Often on the ADI Forum we see reference to the “grey area” in driving instruction, meaning the times when there is no definitive answer, no absolute right or wrong. Most of the time this grey area is mentioned with a level of frustration, PDI’s and ADI’s alike constantly search for the specific answer to each specific question.

I believe that grey areas are one of the most important parts of instruction, but in order to instruct it correctly we must first understand what it is all about.

The grey areas are there to help us, without an obvious vagueness to our guidelines things would just get too complicated. Situations are so many and varied on our roads that to supply an appropriate way to deal with each and every question or situation would be unrealistic.

As drivers we use a combination of skills in order to select a safe course of action to deal with the particular situation we are faced with. Observation, Anticipation and Judgment are the main skills we use.

The job of a driving instructor is not to teach their pupils what to do in every possible situation. It is to help their pupils develop their skills in order for them to be able to select a safe course of action in the same way we do.

Driving Examiners (ideally) have such a high level of these skills that they will select the safest course of action for any given situation. It is the difference between the examiners course of action and the course of action selected by the pupil that determines whether or not it is a fault.

There is an element of vagueness in the guidelines we use to assess junctions. We are advised that we must emerge only when it is safe to do so, which is fairly direct, but there is an important judgment call involved. To help us with this judgment we are advised that we must not cause another moving road user to change speed or direction, but without undue hesitation, which again appears to be direct, yet we would all agree that there are other factors to be brought into consideration, the speed of the approaching traffic, the capabilities of the vehicle, the capabilities of the driver, weather conditions. We factor in all these variables with such a clear understanding that the terms no longer seem vague to us.

The same can be said of the term “appropriate gear”. We all use the term and accept that although it is vague there is a reason for it being vague, various cars/conditions etc.

Yet there are other terms that seem infuriatingly vague, but all we have to do is use the skills of Observation, Anticipation and Judgment.

Consider “Reasonable Distance”, learners might not get the meaning of being advised they should continue reversing for a reasonable distance once in the new road, unless they understand the factors involved in deciding what would be a reasonable distance in the particular circumstances.

Use L.A.D.A. Look – at the situation Assess – all hazards, the amount of distance needed to allow safe route to the junction for any traffic coming from behind, bring into this assessment the view traffic will have approaching the junction, area’s where pedestrians may wish to cross and their view. Decide – on the safest course of action Act – on it.

On another manoeuvre, the turn in the road, it gets more uncertain. We are told to turn the car around …. Pay due regard to others try not to touch the kerb. What does that mean? After all surely no pupil would go for test and touch the kerb on purpose! But it has to be included in the guidelines otherwise there would be nothing to stop test candidates using the kerbs as stoppers. On the other side of the coin they can’t tell them to not hit the kerb because that would give an unfair advantage to those in smaller cars. If somebody in a great big Volvo can control the car safely enough to squeeze every last inch out of the road and nudges the kerb, but avoids holding traffic up by getting round in 3, is that ok? Due regard is the most vague of all our guidelines, we can’t even use the back up of not causing another road user to change speed or direction with this one, as there are situations where Due regard is relevant where we will unavoidably cause changes in others speed and direction.

All we can do is use L.A.D.A. again.

Driving is a very simple skill, no proof of intelligence is required for a licence. A certain vagueness is essential for it to remain simple, but it becomes complicated with a lack of understanding.

Every situation we deal with on the road relies on the L.A.D.A. procedure, once a driver understands this then the grey areas become ok.

What's in a Name? John Brown - Driving Includes U

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