Sometimes in life we may need a little help to try and make things a little easier.
This page will be a mixed bag covering different areas where we find pupils tend to get problems on a more regular basis than other things.
Call them Tips, Cheats, Tricks or whatever you like, but if they help you in the end does it really matter what they are called?
As subjects get added it may be that you will have to scroll down the page to find what you are after, but we will leave an index at the top of the page to let you know what subjects have been added so far.
1. Left or Right?
2. Indicators up or down?
3. Early days of learning and the MSPSGL routine.
4. Working out Speed Limits.
5. Mobile phone and stand alone Sat nav use.
1. Left or Right.
Is possibly one of the biggest areas when it comes to driving that learners get wrong or didn't even appreciate that they got them mixed up until they begin to drive.
Possibly it is the environment that they are in and concentration goes to more important areas first (such as braking or steering).
Don't worry too much about it, there is a little method as shown in the video below to help resolve this issue.
2. Indicators up or down.
Such a simple thing to do when just sat in the car and playing with the stalks on the side of the steering column to see what they do and what way to move them to make things work. But once in the car and driving some people just seem to get confused whether they should lift the stalk up or press it down when turning right or left.
The easiest way to remember is always move the stalk in the same direction as the steering wheel is going to be turned for the manoeuvre you are going to perform.
That means if you are turning right into a road you would turn the steering wheel clockwise and turning left into a road you would steer anti-clockwise.
So just make sure the stalk follows that same direction.
3. Early days of learning and the MSPSGL routine.
It doesn't matter how you remember this routine as long as the sequence of events work in the way it has been designed as it helps to keep you and other around you safe.
M=Mirrors S=Signal P=Position S=Speed G=Gear L=Look
The best advice for this as you begin learning is to start the routine early.
As your experience and confidence grows the routine will become later and later until you find the optimum time to begin and end it.
If you start the routine 300yards before your turning (assuming no other turnings in between the one you actually want) then you will have covered all items before you get to the turning, roundabout, traffic lights etc.
If you leave starting and using the routine too late, you will arrive at the turning having not covered all the routine and this will lead to various things happening.
You may have missed checking your mirrors to see who is behind or to the side of you.
You may forget to signal.
You may arrive at the junction in the wrong gear.
If you are in the wrong gear it's highly likely your speed will be too fast on the approach.
You may have to brake heavily at the last minute.
You may overshoot the stop or give way line.
You may turn in to the new road on the wrong side of it.
This list is not exhaustive as to the errors that can come from not getting the routine in place and at a timely manner but if you do experience any of the above, it is extremely possible you didn't prepare the routine at the right time to give you enough space to implement it all correctly.
4. Working out Speed Limits
Another question asked multiple times during driving lessons is
"What is the speed limit here"
The most easiest way to work it out
LOOK AROUND YOU!
Are you in a built up area?
Are there Street lights?
Do those street light have repeater signs on them?
Repeater signs are a circular sign that have a red ring around the outside of them, a white background and a black number in the middle.
As shown below.
If you are on a road with street lights and you cannot see any repeater signs on street light that are staggered on alternate sides of the road, you can pretty much guarantee that the speed limit is 30mph.
If it was 20, 40, 50 then the repeater signs would be regularly staggered along each side of the road until the speed limit changes.
When there is a change of speed area, there will ALWAYS be two speed limit signs directly opposite each other and they size of the sign will be easily twice the diameter of a repeater sign.
Working out the difference between a 60mph road and a 70mph road when a National Speed Limit sign is present is simple. (As shown below).
The easiest way to remember if it's 60mph or 70mph (in a car)
Could you drive into oncoming vehicles without
Hitting a barrier?
Hitting a concrete central reservation?
Driving over a grassed area?
Driving over a paved area?
If the answer yes then the limit is 60mph
If you could hit a barrier, hit a concrete reservation, drive over grass or paved area before hitting an oncoming car then the limit is 70mph.
5. Mobile phone and stand alone Sat-Nav use.
Confusion over Stand alone Sat-Nav's and Mobile phone use has been going on for quite a few years now.
There is now one definitive rule that covers both of these.
YOU CAN NOT TOUCH THEM AT ALL WHILST THE ENIGNE IS RUNNING.
For keyed vehicles
THE KEYS SHOULD NOT BE IN THE INGNITION EITHER.
Should you wish to use or set up a mobile phone or a stand alone Sat-Nav you should find a safe place to stop first, switch of your engine, remove keys from the ignition if your vehicle has an ignition barrel, and then you can touch away as much as you like.
Excuses such as
"I was changing music tracks" NOT ALLOWED
"My mate rung me and I needed to answer it" NOT ALLOWED
"I was taking a photo" NOT ALLOWED
"I was turning the Sat-Nav off" NOT ALLOWED
"I was clicking for a faster route on google maps" NOT ALLOWED
"I received a text message" NOT ALLOWED
"I was sat in stationary traffic" NOT ALLOWED
"I was checking my social media update" NOT ALLOWED
"I was videoing something" NOT ALLOWED
Even sat at the side of the road safely with your engine running,
setting up your Sat-Nav or using your mobile phone is an offence.
Get the idea
NOTHING IS PERMITTED TO BE DONE WITH A MOBILE PHONE OR SAT NAV
WHEN YOU ARE IN YOUR CAR WITH THE ENIGNE RUNNING AND KEYS IN THE IGNITION.
For those who do not know the meaning of "Stand alone Sat-Nav's"
These are the Sat-Navs that you place on your dashboard or windscreen.
The ones that are not pre-built into the car.
If you are caught using a mobile phone or a stand alone Sat-Nav the penalty is 6 points on your licence and a minimum £200 fine
Should you be caught doing so in the first 2 years after passing your driving test, your driving licence will be revoked.