Advanced Driving
Advanced driving is the combination of several driving safety techniques and skills in order to maintain the control of a vehicle at all times under any circumstances. Advanced driving is the ability to identify in the right time and overcome different road hazards and situations that may occur under any conditions.
Advanced Driving Techniques
1.Controlling Gear Changing Operation
Gear position is based on the car traveling speed. Thus, before you change to a lower or upper gear, first you have to obtain the proper traveling speed for that gear.
In order to change from an upper to a lower gear position, smoothly apply pressure on the break pedal to obtain the proper traveling speed. When proper speed has been obtain, release break pedal pressure, apply full pressure on the clutch pedal, change gear to the required position and release clutch pedal smoothly.
Changing from a lower to an upper gear position, smoothly apply pressure on the accelerator pedal to obtain the proper traveling speed. When proper speed has been obtain, release accelerator pedal pressure, apply full pressure on the clutch pedal, change gear to the required position and release clutch pedal smoothly.
Do NOT apply pressure on the break pedal and change gear simultaneously. A tiny overlapping is allowed when going downhill into a road curve provided that you change gear position when most of the braking has already been done.
2.Low & High Gear Driving
Most drivers are using higher gears in order to reduce fuel consumption and ensure that the car engine is running smoothly and quiet at less than 2000 revs per minute (r.p.m). However, this significantly minimizes driver’s car control in terms of maneuvering and reducing speed.
The use of lower gears with car engine running between 3000 and 3100 rpm gives the driver a maximum car control. This will allow driver to efficiently maneuver and reduce speed at a shorter period of time, in case of any road hazard.
3.Breaks
Nowadays, most of the cars come with Antilock braking System (ABS). ABS is an electronic breaking system which uses a sensor that recognizes that the wheels are about to lock. At the same time this sensor notifies the car engine computer, which quickly forces your brakes on and off, preventing the wheels to lock up. Therefore, ABS eliminates car sliding and allows the driver to maintain car control.
In case of an emergency stop, apply full pressure on ABS brakes pedal until the car stops. Do not release or pump the breaks.
In case of an emergency stop where ABS is not available, manually pump the brakes. This involves applying pressure on the break pedal, releasing pressure before your car starts sliding, applying pressure again and so on. This method will stop your car quicker.
4.Road Corners & Bends
4.1 Sharpness
Many accidents are caused due to drivers’ incorrect estimation involving the sharpness of a road bend or a corner. In order to correctly estimate the sharpness of a road bend or corner, drivers need to:
(a) Road signs and markings,
(b) Road skid marks,
(c) Limit Point Analysis
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