This Article is about the use of Commentary driving to establish difficulty awareness skills in advanced driving. It is based on the requirements of the Diamond Special test
Commentary Driving and the Diamond Special Test
Commentary Driving and the Diamond Special Driving test
After giving driving lessons in Nottingham for some years I blatant to update my driving skills by acceptance the Diamond Special assessment again after some years without retraining The sequential article is a register on using commentary driving to alter advanced driving skills both in terms of forward planning and danger awareness
After momentary the Diamond Special assessment in 2005, I considered my driving to be of a uncommonly gangling standard. Upon erudition that the assessment now has a three year life span, I blatant it was instance to transact the evaluation again and purchased the Diamond ‘Manoeuvres and Hazard Perception’ DVD to use as a inspect aid Like most ADIs, I regularly manifest the manoeuvres to pupils and did not anticipate having any problems in this province However, I was greatly impressed by the commentary drive kingdom of the DVD and realised that this is perhaps article I obtain neglected in my own driving I obtain used commentary techniques in a incomplete practice when apprenticeship PDIs for the quota 2 investigation of driving ability, but obtain never utilized it as a major quota of driver probation After a few 10 minute commentary drives I believed my danger perception and planning skills to be up to graze and made a date to re-take the test
I met Diamond Examiner Russell Jones DipDI in a local domain and began the check After 30 minutes of driving in an unfamiliar field I noticed that my concentration was wavering and I was finding it very fatiguing to remain totally advise to the driving occasion The route for the Special assessment was wholly complex, receiving in many simple roads and small villages. Working and living in a city environment, this is a genus of driving which I am not practised in Junctions were obscured by trees and hills which made them extremely strenuous to technique at the correct pulsation Driving in an unfamiliar urban location on a multi passage road made reading signs and markings, as well as navigating the traffic movement uncommonly challenging indeed.
After 90 minutes of driving the examination was over and I was not really surprised to find I was unsuccessful on this occasion. Approaching junctions, timing of signals and overdue decisions regarding road markings had been the query areas The day after the check I had another look at the Diamond Hazard perception DVD and noticed how far subservient the regular I actually was
Commentary training for the intuitive drive
Commentary is a proven way to prosper advanced driving skills It enables skills to be brought into conscious awareness where they can be analysed and decorous by the driver aiming for a dab where they become intuitive and automatic. I find commentary driving greatly improves the effectiveness of early observations by encouraging an active scanning process, the driver becomes supplementary actively interested in the drive which leads to a greater awareness of the driving environment. A greater perceive of timing is achieved, encouraging smooth use of the MSPSL fashion and greater receptacle empathy Without commentary it is easy for a driver to fault into a daydreaming state, resulting in looking at a obdurate point ahead and absent imperative driving information, priority is focussed elsewhere reasonably than on the driving task
I found it prime to build a commentary procedure up using the Observation-Anticipation-Planning practice shown in the DVD. Start by utterance through the pitfall style as you use it, mentioning all stages of MSPSL including physical actions such as mirror checks, braking, channel amend etc This first stage improves the coordination of the controls, encouraging a higher grade of container affinity Mirror checks become supplementary regular, acceleration recognize is brought into gambit resulting in much less deficiency for extreme braking. Questioning whether each equipment better is completely obligatory develops a much additional elliptical driving style and smoother ride Timing and consistency in the use of signals is brought to the attention, are you making top use of them? As you attain through the controversial stage of words to yourself amplify into MSPSLADA and you commit see this is a thumping sensitive and comfortable style of car control, changing from the strained by the numbers routine taught to learners during their early stages into a sap and involving manner of driving
Next, onset to add other elements into the commentary. Road cipher and markings can be seen and their meanings said aloud, along with the course of movement taken as a result of seeing the device You may find that signs begin to appear that cleverly did not attract your attention before ‘Saying what you see’ helps to flourish an active scanning process Keeping the eyes progress helps the driver to benefit facts to the front, sides and rear of the car This is necessary when driving in an unfamiliar province Late and incorrect decisions are so practicable if you are not sure where you are headed for, commentary helps a driver to superiority and prioritise visual information principal to earlier decisions, alleviating emphasis and helping in the manufacture of a driving plan. Lane changing, cadence leadership and car curb all correct when we see the hieroglyphics and markings early
Add the actions of other road users into the mixture The unpredictability of some road users combined with an ever changing traffic countryside gives the commentary a comprehend of calm urgency. Attention is quite focussed on the drive, cutting down reaction times by allowing the driver to anticipate the actions of others at a much earlier stage By language through the actions of fresh road users, observation links can be made, helping deter the driver from having to make last minute snap decisions As a result all actions manage on a smooth and unhurried approach, the driver has taken tame of the occasion and can more juicy operate risk.
Finally, add environmental factors such as road and weather conditions Notice the road surface, bends, trees and buildings, Is the road wet or dry? By describing the physical environment aloud during commentary, an awareness of how the vat is directly mannered can be developed and the drive strategic in accordance. Potholes and rubbish in the road can be avoided without the need for desperate steering, the vat can be positioned to sake the finest easy aspect of the road ahead, pulsation can be altered early to allow for restricted zones of vision
When all these elements are combined into a extensive commentary the driver is in a reform status to generate the standard of drive demanded by the Special Test I keep also found that after general practise of commentary, driving authority improves as well The learner’s importance can be directed towards hazards earlier cardinal to greater opportunities for the use of Q & A. Inviting commentary from a pupil makes the homily fresh interesting by involving them directly in the gibing production process as well as beginning planning skills
After much practise of commentary driving I took the Diamond Special Test again and was successful in passing I did dictate a definite improvement in my drive compared with the blessing attempt It is profit to recognize my skills are back up to skin and surprising how much they blunt if not practised regularly I would recommend the Diamond Special assessment to any preacher who takes their occupation seriously as it offers an admireable opportunity to edit a sweeping area of driving and belief skills
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