20. Making progress – avoiding undue hesitations (NS 4.2.1)
This section deals with two aspects of driving which are closely linked but will be dealt with separately (Progress and Hesitancy)
Appropriate Speed Urban driving requires a high degree of concentration as you will be approaching what seems to be an endless number of hazards (remember, a hazard is anything which makes you change speed or direction). Dealing safely with these hazards will require you to use the M-S-M routine and will inevitably involve slowing down. How much you slow down depends upon a number of variables:
- The width of gap available
- How far ahead you can see
- The intentions and actions of other road users
- Your confidence and ability to deal with the hazard safely
Typically, the hazards may be;
- Children on the pavement
- Children playing ball in an unfenced park
- Dead ground or brow of a hill where the road is hidden
- Exhaust fumes from a parked vehicle.
In essence, you should deal promptly and safely with the hazard without inconveniencing other road users, such as:
- Not holding up following drivers because of over-caution
- Not slowing down other road users who have priority over you at the hazard.
You must always drive at a speed which is appropriate to the road and traffic conditions. There may be an occasion when, after dealing with a particularly tricky series of hazards requiring you to drive slowly, the road suddenly becomes clear ahead. You should recognise this quickly and make progress up to the speed limit provided it remains safe to do so.
Undue Hesitation.
Hesitancy can be described as not claiming priority (at a junction or in a “meet” situation) when you should. This causes indecision in other road users and may cause them frustration and lead to ill-judged and unsafe actions. There is no room for indecisiveness when driving. If you are not sure what to do in a particular situation check behind and slow down until you can make a positive decision (i.e. stop or proceed). Good forward planning, early observation and anticipation of other road user’s actions can drastically reduce hesitancy.