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Commentary Driving

BSM LIVE ! Talking yourself through your driving can improve your perception of what is happening on the road.

Better perception should increase awareness and improve our judgement of speeds, distances and timings. Improved judgements reduce the accident risk and therefore improve road safety

How to Start
At first, appearing to talk to yourself when you are alone in the car could make you feel self conscious and can lower your travelling speed, but practice will help you overcome this. Take a deep breath and start your commentary by concentrating on what you consider the major hazard(s) ahead. Comment on what you expect to develop, drawing in the five driving habits.

Vision Scans
Prioritise ...
'fixed features' such as junctions and pedestrian crossings
'moving features' such as traffic and pedestrians
the 'weather' and its effect on the road surface

Aim your vision as high and as forward as you can to prevent your commentary becoming retrospective.

Phraseology ... performing moving brake test - Yes the pedal is operating correctly, there is adequate retardation, all brakes pulling evenly and not affecting the steering
Use short positive statements such as:
Roundabout - I intend to turn right
Mirrors - Clear / One following / One closing
Signal - Checking any traffic reaction
Position - Left of centre / hazard line
Speed - Gentle braking / appropriate gear selected to ...
Look - Proceed into safe break in traffic on roundabout
With perseverence your commentary will flow naturally.

Commentary driving
Click below for a few examples of commentary driving.

Example 1 (Quicktime) - 1221k Example 1 (RealVideo) - 342k	Example 2 (Quicktime) - 960k Example 2 (RealVideo) - 303k
Example 3 (Quicktime) - 1109k Example 3 (RealVideo) - 312k

Instructor Commentary
Trials conducted by the Transport Research Laboratory (TRL) show that when learner drivers do not have to concentrate on controlling the car, their ability to spot problems ahead can be developed more easily.
To achieve this, BSM instructors provide short inter-active driving demonstrations.
Besides being a more efficient way to learn this is a good foundation for Commentary Driving.

Research Laboratory
TRL is an independent, internationally recognised centre of excellence in surface transport issues. TRL is located in Crowthorne, Berkshire.

Cockpit Drill
'The Handbrake is on.
The gear is in neutral and there is good static foot
brake pressure. My door is closed, seat, steering adjusted to my liking. My seat belt is on, is yours?
Switching on the ignition I see that all the warning lights are displayed
correctly and I have enough fuel for the journey.
Depressing the clutch and starting the engine, all the warning lights have
gone out except the handbrake warning light, the water temperature gauge is (or is not) moving up and the 'rev counter'
is working correctly. I'm selecting first gear, visual search to move away safely, slowly easing up the clutch and at the same time releasing the handbrake to move away smoothly. Now that I'm moving forward and it's safe to do so I will try a rolling brake test. Brace yourself, ... yes I'm saitisfied that the pedal is operating correctly and there is adequate retardation, all brakes pulling evenly and not affecting the steering'.