Advanced Driving Advice: Cornering

When the weather is warm and the sun shining, there is no better feeling than going for a pleasant drive in the countryside. The fresh air and scenery certainly beat the normal daily commute and if you are keen driver you can enjoy the performance of your car within the legal limits on relatively uncongested roads.

When driving on country roads there is a danger- the tightening radius bend that is well known for creating several accidents. On a normal corner the radius will remain the same as you make the turn, thus you will leave the steering in the same position. With curves the tightening radius bend may vary, thus you have to change the steering lock as you move further into the curve.

A good illustration of this is when a car crashes because the driver did not properly reduce their speed or consider that the curve may change as the bend continues. Often times a corner will change in the bend, tightening and thus requiring a lower speed.

In an attempt to stay on course the driver applies more steering lock but the speed is too high and the car starts to understeer. To fight this the driver applies the brake sharply which worsens the understeer and the car ploughs on either into an oncoming car or off the road and into a ditch.

Tightening radius bends are particularly hazardous in the countryside because the view through the bend can be obscured especially in the summer by hedges, trees or bushes. It is difficult to see all the way through the corner and an unsuspecting driver can easily be caught out.

If you want to avoid being a statistic you will want to use visual cues. Before entering a curve make sure you are going the proper speed by braking or if need be changing the gears.

When you cannot view the curve check for telephone poles or light posts, which can signify a change in the road is about to occur. When driving at night using an oncoming cars light beams can work as a guide. You want to enter any bend at a speed you can safely stop with to ensure you do not unbalance your vehicle.

After the curve begins to dissipate you will be able to increase your speed again. There are other dangers in the country besides bends in the road for you to be watchful of. Mud, slower moving vehicles, and even livestock can create accidents. If you think “What If” when driving, you could avoid an accident.

If you want to make good progress when driving on country roads at night you are going to need very good auto bulbs to cut through the darkness. Upgrade headlight bulbs like the Osram Nightbreaker range will improve the light output from your headlights and are totally street legal.

---

Did you enjoy this post? Why not leave a comment below and continue the conversation, or subscribe to my feed and get articles like this delivered automatically each day to your feed reader.

Cars and Insurance | Car insurance Compare UK car insurance quotes, save time & money