Learning to drive spatial awareness.
Discussion
My brother is learning to drive (he really isn't into cars, hence why he left it until he is 22 to learn) and I can not for the life of me get him to recognise where the rear of the car is in relation to kerbs etc...
His instructor has little red dots on the rear and side windows, apparently, so it's ok as that's the car he will be doing his test in.
I was taught with out such foolery, and as such can reverse any car without little red dots. He is on his third instructor (don't ask) and they all seem to do it.
It is becoming the source of much frustration and he doesn't seem to realise he will need to do manoeuvres outside of a test environment.
Tips?
His instructor has little red dots on the rear and side windows, apparently, so it's ok as that's the car he will be doing his test in.
I was taught with out such foolery, and as such can reverse any car without little red dots. He is on his third instructor (don't ask) and they all seem to do it.
It is becoming the source of much frustration and he doesn't seem to realise he will need to do manoeuvres outside of a test environment.
Tips?
If he doesn't understand why it's important then maybe he'd be better leaving learning for another few years - maybe 50 or 60 
Seriously, you care about driving, he doesn't, it'll drive you nuts and not bother him in the slightest.
Any moment he'll hit something and say "well, it's only a car".
Seriously, you care about driving, he doesn't, it'll drive you nuts and not bother him in the slightest.
Any moment he'll hit something and say "well, it's only a car".
The red dots are positioned for the various reversing around a corner manoevures, when the curb is in line with the red dot when looking over your shoulder you start to turn the wheel.
Sounds daft but it does actually work to teach you when you're starting out, of course they should be removed once people have had a few trys
Sounds daft but it does actually work to teach you when you're starting out, of course they should be removed once people have had a few trys
GadgeS3C said:
Seriously, you care about driving, he doesn't, it'll drive you nuts and not bother him in the slightest.
Any moment he'll hit something and say "well, it's only a car".
This is what I want to avoid. I've had people hit my P&J and drive off. It's nothing sort of galling. If imt can be drilled into him now, then hopefully it'll save someone getting their car dented.Any moment he'll hit something and say "well, it's only a car".
Jasandjules said:
Perhaps he should reconsider learning to drive. Not everyone is suitable to be on the roads (and I include 50% of the current drivers in that).
I agree with the sentiment, but stopping them from driving is perhaps a little hasty. It's good education that matters, which I don't think the current system is doing right.Anyway. Someone must have encountered this before, so I await some useful tips.
KardioKate said:
Anyway. Someone must have encountered this before, so I await some useful tips.
With sufficient time he might get it but to me spatial awareness is something you either have or you do not. There is a level which is adequate for driving but I always worry about people like this on the roads. I do have a couple of friends who have little/no spatial awareness and I don't passenger with them and I do my best to dissuade them from driving at all if it can be avoided, to the extent that for one person I will go and collect her, bring her over here for dinner, then drive her back home again!Back in my day etc etc.
Anyway, for reversing round the corner, I initially just tilted the wingmirror down so I could see the rear wheel and kept an eye on the kerb and after a few practices started to get a feel for the way it moved.
I don't recall specifically learning about the dimensions of the car, it just seemed natural.
I would suggest the best way forward would be to either remove the dots from the instructor's car now he's got used to the way that one moves, or put them on whatever he's practising in for a bit, then take them off again.
ETA - I was "lucky" in that my instructor and I had the same type of car. Him an Austin Metro, me an MG one (hence the quotes
)
Anyway, for reversing round the corner, I initially just tilted the wingmirror down so I could see the rear wheel and kept an eye on the kerb and after a few practices started to get a feel for the way it moved.
I don't recall specifically learning about the dimensions of the car, it just seemed natural.
I would suggest the best way forward would be to either remove the dots from the instructor's car now he's got used to the way that one moves, or put them on whatever he's practising in for a bit, then take them off again.
ETA - I was "lucky" in that my instructor and I had the same type of car. Him an Austin Metro, me an MG one (hence the quotes
)Edited by Famous Graham on Sunday 19th August 16:38
Jasandjules said:
With sufficient time he might get it but to me spatial awareness is something you either have or you do not. There is a level which is adequate for driving but I always worry about people like this on the roads. I do have a couple of friends who have little/no spatial awareness and I don't passenger with them and I do my best to dissuade them from driving at all if it can be avoided, to the extent that for one person I will go and collect her, bring her over here for dinner, then drive her back home again!
Thing is his general driving is excellent. I have absolutely no qualms about passengering with him regularly. As long as he's going forwards. Even reversing outside the house is fine. It's when he is reversing around unfamiliar surroundings.He can do it fine if he tilts the mirrors down, but I didn't think that would be allowed?
andy-xr said:
He probably will when he gets used to his own car and has driven it for a while - going out once or twice a week compared to jumping in it 3 or 4 times a day is very different, I dont think it'd be a massive problem right now, just something that he needs help with
He is currently driving about 3 hours a day every day at a minimum in preparation for his test. The car is "his" too.Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff