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In our tour of the System of Car Control, as described in Roadcraft, we have arrived at the second of the five phases, Position. Roadcraft devotes a short chapter, Chapter 7, to this aspect. Positioning is a crucial element in the system of car control, and this article looks at the key factors you need to consider when deciding how to position your vehicle in different circumstances. We will cover cornering in another article.
The ideal road position depends on many things: safety, observation, traffic conditions, road layout, cornering, manoeuvrability, assisting traffic flow and making your intentions clear. The overriding consideration is safety, which should never be sacrificed for any other advantage. Insofar as there is a standard position on the road, it is the one that gives you the best view but with careful regard to safety.
Positioning on the approach to hazards
As you approach a hazard you need to be aware that risks can arise from both sides of the road. Dangers can come from anywhere, but you will generally have less time to react to hazards coming from the nearside. In narrow roads and one-way systems you need to be equally attentive to both sides of the road.
If you identify hazards (which can include pedestrians, especially children, parked vehicles and their occupants, cyclists and concealed junctions) on the nearside, steer a course closer to the crown of the road. This has two benefits:
· it gives you a better view;
· it provides more space in which to take avoiding action if required.
If oncoming traffic makes it unsafe to adopt this position or if the road is too narrow, reduce your speed. There is an important trade-off between your speed and the clearance around your vehicle. The less space you have the slower you should go.
When you drive along a row of parked vehicles get into the habit of asking yourself 'Could I stop in time if a child ran out?'
Keep as far from the rows of parked vehicles as the circumstances allow. There is always the possibility that a pedestrian, especially a child, might run out from between them, or that an occupant might suddenly step out into your path. If traffic or road conditions prevent your moving out, slow down. A good rule of thumb is to try to give at least an open door's clearance to the side of any parked vehicles.
Position yourself so that you can see as much of the road ahead as possible and so that other road users can see you. You can improve your view into nearside roads by positioning your vehicle towards the crown of the road. This also makes you more visible to vehicles pulling out from nearside junctions. You must, however, take into account any vehicles on your offside. Adopt a position that minimises the overall danger from both sides of the road.
Following position
In a stream of traffic, always keep a safe distance behind the vehicle in front. A guide for following distances in open conditions is one metre/yard per mph between you and the vehicle in front. That corresponds to a two-second time gap between you and the car in front, which most people find easier to estimate than distance. In urban areas, where speeds are lower, a minimum following distance of one foot per mph is advised.
These are some of the advantages of keeping your distance from the vehicle in front:
· You have a good view, and can increase it along both sides by slight changes of position – that lets you be fully aware of what is happening on the road ahead.
· You can stop your vehicle safely if the driver in front brakes firmly without warning.
· You can extend your braking distance so that the driver behind has more time to react.
Position for turning
Your position for turning depends on other traffic, the road layout, the position of any obstacles and the effect of the obstacles on traffic behaviour. Generally the best position on the approach to a junction where you are going to turn is on the nearside of the road for a left turn and towards the centre line for a right turn.
If you intend to turn right and oncoming traffic is encroaching on your side of the road, move away from the centre line. If you intend to turn left and the corner has a sharp angle or is obscured, or if pedestrians are present, approach the corner from further out than normal. Avoid 'swan necking', which is approaching close to the nearside and then swinging out to the right jut before turning left into the junction.
Position for stopping behind other vehicles
Before you came to a stop think about your next move. Position your vehicle so that you can continue with minimum inconvenience to yourself and other road users. The IAM recommends that you are able to see 'tyres and tarmac' behind the vehicle in front.
When you stop behind a line of vehicles and there is no one following, consider stopping well short of the vehicle in front and watch for traffic coming up behind. If an approaching vehicle appears to have left braking too late, move forward to allow it extra space to stop in. An example of this is where there are traffic lights at roadworks close to a bend. You should consider stopping in the bend so that the drivers of following vehicles can see you as they approach the bend.