How to Judge the Early Movement of Vehicles

If every driver did what they were supposed to do, there would never be any collisions on our roads. However, we know that’s not always the case. Mistakes happen every day, and as drivers, we have to adjust to other drivers’ mistakes and do our best not to make the same ones.

There always seem to be times when another driver makes a sudden move and cuts you off. It often comes as a surprise, but it doesn’t always have to. Learning how to anticipate the actions of other drivers may give you enough notice to respond early to them. However, there are also ways to judge other drivers’ movements before they fully cut you off, giving you an advantage.

Know Well Before

One of the ways to help drivers respond early to the actions of other drivers is knowing the direction and movement of other vehicles well before they get fully in motion, especially if their actions affect your safety. Having a few additional seconds to respond to someone who may be turning toward your path, moving close to your vehicle in your lane, or pulling directly in front of you can make a big difference between avoiding a collision or being involved in one.

Deceiving Drivers

We all see drivers who perform driving actions without signaling them. We also see drivers who may signal an action but then continue straight ahead and do nothing. It’s tough enough to believe their intentions, but when they make no intentions, it can really throw us off. It can become even worse than that. They may signal to move in one direction, but move in the opposite direction. There is a solution to identify drivers who are deceiving you, giving you time to respond.

We can all agree that it would be nice if more drivers signaled their intentions, but signals won’t tell us everything. I’ve often said that when you see a turn signal, the only thing it tells you is that it works. To know if the driver is making their turn, glance at their front wheels to see if the wheels begin to angle toward the direction of the turn.

Wheels Position

When leaving from a stopped position to turn across your path, the wheel angle indicates the direction they are going, and the rotation of the wheels determines whether the motion has started. If the front wheels remain straight but the car starts moving, you know for certain the driver is going straight and will not be turning yet, even though their turn signal is on. The wheels are the best form of communication, not the signal.

Since drivers will also cut you off when making a lane change, there are ways you can judge their early movement, whether the driver signals or not. To do this, take a glance toward the front wheels as they approach the lane markings. If the wheels start to fade toward the lane marking, with or without a proper signal, you know the driver may be moving into your lane. Sometimes it may just be an error on their part, but why tempt fate with a potential collision between their vehicle and yours?

Wheels Drift Toward Your Lane

With so many distractions that drivers face these days, they may not realize their vehicle has begun to drift. Regardless, here’s what you should do if you see it happen. Once you see their wheels drift into your lane, it’s best to adjust your speed immediately to create space between you and them. If the vehicle is very close to you when it starts drifting across the lane, give your horn a couple of taps while you adjust your speed. Not all drivers seem to recognize that a tap of the horn is for them, so adjusting speed is always a good plan. Responding early this way can help you avoid a sideswipe crash.

Wheels of The Parked Vehicle

The front wheels of a parked or stopped vehicle can also indicate whether it is beginning to move. There are a couple of things you can do to get an early notification when they start moving. The first thing is to take a glance at the wheels of the parked vehicle and compare any movement they make with the stationary items near them, such as the ground. In many cases, you could warn them of your approach so quickly that they could stop immediately.

This becomes an easy way to judge any movement from a parked vehicle. Be sure you don’t stare at the wheels of every parked vehicle along the side of the road. This is because where you look is where you go. Your vehicle could begin to drift toward the side of the road you are looking toward.

Stationary Items Movement

Another way to judge their movement is to compare the vehicle’s motion to stationary objects behind it, such as trees, fences, or buildings. Once you see movement, you know the driver is getting ready to pull away from their parked position. Again, adjust the speed or give your horn a couple of taps to get it to quickly stop.

Some drivers begin moving their vehicles without completing their check to ensure it’s clear. It’s quite possible they didn’t notice you or didn’t realize they had eased off their brake at that time. Never feel bad about doing a couple of light taps on the horn. It’s a good communication tool.

Now that you know how to judge the early movement of other vehicles, you’re becoming a proactive driver, able to anticipate other drivers’ actions. These skills are also ones you can practice while riding as a passenger. Use these observational skills as often as possible, and they will become a habit for you each time you’re driving, and you’ll be able to avoid those close calls.

Challenge yourself by thoroughly working through the RTA Dubai Theory Test study questions. Repeat the process until you can confidently explain the concepts in detail from memory, without the need to consult your notes.