Unit 2: Guide and control a vehicle

What you must be able to do and understand to guide and control the vehicle.

About this unit

This overall aim of this unit is that the driver should be able to guide and control their vehicle safely and responsibly, taking into account road, traffic and weather conditions.

This unit is based on the understanding that driving is a complex task; it involves taking in a large amount of information and responding to it appropriately. To be able to do this a driver must be able to constantly scan the world around them, understand what is happening and identify possible hazards and risks.

A key part of being able to manage this complexity is the ability to master basic driving skills, such as steering and coordinating the use of controls, so that the driver does not have to think about doing them.

Acquiring these skills will provide a driver with the basic blocks on which they can then build. It is important, therefore, that they work through any factors or issues that are getting in the way of their learning. It is also important that they get as much supervised practice as they reasonably can. Accompanying drivers can play a vital part in this process.

Although a learner may not experience towing a trailer or caravan while they are learning they will be able to do so when they pass their test (within the restrictions of the licence category). It is important, therefore, that they understand the principles.

There are 4 learning outcomes in this unit:

Learning outcome 1: treat learning to drive as an ongoing learning experience

This learning outcome covers changes in the driving environment.

What you need to be able to do

You need to be able to:

• recognise and keep up to date with changes in the driving environment, such as:
  • the Highway Code and other rules and regulations
  • vehicle and road technologies
• recognise changes in yourself and your approach to driving that might happen, for example if you start to drive for work or become a parent
• continuously evaluate your driving performance, in relation to any changes in yourself or the environment
• take steps to improve or adjust your driving, including seeking additional training or development, so that you can continue to drive safely and responsibly

What you need to know and understand

You need to know and understand:

• how to access the most up-to-date information on:
  • rules and regulations relating to driving
  • the use of your vehicle
  • vehicle technologies
  • road technologies such as active traffic management systems (managed motorways)
• why it is important to remain up to date in relation to your responsibilities as a driver and as your life changes, for example if you:
  • drive for work and are subject to time pressures
  • become a parent and carry your children as passengers
• that short term changes to yourself or in your driving environment may require an adjustment in the way you are driving, for example driving in another country
• how to reflect on your overall ability to drive safely and responsibly and to identify and implement appropriate strategies for overcoming any problems or deficiencies that you identify
• that ongoing reflection on your ability to drive safely and responsibly will help you become and remain a better and safer driver
• the importance of ongoing driver development in supporting safe driving

Learning outcome 2: be able to start, move off, stop and leave a vehicle safely

This learning outcome covers:

Pre-start checks

What you need to be able to do

You need to be able to:

• carry out pre-start checks, in line with the vehicle handbook, and ensure the vehicle is secure and safe to start
• consider the effects of starting the engine on other road users including vulnerable road users

What you need to know and understand

You need to know and understand:

• the importance of carrying out checks prior to starting the engine
• why you should make sure the vehicle is secure and the transmission disengaged when starting the engine
• that starting your vehicle may be taken as a sign that you are about to move off
• that some groups of road users (such as pedestrians, cyclists or horse riders) may be startled when you start your engine when they are nearby

Instrumentation and gauges

What you need to be able to do

You need to be able to:

• monitor instrumentation and gauges during engine start up
• correctly react to instrumentation and gauges during engine start up

What you need to know and understand

You need to know and understand:

• how to use the vehicle manual to identify the main visual aids on the instrument panel (such as oil warning light, rev counter, parking brake) and what they should do during start-up
• that dashboard displays will be set out differently in different vehicles
• what to do if any warning light stays on or fails to come on

Starting the engine

What you need to be able to do

You need to be able to start the engine using an appropriate method.

What you need to know and understand

You need to know and understand different methods for starting vehicles, such as:

• key
• push button
• card

Switching lights on

What you need to be able to do

You need to be able to switch lights on, if required.

What you need to know and understand

You need to know and understand:

• different methods for starting vehicles, such as key, push button or card
• how to operate light switches in your vehicle, referring to the vehicle handbook if required
• when to use the different vehicle lights, such as:
  • dipped and full headlights
  • front and rear fog lights

Moving off

What you need to be able to do

You need to be able to:

• coordinate the use of controls to move off safely and under control in different situations
• check brakes when first moving off
• recover quickly and effectively if the vehicle stalls
• only move off when it is safe to do so, taking all round effective observations, including blind areas
• move off safely and under control, at an angle, from behind a parked vehicle or obstruction
• consider risks to vulnerable road users

What you need to know and understand

You need to know and understand:

• how to use the ‘biting point’ to help you coordinate the use of the clutch and the accelerator
• the use of the footbrake when on a downward slope
• the importance of checking the operation of the brakes before moving off
• what causes an engine to stall and how to re-start safely and effectively
• how to make effective observations when moving off, including what ‘blind spots’ are and how to check they are clear
• the importance of using a safe and systematic routine when moving off, including observations and appropriate signals
• who vulnerable road users are when moving off, such as:
  • elderly pedestrians
  • children
  • deaf or partially sighted pedestrians
  • cyclists
  • motorcyclists
  • horse riders

Ending your journey

What you need to be able to do

You need to be able to:

• stop the vehicle in a safe, legal and convenient position
• apply the parking brake effectively
• select a gear to hold the vehicle safely when parked
• switch off the engine and ancillary controls
• make sure the correct lights are left on, where required
• if appropriate, position the steer wheels of the vehicle to increase security when parked on a slope
• secure the vehicle against theft

What you need to know and understand

You need to know and understand:

• the importance of selecting a safe, legal and convenient stopping location
• the importance of using a safe and systematic routine when intending to stop the vehicle, including the use of observations and appropriate signals
• the correct use of the parking brake when leaving a vehicle
• why you must switch off your headlights, fog lights and engine when parking.
• when you should use parking lights
• the potential consequences of opening a door when it is not safe to do so, in particular on the offside (driver’s side) of the vehicle
• how the position of the steer wheels can help to make sure the vehicle is secure on a slope.
• the importance of securing the vehicle by:
  • keeping luggage out of sight
  • locking doors
  • applying any additional security measures (such as antitheft devices, alarm and/or immobiliser and visible security devices)

Learning outcome 3: be able to drive and manoeuvre a vehicle safely on different road surfaces and in different weather conditions

This learning outcome covers:

Monitoring and responding to information

What you need to be able to do

You need to be able to:

• monitor and respond to information from:
  • instrumentation
  • driving aids
  • the environment
• respond correctly to gauges and warning lights when driving
• use switches and other controls in response to changes in road surfaces and weather conditions, as required

What you need to know and understand

You need to know and understand:

• the meaning of dashboard warning lights and how to respond to them correctly
• what effect changing road or weather conditions might have on the handling of your vehicle
• how to operate ancillary controls in response to changes in road surfaces and weather conditions, for example:
  • wipers
  • climate and ventilation controls
  • demisters
  • fog lights
  • traction control
• the rules on driving in adverse weather conditions, for example when to use dipped headlights
• the risks of not knowing the location of switches and controls while on the move

Manoeuvring routines

What you need to be able to do

You need to be able to:

• use a safe and systematic routine such as ‘mirrors, signal, manoeuvre’ whenever manoeuvring
• effectively indicate your intentions to other road users
• make use of mirrors, and other aids, to effectively monitor:
  • other road users
  • hazards

What you need to know and understand

You need to know and understand:

• how to use a safe and systematic routine such as ‘mirrors, signal, manoeuvre’ so that:
  • you know what is happening around you on the road
  • other road users know what you intend to do
  • when and how to safely signal your intentions using indicators and, where appropriate, arm or hand signals
• when and how to use other ‘signals’, such as positioning on the road, to communicate or reinforce your intentions to other road users
• when and how to check mirrors to monitor the actions of other road users.
• the use and limitations of internal and external mirrors.
• how different types and shapes of mirror can make an object appear to be closer or further away than it is

Using the accelerator

What you need to be able to do

You need to be able to use the accelerator smoothly and effectively to maintain and change speed.

What you need to know and understand

You need to know and understand:

• how uneven use or overuse of the accelerator can reduce your ability to drive safely, especially in slow moving traffic
• how overuse of the accelerator can have a negative impact on the environment, for example by increasing harmful emissions or making too much noise
• what engine braking is and when to use it
• the use of cruise control systems, their potential benefits to the environment and their potential adverse impacts on driver fatigue and safety

Braking

What you need to be able to do

You need to be able to:

• brake safely using appropriate techniques
• stop accurately as and where necessary
• make appropriate use of the parking brake
• stop the vehicle safely and under control in an emergency

What you need to know and understand

You need to know and understand:

• how much pressure to apply to the brakes in varying road and traffic conditions
• the principles of varying braking systems, for example antilock, and how to use them to brake effectively
• how overall stopping distances:
  • vary at different speeds
  • vary with different road and weather conditions
  • are broken into thinking distance and braking distance
• that while road and weather conditions may affect braking distance, thinking distance will be affected by your own physical and emotional condition
• the importance of looking well ahead so that you are able to stop within the area you can see to be clear
• the effect on your vehicle’s stability if you brake on a bend
• how to stop your vehicle as quickly and as safely as possible in an emergency

Steering

What you need to be able to do

You need to be able to:

• steer your vehicle smoothly and effectively to maintain and change position on the road, on a straight course and in corners or bends
• hold the steering wheel so that you are in full control
• keep control of the steering wheel when changing gear or operating another control
• use maximum steering lock where necessary when manoeuvring

What you need to know and understand

You need to know and understand:

• the steering characteristics of your vehicle, such as its turning circle
• how to steer smoothly and effectively, keeping complete control of the vehicle, when driving in varying road and traffic conditions
• what is meant by ‘understeer’ and ‘oversteer’ and how these affect the vehicle, for example, if you have to make a sudden change in direction
• that in certain conditions a vehicle can lose traction and skid, so that the wheels no longer grip and you cannot steer or brake effectively
• the use of systems that are designed to prevent you losing traction, such as ‘ESP’
• how to avoid going into a skid, and what to do if you do

Gears

What you need to be able to do

You need to be able to:

• use the gears smoothly and effectively to maintain speed and minimise environmental impact
• change gears smoothly and in good time
• use a suitable gear for speed and driving conditions, and use selective gear changing
• use an automatic gear box effectively if fitted

What you need to know and understand

You need to know and understand:

• how to use the gears to progress safely and efficiently given the performance characteristics of your vehicle and the road conditions
• how to coordinate the use of the clutch and the gears smoothly when moving away, changing gear or stopping
• how to use the clutch to control the speed of the vehicle when manoeuvring in a very tight space
• the problems and risks of not fully releasing the clutch, or ‘riding the clutch’, during normal driving -the environmental impact of inappropriate use of gears
• the effect that carrying passengers or a load will have on the gears you use
• the importance of timely gear selection when ascending or descending gradients
• the use of gears to hold the vehicle when parked

Vehicles with automatic transmission only

You need to know and understand:

• the use of various automatic and semi-automatic transmission systems
• the use of ‘kick down’ to a lower gear on vehicles with automatic transmission
• the use of ‘lock up’ on automatic transmissions

Manoeuvres

What you need to be able to do

You need to be able to:

• coordinate the use of clutch, gears, accelerator, brakes (accelerator and brakes on an automatic) and steering to carry out the following manoeuvres safely, responsibly and accurately, with consideration for other road users and awareness of blind areas:
  • reverse to left
  • reverse to right
  • perform controlled stops
  • perform parallel forward parking
  • perform parallel reverse parking
  • perform forward parking
  • turn in the road

What you need to know and understand

You need to know and understand:

• the importance of coordinating the use of clutch, gears, accelerator, brakes and steering, and the effects of failing to do so
• how to select a safe, convenient and legal location for manoeuvring
• the relevance of a safe and systematic routine such as ‘mirrors, signal, manoeuvre’ when preparing to carry out, or during, a manoeuvre
• how to take effective observation when manoeuvring, with particular attention to blind spots and to vulnerable road users
• how to stop your vehicle under full control
• how to reverse safely into a side road on the left
• how to reverse safely into a side road on the right
• how to carry out any parking exercise safely, on road and off road, including judging how much space is required if parking on the road
• how to carry out a turn in the road safely
• the rules about where you may and may not carry out turns in the road or U-turns
• why you should not reverse your vehicle further than necessary

Vehicles with automatic transmission only

You need to know and understand:

• how to make controlled use of the accelerator, in conjunction with the brakes, when manoeuvring a vehicle with automatic transmission
• what is meant by ‘vehicle creep’ and its pros and cons

Learning outcome 4: know the legal constraints that apply and the principles of towing a trailer or caravan safely and responsibly

This learning outcome covers:

Towing

What you need to be able to do

You need to be able to:

• identify whether you are qualified to tow a particular trailer or caravan
• identify whether your vehicle is suitable to tow a particular trailer or caravan
• correctly and safely couple and uncouple a trailer or caravan
• make sure any load is correctly distributed between the towing vehicle and the trailer or caravan
• make sure any load is secure
• allow more time and brake earlier when slowing down or stopping
• make allowances for the extra length of your vehicle, particularly when turning, emerging at junctions or overtaking
• make allowances for the extra height or width of your vehicle, particularly when planning routes or driving unfamiliar routes

What you need to know and understand

You need to know and understand:

• the rules and regulations on the size and weight of trailer or caravan that you can tow on your licence
• whether your vehicle is suitable to tow a particular trailer or caravan
• what is meant by ‘nose weight’ and how it affects the use of a trailer or caravan
• the safety procedures you need to apply when coupling or uncoupling a caravan or trailer, such as fitting additional mirrors
• how to fit and use stabilisers and other safety devices
• how to load and secure the contents of the trailer or caravan safely
• that a trailer or caravan may affect the handling characteristics of your vehicle and how to compensate for those effects
• how to make allowances for the extra length of your vehicle and the changed geometry of the combined units when turning
• that your ability to make effective observations may be affected by towing a trailer or caravan and how to overcome this
• the importance of checking whether height and width restrictions apply to your intended route
• the need to be prepared for the possibility of a trailer or caravan failing, such as:
  • carrying a spare wheel and any other necessary equipment for the trailer
  • checking your rescue service cover will include a trailer or caravan

Reversing a trailer or caravan

What you need to be able to do

You need to be able to safely steer a trailer or caravan in reverse.

What you need to know and understand

You need to know and understand the principles of steering when reversing a trailer or caravan.