Let me just rewind for a minute to what we should do when pulled over. The Highway Code is very clear on this, look here at Rule 159. We can't rely on just looking at the right side mirror; it's curved, and as such it has a blind spot which can prevent us from seeing EVERYTHING that is over our right shoulder. Ask your Driving Instructor to park up and demonstrate this to you very clearly if you are in doubt whether that is true.
However, when we are on the move, when the car is travelling forward, we do not have the luxury of turning our head all the way round to check the blind spot. The car is travelling forwards, and our attention should mainly be forwards. The time it takes you to turn your head all the way round to the right, and then look in that blind spot is too long if we're moving forwards. At only 30mph you are travelling 44 feet per second.... per SECOND! As such, we do not have the time to be turning our head all the way round.
The times I am referring to are when you want to move over to the right to pass a parked car, or pass a bus at a bus stop, or when you want to join a dual-carraigeway, or overtake a vehicle on a motorway, or change lanes on the approach to a roundabout, or moving back into a lane to your left on a dual carraigeway. All of these examples involve the car moving, the wheels are turning.
So how do we make sure that all is clear then before we move over to the right or left?
This is what the Driving & Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) say on the subject:
"On occasions it will be necessary to check blind spots while you are on the move. These blind spots will be to either side and SHOULD NOT REQUIRE YOU TO LOOK ROUND, but rather to give a quick sideways glance".
So important is this point, the DVSA continue with this:
"Looking right round to check blind spots on the move is UNNECESSARY AND DANGEROUS, especially when driving at high speeds; in the time it takes you'll lose touch with what's happening in front".
There you have it. Take note of what they say, they will be examining you on your driving test.
What is required, are short, systematic, well timed observations using side mirrors and just turns of the head incorporating peripheral vision (some people refer to them as "chin to shoulder" or "kiss the parrot") it matters not what you call it, but getting practise with the sequence and timing of these actions will help you make very good and effective observations all around - and that is really important, because the car is moving, and like the DVSA say above, you could be moving at some speed. In rare situations, a "glance" into a blind spot is needed, but they are not the norm - your Driving Instructor will be able to identify these situations to you.
One last thing to say on this from me. Often our hands (on the steering wheel) will kind of follow the general direction of our eyes. An example of this is if you look down to the gear lever when you start having driving lessons, did you notice how your hands move slightly to the left on the steering wheel? That's your hands 'following' your eyes. The same thing can happen if you were to do these blind spot checks on the move. You turn your head right round to the right, and your hands move to the right too. You might be surprised at how little a move to the right of your hands affect your driving position ESPECIALLY when you are travelling at higher speeds. Just one more reason not to turn the head fully when on the move.
This short blog explains why you must NOT turn the head fully to check blind spots on the move. This is a matter of safety, and WILL cause accidents and CERTAINLY fail driving tests.
Hope this is helpful to you? Any questions/comments, please add below.
BIG TOM Driving School Intensive Driving Courses in Peterborough, Lincoln, Grantham, Spalding, Stamford, Boston and Sleaford. 0800 689 4174
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