Giving and Taking

February 10th, 2008 | by admin |

Being prepared mentally for what may happen next when you are on the road, rather than relying on reactions to sort out a problem when it has already arisen, is a key factor in safe driving and riding.

By doing that you can also be prepared for what other road users around you might get wrong. Be ready to keep things safe by what you do to allow for them.

A bit of give and take goes a long way.

This is the opposite of the “blame culture”. Instead of mentally complaining because “that white van man just cut me up”, have a think about what you were doing before hand and what you could have done, if anything, in a different way to prevent that near miss happening.

The IAM researched this approach with Brunel University two years ago. Using two control groups of drivers, plus a third coached to IAM standards, Brunel were able to evaluate the difference this approach made.

Those drivers who were prepared to see themselves as part of the potential hazard were less likely to be involved in a crash or a near miss than the drivers who just “blamed” other road users around them.

Being alert to the possible mistakes of others may feel like a low priority when you are under pressure, or on a bad Monday morning perhaps. It’s easier to expect others to do what they should do, all the time.

But there is no such thing as the perfect driver. Do your bit by allowing for their errors. And, if that feel too onerous, think aboutthis: haven’t you, at some stage when you were driving made an error which someone else then made safe? Be honest – we all have.

So make a point of helping out the other road users who might do the same for you.

This article has been reproduced with the permission of the IAM (Institute of Advanced Motorists)