Gareth wrote:crr003 wrote:but there are no techniques given on how to assess that speed.
How do drivers ever know how fast it is safe to go? Does it say nothing about being able to stop in the distance that can be seen to be clear? Because if it does, nothing extra is needed for bends.
Highway Code #125 says (in part):
"You should always reduce your speed when
*the road layout or condition presents hazards, such as bends
..."So general advice to reduce speed.
HC #126, related to stopping distance gives us the famous:
"Drive at a speed that will allow you to stop well within the distance you can see to be clear."Back with "Driving the Essential Skills", for bends, it goes on to say:
"The correct speed at a corner or bend will depend on a number of things, including
*how sharp it is
*whether there is other traffic about.
There are no hard and fast rules, and you will have to judge
*the correct position
*the proper speed for the corner or bend
*the gear most suitable for that speed
The secret for dealing with bends is to make sure that
*your speed is at its lowest before you start the turn
*you use the accelerator so that the engine is doing just enough work to drive the vehicle round the bend without going faster."Further on in the section on bends there is this statement:
"Always drive so you can stop safely within the limit of your vision. Take extra care where your view is restricted."So it is in there, but after a lot of woolly prose. And I would hazard a guess that hardly anyone ever reads these books anyway. (Theory is "learnt" by using multiple choice guessing apps).
I suppose one could rest safe in the knowledge that the ADI or mum/dad will be teaching the proper application.