In a modern car – dipped clutch and brake means stop start activates
Not in mine. Brake and neutral activates it, depressing the clutch restarts the engine. I tend to use neutral and brake at lights now, handbrake if I know the lights and it's a long cycle to wait.
I wouldn’t do the full teaching thing but it’s probably a good idea to let them practice a bit, hill starts, three point turns and whatever.
Was very grateful for this when my instructor broke his car a few days before the test and I had to take it in my parents’ Volvo estate instead!
I agree, and the instructor encouraged it, in fact later on suggested fortnightly lessons with us providing passenger seat supervision in between to allow her to practise. But, and the key bit, is just sit and don't interfere, as I said all the 'why do you do that, why don't you do this' suggestions were rightly rejected!!
Just returned from a 2 hour session in a dual control hire car with the boy. I'll help him with general car control and then it'll be lessons with an instructor.
It seems that you can't get intensive courses with a test at the end like you could a few years ago, which is what he would have preferred to do.
Just to add, one of the things for self teachers that lessons don't tend to give is getting miles on narrowish quiet country roads. It takes away all the manoeuvre pressures and hill starts and lets the learner get used to the width of the car and how to steer, accelarate, change gear and brake without having to know specific rules for much. Also, occasionally asking what colour is the car behind you worked wonders on my use of mirrors.
During lockdown in Melbourne younger antigee got a test slot as immune compromised and public transport not a great get about option for her...no instructors allowed to work so passed test based on my 120hrs of supervision...I'd 150% vote for compulsory professional tuition...neighbours daughter drives just like her mum...and
two incidents with drivers under "instruction" in last few months:
riding at 30km/hr plus in a permanent 40kmh limit, on road cycle lanes, usual parked cars....I move out to pass a parked car...fairly early and into centre of lane...car approaching from behind fails to slow and moves out to overtake despite an oncoming car and parked car on opposite side as well ...I abandon and brake hard to avoid hitting rear wing of parked vehicle as the car from behind predictably pulls in early and slows to avoid the oncoming vehicle...caught up at next lights (as you do)
L plater...so bang on window of "supervisor" ...."it was the fault of the oncoming car"
Me: "what did you tell the driver to do?"...Supervisor "your head check was late" ...
Me "that wasn't a head check I have radar and mirror - that was a look of disbelief...What did you tell the driver to do?"....
lights changed / window up
Riding in front of Mrs Antigee I signal move to right to take lane and prepare to turn right as we approach a road calming chicane prior to a junction (20km/hr advisory signs), too narrow for safe passes Mrs Antigee follows me...vehicle that had been a safe distance behind fails to scrub any speed and blasts horn...rather than move into the right turn lane I slow and force driver to stop car- L plate - and ask driver (as I'm on that side) "What's the problem"...."You were in the middle of the f....ng road you ..nt" Supervisor "get out of the f....ng way"
these aren't just "bad habits" being passed on they are dangerous attitudes
Recently did this with my son with no lessons with mixed results. Failed first test as he was pulled up too close behind a car on a hill and I wasn't aware of the rule where you should be able to see the road between the 2 cars in that instance - I'd never heard of it! Passed second time out but his sister had recently passed and was able to give plenty of tips. He was a good natural driver though and listens to and absorbs instruction and advice. He did miss out on a instructors route knowledge though and was lucky with quiet roads on the day
