Alertness: Stay Observant and Proactive

Alertness sits at the heart of safe driving. The DVSA expects you to gather information continuously, predict how other road users may behave, and respond in good time. When your attention drops, hazards become surprises and you lose the margin needed to brake or steer safely.

• Use the Mirror–Signal–Manoeuvre and Mirror–Signal–Position–Speed–Look routines before every change in speed or direction.
• Rule 90 & 91: plan rest stops, do not drive tired, never drive under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
• Rule 148: avoid distractions – mobile phone use (hand-held or hands-free) must not divert your full attention.

• Continuous 360° scanning: near, mid, far, and mirrors every few seconds.
• Anticipation and planning: ask ‘what if?’ for every developing hazard.
• Managing distractions: phones silenced, sat-nav set before moving, recognise and act on early fatigue signs.

Break tunnel vision with regular mirror checks, lift off early when traffic ahead slows, and build extra journey time so you never feel pressured to take risks.

• Fixating on one point and missing hazards elsewhere.
• Reacting late because you notice brake lights only when they are already bright red.
• Driving while upset or rushed leading to poor decisions.

On your next supervised drive, narrate what you see, what might happen next, and the action you plan to take. This ‘commentary driving’ technique trains your brain to stay proactive rather than reactive.