Advance Check List

Keep mirrors clean and properly adjusted.
Thinking ahead enables every maneuver with your car to be carried out in good time and under complete control.
Think about driving plans: how you assess information and react to it is the cornerstone of advance driving technique.
Always drive with self control and complete concentration.
Allow for reaction times, your own and those of other road users, when hazards unfold.
Observation depends upon good eyesight.
Concentrate your gaze on a point some way ahead, while at the same time taking in events even further in the distance, closer to you and on either side.
Gear changes should be made smoothly and precisely (your passengers should not even notice them)
Correct use of gears is a basic requirement of advance driving.
Use the lower gears for maximum engine braking down a steep hill, on a slippery road, in conditions that might lead to skidding or if your car's brakes fail.
Develop your acceleration sense. You will know instinctively when a manoeuver, such as overtaking, can be carried out safely, and you will find that you use the brake less.
Remember when cornering that pressure on the accelerator should be used only to maintain speed, not to increase it.
Brake smoothly and progressively. Ease onto the pedal when you start braking, increase the pressure through the middle phase of braking, then release the pedal gradually towards the end of your braking.
Always try to brake in a straight line because sudden braking in a corner can unsettle your car.
Avoid putting economy before safety and driving slowly enough to be a nuisance to other road users
Avoid using the brakes too harshly and do not extend the engine above or below its comfortable operating range.
Treating the clutch with respect is an area where the advance driver really stands out from the pack.
Keep a regular eye on tyre condition by checking pressures and making sure no damage has occurred.
Aim to complete your braking and any change to a lower gear before you turn the steering.
Corners are best taken smoothly at a constant speed or with moderate acceleration once the exit line is clear.
You must avoid excessive braking or acceleration on bends unless an emergency leaves you no alternative.
Consider whether you actually need to overtake.
Remember that overtaking safely is one of the most challenging areas of driving.
Do not forget how you can help others to overtake safely.
Extra anticipation is needed to spot unexpected movements from pedestrians, cyclists and parked vehicles.
Be aware of the difficulties of judging speed and distance at night, particularly when overtaking.
When roads are slippery, use the controls - brakes, steering, accelerator, clutch - even more smoothly and gently than normal to avoid skidding.
Allow for greasy roads and poor visibility when rain falls after a long dry spell, and take special care on loose chipping or hot tar.
Watch out for poor driving standards in busy holiday traffic.
Be familiar with the procedures for controlling a skidding car: steer into the skid and do not brake. Consider an open field to improve your skills.
If your car is stuck in mud, use second gear and gentle throttle to avoid wheelspin.
Treat the 110 kph speed limit as a limit, not a target that you must reach.
Remember two essential rules of highway driving: maintain a safe following distance and exercise good lane discipline.
Be sure not to let your concentration lapse if your journey becomes monotonous.
Pay proper attention to safety if your car breaks down and you have to stop on the hard shoulder.