Friday 8 February 2019

High-sided vehicles and windy conditions

A very nice graphic is provided in Ch 12 of Roadcraft which shows the forces acting on a vehicle before, as, and after an overtake of a high-sided vehicle in strong winds.  I would recommend it to show to your pupils.
  
This kind of issue is not easy for us to implement in driving training as it requires the strong wind, the presence of the high-sided vehicle and a length of road that keeps the training safe.  When you get strong winds, do actively think how you can use the opportunity to assist your pupils on that day.  A risk assessment should identify if that particular exercise is not appropriate for any given pupil.

One of the reasons that it is such a powerful learning point is because it demonstrates quite clearly how there can at times be forces and substances placed on vehicles which potentially affect stability and/or traction. 
I think this kind of edification signposts increased driving instructor ability.  To identify the possibility of a rather rare learning opportunity, risk assess and when appropriate deliver the training in order to deepen the capabilities of pupils.  High quality driving instructors are not fettered by inclement weather, instead, they see it as an opportunity.

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