Learning the Driving Test Routes

It seems appealing to some learners to find a driving instructor who places great emphasis on teaching mainly test routes. You may feel that this will increase your chances of a first time pass on the driving test in the fewest number of lessons possible. There is great danger in this approach and not something that should be done by independent driving instructors Nottingham.

Don't just learn on driving test routes

I can always tell when a pupil has been trained mainly on test routes.

They feel nervous when asked to drive on unfamiliar roads. This fear can go on after the test leading to people only driving on roads they know when the weather is nice. Driving is all about freedom to go wherever you want so you need the confidence that comes from experience. You need to learn on busy roads to deal with things such as emergency vehicles

I may ask a pupil if they have covered roundabouts as we drive up to one. Their reply is often “I haven't done this one”. The idea is that you are taught the basic rules of all roundabouts so that you can deal with any roundabout at any time. Not to simply go around one or two that happen to be on the local test route. You will have problems later on if this is how you learned. I recently had a pupil who used an app that had all the test routes stored and could put them into GPS map so you could follow it and learn the routes. My pupil was not successful at passing the test until we broke off from following the routes and dealt with her driving problems. After the problems were solved she went on to pass her test with no faults recorded. This shows which approach is best if you want that driving licence.

Gain plenty of experience during your driving lessons.

Driving lessons can be extremely boring if all done in the same area. You need variety if you are to remain interested and grow as a driver. Longer lessons may be needed to go further afield but remember that you are investing in your future safety. Doing the work now will pay dividends later. You need to gain experience on faster roads. Rural road and also on the motorway if there's one within reach.

There is always a chance on the big day that you will go off a test route due to road works or high volumes of traffic. Finding yourself in unfamiliar territory can really knock your confidence and lead to mistakes. You need to be able to drive safely even if you don't know where you are. This is where confidence and the ability to follow signs come into play.

In short, make sure you get good practice on all different types of roads. You'll find the driving test much easier and your driving will be up to a good standard when you're out there on your own. Don't be one of those drivers who only drives to places they know in good weather. Driving is about freedom so get over those nerves and be a confident driver. Go for it!

Dealing with Traffic Lights

 This is not the start of a race.

It's amazing how many people learning to drive think that traffic lights mean Stop, Get ready and go. The correct meanings are different. Let's take a look with one of the independent driving instructors Nottingham area.

Red does mean Stop, but also wait at the stop line. Drivers can get confused when turning right at major crossroads and slam on the brakes when they see the red light intended for traffic on the other road. Remember, if there is no stop line on the road surface then the light is not for you. Same if you're turning left in a filter lane. Unless there is a set of lights on both sides of the lane you're in, then the light is not for you and it'll be a give way line on the road.

Red and Amber together still means Stop but green is not far away so start preparing to move off. This is a good time to have a look side to side to make sure nobody is running a red light coming from the other direction. Don't leave it until the last second to have a look. Check before you move so you can look in the direction of your steering.

Green does not mean Go. It means you may proceed if your exit is clear and it is safe to do so. Don't feel pressure imagined pressure from drivers behind to move off if you're only going to move forward a bit and block the junction. People taking driving lessons in Nottingham tend to get a bit worried about this. Stay at the stop line until your exit is clear. Watch out for people crossing the road as well, probably texting.

Amber doesn't mean foot down you can make it if you try. It means Stop unless you have already crossed the stop line or you have to brake so hard you may cause an accident. Always check the mirrors and if a vehicle is really close behind them be careful how you brake. If a green light has been on for some time and 'gone stale' then ease off the gas and be prepared to brake if it changes.

Finally, keep an eye out for green filter arrows. New drivers tend to miss these as they don't stand out as much as red and can be difficult to see if you are driving in fog or heavy rain. The windscreen wipers in my car go slower when the car is stood still which is a bad idea because it makes it more difficult to see the lights change. Be careful when driving in bright sunlight as it can be difficult to see which light is lit up. If this happens slow down in good time so you can have a good look before you commit over the stop line. Don't start daydreaming and miss them either or you'll be hearing car horns from behind, and that'll be embarrassing.

So there you are. Stay safe and happy motoring!