Theory Test Novel: Blue Light Vehicles

Is that the same ambulance approaching us in the rear view mirror that collected the motorcycle rider? It’s lights are flashing and it’s moving fast, we better find a safe place to pull over and let it pass. Just be as cool as those flashing blues while you do so. While ambulances are uppermost in our minds lets discuss other blue light emergency vehicles. Not the most stimulating subject I grant, but you’re not here for stimulation are you? Oh right you are, stimulation for those parts of the mind that other driving theory test literature cannot reach, and that’s what I promised you with this blog and The Demon Road: Theory Test Novel. But as we drive along what is turning into a very scenic coastal road with views of the sea to our right, over the edge of sheer cliff drops, and rather stunning mountains off to our left, I am wondering how to tell you about all the different types of blue light vehicles in such a way that they, and this post are memorable enough for you not to forget...

Did you just see that? A Bomb just exploded on the coast road further up ahead, and now a huge crack several feet wide is opening up, look! The (1) ambulance is moving too fast to stop in time and now it has hit the fast widening crack. What a calamity, the ambulance driver has fallen out and tumbled over the cliff edge, down into the sea he falls but luckily a (2) Blue light coast guard vehicle is racing to the scene to pluck him out of the choppy sea. Perhaps not so fortunate for the poor injured motorcycle rider however, the back doors of the ambulance have burst open and the gurney he has been lying on is now freewheeling backwards out into the road. Looks like he is bleeding badly, blood is everywhere but maybe all is not lost. It looks like a blue light (3) blood transfusion unit is racing to the scene, now that’s what I call a service. Hot on its heels, a (4) police car and a (5) bomb disposal unit are racing each other to the site of the explosion. Watch out police car!... Ahhhh to late, the it has just skidded on all the blood in the road and disappeared into the crack which, alarmingly, is widening into a fissure and snaking its way up into the mountains.

Things are looking grim, the mountains are beginning to crumble as the earth opens up and the bad news for us is that a landslide is gathering pace which may well swallow us all. But what’s this? Incredibly, a blue light (5) Mountain rescue vehicle is racing up the mountainside (must have been a blue light convention happening nearby) anyway It is stopping directly in the path of the landslide. What a relief, it looks like the avalanche has been arrested, which is more arresting than the officers in that police car are going to be doing. But anyway,  I think we better find a detour, now back to how I am going to tell you about all the different types of blue light vehicle in such a way that is memorable, you know what? I think, just on this one occasion, I am going to recommend you check out www.facebook.com/TheoryTestNovel because I am drawing a blank... http://twitter.com/theorytestnovel

Driving Theory Test Novel: Motorcycle, Dr ABC

Are we cool? Didn’t mean to snap at you in that last post, I was just a bit tense. It’s always a good idea to take a break and calm down after an incident. Looks like somebody else lost it up ahead too, look, there’s a motorcyclist laying in the road, is that the one that flew past us a few posts back? I thought we might be seeing him again.

We are the first arriving on the scene so we had better stop and take care of him, or her. Do you know what Dr ABC stands for? Yeah, I know, you’re not in the test centre yet. It stands for Danger, Response, Airway, Breathing and Circulation. Before you get to the nitty gritty of checking the rider you need to assess the environment for Danger such as oncomng cars, he is laying in the road so he is in a vulnerable position. Your Response to the situation comes next and must be done without putting yourself at risk and exaserbating things. I recommend you put your hazard warning lights on at this point to warn other road users of the hazard, better call emergancy services as well as nobody else is around to do so. Ok, lets check this rider out. Ensure you don't move him unless it is essential, we don't know if he has suffered a neck injury, your first priority will be to check his breathing. In another situation you could you could put your cheek over his/her mouth to feel for breathing before checking his Airway to make sure it not blocked before moving on to getting breathing and circulation going again if needed. However, and for the same reasons you will not be moving him unless essential, i.e potential neck injury, you won't be removing his helmet. You could lift his visor and put your cheek over his mouth to feel for the breathing bit, but maybe there is another way to tell, check his visor out, you see it has fogged up? this indicates that he is breathing ok. His chest is also rising and falling so no need for cpr this time hey, relieved?
You must wait for the ambulance to arrive now and I will rejoin you after it has been. Hey, no point in both of us being here. Do you have a smart phone? Why not check out how Mr Green handles the same situation in The Demon Road: A Theory Test Novel. You can find out more at  www.facebook.com/TheoryTestNovel please like the page, many thanks.
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Theory Test Novel: Aquaplaning

All this driving can get very monotonous when an overcast sky and heavy rainfall bleed the light and colour from the day. That constant pitter-patter of rain on the roof of the car is also beginning to anesthetise my senses, how about you? Your eyes are looking a bit glazed over there, hope the weather is responsible for that and not my voice.
Have you noticed how quiet it has suddenly become in here? I can almost hear a pin drop, do you mind if I just feel the steering wheel for a moment? As I thought, the steering has become as light as a feather. HEY! WATCH OUT. The monotony of the weather has put you in a trance and you have sped up without realising it, now we are aquaplaning.
You no longer have any control of the car and we are drifting toward the side of the road and a ditch, here’s what I need you to do, stay cool and gently decelerate, as we slow down your control over the car should return, let’s just hope it happens before we go into the ditch. What is happening is that the wheels have lost contact with the road and we are now driving on a thin layer of surface water between the tarmac and the wheels. This is known as aquaplaning and happened because you were driving far too fast for the wet conditions. Ahh, can you hear that? That is the sound of the wheels coming into contact with the road surface again which is sweet music to my ears right now. The last thing I want is for this road trip to end prematurely in a waterlogged ditch. Ok, Control is only just returning to the car so steer just as gently as when you eased off the accelerator, no sudden movements is the key to survival when you are aquaplaning.

We got off lightly there... oh, did you see what I just did there? Lightly? The steering was light as a feather? Lightly easing off on the accelerator? The whole theme of aqu.. You know what, never mind, just stay focused on the road. Might be a good idea to open a window, if you're still feeling drowsy, and let some fresh air in although speaking for myself, my adrenaline is right up, I think I need a break...                                  www.facebook.com/TheoryTestNovel
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Overtaking & Safety distances

Hey, you did well back there, didn’t I say a bit of courtesy goes a long way with the police? Admit it, you were worried that you didn’t have your documents with you right? But he said it was fine, just produce them at a police station within seven days (remember this) Are you looking in your rear view mirror by the way? There is a motorbike coming up fast on us, don’t try competing with him just let him pass... Wow he was well over the speed limit but I suspect we will be seeing him again, I don't think he realises yet that he is riding the demon road now where every wrong action has a consequence. Is that a spot of rain on the windscreen or a speed demon stirring? Anyway, let’s get back to enjoying the freedom of the open road ourselves.

Slow down for this right hand bend coming up and keep to the left to improve your view of the road around it (remember this). Oh, it was a spot of rain and now it’s beginning to rain, and is that a lorry up ahead? See those yellow and red markings on the back of it trailer? That means the lorry is more than 13 metres long, unlucky for some, definitely unlucky for us. Well, so much for the freedom of the road. With all these bends this road is not ideal for overtaking either unless you’re a motorbike of course. Don’t get too close now, that’s what’s called tailgating and at this proximity our sightlines of the road beyond the lorry are blocked. Furthermore we are also in the lorry drivers blind spot. Risky overtaking is the cause of many collisions so let’s fall back and await a safe opportunity for passing. Three situations where we definitely should not be overtaking is (1) when the view of the road ahead is blocked, (2) on the approach to a junction and (3) where we would need to turn left shortly after.

It's really starting to rain hard now which is only going to contribute to our visibility problems, just look at the amount of spray being thrown out by the wheels of the lorry from all this road surface water. You should definitely double the length of your safety gap to 4 seconds at this point because that spray is now inhibiting your view at the minimum 2 second safe distance used for dry conditions. There's a saying that only a fool breaks the two second rule, in 'The Demon Road: A Theory Test Novel' we expand this as follows. Only a fool breaks the two second rule but in the rain only an idiot does'nt double it. Invest in the Demon Road TTN when released on June 1st for the full version of this rhyme and we will see what can be done about this lorry next time...
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