Some lessons from low-risk driver training

This week I have been hanging out at the CFA (Country Fire Authority - a volunteer organisation) Training Centre in Carrum Downs doing some driver training. I have learned a whole bunch of new things including the low-risk driving model, the nine points of scanning, and calculating and maintaining adequate crash avoidance spaces. It's been a challenging week for me. The normal vehicle that I drive is in the medium sedan category so throw me the keys to an Ambulance and yeah, I'll put my hand up (both hands actually) and say I'm more than a teeny weeny bit scared. Why? It's different. Giddyup - it's not just me, it's 80% of the class (a few of them have done non-emergency ambulance transport for a year or two which gives them a desireable advantage).

What does low-risk driving have to do with creating my best life?

A lot actually, when you join the dots. For example, consider the four components of the low-risk driving model.

1. see the hazard
What are the 'hazards' in your world? Are you eating chocolate and icecream on a (almost) daily basis? Are you over-thinking? Are you rationalising, making excuses? How good are you at 'scanning' all 'nine points' for all the hazards in your world? What are your 'blind spots' (things in an around you) and what about the blockouts (things outside you) that could pose as a barrier to a clear view of your world?

2. recognise how hazards could threaten safety
Have you recognised how the above 'hazards' are sabotaging you creating your best life?

3. make early adjustments in response to hazards
Can you implement early-intervention strategies to prevent a collision with 'another vehicle' or a 'pedestrian'? Take that big foot off the accelerator for starters, set up the break let the poor dude behind you know that you'll be breaking (give him a warning), cover the break so you're ready to break if you need to, 'steer to a safer position' - adjust your speed and position so you're out of harms way and can see more ('change lanes', 'drop back a bit', 'adjust your speed', and finally you might actually need to 'accelerate' to miss something). Don't confuse others. Don't confuse yourself. Make it early and be assertive. JUST DO IT. NOW. AS EARLY AS YOU CAN. BE RESPONSIVE, NOT REACTIVE. It takes thought and planning to be responsive. Being reactive equals panic. Don't live your life like that.

4. respond until it's reasonable to resume normal driving
Okay, so you need evidence before continuing normal 'driving' (living). Is it safe in your world now? Clear of 'hazards'? If yes, then continue on.

The big question about being your own coach

I've just been sitting here this morning (and last night) completing my open book, take home exam. I've got one more question to do. Question 13.

Question 13
When 'Being your own coach', how does criticism effect performance? (20 Marks)

Shit! A 20-marker? They clearly want a lot in this response.

The question triggered some self reflection relating to my inability to be my own coach when it comes to doing what I say I'll do, in doing what I need to do, and in doing what others point out to me that I'm not doing. While sure, it's potentially fabulous and beneficial to have coaches, mentors, instructors and teachers sit beside us what is going to happen in between 'training sessions', 'classes' and the like when they aren't there? It's up to us to take what they've said and put it into practice. But it's more than that. We also have to be our own coach/mentor/teacher too as well as the athlete/student/employee. What I've learned this week in my driver training is aimed at getting us to the point where we can self-critisie and identify what we are doing incorrectly, describing the correct way and then being able to fix it next time. Do you observe yourself criticising others driving performance? It's easy, isn't it. How much do you criticise your own driving? Not so easy. There's something to ponder this afternoon for you 'un-trained' drivers. It is also easy to tell your best friend or fellow work colleauges what they should be doing but when do you tell yourself what you should be doing (and actually do it). We can tell others what to do, but when it comes to us it's hard to be objective. So, what can we do? Remove the emotions out of it and be our own coach and be critical of what we could be doing better, what worked, what didn't.

Summary of lessons learned

How well do you receive feedback?
How well do you give yourself feedback?
How well can you implement the feedback into your day-to-day life?

The key is in point #3. Giving feedback to others is great. But 'they' have to process it and put it into practice. Same goes with giving ourselves feedback - we need to then do the same, otherwise what purpose is it serving? We all know 1 + 1 = 2. But what if we really believed the answer was 15. Wouldn't you like to know where you went wrong and how to avoid making the same mistakes next time? Clearly maths isn't a life/death situation like driving an emergency vehicle can be (or even a normal vehicle). Actually, maths can be a life/death situation. In my role as a Paramedic, I will be administering drugs. Drugs of addiction like morphine. I'm gonna need to get that right. Get the dose wrong (or get the drug wrong) and you can kill a patient and find yourself explaining 'what happened' to the Coroner.

Thanks Ambulance Victoria Driving Standards Team

I will continue to work on improving my own driving and how I live my life. These are both life-long things. Not something you can master in one week. The learning starts after this week, when we use it. "Don't use it. Lose it." Like muscles of our body. They waste away if we don't use it. So too do skills like driving and being our own coach.