So how many of you have been caught speeding? Did you opt to go on the Driver Awareness Training course or have points added to your licence and a fine?
A pupil of mine who rides a moped and got caught speeding opted to go on the course.
I asked her what she thought of the course, and she wouldn't stop talking about it!
She was the youngest on the course at 19 years old, but ages ranged from mid 20's, 40's and the elderly.
As well as watching some very sobering film clips, she learnt what your reaction would be travelling at speeds between 30 and 40 mph; speed awareness generally; stopping distances in bad weather; and what different road markings meant etc.
She thought it was an eye opener and agreed with me that it would be a beneficial course for all learners or newly qualified drivers to go on.
I asked her if the course organisers got the attendees to fill out a questionnaire on whether or not they thought the course was beneficial..... to my surprise they didn't! A missed opportunity there, I think, to get some useful feedback.
Saturday, 11 June 2011
Friday, 10 June 2011
Looks can be deceiving!
Now, having the general public criticise you and your learner is not uncommon, but when someone actually stops to help you, it's a lovely surprise!
Picture this..... pupil and I were practising reversing into a bay in a public car park... and we usually get looks from the public that say that they are not amused..... but when someone starts to walk towards you, you brace yourself for the abuse that is bound to follow.
Well, there was no abuse! The lady actually walked towards us with her dog to say that one of our break lights had gone! Obviously we thanked her very much!
Now I know I should have a spare bulb in my car and should change it immediately, but I didn't..... and you'll understand why later!
So, I then went straight to my next driving lesson and again, as we were coming to the end of the road to turn right, another driver pulled up alongside us and told us about the break light.
At the end of the day, on my way home, I popped into a well known car parts and accessories store to get my break light bulb. No problem in finding the correct bulb, but a shop assistant then offered to fit it for me. "Great", I thought, "this will save a lot of bother later, getting my husband to fix it!"
Anyway, how I was supposed to change this bulb on the roadside is beyond me! It took the shop assistant about half an hour to change it, plus you needed a special screw driver and gadget to replace the bulb! These accessories don't come with the modern car!
Picture this..... pupil and I were practising reversing into a bay in a public car park... and we usually get looks from the public that say that they are not amused..... but when someone starts to walk towards you, you brace yourself for the abuse that is bound to follow.
Well, there was no abuse! The lady actually walked towards us with her dog to say that one of our break lights had gone! Obviously we thanked her very much!
Now I know I should have a spare bulb in my car and should change it immediately, but I didn't..... and you'll understand why later!
So, I then went straight to my next driving lesson and again, as we were coming to the end of the road to turn right, another driver pulled up alongside us and told us about the break light.
At the end of the day, on my way home, I popped into a well known car parts and accessories store to get my break light bulb. No problem in finding the correct bulb, but a shop assistant then offered to fit it for me. "Great", I thought, "this will save a lot of bother later, getting my husband to fix it!"
Anyway, how I was supposed to change this bulb on the roadside is beyond me! It took the shop assistant about half an hour to change it, plus you needed a special screw driver and gadget to replace the bulb! These accessories don't come with the modern car!
Is it me, or is it just Friday afternoons?
Really! Is it me or is it busier on Friday afternoons with more than usual aggressive drivers on the road?
What's the rush? You've got all weekend!
I know people tend to finish earlier on a Friday, and I know everyone wants to get home and start their weekend, but wouldn't you prefer to get home in one piece?
Aggressive drivers are a problem generally with tailgating being the common problem, but when you have a learner in front of you, do you think its wise? They could break suddenly or stall unexpectedly. If you're too close when this happens, where are you going to end up? Yep, you've guessed it..... on the learners back seat!
One of my pupils told me a story of what happened with them whilst driving with their dad... or was it their friend.... can't quite remember, but it's a good story!
A driver was tailgating a learner and their dad for some time and when they stopped at some traffic lights, dad got out of the car, opened the boot and asked the man behind them if he would like to get in! After all, he was close enough!
So what do you do when people are too close? Slow down? Speed up? Are you breaking the speed limit? The way I deal with it is to say to myself "Well, they are behind me and I'm in front.... I'm sticking to the speed limit, deal with it!" I then have a cheesy grin on my face as I look in the rear view mirror and see the driver behind me getting annoyed that I'm abiding by the law!
What's the rush? You've got all weekend!
I know people tend to finish earlier on a Friday, and I know everyone wants to get home and start their weekend, but wouldn't you prefer to get home in one piece?
Aggressive drivers are a problem generally with tailgating being the common problem, but when you have a learner in front of you, do you think its wise? They could break suddenly or stall unexpectedly. If you're too close when this happens, where are you going to end up? Yep, you've guessed it..... on the learners back seat!
One of my pupils told me a story of what happened with them whilst driving with their dad... or was it their friend.... can't quite remember, but it's a good story!
A driver was tailgating a learner and their dad for some time and when they stopped at some traffic lights, dad got out of the car, opened the boot and asked the man behind them if he would like to get in! After all, he was close enough!
So what do you do when people are too close? Slow down? Speed up? Are you breaking the speed limit? The way I deal with it is to say to myself "Well, they are behind me and I'm in front.... I'm sticking to the speed limit, deal with it!" I then have a cheesy grin on my face as I look in the rear view mirror and see the driver behind me getting annoyed that I'm abiding by the law!
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