Road safety charity the Institute of Advanced Motorists (IAM) offers great motoring tips from Britain’s top advanced driver, Peter Rodger. Below he is advising on ways to improve your driving.
Night driving: You must be able to stop in the distance you see to be clear. Use your lights on full beam where possible and keep windows and mirrors clean to maximise your view.
Eyesight: In the UK, the National Health Service suggests having an eye test every two years. It is your responsibility to ensure you’re fit to drive. Many eyesight problems are worsened when driving in the dark.
Weather: Heed weather warnings all year round. If the weather is really bad, consider whether you need to travel at all. If so, there are alternatives to driving.
Year-round maintenance: Clean your windows, lights, mirrors and number plates regularly. You should spend around 10 minutes every week checking your vehicle’s fluid levels, tyre pressure, lights, tread depth and windscreen wipers.
Eco-driving: A planned drive is an economical drive – having a good sense of your vehicle’s power and gears will save fuel.
Anticipate: Consider what the traffic around you may do, especially at traffic lights, roundabouts and junctions.
Refuel: Be sure to top up your tank, especially when embarking upon long journeys. Running out of fuel causes hundreds of motorway breakdowns every year.
With summer soon slipping in to autumn, it is a good time to sit back, reflect and evaluate your driving. Why not begin by incorporating some driving behaviour improvements.
To help drivers stay safe, the IAM has launched a new website, drivingadvice.org.uk, with real-time updates and tips on how to drive safely in winter.
Tips cover rain, snow, ice, fog and wind – everything you can expect in a typically unpredictable winter in this part of the world. Check it out before you travel.
The Institute of Advanced Motorists is the UK and Ireland’s largest independent road safety charity, dedicated to improving standards and safety in driving, motorcycling and cycling. The commercial division of the IAM operates through its occupational driver training company IAM Drive & Survive. The IAM has more than 200 local volunteer groups and over 100,000 members in the UK and Ireland.
It is best known for the advanced driving test and the advanced driving, motorcycling and cycling courses. Its policy and research division offers advice and expertise on road safety.
