IN the recent Department of Transport report into the causes of road crashes, it was suggested that the best single piece of advice would be to look where you are going.

Anticipation of hazards is core to the advanced driving course offered by the Institute of Advanced Motorists (IAM) - and the need is more acute in rural areas.

The key to safe driving on country roads is observation - looking well ahead. You can spot a bend before you reach it by using tree lines or power lines to show where a bend may occur.

When you are approaching a corner, try to gain a view of any oncoming traffic through or over the hedge.

Normal advice is to drive so that you can stop in the distance you can see ahead.

On winding roads that means preparing to reduce speed for a corner - not just to the correct speed for negotiating it but bearing in mind that someone may be coming the other way at the same time.

So, I thought it would be useful to take a few seconds to think what we imagine round the next corner on country roads: A car coming at high speed on the wrong side; A couple of children on cycles on your side just round the bend; A combine harvester taking up all the road, so you have to stop and reverse; A couple of horses on your side with a vehicle coming the other way.

Even if you are driving safely and anticipating well, don't assume that other drivers you meet will be doing the same.

Whatever it is you think of being round the bend, make sure the reality is never anything worse than that.

For more details, visit the institute's website at www.iam.org.uk