learners allowed on motorways!
Discussion
bicycleshorts said:
'Cutting the death toll' would mean to me:
+1- Compulsory night driving (particularly on non-street lit roads).
- Wet weather/snow driving simulations (skid pan would be preferable but you could do something similar with a PS3 and copy of GT5). Some people seem to have no idea what different road conditions mean to grip, let alone what 'driving to the conditions' means.
- Compulsory overtaking on single carriageway. Way too many head-ons which could be avoided by either being able to gauge overtaking situations better/learn when to drop back from an overtake rather than 'white knuckling' the steering wheel with the accelerator mashed.
One of the first things I did after passing my test was to go out for a few hours with my driving instructor on the motorway. Before my test we did quite a lot of overtaking training and dual carriageway work.
Bertie W
Risotto said:
I've no idea what it is about motorways that people struggle with. All the traffic is going in the same direction at roughly the same speed. There aren't any pedestrians or push bikes to worry about, junctions are signed miles in advance, there's a dedicated lane to use if you break down, etc, etc.
Of all our roads I would have thought they were the easiest to master.
From the article:Of all our roads I would have thought they were the easiest to master.
Paul Johnson said:
This is a good idea. I've always thought that pretty much the most difficult thing you do when driving a car is join a motorway.
The way things are setup now the first time you accelerate up to 70MPH, while simultaneously looking over your shoulder for a gap to fit into, and checking for other cars joining in front of you, can be done when you are by yourself. It's nuts.
The way things are setup now the first time you accelerate up to 70MPH, while simultaneously looking over your shoulder for a gap to fit into, and checking for other cars joining in front of you, can be done when you are by yourself. It's nuts.
EDLT said:
Not always, many dual carriageways near cities and towns have had 40 or 50mph speed limits applied. It might take half an hour to get to a bit that has a sensible speed limit.
That is true. However, those people may also need to drive for half an hour to get to a motorway. In general there is little difference between dual carriageway and motorway driving; in fact motorways are generally simpler and safer.hora said:
I wonder what truck drivers will think of a learner driver coming down the slip road?
Indeed - will they be letting the learner have the full on "truckers are a bunch of 
s" experience - ie. closing the gap to stop a people on the slip road getting out then treating them to a blaring horn and flashing lights?bicycleshorts said:
Paul Johnson said:
This is a good idea. I've always thought that pretty much the most difficult thing you do when driving a car is join a motorway.
The way things are setup now the first time you accelerate up to 70MPH, while simultaneously looking over your shoulder for a gap to fit into, and checking for other cars joining in front of you, can be done when you are by yourself. It's nuts.
The way things are setup now the first time you accelerate up to 70MPH, while simultaneously looking over your shoulder for a gap to fit into, and checking for other cars joining in front of you, can be done when you are by yourself. It's nuts.
hora said:
I had no issues on the autobahns in a Toyota Aygo 
Funnily the big Beemers etc gave me plenty of room etc. There was only one car that was an absolute fking tool.
An English reg Skoda Octavia VRS estate that saw me from a very long way off (I know I was watching) and he wasn't doing double figures but decided to monster my bumper.
I don't have issues with it either, but it's easy to understand how a less confident person would. Your experience with one car in Germany would be much more common in the UK. Any 2L diesel rep mobile can duck and dive with the best of them on the motorway, but try a 1.1 Colt and you have to make big adjustments (if you're a considerate driver).Funnily the big Beemers etc gave me plenty of room etc. There was only one car that was an absolute f
king tool. An English reg Skoda Octavia VRS estate that saw me from a very long way off (I know I was watching) and he wasn't doing double figures but decided to monster my bumper.
Edited by Deva Link on Friday 9th December 14:00
Dr Interceptor said:
I really don't get what is so difficult about a motorway... surely it's used exactly the same as a dual carriageway, but with an extra lane?
I take it you haven't driven the M8 through Glasgow?That, for a learner, would be absolutely terrifying if it was at all busy. First time I did it, it was with a driving instructor just after I passed my test, probably the most useful lesson of the lot!
Here in Holland, driving on the motorway is part of your test and you are expected to have driven a certain number of day(and night)time hours on motorways before taking your test. Sure, the learners can be a bit annoying as they drive at 55-60 but they don't seem to cause the kind of twisty burny death crashes that people seem to be worried about. It might have something to do with the fact that you can't drive as a learner without an instructor and without dual controls. Oh and you tend to learn in normal-sized cars such as VW golfs, BMW 3 series or C-class mercs rather than teeny tiny things.
Not only that, you are expected to navigate an entire route from A to B during your test (yes, satnav is allowed) without the instructor saying any more than the starting and finishing positions (Something like that anyway, I'm not sure of the details 'cos I learned in Bristol - and therefore have better clutch control and anyone else in this flat country of flatness
).
Not only that, you are expected to navigate an entire route from A to B during your test (yes, satnav is allowed) without the instructor saying any more than the starting and finishing positions (Something like that anyway, I'm not sure of the details 'cos I learned in Bristol - and therefore have better clutch control and anyone else in this flat country of flatness
).alangla said:
I take it you haven't driven the M8 through Glasgow?
That, for a learner, would be absolutely terrifying if it was at all busy. First time I did it, it was with a driving instructor just after I passed my test, probably the most useful lesson of the lot!
This is true. First time I was on it I was caught out by lane 3 suddenly becoming a sliproad as I was overtaking stationary traffic in the other 2.That, for a learner, would be absolutely terrifying if it was at all busy. First time I did it, it was with a driving instructor just after I passed my test, probably the most useful lesson of the lot!
Buff Mchugelarge said:
11:00: Past my test in Durrington (West Sussex)
12:00: half way round the M25 in my little 106 deisel
Later that Evening: Got home having done an entire lap of the M25 wondering what the fuss was about!?.
Very impressive. 12:00: half way round the M25 in my little 106 deisel
Later that Evening: Got home having done an entire lap of the M25 wondering what the fuss was about!?.
You managed to leave Durrington with the car still in your possession and not vandalised beyond repair!
Buff Mchugelarge said:
11:00: Past my test in Durrington (West Sussex)
12:00: half way round the M25 in my little 106 deisel
Later that Evening: Got home having done an entire lap of the M25 wondering what the fuss was about!?.
Not me, as I passed my test in the forces, but about an hour after the Mrs had passed her test, we were on the Motorway driving from Swansea to Cardiff [at her request, I must add].12:00: half way round the M25 in my little 106 deisel
Later that Evening: Got home having done an entire lap of the M25 wondering what the fuss was about!?.
She was iniatially a bit nervous, but was soon in the swing of things and has never had a confidence problem on the motorways or even abroad on the Autobahns.
I would be a little nervous at seeing a L-driver on the motorway and would give them a bit more space than normal, but in the whole I completely agree with the concept.
hora said:
sday12 said:
Was speaking to friend of my mother's who said driving on a motorway was 'terrifying'
Good God, THEN DON'T DRIVE ON ONE!
I don't want someone a foot away from me in two tonnes or car at 70mph who is 'terrified'.
I know a couple of people like this. They've been driving years and no matter what they just don't feel comfortable on a motorway. Good God, THEN DON'T DRIVE ON ONE!
I don't want someone a foot away from me in two tonnes or car at 70mph who is 'terrified'.
I didn't go straight onto the motorway and when I eventually did if there was heavy spray etc I'd go the A/B route.
Dog Star said:
hora said:
I wonder what truck drivers will think of a learner driver coming down the slip road?
Indeed - will they be letting the learner have the full on "truckers are a bunch of s" experience - ie. closing the gap to stop a people on the slip road getting out then treating them to a blaring horn and flashing lights?In my experience, learners can't be any worse than the majority of so-called "experienced" drivers when joining the motorway.
If they can't manage to get up to more than 55/56mph before the end of the slip-road, they don't belong on the motorway.
sday12 said:
Was speaking to friend of my mother's who said driving on a motorway was 'terrifying'
Good God, THEN DON'T DRIVE ON ONE!
I don't want someone a foot away from me in two tonnes or car at 70mph who is 'terrified'.
Are they terrified because when they were learning the rules said they were not allowed on them so therfore making them seem a daunting place ?Good God, THEN DON'T DRIVE ON ONE!
I don't want someone a foot away from me in two tonnes or car at 70mph who is 'terrified'.
Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff