What is advanced driving?
Advanced Driving brings a new enjoyment to driving. It is about reaching a standard of driving that is above that of the average motorist, demonstrating car control skills, smoothness, observation, anticipation and planning that leave a greater margin of safety between yourself and other road users.
One of our favourite definitions is "being in the correct gear at the correct speed in the correct place, at all times" Sounds easy, but it takes practice and coaching to achieve.
And it is about having the ability to recognise and to implement opportunities to make progress safely.
Once you are enrolled on the course you will receive a copy of the "Advanced Driver Course Logbook" which is an invaluable source of information on the theory of Advanced driving. You'll learn to put this theory into practice through a number of observed drives with an experienced qualified volunteer, using your own car.
A knowledge of the Highway Code is essential and the ability to implement the rules of the road consistently well, under all road conditions, in all weathers and in all stages of light and dark.
See Highway Code Online: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/the-highway-code
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Tip of the Month
April 2026
The latest edition of the Highway Code was released by Driver Standards Agency in 2022 and included several changes that many drivers are not aware of. One of the most potentially controversial of which is the Hierarchy of Road Users. This section of the Code has three rules listed as H1 to H3.
I would like to focus on rule H2 which applies to all drivers, motorcyclists, horse riders, those operating horse-drawn vehicles and cyclists i.e. pretty much everyone.
The new feature in 2022 was that the rule now opens with the sentence; 'At a junction, you should give way to pedestrians crossing or waiting to cross a road into which or from which you are turning.' During the consultation on the 2022 Code this caused some concerns based on the disruption to the flow of traffic, particularly in busy towns and cities, that they envisaged would be caused by cars stopping as they were making a left or right turn, to let pedestrians cross the road, especially as it refers to those 'waiting to cross' as well as those already in the road.
I imagine that the reason why this rule has not caused more difficulties than it seems to have is that most people either are not aware of the change to the Code, or do not apply it.
The rule is a 'should', rather than a 'must'. So there is no specific offence of not complying with this, although of course failing to accord the necessary priority to pedestrians could provide evidence in a case of driving without due care and attention, or indeed in any civil damages case.
My driving tips can be summarised as follows:
Remember this rule when turning left or right into a junction and there are pedestrians crossing or waiting to (or about to) cross.
- If they are already crossing, you must stop.
- If you believe that they might cross (perhaps without looking), then as a safe driver obviously you should stop.
- If they are waiting to cross and have looked your way, then you have to decide whether or not to stop. You should do so, but only if it is safe to do so, because there is no vehicle likely to collide with you from the rear (who is probably not aware of the pedestrian). In this circumstance, do not beckon the pedestrian to cross; it is their choice.
See the Highway Code Look for Hierarchy of Road Users.
Training Officer, Chelmsford & South Essex Advanced Motorists
