Learning to drive questions

[john2443]

From the point of view of passing the test -

1 At a give way junction must you stop and/or put the handbrake on. (Can't remember this from when I learned)

2 Coming to a halt must you change down all the gears. (This was the case when I learned, don't know if it's changed)

Thanks

[Angry Sheep]

john2443 said:

From the point of view of passing the test -

1 At a give way junction must you stop and/or put the handbrake on. (Can't remember this from when I learned)

No. You must stop at a stop sign but no need to stop at a give way if you can see it's clear.

john2443 said:

2 Coming to a halt must you change down all the gears. (This was the case when I learned, don't know if it's changed)

Thanks

No. Something about brakes being cheaper to replace than gearboxes.

[AmitG]

I learnt to drive in the late 1990s and was taught as follows:

john2443 said:

1 At a give way junction must you stop and/or put the handbrake on. (Can't remember this from when I learned)

Not necessary. You need to give way, but are also expected to make reasonable progress. If you approach "give way" lines and there is nothing coming, you can continue. If you need to stop, you should put the handbrake on.

(Obviously if you reach a "STOP" sign you must stop)

john2443 said:

2 Coming to a halt must you change down all the gears. (This was the case when I learned, don't know if it's changed)

Not necessary. I was taught that you should retain control of the car and be in an appropriate gear for the conditions. As you slow down, you could stay in a high gear, stop, then neutral/handbrake. If you slow down and then need to speed up again, change to an appropriate gear and then accelerate.

(The one thing you should not do is coast in neutral, since that is not considered to be "in control of the car")

[Riley Blue]

From the point of view of passing the test, I'd have thought doing (1) may result in a fail whereas doing (2) wouldn't.

[Roadru77er]

Yes the above is correct

No need to stop at a Give Way if clear (Make full observations before leaving junction) many people only look right when emerging left!

Brakes to slow gear to go (Both hands remain on steering wheel during braking for more control)

[john2443]

Thanks all. Daughter has had first lesson with me this weekend. Is it too early for a scotch!

[R0G]

john2443 said:

Thanks all. Daughter has had first lesson with me this weekend. Is it too early for a scotch!

Brakes for slow and gears for go

The old style drums brakes have all but gone nowadays

Give ways - prepare to sop but look to go

Advice = pay an ADI for a little of their time to get the heads up on what is required

[Ozzie Osmond]

All I would say is there's a world of a difference between stopping unnecessarily at a big empty roundabout and stopping unnecessarily at a T-junction.

I reckon it's fair to say,

• You are likely to fail if you never stop at a Give Way during the test.

• You are likely to fail if you stop and apply the handbrake at every Give Way or roundabout during the test.

In the test you need to err on the side of caution but the examiner will fail you if you appear timid just as surely as if you appear bullish.

[Distant]

1st few give ways get her to stop, apply handbrake, get 1st, get bite, lookand go if safe. Once she is doing that ok discuss what you need to do differently to keep the car moving if safe and give that a go.

As far as test gos, she should kep it moving if its safe to do so. Going down theough the gears should not result in an fault, but is not best practice for reasons described by other posters above.

Are you planning to use an ADI at some stage?

[scorcher]

Think the OP would be better off using an ADI and perhaps sitting in on the lesson to understand what actually needs to be done to pass the test nowadays. My missus loves re-educating kids that have only been out driving with their parents who have taught them all the wrong stuff. Usually ends up costing them more as they've picked up so many bad habits.

[MissChief]

When I was learning to drive I found it immensely beneficial to have some proper lessons from a driving instructor first. I actually had four two hour long lessons in a week then dropped to a two hour lesson once a week as well as practicing with my mum and dad and it really helped. Every driver had a bad habit or two and you could be passing this in to your daughter without realising.