Observation

Look at other road users and assess their

• speed
• driving behaviour
• possible intentions.

At junctions, there’s no point in just looking if your view is obstructed by, for example, parked vehicles. You must move carefully into a position where you can see, without moving into the path of passing traffic. Remember LADA

• Look
• Assess and
• Decide before you
• Act.

That’s what effective observation is all about.

Observing what’s ahead

As a defensive driver you’ll constantly watch and interpret what’s happening ahead, to the side and, through frequent use of the mirrors, behind you.

You’ll always drive at a speed that allows you to stop safely within the distance you can see to be clear.

Approaching a bend

Ask yourself

• Can I see the full picture?
• How sharp is the bend?
• Am I in the right position?
• Is my speed right?
• What might I meet?
• Could I stop if I had to?

Approaching a junction

Ask yourself

• Have I seen the whole junction?
• Can other drivers see me?
• Am I sure they’ve seen me?
• Have I got an escape route if they haven’t?

Left-hand-drive vehicles

If you’re driving a left-hand-drive vehicle, be aware of how this affects your field of view and make full use of your mirrors.

Zone of vision at a junction

Your zone of vision is what you can see as you look forward and to the side from your vehicle. As you approach a junction, your zone of vision into the other road usually improves.

You may need to get very close before you can look far enough into another road to see whether it’s safe to proceed. The last few metres are often crucial.

Sometimes, parked vehicles restrict your view so much that you need to stop and creep forward for a proper view before you emerge.

• Look in every direction before you emerge.
• Keep looking as you join the other road.
• Be ready to stop.
• Use all the information available to you; for example, look through the windows of parked vehicles.
• Where your view is restricted, it can help to use the reflections in shop windows to see approaching traffic.

Screen pillar obstruction

Windscreen pillars can cause obstructions to your view of the road. You should be aware of this effect, particularly when

• approaching junctions and bends
• emerging from junctions.

Road users such as motorcyclists, cyclists and pedestrians may be completely obscured by the pillar.

You should be aware that some vehicles have larger blind spots than others, and groups of pedestrians, a motorcyclist or even a small car can be hidden from view. You may need to move around in your seat to overcome the effect of these blind spots.

If you can’t see the driver’s face, they won’t be able to see you.

Other road users

It can be difficult to see some other road users, especially when you’re emerging from a junction. Those who are particularly at risk are

• pedestrians – they frequently cross at junctions and may find it difficult to judge the speed and course of approaching traffic
• cyclists – they can be difficult to see, as they may be obscured by trees and other objects, especially if they’re riding close to the side of the road. They might be approaching faster than you expect
• motorcyclists – like cyclists they’re often less easy to see than other traffic, but they’re likely to be moving much faster than cyclists.

Always make sure it’s safe before emerging from a junction.

Never rely solely on a quick glance – give yourself time to take in the whole scene.

If another vehicle or a pedestrian isn’t in your zone of vision, you’re not usually in theirs.

Making eye contact with other road users helps you to know whether they’ve seen you.

Observing traffic behind you

Before you move off, change direction or change speed, you need to know how your action will affect other road users, including those behind you.

You must also be aware of traffic likely to overtake.

Using your mirrors

Using your mirrors regularly enables you to keep up to date with what’s happening behind you without losing sight of what’s going on in front.

Look as far behind in your mirrors as you look ahead through the windscreen. By looking only at the following vehicle you might miss important information that could help you to plan your manoeuvre.

Your mirrors must be clean and properly adjusted to give a clear view.

When should you use your mirrors?

Before you signal or make any manoeuvre. For example, before

• moving off
• changing direction
• turning right or left
• overtaking
• changing lanes
• slowing or stopping
• opening a car door.

Looking around

You should look around to check your blind spot before moving off.

A quick sideways glance

This is helpful, for example, to check your blind spot

• before you change lanes, especially on a motorway or dual carriageway
• where traffic is merging from the left or right.

Take great care in looking around while on the move, particularly when driving at high speeds. In the time you take to look around, you could lose touch with what’s happening in front of you.

Remember that a vehicle travelling at 70 mph (112 km/h) covers around 30 metres (about 100 feet) every second. Even if it only takes half a second to look around, you’ll still have travelled 15 metres (about 50 feet) in that time.

Just looking isn’t enough

You must act sensibly on what you see. Take note of the speed, behaviour and possible intentions of traffic behind you.

Another driver’s blind spot

Avoid driving in another driver’s blind spot for any longer than necessary. This is a particular problem with lefthand drive lorries, as the driver may not be able to see you and may think it’s safe to change lane or overtake.

Approaching green traffic lights

Ask yourself

• How long have they been on green?
• Are there many vehicles already waiting at either side of the junction? (If there’s a queue, the lights are probably about to change.)
• Do I have time to stop?
• Can the vehicle behind me stop? If it’s a large goods vehicle, it might need a greater distance in which to pull up.

Don’t

• try to beat the traffic signals by accelerating
• wait until the last moment to brake. Harsh braking can cause skids and loss of control.

Sometimes, drivers anticipate the change of signals and move away while the lights are still showing red and amber. This isn’t a safe practice and could result in a collision. Safety cameras are placed at some traffic lights and these record how drivers behave at the lights – including when they move away too soon.

Traffic signals not working

Where traffic signals aren’t working, treat the situation as you would an unmarked junction and proceed with great care.