Advanced Tips from the CO

July/August 2022 Read this on our website www.iam-bristol.org.uk better driving course would not improve a person’s driving to some extent but, in my view, it should not be confused with what, from my experience, would be a proper advanced driving course.

HILLS AND VALLEYS

Now, you may think that I have laboured unduly on the difference between the two extreme ends of driving abilities. Forgive me, but I stand by that in order to illustrate the real range of difference and the scale of things. The scale looks at the relative positioning of different levels; the hills and valleys concept points to the differences in perception and understanding at those levels.

If you are down in the valley all you can do is look out either horizontally or, upwards. Your horizontal view might be open, so you can see further up or down the valley or, it might be impeded by houses or trees but, one way or another, that is your range of view and the understanding of your situation.

Now, if you view from the top of the hill you can look down and see all that the person in the valley can see, but also much more. Additionally, you get a much better idea of the various elements in the valley and how they relate to one another, which the person in the valley will not even be able to grasp. The one in the valley will obviously have no idea of the view from the top unless they actually go there and there in is the rub, because it takes effort and some huffing and puffing to get up the hill. I can tell you what the view is like from the top but, (ignoring iPhone cameras and the like) you will have no real idea unless you go there yourself. In driving terms, most people are not prepared to make the effort and, they might say, ‘why should they?’ Good point, and a pivotal one.

WHY?

The answer lies in what might be best described as an unhealthy state of delusion which can lead to unintended consequences which, in turn, can be fatal or, permanently disabling.

Ask most drivers whether they are safe and the answer will almost certainly be that since they haven’t had a crash, they are safe. However, I believe safety is on a scale of vulnerability which is quite different. So, most sit in their comfort zone at the bottom of the valley and have absolutely no motive to do anything more than that. Very unfortunately that also involves many people in the road safety industry. But, by inference, being in the bottom of the valley also means a potentially higher level of vulnerability. Now it only takes the wrong fraction of a second for generally at least two parties to be involved in a crash. That doesn’t ignore the single vehicle crash; that is still going to be a moment of wrong judgement one way or another. But, that fraction of a second is normally all it needs; and a fraction of a second at precisely the wrong time simultaneously for those two parties. That can result in fatality or serious injury and often being mentally scarred for life; not only for those directly involved but also for family and friends. That could happen today, tomorrow, in a few years’ time, or even never. Too many will pass very close to such a fraction of a second at some time or another and not even realise it, and that’s the really worrying bit. But the main thing is that the vulnerability is there, and few will want to recognise and deal with it in advance so that if, in a sense, the wrong fraction of a second should ever occur, they are not going to be part of it. Remember, that around 98% of crashes involve human error and that 98% of those involved will almost the LINK – newsletter of Bristol Advanced Motorists Page 17