Streets Ahead Driver Training

According to the "The Driving Companion" the System of Car Control (SOCC) is the safest and most efficient way to drive a motor vehicle. The system is the basic building block for logbook and VORT training. It is a drill that requires a set of actions to be carried out in sequence at the approach to any hazard. A hazard is any physical feature or situation that may, or has the potential to, cause you to change speed or direction.

The System of Car Control

The system is described in detail in the "Driving Companion" in the Driving (blue tab) section. Here is a summary of the sequence of actions that may be required:

1. Choose your course through the hazard
2. Check your mirror and signal (if changing direction)
3. Brake to adjust speed if required
4. Decision point - is it safe to continue?
5. When safe, check mirror (and blind spot if required)
6. Evasive action if required (usually as a result of a mistake in previous actions)
7. Otherwise accelerate through hazard to leave it behind

This is just an overview of the sequence. Every situation will require a version of this sequence (eg. not every hazard will require signalling, braking or a blind spot check). The descriptions for all of the logbook tasks have the SOCC included in their step-by-step procedures.

Why check the mirror?

Checking the mirror allows the driver to observe behind for following or overtaking traffic. Any number of events may affect the action you are about take to deal with the situation ahead of you. For example, you may see in your mirror any one of the following scenarios, which would certainly affect what you were going to do next:

• An emergency vehicle with lights flashing
• A vehicle approaching at a high speed or driving erratically
• A tailgating vehicle
• An overtaking vehicle

What is a hazard?

As mentioned previously, a hazard is any physical feature or situation that may, or has the potential to, cause you to change speed or direction. Here are some examples of some hazards:

• Intersections, traffic lights and roundabouts
• School zones, road construction areas
• Changing lanes, entering and exiting a freeway
• Pot holes, dips or bumps in the road surface
• A wet, greasy or gravelly road surface
• Any action by another driver, cyclist or pedestrian that may cause a hazardous situation

When should you start the system?

Timing of the actions for the SOCC are crucial to driving safely. For example if you check your mirror just before you are upon the hazard (eg. A second before going straight through a green traffic light) you have no time to make sure its safe before going through it. Here are a few suggestions to help you develop your timing:

• Aim high in steering, look a good distance down the road and plan your course early
• Check your mirror at least 3-4 seconds before arriving at the hazard
• Signal at least 2 - 3 seconds before you want to turn, earlier if it doesn't cause confusion to other drivers (eg. they think you are turning off somewhere else)
• If turning, brake and change direction after you have signalled to give other road users fair warning of what you intend to do
• Try and get any observations in as early as possible, sometimes several sets of observations may be required if the first doesn't give you a good enough view of the area. This is will leave you with more time to concentrate on guiding your vehicle through the hazard.

Importance for task 30 and the VORT

The SOCC must be applied consistently throughout the VORT and many of the logbook tasks including task 30, otherwise the road craft compliance requirements will not be met (90% for VORT, 80% for logbook). For example, for every event (hazard encountered) that occurs during an assessment a mark is recorded and the final road craft score will be the percentage of correctly managed events. The SOCC is an essential part of what is defined as "road craft" and any instances where it is incorrect or omitted will be recorded as a fault.