It'll drive you to think (From Gazette Series)

It'll drive you to think

IF there is one thing that almost no-one takes kindly to it is having their driving abilities criticised.

Even when people are caught by the police, it is usually someone else's fault or at least it is blamed on someone, or something, outside the driver's control. "The speed camera is in a stupid place", or "No-one does 30 down that road".

As part of the Great Gloucestershire Debate on transport, the county council is keen to get drivers taking more responsibility for their own actions on the road.

With the help of a driver improvement course the council's road safety unit wants to educate drivers about being proactive, rather than reactive. Developing driver skills and addressing weaknesses.

The course is usually only offered to people who have been caught driving without due care and attention as an alternative to going to court but last Friday's course was opened to the local media and as the new girl on the block I was sent.

I have only been driving for 16 months and I must admit I felt pretty worried about the thought of my driving being scrutinised by experts.

Could I have turned into a girl racer since passing my test? Do I still manage mirror, signal and manoeuvre?

To my relief, my driving does not appear to be that bad. In fact my instructor from the council's road safety unit said I was a natural, but to my horror I did discover I am a statistic waiting to happen.

According to the experts, four factors that can increase your chances of being involved in a collision are: if you are male, young, inexperienced and if you drive over 12,000 miles a year.

Two out of four is not bad, I felt, but it was still slightly concerning.

The structure of the course, however, is not designed to criticise and frighten people but to educate them.

Mike Light has been a member of the road safety team since the course started in 1997, he said: "If we were to wag our fingers at people they would switch off and wouldn't listen.

"We try to make it a relaxed environment where people will feel they can be honest and talk openly about their experiences.

"It is not about taking the blame but accepting responsibility."

During the day participants are given the opportunity to deconstruct accidents that have already happened, discussing driver responsibility. Another activity involvs looking at street scenes and identifying potential hazards. It was these group discussions that made me realise that my opinion on driving was no more correct than anyone else's.

Garry Handley from the road safety team said: "When people first arrive on the course, they are convinced their collision happened because of someone else's mistake but by the end of the first morning we see their views change."

Regardless of my media role at the course it was worthwhile as a driver to go. Did you know it was a legal requirement to drive round the spot of a mini roundabout? And who could forget "Only fool breaks the two second rule".