Driving awareness
Awareness

Being aware of all other road users

Main skills in this section:

  • Meeting and crossing traffic
  • Overtaking
  • Junctions
  • Using roundabouts
  • Approaching pedestrian crossings

Meeting and crossing traffic

What this skill covers

Driving safely when meeting or crossing traffic on:

One-way and two-way roads

Three-lane (where possible) and two-way roads

Major and minor roads

Narrow roads

Dual carriageways

What you must know and understand

When and why you should give way to other road users

Passing places and warning signs

What to do when passing obstructions, such as parked vehicles

How to act on what they see

You must use the MSM and PSL routine.

Overtaking

What this skill covers

Being able to safely overtake other vehicles on:

One-way and two-way roads

Three-lane (where possible) and two-way roads

Major and minor roads

Dual carriageways

What you must know and understand

Check their speed and position before overtaking

Check behind and in front of their car

Check if there is enough space for them to pull their car into the traffic in front of the vehicle that they’re overtaking

You must use the MSM and PSL routine.

Junctions

What this skill covers

Driving safely and negotiating any junction, including:

Turning left, turning right

T-junctions and Y-junctions

Crossroads and slip roads

Marked and unmarked junctions

One-way streets

Urban areas and rural areas

Dual carriageways

Yellow box junctions

What you must know and understand:

The rules for turning, entering and coming out of junctions

Advance warning signs and road markings

The order of traffic lights

What the zone of vision is

Which vehicle has priority at a junction

Your pupil must use the MSM and PSL routine.

Using roundabouts

What this skill covers

Driving safely and confidently on these types of roundabouts:

Mini and major

Multiple and satellite (where possible)

Traffic light controlled

What you must know and understand

The importance of lane discipline at a roundabout

The zones of vision at a roundabout

How to use observation early

To not assume that the vehicle in front will pull away

Which vehicle has priority at a roundabout

You must use the MSM and PSL routine.

Approaching pedestrian crossings

What this skill covers

Approaching controlled (such as pelican) and uncontrolled (such as zebra) pedestrian crossings. How to obey school crossing patrols.

What you must know and understand:

The visual warnings of a pedestrian crossing

The speed restriction as they approach a pedestrian crossing

Not to overtake near a pedestrian crossing

That they need to scan for pedestrians as they approach a pedestrian crossing

The times and places of high risk

How different weather conditions can add to the risk

What central refuges and split carriageways are

Your pupil must use the MSM and PSL routine.