New driver… what would you tell them?
Discussion
May have been mentioned, do not sit stationary with the foot brake on when you could use the handbrake, and when ever you are pulling away from stationary in town, have a quick check along the sides of your car for cyclists who may be creaping up.
In slow traffic, or indeed stop/start urban dual carriageways, keep either far left or far right to allow motorcyslist room between the lanes to pass. Do not do what so many seem to do is sit far enough over to block them.
In slow traffic, or indeed stop/start urban dual carriageways, keep either far left or far right to allow motorcyslist room between the lanes to pass. Do not do what so many seem to do is sit far enough over to block them.
Having just been out, one more, make sure you lights and rear window is clean before you set off, see so many with rear windows totally encrusted in mud, and same for the lights.
Our instructor in the military many moons ago said to us "In the morning when you get up, you have a wash, do the same with your truck, clean the windows, mirrors and lights", sadly many seem obvlibious to that, same as those who do not bother clearing the snow of the car before they set off.
Our instructor in the military many moons ago said to us "In the morning when you get up, you have a wash, do the same with your truck, clean the windows, mirrors and lights", sadly many seem obvlibious to that, same as those who do not bother clearing the snow of the car before they set off.
Before I began teaching my lad to drive the first thing I did with him was to take him into the local town centre.
I said, "Look around at all of these people."
Not Norfolk but close.
These will be your driving "associates."
Now imagine them driving on the same road as you. In front, behind, coming the other way and pulling out of the next junction.
Mostly with a mobile phone in close situ.
Take care.
RGG said:
Before I began teaching my lad to drive the first thing I did with him was to take him into the local town centre.
I said, "Look around at all of these people."
Not Norfolk but close.
These will be your driving "associates."
Now imagine them driving on the same road as you. In front, behind, coming the other way and pulling out of the next junction.
Mostly with a mobile phone in close situ.
Take care.
Wifey often comments similarly, typically we'll be in a shop of some sort and they they are dithering about doing a fine impression of a gasometer taking up as much room as possible, not forgetting having no control of the blinking shopping trolley strategically placed for even more sile blocking...i'll hear comment loudly enough ''now imagine it behind a steering wheel''I said, "Look around at all of these people."
Not Norfolk but close.
These will be your driving "associates."
Now imagine them driving on the same road as you. In front, behind, coming the other way and pulling out of the next junction.
Mostly with a mobile phone in close situ.
Take care.
Don't let in car infotainment or phone distract.
Speed limits are not a target, drive to the conditions
When pulling up behind another car, as a minimum, ensure it's possible to see the car in front's tyres (that way not too close)
Always know what is behind (regular looking in mirror)
Look over right shoulder just before right turn
These are just a few that I swear by, I also agree with many of the previous posts (the serious ones
)
Speed limits are not a target, drive to the conditions
When pulling up behind another car, as a minimum, ensure it's possible to see the car in front's tyres (that way not too close)
Always know what is behind (regular looking in mirror)
Look over right shoulder just before right turn
These are just a few that I swear by, I also agree with many of the previous posts (the serious ones
)
Andy86GT said:
Just thought about another thing that can catch out the new (or not so new) driver, flashing headlights.
Either as the giver or receiver, I've seen a few collisions as a result due to misunderstandings.
I've warned her about that. I think she enjoys the cheery interaction with other drivers.Either as the giver or receiver, I've seen a few collisions as a result due to misunderstandings.
I'm particularly concerned about the 'flash for cash' scammers.
One thing that my daughter has commented on is how distracting and annoying passengers can be... shouting, wanting loud music and fiddling with the stereo, taking flash photos on their phones etc.
Terrifyingly, one of her newly qualified friends apparently films videos and posts to social media whilst driving. Having an app like life360 that can detect and notify phone use is certainly worth considering.
I think my daughter's already learning by observation.
On her 8th lesson yesterday, her instructor complemented her on how calm a driver she is.
She was telling us her friend is only having lessons from her Dad at the moment and I said I thought that was a bad idea - I take my daughter out to practice, but I think you need a proper instructor to teach you and I'd be worried about passing on bad habits.
She agreed perhaps a bit too wholeheartedly and began listing my bad habits of one hand on the wheel, the other on the gearstick, driving too fast . . .
On her 8th lesson yesterday, her instructor complemented her on how calm a driver she is.
She was telling us her friend is only having lessons from her Dad at the moment and I said I thought that was a bad idea - I take my daughter out to practice, but I think you need a proper instructor to teach you and I'd be worried about passing on bad habits.
She agreed perhaps a bit too wholeheartedly and began listing my bad habits of one hand on the wheel, the other on the gearstick, driving too fast . . .
PistonBroker said:
I think my daughter's already learning by observation.
On her 8th lesson yesterday, her instructor complemented her on how calm a driver she is.
She was telling us her friend is only having lessons from her Dad at the moment and I said I thought that was a bad idea - I take my daughter out to practice, but I think you need a proper instructor to teach you and I'd be worried about passing on bad habits.
She agreed perhaps a bit too wholeheartedly and began listing my bad habits of one hand on the wheel, the other on the gearstick, driving too fast . . .
:-) I got called out for not slowing down enough at roundabouts!On her 8th lesson yesterday, her instructor complemented her on how calm a driver she is.
She was telling us her friend is only having lessons from her Dad at the moment and I said I thought that was a bad idea - I take my daughter out to practice, but I think you need a proper instructor to teach you and I'd be worried about passing on bad habits.
She agreed perhaps a bit too wholeheartedly and began listing my bad habits of one hand on the wheel, the other on the gearstick, driving too fast . . .
I think an instructor is best as they know the nuances that testers look for.
Also well worth getting a lesson or two in the town they are taking the test (a bigger problem than you might expect given availability of tests in your local area) because they know the routes and pitfalls/tricky bits.
Y Cymro said:
New driver… what would you tell them?
Never race on the road, but especially older men in quick cars.
And if some egit cuts you up, no point leaning on the horn, the deed is done, and it won’t change the drivers attitude to their driving, stay cool and show others what a good driver you are.Never race on the road, but especially older men in quick cars.
Strongly suggest a dashcam as well.
Vipers said:
May have been mentioned, do not sit stationary with the foot brake on when you could use the handbrake [...]
Is this still something you should do with those new-fangled electric parking brakes? They seem a bit slow, so I get the feeling it's not a good idea. Also a newish driver here hence a bit clueless - I didn't learn in the UK and there was never even a suggestion to use handbrakes at the lights or at stop signs. The instructors were good at drilling quite a few of the other things in this thread into me, such as religious use of a mirror+blind-spot check system for every turn and "at least 2 seconds gap" (often more).
I think the handbrake thing is useful in an older car, but most new cars have an electronic system that basically allows you to sit with the brakes on and and it releases auto when you move off again, hence most people sit with the brakes on.
It dates form when all cars had a basic pull handbrake and really it is about conserving your brakes and pads, if you howl up to a set of lights, leave your brakes on, they will eventually warp.
They probably still will if you do it a lot!
It dates form when all cars had a basic pull handbrake and really it is about conserving your brakes and pads, if you howl up to a set of lights, leave your brakes on, they will eventually warp.
They probably still will if you do it a lot!
Andy86GT said:
Don't let in car infotainment or phone distract.
Speed limits are not a target, drive to the conditions
When pulling up behind another car, as a minimum, ensure it's possible to see the car in front's tyres (that way not too close)
Always know what is behind (regular looking in mirror)
Look over right shoulder just before right turn
These are just a few that I swear by, I also agree with many of the previous posts (the serious ones )
Yes, shoulder checks, right turn and overtakes particularly, alluded to previously and good to see pointed out.Speed limits are not a target, drive to the conditions
When pulling up behind another car, as a minimum, ensure it's possible to see the car in front's tyres (that way not too close)
Always know what is behind (regular looking in mirror)
Look over right shoulder just before right turn
These are just a few that I swear by, I also agree with many of the previous posts (the serious ones
)Andy86GT said:
Don't let in car infotainment or phone distract.
Speed limits are not a target, drive to the conditions
When pulling up behind another car, as a minimum, ensure it's possible to see the car in front's tyres (that way not too close)
Always know what is behind (regular looking in mirror)
Look over right shoulder just before right turn
These are just a few that I swear by, I also agree with many of the previous posts (the serious ones )
Do you mean rear tyres, as in tyres and tarmac, or did you really mean the front tyres, to see those from the rear you are yards away surely? Just wondering if a typo, never heard of that one before.Speed limits are not a target, drive to the conditions
When pulling up behind another car, as a minimum, ensure it's possible to see the car in front's tyres (that way not too close)
Always know what is behind (regular looking in mirror)
Look over right shoulder just before right turn
These are just a few that I swear by, I also agree with many of the previous posts (the serious ones
)On the subject of pulling up another behind another vehicle, there is an odd reference to stopping a tunnel in the HC by the way which I only came across the other week.
Rule 126. If you have to stop in a tunnel, leave at least a 5 metre gap between you and the vehicle in front.
God knows why!
Vipers said:
Do you mean rear tyres, as in tyres and tarmac, or did you really mean the front tyres, to see those from the rear you are yards away surely? Just wondering if a typo, never heard of that one before.
On the subject of pulling up another behind another vehicle, there is an odd reference to stopping a tunnel in the HC by the way which I only came across the other week.
Rule 126. If you have to stop in a tunnel, leave at least a 5 metre gap between you and the vehicle in front.
God knows why!
Car 'in front', not front tyres...On the subject of pulling up another behind another vehicle, there is an odd reference to stopping a tunnel in the HC by the way which I only came across the other week.
Rule 126. If you have to stop in a tunnel, leave at least a 5 metre gap between you and the vehicle in front.
God knows why!
Re tunnel thing, presumably this is because a rear end shunt in a tunnel is more likely due to reduced visibility and reduced escape routes, and a multiple-car incident is considerably more dangerous in a tunnel environment.
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