MEETING TRAFFIC

 

Giving Way

 

If an obstruction is on your side of the road then it is you who should stop and give way to oncoming traffic. If the right of way is yours then never take for granted that an oncoming vehicle will stop and give way. Always be prepared to stop and give way.

 

Your Driving Road Position
 
In normal driving conditions you should position your car in the centre of lane you are driving in. Avoid driving too close to the kerb unless you need make space for on coming traffic.

 

Passing Parked Vehicles
 
When passing a parked vehicle you should always try and leave a space of at least the width of an average car door. This is to safeguard against a vehicle unexpectedly pulling out or a car door suddenly opening. Creating this space will also help you see children moving out from between parked cars to cross the road. If such space can't be created and you are forced to pass closer to the parked vehicles then reduce your speed and be ready to stop.
When passing a series of parked cars you should maintain a straight path. Don't weave in and out of them. Maintaining a straight path will allow other road users to clearly see your intentions.

 

FOLLOWING TRAFFIC

 

The key questions you should ask yourself when following traffic is:

 

if the car I'm following suddenly hits the brakes, have I enough space to be able to react and brake to a safe stop?

If the answer is no then you need to slow down and pull back in order to create a safe gap.

On a day when the road is dry you can use the two-second rule to show you what a safe gap is considered to be.

As the vehicle in front passes an object such as a signpost begin counting.

If you reach the same object in less than two seconds you are too close to the vehicle in front.

A safe time is two or more seconds.If the road is wet then the two-second rule becomes the four-second rule as stopping times double in the wet. In icy conditions stopping distance distances are ten times longer.

 

Following Large Vehicles

 

When following a large vehicle such as a lorry or coach you should leave extra space between you and it. If you get too close your view past it will be limited and you won't have a clear view of what's happening ahead. This can make overtaking the vehicle very dangerous. The driver of the large vehicle may also have difficult seeing you through his side mirrors. Keeping well back will also protect your windscreen from any spray the large vehicle throws up.

 

Tailgating

 

You are being tailgated when another vehicle follows you too closely behind. It is dangerous because if you had to suddenly stop it is likely the vehicle behind would crash into you. If you find yourself being tailgated try not to feel intimidated. For you own safety slow down and increase the gap between you and any vehicle in front. This means that if the vehicle in front slows suddenly you will have plenty of time to react, decreasing the chance of the tailgater crashing into you. It also gives more opportunity for the tailgater to overtake you thus ridding yourself of the problem.

 

Driving In Traffic Jams

 

When in slow moving traffic the first rule is, never obstruct an exit or junction, even a left turn. Hold back until the traffic ahead has moved forward far enough for you to clear any exit or junction. When the traffic stops it is always wise to leave a space of 2 to 3 metres between you and the car in front. This way, if the vehicle in front stalls or breaks down you will have enough space to safely manoeuvre past.You should keep a reasonable distance between you and the vehicle in front. Use the Tyres and Tarmac Rule: you should stop at a point when you can still see the tyres of the vehicle in front touching the road, plus about 1 metre of tarmac.