Garry L Thomas / UP Driver Training

05/10/2026

WHAT’S NEXT? 👀🧠🚗

We spend a lot of time learning how to deal with things when driving.

Junctions. Roundabouts. Bends. Pedestrians. Cyclists. Meeting traffic. Changing lanes.

But perhaps one of the most valuable driving skills isn’t simply dealing with what’s happening now.

It’s planning for what might happen next.

I was recently reading an article about observations and planning which referenced a really useful idea from Roadcraft.

Good observations allow us to build our driving plans around three things:

What we can see.
What we can’t see.
What we can reasonably expect to happen.

That second one is particularly interesting. How can we possibly plan for something we can’t see?

Imagine approaching a bend. You can see the road disappearing around it. You can see the road surface, the markings, perhaps some oncoming traffic and the position of the hedges or buildings.

But you can’t see what’s beyond your available view. There could be a cyclist. A broken-down vehicle. A pedestrian. A queue of traffic. Someone reversing from a driveway.

It’s about recognising what could reasonably happen and making sure our driving leaves us options if it does.

That’s where imagination becomes a surprisingly important driving skill.

Take a row of parked cars. I can see the parked cars. But what can’t I see? Perhaps the pedestrian between two of them. What could reasonably happen? A door could open. A vehicle could move away. Someone could step into the road.

So what’s my plan?

Maybe I create more space. Maybe I reduce my speed. Maybe I move my attention towards the wheels of the parked vehicles or look through their windows or mirrors for clues. Maybe I simply make sure I’m prepared to stop.

Just small adjustments based on what I know, what I don’t know and what might reasonably happen next.

And this is why I don’t think being a good driver is primarily about having lightning-fast reactions. The better plan is often not to need the lightning-fast reaction in the first place.

If I’ve already considered the possibility of the pedestrian appearing, their appearance isn’t quite as surprising. If I’ve noticed the vehicle waiting at the side road and considered that they might not have seen me, I’ve already started building some space and time into the situation.

If I’ve looked through the bend rather than simply at the bit of road immediately in front of the bonnet, I’m already preparing for what comes afterwards.

Perhaps one of the simplest questions we can encourage drivers to ask themselves is: What’s next?

And the further ahead we can identify something, the more choices we generally have available.

We can change position. Adjust speed. Create space. Communicate. Wait.

Or sometimes do absolutely nothing because the plan we’ve already got is perfectly good.

A plan doesn’t mean deciding what’s going to happen. We can’t do that (as other road users are inconveniently allowed to make their own decisions) 😅

A driving plan is simply asking: If this happens, what am I going to do about it?

And then continuing to update that plan as new information arrives. For learners, I think this is an important progression too.

Early driving can understandably be very focused on what am I doing now? Which gear? Where should I position? When should I brake? Where should I look?

As those physical skills become easier, we can gradually start moving some of that thinking further up the road.

Not simply: What am I doing? But: What’s happening? What’s likely to happen? And what’s next? That’s when driving starts becoming much more than a collection of individual skills. It becomes a constantly evolving plan.

And perhaps that’s one of the biggest differences between simply reacting to the road and genuinely reading it 📖 🧠 👀

03/10/2026

🚨 **£50 BILLION A YEAR.**

That's the estimated economic cost of road collisions in Britain.

And the numbers behind that figure are even harder to ignore.

In 2024:

• **1,602 people were killed** on Great Britain's roads.
• **29,467 people were killed or seriously injured.**
• That's roughly **4–5 people killed every single day.**
• Someone was killed or seriously injured approximately **every 18 minutes.**
• The estimated cost to the economy runs into **tens of billions of pounds every year.**

And that's before you can put a price on the grief, trauma and lives changed forever.

Road crashes aren't just a road-safety problem.

They're a **human problem, a social problem and a massive economic problem.**

The numbers are difficult to comprehend.

But behind every statistic is a person.

26/09/2026

WHERE IS THE RIGHT PLACE TO PUT THE CAR?

It sounds like one of the easiest questions in driving. Keep left. Stay in your lane. Don’t get too close to the kerb. Job done.

Except…not really.

One of the things that separates driving a car from really thinking about driving is understanding that our position on the road is constantly about options.

Imagine you’re driving along a normal residential road. There are parked cars on your left. A child is walking along the pavement. There’s a side road ahead that you can’t see into particularly well.

Where would you position the car? Probably a little further away from the left 👇

Why?

Probably not because somebody taught you that “this is where the car goes”, but because you’ve identified where the danger might come from. A door could open. The child could step out. Something could emerge from that side road.

A small change of position might give you more space, a better view and more time to respond.

But then a vehicle appears coming towards you.

Now what? 👇

The position that made perfect sense a moment ago might no longer be appropriate.

So you change it. And perhaps you reduce your speed as well.

There isn’t always one perfect road position. There is a position that makes sense for what is happening right now.

The same thinking applies almost everywhere.

On a bend, a carefully chosen position might improve your view ahead. When following another vehicle, more space can dramatically improve what you can see. When approaching a hidden junction, position can help you see and sometimes help somebody else see you.

Even when we stop in traffic, position matters.

Leaving enough space to see some road beneath the tyres of the vehicle ahead leaves an option. If that vehicle breaks down, rolls backwards or you become aware of something developing behind you, you have space available to respond.

That word options is important as good positioning should create them, not remove them.

And there’s another principle running through all of this: Never sacrifice safety to gain a better position or view.

If moving further out would bring you closer to oncoming traffic, don’t force the position. If you can’t create more space, you can often create more time instead.

Less space = less speed.

That is much more useful than teaching somebody that they should always be a particular distance from the kerb.

Because roads change. Traffic changes. Visibility changes. Hazards change. And therefore our position should change too.

Perhaps the better question for a driver isn’t:

“Where should I be?” it’s “Why am I here?” 🧠

What can I see from this position? What can’t I see? Where is the greatest potential danger? Could somebody see me better if I moved? Would another position give me more space, more information or more time? And if I can’t safely change my position, should I change my speed instead?

That turns road positioning from something we simply do into something we actually think about 💚

25/09/2026

🚗🎤 WHO’S HEADING TO THE NATIONAL CONFERENCE THIS SUNDAY?

I’m really looking forward to the The Approved Driving Instructors National Joint Council - ADINJC & Intelligent Instructor National Conference & Expo this Sunday at Cranmore Park, Solihull.

It’s always one of my favourite days in the driving instructor calendar. Loads to learn, loads of people to catch up with, plenty of networking and usually an obscene number of selfies along the way. 😂📸

This year is looking huge, with 2,250 attendees, 70+ exhibitors, 40+ speakers and more than 40 seminars across the day.

The speaker line-up is excellent too, with Lee Spary, Lee Jowett, Lynne Barrie, Terry Cook, Tom Stenson, Chris Bensted, Stewart Lochrie, Becky Seaton, Daniel Hill and loads more 🧠🎤

DVSA will also be there answering questions, which is always worth getting along for and usually puts a few extra bums on seats…or not! 😂

UP will be well represented too 💚🚗

Our very own Emma Cottington is speaking in the Lou Walsh PDI Zone at 9:30am, talking about “Coaching the person, not just the driver.” Which will of course be excellent 🤗

I’ll be spending plenty of the day on the ADINJC Health & Wellbeing stand, so come over, say hello and get involved. 👋 There are loads of activities around the event too, so it’s definitely not just a day of sitting listening to speakers.

For me though, one of the best things about the National is simply the people.

I always come away having learned something, had some brilliant conversations, caught up with loads of friends and met instructors I previously only knew through social media. Our job can be quite isolated at times, so having so much of the industry together in one place is always worthwhile.

If you’re an ADI or PDI and you’ve never been before, get yourself along. And if you are going, come and find us!

There will almost certainly be a selfie involved 😂📸

📅 Sunday 27 September 2026
📍 Cranmore Park, Solihull
🚗 ADINJC & Intelligent Instructor National Conference & Expo

See you Sunday! 🙌

25/09/2026

🚗💡 DO YOU SIGNAL… OR DO YOU THINK ABOUT SIGNALLING?

Indicators are one of the first things we learn to use when driving, and because we use them so often they can easily become automatic.

Mirror. Signal. Manoeuvre.

But good signalling actually requires a little more thought than that 🧠

Before giving a signal, we should be observing what’s happening around us and asking: Would anyone benefit from knowing what I’m about to do?

That might be another driver, a cyclist, a pedestrian, someone waiting at a side road or even somebody we can’t yet see but could reasonably expect to appear.

If somebody would benefit, give a clear signal in good time. If nobody would benefit, is the signal actually necessary?

The indicator itself is only one way we communicate. Our road position, speed, brake lights, headlights, hazard lights and, when appropriate, the horn can all provide information to other road users.

Our position and speed can sometimes communicate just as much as a flashing indicator.

There’s another side to this too: don’t automatically believe somebody else’s signal.

A flashing indicator tells you that an indicator is flashing. It doesn’t guarantee what the driver is going to do.

They might be turning. They might be stopping just beyond the junction. They might have simply forgotten to cancel it.

So look for supporting evidence 👀

Are they slowing? Has their position changed?
Are the wheels beginning to turn? Does everything else you can see support the signal they’re giving?

And importantly, giving a signal doesn’t give us any special right to carry out the manoeuvre.

Good signalling isn’t about mechanically flicking a switch every time we change direction.

It’s about observation, communication and consideration.

See what’s happening. Think about who might benefit. Choose the most useful signal. Give it clearly and in good time.

That’s a much more mindful way to drive 🧠🚗

20/09/2026

👇🏼👇🏼👇🏼

Probably more than you ever wanted to read about steering technique, from UP Driver Training instructor, director and DVSA fleet driver trainer Garry L Thomas 🛞

DOES STEERING TECHNIQUE STILL MATTER?

Steering seems to be one of those subjects that divides driving instructors.

At one end, you’ll still hear “10-to-2, pull-push, every single time.”

At the other, I see an increasingly relaxed attitude of “I don’t care how you steer as long as you’re in control.” Sometimes that even extends to encouraging the laid-back, one-handed approach because it looks a bit more natural or ‘cool’.

I probably sit somewhere between the two; although definitely closer to the pull-push end.

Of course, good steering starts before the car moves. A sensible seating position, with enough bend in the arms to operate the wheel comfortably, makes smooth and controlled steering much easier.

The DVSA doesn’t prescribe one particular steering technique. What matters is being able to steer accurately, smoothly and safely while maintaining proper control of the vehicle.

So no, using something other than pull-push doesn’t automatically make somebody an unsafe driver.

But I think there’s a danger in jumping from that to “technique doesn’t matter at all.” In my opinion, it very much does.

Personally, I still encourage learners to develop a good two-handed pull-push technique. Not because I want everyone shuffling the wheel around like they’re taking a driving test in 1987, but because it’s a really effective way of maintaining control.

A good steering technique isn’t valuable because it looks good. It’s valuable because it gives you an organised, reliable way of controlling the vehicle.

One of the things I particularly like about a good two-handed technique is that it leaves you with options. If the situation changes halfway through a turn, you still have a useful hand position and the ability to add or remove steering smoothly. It allows larger amounts of steering to be applied progressively when needed and lends itself to smooth, measured inputs rather than suddenly throwing the wheel at a corner.

Steering technique shouldn’t restrict you; it should give you more capacity to respond.

Good hand positioning isn’t just about where your hands are. It’s about how you introduce steering into the car.

Apply the steering progressively as you enter a bend and progressively remove it as the road opens again. Smooth hands help keep the car balanced and settled 🛞

There are absolutely times when another technique is perfectly appropriate. A gentle bend might require only a small movement of the wheel, with no need to reposition the hands at all. I’m certainly not going to insist on an elaborate pull-push movement just for the sake of demonstrating a technique.

But equally, I don’t subscribe to “steer however you want.”

And I’m definitely not going to encourage poor one-handed steering just because it makes me look like the cool uncle in the passenger seat 😎

Our job isn’t to make driving techniques look good. It’s to help people develop methods that remain effective when the situation becomes more demanding, or they suddenly need more steering than they expected.

So perhaps the ideal advice isn’t:

“You must always steer like this” or “It doesn’t matter how you steer.”

It’s something like;

“Develop a sound technique first. Then learn when and how to adapt it.”

For me, two hands and a good pull-push technique remain an excellent foundation.

Not because it’s old-fashioned, but because when it’s done well, it’s smooth, controlled, adaptable and effective.

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

Does steering technique still matter, or are we overthinking it?

Do you still encourage a good two-handed pull-push technique, or are you firmly in the “however you steer, as long as you’re in control” camp?

Or is Garry just a driving dinosaur in a modern age? 🦖😂

I’m genuinely interested to hear how other instructors and drivers approach it.

18/09/2026

The Hierarchy of Road Users as risk and responsibility 🚘 🐎🚶🏻‍♀️

You might have heard of the “Hierarchy of Road Users” in The Highway Code.

It’s sometimes misunderstood as meaning pedestrians can simply do whatever they want because they’re “top of the hierarchy”.

That isn’t what it means at all 😬

The hierarchy recognises that some road users are more vulnerable than others if a collision happens. Pedestrians, cyclists, horse riders and motorcyclists are particularly vulnerable, with children, older people and disabled people at even greater risk.

But there’s another important part to it 👇🏼

The Highway Code says that those who can cause the greatest harm have the greatest responsibility to take care and reduce the danger they pose to others. So, as drivers, we have a responsibility that goes beyond simply asking:

“Who has priority?” And more “Who is most vulnerable here, and what can I do to reduce the risk?”

Take a simple junction 👇🏼

You’re turning into a side road and there’s a pedestrian crossing, or waiting to cross, the road you’re turning into.

Rule H2 says you should give way to pedestrians crossing or waiting to cross the road into which or from which you are turning. But good driving isn’t about waiting until the last possible moment and then stopping because “the pedestrian has priority”. It’s more about seeing the situation early. Reducing your speed. Creating time. Looking for the person who may be about to cross and being prepared to stop.

More importantly, it’s recognising that your car has considerably more potential to cause harm than the person walking.

That’s the bit I think is really valuable about the hierarchy.

It can change the question from “Can I go?” to “Should I go?”

And sometimes from:

“Do they have priority?” to “What can I do to make this interaction safer?”

This is also why the hierarchy doesn’t remove responsibility from anyone else 👇🏼

The Highway Code is clear that ALL road users have a responsibility to consider their own safety and the safety of others.

A pedestrian still needs to take care. A cyclist still needs to take care. A motorcyclist still needs to take care. A driver still needs to take care.

Just the consequences of getting it wrong aren’t equal.

If a car and a pedestrian collide, the person outside the car is likely to suffer far more serious consequences and that difference in vulnerability should influence the way we drive.

The DVSA National Standard reflects this wider approach to driving too. It expects drivers to predict the likely actions of other road users, particularly vulnerable road users, give them enough time and space, identify and prioritise hazards, and drive defensively by creating and maintaining safe driving space.

So perhaps the hierarchy isn’t really about who is “right” and more about recognising risk as well as understanding responsibility.

And it’s about using the protection we have as drivers; a vehicle, brakes, visibility, space and the ability to choose our speed - to reduce the risk we might otherwise pose to somebody else.

That’s a nice mindset to take with you every time you drive. Rather than asking “What’s the rule?” Think more along the lines of “Who could come off worst here, and what can I do about it?”

We all want to make it home safely 🏠 🧠 🚘

17/09/2026

🚗🔍 POWDERS - it’s not just about checking the car…

We’ve recently talked about tyres, fuelling up and checking your lights. All important parts of being a responsible driver. But in isolation these things can easily be forgotten about. Whilst I was completing my IAM advanced driver and rider courses I was advised to dig a little deeper and this is now one of my favourite habits as a driver…

….POWDERS:

⛽🔋 Power
🛢️ Oil / Options
💧 Water / Fluids
🔎 Damage
💡 Electrics
🛞 Rubber
🧠 Self

It’s a simple way of reminding ourselves that being ready to drive isn’t just about getting in, starting the engine and setting off.

⛽ POWER

Do you have enough fuel or charge for the journey?

It sounds obvious, but how often do we leave it until the warning light comes on before thinking about it? A bit of planning can make a big difference, particularly on longer journeys or when traffic, diversions or delays could add time.

🛢️ OIL / OPTIONS

Modern cars vary, so your handbook is your friend here.

Some have a traditional dipstick, others have electronic oil-level checks. Knowing how your own car works and knowing what the warnings on your dashboard mean is part of looking after it. Or options - do you have the correct charging options available for your specific vehicle whilst out on the road?

💧 WATER & FLUIDS

And this isn’t just water.

Screenwash, coolant, brake fluid and other fluids all have a job to do. Know what your vehicle needs, where the relevant reservoirs are and how often they should be checked.

Don’t just wait for a warning light to tell you something is wrong.

🔎 DAMAGE

Take a quick look around your vehicle.

Any new dents, cracks, loose trim, damaged mirrors, windscreen damage, leaks or anything that doesn’t look quite right?

You don’t need to be a mechanic. You’re simply looking for changes and anything that could affect the safety or roadworthiness of the vehicle.

💡 ELECTRICS

Lights, indicators, brake lights, hazards, horn, dashboard warnings and other electrical equipment all deserve some attention.

We’ve talked about lights recently, but this is the bigger picture.

🛞 RUBBER

And here’s where we come back to something we’ve already talked about - tyres.

They’re the only part of your vehicle actually touching the road.

Pressure, condition and tread all matter.

Don’t just rely on the tyre pressure monitoring system either. It’s useful, but it doesn’t replace actually looking at your tyres.

And then there’s the part of POWDERS that I think is probably the most interesting…

🧠 SELF

Because the vehicle isn’t the only thing that needs to be ready.

How are you? Are you tired? Have you taken medication that could affect your driving?

Are you distracted? Stressed? Angry? Rushing because you’re late? Ill? Had a terrible night’s sleep?

None of these automatically mean you can’t drive. But they are worth noticing.

The question isn’t simply: “Am I legally allowed to drive?”

It’s also: “Am I in the right condition to drive safely today?”

Fatigue is particularly easy to underestimate. We can convince ourselves we’ll be fine, turn the music up, open a window and carry on.

But being awake isn’t necessarily the same as being alert. And sometimes the biggest risk isn’t what’s happening with the car. It’s what’s happening in our head.

That’s one of the main reasons I like POWDERS.

It reminds us that vehicle safety and driver safety aren’t two completely separate things. Your car needs to be ready. So do you 🚗🧠

Being a good driver isn’t just about passing a test. It’s about developing the knowledge, habits, awareness and self-reflection to make good decisions every time we drive. So next time you get in the car, take a few seconds. Check the vehicle. Then check yourself.