Suggestions needed for driving (Learner)

"Saf1" (safone) 08/16/2014 at 14:19 • Filed to: learner, driving instruction, learning to drive

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I've currently paused my lessons but will resume them as soon as I have work. I won't even have to wait till I get paid from a new job as I have some lessons left from the last block. Anyways I've already had 2 full blocks (block = 10 lessons!) prior and it just wasn't progressing! I keep making BASIC mistakes and it is so frustrating, on paper (when I chat with my instructor and he uses his cool app on his Pad) or on big (easy) roads there is almost never a problem but when it comes to town driving it just all goes to shit!! I also failed the Hazard Perception part of the Theory Test. Example issues: correct sequence of events in a situation, spiral roundabouts how and why, judgind appropriate speed approaching a bend or junction, staying focused but also relaxed.

I know most of you probably passed with one block but I am just regressing after initial progress. Pretty much everyone I speak to has passed in 10 hours. Frankly what I need is to practice outside of lessons but my mum's is an auto. Those who struggled initially please tell me how you overcame those hurdles; UK drivers any specific tips though I'm pretty sure driving in the US is not much different? Much appreciated!!

I'm learning in a silver Jazz with DriveJohnson's, this is the closest I could find haha.

Saf1 > Saf1 08/16/2014 at 14:20

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WHY IS THIS TURNING SIDEWAYS?!!

djmt1 > Saf1 08/16/2014 at 14:28

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Conquer roundabouts as soon as possible. No.1 reason for failing the test.

Thunderbee - Has the engine that kids like > Saf1 08/16/2014 at 14:30

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See if you can get chatty with the instructor when doing your test. Seriously! I was talking to the chap and he was so engaged that he failed to notice me bugger up a hull start by rolling backwards.

Also, keep 2mph under the limit in the dry, and 4mph under in the wet; my instructor was a real stickler for speed management.

Finally, don't do what my friend did on his test and drive straight through a red light. Though I doubt you're that stupid.

JGrabowMSt > Saf1 08/16/2014 at 14:39

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go to an empty parking lot. Set up a sequence of cones for a basic course, where you start and stop, preferrably both up and down a slight incline.

When you can do that setup consistently and confidently, then go to public roads.

With a manual trans, you need to be very confident in yourself before hitting public roads, because any freakout is too much. I DD a manual, and honestly, mistakes can still happen. Just remember that no one is perfect, you just have to recognise your mistakes. That is key. Driving is driving. Have you taken a break from driving at all? Taking a couple days as a break from it can make a very big difference as you clear your mind. Its partly a mental thing you just have to work through to conquer.

Devilishprune > Saf1 08/16/2014 at 14:41

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All of this seems way more engaged than any driving test in the US I've heard of. We have about 4, 2-hour classes after school in 10th grade for driver's ed with about 6 hours of wheel time. Then we get a permit for a year where you have to drive with a parent. The driving test is a written part that is terribly easy followed by a driving test that takes about 20 minutes. The hardest part about the test is a 3-point turn; you don't even have to parallel park in NC anymore.

Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell. > Saf1 08/16/2014 at 14:48

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If you pass in under 25 hours I'd call it a success. I already knew the basics when I started and got close to 30. My friend who is pretty competent about the same and my girlfriend took between 70 and 80. Being under intruction always make your driving worse due to nerves and the dumb (and in my opinion sometimes dangerous) processes they make you go through. The trick with hazard perception is you can actually click more often than they claim as long as you don't do it too quickly. I passed that stuff first time and passed my second practical test.

Saf1 > JGrabowMSt 08/17/2014 at 03:31

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That would be cool but I don't have access to a manual practice car or cones! Why the slight incline - for manual practice? Yea I've had a few stalls at the lights :D I've always had breaks from driving, I was seeing my instructor 1/2 times per week in 2 or 3 hour blocks and currently have been on a 2 month break!

Saf1 > Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell. 08/17/2014 at 03:32

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Yea it's not relaxed at all and it's shocking how much bad driving you see when you're not a passenger and you need to account for everyone else!! I'm pretty sure you get minus points for extra clicks, no?

Saf1 > Thunderbee - Has the engine that kids like 08/17/2014 at 03:33

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I'll bear that in mind when I get to that stage! I failed my theory test which is the written test you must pass before attempting the practical :D

Saf1 > Devilishprune 08/17/2014 at 03:37

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It may be more structured and rigid than US testing but from what you describe is probably better for learning initially - I'm seeing lots of practice behind the wheel in a more "relaxed" situation. The practical test here is quite difficult though where, although my instructor says you get to make 15 minor faults, my mum who's been driving for many years says they are not forgiving at all. Not at that stage yet myself anyway!

Saf1 > djmt1 08/17/2014 at 03:39

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I'm good with roundabouts it's just those spiral ones! It should just feel like a 3-lane roundabout (!) but the issue for me is the spiral design which, although in theory I should be fine as long as I'm in lane, in practice if I need to start moving over to the outside it's difficult to tell at what point to merge especially with traffic

Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell. > Saf1 08/17/2014 at 05:18

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You're right about noticing the idiots more, it gets even worse when you get your own car and start driving around regularly. All manor of dumb shit out there to avoid. I think how it worked when I did mine a couple years ago was that if you click too rapidly on one video, you lose your mark for that video. But you have to click pretty often for that to happen I think.

JGrabowMSt > Saf1 08/17/2014 at 10:31

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the incline will help you recognize the clutch grab point which help you avoid stalling on hills, because it will give you more practice doing it.

When I was going through that, it was 1-2 hours every evening, all week long. It was frustrating, but I got through it. Having even one day off in the week would sometimes totally improve the next day, just because I could clear my head.

Here in the US, learning to drive is a joke. 6 hours with an instructor is the requirement, or 6 months with your permit. I got the 6 months, hundreds of hours, and something like 1500 miles in that time. I sometimes still go backand drive those routes because its nice to return to the basics at times.

Saf1 > JGrabowMSt 08/17/2014 at 10:38

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Yea for me it was more about the correct amount of gas when on the clutch, and you reminded me, one time we looked for a steep road around and then I practised holding the car in place using just accelerator and clutch (best was half-inch back after handbrake off). One thing I love about learning to drive in the US (as i know from my cousins) is that you learn when in school, in some states from 14y9m (I think that was the case in Michigan). The crux of the differences in age and intensity of learning to drive is because you just need your car a lot more in the States; many of my friends still don't drive and I'm 23

JGrabowMSt > Saf1 08/17/2014 at 12:32

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yes, public transport is also much better compared to here, so along with a generally smaller land area, you dont have much need for it.

In my state, its 16.5 you can get your learners permit, 17 you can get your provisional. Then at 18, you can get your full license. That was at least when I went through it, i think many of the laws have had some changes, along with a plate sticker for provisional drivers that raised some very big questions amongst parents. It was allowed to go through, but was highly criticized.

In Europe in general, your traffic patterns have things we would never see here in the US just about anywhere. Roundabouts are something we just dont have. There used to be a couple circles not far from me, but were totally removed well before I started driving. The amount of bad drivers is incredible here, it kind of sucks.

The best thing is to just be confident about what youre doing. Even if it isnt always correct, have confidence, follow through, and correct it. The biggest faults happen when new drivers panic after a mistake, instead of staying calm and correcting it.

Look up "Canadas Worst Driver," and that will give you the best worst examples there are.

Saf1 > JGrabowMSt 08/18/2014 at 18:02

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It's crazy how wildly laws vary between states. 2 years when we're talking about teens is HUGE. Not sure why the plate sticker would be criticised? You get learners here with the big magnetic square Ls on their cars here and I'm sure it's similar around the world - what could be wrong with a sticker saying hey I might be nervous etc give me some berth?

The irony - I live in Milton Keynes, a relatively brand new town with roads modelled after the Chicago grid system. So basically main roads here are denoted horizontal or vertical and there are copious amounts of roundabouts. Which is unlike the rest of England! Everyone outside MK hates it but it#s actually great - multiple routes to get to anywhere mean less traffic (and traffic flow is great here) and no damn one-way streets etc like you get elsewhere. And if there weren't roundabouts they would be even slower features instead like much more traffic lights.

True, that's why I;m great when talking through a situation. On the road, panic and that are 90% of the time the cause of my mistakes. I looked up some of those worst driver vids...wow. Just wow!

On a side note, I couldn't believe that it takes nearly a second to clutch when changing gear! I kept having horrible shifts then learned I needed to have the clutch semi-engaged until the revs matched the driveshaft - to me it feels horrible (in my mind) to have the clutch grinding away however minimal every shift for nearly a second, but it is more rewarding when I "calibrate" my foot for perfect pressure throughout the change :D