Your  SAFETY  is  Driving

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Low - Risk Driving  a skill for LIFE

- - - - - - - - - Road Safety by  Dieter Fischer - - - - - - - - ISBN No. 0 09577 426 06   

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A.5   Driving as easy as - ABC

If I asked you to please tell me the first six letter of the alphabet backwards, I guess you would be struggling for a moment. But starting at the letter A, it would flow out naturally. For this same reason, the tasks required to drive a motor vehicle around a corner etc, have been put in an order. We call it the System of Car Control.

It was first introduced in the 1930's by the Police Driving Academy in Hendon, UK. Therefore it is also referred to as the 'Hendon System'. Driving in this methodical fashion will enable you to always know what to do next and when to do it, just like saying the letters of the alphabet.

The System of Car Control simply puts braking, indicating, looking into the mirror etc. into a logical sequence. With constant practice, it will soon become a habit. Unless you drive by this method, no matter how well you can handle the car, you will not pass the driving test.

There are 8 steps to follow:

1: Course - Plan your course of action. Don’t change your mind at the last moment or after having started taking the action e.g. turning.
2: Mirrors   Look for overtaking traffic.
3: Signal (Indicate early, before turning) When going straight ahead, a slight touch on the brakes as a warning is also regarded as signal!
4: Position and Speed Take up the correct position on the road and reach the correct speed!
5: Gear-shift Select appropriate gear (mostly in manual vehicles).
6: Check mirror again Mainly when there was a significant time lapse since the first mirror check.
7: Evasive action Give way according to road laws or take any action to avoid a collision. Increasing speed, if this becomes necessary, is also classed as evasive action.
8: Take the action This usually means - accelerate out of the hazard.

We have simplified the system to be able to remember it better. Since the second mirror check is not always necessary. Therefore, after you have decided what action to take, (with the brain) follow with:

 

1. Mirror           - - >  EYES

2. Indicator      - - >  HANDS  

3. Brake           - - >  FEET

               4.  Gear-shift

               5.  Give Way

               6.  GO

 

When practicing this system, take note that you start at the top of the head (brain) and work your way down: eyes, hands, feet, followed by three actions starting with the letter G.

Driving straight ahead means you don’t have to indicate, of course, or if you are in the correct gear, there is no need to gear-change. Just skip unnecessary tasks, but still consider each one at the right moment.

Driving by the 'System of car Control' takes much practice. Once mastered, it is a very safe and enjoyable method of driving. When you consider that you will use the skill of driving a motor car for a very long time, it is worthwhile learning this simple system and perfecting it.

 Good habits learned early - last longest !

 

Disclaimer: Above information could vary in your part of the world. We take no responsibility for any accidents or failed driving tests, even if the advise in this book has been followed. We recommend to use above information in conjunction with a professional driving instructor. 

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 Here is a little test to remember what you have learned. Firstly, answer the True / False question (T> or F>). Secondly, using the letter beside the correct answer, form a word. All answers are on  this page!

T>   D 

   The System of Car control is a logical sequence.     F>   O
T>   R    Braking must always come before indicating.    F>   O

 T>   N

  In traffic I must check the mirror every few seconds.    F>   L
T>   D    I don't have to indicate when no-one is behind me.     F>   T 

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