Skills V Behaviour

First of all — well done

Passing your driving test is a real achievement

You’ve proved you can control a car, read the road, and meet the required standard.

But now the L-plates are off, here’s something to carry with you:

Skills pass tests. Behaviour keeps people alive.

Let me paint you a picture…

It’s a dark country lane.

Double white lines.

Bends.

National speed limit.

You’re doing 60.

Ahead of you? Someone doing 40.

And the thoughts creep in…

“40 in a 60.”

“People have places to be.”

“Incompetent.”

“Why are we slowing down for 30?”

Here’s the important bit

The driver thinking those things might be perfectly skilled.

They passed their test.

They can steer smoothly.

They know the limit.

But what’s driving the behaviour isn’t skill.

It’s belief.

The belief that 60 is the correct speed — not the maximum.

The belief that delay is unreasonable.

The belief that slower drivers are incompetent.

The belief that urgency justifies pressure.

Now add the conditions:

It’s dark.

It’s rural.

There are bends.

There are double white lines (which mean you must NOT cross the solid line nearest you except in very limited circumstances). They’re there because visibility is restricted or there’s a collision history. They are a risk signal.

At 60mph you cover around 27 metres every second

Official stopping distance? 128 metres — and that’s in ideal conditions. Dry road. Alert driver. Good tyres.

Not dark rural bends with unknown hazards.

So what really keeps you safe?

Space

Patience

Self-awareness

This isn’t about whether you can drive.

You’ve shown you can.

It’s about whether you can regulate yourself.

On test day, you probably drove with:

More space

More caution

More restraint

Why? Because you were being assessed.

Now the examiner’s gone.

From this point on, the examiner is you.

If you haven’t practised regulating frustration, impatience, or ego, your behaviour will drift — not because you don’t know better, but because you haven’t trained yourself to think better under pressure.

Listen to the language we sometimes use:

“Incompetent.”

That’s judgement — not observation.

Once you label someone, curiosity shuts down.

Instead of asking, “What might they be seeing that I’m not?” you switch to blame.

And blame removes responsibility from you.

“People have places to be.”

Sounds harmless — but that’s entitlement.

Time pressure doesn’t change physics.

If the car ahead brakes for:

A deer

A cyclist

Mud on the road

A broken-down vehicle in shadow

The only thing that matters is your following distance.

If frustration has reduced it — that’s on you.

Here’s the truth:

The first time you’re delayed on a dark rural road, your skill will sit underneath your emotion.

And emotion will win — unless you’ve trained it.

So here’s what to actively work on now that you’ve passed

Question your beliefs, not just your speed

If you think, “They’re going too slow,” ask:

• What speed lets me stop in what I can see?

• Is the limit a target — or a maximum?

Practise handling inconvenience

Notice how you feel when you’re held up.

• Does your following distance shrink?

• Do your thoughts get sharper?

• Can you accept arriving 2 minutes later if it’s safer?

Protect your space — especially when frustrated

When irritation rises, increase your gap — don’t decrease it.

Make space a conscious decision.

Drive to conditions, not numbers

At night. On bends. On rural roads.

Ask yourself:

• How far can I see?

• Can I stop in that distance?

If the answer isn’t a confident yes — ease off.

Build self-awareness like you built clutch control

After drives, reflect:

• When did I feel pressured?

• How did I respond?

• What helped me stay calm?

Crashes rarely begin with a lack of knowledge.

They begin quietly — with:

Compressed space

Justified impatience

Unchecked belief

No horn.

No dramatic overtake.

No obvious recklessness.

Just slightly less space.

Slightly more emotion.

Slightly less patience.

That’s how it starts.

You’ve proved you can pass a test.

Now build the habit of managing yourself.

Because at 10pm on a dark country lane behind someone doing 40 in a 60, it won’t be your parallel park that protects you.

It will be your judgement.

It will be your patience.

It will be your ability to notice your own thoughts — and choose safety anyway.

Skills got you the licence.

Beliefs, attitudes, and emotional control will get you home.

Drive like that — and you won’t just be qualified.

You’ll be safe.

www.rptdrivertraining.co.uk

#NewDrivers #DriveToArrive #RoadSafety #MindsetMatters #SafeDriving #DriverTraining #RPTDriverTraining

Why Indicators Matter

Why Indicators Matter – From a Driving Instructor’s Perspective

As a driving instructor, one of the most common phrases you’ll hear me say is:

“Signal in good time!”

Indicators might seem like a small part of driving, but they are one of the most powerful communication tools you have on the road. Driving isn’t just about controlling a vehicle — it’s about communicating clearly and safely with everyone around you.

Let’s break down why indicators truly matter.

1. Driving Is Communication

When you’re behind the wheel, you can’t roll down the window and explain your next move. Your indicators do the talking for you.

They tell:

Drivers behind you

Oncoming traffic

Cyclists

Pedestrians

Motorcyclists

…exactly what you’re planning to do next.

Without signalling, you’re leaving others guessing — and guessing on the road leads to hesitation, confusion, and sometimes collisions.

2. Indicators Prevent Accidents

A properly timed signal gives other road users time to react safely.

Think about:

Changing lanes on a dual carriageway

Turning right at a busy junction

Pulling out from the side of the road

Failing to signal (or signalling too late) can result in rear-end collisions, side-swipes, or forcing someone to brake suddenly.

As I always tell my learners:

“Signal early, signal clearly, signal every time.”

3. It Shows Planning & Awareness

Using your indicators correctly shows that you are:

Observant

Anticipating hazards

Thinking ahead

In control

During driving tests, poor signalling is a common fault. But beyond the test, it reflects your driving mindset. Safe drivers don’t react at the last second — they plan ahead.

4. It Builds Trust on the Road

When drivers use their indicators properly, traffic flows more smoothly.

Other road users trust you when:

You signal in good time

You don’t confuse them with misleading signals

You cancel your indicator after turning

Trust reduces stress. And calmer drivers make safer roads for everyone.

5. “There’s No One Around” Isn’t an Excuse

I often hear:

"But there was no one there!"

You can’t always see everyone.

There could be:

A cyclist in your blind spot

A pedestrian about to step out

A vehicle approaching faster than expected

Make signalling a habit — not a decision.

Final Thoughts

Indicators are not optional extras. They are essential safety tools.

Every time you drive, remember:

You’re not just moving a car — you’re interacting with an entire environment of people who rely on your signals to stay safe.

As I tell all my students at RPT Driver Training:

Good drivers drive the car. Great drivers communicate.

5 Key Takeaways

Signal early — give others time to react.

Signal clearly — avoid confusing or misleading signals.

Signal every time — even if you think no one is there.

Cancel your signal after completing your manoeuvre.

Make signalling a habit, not an afterthought.

Drive safe. Drive smart. Communicate clearly.

#DrivingTips #RoadSafety #LearnerDriver #DrivingInstructor #SafeDriving #rptdrivertraining

www.rptdrivertraining.co.uk