Page 7 - AVRO News Issue 3 May

Safe and Fuel Efficient Driving

and the use of flashing

beacons.

In this edition the MD of RIES puts on another hat to talk about two important factors relative to
driving.
D avy speaks from years Driving and a short explanation
of each.
of experience, firstly as a
Class 1 Police Advanced
Driver, secondly as a trained Aim high in the steering:
Nothing to do with holding the
pursuit driver and finally as a steering wheel higher but all
former examiner for the Institute of about looking far ahead and
Advanced Motorists. identifying hazards.

“The subject of SAFED or Get the big Picture:
Safe and Fuel Efficient Driving Don’t be satisfied with looking
is now well embedded in the simply at the road ahead but
requirements of PAS43 and no widen your vision to take in
doubt will continue to be so. indicators right and left that may
indicate what may lie ahead.
In effect SAFED contains two For example a house set back
different components, namely safe from the road would indicate the
driving and fuel efficient driving likelihood of a laneway joining
and both of these can be aligned the roadway. A bus stop sign at
to Defensive Driving. Let us the side of the road indicates a
deal with the easy one first, fuel major bus route and you may be
efficient driving. confronted by a stationery bus
as you round the next corner
Fuel efficient driving is intrinsically
linked with defensive driving, Keep your eyes moving:
namely it is about issues such as: Don’t focus on what is
immediately in front of you. You
can become transfixed if you
Forward observation: do this. The part of your eye
seeing things well ahead that can detect minute changes
and acting early in speed or direction, as well
as the sudden appearance of
Acceleration sense: a indicator, is your peripheral
altering the speed of the vision. By looking left and right
vehicle by accurate use of the vehicle in front you will
of the pedal and no harsh become more quickly aware of There are two aspects to this. drivers embarked upon a
acceleration. an indicator being activated or a defensive driving course,
change of speed. Try it and see. 1. If overtaking don’t become found that the savings on fuel
Smooth braking the meat in the sandwich and maintenance paid most
Make sure they see you: and always have a way out if of their insurance bill in the
Not leaving the engine This simply means moving your something should happen to following year. Indeed some
running when vehicle is vehicle about to get maximum the vehicle on your left. insurance companies may see
stationary. views of the road ahead. I the undertaking of defensive
These are just four of the am aware in a large vehicle 2. When stopped in traffic driving as a risk reduction
many issues which ensure this may not always be very and more so in a car leave exercise and perhaps could
more fuel efficiency. beneficial but minor changes yourself enough room to pull be persuaded to reduce the
can mean a lot. For example if away from the vehicle in front premium
there is a junction on the left, if if they stall or breakdown. A
When fuel efficient driving and it is safe, move to the extreme good rule of thumb is never Now onto the subject of
Defensive driving are joined right of your lane. In that way stop closer than where the line flashing amber lights or
together the saving for companies you will see further into the of your bonnet meets the spot beacons. We at RIES have
can be quite beneficial. junction and may see that car where their rear wheels meet been inundated with calls from
So what about Defensive Driving? that is obstructed by a hedge the road surface. people asking what the rule is
I could write a considerable line and more importantly they regarding flashing amber lights
amount about this but I will restrict will see you. To finish on this subject a or beacons. Well the...
this article to a simple explanation large multi- national company,
of the five points of Defensive Always leave yourself an out: who insisted that all their

AVRO NEWS 7