Last update ~ 6th April 2012 ~ CS

Blackpool & Fylde Advanced Motorists Group

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Try this for a definition ~ The system of car control is a way of approaching and negotiating every type of hazard that is methodical, safe and leaves nothing to chance.  It promotes careful observation, early anticipation and planning and a systematic use of the controls to achieve maximum vehicle stability.  It is a system of dealing with an unpredictable environment.  These five phases are central to Roadcraft and to the IAM procedures drawing together all other driving skills in a co-ordinated response to road and traffic conditions.   If you can remember this definition off by heart, you will be the envy of your fellow Associates on your Course.

This process will pervade everything that we will be working on together during your forthcoming Course where the Information phase is constantly being reassessed to overlap every other phase of the system.

TAKE  .... Absorb information, you will need to look all around you, scanning to the front and sides, using your mirrors at the appropriate points in the system

USE .... Process information you have taken allows you to plan on how to deal with the identified hazards and form a contingency action to deal with the unexpected hazard.  Decide your next action by using the system as a guide. New hazards arising might require you to revise the system from an earlier phase again

GIVE .... Giving information to help other road users is your decision.  Your actions can include arm signals, indicator signals, the sounding of your horn and indeed the flashing of your lights during any stage of the system, the earlier you give the information, the greater the benefit to the other road users.

Get yourself into a POSITION so that you pass and deal with the hazards in question safely and smoothly and to do this you have to account of other road users such as pedestrians, cyclists and children

Anticipating a change of speed early on in the system of car control allows you to effect a change in SPEED at an appropriate point by the use of acceleration sense or by braking adjustments made smoothly, steadily and under control before selecting an appropriate gear, if necessary, to arrive at the desired speed enabling you to complete the “manoeuvre”

Engage the appropriate GEAR for the circumstances in front of you to match your current road speed.  If you are dealing with a hazard that does require a gear change, the principle would be to get down to that speed by the use of the brake first to deal with the hazards in question safely and then select that appropriate gear.  Avoid where possible the overlap between your application of the brake and your changing of gear.  There are some exceptions to this rule that we will explain to you.

The ACCELERATOR should be used carefully to maintain your speed and stability throughout the hazard and if speed is reduced by the action of cornering forces on the vehicle, the accelerator can be depressed to offset such a reduction in speed. Once you have taken on board the relevant information once you have dealt with the hazard you can decide at the point if it is safe to accelerate away from it, choosing an appropriate point to do so and adjusting the amount of acceleration to the circumstances prevailing.

This safe, systematic and simple system of car control is applicable in all circumstances to prevent accidents with its characteristic logical and flexible mechanism.  An important point to remember here is that the system must be used intelligently and responsively.

 You do not have to follow it slavishly but you do need to adapt it to the circumstances that arise.

YOU WILL HAVE TO REMEMBER THESE FIVE PHASES OF THE SYSTEM RIGHT FROM DAY 1 WITH US !!!