Hylander Posted September 21, 2018 Share Posted September 21, 2018 2 minutes ago, brundallNavy said: Probably using the rear view camera. If only!!!! At least they would be looking somewhere other than the windscreen. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted September 21, 2018 Share Posted September 21, 2018 After passing my car driving test and then actually learning to drive, the biggest shock I encountered was my first motorway experience, on the newly opened M25. After driving from the A12 round to the M4, my hands and shoulders ached, with gripping the wheel so hard. I would always advise a new driver to get some motorway tuition, after passing their test... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JamesLV Posted September 21, 2018 Share Posted September 21, 2018 32 minutes ago, kingfisher666 said: After passing my car driving test and then actually learning to drive, the biggest shock I encountered was my first motorway experience, on the newly opened M25. After driving from the A12 round to the M4, my hands and shoulders ached, with gripping the wheel so hard. I would always advise a new driver to get some motorway tuition, after passing their test... The week after passing my test my dad asked me to deliver him and his then girlfriend to Heathrow, I live in Brighton, so this also necessitated circumnavigating the M25, it was a baptism of fire! After that driving became part of my life as I went to uni in Epsom, but still lived down here, so M25 was a twice daily routine, then I got married to a Yorkshire lass so visits to the outlaws were a frequent occasion, however since getting divorced, and subsequently meeting a new lass, I’d be lucky if I covered 6k miles a year, longest trip we do is brighton to Wroxham Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LondonRascal Posted September 22, 2018 Author Share Posted September 22, 2018 These days there are far more miles covered and time spent on faster duel carriages, and also fast country roads than ever before - both in the learning phase and in the driving test. You also need to navigate with Sat Nav and not let it dictate to you - just guide you. You will then also have to follow some signs. I have not updated this thread but in the last two days more progress has been made, and today marked the first of the independent driving. This is where I am told where to go, but otherwise no other input is given until later. This moves up to actual 'mock' tests. These are not true mocks as there is no actual paper the Instructor is using to mark the pupil, but the conditions are the same and the punishment at the end is hearing if you would have failed (or good new passed). Today I would have failed. The first reason was I was on a quiet residential road, clearly marked as a 20 MPH zone. I then came to a larger, wider road and needed to turn left. I stopped at the give way line when a lady coming down the road flashed me - now you are taught to never believe that being flashed means go, so I did not - but she then proceeded to flash me again and 'wave' me out. Clearly this was intended for me so I pulled out, and once I had drove on the new road. The issue was I sped up to 24 MPH thinking it was a 30 MPH zone, but was actually still a 20 MPH area until just around another corner where it changed to 30 MPH. In a test I would have failed for speeding. The second failure was where we were driving along a 40 MPH open road, no traffic was coming up behind or in front and things were going smoothly, all of a sudden I spot a Squirrel running out from the right hand side of the road, quick glance in rear view mirror and a hard brake (not an emergency, just firm) and went from about 38 MPH to 27 MPH and did not hit the Squirrel. I was then told in a real test if that was to happen, regardless of animal, I should never avoid it as this could cause a car following me to brake sharply loose control or plain old hit us up the back, Only take emergency action if it is a person in the road. I would be seriously miffed if I failed my test because I did not run over an animal but would pass if I had. Hey ho, luck of the draw. Other than that its all being going really well. I feel confident even at 70MPH on the duel carriageway and overtaking. Parking is easy, but roundabouts - for some reason I need to think every time if I am going 'straight on' or 'second exit' to steer enough to the left and then to the right so I keep right over and hug the left hand of them, so long as it causes nobody else issue it would only be a minor, but could be a serious (and automatic fail) if it did cause someone else to move over etc. I have more practice on Monday and Tuesday, real mock test Wednesday. Once that is done, Thursday and Friday is London, Saturday and Sunday with my Mum and Simon, and will get some driving in there to keep a bit refreshed. Tuesday then is a 2 hour standard lesson with my Instructor and the next day Wednesday 3rd October is the actual test. I am not nervous yet, but I just feel I have been doing so well and putting so many long days into this I have come too far to fail now. 6 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ExSurveyor Posted September 22, 2018 Share Posted September 22, 2018 13 minutes ago, LondonRascal said: I would be seriously miffed if I failed my test because I did not run over an animal but would pass if I had I did laugh at that bit, I doubt I would pass a test these days, my last lesson was 40 years ago. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BroadAmbition Posted September 23, 2018 Share Posted September 23, 2018 Well that's me failed plenty of times and a rule I strongly disagree with. Can you imagine being on the Mighty Tiger at speed, then a deer / dog / badger etc appears in the road, I check mirrors, yes nowt behind me then don't slow down or swerve to avoid it? - Result 999 and off to sample hospital food at best. And why not slow down / swerve in a car if the road is clear and no one is tailgating ? Hitting wildlife tends to kill it, or worse maim it not to mention cause damage and expensive repairs to vehicles - A daft rule imho Griff 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BrundallNavy Posted September 23, 2018 Share Posted September 23, 2018 A 20mph zone and a road with a 20mph limit are very different. A zone will normally have speed humps or chicanes to naturally slow the traffic as a 20mph limit does not but should have repeater signs indicating the speed. The trouble is if you go too slow your wrong and if you go too fast your wrong you can’t win. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ranworthbreeze Posted September 23, 2018 Share Posted September 23, 2018 3 hours ago, brundallNavy said: A 20mph zone and a road with a 20mph limit are very different. A zone will normally have speed humps or chicanes to naturally slow the traffic as a 20mph limit does not but should have repeater signs indicating the speed. The trouble is if you go too slow your wrong and if you go too fast your wrong you can’t win. The old adage on the fail certificate of "not making due progress" Regards Alan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vaughan Posted September 23, 2018 Share Posted September 23, 2018 1 hour ago, ranworthbreeze said: The old adage on the fail certificate of "not making due progress" That's the easiest thing to fail for on the HGV test. The next easiest is running through a red light. If you are driving a full length artic and the light goes yellow just as your cab goes past, then it will go red before your trailer has passed clear of it. So you have failed! But if you creep up slowly to the light in case it is about to change, then you have "failed to make normal progress". So you just have to pray that all the lights are red as you approach them, and you have to stop. 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Siddy Posted September 23, 2018 Share Posted September 23, 2018 Robin what's the rules for bikes these days, If I'm turning left I indicate and tend to move towards the kerb to block them as them race down the inside. One rider last year pushed my wing mirror in so he could get passed which was flashing orange. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grendel Posted September 23, 2018 Share Posted September 23, 2018 1 hour ago, Siddy said: Robin what's the rules for bikes these days, dont get caught I think Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LondonRascal Posted September 23, 2018 Author Share Posted September 23, 2018 Quote If I'm turning left I indicate and tend to move towards the kerb to block them as them race down the inside. I can see why you might do that, but that is a no no because you are doing something that causes other road users to change what they are doing. The point of dirving and way through the test, is to ensure you do nothing that effects others - pedestrians, cyclists, cars, you name it. How many times do people indicate to pull out and a car slows and lets them out? Fail. You should wait until you can move out when the road is clear - your indication should be the last thing to indicate your move, not pre-empt it. So far as bikes coming up the inside, of course they are not meant to do it, stupid thing and as a cyclist I do not myself, but despite every more deaths from this in central London every year, cyclist still do it. Your basis is to block them and thus be safer, makes sense but I think the best way is just accept they are likely going to come up your nearside and be ready for this. I have had this occur every time we drive in the centre of Norwich. What annoys me most is at lights they should all congregate at the cyclist box but you still get the odd one hanging about on the nearside just behind your mirror. I am looking forward to tomorrow, need to iron out these few little issues and work on show me/tell me as get one of those wrong and it could end up being two minor faults before you've even left the test centre. Some are easy: "Show me how you wash and clean the rear windscreen" Show how using the correct stalk or switch would operate the rear window wash wipe. But some are more tricky like: "Tell how you'd check that the brakes are working properly before starting a journey?" Brakes should not feel spongy or slack. Brakes should be tested as you set off and the vehicle should never pull to one side under braking. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Meg Posted September 24, 2018 Share Posted September 24, 2018 Hi Robin I think although the test has changed since I learned to drive one thing still stands fast, it is not that you make a mistake, everyone does , it is what you do next. As I took my test and was told at a junction to turn left I dutifully moved right and indicated. The tester said "I did say left" I said sorry but I cannot do that now without upsetting everyone. I turned right and we made our way back to the junction and I turned left at the second time of asking. I naturally thought that's a fail, wrong, passed first time. So when you are in the wrong place be careful how you put it right. Good Luck 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MauriceMynah Posted September 24, 2018 Share Posted September 24, 2018 I passed my test second time (back in the 70s) and when the examiner said "You've passed" My immediate words were "You're joking!". I'd made an early cock-up and figured I'd failed. I relaxed and just drove the rest of the test, doing what I was asked to do. I think that's what got me through, so point one, Try to relax. In this thread Robin has said many things I disagree with, and I think others have disagreed too, however things might have changed since we passed our tests, so I make no specific comment except this. You are in training to pass your test, nothing more, nothing less, so do as they say and good luck to you. Actual driving skills will come later. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Meg Posted September 24, 2018 Share Posted September 24, 2018 HI I have just remembered my instructor nagging me to think ahead. One day I slowed down and he barked "Now What", I pointed to steaming horse muck on the road and said hot poo, horse nearby! Be alert your country needs lerts! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Regulo Posted September 24, 2018 Share Posted September 24, 2018 My instructor had a fruity turn of phrase, but the things he said have stuck with me. For instance, when negotiating a series of blind corners - "Can you effing see round effing corners? No, so why are you effing driving as if you effing can?". When not checking over my shoulder before moving off, after I'd checked the mirror - "Suppose there'd been a effing midget in a effing go-kart coming past?" (not likely, but he made his point). "If you're effing turning effing left, why move the effing steering wheel effing right?" after I'd swung over to miss the kerb on turning (incorrectly positioned). And one he never swore during, but was deadly serious about - "When waiting to turn right, keep the wheels straight until you start your turn, it will stop you getting shunted into oncoming traffic if some numpty tail-ends you. And BEFORE starting to turn, check the wing (door mirror, nowadays) for overtaking motorbikes - it's a life saver". 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MauriceMynah Posted September 24, 2018 Share Posted September 24, 2018 Yes Ray, and the other bit of advice your driving instructor gave you was "before getting into the saddle, check which way round your horse is facing." :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Regulo Posted September 24, 2018 Share Posted September 24, 2018 Yes, MM, but I always also checked the tyre pressures on the wagon. Old iron and lumber was heavy! I suppose you had to check for chips in your stone age wheels? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grendel Posted September 24, 2018 Share Posted September 24, 2018 easier to retread though, just a quick trip to the local sculptors yard Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FairTmiddlin Posted September 24, 2018 Share Posted September 24, 2018 Problem nowadays is getting the mammoths Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MauriceMynah Posted September 24, 2018 Share Posted September 24, 2018 True, but the doctor gave me something and I got better. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grendel Posted September 24, 2018 Share Posted September 24, 2018 5 minutes ago, FairTmiddlin said: Problem nowadays is getting the mammoths it is a wooley problem. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FairTmiddlin Posted September 24, 2018 Share Posted September 24, 2018 5 hours ago, grendel said: it is a wooley problem. I'll tell my Mate Wooley it's his problem then Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JanetAnne Posted September 24, 2018 Share Posted September 24, 2018 Ok, I'll say it then.... If you are short of mammoths there are plenty here, so much so there's a mammoth sale in the local store. Says so in the window. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maxwellian Posted September 24, 2018 Share Posted September 24, 2018 Is this a tangent I see before me? :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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