards are often apparent, they affect your progress. Horses and pedestrians are the two most common examples. Pedestrians of course will be walking towards you on your side of the road where there is no footpath. That is something that should slow you down if you are heading towards a left hand bend that you cannot see around. You may feel in complete control of the car but could you swerve around a pedestrian safely if one appeared suddenly; could you stop if there was an oncoming vehicle? Useful things to bear in mind. Your progress must be reasonable for the area ahead that you can see to be safe.

Horses should be passed slowly and with as much space between you and them as possible. There are no exceptions to this. Accelerate too quickly near a horse and you will know all about it. From both your instructor and the horse! If you have to wait for a while before you can find a place to pass safely then wait. It is the right thing to do. If there is a horse on the other side of the road the correct thing to do is slow down and go by it slowly. The horse may not like the sudden sound of a car engine. Some people seem to have opinions about people who ride horses on the road; you are going to show courtesy to the horse. It did not choose to be there.

As shown in the photograph on the left. Even though riding on the road in broad daylight these horse riders may not be the easiest thing to spot. You should show consideration for circumstances such as this when driving in the countryside. Keep your progress suitable. Reasonable progress takes into account courtesy for other road users as well as road conditions.

On a bendy road suitable progress would be gentler than on a long straight one.

Making progress after passing any animal should be done gently. It is not suitable to progress quickly after passing animals. You may frighten them.

Making Progress

Making suitable progress is a good thing.

Making reasonable progress is suitable for the surroundings.