Bad driving instructors

[deltashad]

I hate the 'new to me' driving style in the UK.
Possibly this is the new method. The first experience, apart from the piss poor driving and lane discipline i've witnessed was my companies annual driving test, compulsory for driving a company vehicle. I was told to strictly abide by speed limits, yes, I understand this, but not always road user friendly going from a 60 to a 30. What really got me was being told to maintain road speed limits even on a dual carriage way, restricted to the outside lane and not exceeding the speed limit, obviously annoying the hell out of other drivers, when I questioned, the answer was- I was staying away from hazards- people pulling out from junctions etc.... utter BS.

Anyway, my gf just passed her driving test, the biggest problem I have is with how she was told to approach and go around round abouts, and junctions. This is with her foot on the clutch all the way until exited and safe. Basically have NO engine braking control. She passed her test and still has this awful habit and does not trust me that this is incredibly dangerous and just wrong. She has no drive, coasting.

Can I please have some agreement on this.

Edited by deltashad on Sunday 8th May 02:38

[deltashad]

FreeLitres said:

deltashad said:

... my companies annual driving test, compulsory for driving a company vehicle...

Never heard of this before. I've had various jobs that include a company car including my current one.

Have you had a lot of colleagues crashing company cars or something? Is this is a requirement of the insurance company?

They are very serious. We have a satellite monitoring system, (VDO) I won't go into it in big details but it's a huge deal with us. We get beeps for all sorts, which add up to a points system which can end up in termination.
And yes, we are told to stay out of L1 by our commentary drive instructors.

[deltashad]

This I really don't understand. They are very misguided. Engine braking uses less fuel than coasting as the fuel is cut off.

[deltashad]

donkmeister said:

deltashad said:

I was told to strictly abide by speed limits, yes, I understand this, but not always road user friendly going from a 60 to a 30.

But it's been this way since 1935. If you have been driving so long that this is "new to you" then you have been driving long enough that you wouldn't have needed to pass a driving test anyway

The speed limit signs are there to indicate when the limit begins, not when you should start decelerating. Lift off and slow down before you reach the sign, and use the brakes to augment this if required. The reverse applies to accelerating after entering a new limit.

When people use the limit signs to start braking, that's when the council starts doing crap like graduating the speed limits so going the other way you end up with a bit of 30, then 40, then NSL. They did it round here on a couple of my favourite "get to the derestrictor at 30mph then go like hell" roads.

That "stick in the outside lane just in case someone comes out of a junction" thing is stupid though - was there anything coming down the slip when he asked you to do that, or was it a blanket "Always reduce the size of the carriageway by one lane if there is a slip road"? It defeats the whole object of a sliproad if that is the case, otherwise they may as well just convert every sliproad to become its own lane as a matter of course.

I kind of get what your saying, my point is that I don't understand the 'new' driving style. Or should I say I don't agree with it. I've been driving for over 20 years so have a good idea about how the road and driver system works. There are many roads around my office which are dual lane 30mph, the roads start at 60 (single carriageway) before changing to dual going into the City. This causes people to tail gate, flash lights etc.... I know the laws but there are unwritten rules.

No there was nothing in L2. This is the rules, they call it 'protecting your space'.

Now I've heard of people in the past talking about using the brakes instead of engine braking, which I find to be a wrong way of driving. But some seem to think this is a good method.
My gf is adamant the instructor insists not use the 'gearbox' or engine for braking. Encouraged to 'coast' around corners and round abouts with her foot on the clutch. I just find it all a bit bizarre. This also ends up with a near stall when passed the round about as she clumsily looks for the correct gear.