Automatic driving test

[Cogcog]

More than 25 years after giving up on trying to pass her driving test Mrs CogCog wants to learn to drive again. She doesn't want formal lessons until she feels confident so we are practising on the private road from our house to the public road. Our car is an auto and although I would feel confident advising her how to correctly do things in a manual, I think there must be things which an examioner would want to see in an auto which having learned in a manual I have unaware of and have bad habits around. I don't want to teach her bad habits a proper instructor will want to change when she is on the public road.

For example, I am assuming that the pull away sequence is; car in Drive, handbrake off and when halting, handbrake then into Park? What are the rules on 3 point turns and hill starts?

Is there anything else which is peculiar to auto I ought to get right at this stage where we are basically just doing stops/starts and basic manouvering?

[R0G]

Cogcog said:

More than 25 years after giving up on trying to pass her driving test Mrs CogCog wants to learn to drive again. She doesn't want formal lessons until she feels confident so we are practising on the private road from our house to the public road. Our car is an auto and although I would feel confident advising her how to correctly do things in a manual, I think there must be things which an examioner would want to see in an auto which having learned in a manual I have unaware of and have bad habits around. I don't want to teach her bad habits a proper instructor will want to change when she is on the public road.

For example, I am assuming that the pull away sequence is; car in Drive, handbrake off and when halting, handbrake then into Park? What are the rules on 3 point turns and hill starts?

Is there anything else which is peculiar to auto I ought to get right at this stage where we are basically just doing stops/starts and basic manouvering?

If the private road does not have a barrier then the normal road rules apply for licence and insurance etc

All other aspects apart from having to change the gears are the same as for manual

If you were near me in Leicester then I would be happy to help for free
I have been an IAM observer (now senior) for over 14 years and been a LGV instructor for those doing the DSA LGV test from 2005 to 2008

Edited by R0G on Thursday 28th June 08:03

[Cogcog]

R0G said:

If the private road does not have a barrier then the normal road rules apply for licence and insurance etc

Really? There is a sign at the end saying it is private, it is just a very long drive with no public access.

[martin84]

I'm not sure you have to put it in Park when you stop. You don't put your manual in neutral every time you stop do you? Unless you know you'll be stopped for a notable period of time.

[M4cruiser]

The various training books (e.g. from the DSA) do have a chapter or two on automatics, so that's probably a good place to start.

[Watchman]

You don't use PARK until you park. If pulling up to traffic lights, you use the handbrake but leave it in DRIVE.

[R0G]

Cogcog said:

R0G said:

If the private road does not have a barrier then the normal road rules apply for licence and insurance etc

Really? There is a sign at the end saying it is private, it is just a very long drive with no public access.

By law it must have a barrier but that barrier can be open

A supermarket car park is private but the usual road laws apply

[300bhp/ton]

Cogcog said:

R0G said:

If the private road does not have a barrier then the normal road rules apply for licence and insurance etc

Really? There is a sign at the end saying it is private, it is just a very long drive with no public access.

How do people visit you or deliver parcels, milk, newspapers. Do they get written permission? While the road might be private I suspect access is public as it's not a gated driveway.

[Triumph Man]

R0G said:

Cogcog said:

R0G said:

If the private road does not have a barrier then the normal road rules apply for licence and insurance etc

Really? There is a sign at the end saying it is private, it is just a very long drive with no public access.

By law it must have a barrier but that barrier can be open

A supermarket car park is private but the usual road laws apply

Oh well, we probably all used a cheeky not so private road to learn on. I know I did, lets not get hung up about it.

[R0G]

Put L plates on in a private but public access area and the cops usually leave well alone but if they do check ....... then its bye bye car to the pound for no insurance or for no licence if not got one as well as points etc

[Triumph Man]

Not out here in the country Taught my little sister to drive my old Passat down a road used in the war to transport bombs. Everyone does it.

[300bhp/ton]

Triumph Man said:

Not out here in the country Taught my little sister to drive my old Passat down a road used in the war to transport bombs. Everyone does it.

No they don't. And while you think it's ok, should something happen and other people are involved, then they can get screwed over. It's a highly selfish act IMO. Harmless until something goes wrong...

[Triumph Man]

300bhp/ton said:

Triumph Man said:

Not out here in the country Taught my little sister to drive my old Passat down a road used in the war to transport bombs. Everyone does it.

No they don't. And while you think it's ok, should something happen and other people are involved, then they can get screwed over. It's a highly selfish act IMO. Harmless until something goes wrong...

At a max of 20mph down what was effectively a concreted track with no-one else around? Yeah cos that's selfish. Would not have let her driven if it was busy (which this place never is), that would be very stupid.

[300bhp/ton]

Triumph Man said:

At a max of 20mph down what was effectively a concreted track with no-one else around? Yeah cos that's selfish. Would not have let her driven if it was busy (which this place never is), that would be very stupid.

But that's the attitude used until something goes wrong. Did you prevent anyone else from using the same road/tack? Could you control who had access or might have been about, even if you hadn't noticed them.

And 20mph is still fast enough to cause a serious accident and who says higher speeds couldn't have been achieved.


Don't get me wrong, I'm not disputing that places are needed for people to be taught how to drive. But doing so with no license, no insurance and illegally is not the way. If all of these things were covered, then I retract what I've said.

[edo]

Watchman said:

You don't use PARK until you park. If pulling up to traffic lights, you use the handbrake but leave it in DRIVE.

If true, that's ridiculous.

[R0G]

edo said:

Watchman said:

You don't use PARK until you park. If pulling up to traffic lights, you use the handbrake but leave it in DRIVE.

If true, that's ridiculous.

WHY?

[300bhp/ton]

edo said:

Watchman said:

You don't use PARK until you park. If pulling up to traffic lights, you use the handbrake but leave it in DRIVE.

If true, that's ridiculous.

I'd have thought shifting to N and the handbrake would be the accepted method for a test. Leaving it in drive would continually apply pressure to the breaks, some powerful cars may still creep and hitting the throttle would likely override the handbrake on most cars.

[Robin Hood]

Whilst the lady is making the effort to pass the test she may as well go the whole hog and learn in a manual transmission car.

If she takes the test in an auto she'll only get a driving licence for an auto which she may regret later.

[R0G]

300bhp/ton said:

I'd have thought shifting to N and the handbrake would be the accepted method for a test. Leaving it in drive would continually apply pressure to the breaks, some powerful cars may still creep and hitting the throttle would likely override the handbrake on most cars.

If the handbrake does not hold when in D then it needs sorting and is not an acceptable vehicle for a test

[300bhp/ton]

R0G said:

300bhp/ton said:

I'd have thought shifting to N and the handbrake would be the accepted method for a test. Leaving it in drive would continually apply pressure to the breaks, some powerful cars may still creep and hitting the throttle would likely override the handbrake on most cars.

If the handbrake does not hold when in D then it needs sorting and is not an acceptable vehicle for a test

That sounds like terrible advice. Why would you encourage someone to drive in a particular way, if it then becomes dangerous should they do the same in a slightly more powerful vehicle?

And surely leaving it in D is a similar thing to keep your foot on the cluth in gear. A slightly slip in either case and you'll have the potential to cause an accident.