For those of you who passed your driving test years ago ....

[Archie_tect]

On the subjuect of braking, why do som many people feel the need to constantly dab the brakes for no obvious reason?

Though I realise your question is probably intended to be rhetorical, they are either:
a) timid, unsure and lack confidence, or,
too close to the car in front....

...or it's an S reg, or thereabouts, Ford Fiesta whose brake light circuit had a fault which caused them to come on an their own constantly.

 

[snorri]

There is a difference between planning ahead and using engine braking

That was what I was referring to in my earlier post, not the type of engine breaking that results in a screaming gearbox.
Even this gentle form of engine braking appears to be less favoured now.

 

[Rhythm Thief]

There is a difference between planning ahead and using engine braking in prefeence/addition to braking and just throwing the car through the gears to slow it down like a rally driver does. I've seen many people who do drive like this. Very few modern road cars will stand up to it for any length of time. That's what brakes are for.

On the subjuect of braking, why do som many people feel the need to constantly dab the brakes for no obvious reason?

That's what I was talking about. Although slowing down like a rally driver is also fun, sometimes.

 

[Deleted member 1258]

First drove in the late 60's, never took my test. Rode motorbikes for ten years, passed my motorbike test in 72. Went back to driving and past my car test in 82. Never owned my own car, driven vans as part of work and used hire cars for holidays and other trips. I am a good driver but I would have to have some lessons to pass the modern test, I would have to learn what they require these days, another one who uses the gears to slow down and tries to read the road ahead.

 

[GrasB]

To repeat, in my own words, what was said at my RoSPA/roadar taster session (back in '98/99) "I am a driving examiner, other wise known as a professional failer of drivers. My job is to put ticks & crosses in boxes & based on those an outcome is reached. Passing your driving test means you can control a car to a reasonable level & have been taught party tricks nothing more. As an advanced driver & examiner I feel anyone who is a RoSPA certified driver will fail their driving test". So I'd fail then.

 

[Archie_tect]

My daughter's instructor told me that Newcastle test centre pass rate was 19% a couple of years ago, Leeds even dipped down to 11% when they introduced self- funding... it's a captive market!

Statistically you have a better chance of passing, at Scotswood Test Centre, on the first days of the month, especially in the first tests of the day. If you can get a test during peak rush-hours at 8.30 or so, the distance you can drive in 15 minutes from the test centre is very limited during a half-hour practical test.

 

[gbb]

There is a difference between planning ahead and using engine braking in prefeence/addition to braking and just throwing the car through the gears to slow it down like a rally driver does. I've seen many people who do drive like this. Very few modern road cars will stand up to it for any length of time. That's what brakes are for.

On the subjuect of braking, why do som many people feel the need to constantly dab the brakes for no obvious reason?

Phew...thats set my mind partly to rest.
I dont 'use' the gearbox to slow down, rather decellerate early and change down as my speed decreases. Hopefully, the change of gears does not cause the car do decellerate appreciably....which i assume is where the damage is potentially possible.

The computer on my Focus has confirmed what i always believed. Pulling away from a standstill uses a lot of petrol. I'll be doing 15 to 20 mpg until i get speed up and settle at an economical speed. By reading the road and hopefully not stopping, you reduce those heavy consumption bits appreciably.
Reading ahead early and decellerating uses no petrol at all.

Touch wood...never had gearbox issues despite years of this style of driving.
TBF, i've always treated my gearboxes (and my cars for that matter) with respect. Too damned expensive to repair

 

[Plax]

I would like to think that I'd pass my test again, certainly on the theory side of things as I'm sad like that. When I did my Police driving assessment the only thing I was really picked up on was my awfully bad habit of having my clutch foot hovering over the pedal. I had to make a conscious effort to not do that (and it was hard!). I've noticed all the Focuses I've driven don't have a foot rest, the only car I didn't tend to hover over the clutch was my Pug 306 as it had a foot rest.

 

[Mr Pig]

Call me complacent but after 35 accident-free years of driving my attitude was that I didn't need to drive to a formal system to drive safely.

I think that's more or less true. Obviously there are drivers who are just plain bad but most people are pretty safe after that kind of mileage. The system is designed to cover everyone irrespective of their ability. If you stick to it, and can do it, you'll be a fairly safe driver. However some people are more skilled than average in some areas and don't need to stick to the system as rigidly. That's my opinion anyway. You've got no chance of getting anyone from the police, IAM or RoSPA to agree with it though ;0) On the record at least.

I think I could pass the standard driving test tomorrow. Not a rats chance of passing the IAM test again though! Even after lots of practice, it was hard.

 

[marinyork]

I did mine in the last few years like Thomas. I reckon of drivers out there a vastly higher proportion would pass a test v first time passers, say 75% but I think a much higher proportion than people might expect would fail (say 25%) because they would refuse to swot up on the ways things are done these days (I find people are particularly bad at keeping tabs on their speed and don't bother watching the needle at all) and so they'd probably fail due to the newer rules of totting up minors. Only a very generous examiner would pass them. A few would fail spectacularly like my neighbour. If I did my test again I think it would be hit and miss on the test as the standards are so much higher than everyday driving. I think I'd pass the theory easily. The hazard perception I'd not like to say, I think that's a very flawed software system.

 

[GrasB]

I think I could pass the standard driving test tomorrow. Not a rats chance of passing the IAM test again though! Even after lots of practice, it was hard.

See this is why I went for RoSPA, I get retested every 3 years. In all honesty I think the hardest time is the first, from there you know where the bar is & your written report on your driving will give you loads of information on where to improve & where you need to 'only' maintain your standards.

 

[Arch]

Yeah, a mini 1000 - blue with large orange rust spots around the wheel rims. A horrible car but I loved it at the time.

My automatic mini 1000 was brown with a beige roof - after a DIY repair to a leak I ended up painting the roof in beige and brown stipes, like a mint humnug, so it became the Humbuggy. It has a special inbuilt weather safety system. In rain, ice, snow, wind and sometimes over bright sun, it would refuse to start, thus preventing me ever having an accident...

I loved it, but when the passenger door fell off I felt it was time to give it up. The only car I've ever owned!

 

[Will1985]

second test I got 16 minors, but no majors, so I passed!)

That would be a fail these days. 15 is the limit. Wasn't the theory introduced in about 96 or 97?
I missed hazard perception by 6 months (introduced summer 2002 IIRC) which was failed by some peers in the first week of use.

 

[colly]

I passed first time donkeys years ago when I was 18 but I doubt I would pass if I took a test now. Not without some a lot of preparation anyway.

Far too many bad habits.

 

[mad al]

If I ever had to try my driving test again, I wouldn't bother and pack it in. No big deal to those who don't know me, so I'll explain

I passed my test close to 40 years ago and was and had been a petrol head for a long while before then.
Anything with an engine pushed all the right buttons and competed in car rallies, even had an International Motorsports Licence up until 1982 and then he with the Black Horse screamed "ENOUGH!!!!!"

These days I still like to drive quickly, but hardly ever outside of our land where the toy is a 500cc 4-stroke sports quad, driving a car on the road is a menace as everybody is so impatient and would gladly cut you up to save them a nano second and the worrying thing is that most crazy drivers have no car control knowledge and just CRASH

I think anyone who drives like that should try a lap or three against a clock and realise this:-

"When the flag drops the bullshit stops"

Nobody drives anymore