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Learner drivers

(58 Posts)
GrammaH Thu 24-Aug-17 08:54:37

I was very pleased to see this morning that at long last, rural roads will be included in the driving test. We live 3 miles from the main A road up 3 separate minor roads in decreasing widths and standards and it is quite unbelievable the way some people drive along them. The 2 major problems are obviously excessive speeding and , perhaps more seriously, reversing issues. The number of people who, when confronted by a car coming from the opposite direction, either just sit tight and don't move at all or who start to back, meandering all over the road from bank to bank, is quite incredible. In this day & age, with parking sensors and rear view cameras, there's really no excuse - not that there was before! If you can't reverse, then you really shouldn't be driving, so let's have more of that in the test as well. What say you, fellow Gransnetters?

RAF Fri 08-Sep-17 15:17:53

I struggle with reversing, I am only 5' tall (probably less now!) and after a whiplash injury I cannot turn my head far, even looking sideways is painful. Thank God for rear parking sensors, I have to use the mirrors instead of turning round, and can only look at one side of the car at a time, so yes, I cannot help a bit of weaving backwards and forwards if reversing for any distance. So I am probably the one waiting hopefully that someone who finds reversing easier than me will give in first! I don't think I am alone in having neck pain, the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak!

hulahoop Fri 08-Sep-17 16:41:14

I hate it when horse riders and cyclists ride side by side sometimes making it impossible to pass because I like to give them a wide berth , I'm another who wishes drivers would use their indicators on the road and in car parks .

CherryHatrick Fri 08-Sep-17 17:13:28

Lemon I learned to drive in 1966, and my memory not being perfect, I don't remember if it was part of the test, but it was definitely one of the things I was taught, along with reversing around corners with the aid of a hairclip pushed into the centre of the back window rubber. I still use the same method, whether driving a large Daimler or my present small Opel Corsa: first pull alongside the space to see if there is room for your car! Then pull alongside the car in front with the back wheel level with the end of that car. Reverse with full lock until you judge your wheel arch is the right distance from the kerb (depends who my passenger is...if DH he needs a good foot to be able to get out of the car, anyone fit gets half that distance) change lock at this point and straighten up the car...job done.

MagicWriter2016 Fri 08-Sep-17 18:01:50

We are just under 200 miles to our nearest motorway, so not sure what will happen up here. But agree with learner how to navigate single track roads!

Legs55 Fri 08-Sep-17 18:20:10

I am useless at reversing back down a road although fine in a car park, think it's the distance & also restricted movement in my neck (my excuse & I'm sticking to it)

I lived in a rural area when I was learning to drive & learnt through the Winter, some dreadful weather conditions so that holds no real terrors for me. I now live in rural Devon, sorry to say but visitors are the worst, they freeze if they meet another vehicle on a fairly narrow road!! Some locals drive too fast especially over Dartmoor (40 MPH limit).

I am an expert at parallel parking as long as it's nearsidegrin

My biggest bugbear is lack of indicators, I'm not a "mind reader". As for using roundabouts correctlyangry

Shizam Fri 08-Sep-17 23:27:17

in my suburban corner, people drive at ridiculous speeds. And in massive 4x4s. Hate to think the damage they can cause in their rush. Especially pedestrians wandering across roads looking at phones, off with the fairies,

maddy629 Sat 09-Sep-17 06:38:49

We live in a rural area and driving schools use our street to teach their learners to reverse usually behind my car! I agree that learners need to learn, although in my opinion there are already too many cars on the roads. I have witnessed a few near misses, where a learner has almost collided with my car. I know driving school cars have dual controls but I wonder what would happen if a car hit mine.
In New Zealand, where I come from, all speed limit signs say 50, or whatever the speed limit is, is not a target and I have noticed that they are beginning to do it over here.