Dipping the clutch during tight turns and pulling up
Discussion
Hammy, It's great we all have views, but I must disagree with you.
We never stop learning things in life, this also applies to driving.
But, as an ADI, on the Fleet register, grade A (50/51), ROSPA gold, IAM, 100m swimming badge, hand writing certificate at aged 10 I object to the saying or suggestion that you
"Only start learning once you pass your test!"
Hence that as an ADI I also took the Rospa/IAM tests to prove I could go a step further. Do all the people out there who claim that "You only start learning once you have passed your test take any further training?
Did most do the "pass Plus" course?
Or take Motorway training asap after passing their test?
I would like to suggest most ADI's don't teach "Just to pass a test"........I coach to pass a test...of course, but do extensive high speed driving, overtaking, dual carriageway work, turning right off a dual dual carriageway, extensive rural drives, some on slow roads around the New Forest having to deal with all the animals we have there (as well as the locals). I also do an extensive high speed rural drives between Romsey,Winchester, Stockbridge, Salisbury, Southampton. Fareham/Alton...all really fun yet if not driven well deadly.....for the D/C work and rural drives my customers don't get a choice they do them as it prepares them well for post test driving.
As for Motorways.....I stress to all to take the 2 hour Motor way lesson as invaluable to their confidence and safety.......yet very rarely do I get taken up on it.....because it is considered a waist of money, or my dad, uncle, mum, brother whatever can teach me.....but who taught them?......why is the standard of motorway driving so poor?....because most of us have never had proper guidance on how to use them
I look forward to the 4th June this year when I can take learners on the motorways....this will be part of my curriculum, so no one will be able to say they were not adequately trained before driving solo
Most ADI's like me are offended that it is thought we don't teach people to drive properly.....well maybe some don't, but I am one of the more expensive ADI's in this part of Hampshire, and I am full, I have some 14 people waiting to start lessons, not because I am cheap, cause I'm not, but because I also teach/coach how to be safe on the roads, making progress, for post test driving.
If you have taken further training I humbly take my hat off to you, keep the training going, I do, so I am always learning......but buying a fast expensive car does not make you a better driver
cheers
We never stop learning things in life, this also applies to driving.
But, as an ADI, on the Fleet register, grade A (50/51), ROSPA gold, IAM, 100m swimming badge, hand writing certificate at aged 10 I object to the saying or suggestion that you
"Only start learning once you pass your test!"
Hence that as an ADI I also took the Rospa/IAM tests to prove I could go a step further. Do all the people out there who claim that "You only start learning once you have passed your test take any further training?
Did most do the "pass Plus" course?
Or take Motorway training asap after passing their test?
I would like to suggest most ADI's don't teach "Just to pass a test"........I coach to pass a test...of course, but do extensive high speed driving, overtaking, dual carriageway work, turning right off a dual dual carriageway, extensive rural drives, some on slow roads around the New Forest having to deal with all the animals we have there (as well as the locals). I also do an extensive high speed rural drives between Romsey,Winchester, Stockbridge, Salisbury, Southampton. Fareham/Alton...all really fun yet if not driven well deadly.....for the D/C work and rural drives my customers don't get a choice they do them as it prepares them well for post test driving.
As for Motorways.....I stress to all to take the 2 hour Motor way lesson as invaluable to their confidence and safety.......yet very rarely do I get taken up on it.....because it is considered a waist of money, or my dad, uncle, mum, brother whatever can teach me.....but who taught them?......why is the standard of motorway driving so poor?....because most of us have never had proper guidance on how to use them
I look forward to the 4th June this year when I can take learners on the motorways....this will be part of my curriculum, so no one will be able to say they were not adequately trained before driving solo
Most ADI's like me are offended that it is thought we don't teach people to drive properly.....well maybe some don't, but I am one of the more expensive ADI's in this part of Hampshire, and I am full, I have some 14 people waiting to start lessons, not because I am cheap, cause I'm not, but because I also teach/coach how to be safe on the roads, making progress, for post test driving.
If you have taken further training I humbly take my hat off to you, keep the training going, I do, so I am always learning......but buying a fast expensive car does not make you a better driver
cheers
Thanks for all the replies everyone! To follow up on a few of the points:
watchnut said:
Just a thought.....has your driving instructor got a pink badge on display or a light green one in his windscreen?
I’ll have to check. What do the badges mean? My instructor’s latest standards grade is A 49/51 and he has RoSPA Gold.Boosted LS1 said:
I've seen numerous driving instructors of late doing it wrong imo. I think standards have dropped but then, they're a younger breed then my instructor.
Hmm, my instructor’s in his fifties!waremark said:
I wonder why you are arriving at the junction in 2nd.
Because more often than not we’re driving around busy residential roads with lots of parked cars, so aren’t going particularly quickly.Hammy98 said:
Have you done your theory test yet? There's a common question that comes up that asks in which situation you have most control of the vehicle slowing down. You're given 3 options, in neutral, coasting in gear using the clutch, and in gear. The correct answer for the test is in gear.
Yes, I passed it in November. I scored 49/50 for the questions. I would have got that question right.To the OP - regardless of what the answer is, it's a real positive that you're asking the question.
I believe you're quite right in the assertion that putting the clutch down in this situation seems wrong.
In that situation I would definitely shift into first, but that's only because I've put the time into learning how to get a smooth shift into first gear - at the very minimum a rev match is required, which is far beyond the requirements for the test.
I'd imagine that it would even be considered a minor fault to do it that way. IMO your instructor is teaching you the way that the examiner will expect to see you handle that situation, so you should do it that way, at least while being taught and on the test. Everything else can come later.
I believe you're quite right in the assertion that putting the clutch down in this situation seems wrong.
In that situation I would definitely shift into first, but that's only because I've put the time into learning how to get a smooth shift into first gear - at the very minimum a rev match is required, which is far beyond the requirements for the test.
I'd imagine that it would even be considered a minor fault to do it that way. IMO your instructor is teaching you the way that the examiner will expect to see you handle that situation, so you should do it that way, at least while being taught and on the test. Everything else can come later.
The question about coloured badge for the ADI in his window was to see if he was a trainer or fully qualified.
If he had a standards check of 49/51 then he will be fully qualified and a "Grade A" instructor, so did well on his last standards check.
Still he shouldn't be allowing you to "coast" around corners...no matter what level of training you have had.
good luck
If he had a standards check of 49/51 then he will be fully qualified and a "Grade A" instructor, so did well on his last standards check.
Still he shouldn't be allowing you to "coast" around corners...no matter what level of training you have had.
good luck
watchnut said:
"I would like to suggest most ADI's don't teach "Just to pass a test"........I coach to pass a test...of course, but do extensive high speed driving, overtaking, dual carriageway work, turning right off a dual dual carriageway, extensive rural drives, some on slow roads around the New Forest having to deal with all the animals we have there (as well as the locals). I also do an extensive high speed rural drives between Romsey,Winchester, Stockbridge, Salisbury, Southampton. Fareham/Alton...all really fun yet if not driven well deadly.....for the D/C work and rural drives my customers don't get a choice they do them as it prepares them well for post test driving."
- I would do the same for my students. I taught in the UK up until 1998 and prided myself on the diversity of training I and my team of instructors gave to our clientele. Just like you, the quest for knowledge and for those of my team was as invaluable as to be able to impart knowledge.
"As for Motorways.....I stress to all to take the 2 hour Motor way lesson as invaluable to their confidence and safety.......yet very rarely do I get taken up on it.....because it is considered a waist of money, or my dad, uncle, mum, brother whatever can teach me.....but who taught them?......why is the standard of motorway driving so poor?....because most of us have never had proper guidance on how to use them"
- So true. From 1985 onwards all of my school vehicles had "APPROVED MOTORWAY INSTRUCTOR" decalled on the rear. I would prep clients during the lessons and, although the take up was only small, I only recall positve feedback (selective memory?) and got some recos for the same.
A few days prior to the motorway lesson I would give a map, post-its, start point//destination, pointers on how to formulate a route plan (odometer, etc). The student would then sort out everything for the day and we would go from there. The drive would be 3hrs with a stop. Invariably it would be closer to 3 and a half hours, but I didn't cars, I enjoyed it.
"I look forward to the 4th June this year when I can take learners on the motorways....this will be part of my curriculum, so no one will be able to say they were not adequately trained before driving solo"
- Should have happened decades ago.
"Most ADI's like me are offended that it is thought we don't teach people to drive properly.....well maybe some don't, but I am one of the more expensive ADI's in this part of Hampshire, and I am full, I have some 14 people waiting to start lessons, not because I am cheap, cause I'm not, but because I also teach/coach how to be safe on the roads, making progress, for post test driving."
- I would disagree to some extent, unless instructors have improved. Throughout the 80s and 90s I was appalled at the standard of instruction.
Quite often I would hear "they won't pass" after a student had left the test centre. I admit I was guilty of the same in my first few months of teaching. However, they can and do pass! That was a wake up call for me and I never bowed to pressure again. If they weren't ready they didn't go. I had one or two leave for another school and also one or two come back....
Enquiries about how many lessons were met with a receptionist reading a standard reply, which basically stated "we don't know you. Could be 5 or 150 lessons", pretty much (but with as much honesty and humour so as not to repel them
...)
"If you have taken further training I humbly take my hat off to you, keep the training going, I do, so I am always learning......but buying a fast expensive car does not make you a better driver"
- Agreed
cheers
- I would do the same for my students. I taught in the UK up until 1998 and prided myself on the diversity of training I and my team of instructors gave to our clientele. Just like you, the quest for knowledge and for those of my team was as invaluable as to be able to impart knowledge.
"As for Motorways.....I stress to all to take the 2 hour Motor way lesson as invaluable to their confidence and safety.......yet very rarely do I get taken up on it.....because it is considered a waist of money, or my dad, uncle, mum, brother whatever can teach me.....but who taught them?......why is the standard of motorway driving so poor?....because most of us have never had proper guidance on how to use them"
- So true. From 1985 onwards all of my school vehicles had "APPROVED MOTORWAY INSTRUCTOR" decalled on the rear. I would prep clients during the lessons and, although the take up was only small, I only recall positve feedback (selective memory?) and got some recos for the same.
A few days prior to the motorway lesson I would give a map, post-its, start point//destination, pointers on how to formulate a route plan (odometer, etc). The student would then sort out everything for the day and we would go from there. The drive would be 3hrs with a stop. Invariably it would be closer to 3 and a half hours, but I didn't cars, I enjoyed it.
"I look forward to the 4th June this year when I can take learners on the motorways....this will be part of my curriculum, so no one will be able to say they were not adequately trained before driving solo"
- Should have happened decades ago.
"Most ADI's like me are offended that it is thought we don't teach people to drive properly.....well maybe some don't, but I am one of the more expensive ADI's in this part of Hampshire, and I am full, I have some 14 people waiting to start lessons, not because I am cheap, cause I'm not, but because I also teach/coach how to be safe on the roads, making progress, for post test driving."
- I would disagree to some extent, unless instructors have improved. Throughout the 80s and 90s I was appalled at the standard of instruction.
Quite often I would hear "they won't pass" after a student had left the test centre. I admit I was guilty of the same in my first few months of teaching. However, they can and do pass! That was a wake up call for me and I never bowed to pressure again. If they weren't ready they didn't go. I had one or two leave for another school and also one or two come back....
Enquiries about how many lessons were met with a receptionist reading a standard reply, which basically stated "we don't know you. Could be 5 or 150 lessons", pretty much (but with as much honesty and humour so as not to repel them
...)"If you have taken further training I humbly take my hat off to you, keep the training going, I do, so I am always learning......but buying a fast expensive car does not make you a better driver"
- Agreed
cheers
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