Look, plan, anticipate

Throughout the Young Driver of the Year campaign, three professional drivers will take turns in the driver’s seat to offer specialist advice on subjects Grampian Police consider to be major contributors to road traffic collisions. This week, Sergeant Neil Morrison, of Grampian Police’s road safety unit, gets to grips with observations

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WHAT is a good driver? A good driver should be able to drive safely, in keeping with the road, weather and traffic conditions, and to follow the rules of the road.

But if a driver cannot read the road and anticipate hazards before they arise, all their other efforts could well be wasted.

In other words, good observations can make a good driver better.

If a motorist does not have the ability to see a hazard – and many motorists look without actually seeing – they cannot anticipate what is likely to happen or make crucial decisions about what to do.

Drivers using good observational skills are less likely to be faced with the unexpected. They will also have more time to react and be better placed to deal with situations safely.

The simple use of sight, sound and even smell can help a driver plan a journey more safely. A driver who notices bins waiting to be collected at the side of the road, for example, can anticipate meeting the bin lorry and the bin men working at the back of it, and be prepared to slow down and take appropriate action.

The proper use of mirrors is also important as it allows drivers to keep a constant watch on the whole area around their vehicle, not just on what is immediately in front of them.

If you improve your overall observations by looking, planning and anticipating at all times, you will be taking steps in the right direction to becoming a better, safer road user which could ultimately save your life.