The Thinking DriverWhen you choose to learn to drive with Reason to Drive you will learn so much more than just how to pass the test. I want my students to stay safe once they have passed and so I instil what I call ‘the thinking driver’.
It’s so important that young drivers understand their complete driving environment and so in our lessons I educate them on all aspects of driving including: driving in different conditions, in different states of mind, with distractions like friends, their phone, their music, using Sat Nav. I also like my students to learn to think ahead and plan for their journey - where they are going, the best route, time of day and if it’s a long journey to check the car’s oil and water levels. |
The process of becoming a thinking driver
Through our lessons my students learn the basics of driving – how to move away smoothly, stop, manoeuvre, negotiate junctions, recognise and react to road signs and hazards. That is the 'how' of driving, but now we apply 'the thinking driver' element to driving.
In this stage, my students learn how to read and anticipate actions from other road users, how to adapt their driving to external conditions - whether that’s day or night, wet or dry, busy or quiet – and also to consider their own physical and mental condition, e.g. driving when tired, suffering with a cold, having had an argument etc. We look at the impact this could have on their driving and when it might be safer not to drive and why.
Finally, we discuss safety and the risks of not wearing seat-belts, driving too close or too fast, and drink/drug driving. To enforce the dangers of drink driving I park at the side of the roads and ask my students to put on the drunk goggles. With the car switched off and securely stationary, I ask them first to try and pick up a pen which I have placed on the dashboard and second to try to assess when cars are passing them. It’s a really great lesson for students to experience just how distorted their judgement would be.
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