AA Driving Instructor – How to overtake a cyclist as a junction.

[TwickenhamCyclist]

Out of interest why did you not filter straight to the front, as I generally do, and park yourself in front of the lead car?

That way you would have had control of the traffic going across the junction.

You’re right, but I wasn’t expecting that!
I don’t always filter to the front, and that junction has no ASL. The traffic conditions were pretty quiet and there were only 2 cars in front and none behind me (until the AA muppet appeared). Plus I thought the big keep clear area gave me even more room. Under those conditions I usually prefer to wait in primary behind the lead couple of vehicles – they are only going to overtake where the road ahead gets quite narrow with parked cars in order to be first up to the level crossing – which is invariably closed – so I can always catch up with them there and carry the bike over the footbridge // smug mode off.


If there was a longer queue I’d filter down the outside and probably still tuck in behind the lead to be honest.

 

[TwickenhamCyclist]

Any reply yet?

Not yet – I’ll post it if I receive anything though – suppose it depends on who “filters” the comments e-mails at the aa.

 

[Night Train]

When I was doing my driving instructor training I had an argument in the class with the Red instructor tutor about doing a quick left shoulder check before turning left from stationary at some junctions to check the location of any cyclists, peds and other road users that may have snuck up on the left.

He said I must not do that as it was dangerous while I insisted it was the right thing to do to ensure awareness of the location of other road users that may be hidden in the left side blind spot. The argument persisted in front of other students and I ended up leaving the course as the instructor was a 30 year experienced ex police driving rectal orrifice.
I almost told him that but used more polite terms.

 

[Night Train]

You’re right, but I wasn’t expecting that!
I don’t always filter to the front, and that junction has no ASL. The traffic conditions were pretty quiet and there were only 2 cars in front and none behind me (until the AA muppet appeared). Plus I thought the big keep clear area gave me even more room. Under those conditions I usually prefer to wait in primary behind the lead couple of vehicles – they are only going to overtake where the road ahead gets quite narrow with parked cars in order to be first up to the level crossing – which is invariably closed – so I can always catch up with them there and carry the bike over the footbridge // smug mode off.


If there was a longer queue I’d filter down the outside and probably still tuck in behind the lead to be honest.

I think I would have positioned the same as you to avoid the risk of being caught by the lead car turning left without a signal. If you filter to the front then you would need to be ahead of the stop line.

 

[Bollo]

Might I commend Twickers on his production values. More soundtracks people!

Back on topic.....the road up to my work is used by all the local driving instructors for first lessons. Nothing I've seen there suggests that they're any better than Joseph Public when it comes to cycle awareness either.

 

[snorri]

Might I commend Twickers on his production values. More soundtracks people!

I'll second that
The video content would get any cyclist seething if it were not for the soothing audio.

 

[HLaB]

Just saw the vid; you tube was blocked at work.

Great Vid/ music

The instructor what a muppet

I detest "keep clear" markings sometimes, the sensible person leaves the gap but it seems to encourage muppets to try and jump into that space.

 

[TwickenhamCyclist]

Any reply yet?

No reply from AA
So…
Have sent to BSM as well a couple of local firms of driving instructors – just for fun – please feel free to send this video to ANY driving school. They will get my full permission to use it how and where they wish – free of charge or copyright etc. PM me if you/or they want high quality/original .avi file.

 

[Bollo]

Just had a deek at the AA's driving instructor site and, as I suspected, they're run as a franchise. In other words, as long as matey keeps paying the franchise fee, they won't give a toss.

 

[yenrod]

Out of interest why did you not filter straight to the front, as I generally do, and park yourself in front of the lead car?

That way you would have had control of the traffic going across the junction.

You mean so you can get ahead of all these phillipino nannies driving little jonny and mary to/back from, school on behalf of their parents Dom

 

[HJ]

No reply from AA
So…
Have sent to BSM as well a couple of local firms of driving instructors – just for fun – please feel free to send this video to ANY driving school. They will get my full permission to use it how and where they wish – free of charge or copyright etc. PM me if you/or they want high quality/original .avi file.

Why stop there I am sure the supervising examiner at your local test centre would like to see a copy too, someone it over due for a check test...

 

[ufkacbln]

As an aside - there is a requirement for all instructors to be licensed. The licensing body is responsible for standards as well.!

The ADI Registrar
Driving Standards Agency
Stanley House
56 Talbot Street
Nottingham
NG1 5GU


Tel: 0115 901 2500

 

[PBancroft]

Might I commend Twickers on his production values. More soundtracks people!

One of the reasons I've used his videos in my blogs. A lesson and entertainment at the same time. Twickers is a star!

 

[snorri]

The Driving Standards Agency are holding public meetings in my area in order to get the views of the public on new driver testing etc.
The lady from the DSA was on the BBC news and said that it was mainly driving instructors that attended the meeting, and that it was the feeling of the meeting that much more training and education was required for new drivers.
Wasn't that a predictable outcome from a meeting attended by people who make their living from training would be drivers??.

 

[Mr Pig]

it was the feeling of the meeting that much more training and education was required for new drivers.

It's true though. Just wish they were up to doing it eh? ;0)