(HTBABD p29 forward observation & p82)

"Every action you take in a vehicle should be the result of a well-considered Driving Plan".

The driving plan is reliant on the following factors;

·         Concentration

·         Observation

·         Anticipation

·         Planning

ALWAYS IN THAT ORDER

The need to concentrate and anticipate must never be underestimated.  As you drive along all the factors and observation links which constantly unfold in front of you build up into an ever-changing picture which allows you to make a ‘Driving Plan’.  Typically, a driving plan incorporates all that can be seen in front of you, to the sides, behind and above but it must also include contingencies to help you deal with ‘…things that you can’t see but might reasonably expect to happen’.

For instance, when you are driving along a winding single track lane you will not be able to see if vehicles are approaching from the opposite direction.  Not seeing them however does not preclude their existence so meeting them is ‘what you might reasonably expect to happen’.  This example is only one of the hundreds in this ever-unfolding environment and the real key to the success of a driving plan is anxious anticipation.  If you always anticipate the worst – you will usually come off best.  Optimism has no place in advanced driving.

Scanning is a fundamental component of the Driving Plan and is the method of observation which uses regular visual sweeps of the whole driving environment to ensure that the driver is constantly aware of all that is happening so that they can be included into the ‘Driving Plan’.

Remember that information is not always obvious; for much of the time you have to seek it out and constant scanning for information will bring it to you!  The faster we travel the less information we can absorb because of the greater distance covered in a given time span.  Conversely, the slower we travel the more information we can absorb by scanning because of the shorter distance covered over the same time span.

When you approach a road junction, T junction or roundabout, or any hazard where you might have to alter your speed or change direction, consider slowing your approach at an earlier stage.  This will allow you to absorb a greater amount of information in the available time span and you will be pleasantly surprised at just how often you are able to keep your vehicle moving.  Remember; “   …the slower you approach, the more information you can take in, the quicker you can get away”.

However, don’t forget that safety should never be compromised for any other advantage so although you will be planning to go you should always be prepared to stop.    GKB 2013