Passed your test in the last 5years? help settle an argument

[6potdave]

I was having a conversation with a colleague at work the other day about what irritates us on the road. Now I've been driving for almost 12 years (14 if you include a moped) and this guy passed his test 2-3 years ago, he is 22. After our conversation we established that on the road we would annoy each other. He hates people who 'make progress' where as I am more annoyed by moronic driving (bad lane discipline, lack of indicating, etc.)

He was basically moaning that someone was flashing him out of the way at the weekend when he was doing the speed limit and couldn't understand why. He couldn't understand my argument of lane discipline and stated “if you are doing the speed limit you can drive in any lane”. I pointed out to him that when I learned to drive I was taught to stay in the left lane unless overtaking regardless of what the speedo says, it causes congestion, it is lazy and brain dead!

It just made me think, we live in a society where people are under the impression that if they don't break the speed limit they simply won't have an accident so their other behaviour is irrelevant. Going back 12 years, there was always a strong message not to speed but I also had it drilled into me to use good lane discipline, make sure you are completely aware of your surroundings, the conditions and make sure you let others know what you are doing.

So for the people who have passed their test in the last 5 years, how much emphasis was put onto these things? Is it a case of 'monkey see, monkey do' when people are set free onto the roads or were they never told enough in the first place?

[KardioKate]

I passed my test 6 years ago. Lane discipline was drilled into me, but my instructor was very very good, and actually taught you to drive rather than passing the test. There's also a long dual carriageway (nat limit) that we did a lot of driving on when I was learning. My brother hasn't had nearly the same amount of lane discipline taught as I did.

[wackojacko]

I'm 18 and have been driving for just over a year, I am the same as you, Lane manors etc are important.... I hate it when people hinder progress sitting in the outside lane 70mph (where applicable) when the 1,2 or 3 lanes to their left are completely empty. Through principle I would not undertake I just flash them to get out the way.

Interms of being tought not to, many people are not tought this unless they do an added motorway course as basic driving exams do not include Dual Carriage ways nor do they include motorway driving.

[Davie_GLA]

Been driving now for about 13 years, 3 of them as a biker and was always taught to stay in the left unless over taking.

But, it's Saturday on PH and the standard response should shirley be pass him on the inside on one wheel at 150 leptons while flipping him the bird.

No? Just me? Harumph...

[Kovac]

I am just under the 5 year mark since I passed my test

I have found that it is normally the person who teaches you to drive's attitude that rubs of when it comes to things like that, My instructor was quite clear about getting out of the way of other cars. I have met others who have been told "don't worry, You are doing the speed limit ignore them" about lane discipline and that stuck.

[kambites]

Tell him to go and do "pass plus", which actually includes motorway driving lessons.

Edited by kambites on Saturday 21st January 11:02

[10 Pence Short]

6potdave said:

So for the people who have passed their test in the last 5 years, how much emphasis was put onto these things? Is it a case of 'monkey see, monkey do' when people are set free onto the roads or were they never told enough in the first place?

I passed my test in 1996 and again, as an extended retest in 2010.

Between tests I drove somewhere in the region of 700,000 miles.

The answer to your question, is that there's very, very little reference to lane discipline throughout the process- it's purely down to the approach of individual instructors.

Bear in mind that the learning and test process does not involve motorway driving and no appreciable number of driving hours on flowing dual carriageways. The theory and hazard perception tests don't have any real mention of the 'keep to the left' mantra.

The reality is that there's virtually nothing in the process of getting your licence, bar a reliance on the virtue of an instructor and a small passage in the Highway Code, that tells a new driver anything about lane discipline.

[AlexiusG55]

I actually spent quite a bit of time on NSL dual carriageway when learning for my test, as the examiners in Cambridge usually take candidates on the A14. However, it was very rare for us to go more than 1 junction or maybe 2, so I would usually stay in lane 1 and not bother to overtake the lorries. That was what I was told to do- no point going through an overtake on test when you're leaving that road soon anyway.

My instructor did take me on a few longer trips on the A14 though- in that case he did tell me to stay in lane 1 except to pass.

[swifthobo]

I'm 22 i have been legally driving for 5 years and 1 on a bike,I learnt to drive when I was 12 and got my first car then I lived in the countryside so had plenty of land to practice on and got the basic's very quickly and then started handbrake turn's j turn's and putting in a spin then correcting which taught me a lot about car control. And my year on a moped taught me about traffic being as it was damn right dangerous I was always so alert because whoever thought it would be a great idea to put a 16yo on a Mo ped is an idiot! but long and short i taught myself to drive and I suppose Im quite a considerate driver and some things people do whilst driving really annoy me.

[maniac0796]

Keep left. Simple as.

What I hate is when you're overtaking a long line of cars at say 70mph, and some joker comes racing up behind you trying to intimidate you out of the way. I was here first, you weren't in my mirrors when I went out to overtake, I'm doing the speed limit, be patient.

But if I know someone is coming up behind at a faster speed and I'm near the end, I'll speed up 5mph just so I can pull in and let them pass without having to accelerate again and waste petrol.

The other thing was don't indicate unless you're turning into/out of a junction, or overtaking and pulling back in. All that happens if you indicate to go past parked cars etc is confusion.

[kambites]

maniac0796 said:

The other thing was don't indicate unless you're turning into/out of a junction, or overtaking and pulling back in. All that happens if you indicate to go past parked cars etc is confusion.

It depends on the exact road layout - the correct thing to do is to assess each situation individually and decide whether indicating is likely to remove or create confusion. If in any doubt, indicate as at least that shows that you are doing something faintly unusual and should cause people to be a bit more careful around you.

[2 Wycked]

I passed my test in 2005, so a little outside of your test subject requirements, but I feel my input may be relevant.

I agree with you; overtaking only in the middle and outside lanes, be aware of your surroundings, drive within your own limits and you can make progress as quickly and safely as possible. People who get in the way are really annoying. However there are plenty of people who are around my age, and passed their test at around the same time who abide by the rules your 22 year old abides by.

From my observations it seems that the people who drive like your specimen generally do very low mileages, in towns, in crappy little cars and the people I know who drive more like you or I do bigger mileages, on motorways, in bigger or faster cars.

I know it's not an exact science, but that's just a pattern I've noticed emerging. It should be noted that the people who drive like that there 22 year old boyo are scared by my driving as a passenger.

[David87]

Just sounds like an idiot who didn't listen, had a bad instructor, or both.

[redtwin]

Took my UK test in 2004 (been driving for 17 years previously in another country) and I don't recall any mention of lane discipline. We didn't go on any dual carriageways where it would have been an issue either.

As for the Highway Code don't know what is actually in it (have a good idea though). I bought one of those "Pass your theory test" CD-ROMs which only really trained you to pass the test, not actually teach you anything. That might possibly be the biggest factor in new drivers (yes, that includes me) not really knowing a lot about traffic laws and driving standards and expectations etc.

Lane discipline, as a major bug-bear, I learned about by frequenting UK forums and seeing people complain about it. In the US where I lived it was a non-issue and pretty much everyone just takes the lane of least resistance. .

[Karlos TDCi]

Strangely, I find it tends to be the older generations that don't seem to want to use lane 1 on the motorway. I asked an older driver once about why he had some aversion to lane 1, and it would appear that years ago when these people passed their tests, the advice given to them was to avoid changing lanes as much as possible.

[HonestIago]

You are correct. I passed my test 4 years and 3 months ago but don't think there was anywhere like enough emphasis on "considerate" driving IMO. People are taught to drive at the speed limit for the most part (A and B roads not necessarily built up areas)which I think is stupid and ingrains this idea that so long as you are within the limit you are safe. I also was taught to ignore if an oncoming car flashes you to let you out/turn off etc which I think is ridiculous. How about some common sense rather than stupid blanket rules??

Slightly unrelated but the modern obsession with block-changing and never using any engine braking winds me up. Naturally I disregarded once I'd passed. I can honestly say I only ever use my brakes very lightly at junctions/roundabouts and same if on a twisty country road. You can make very good progress without being harsh on brakes through just reading the road better.

Back on topic I would say I only became a safer/more considerate driver through my parents' input and also doing my IAM training/test. The standard driving test is pretty inadequate.

Edited by HonestIago on Saturday 21st January 12:27

Edited by HonestIago on Saturday 21st January 12:28

[maniac0796]

HonestIago said:

You are correct. I passed my test 4 years and 3 months ago but don't think there was anywhere like enough emphasis on "considerate" driving IMO. I was taught to ignore if an oncoming car flashes you to let you out/turn off etc which I think is ridiculous. How about some common sense rather than stupid blanket rules??

I was told not to flash anyone out, because if there's a cyclist coming up behind you or a car overtaking and there's a collision, it is technically your fault.

[HonestIago]

maniac0796 said:

HonestIago said:

You are correct. I passed my test 4 years and 3 months ago but don't think there was anywhere like enough emphasis on "considerate" driving IMO. I was taught to ignore if an oncoming car flashes you to let you out/turn off etc which I think is ridiculous. How about some common sense rather than stupid blanket rules??

I was told not to flash anyone out, because if there's a cyclist coming up behind you or a car overtaking and there's a collision, it is technically your fault.

Which seems fair enough. BUT to simply ignore someone flashing you even if they've stopped, and then wait until they realise you won't move and then set off again seems daft.

[mx5tom]

When I was learning 4 and a bit years ago, I was told on a DC to only use the outside lane for overtaking and move back to the left in plenty of time.

And more to the point, to be aware of the speed others were driving at and not pull out if I was going to be holding people up, regardless of the speed I was doing.

Your mate just sounds like a bit of a knob.

[Vilhelm]

I passed in November last year, and did Pass Plus. I was taught lane discipline, even before Pass Plus, because my instructor actually gave a st.

Either your friend is a donut, or his instructor was a donut.