Learn to Drive Properly

Learn to Drive Properly

Anybody who has been out on the road as a pedestrian, a cyclist, or in a car, will have seen examples of bad driving. Nobody wants to be a bad driver, so how do we learn properly and make sure that we don’t become poor drivers?

Most importantly, choose a really good instructor. A good Driving Instructor will teach you how to drive well. At times you may think they are slightly obsessive about tiny little things like hand position and mirror checking; what they are doing is making sure that the little details that make you a better driver become ingrained as habit. If you are learning to drive from a friend or family member, and want to learn to drive properly, then it’s important that they are picky too. If they allow you to learn sloppy habits then you will always have those sloppy habits and you will be a worse driver as a result.

Learn to drive in the right order and take your time. No driving instructor would take a brand new learner to a large roundabout on a dual-carriageway without first spending several hours learning car control. Car control is about setting off, getting the car moving, slowing down and stopping, steering and manoeuvring. It’s harder than it looks to combine different pedals, steering wheel and looking in mirrors. Learning to do so takes time and practice, but eventually becomes second nature. Without spending adequate time teaching these foundation driving skills and allowing time for your brain to embed and assimilate them, you will never be confident on the road. We’ve all seen the car that bunny-hops as it moves away, or stalls at every junction – this is the driver who has not yet spent enough time developing control of the car.

Once you have good car control, then you move on to road-craft and driving theory. In your theory you’ll be learning the rules of the road, road signs and markings and what to do at roundabouts, junctions and other situations. During your driving lessons you will encounter all of these in real-life driving, and be able to put your new theory into practice in every lesson. You’ll be developing the ability to spot and react appropriately to potential hazards, and getting broad experience of lots of different traffic conditions, road types and weather. The more practice you get with a competent and experienced instructor beside you at this stage (still being picky about little details) the better driver you will become.

Learning to drive properly is not about being able to drive fast and it’s not about being able to carry out all those tricky manoeuvres they ask you to do for your test. Learning to drive properly means being able to drive safely, not just during your test, but whatever the road conditions, whatever your emotions on any given day, and whatever those other lunatic drivers might throw at you. Learning to drive properly means that five or six years down the line you’ll still be thinking about your own driving skills, you’ll be noting any bad habits that have crept in, and you’ll be correcting yourself and constantly looking to improve your driving, making it safer and more efficient. That’s what learning to drive properly is all about.

If you would like to learn to drive in Glasgow contact TX Driver Training now on 0141 764 1213.

How To Perform an Emergency Stop in Your Driving Test

How To Perform an Emergency Stop in Your Driving Test

Around one in three driving tests will include an Emergency or Controlled Stop. It’s an important procedure to learn so that you can come to a safe stop in the road in an emergency situation. It’s what you would carry out if a child ran out into the road in front of you. In most cases, a good driver will never need to carry out an emergency stop, as their good observation and forward judgement will have flagged up any potential hazard, and they will have been able to take safe evasive action before an emergency stop was required.

At several times during your test the examiner will ask you to pull up on the left of the road to give you instructions or to ask you to carry out a manoeuvre. Whenever they do this you should select a safe and legal place to pull over, check your mirrors, signal and pull over to the side of the road. On one of these occasions they may explain that they will be asking you to carry out an emergency stop. They will tell you that on their signal you should immediately carry out a controlled stop, and that you will not need to check your mirrors or carry out observations as they will already have done this. They will ask you to move off when it is safe to do so, and to wait for their signal before you carry out the stop.

At this point you should carry out your observations, including your blind spot, and then move off. The emergency stop is usually carried out at about 30 miles per hour. DO NOT pre-empt or anticipate the examiner’s signal. They will be carrying out their own observations and waiting until it is safe (i.e. there is no other traffic in the vicinity) before they give you the signal to stop. If you carry out the stop at any other time it may not be safe to do so. The examiner’s signal is usually a clear “STOP” and their right hand raised, palm towards the windscreen. At this signal, you do not need to look in your mirrors, you should just carry out the emergency stop.

Apply the foot brake quickly. Make sure that you apply the foot brake before the clutch, as depressing the clutch first may make the car unstable and difficult to control. Keep a firm hold on the steering wheel, you will need to be able to maintain direction or correct any skidding as the weight of the car is thrown forwards. If you feel the brakes beginning to lock or the car going into a skid, ease the pressure from the brake a little, and then reapply. Just before the car comes to a stop, depress the clutch fully. Once you have stopped, secure the car with the handbrake and put the gear stick in neutral. Remember to carry out all your observations before you move off again, including your blind spots. You will then carry on with your test.

If you would like to learn to drive in Glasgow contact TX Driver Training now on 0141 764 1213. 

Choosing the Correct Driving Instructor

Why this is an important decision.

Your Driving Instructor will be teaching you a skill that will last your whole lifetime. Not only that, but it’s a skill that has life-changing consequences: Learn well and your life will open up in freedom, opportunity and independence; learn badly and you could cause a horrific accident. In addition, you’re going to be spending an average of around 45 hours sitting next to this person in a car, spending an average £20 per hour. It’s worth choosing carefully.

Options

You can be taught by anybody who is over the age of twenty-one and has held a full driving-licence for at least three years, and as long as you are covered by insurance for the vehicle you are driving. Only an Approved Driving Instructor (or trainee) who is registered with the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) is allowed to charge for driving lessons. They must have a badge in their car window, and will be graded by the DVSA between Grade 4 (competent) and Grade 6 (best). An Approved Driving Instructor (ADI) is the best option because they have experience and skill in teaching people to drive, know the driving test syllabus and have chosen their vehicle with learner drivers in mind, though it’s also helpful if you can get practice in between your lessons with a friend or family member.

How to choose

Going by personal recommendation is a good place to start. If you’ve a friend who has recently learned to drive and they are happy with the instruction they received, then find out who the instructor was. Ask around and get a few positive recommendations. Next, have a look at reviews on the internet, and look at the driving instructor’s website if they have one. Ignore “pass rates”. They aren’t that helpful because there is no consistency – a 100% pass rate might mean that all their learners passed their test but it took them four attempts; it might mean that 100% of the learners who took their test one week last June passed! Speak to the instructor and ask them questions. How do they teach? Do they specialise in nervous drivers? What kind of car do they use? Do they follow a plan? Do they record coverage of the syllabus on the Driver’s Record?

Having a trial lesson first.

Ask for a trial lesson before you commit to anything. You’ll soon see whether or not you and the instructor get on, and whether you’ll be happy with them. Look for a clean and uncluttered car interior, punctuality and professionalism. Ask about the Driver’s Record and if they will have a plan for what will be covered each lesson.

While you will often get a discount for block-booking lessons, don’t commit too far in advance. If you find out that you don’t get on with the driving instructor after all, or you are unhappy with their instruction for any reason, then you can change driving instructor at any time.

If you would like to learn to drive in Glasgow contact TX Driver Training now on 0141 764 1213.