Navigator’s eyes are directed to the road book which defines the rout of the travel. The navigator isn’t looking into the window but feeling the road by car’s movements. The professional directs the movement according to the rout.
He she tells to the driver where to the road will turn in 20 seconds, if it’s going to be right hand or left hand turn, if it will be passed at high or low speed which depends on its suddenness or what is waiting for you there over the turn – narrow bridge or deep pit.
Each navigator uses the specific word-stock clear only for him her and the driver. There are people who use such concepts as “sudden”, “medium”, “fast”, codes “one” – ”two» and others. Many use distance parameter – “sudden turn 300 to the right, 200 forward, medium to the left, broad jump”.
Navigator’s professionalism and mutual understanding between him her and the driver – these are the main success factors in rally.
But what should do those who are not road racers and do not have navigator beside? Obviously they need to learn reading the road themselves.
There is a driver’s joke that it’s possible to get into any turn but it’s not always easy to get out of it. That’s why it’s very important to learn how to orient oneself in turns foreseeing the direction and suddenness. Because if you are getting into the turn at a critical speed, the getting out of it will most likely be unpredictable.
As it well known, the road direction can be indicated not only by means of road signs but also by the environment giving you various promptings. If the road extension isn’t seen and a slight slope is in view it is very difficult to guess whether there is a turn after the slope and what its direction is. In this case skilled drivers recommend using natural promptings and paying attention to the line of trees or electrical posts along the road – they often tower over it and being clearly seen indicate the road character.
According to this prompting it’s easier to plan your actions on the road: brake, speed, low gear change, hands position on the steering wheel, etc.
Furthermore even if we have correctly defined the direction a lot of turns have negative down or changing arc radius which makes the situation more serious. It is important to learn reading the promptings in order to feel the road better, guarantee more smooth driving, control the situation and avoid unforeseen accidents.
Now let’s talk about night driving. It may be rather difficult even for experienced drivers. And the beginners often drive “by touch” at all. To feel on a dark road with confidence and comfortable you should keep in mind several simple rules.
You must turn the antidazzle lights on even if the road is lighted up with the headlamps.
After passing by with the car coming from the opposite you usually lose visibility for a moment. That’s why at the meet moment you should keep to the right to avoid the possibility of accidental bumping. And shift your gaze to the right roadside – than you’ll be able to recover your vision faster. During the exhausting driving along the night roads with the main beams turned on it is recommended to change sometimes for antidazzle lights to correct the feeling of the road.
Also make note: if your headlamp light suddenly stopped being reflected y the objects on the road and as if falling into a black hole, be especially attentive: possibly you are approaching the obstacle absorbing the light rays, for example to the van or trailer which is left without any lights on the roadway. Even if it’s not like this under such circumstances it’s better to reduce speed and redouble your vigilance.
At driving in mist the best your prompting is the marking road line. Watching its windings you’ll be able to dispose your car on the road correctly. At the one-way rode it’s preferably to keep the middle marking line thus preventing yourself from unexpected, unmarked obstacles on the roadside. Clearance lights of the front car will also be good promptings for you.
And the last: having turned your main beams on at the mist you only worsen the visibility as the light will be reflected by the parts of moisture in the air. To prevent the windows from breath it is recommended turning your air-conditioner on.