Road Safety - Drivers

The Highway Code Says :-

You MUST NOT

drive dangerously
drive without due care and attention
drive without reasonable consideration for other road users

You MUST NOT drive on or over a pavement, footpath or bridleway except to gain lawful access to property.

Adapt your driving to the appropriate type and condition of road you are on. In particular

do not treat speed limits as a target. It is often not appropriate or safe to drive at the maximum speed limit
take the road and traffic conditions into account. Be prepared for unexpected or difficult situations, for example, the road being blocked beyond a blind bend. Be prepared to adjust your speed as a precaution
where there are junctions, be prepared for vehicles emerging
in side roads and country lanes look out for unmarked junctions where nobody has priority
try to anticipate what pedestrians and cyclists might do. If pedestrians, particularly children, are looking the other way, they may step out into the road without seeing you.

Be considerate. Be careful of and considerate towards other road users. You should

try to be understanding if other drivers cause problems; they may be inexperienced or not know the area well
be patient; remember that anyone can make a mistake
not allow yourself to become agitated or involved if someone is behaving badly on the road. This will only make the situation worse. Pull over, calm down and, when you feel relaxed, continue your journey
slow down and hold back if a vehicle pulls out into your path at a junction. Allow it to get clear. Do not over-react by driving too close behind it.

Safe driving needs concentration. Avoid distractions when driving such as

loud music (this may mask other sounds)
trying to read maps
inserting a cassette or CD or tuning a radio
arguing with your passengers or other road users
eating and drinking

You MUST exercise proper control of your vehicle at all times.

You MUST NOT use a hand-held mobile phone, or similar device, when driving or when supervising a learner driver, except to call 999 or 112 in a genuine emergency when it is unsafe or impractical to stop. Never use a hand-held microphone when driving.

There is a danger of driver distraction being caused by in-vehicle systems such as route guidance and navigation systems, congestion warning systems, PCs, multi-media, etc. Do not operate, adjust or view any such system if it will distract your attention while you are driving; you MUST exercise proper control of your vehicle at all times. If necessary find a safe place to stop first.

In slow moving traffic

You should

reduce the distance between you and the vehicle ahead to maintain traffic flow
never get so close to the vehicle in front that you cannot stop safely
leave enough space to be able to manoeuvre if the vehicle in front breaks down or an emergency vehicle needs to get past
not change lanes to the left to overtake

Allow access into and from side roads, as blocking these will add to congestion

Do not block access to a side road

Driving in built up areas

Narrow residential streets

You should drive slowly and carefully on streets where there are likely to be pedestrians, cyclists and parked cars. In some areas a 20 mph maximum speed limit may be in force. Look out for

vehicles emerging from junctions
vehicles moving off
car doors opening
pedestrians
children running out from between parked cars
cyclists and motorcyclists.

Traffic calming measures

On some roads there are features such as road humps, chicanes and narrowings which are intended to slow you down. When you approach these features reduce your speed. Allow cyclists and motorcyclists room to pass through them. Maintain a reduced speed along the whole of the stretch of road within the calming measures. Give way to oncoming traffic if directed to do so by signs. You should not overtake other moving vehicles whilst in these areas.

Chicanes may be used t o slow traffic down. Do not park in passing places.
When approaching a Crossing patrol, slow down and be prepared to STOP if requested to do so.
When stopped by the patrol, please halt your vehicle an appropriate distance from the crossing point to allow pedestrians to cross. Do not creep forward or rev your engine as this could cause the pedestrians to panic or rush across the road.
Do not STOP or Park your vehicle on or near to a patrol point, or on the yellow zig zag lines. This will obstruct the patrol's view of oncoming traffic and other drivers' view of the patrol.
Please remember that failure to comply with the signal given by a crossing patrol is an offence which will be reported to the Police and can lead up to £1,000 and 3 penalty points on your licence.

Country roads

Take extra care on country roads and reduce your speed at approaches to bends, which can be sharper than they appear, and at minor junctions and turnings, which may be partially hidden. Be prepared for pedestrians, horse riders and cyclists walking or riding in the road. You should also reduce your speed where country roads enter villages.

Single-track roads

These are only wide enough for one vehicle. They may have special passing places. If you see a vehicle coming towards you, or the driver behind wants to overtake, pull into a passing place on your left, or wait opposite a passing place on your right. Give way to vehicles coming uphill whenever you can. If necessary, reverse until you reach a passing place to let the other vehicle pass.

Stopping distances

Drive at a speed that will allow you to stop well within the distance you can see to be clear. You should

leave enough space between you and the vehicle in front so that you can pull up safely if it suddenly slows down or stops. The safe rule is never to get closer than the overall stopping distance
allow at least a two-second gap between you and the vehicle in front on roads carrying fast traffic. The gap should be at least doubled on wet roads and increased still further on icy roads

Remember, large vehicles and motorcycles need a greater distance to stop

Use a fixed point to help measure a two second gap