Commentary Driving

Last update ~ 6th April 2012 ~ CS

Blackpool & Fylde Advanced Motorists Group

Our site map

BEFORE YOU VIEW OR DOWNLOAD ANYTHING ~ PLEASE CLICK HERE AND READ THIS DISCLAIMER ~ IT IS FOR YOUR BENEFIT

Home Page IAM Matters The Bafam Course Course Help Driving Matters Our Group Judith & Team Links News Flashes

The method of Commentary driving we are going to encourage you to use is nothing different to that employed by emergency response police officers, the basis of which is covered in the Roadcraft book. Given that, on the Advanced Driving Test, there is no requirement for you to provide a commentary whilst you are driving BUT and it’s big BUT, once you have tried and increased your skills at it, your driving cannot but improve greatly.

Obviously you will need to practice this technique and the easiest way to assist you with this from scratch is to build up your technique in four easy stages. Initially, don’t sit in the driving seat, put yourself as the passenger in the car whilst your other half drives and build up your commentary that way before you let yourself loose in the driving seat. It is sometimes beneficial to individuals to try it out this way as you only have to consider your commentary without the responsibility of the driving task.

1. Don’t try too much at this stage to go into the deep-end on a major road, try a quiet stretch of road near to you. Drive normally at 30 mph if you can but put your eyes as far ahead on the road as you can see as if they were on “full beam” like your headlights and practice scanning from that far distance, then to middle distance, then to close up in front of the car as if on “dipped headlights” and then see what’s behind you. Keep the basis of the commentary simple and begin to tell yourself where the road is going, either to the left or to the right or up or down or a combination of all these things. Tell yourself about the road surface conditions as well.. There is no excuse for not seeing road signs, big sign boards and road markings as you should be able to see them at middle distance and close up and to recognise what the signs are and if they have any impact on us. Also look out for junctions, roundabouts, traffic lights along the way and any traffic movement at them . For the moment, don’t add any more information to your commentary until you feel comfortable with this amount of talking.

2. Once you are happy with the content of the commentary so far, now build in a few words about your necessary changes of speed but don’t forget the 5 Stages of Car Control, thus checking your mirrors before you adjust your speed. This becomes very important now and you will pick that up in practice on the Advanced Driving course when you are dealing with “Limit Points” and the use of “acceleration sense”. If there are any bends on the drive, remember to raise the question as to whether “Can I stop in the distance I can see to be clear?” . Finally, this now might include the concept of your “Driving Plan” if you have a loss of vision around a curve ahead.

3. Again, once you are happy that you can cope with that amount of information, we will then build into the commentary all the other road users; the four legs, the two legs, the four wheels and the two wheels. This brings in the context of our anticipation of what other road users are doing or going to be doing as we try to predict their unpredictability, for example a set of brakes light on the car in front suggests that the driver is slowing down ... obvious you might say but you need to react to that, so consider using “acceleration sense”, “the two second rule” or “tyres and tarmac” whichever is going to be appropriate. Here also we will bring into the equation some other selective observation links like the brake lights point mentioned earlier.

4. Finally we are about to add the finishing touches to the commentary with respect to a sequential approach to our position in the road, as to whether we are about to increase or reduce our speed, our choice of gear and to what our driving plan is to deal with the hazards ahead of us. This sounds a little bit like the 5 stages of the System of Car Control does it not? You’re right, so the most important point about that is the taking, using and the requirement as to whether any information is to be given. So mirrors checks now become the vital link

No matter what the commentary is, if at any time you feel that the commentary is affecting the way that you are driving, stop the commentary until you are comfortable enough to continue with it. Remembering, the ultimate achievement at the end of this exercise will be for you to be in the position as if you were the perfect driver .... in the correct road position, at the best possible speed in the most appropriate gear and fully aware of what is going on all around you. To be able to consider this as being the ultimate position, it will definitely set you apart as a good driver from other drivers who think they are good drivers but really they aren’t so good at all.

A little word to consider here is C O A S T.

If we are CONCENTRATING 100%, WE WILL BE ABLE TO HAVE GOOD

OBSERVATIONS, WITH

ANTICIPATION AS TO WHAT OTHERS WILL BE DOING AND THIS WILL GIVE US THE MOST IMPORTANT ELEMENTS OF SAFE DRIVING ....

SPACE .... AND

TIME.

One of the finest proponents of Commentary driving is a chap called Chris Gilbert, a man of many talents within the driving industry and not least a former cop in the Met. Most police officers will be familiar with the techniques described by Chris in his videos as being the basis upon which they were taught to drive to the system as Chris at one time used to teach cops their driving skills at Hendon.

If you would like to have an insight into his techniques about commentary driving, please use this link.

Chris Gilbert has a very interesting and comprehensive DVD available called the Ultimate Driving Craft and you can see his website here