RE: Stalling at the Roundabout
Wednesday 6th August 2003
Stalling at the Roundabout
Woman parks up and gets bus to work rather than negotiate roundabout
Discussion
Jeez what wd she do if she comes Swindon way and comes up against the 'magic roundabout' as it's called. Whoever designed it must have been 'high' at the time. Years back my Ginetta was hit by a guy on a scooter at the dreaded roundabout. I got out looked at the my door he had hit, hardly any damage while he writhed in agony!
Last night this topic (woman and roundabout) was being discussed on radio and callers had more intriguing women drivers - one apparently a Wolverhampton policewoman (yes, correct, POLICEWOMAN!) is scared of driving on motorways - the mind boggles (message for all villains is to head straight for nearest mot/wy junction! Another woman is scared stiff of hillstarts so takes her son not the 3 minute journey to school but a detour that takes a quarter of an hour!
Last night this topic (woman and roundabout) was being discussed on radio and callers had more intriguing women drivers - one apparently a Wolverhampton policewoman (yes, correct, POLICEWOMAN!) is scared of driving on motorways - the mind boggles (message for all villains is to head straight for nearest mot/wy junction! Another woman is scared stiff of hillstarts so takes her son not the 3 minute journey to school but a detour that takes a quarter of an hour!
Driving test every five years. It's the only way. Include first aid, car checks (at least tyre preasures and stuff), fast road driving, skid control (compulsary in Sweden so I'm told). Probably best to break test into stages so they can be staggered over a number of years.
It would make every body think whether they really wanted to continue driving as keeping a license would require a significant and continuous commitment.
It would make every body think whether they really wanted to continue driving as keeping a license would require a significant and continuous commitment.
Don't want to be tested every 5 years. Really can't be arsed, and I suspect I'd fail given that I don't sit in 4th at 30mph etc. etc. Also heal toe is frowned upon by instructors I'm told.
The initial test ought to be a lot more involved though. You hear people saying forcing a motorway test isn't fair as they live 50miles away from the nearest one. Well fine, but don't give them a motorway qualified license.
Either that or have driving tought on a 2 week residential course somewhere in the midlands centrally rather than independently by instructors everywhere. Would remove some of the amateurism, and they could radically improve the training and standards.
Anyway lets be honest, crap as the current system is, who ever tested her and let her through is at fault. Some woman was mentioned on another BBS who apparently won't make right hand turns across traffic, so has to plot all her journeys to avoid them. How did she get through!?!?
This is the sort of thing that really winds up Mrs Dan. Mrs Maunder is a typical example of what gives women drivers a bad name but she is not typical. I'll bet Mr Maunder never lets her drive anywhere when he is around (kind of understandable at the moment) but driving requires practice and commitment. If she wishes to continue to drive she (and he) should put the hours in and get experience, if not she should hang up her keys and walk
DanH said:
I suspect I'd fail given that I don't sit in 4th at 30mph etc. etc. Also heal toe is frowned upon by instructors I'm told.
Hi Dan,
I believe heel'n'toe would be fine provided it was safe and silky smooth. (The basic L-test doesn't require you to avoid brake/gear overlap.) As for 4th at 30mph, being experienced I expect you drive in the appropriate gear for the speed and conditions. There's no rule about being in a certain gear at a particular speed.
As for this woman - ARGH! Perhaps we should have a whip round so that she can have some post-test driving lessons ...
Huge
dandarez said:
Another woman is scared stiff of hillstarts so takes her son not the 3 minute journey to school but a detour that takes a quarter of an hour!
Obviously get her off the road etc. but why doesn't she drive an automatic - unless it's a really really steep hill she shouldn't have a problem. Hope I don't end up behind her in a traffic queue!
Huge,
Whilst you might test in that manner, I can guarantee that the average test centre does not. I was explicitly told I had to be in 4th by my instructor at 30 irrespective of the car...
As someone on another website so beautifully expressed it :
[quote]
But the majority of us would fail a retest if it was against the same criteria as the one learners take. It's just a ridiculous ballet of 'set pieces' more akin to automotive dressage than a way of proving real-world driving ability. The whole test needs to be re-vamped.
[/quote]
p.s. still working on getting the H&T silky on every change
still, I'm definitely not worse that it would be without it 
DanH said:
Whilst you might test in that manner, I can guarantee that the average test centre does not. I was explicitly told I had to be in 4th by my instructor at 30 irrespective of the car...
Hi there Dan,
Ah ha, the instructor might have said this. They would be wrong, as you obviously realise - depending on the car, circumstances, etc. However, the standard of ADI varies a lot.
However, I believe the Examiner would only consider it an error if either the engine was labouring or was revving far too high.
I know a DSA Examiner who uses heel'n'toe in his driving from time to time. (Although he separates braking and gear changes most of the time.) And he drives fast ... ! The local DIA's Diamond Advanced Examiner also uses heel'n'toe. (I have driven with them both.)
Cheers,
Huge
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