Driven To Distraction

Bad driving is often the cause of jams on the road network. Has the time come to get rid of car drivers? asks Mick Rennison

- Mick Rennison

When I was a teenager my dad gave me driving lessons in my Anglia 105e. He kept on about defensive driving. “Look ahead,” he’d say. “Read the road.” At first I didn’t have a clue what he was on about, which is probably why I failed my first test. Eventually I got the message and the licence.

Dad was a lorry driver. He never took a driving test; all his knowledge was learnt hands on. His wagons had none of the technology we take for granted now. Stopping distances for a loaded wagon would frighten you and me today. With no exhaust brake to rely on, brake fade was a constant threat for the unwary, especially on unfamiliar roads. You had to look ahead and anticipate the actions of others. Read the road, get the right gear for that hill and the best road position for the next roundabout.

I certainly benefited from his advice, especially when I started driving trucks.