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.

How to perform a 3 point turn

Performing a three-point turn or a ‘turn in the road’ is one of those manoeuvres that new drivers get pretty worried about. It’s true that a poorly executed three-point turn can cause a lot of either amusement or frustration to other road-users. It’s also true that it’s one of the most common manoeuvres that an examiner will ask a learner to perform in a driving test, so follow these simple instructions and take the fear out of the three-point turn.

In a test situation, the examiner will be looking for three key factors. Getting these right will help you in the test, but will also ensure that you carry out your manoeuvre correctly in the future. These factors are: ACCURACY – you should be able to perform the turn in three moves (possibly five), without touching the kerb or mounting the pavement; CONTROL – steering the car appropriately, while also maintaining slow movement by controlled use of the clutch; OBSERVATION – you should be aware of your surroundings, your position on the road and any other road users at all times, by carrying out continuous all-round observation during this manoeuvre.

When to perform one

If you need to turn around and face the other direction when you are driving, you have a few options. If the road is wide and quiet, you could execute a u-turn; if there’s a suitable junction you could pull up, reverse into it and pull back out in the correct direction; or you could carry out a “turn in the road”. Technically this doesn’t have to be a three-point turn, in a narrower road you may need to use five-points, but it’s the same idea. You might use one if you’ve gone the wrong way, or if you are at a dead-end.

Step by step

Safely pull over to the left of the road, ensuring that you are not across somebody’s driveway, on a sharp bend or opposite a junction. Use your interior (rear-view) mirror and left-hand mirror and signal left if necessary as you pull over.

Check ahead of you, in your rear-view and right-hand mirrors and in your right-hand blind-spot to make sure that the road is clear. If there is any traffic in either direction, then wait, and perform the checks again before carrying out the manoeuvre.

Put the car into first gear, remove the hand-brake and start moving off using clutch control. Immediately turn the steering wheel all the way to the right. Keep moving slowly towards the opposite side of the road, observing in both directions all the time. As you approach the kerb, turn the wheel slightly back towards the left and brake and clutch to come to a stop before you hit the kerb. Apply the handbrake and select reverse gear.

Check up and down the road again in both directions, and if all is clear then, finding the clutch bite point, remove the handbrake and move off in reverse. Look out of the rear window as you reverse, immediately turning the steering wheel all the way to left-hand lock. Keep the car slow, and while looking mainly out of the rear window, keep looking left and right all the time. As you get about halfway across the road, turn to look over your right shoulder at the approaching kerb. As you approach this kerb, turn the wheel slightly back to the right, and apply the brake and clutch to come to a stop. Apply the handbrake and select first gear.

Check up and down the road again in both directions. If all is clear then find the clutch bite point, remove the handbrake and move off, steering to the right to find the correct driving position in the road.

What to do if a vehicle appears while you are carrying out the three-point turn.

Don’t panic! Just stop your vehicle and assess what they are going to do. They may signal for you to complete the manoeuvre while they wait, in which case do so. Alternatively, they may decide they have space to get past you, allow them to do so and then check that the road is clear again before continuing the manoeuvre.

To find out more about learning to drive in Glasgow contact TX Driver Training now on 0141 764 1213.  

Should I consider Intensive Driving Lessons?

Intensive driving lessons can be a brilliant way for you to get your driving licence very quickly. It can also save you money as the intensive experience means you spend a bit less time getting back up to speed on what you covered in the previous lesson. However, there are many disadvantages to learning to drive in this way, and it can be really hard work.

To help you decide whether Intensive Driving Lessons are right for you, answer these questions:

Do you need to learn to drive right now?

An intensive driving course is a lot of hard work, and there are other disadvantages too. If you have recently moved to a rural area, have recently had a change of family circumstances (the driver in the family is no longer around), or need to learn to drive for a job, then learning quickly on an intensive course makes sense. Just being impatient to get behind the wheel and burn some rubber isn’t really what it’s all about.

Do you have some experience?

If you already have some driving experience, even if that is only driving around a car park with Uncle Reg, or attending ‘young driver’ course or driving lessons a couple of decades ago, then you’ll have a head start. The first hours of any driving course will be focused on car control, moving off and car basics. If you already have a basic knowledge or some experience of this, then you’ll be able to move more quickly on to building confidence and experience on the roads.

Do you have great concentration and focus?

Driving, especially for a beginner, is hard work. Until it becomes an ingrained habit (which will not happen in a week-long course) you will need to concentrate on the hand-eye-foot co-ordination involved in observation, signalling and using the pedals and the steering wheel every time you slow down, move off or change direction.

Added to that you will need to learn new manoeuvres, learn what you need to do at roundabouts, traffic lights, different kinds of junctions and more; learn to judge what other road users are doing and react accordingly; be aware of potential hazards on the road; learn all the road signs and markings, rules of the road and basic car maintenance.

This is a huge amount to take on board and you are going to be overwhelmed trying to focus and learn it all in such a short space of time. If you can’t concentrate under pressure then an intensive course may not be for you.

Do you have time and money available to complete the course?

Learning to drive the conventional way you only need to find the time and money for one or two hours of driving lessons each week (though you may be offered a discount if you pay for and book a block of a few lessons at a time). You find the money for the Theory Test and the Practical Test when you are ready to book them. For Intensive Driving Lessons you will need to pay for the entire driving course, and the tests, all at once, costing anything from £500 up to £1000. You will also need to ensure that you have the time to block out an entire week (or more) in your diary for your course.

Will you be able to continue learning, getting experience, with support if necessary, after your test? One of the criticisms levelled at Intensive Driving Lessons is that there is no time in the course to build up experience of different road types or driving conditions. You may pass your test after only a few days of intensive driving lessons, but you are still a very inexperienced driver, so it’s really important that you are able to continue your learning and build your experience with a confident and experienced friend or family member.

Another way of continuing to build your experience after you’ve passed your test is by attending a Pass Plus course. Make sure that you build your confidence driving: at night; in poor weather such as rain, snow and fog; on rural roads, urban roads, motorways and dual-carriageways; in congestion and free-flowing traffic; with passengers and without.

To find out more about Intensive Driving Lessons in Glasgow contact TX Driver Training right now on 0141 764 1213.  

How to insure my first car

When you’re getting your own car one of the biggest expenses that you’ll need to take into account is car insurance, but with so many adverts and options out there, it can be a bit of a minefield. Keep reading for the main things you need to know about getting insured.

1. It will be expensive. Insurance companies decide on premiums based on how high the risk of an accident is, and how much they would have to pay out in the event of an accident. Statistics show that there’s a higher likelihood of having an accident within the first two years after passing your test and if you are under twenty-five – falling into one or both of these categories will make your insurance more expensive, but there are some ways to reduce the cost below.
2. Get several quotes. There are now several different price comparison sites that you can use to help you choose the most appropriate and competitively priced insurance, so it’s definitely worth tapping the details of what you are looking for into GoCompare, ComparetheMarket and Confused.com as you’ll be able to compare the prices of different policy types and insurance companies. Don’t forget to check out the companies that aren’t on the comparison sites though, by calling them directly, as they may be able to offer something even more competitive, especially if you tell them what you’ve been quoted elsewhere.
3. Choose your vehicle carefully. As mentioned above, insurance companies base their premiums on perceived risk and on the cost of repairs. Higher power vehicles are more likely to be involved in an accident, and higher value cars will cost more to repair or replace. Different makes and models of car have therefore been allocated an insurance group on a scale from 1 – 50. A small 1 litre Citroen will be in a very low insurance group (cheaper to insure), while a 4.4L Range Rover TDV8 is in Group 50. For insurance purposes as well as economy it’s best to choose a low power inexpensive car at this stage, and to avoid any modifications such as tinted windows, spoilers and lowered suspension which may also increase your insurance premium. Before you buy your car, check online to find out which insurance group it is in.
4. Type of insurance. There are three basic categories of car insurance: Third party; third party, fire and theft; and fully comprehensive. Third party is the cheapest type of insurance, and will pay out to cover damage to other people’s property and for injuries to them in the event of an accident, you would still need to pay for repairs to your own vehicle. Third party, fire and theft is the most common type of insurance, covering you as for third party, but also for any damage to your own vehicle in the event of fire or theft. Fully comprehensive is the most expensive, and also covers you for accidental damage to your own vehicle.
5. Check the details. However similar an insurance policy may look on the surface, there are extras that you may wish to ensure are covered, or may not require. Once you’ve shortlisted some policies, read the small-print. These details may include: whether or not a courtesy car is provided while your car is being repaired after an accident; whether windscreen or legal expenses cover is included, or break-down recovery; how much excess you have to pay when making a claim; and quite importantly, whether you are actually covered for work-related travel.
6. Can you reduce the premiums still further? It’s worth picking up the phone to arrange your car insurance rather than doing it all on-line, despite the tortuous time waiting “on hold” because you can often negotiate a reduction on premiums based on little details that might be overlooked on an on-line form. Possible reasons for reductions may be: that you’ve attended a Pass Plus course; that your vehicle is stored in a locked garage or compound at home or at work; that you have fitted an immobiliser, car tracking device or steering-wheel lock; if you negotiate a (practical) low mileage limit; if you are paying in full at the beginning rather than monthly.

Once you’ve done your research and chosen a policy that seems to suit you, call the company and arrange your insurance, which will usually take effect immediately (check this when you phone). You will be sent the insurance certificate, and all the details of the policy, which you should read carefully to make sure you have the cover you need and all the details of you and the vehicle are correct. You can cancel the policy within fourteen days if there are any problems. When the insurance policy is due to expire, the insurance company will usually contact you with a quote to continue for the following year. It is well worth getting on those price-comparison sites again at this point, as many insurance companies inflate their prices for that second year, hoping that you will just stay with them without checking! Remember that although insurance is one of the highest costs for a motorist, particularly in those first few years, it is illegal to drive without it, and you could be prosecuted and your car impounded if you try to avoid it.

To find out more about learning to drive in Glasgow contact TX Driver Training now on 0141 764 1213.  

What is the driving test report?

What is the driving test report?

It would be nice to think that everybody performed perfectly in their driving test and there was no need for any driving test report. Alternatively, perhaps the Driving Instructor could be expected to remember all forty minutes of your driving, and how you did on every single aspect of the test, without muddling you up with his/her other six candidates for the day.

Sound a little far-fetched?

That’s why they have the driving test report.

Throughout the test the examiner will be making marks on the report, which is standard form DL25 and is usually on a clip-board in front of them, and at the end of the test they give part of the report to you and talk you through any errors that you’ve made and why they passed or failed you.

What goes on the report?

The report has four pages. DL25A is the top copy, on which the examiner writes, this is carbon copied on DL25B, which has a back page for the examiner’s notes. These pages are retained by the test centre. Another carbon copy is DL25C which is given to you at the end of your test, and on the reverse of this are explanatory notes and details of the appeals procedure. The fourth page is DL25D which explains each section of the report and what the examiner was looking for, and is also given to you at the end of the test.

At the top of the report the examiner records the date, your name and licence number, their own name and reference number, the Approved Driving Instructor (ADI) number of your instructor, and some details about the car. The main part of the report is made up of boxes. Each item that you are being tested on has a box, for example “use of speed”, “following distance”, and some are further broken down within the box, so the “signals” box has “necessary”, “correctly” and “timed” sections. In each box there are spaces for the instructor to mark faults or errors. These are minor, S (serious) and D (dangerous) faults. Whether a fault is minor, serious or dangerous has a lot to do with road conditions and other road users. For example, if you fail to indicate at a junction once, that might be recorded as a minor fault. If your failing to indicate meant that another road user was put in danger, then that would probably constitute a serious fault. If the examiner or another road user was forced to take evasive action to avoid danger, for example the examiner needed to use the dual controls to stop the car at a zebra crossing to prevent you running over a pedestrian, then that would be a dangerous fault. At the end of the test, if you have any serious or dangerous faults, then you will have failed. If you have sixteen or more minor faults, then you will also have failed. If you have fifteen or fewer minor faults then you will probably have passed the test.

If would like to find out about learning to drive in Glasgow, give TX-Driver Training a call now on 0141 764 1213.