Fix the bad driving habits

by: Tim HillerbyMorgan

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Date: Sun, 10 Jan 2010 Time: 4:01 AM - 0 comments

This article will will look at about Advanced Driving in the UK. It then outlines the reasons why all drivers should become an advanced driver. The article will finish by looking at the advanced driver routine.

Imagine this situation.

You passed your driving test. It is a year or so since you said goodbye to driving lessons. You have had a couple of scary moments: Those moments when you took a bend a little too fast, or missed a red light.

These are the signs that bad driving habits are creeping in. You have three choices. Carry on as you are and hope that you buck your ideas up. What are you going to do if more bad habits creep in to your driving?

Go back to your driving school and ask the driving instructor for a refresher lesson. A good idea and it will fix the bad habits - for now.

Take a course in advanced driving. This is the best option. It will change the way you drive and could cut your insurance.

What is advanced driving?

Advanced driving is the skill of seeing the problems on the road and choosing the correct position speed and gear to deal with them.

Advanced drivers are constantly aware of what is going on around them and react early to problems.

There are three main dvanced driver organisations in the UK.

Diamond, which is run by the Driving Instructor Association. They will train qualified drivers to a standard which means you could pass your driving test with less than six faults. This is the standard that all driving instructors are expected to reach.

The Institute of Advance Motorists. They train their members in the police advanced driver training system. It is a pass or fail course. The certificate is valid for life.

ROSPA. They are also known as RODAR. ROSPA also use the police advanced driving skills. The certificates are graded bronze silver and gold. Gold is roughly the standard a police officer would reach before starting blue light training. A gold certificate is valid for three years.

Why take an advanced driving course?

To Enjoy Your Driving Driving will become a pleasure. You will see and deal with hazards early. This will reduce your stress levels.

Confidence It turns nervous drivers into good drivers.

To Reduce Your Crash Risk Learn how to be in the right place at the right time.

To Improve Your Fuel Consumption A good driving style could save you a months fuel a year

To Ensure Less Wear and Tear on Your Vehicle Good drivers might never need to change their clutch. Bad drivers end up changing it every few thousand miles

To Lower Your Insurance Premiums 'Nuff said

The advance driving routine

When you were learning to drive your driving instructor taught you the MSPSL driving routine. Every driving school teaches this routine to learners.

MSPSL is a good routine if applied correctly. However, most people leave the looking until the last second. They stop when they don't need to stop and go when they should stop.

The advance driver routine avoids this.

Advanced drivers use the information-position-speed-gear-acceleration routine. This is called ISPGA.

You should constantly gather information about the road around you as you drive along. You need to be aware of everything that is around you. This includes to the sides and behind you. So don't forget to use your mirrors.

Once you see a hazard start to select a safe position. A safe position balances the hazard with traffic flow and vision. As you get closer choose a good speed for that hazard, then select the correct gear for that speed. Increase your speed to the correct speed for the road as you clear the hazard.

The information phase of the routine wraps around all the other phases. You might choose third for a roundabout and then see a car approaching at speed. This will change your choice of speed and gear.