Commentary filler
Discussion
When making a commentary, I sometimes find myself left with an uncomfortable gap where there is nothing new to describe - No junctions, other traffic (At all or impacting us), or new hazards, features deviations etc that can be talked through - Just a straight cruise along at the speed limit.
I do have some filler material for these, such as commenting on the road itself (Quality of surface, condition and engineering) and other environmental conditions, but it generally doesn't take too long to get through these, and even the most outlandish hazards have been covered in the initial commentary.
Any ideas for filler, or additional items that can be covered?
I do have some filler material for these, such as commenting on the road itself (Quality of surface, condition and engineering) and other environmental conditions, but it generally doesn't take too long to get through these, and even the most outlandish hazards have been covered in the initial commentary.
Any ideas for filler, or additional items that can be covered?
You could mention checking verge/hedge lines for field gates
How much faster you could safely go if you were not obeying a speed limit
Or to put it another way why you have chosen the speed you have, limit, comfort, work rate, etc.
Estimate how many seconds before you will need to make a speed or direction change and what you will do to prepare for that. Can you see where the road is going, can you see anything that indicates a junction or change in limit coming such as lighting or buildings.
I don't do formal AD stuff, though I have been out on the odd drive and course, one of the things I tend to be aware of is changing work rate, it is a bit like aerobic and anaerobic exercise. On a longer drive you need to manage your mental effort so you do not become fatigued and can still summon the attention required as you enter a higher hazard situation. You could bring this up and discuss it while your driving work rate is low.
How much faster you could safely go if you were not obeying a speed limit
Or to put it another way why you have chosen the speed you have, limit, comfort, work rate, etc.
Estimate how many seconds before you will need to make a speed or direction change and what you will do to prepare for that. Can you see where the road is going, can you see anything that indicates a junction or change in limit coming such as lighting or buildings.
I don't do formal AD stuff, though I have been out on the odd drive and course, one of the things I tend to be aware of is changing work rate, it is a bit like aerobic and anaerobic exercise. On a longer drive you need to manage your mental effort so you do not become fatigued and can still summon the attention required as you enter a higher hazard situation. You could bring this up and discuss it while your driving work rate is low.
My main problem with commentary is that there are so many things to process and not enough time to say them all. I don't think I've ever had a pause. I guess the follow on question from this is are you observing well enough and far enough ahead?I like to think so!
It is very rare that I have the opportunity, but some of the roads that we use do have inappropriate limits for otherwise well engineered roads, which would cause a few awkward minutes of silence otherwise - Eyes are up as far as possible!
Think of a scene like this, minus the other traffic - 50 Limit, plain lane as far as can be seen, with a limit point far in the distance, and no particular features for the next few minutes of rolling at 50.
It is very rare that I have the opportunity, but some of the roads that we use do have inappropriate limits for otherwise well engineered roads, which would cause a few awkward minutes of silence otherwise - Eyes are up as far as possible!
Think of a scene like this, minus the other traffic - 50 Limit, plain lane as far as can be seen, with a limit point far in the distance, and no particular features for the next few minutes of rolling at 50.
Fair enough, I guess roads do vary quite a bit. I often do commentary when driving alone and more often than not I just find I can't talk quickly enough. In that photo if there were no cars, then obviously once I'd mentioned my road positioning, the limit point of vision, the camber, the streetlights up ahead indicating another road, what was behind me in all three mirrors, and the vegetation giving potential for animals to run out, then yes, there would be nothing else. Typically what I find is that by the time I've said all that, I'm a few hundred metres further on and something else crops up, like another limit point through gradient or curvature, a junction, a cyclist, potential overtake coming towards me, bike behind me, deteriorated road edge, gravel on road etc.
Haltamer said:
I like to think so!
It is very rare that I have the opportunity, but some of the roads that we use do have inappropriate limits for otherwise well engineered roads, which would cause a few awkward minutes of silence otherwise - Eyes are up as far as possible!
Think of a scene like this, minus the other traffic - 50 Limit, plain lane as far as can be seen, with a limit point far in the distance, and no particular features for the next few minutes of rolling at 50.
Show the assessor you're looking and planning far ahead. It is very rare that I have the opportunity, but some of the roads that we use do have inappropriate limits for otherwise well engineered roads, which would cause a few awkward minutes of silence otherwise - Eyes are up as far as possible!
Think of a scene like this, minus the other traffic - 50 Limit, plain lane as far as can be seen, with a limit point far in the distance, and no particular features for the next few minutes of rolling at 50.
In the case above, '' I see street lamps which would suggest a junction of some sort, so I am planning ..................... ''
Haltamer said:
Think of a scene like this, minus the other traffic - 50 Limit, plain lane as far as can be seen, with a limit point far in the distance, and no particular features for the next few minutes of rolling at 50.
Nothing plain about that scene:Street lights in distance - junction ahead? Does their arrangement or orientation suggest anything?
Sun position means you'll see the shadows of oncoming vehicles before the vehicle itself
Speed limit sign - explain your choice of speed. Why is it a 50, not a NSL?
Road bends right so explain your choice of position, explain limit point theory
Road surface is uneven in the centre - explain the possible effects of poor surface under braking or acceleration
Explain the purpose of the white line edge marking
Centre marking is worn - is it because oncoming traffic rides the line or there's a lot of overtaking there?
Why is the centre marking a hazard line rather than a lane line?
Discuss the viability of the nearside verge as an escape route if one of those overtakes towards goes wrong
Anything in your mirrors?
All gauges and dials reading normally?
Did your passenger watch the football last night?
There's a choice - the old-skool Hendon machine gun stylie where you repeat stock phrases multiple times throughout the drive.
This type is quite useful to get across the routines of observation and System but risks being boring through repetition, or intimidating through sheer quantity.
I find it easier to do a more explanatory one, where you pick out something in the distance that's going to require some action, and then talk through the process of dealing with it.
You can then add appropriate Roadcraft quotes or explanations to make it all a bit more interesting. You never know which element the person listening will pick up on, so I like to put a lot in.
Having said that, the list associated with the photo above could take a whole drive to get through.
This type is quite useful to get across the routines of observation and System but risks being boring through repetition, or intimidating through sheer quantity.
I find it easier to do a more explanatory one, where you pick out something in the distance that's going to require some action, and then talk through the process of dealing with it.
You can then add appropriate Roadcraft quotes or explanations to make it all a bit more interesting. You never know which element the person listening will pick up on, so I like to put a lot in.
Having said that, the list associated with the photo above could take a whole drive to get through.
nonsequitur said:
Veryoldbear said:
Does one need to express oneself in complete grammatical sentences? It wastes a lot of time.
Yes. All that AND driving too!The ultimate difficulty for me has to be talking whilst track driving. A friend of mine is doing a PhD in motorsport human factors and he asked me to do some commentary for him at a recent test day. As it happened, he was too busy to mail me out the required microphone, but whilst I was driving on that test day it dawned on me that this was something I would have really struggled with. Huge respect to someone like Tiff Needell. I've chatted to passengers in road cars on track, and we most often see Tiff et al doing this, but I've seen him do it in pukka racing cars too, which I'm guessing is a rare skill.
"Pedestrian, dog, not on lead ... parked car .. mirror ... slow ,,, evaluate ... no oncoming .. move out"
"I see a pedestrian with a dog on a lead. No, not on lead. I will check my mirror carefully and (subject to situation) slow down a bit while I consider the situation in accordance with the rules ... oh (expletive deleted) I was so busy talking I appear to have removed the wing mirror from the parked car ... driver is now getting out .. he appears to be somewhat narked ... do I stop and explain ... or do I wave cheerfully and run away"
"I see a pedestrian with a dog on a lead. No, not on lead. I will check my mirror carefully and (subject to situation) slow down a bit while I consider the situation in accordance with the rules ... oh (expletive deleted) I was so busy talking I appear to have removed the wing mirror from the parked car ... driver is now getting out .. he appears to be somewhat narked ... do I stop and explain ... or do I wave cheerfully and run away"
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