Learning to control a car is only one part of learning to drive. You also need to notice what is happening around you, anticipate what other road users may do and decide how to manage the situation safely.
When you first start learning, much of your attention may be taken up by steering, speed and positioning. This is understandable. As your control develops, however, you need to start looking further ahead and making decisions earlier. This is what helps you move from reacting to situations towards becoming a proactive driver.
What is proactive driving?
A reactive driver often notices a problem when it is already close and then has to respond quickly. A proactive driver identifies clues earlier and creates time and space to make a considered decision.
For example, imagine you are approaching a row of parked vehicles. A reactive driver may continue at the same speed until an oncoming vehicle appears and then brake sharply. A proactive driver may notice the restricted view and the possibility of approaching traffic, check the mirrors, adjust speed and choose a suitable place to wait if necessary.
The aim is not to predict everything perfectly. It is to recognise possibilities and keep a safe range of options available.
Look, Think, Do
I use a simple framework called Look, Think, Do to help learners organise their driving decisions.
Look
Take in useful information from well ahead, nearby and behind. This may include:
road signs and markings;
junctions, crossings and traffic lights;
pedestrians, cyclists and other vulnerable road users;
parked vehicles and restricted views;
the speed and position of approaching or following traffic; and
changes in the road, weather or traffic conditions.
Looking is not simply moving your eyes or checking a mirror because you have been told to. The information you gather needs to help you make a decision.
Think
Ask yourself:
What is happening now?
What might happen next?
How could this affect me or another road user?
What is the safest plan?
You might see a pedestrian walking towards a crossing, a vehicle waiting to emerge or brake lights appearing further along a queue. None of these automatically means you must stop, but each gives you information that should influence your plan.
Do
Act on your plan smoothly and in good time. Depending on the situation, this could mean:
checking your mirrors;
easing off the accelerator;
changing your position;
giving another road user more space;
signalling when it would help someone; or
waiting until it is safe to proceed.
The earlier you identify a situation, the less likely you are to need a sudden or rushed response.
Five skills that work together
Proactive driving brings together five connected skills.
Awareness
What can you see or hear around you? Are you aware of road users who may be hidden by parked vehicles, bends or larger vehicles?
Anticipation
What could happen next? A cyclist may need to avoid a drain cover. A bus at a stop may pull away. A pedestrian near the kerb may be preparing to cross.
Judgement
How much time and space do you have? Is the gap genuinely safe, or does the speed of another vehicle make it unsuitable?
Decision making
What is the safest and most appropriate response? Should you continue, adjust your speed, change position or wait?
Car control
Can you put your decision into practice smoothly? Good awareness is most useful when it leads to safe and controlled steering, acceleration or braking.
How to practice proactive driving during lessons
You do not need to wait until you are approaching your driving test. These skills can be developed from your earliest lessons.
One useful exercise is to describe selected clues you notice ahead and what they might mean. This is not about talking continuously. Your instructor might choose one type of situation, such as parked vehicles or pedestrian crossings, so that the task remains manageable.
You could also reflect after a situation by considering:
What did I notice?
When did I notice it?
What did I think might happen?
What decision did I make?
What could I try earlier next time?
The purpose is not to criticise every decision. It is to understand how your thinking influenced what happened and gradually reduce the support you need.
Observations must lead to decisions
DVSA information shows that ineffective observations at junctions remain a common reason for unsuccessful driving tests. However, effective observation is about much more than passing a test. You need to look early enough, understand what you see and use that information before entering a new road.
Merely turning your head or looking in the correct direction is not enough if you have not assessed whether it is safe to proceed. You must be able to process what you have seen, take and use this information.
Becoming independent takes time
You may initially need reminders, questions, an explanation or demonstration from your instructor. As your understanding develops, that support should be adjusted so that you take increasing responsibility for noticing, thinking and deciding.
Progress will not always be perfectly even. A familiar situation on a quiet road may feel manageable before a similar situation in heavier traffic. The important question is whether you are learning to apply the same safe thinking in a wider range of conditions.
The practical driving test includes a substantial period of independent driving, but independence is not simply following a sat nav or road signs. It means continuing to observe, assess risk and make safe decisions without relying on your instructor to solve each situation for you.
Learning to drive in a calm and supportive way
If you have felt anxious, overwhelmed or unsupported in previous lessons, a calm and structured approach can help. We can break complicated situations into manageable parts, agree the support that will help and gradually work towards greater independence.
At Alistair Stuart Driver Training, automatic driving lessons are adapted to the individual learner. The aim is not only to help you prepare for the driving test, but to develop the awareness, judgement and decision-making needed for safer driving beyond it.
If you are looking for patient, learner centred automatic driving lessons in Rotherham, please contact Alistair Stuart Driver Training to discuss what support you may need.
