What was the last road sign you saw?
Discussion
If you're doing a running commentary it's probably not that hard to recall.
If you're not commentating I think warning signs are seen, acted upon and the hazard negotiated then the whole thing is out of you're short term memory in about fifty seconds. It's not information that you store - so I guess the vast majority will have no recollection of the last warning sign, but that they'll be none the worse drivers for all that.
If you're not commentating I think warning signs are seen, acted upon and the hazard negotiated then the whole thing is out of you're short term memory in about fifty seconds. It's not information that you store - so I guess the vast majority will have no recollection of the last warning sign, but that they'll be none the worse drivers for all that.
trashbat said:
If it's asked after a sign and near the hazard that it represents, e.g. junction ahead, then why not? They are there for a reason after all. If it's 'recall all the signs from the last hour', of course not!
But wouldn't the driver now be planning their approach to the hazard? What would you hope to achieve by asking such a question? 7mike said:
But wouldn't the driver now be planning their approach to the hazard? What would you hope to achieve by asking such a question?
Who asks? If it's an IAM Examiner they shouldn't. There are isolated hazards, such as junctions or bends, but then you can have longer "distance" hazards, like slippery road or wild/accompanied horses or ponies, so I could see a reason to ask about the latter.Vaux said:
Who asks? If it's an IAM Examiner they shouldn't. There are isolated hazards, such as junctions or bends, but then you can have longer "distance" hazards, like slippery road or wild/accompanied horses or ponies, so I could see a reason to ask about the latter.
So wouldn't a better question be; "what hazards may you meet ahead?" Wouldn't the trainer/coach/observer be able to asertain if the driver has taken in the information on any road signs?7mike said:
But wouldn't the driver now be planning their approach to the hazard? What would you hope to achieve by asking such a question?
Warning signs are generally placed about 200 metres before a hazard, often it's a hazard that is obscured on approach. So what would I hope to achieve by asking the question? Well, quite simply, to find out whether or not the associate is planning for the hazard. If the driver can't tell me, one metre after passing the warning sign, what the warning sign was, it is unlikely that he is planning for the hazard. If he was planning for the hazard it would be because of the sign that he had noticed and which he was then acting upon. If he was building the hazard in to his driving plan based upon knowledge gained from the warning sign then he would readily be able to recall the sign when asked.However, when asking this question of an associate I am careful to choose only those signs that support the above criteria, usually where the hazard is obscured on approach.
7mike said:
So wouldn't a better question be; "what hazards may you meet ahead?" Wouldn't the trainer/coach/observer be able to asertain if the driver has taken in the information on any road signs?
In my opinion, this question is too open, particularly in relation to the specific hazard noted by the warning sign. For example, if asked this question following a warning sign showing a left hand bend with left hand junction on the bend, the associate will probably be looking to provide me with an answer that tells me everything there is to look out for on a bend. What I specifically want to know is has he seen the left hand junction warning? By the time he has reeled off three or four possible hazards appertaining to a bend we'll be half way through the bend and he'll say ..."Oh yes, and obscured junctions on a bend", and I'll be none the wiser as to whether or not he had planned specifically for that particular junction.johnao said:
Warning signs are generally placed about 200 metres before a hazard, often it's a hazard that is obscured on approach. So what would I hope to achieve by asking the question? Well, quite simply, to find out whether or not the associate is planning for the hazard. If the driver can't tell me, one metre after passing the warning sign, what the warning sign was, it is unlikely that he is planning for the hazard. If he was planning for the hazard it would be because of the sign that he had noticed and which he was then acting upon. If he was building the hazard in to his driving plan based upon knowledge gained from the warning sign then he would readily be able to recall the sign when asked.
However, when asking this question of an associate I am careful to choose only those signs that support the above criteria, usually where the hazard is obscured on approach.
So, let's say a warning sign is placed on a single carriageway NSL 200m before the actual hazard. The driver has been making progress on the road, reducing speed to what they feel is correct for the hazard which they will be negotiating in the next seven to ten seconds. During this time I’m going to ask a question which is likely to cast doubts in the mind of the driver (potentially at a crucial point) about what they are about to deal with? However, when asking this question of an associate I am careful to choose only those signs that support the above criteria, usually where the hazard is obscured on approach.
What do we really feel we are achieving by asking such questions?
R0G said:
What road sign have we just passed? is a question our examiners use simply to determine whether the driver has observed it - nothing else
Well, they shouldn't. According to Chiswick. I can't find the original, but I think it came from the Chief Examiner that the practice was to stop because it could stress the Associate.
7mike said:
... I’m going to ask a question which is likely to cast doubts in the mind of the driver (potentially at a crucial point) about what they are about to deal with?
I think this viewpoint over dramatises the reality of the situation. 7mike said:
What do we really feel we are achieving by asking such questions?
I've already answered this question above.johnao said:
7mike said:
... I’m going to ask a question which is likely to cast doubts in the mind of the driver (potentially at a crucial point) about what they are about to deal with?
I think this viewpoint over dramatises the reality of the situation. 7mike said:
What do we really feel we are achieving by asking such questions?
I've already answered this question above.What would you do? I'm currently taking the IAM course, by the way - only had one run so far, and I was asked this, and I didn't know the answer (side road ahead). Made me think about my observation, so I guess job done. The only worry in my mind is emphasis, i.e. the pupil decides to correct it by spending their time consciously memorising signs and forgets to act on them/misses some other hazard.
trashbat said:
What would you do? I'm currently taking the IAM course, by the way - only had one run so far, and I was asked this, and I didn't know the answer (side road ahead). Made me think about my observation, so I guess job done. The only worry in my mind is emphasis, i.e. the pupil decides to correct it by spending their time consciously memorising signs and forgets to act on them/misses some other hazard.
The idea to observe a sign and then when that sign (the info on it) is no longer relevant, to forget itThat is why the question is asked immediately on passing it
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