Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/132138
THE DRIVING CHALLENGE Text Nic Townsend Illustration Petter Lönegård Thinking one step ahead in city traffic "Most drivers have a tendency to concentrate on whatever is ahead of them, whether it's another vehicle or a traffic light," says Scott Sokach, Manager, Driver Training and Development, Volvo Trucks Academy. "But it is very important to be aware of everything around you. What's farther ahead? What's behind and to the side? As a driver, you want to read the road ahead and anticipate what might happen next so that you're already prepared." Through better planning and anticipation, drivers can minimize gear changes, braking, and complete stops, which in turn saves fuel, reduces wear and tear, and increases safety. Traffic lights and roundabouts might make it impossible to avoid stopping and braking com- pletely, but planning your approach still has many benefits. "We tend to maintain our speed when approaching a stop, before quickly switching to the brake, because this feels quicker," adds Sokach. "But the reality is that the time saved by driving faster is spent sitting still. In the process, you'll waste fuel by accelerating from a complete stop." I M P ROVE M E NTS Fuel consumption Wear and tear Safety 1 Look beyond immediate situation It's important to not only watch on what is immediately ahead of you. Look around you and be aware of your surroundings, including other vehicles, pedestrians, and potential obstacles and stopping points. Rather than focus on your current situation, you should be evaluating the next situation so that you're always a step ahead. 16 DRIVER 'S DIGEST #1/2013 VTM_1_13_US_en.indb 16 DDQ113PG008-19_30-31_Common Pages.indd 16 2013-05-22 14:51 5/22/13 10:17 AM VTM_1_13