Advanced driving forward in Haynes Manual
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Many people see the words 'advanced driving' and believe that
it won't interest them or that it is a style of driving beyond 
their own abilities. Nothing could be further from the truth. 
Advanced driving is straightforward safe, sensible driving - 
the sort of driving we should all do every time we get behind 
the wheel.

An average of 10 people are killed every day on UK roads and 
870 more are injured, some seriously. Lives are ruined daily, 
usually because somebody did something stupid. Something like 
95% of all accidents are due to human error, mostly driver 
failure. Sometimes we make genuine mistakes -everyone does. 
Sometimes we have lapses of concentration. Sometimes we 
deliberately take risks.

For many people, the process of 'learning to drive' doesn't go 
much further than learning how to pass the driving test because 
of a common belief that good drivers are made by 'experience'.
 
Learning to drive by 'experience' teaches three driving skills:

- Quick reactions. (Whoops, that was close!) 
- Good handling skills. (Horn, swerve, brake, horn). 
- Reliance on vehicle technology. (Great stuff this ASS, stop 
  in no distance even in the wet...)
 
Drivers whose skills are 'experience based' generally have a 
lot of near misses and the odd accident. The results can be 
seen every day in our courts and our hospital casualty 
departments.

Advanced drivers have learnt to control the risks by controlling 
the position and speed of their vehicle. They avoid accidents 
and near misses, even if the drivers around them make mistakes.

The key skills of advanced driving are concentration, effective 
all-round observation, anticipation and planning. When good 
vehicle handling is added to these skills, all driving 
situations can be approached and negotiated in a safe, 
methodical way, leaving nothing to chance.

Concentration means applying your mind to safe driving, 
completely excluding anything that's not relevant. Driving is 
usually the most dangerous activity that most of us undertake 
in our daily routines. It deserves our full attention.

Observation means not just looking, but seeing and seeking out 
the information found in the driving environment.

Anticipation means asking yourself what is happening, what you 
can reasonably expect to happen and what could happen 
unexpectedly. (One of the commonest words used in compiling 
accident reports is 'suddenly'.)

Planning is the link between seeing something and taking the 
appropriate action. For many drivers, planning is the missing 
link.

If you want to become a safer and more skilful driver and you 
want to enjoy your driving more, contact the Institute of 
Advanced Motorists at www.iam.org.uk, phone 0208 996 9600, or 
write to IAM House, 510 Chiswick High Road, London W4 5RG for 
an information pack.