New driver comments/questions - smooth driving
Discussion
Also another key to smooth driving is looking ahead (ie further ahead than the car in front- something most drivers seem to struggle with) and anticipation.
When I'm on my bike, the amount of cars that come barreling past in built up areas then fail to see the car on the brakes or going a lot slower just up the road is incredible. Cue slamming on the brakes as soon as they are in front of me..
When I'm on my bike, the amount of cars that come barreling past in built up areas then fail to see the car on the brakes or going a lot slower just up the road is incredible. Cue slamming on the brakes as soon as they are in front of me..
donkmeister said:
Back in the 90s (might still be the same) there was a statistic that demonstrated people who passed their test first time were more likely to have accidents than those who passed on the second attempt. The quality of driver was essentially the same, but the "first timers" were more cocky, whilst the second timers had already been taken down a peg before being allowed out on their own.
2nd time passer here also! I made a mistake on my first test pulling out into a roundabout. Hesitated too much when an opportunity arose (It was a bus indicating to turn off. I wanted to SEE it turn first! Then I pulled out too quick and apparently made those behind slow down. I'm not so sure, but he's the expert/examiner, and as such in this context he is *always* right!).thiscocks said:
When I'm on my bike, the amount of cars that come barreling past in built up areas then fail to see the car on the brakes or going a lot slower just up the road is incredible. Cue slamming on the brakes as soon as they are in front of me..
These people must literally enjoy burning money.markyb_lcy said:
thiscocks said:
When I'm on my bike, the amount of cars that come barreling past in built up areas then fail to see the car on the brakes or going a lot slower just up the road is incredible. Cue slamming on the brakes as soon as they are in front of me..
These people must literally enjoy burning money.
probably the same ones who cant keep a constant speed on the motorwaymarkyb_lcy said:
Insurance policy I guess you mean? I took a regular policy, its a 10month policy to gain 1yr NCB. Elephant are the provider. It was £830 but I was expecting a lot because a) new driver b) live in high crime area c) I have a dvla "notifiable" medical condition.
The medical condition makes absolutely no difference. They stopped all that nonsense back in 1997. But as you clearly know, must be disclosed. It was always a con. There is absolutely no link between 99% of medical conditions, even serious ones, and claim stats.
TwigtheWonderkid said:
The medical condition makes absolutely no difference. They stopped all that nonsense back in 1997. But as you clearly know, must be disclosed.
It was always a con. There is absolutely no link between 99% of medical conditions, even serious ones, and claim stats.
Are you saying the insurance can't charge me more because of it? If so, then IMO they should not even be allowed to ask.It was always a con. There is absolutely no link between 99% of medical conditions, even serious ones, and claim stats.
re: insurance, I found I could get different quote numbers based on my job title and employment status used on the application. All of which are true and not fraudulent...
- (employed) IT Consultant
- (self-employed) IT Consultant
- (self-employed) Director
- (employed) Director
- (self-employed) Managing Director
- (employed) Managing Director
The last of these yielded the best quotes
- (employed) IT Consultant
- (self-employed) IT Consultant
- (self-employed) Director
- (employed) Director
- (self-employed) Managing Director
- (employed) Managing Director
The last of these yielded the best quotes
markyb_lcy said:
2nd time passer here also! I made a mistake on my first test pulling out into a roundabout. Hesitated too much when an opportunity arose (It was a bus indicating to turn off. I wanted to SEE it turn first! Then I pulled out too quick and apparently made those behind slow down. I'm not so sure, but he's the expert/examiner, and as such in this context he is *always* right!).
Everyone I have met who quotes this statistic is someone who failed one or more tests.My brother failed his first test though and he is very by the book, so maybe it’s true. I still like to gloat though.
foxbody-87 said:
Everyone I have met who quotes this statistic is someone who failed one or more tests.
My brother failed his first test though and he is very by the book, so maybe it’s true. I still like to gloat though.
Who wouldn't! My brother failed his first test though and he is very by the book, so maybe it’s true. I still like to gloat though.
Very few of my friends/family passed first time. And most have a story of the first fail where they felt a little hard done to. I mean ... of course they do! One has to wonder if firstly the examiner should be able to see/ask if you're a first or second, 55th-timer ... and secondly, whether they're able to be completely impartial with that knowledge, especially if they're learning that before you even drive off.
markyb_lcy said:
(1) At this point, I'd like to improve my driving skill and understanding of the road system to become a better and more comfortable driver.
Does anyone have any tips for maintaining a more smooth driving experience? London roads are pretty damn bad in places. Speedbumps, potholes, confusing roundabouts where you're not sure the right lane / can't see markings etc. I'm getting fairly confident but I must admit I still have some fears.
(2) The current one I'm really struggling with is pulling out from minor road turning right onto a multi-lane carriageway (without a lighted-junction) ... the other day I took a wrong right turn off the A2 Old Kent Road heading Nbound and had to come back around via industrial estate to such a jct to get back on it. Jesus I sat there for near-on 4 mins looking for a friendly gap and jumped out like a scared rabbit. I didn't even have anyone behind me being impatient either, so I know it could be even worse! I'm avoiding routes now where I can to avoid this, but I know I'll come up against it very soon before too long.
(3) I'm nasty at speedbumps in the Golf. It was easy in the fiesta learner car ... reduce speed/brake on approach, accelerate when front wheels hit ramp. Maybe I'm going over them too fast but I'm mostly sticking to limits ... the 20 zones are hard work! Anybody got tips for driving over these smoothly, and the many potholes? I'm bouncing about too much on some of the shabby roads and speed-ramped areas.
(4) What about engine braking? Is this to be avoided or should I be downshift rev matching to make the process feel smoother and less strain on the car? Or is it Brakes for braking and gears for going? I want to drive smoothly and maintain vehicle as best as possible, but the driving instructors seem big on engine braking. Do they even value their clutches?!
(5) Also speed limits on the motorway. Man alive. I feel like I am constantly having to look at my speedo. Maybe I'm paranoid but I worry if I'm like 5mph over the limit. It's difficult to regulate. I have ACC cruise control and speed limiter and I'm only just getting to trying them. How are others regulating speed without being so distracted by it?
In order: Does anyone have any tips for maintaining a more smooth driving experience? London roads are pretty damn bad in places. Speedbumps, potholes, confusing roundabouts where you're not sure the right lane / can't see markings etc. I'm getting fairly confident but I must admit I still have some fears.
(2) The current one I'm really struggling with is pulling out from minor road turning right onto a multi-lane carriageway (without a lighted-junction) ... the other day I took a wrong right turn off the A2 Old Kent Road heading Nbound and had to come back around via industrial estate to such a jct to get back on it. Jesus I sat there for near-on 4 mins looking for a friendly gap and jumped out like a scared rabbit. I didn't even have anyone behind me being impatient either, so I know it could be even worse! I'm avoiding routes now where I can to avoid this, but I know I'll come up against it very soon before too long.
(3) I'm nasty at speedbumps in the Golf. It was easy in the fiesta learner car ... reduce speed/brake on approach, accelerate when front wheels hit ramp. Maybe I'm going over them too fast but I'm mostly sticking to limits ... the 20 zones are hard work! Anybody got tips for driving over these smoothly, and the many potholes? I'm bouncing about too much on some of the shabby roads and speed-ramped areas.
(4) What about engine braking? Is this to be avoided or should I be downshift rev matching to make the process feel smoother and less strain on the car? Or is it Brakes for braking and gears for going? I want to drive smoothly and maintain vehicle as best as possible, but the driving instructors seem big on engine braking. Do they even value their clutches?!
(5) Also speed limits on the motorway. Man alive. I feel like I am constantly having to look at my speedo. Maybe I'm paranoid but I worry if I'm like 5mph over the limit. It's difficult to regulate. I have ACC cruise control and speed limiter and I'm only just getting to trying them. How are others regulating speed without being so distracted by it?
Edited by anonymous-user on Monday 11th February 12:59
(1) this sounds like you're struggling with information overload, which is common and will fade with experience. Driving in most urban environments in heavy traffic presents a huge mass of information that you have to take in and process at speed, whilst driving. It's not easy. The trick is to know what it is important to look for, and to disregard the rest. Eg, come round a corner, glance at the road surface, immediately decide "do I need to keep a lookout for potholes or can I put that as a secondary priority". That sort of thing.
One practice thing might be to try driving some London roads early in the morning at the weekend, when it's light, and you don't have quite so many pieces of information to process. Just focus on a few core things, improve the speed at which you process them, then broaden the "palate" by doing the same at a busier time.
(2) This can be difficult and there's no real substitute IMO to being patient and ignoring your rear view mirror. Never let an impatient a-hole behind you force you into an accident.
(3) speed humps. The work of the devil. If they are the raised square ones, try to go straight over them. You'll wear the inside shoulders of your tyres over time, but life is full of compromises. If they are sleeping policemen style, then I try to (a) brake up to them; (b) release the brake just before mounting them to lift the front end as I go onto the frontside ramp; (c) dab the throttle at the base of the downside ramp to lift the front again. Or you can just crawl over them.
(4) When I had a manual I would try (hmm, most of the time) to brake, clutch down, shift down, then in one movement bring in the clutch and come off the brake and feed in throttle. IOW brake earlier, get on the gas earlier; don't be bringing in the clutch mid corner.
(5) Experience. You get a sense eventually for what the landscape looks like going by you at 30, 40, 70. For you now, I'd not fret at creeping up to 75 now and then - just glance at the speedo from time to time to check your speed. Going back to point 1 - over time you cease to read the speedo. Instead you glance and know from the angle of the needle what speed you're doing. You train your eyes to pick up the least amount of information you need in the shortest possible time.
Good luck. You never really stop learning.
markyb_lcy said:
TwigtheWonderkid said:
The medical condition makes absolutely no difference. They stopped all that nonsense back in 1997. But as you clearly know, must be disclosed.
It was always a con. There is absolutely no link between 99% of medical conditions, even serious ones, and claim stats.
Are you saying the insurance can't charge me more because of it? If so, then IMO they should not even be allowed to ask.It was always a con. There is absolutely no link between 99% of medical conditions, even serious ones, and claim stats.
TwigtheWonderkid said:
There's many things they ask you that they can't charge for. Your sex for a start. There's a handful of conditions they can charge for, like alcoholism. But the old favourites they used to charge for, diabetes, missing eyes, limbs etc, that was outlawed with the disability discrimination act, 1996 or 7 I think.
A single missing eye isn't even a notifiable condition (at least for a standard car licence). Driving whilst missing two eyes, however... possibly so.I recall the advice is that you shouldn't drive until 1) you are acclimatised to monocular vision and 2) you are certain that you meet the visual acuity standards for driving with your remaining eye.
donkmeister said:
A single missing eye isn't even a notifiable condition (at least for a standard car licence). Driving whilst missing two eyes, however... possibly so.
I recall the advice is that you shouldn't drive until 1) you are acclimatised to monocular vision and 2) you are certain that you meet the visual acuity standards for driving with your remaining eye.
This is quite insane and rather unfair by my reckoning. I won't go into specifics of my personal situation, but I can very safely say that missing an eye is probably 100s times more likely to impede your driving than my (notifiable) condition (which I was born with). It's not a disability I have either, so no blue badge parking for me, just the sickly feeling when I answer the question on insurance quotes that I can't really know if they're ripping me off for it or not.I recall the advice is that you shouldn't drive until 1) you are acclimatised to monocular vision and 2) you are certain that you meet the visual acuity standards for driving with your remaining eye.
markyb_lcy said:
but I can very safely say that missing an eye is probably 100s times more likely to impede your driving than my (notifiable) condition (which I was born with).
The insurance data on thousands of one eyed drivers compared to their 2 eyed contemporaries shows no link to increased claims frequency or cost. That fact is more relevant than numerous opinions. Driving London roads is hard even for experience drivers- I've had a licence since 2003 and hate having to visit family in London. So many other cars, drivers are less courteous, endless traffic lights, bus lanes, one way streets, scooter riders that want to tailgate you etc. Fair play for finding it difficult as a new driver!
TwigtheWonderkid said:
The insurance data on thousands of one eyed drivers compared to their 2 eyed contemporaries shows no link to increased claims frequency or cost. That fact is more relevant than numerous opinions.
I didn't look at the data but I'll take your word for it and on that basis you are completely right. To be honest I was more considering what is and is not notifiable to DVLA and my own perceived level of "fairness".We know the insurance companies are money-grabbers, and they'll use anything they practicably and legally can do, in order to extract more money from you ... whether the numbers back them up or not.
The insurance companies are not allowed to ask you to specify what the condition is ... only if it's "notifiable". I'm sure you'll appreciate a large number of minor conditions will be in the same list as more major ones. The insurance company, on this basis, has no idea which specific condition you have.
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