Thinking "What If"

What is - 'What If'.......??

When learning to drive one of the major problems for everyone is a lack of road-experience.

Most drivers who have been driving for some time will have built up an internal data base of 'Where things went wrong before'. They will have encountered problems that will have ranged from a mild 'Mmm, I didn't expect that to happen' to possibly the very more serious and potentially lethal incidents that will have been a huge shock to them. All these events will have been automatically catalogued and stored in the subconscious part of the brain. As these memories are reinforced by further incidents the subconscious brain, along with the conscious part of the brain, will be warning the driver about problems that may arise as they navigate their way down the road.

Unfortunately a learner or new driver doesn't have this data to rely on (yet). This means that the learner and new driver will have to make a deliberate effort to consciously think about all the possible problems that may lay ahead.

Think' What if?' Imagine that you are driving down a road and you intend to turn either left, right, blind junction*, or through a filter lane.

• What if there is a lorry coming towards me on the wrong side of the road ? Will I be able to stop in a position that is safe and not causing any problems?
  
  
• What if there are cars parked on my side of the road just around the corner? Will I be travelling at a speed that allows me to react and stop in a position that is out of the way of any approaching vehicles?
  
  
• What if there is a pedestrian just stepping off the pavement just around the corner?
  
  
• Etc. Etc.

This What if.......? should be applied to all driving, especially when you are approaching situations where there is not enough information!

When thinking 'What if?', think about the situations that will really cause you problems. For example, if you are thinking that there may be a vehicle approaching, don't just think of an average car - think about the so called boy-racers. (You know the ones I mean? The ones who are causing your car insurance to be in excess of one thousand dollars because they are making a habit of writing off cars and in the process injuring and killing themselves and others!!) These drivers can go fast but the problem is that they don't have the skill, the experience and probably the wit to take care of things when things go wrong. They may be coming towards you on the wrong side of the road, as you go around that blind corner!

You  should not only be going at a speed that allows you stop in time but be going slow enough to allow the other driver (who is approaching you far too quickly) not only to see you but also allow them their panicky 'freeze-on-the-controls' moment before they actually start using the brakes.

* Blind Junction - A junction where the driver cannot gain much information on the approach due to sharp corners, houses, parked vehicles, hedges etc.

Thinking ' What if.......?'  will help you drive defensively and keep out of trouble.