Free independent reference with original examples. Not official exam questions or a driving assessment. Follow current provincial rules, signs and authorized directions.
Review basic driving observation →Notice a relevant cue, then consider its movement
Identifying means selecting information relevant to driving rather than attending to every bright object. A pedestrian beside parked cars matters differently from an advertising sign. SGI separates existing hazards, such as a stopped vehicle, from potential hazards that could enter your path.
Prediction is a working possibility, not knowledge of another person’s intention. A cyclist may continue straight, turn or move around a defect. Revise the prediction as the approach changes. Assuming that an indicator or an earlier observation settles everything can leave a developing conflict unnoticed.
Source: SGI — The IPDE method of driving ↗Check the chosen space before committing
Deciding turns the prediction into a specific plan. Before changing path, the driver needs to check that the intended space remains open and consider the road surface. Naming “change lanes” without checking the neighbouring lane is an incomplete decision. Sometimes continued observation is the appropriate response to a potential hazard.
Executing means carrying out the selected action. The method does not authorize a prohibited turn, speeding or an unobserved swerve. SGI recommends practising emergency techniques in a safe situation, preferably with a trained instructor; reading an article cannot supply that physical skill.
Source: SGI — The IPDE method of driving ↗Follow the decision as the scene changes
Original learning cases
A child is visible between parked cars. Identification is noticing the child; prediction is allowing for movement into the road. Preparing a suitable response belongs to the next stage, before the movement actually happens.
A driver plans a lane change around a stopped vehicle. Another car enters the intended gap. The plan needs revision because the space checked earlier is no longer open.
At a quiet red light, the planned response may simply be a smooth stop. IPDE is useful in ordinary traffic; it is not a sequence reserved only for dramatic emergencies.
Keep enough attention available to use the method
Distraction interferes with the first stage because the relevant cue may not be noticed soon enough. Fatigue or illness can also make the whole process harder. SGI suggests reducing the driving workload and considering not driving when your condition affects your ability.
When reviewing an explanation, name the missing step rather than memorizing the answer letter. Was the hazard overlooked, its movement misread, the escape space unchecked or the action poorly carried out? The free topics below support that reasoning without predicting an official result.
Source: SGI — The IPDE method of driving ↗