TrevorB33

Anyone else on here done it, just did it on friday with my company was quite interesting although some of it will be hard to incorporate into uk driving, as its an American programme, the think you should have a four second rule lol

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"Impossible to say"

ScoobyChris

Not heard of the Smiths course before and Google didn't turn up any links. Is it based on Roadcraft or another syllabus?

Chris

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Holding up the traffic in a little Italian..........

KenONeill

I first thought of Smiths as in "Smiths Industries", as in gauge manufacturers! Some sort of a point would be most helpful.

Fluffy Bunny

I thought of John Smiths first- does mean I havea drink issue?

What is a Smith course for us unknowledgeable people?

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Heather

KenONeill

I don't think so H. My second thought was of Sam Smith's. So, never mind where you live; are you from Yorkshire originally?

Fluffy Bunny

Dalbeattie orginally via Liverpool.

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Heather

KenONeill

You see why I'd wonder though? I was introduced to Magnet (back when it was still a proper beer) by a Yorkshireman.

TrevorB33

Its come over from america, heres a linky

Smith System's On-Road Safe Driving Training Programs

Basically it all revolves around 5 key points

-Aim High in Steering
(look ahead a minimum of 15seconds)

-Get the big Picture
(4 second minimum following distance)
(scan mirrors every 5-8seconds)

-Keep your eyes moving
(avoid focusing on one object for more then 2 seconds)

-Leave yourself an out
(surround yourself with space)

-Make sure they see you
(eye contact)

Its a day course which involves a commentary drive you have to do at the end aswell which was quite interesting

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"Impossible to say"

ScoobyChris

Looks like lots of good advice there although I think I'd find it difficult to relate distance in seconds, eg looking 15 seconds ahead. One analogy I liked that someone suggested to me was that "lifting your vision" was like casting a fishing line so you'd "throw" it as far as you could see and then wind it back in towards the front of the car taking in everything between.

After doing that course, sounds like you'd be well on the way to an IAM/RoSPA pass

Chris

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Holding up the traffic in a little Italian..........

KenONeill

That's pretty much what I thought too. It's an Americanised and very commercial introduction to IAM and commentry driving. I waited til Chris had commented so I couldn't influence him by accident.

Richard Black

Well, look ahead 15 seconds ain't gonna work on bendy British B-roads, now is it? With visibility to the next bend typically 100 yards on many of them, we're talking 400 yards a minute, or 15 miles an hour in round numbers. I ride my push-bike faster than that! And 'surround yourself with space' isn't terribly workable in London either....

But the bit about eye-contact is something I would agree is often underrated. That one's really useful on a bike and makes me hate poseurs with a blacked out driver's door window in their ****-mobile.

[Edit - that's funny, I typed 'CharlieHotelAlphaVictor-mobile' and it got turned into asterisks as I posted it. It's not that rude, is it? Am I missing something?]

TrevorB33

yeah you can see the trouble by being americanised they dont have bendy b roads out there lol,

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"Impossible to say"

KenONeill

The Briskoda swear filter thinks it is. It also thinks that Vauxhall isn't!

dave hedgehog

Sounds like defensive driving, leaving big gaps and maintaining space around you.

ncarring

Glad you enjoyed it. You might consider IAM or RoSPA now, to cement the knowledge. It's hard to do advanced driving in a day

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Nick

North Wiltshire RoADAR