ROAD SKILLS | paulmanselldriving

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STEERING

On your driving test, when steering a car, the examiner will expect you to:
Hold the steering wheel at either the ten-to-two or quarter-to-three position.

Steer smoothly and at the correct time.
Avoid crossing your hands over one another when turning.
Avoid letting the wheel spin back through your hands when straightening up.
Avoid weaving in and out between parked cars.
Obey lane markings.

DRY STEERING

Turning the steering wheel when the car isn't moving is called dry steering. This is something you should try and avoid as it puts undue strain on the steering mechanism and causes premature wear to the front tyres. If carrying out a low speed manoeuvre, such as turning in the road, you should get the car moving before you start to steer.
Steering Lock

When you turn the steering wheel as far as it will go it is at full lock. This is the maximum angle the front wheels will reach. On full lock the car's turning circle is at it's smallest.

POWER-ASSISTED STEERING (PAS)

Nearly all cars have PAS fitted as standard. It makes steering a car a lot easier as less physical effort is needed to turn the steering wheel. It is especially useful when manoeuvring a car at low speeds, so is a great help when parking in tight spaces etc.

Steering

STAGGERED JUNCTIONS

A staggered junction is where roads join from both the right and the left so that the path from one side of the road to the other will be staggered.

Always be prepared to slow down and give way to emerging traffic when approaching a staggered junction.

When you are on a minor road and wish to cross over the major road and turn into the other minor road, you should treat this as two separate manoeuvres - first join the major road, then make a second turn into the minor road. Only if the junctions are very close should you treat them as a standard crossroads.

On your driving test, when dealing with a Staggered Junction the examiner will expect you to:

Use the MSM/PSL routine in good time
Comply with the correct rules for turning at, entering into and emerging from the junction
Position your car correctly and use the correct speed
Understand the rules of priority
Pull away safely, smoothly and under control.

Staggered Junctions

STOPPING A CAR

Before stopping you should always ask yourself: is it safe? Is it legal? Is it convenient? If you answer no to any of the questions then you should continue ahead and find somewhere else to park.

During the driving test when asked to stop a car the examiner will ask you to pull up and stop at a convenient place on the left side of the road. You will not be expected to this immediately. You will be required to use your judgment and pull up in a place where you will not be endangering, inconveniencing or obstructing anyone.

On your driving test, when stopping, the examiner will expect you to:

Be able to identify suitable stopping places.
Use the MSM/PSL routines
Effectively observe your surroundings and be aware of what is happening in your blind spots.
Make balanced use of the accelerator, clutch, brakes and steering
Know where and when to signal.

BRAKING

Normal braking should be commenced lightly, increased to a steady pressure, then reduced to nothing as the wheels come to a stop. The whole process should be safe, smooth and controlled. To learn about emergency stops.

Avoid braking on bends - the force applied when braking must not be greater than tyre grip - otherwise you will skid. When driving round a corner additional force is applied to the tyres, as the weight of the car is thrown outwards as well as forwards. This reduces the tyres ability to grip the road, so if you brake too harshly when taking a bend, the chances of putting the car into a skid greatly increase. When braking hard, you should always try and do so when travelling in a straight line.

Road Surfaces affect braking - always take into account the road surface you are driving on. A road covered with loose chippings or mud can make skidding more likely, and increase stopping distances, as can wet roads and roads with a poor badly maintained surfaces.

Anti-Lock Braking System (ABS) - senses the tyre locking up under braking and, before it occurs and causes a skid, releases sufficient pressure to avoid it. The biggest advantage of ABS is that it lets you change direction while braking hard, which allows you to steer to avoid impact. Most cars now have ABS.

STOPPING A CAR