Unit 38: Partly Trained/Trained – Dealing with Crossroads.

Research Material:
The Driving Instructor’s Handbook – Chapter 5
Driving: The Essential Skills – Part 8
Lesson Presenter
PST sheets
PST 9 – Crossroads/Pedestrian Crossings and Signals
PST 1 – Controls/Crossroads
Examiner’s Part 3 Guidelines

Be aware of the distinct differences of teaching this to someone for the first time (phase 1), and providing extra training to someone who has already received training in the subject, but needs help with their knowledge, skills or attitude. Be aware that there may be a necessity to deal with roundabouts during the crossroads lesson. If you are unsure of the route you are likely to take, ask your customer whether there are any roundabouts on route. On phase 1 aim to be on the move within 10 minutes, on phase 2, 5 minutes

Recap:
Phase 1: (1-2 minutes)
Work out whether your customer can drive away from their pick up point. And try to discover as much as possible about what they already know about crossroads and priorities Remember that they will know a lot from lessons on turning and emerging. Keep an eye on their cockpit drill and safety checks.

Phase 2: (3-5 minutes)
Your customer will have tackled these before, but as the purpose of the lesson is to help develop their ability you must discover the extent of their knowledge, skill and attitude to crossroads. With a phase 2 customer you will need to be prepared to deal with busier junctions paying particular attention to light controlled junctions and turning right across heavier traffic. Use the main points from the phase 1 briefing as a starting point for your questions.

Objective: (30 Seconds)
Phase 1:
To understand how to deal with crossroads, and to be able to do this under guidance (specific, measurable and realistic). How do you feel about dealing with some crossroads safely over the next 15 minutes? (agreed and timed)

Phase 2:
To deal with crossroads independently (specific, measurable and realistic). How do you feel about aiming for that over the next 20 minutes? (agreed & timed).

Main Points: (5-8 Minutes)
Phase 1:
Remember this is the first time they will have attempted this properly, so cover everything necessary.

Practise:
Phase 1:
Once explained and agreed – full talk through will be necessary, and you will need to be ready for strange reactions – being stuck in the middle of a crossroads in heavy traffic can be stressful, and inertia often makes early learners want to continue when they shouldn‘t. Be ahead of the potential problems, positive instruction (ahead of the game) is essential at early stages to avoid danger and loss of confidence in your learner. Once things seem under control encourage your customer to start to take the initiative (move to prompted from guided).

Phase 2:
Watch your customer carefully to determine the level of instruction to be used. Implement core competencies in the event of any faults, and use these to determine changes to the level of instruction. Once something is being done correctly, attempt to transfer responsibility to an independent driver.

Summary:
Feedback at this point is hugely important – carefully question your customer for their knowledge and attitude. Be enthusiastic about how it all went, but ensure that you put into place an action plan to deal with any problems with control or observations which you couldn’t fix during the time you had in the lesson. Remember to acknowledge any mistakes, but to keep very positive about both your ability and your customer’s. Give your customer ownership of what they have done by asking them where their weak and strong points are. Fill out their track record.

On your part 3 examination, the phase 1 will usually over-run leaving little or no time for a summary. If possible on phase 2 you should aim to call a halt a couple of minutes before the end in order to summarise.

Discussion Points:
The differences in Phase 1 and Phase 2 customers
Potential hazards and dangers in both
Watching your customer like a hawk
Enforcing the MSM/PSL routine as firmly as possible
Ideal positioning when turning right at crossroads – hold back