Ian Fido, Head of Training at RED Driving School shares his top tips for staying safe in high winds and precarious weather…

Plan your route and don’t rush

Allow plenty of time for your journey and make sure your car engine is warmed up before you embark. Ensure you have de-iced the vehicle thoroughly and you can see clearly through all windows in your vehicle before you set off. Due to extreme weather, exposed crossings will likely be blocked off, so it’s worth checking for any closures before setting off. 

Reduce speed and increase the size of your bubble 

As a first step, reduce your speed. Secondly, try to increase the space around your vehicle. These steps will give you more time to react to any unpredictable situations that may develop

Give more space to motorcyclists and cyclists who are more vulnerable to gusts of wind. For the same reason, on high speed roads be very wary of high sided vehicles. 

Avoid smaller roads 

If possible, avoid smaller roads when travelling, sticking to main roads if possible. Main roads are better lit allowing for more visibility in case of any fallen branches or debris that may have fallen into the road, and are less likely to be blocked by fallen trees. 

Be aware of gaps between buildings and trees

In high winds, gaps in buildings and trees could leave your car vulnerable to unexpected gusts of wind from different directions. Be aware of your surroundings and take adequate preparation when approaching these gaps and leaving plenty of room between yourself and other road users.

Hold onto your doors

When getting into the car – or out of it – be sure to hold tightly onto your doors to avoid them springing away and causing serious damage to a door’s hinges or hitting other cars and objects. 

Invest in all season tyres

All season car tyres combine the best properties of summer and winter tyres to create an all-round performance tyre. By investing in them early, you can avoid the hassle and cost of changing between summer and winter tyres. Regardless of whether you live in a part of the country that’s especially prone to harsh weather and slippery conditions, we’d recommend using Michelin CrossClimate tyres, available through Kwik Fit. 

Pack winter essentials

You never know when you might get stranded due to weather conditions. Be prepared. Pack a torch, a blanket for warmth and portable charging for your device. Your vehicle should always also carry a warning triangle in case of vehicle breakdown. Stay safe!

The post Driving in stormy weather conditions appeared first on RED Driving School.

Let’s start with a bit of context. In the 12 months prior to June, 4,290 pedestrians and 4,700 cyclists were killed or seriously injured on UK roads. The new rules are an opportunity to reduce this figure significantly and prioritise the safety of the most vulnerable road users.

Although the list of changes seems intimidatingly long at first glance, the new rules are both easy to teach for driving instructors and easy to understand for new drivers. At RED we are already incorporating these new rules into our driving lessons and are confident that our students will find them easy to follow.

New drivers often have more recent experience of being a vulnerable road user themselves – either as a pedestrian and/or a cyclist – meaning they often appreciate the need for these changes and as a result are more likely to adopt them.

The potential for difficulty will be getting experienced drivers to follow the new rules as we know it’s tricky to change engrained habits, but by always thinking about Rule H1, the hierarchy of road users, these new rules are easy to remember.

RULE H1: A hierarchy of road users

By all members of the hierarchy looking out for those above them, the Department for Transport aims to create a more mutually respectful and considerate culture of safe and effective road use. The hierarchy is as follows: 

1. Pedestrians
2. Cyclists
3. Horse riders
4. Motorcyclists
5. Cars/taxis
6. Vans/minibuses
7. Large passenger vehicles/HGVs

RULE H2: At a junction, vehicles no longer have priority

Drivers, cyclists and horse riders should now give way to pedestrians crossing, or waiting to cross, a road that you may be waiting to turn into.

RULE H3: Cyclists have right of way

Drivers and motorcyclists are not to cut across cyclists when turning into or out of a junction, or when changing direction or lane. From now on, drivers are meant to stop and wait for a safe gap when cyclists are both near a junction and/or near stationary or slow-moving traffic.

As part of our continued work to ensure safety on the road, we recommend that all experienced drivers take refresher courses to learn any new rules and re-engage with best practice driving. It’s also integral that company car drivers are aware of the changes. At RED, we offer such training to experienced drivers and a range of business services to reduce the road risk of company car, van or goods vehicle drivers.

In light of the changes, the DVSA has reminded their driving test examiners that it will take time for all road users to adapt to the changes, but at RED we are already training our students to these new rules. You can find more detail on these changes over on the Gov website here.

The post Changes to the Highway Code: what to look out for and why they’re a good thing for our vulnerable road users appeared first on RED Driving School.

An MOT is an annual vehicle check set out by the DVSA (Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency). It ensures vehicles are roadworthy, safe and meet environmental and exhaust emissions standards. It is obligatory for your car to have its first MOT three years after being first registered, and then on a yearly basis. Prior to this, there is no legal obligation to undergo testing. There are a few exceptions to the requirements of needing an MOT, such as cars over 40 years old, but even “classics” must still be maintained in a roadworthy condition if driven.

A service is a vehicle inspection based on guidelines set out by your vehicle manufacturer rather than the DVSA; it keeps your car in a reliable, safe, and fully-functioning condition. You should follow the service intervals recommended by the car manufacturer as a minimum. In some ways an MOT test and service are quite similar and both include checks such as tyres, brakes, and seatbelts. However, a service is more comprehensive in that it covers the vehicle health and preventative maintenance – things like oil and filter changes – not just the ‘safety-critical’ aspects of your vehicle.

Over two thirds (67%) of our customers go out and buy a car three months after they pass their test, and many will opt for second hand. This often means the car will need to have an MOT within 12 months of purchase, so we’ve pulled together a handy beginner’s guide in partnership with our friends at Michelin and Kwik Fit, to help you understand the rules and regulations for MOTs.

If your vehicle fails its MOT test it means it is deemed not fit for the road and cannot be driven further. You can receive a fine of up to £2,500 for driving without a valid MOT. Penalties can also include points on your licence or a driving disqualification in more severe cases. Whilst the financial costs can be steep, they are nothing compared to the risks of the safety of you, your passengers and other drivers.

How do you avoid failing an MOT?

During an MOT, a car is tested on a wide range of safety aspects including vehicle identification number, windscreen, seatbelts, emissions, mirrors and brakes.  

You can find additional information about each of these components as well as other aspects of the MOT test on the GOV.UK website. 

Whilst they might appear obvious, there are some pitfalls that are vital to watch out for before sending your car off for an MOT, some of which we have detailed below. 

Lighting and signalling

Just under one fifth of cars fail their MOT because of an issue with their lights. Often, this will be as simple as a blown bulb.  Some people retro-fit their halogen headlamps with LED bulbs to improve the brightness, but this is now grounds for an MOT fail. Make sure that you check your lights before getting your car tested – switch all your lights on and walk around your car to check they’re in working order.

Tyres

A car can have every safety system known to man, but if the tyres aren’t up to scratch, this is all irrelevant.  It is vital to check tread depth, ideally with a tyre tread depth gauge. Don’t have one to hand? This can be done by inserting a 20p coin into the grooves on the tyre. If your tyres are within the legal limit then you should not be able to see the outer band of the coin and if you can, get them checked out and changed prior to your MOT. If this is the case, we recommend our partner Michelin for new tyres you can trust.

Issues affecting a driver’s view of the road

Unsurprisingly, a clear view of the road is vital for safe driving. The view can be obstructed by items such as sat-navs or air fresheners, or cracks and chips within the driver’s eye-line. 

Finally, book your test as soon as possible instead of leaving it till the last minute. Booking an MOT even a day late can mean your car is then only legal to drive to a test centre for an MOT.

If after reading this you’ve realised that your car is in need of an MOT, book one with Kwik-Fit. They only take an average of 45-60 minutes, and with over 600 MOT test centres throughout the UK, the majority of which are open 7 days a week, it’s no surprise they are the UK’s number 1 MOT tester. 

Remember, if you fail your MOT, you can’t drive away. Top tip… it’s best not to leave an MOT until the day before it’s due. Take your car in two weeks before the expiry date to give yourself time to fix it if needed.

The post A Beginners Guide to MOT appeared first on RED Driving School.

One way drivers consider reducing spend is to buy part worn tyres instead of brand new ones. In a recent survey conducted by RED Driving School in partnership with Kwik-Fit and Michelin canvassing attitudes towards part worn tyres, we found that, despite the risks, almost one-third of the learners (29%) would consider buying part worn tyres.

What are part worn tyres?

As the name suggests, part worn tyres are tyres that have been previously fitted and used on a vehicle.

Respondents to RED’s survey said they’d purchase part worn tyres because they thought they were a cheaper option than new tyres. In addition, several respondents said they’d consider them as a short-term measure if they were experiencing financial hardship.

Why do people buy part worn tyres?

• There are signs it could be a false economy. While the initial outlay may be lower, part worns often end up proving more expensive in the long run. A study by Tyresafe showed that, in terms of lifetime cost per mm of tread wear, a new tyre (typically 7-8mm tread depth) cost around £5.32 per mm vs £6.33 per mm for a part worn with a typical tread depth of 3mm, though they can be legally sold with a tread depth of just 2mm. Driving on tyres less than 1.6mm carries a fine of £2,500 and three penalty points on a driver’s licence per tyre which can result in increased car insurance premiums, so why take the risk? 

• Purchasing used tyres from sellers via online trading platforms might also seem like an attractive option, but it’s not possible to easily identify damage to the tyre and there’s no way of knowing the tyre’s history. There could be accident or kerbing damage that remains undetected. Even a professional inspection might not be able to determine internal condition. It’s a key reason why Kwik-Fit and other reputable retailers have chosen not to sell part-worn tyres. 

The importance of high quality tyres

Tyres are primarily a safety device: they are the only things that connect a car to the road and allow a vehicle to be steered and stopped. On average, 159 people are killed or seriously injured as a result of defective tyre related accidents annually in the UK. Fitting new tyres provides greater reassurance when it comes to safety, and over the life of the tyre, will often result in a lower cost of ownership. Kwik-Fit recommends fitting a premium tyre brand, such as Michelin, budget permitting. If affordability is an issue, the advice is to buy a new mid-range tyre over any part worn tyre, even if the part worn tyre is a premium tyre brand.

You could also consider joining Kwik Fit Club, a subscription scheme that spreads the cost of your tyres over their entire life, avoiding single up-front payments.  It also covers you for any replacement tyres or repairs needed as a result of punctures or damage.

Ultimately, with part worn tyres you could be placing your life and that of others at risk and so we strongly advise all motorists to purchase brand new tyres. No “cost saving” is worth injury or loss of life.

The post The true cost of buying part worn tyres appeared first on RED Driving School.

Car tyre labels are required by a regulation that was introduced by the EU in 2012 to offer more information to consumers on tyre safety, reduce the impact tyres have on the environment and to promote road safety. The legislation was designed to make it easier for motorists to compare the characteristics of different tyres. After 10 years, the regulation is evolving to keep pace with technology and drive tyre development.

From 1^st May 2021, for every tyre sold in Europe, tyre manufacturers must specify the performance of their tyres against revised classifications of fuel efficiency, wet grip, external rolling noise and whether tyres meet specific test standards for severe snow conditions and grip on ice.

Similar in style to energy labels for white goods, tyre labels provide comparable information about a tyre, regardless of the brand or tread pattern. By using clear diagrams, the new tyre labels allow motorists to make informed choices when buying tyres, ranked on a scale from A (best) to E (worst) – a partial rescaling from those previously displayed, where rankings ran from A to G.

Certain types of tyre, such as T-type temporary use tyres, professional off-road tyres, racing tyres, and tyres designed specifically for cars registered before October 1990 are excluded from this regulation.

Tyre labels explained

Fuel economy

Tyre labelling for fuel economy ranges from A to E. Tyres with the best fuel economy have a green A rating. Tyres with the worst miles per gallon (mpg) have a red E rating, and savings are usually calculated over the life of a set of four tyres, or equivalent distance.

For every five tanks of fuel, one is consumed for tyres. With each rotation of the wheel, a tyre is deformed when it comes into contact with the road. As its structure is deformed, the tyre heats up and some of the energy is lost. Reducing this heat build-up makes it possible to lower fuel consumption and in turn decreases greenhouse gas emissions. For a vehicle driving 40,000km / (24,855 miles equivalent)  consuming 150 litres of fuel, there is a 217.50 Euros (£186.31) reduction in fuel costs for a vehicle fitted with A-rated tyre compared with one equipped with E-rated tyres ^(1).

Even within each grade, there are significant differences between tyres.  For example, the Michelin ePrimacy tyre is an eco-responsible summer tyre for petrol, diesel, hybrid and electric vehicles. Michelin ePrimacy tyres have the lowest fuel consumption and CO2 emissions in their category and long-lasting safety, from the first mile to the last.

• Based 1.45€ per litre (Source: avg Ron 95 Unleaded price in UK https://www.drive-alive.co.uk/fuel_prices_europe.html on 12 May 2021). Euros to Sterling conversion rate of 1 Euro = 0.8566p, Bank of England 12 May 2021. The effect may change depending on the vehicle and driving conditions. Performance measured in accordance with the test method set in the regulation UN ECE R117.

Wet grip

Tyre labelling for wet grip ranges from A to E. It uses a gradient colour scale to depict stopping distances in rainy weather: tyres with the shortest stopping distances have an A rating and tyres with longer stopping distances have an E rating.

On average, there is a 9m reduction in braking distance for a vehicle travelling at 50 mph  and equipped with A-rated tyres compared with one fitted with D-rated tyres ^(2).

• Performance of braking from 80 km/h (50mph equivalent) to 20 km/h (12mph equivalent), measured in accordance with the test method set in the regulation UN ECE R117.

Noise

The tyre label for noise uses a tyre diagram with sound wave bars. The overall decibel rating will also be provided, as well as a letter ranking from A to C.

For a vehicle moving at a constant speed of 50 mph, the noise generated by the tyre rolling on the road is generally superior to engine noise. Rolling noise depends on the type of tyres as well as on the road surface. An A-rate tyre is half as noisy as a B-rated tyre^(3).

• Noise is measured on a vehicle travelling at 80 km/h (50mph equivalent) with the engine switched off, measured in accordance with the test method set in the regulation UN ECE R117.

New additions

There may also be icons on the tyre label depicting whether the tyre meets specific standards for use in severe snow conditions, or ice.

Being tyre-savvy can help keep you safe on the road and reduce fuel costs. Make sure you’re up to scratch with tyre-labelling regulation changes so you know what you’re looking for! Our partner, Michelin, has a strong reputation for tyre safety. The Manufacturer makes sure its tyres are engineered to high quality standards and that they are thoroughly proven in repeatable tests on track and then in extensive road testing. Importantly, product quality control is also a key focus.

We also work closely with Kwik Fit, the UK’s leading fast-fit supplier of tyres. Every Kwik Fit centre nationwide offers a free no obligation tyre check and trained technicians will carry out a thorough inspection of all your tyres for free. If you’d like to learn more about checking your tyres, their website includes a variety of resources on maintaining correct tyre pressure, checking tread depth and looking for signs of tyre damage. All the information is also included on their website where you can get all the tyre help you need to help you maintain your tyres in a safe condition!

The post Tyre labelling: what you should know about recent changes to regulation appeared first on RED Driving School.

It is always best to avoid travelling in wintery conditions, but if you want to avoid public transport this year and use the roads come Christmas time, it’s important to make sure you’re prepared. Wintery road surfaces can catch even the most experienced driver off-guard.

Ian McIntosh, CEO of RED Driving School, has some helpful hints on how to stay safe when driving home for Christmas.

Ian says:

Invest in all season tyres

All season car tyres combine the best properties of summer and winter tyres to create an all-round performance tyre. By investing in them early, you can avoid the hassle and cost of changing between summer and winter tyres. Regardless of whether you live in a part of the country that’s especially prone to harsh weather and slippery conditions, we’d recommend using Michelin CrossClimate tyres, available through Kwik Fit. 

Don’t Rush

Allow plenty of time for your journey and make sure your car engine is warmed up before you embark. Ensure you have de-iced the vehicle thoroughly and you can see clearly through all windows in your vehicle before you set off.

Slow down

Road experience aside, no-one has the skill to drive at speed on an icy road – it’s simply not possible. High speeds can make your vehicle difficult to control and even more difficult to stop. Only drive on ice if your journey requires it – when the weather is treacherous, it’s best to stay off the roads.

Take it up a gear

If you have no option but to drive on icy surfaces (and particularly set off on ice), you might find it beneficial to drive in a higher gear, as this can help your tyres to grip to the ice.

Give it space

In snow and ice, stopping distances can be up to 10 times more than usual, so leave a large gap between the vehicles in front and be sure to go slowly. If traffic in front of you starts to slow, gently apply your brakes, as slamming them on can cause you to lose control.

Stay calm in a skid

If your car begins to skid, press down on the clutch and turn the steering wheel into the direction of the skid. As you start to straighten up, steer along the road. It’s important you resist the temptation to brake heavily – this will cause your wheels to lock and you’ll only skid further. 

Take a skid pan training course 

You can prepare yourself for icy conditions with RED’s skid pan training course. Most drivers will at some stage find themselves in a situation where the car is likely to break traction and skid. This unique skid control experience teaches valuable driving skills in a risk-free environment at Donnington driving course. To find out more, please click here. 

Pack winter essentials

You never know when you might get stranded due to heavy snow and snow drifts making roads impassable. Be prepared. Pack a torch, a blanket for warmth and a snow shovel. Your vehicle should always also carry a warning triangle in case of vehicle breakdown. Stay safe!

The post Tips on driving home for Christmas appeared first on RED Driving School.

However, there are some that aren’t as well known that you could be committing without even realising. Here at 10 driving offences that you might have been completely unaware of.

1. Paying with your phone at a drive-through

How could paying with your phone at a drive-through possibly be an offence? Well technically you’re using your phone whilst driving, and there’s been a real crackdown on mobile phone usage behind the wheel. So if you need to pay with your phone, turn your engine off and apply your handbrake!

2. Flashing your lights to give way

The flashing of headlights is allowed, but only for the purpose of letting another driver know of their presence. Therefore flashing your headlights to give way is technically an offence and can lead to a minimum fine of £30.

3. Splashing a pedestrian with rainwater

Splashing a pedestrian with rainwater as you drive past is actually a driving offence. It is illegal to drive “without reasonable consideration for other persons”, including “driving through a puddle causing pedestrians to be splashed” as per the Road Traffic Act 1988. So be careful the next time you’re driving past pedestrians on a rainy day or you could land yourself a fine of up to £5,000.

4. Using your mobile phone as a sat nav in an unfixed position

Many drivers now use their mobile phones as sat navs whilst driving, but this can actually be illegal and lead to a £200 fine and 6 points on your license as per mobile phone laws. In order to avoid this, your mobile phone must be fixed to your windscreen or dashboard, in clear sight as you drive.

5. Dirty number plate

This is one that catches out a lot of drivers and can be easily prevented. It’s required that your registration plate is visible at all times, so if your plate is dirty and preventing just one digit from being clearly visible, you can be given a fine of up to £1,000. Check your number plates are clean before you set off to make sure you don’t get caught out by this one!

6. Parking on the wrong side of the road at night

You can not park on a road at night with your car facing against the direction of traffic as per rule 248 of the Highway Code. This is due to the risk of dazzling other drivers with your headlights as you park and leave as well as your rear light reflectors being covered when you leave your car.

7. Towing an uninsured vehicle

Driving an uninsured vehicle is an offence that’s widely known by motorists, but what about towing an uninsured vehicle? As you may have guessed, towing an uninsured vehicle is also a driving offence. Just because the vehicle is broken down, it doesn’t stop being a vehicle that needs to be insured.

8. Using the horn between 11.30pm and 7am in a built-up area

Although many of us probably think of this as general etiquette to not disturb people whilst they’re sleeping, it’s actually a driving offence. Whilst unlikely to be charged by a police officer if caught, it’s still technically a driving offence that you should be aware of.

9. Picking children up outside of school

Parking too close to a school or anywhere that can prevent access for emergency services is stated as a driving offence by rule 243 of the Highway Code. The areas that are parking restricted are usually indicated with yellow zig-zag lines, so use these as a guide.

10. Sleeping in your car after a few drinks

If you’ve had a drink, you’re quite right in not attempting to drive home. But if you thought that sleeping in your car was a good alternative, it’ll open you up to receiving a drunk in charge fine. Even being in the backseat with your keys out of the ignition, you can be fined for being ‘in charge’ of a vehicle whilst inebriated.

It’s unusual to see fines and penalties for any of the above but not impossible, so better to be safe than sorry, right!

The post 10 times you didn’t know you were committing a driving offence appeared first on RED Driving School.

1. Inaccurate Sat Navs

Sat Navs are great, they get you from A to B with minimal effort and have a bunch of extra helpful features. However, the speedometer on your SatNav isn’t perhaps as accurate as you think as USwitch reported 17% of users had been given incorrect speeds.

The speedometer can often be incorrect which can lead to you thinking you’re within the speed limit, when really you’re actually speeding. Although this feature can be useful, it should be used with caution and you should check the speedometer on your car for a more accurate reading.

2. Inaccurate speedometers in older cars

Having just said to use your car’s speedometer over what your SatNav tells you, this next point may seem a little hypocritical, but hear us out. Your car’s speedometer can be inaccurate as well.

Car’s speedometers measure speed via how fast your tyre rotates and therefore as tyres wear down over time and become smaller, they have to rotate faster in order to reach the same speed. Due to this, car speedometers are calibrated to read higher in order to account for any inaccuracy and make sure that a lower speed isn’t displayed to the driver – which could lead to speeding.

Older cars however, have notoriously less accurate speedometers due to the way speed was determined. This only applies to cars built before 1980, so you’ll likely be safe from encountering one of these.

3. Speed limits changing

It’s easy to miss a speed sign and end up speeding as you’re entering a new speed zone, so make sure you keep an eye out for any speed limit changes. You can usually spot whether a speed change is coming up based off of your surroundings. For example if you’re coming up to roadworks, school zones or residential areas, the limit is likely to change to 30mph and even if you’ve missed the sign, you’ll be able to recognise what the speed limit in the area is.

It can also take some time to adjust to the new speed limit as you change from another. More drastic speed changes such as coming off a motorway at 70mph to changing to 30mph can feel strange and take longer to adjust to, so making sure you’re conscious of your speed will help from breaking the speed limit as you adjust.

4. Perceptual skills – your feeling

Using your car’s speedometer is the most accurate way of keeping track of exactly what speed you’re travelling at. But many drivers also rely on their own perception or feeling in order to determine what their speed is. This can be an easy method of determining roughly what speed you’re travelling at, but is not a reliable way of staying within the speed limit.

There are also situations that can cause your perception to become even less accurate and often result in speeding. Drastic speed limit changes and situations that lack visual information such as driving at night or in fog often lead to underestimating your speed when relying on feeling to determine your speed.

5. Distractions

It’s easy to get distracted when you’re driving. Whether that’s getting into a heated debate with your passenger over what to get for dinner, or having a good look at Stonehenge as you pass it on a long drive.

When you’re being distracted and not paying full attention to the road, it’s much more likely that you may be breaking the speed limit without realising. Many experienced drivers can often gauge their speed through the feeling of their car, but whilst distracted this method becomes much less reliable.

Sometimes completely avoiding distractions just isn’t possible, so it’s worth being aware that you need to pay more attention to your speed and other hazards whilst any distractions are present.

Keep these things in mind when you’re driving and stop yourself from breaking the speed limit without realising!

The post 5 times you didn’t know you were breaking the speed limit appeared first on RED Driving School.

So what’s the best way of working out what your car’s stopping distance is and to stop yourself from tailgating? Well we’ve put together some of our best tips and tricks to help you do just that, no matter the situation.

What is stopping distance?

Stopping distance is the time it takes to bring a moving car to a stop. It can be calculated with the following formula:

Stopping distance = thinking distance + braking distance

This consists of the physical efficiency of your brakes and the time it takes you to react.

Braking distance

So how do you work out braking distance? Generally speaking, braking distance increases as the speed of the vehicle also increases. 

The Highway Code has given guidelines for braking distance required when travelling at different speeds. Although this stands as a great guideline to maintaining a safe stopping distance, there are other factors that can affect your braking distance which should be taken into account.

Factors that affect braking distance

1. Weather Conditions

Braking distance will tend to increase if roads are wet. The general rule of thumb when roads are wet is to double the distance you would usually use.

If the roads are icy, this will significantly increase your braking distance. You’ll want to break even sooner than if the roads were wet. Some advice even states that your braking distance should be 10 times longer.

2. Car Condition

The condition of your car’s brakes are a big factor in the efficiency of your braking and will significantly affect your braking distance. So make sure to keep your brakes in good working order.

Tyres also have a large part to play in your braking distance. Different tyres are given a different wet & dry grip rating, starting at A (best) to G (worst). Tyres with better grip will be more effective when braking, whereas lower grip will increase your braking distance. Both tyre pressure and tread will also impact your braking distance, so keep on top of them!

Thinking distance

Now we’ve covered braking distance, this just leaves thinking distance in order to work out what our stopping distance should be.

So what is thinking distance? Thinking distance is simply the time it takes for you to spot a hazard and then react to it. 

The Highway Code has also given guidelines for thinking distance when travelling at different speeds. These guidelines are based on a thinking (reaction) time of 0.7 seconds and this will vary from person to person.

Factors that affect thinking distance

1. Tiredness

The more tired you are, the slower your reaction time is going to be. Research shows that after driving for 2 hours, you’ll have delayed reaction times and be less able to concentrate. It’s recommended to take a break every couple of hours on longer journeys.

2. Distractions

Distractions will affect your attention to the road and can therefore increase the time it takes for you to react to a hazard. Using your mobile phone, satnav or any other in-car technology can draw your attention away from the road and increase your reaction time. Even holding conversations with passengers or via a handsfree call can avert your attention. These are all factors that you should take into account when determining your thinking distance.

It’s vital that you’re aware of your stopping distance and place enough space between yourself and the vehicle in front of you. These tips and tricks will help you work out your stopping distance and ensure you have a safe drive.

The post Do you know the stopping distance of your car? appeared first on RED Driving School.

Turning into a junction 

Ever seen a driver turning into a junction and beep at a pedestrian crossing the road? The Highway Code states that If someone has started crossing the road and you want to turn into the road, then the pedestrian has priority, so you should slow down and give way until they’ve crossed. 

Once someone has moved onto a zebra crossing 

Rule 195 in the Highway Code states that you must give way when a pedestrian has moved onto a zebra crossing. You are only legally required to stop at a zebra crossing once a pedestrian has moved on to the crossing.

However you should be prepared to stop when approaching a zebra crossing. When you see a zebra crossing with someone waiting on it, you should be slowing down and stopping. 

Even though this is not a legally required practice of the Highway Code, it is best practice for the safety of pedestrians and drivers alike. 

Pulling out of a driveway 

Rule 206 in the Highway Code states that you must give way to pedestrians on the pavement as they have right of way – and so this applies to pulling out of or reversing out of a driveway. 

Where possible, you should reverse onto your driveway so that you can pull out more safely. This is mentioned in Rule 201 of the Highway Code – when using a driveway, reverse in and drive out if possible. 

This is to ensure better visibility of the pavement and any obstructions. It’s especially important to reverse into your driveway if it’s on a major carriageway, as this can be very dangerous as it’s likely to be busy.  

When the pavement is closed 

Unlike the States, ‘jaywalking’ is perfectly legal in the UK. Though if the pavement is closed and pedestrians need to walk on the road then they should keep to the right hand side so that oncoming traffic can more clearly see them. (Highway Code: 2) 

Guidance for pedestrians on sharp right hand bends is to take extra caution and cross to the other side of the road.

As a driver turning into a sharp left hand bend (especially on country lanes) you should be extra cautious that pedestrians may not be following this guidance and be walking into oncoming traffic. 

Right of way or not, this isn’t one that should need too much explaining!  

When a traffic light is amber at a pedestrian crossing

When a traffic light is amber and there are pedestrian signals, you are allowed to either keep driving, or pull away if you’re stationery. 

Pedestrians must only cross when the traffic light is green (when pedestrian signals are provided), however you must stop if the traffic light is amber and a pedestrian is still on the crossing.

The post 5 times you didn’t know that pedestrians have right of way appeared first on RED Driving School.