A DRIVING instructor has revealed the issue that, in his experience, nearly all learners face when dealing with parked cars.
Richard Fanders, who runs Conquer Driving, explained how in certain circumstances, it can actually be less safe to blindly follow what you’re normally taught to do.
YouTube/Conquer DrivingDriving instructor Richard Fanders urged drivers not to keep in to the left for too long[/caption]
YouTube/Conquer DrivingThis can actually be dangerous when trying to pass obstructions like parked cars[/caption]
In a video uploaded to his YouTube channel, he claimed that navigating around parked cars on a busy road is often one of the toughest things for new drivers to do.
This is, he said, largely due to the fact that they are taught to hug the kerb in order to prevent drifting across the centre line into oncoming traffic.
While this is good advice most of the time, it can actually lead to safety issues when the route narrows significantly.
Richard said: “In Great Britain, we drive on the left and in my near 15 years of teaching people to drive, I’ve noticed a common mistake nearly all learner drivers make.
“That is to stay left as much as possible and for as long as possible when dealing with parked cars and obstructions in the road.
“Actually, often, this is left safe.”
He used the example of trying to pass a row of parked cars on a two-way street.
While it may be tempting to stay in on the left until you actually reach the blockage, this can then limit your view past it, making you less aware of potential hazards.
Not only that, but it also forces you to turn out sharply and suddenly to avoid the stationary motors, giving other road users less warning of your intentions.
As a result, other drivers would be more likely to assume you are turning or pulling in behind the parked cars and perhaps even try and overtake, putting both you and them at risk.
Instead, Richard recommended moving out into the centre of the road early to give a clear signal to those around you, as well as giving yourself time to pull back in if needed.
He explained: “One of your goals should be to see and be seen as early as you can without your position being misleading.
“The earlier you see oncoming vehicles and the earlier they see you, the more time you have to deal with each other, the easier it is to find a way through safely.”
However, there is a key exception to the idea of moving out early – when driving around a right-hand bend.
Moving out to the right in this case can actually make your view worse and turn a smooth turn in a blind bend.
Always position you car based on the situation you find yourself in considering what gives you the best view and most clearly signals your intention to others.
It comes after a new report from the House of Lords identified six things the UK must do to avoid “lagging in the slow lane” on EVs.
YouTube/Conquer DrivingInstead, try and move out as early as possible to ‘see and be seen’[/caption]