Got my L Plates!!

[Jimbo]

Yep, thats it...

I'm learning..

I'm into my 6th lesson with the instructor, and im also learning to practice at home. Ive just recently got insured on my dads car, and got me some L plates, and i started to learn in that car yesterday.

I'm finding it touch and go, easy in some areas, but as my instructor says, "men arnt too good at multi tasking" so im obviously doing a few minor errors here and there. Only thing im stuck on is finding that Crucial biting Point on my dads car (Peugoet 107), Its a small thing but it takes quite a bit for a learner such as myself.
Especially Hill starts... Its just that bit of work with the Clutch and power to "Connect" and Bring the car forward. I'm obviosuly getting there - slowly, but 7/10 i stall etc. This im sure is very very common with learners.

But overall im really enjoying learning, but the real test will come when im out there all alone with my own car, once ive passed my Official test.

Anyone like to give me any tips/reccomendations as such?

6 lessons, still got a long way to go!

Many thanks Chaps, and looking forward to hearing from you.

James

[Craig.]

watch out for the idiots on the road.
The second you put L plates on a car every driver thinks they can bully you into letting them go, or that they can pull out infront of you regardless of how close you are.

[Jimbo]

watch out for the idiots on the road.
The second you put L plates on a car every driver thinks they can bully you into letting them go, or that they can pull out infront of you regardless of how close you are.

Yeah ive noticed that immediately. As soon as a car is up my arse, i SLOW down, i dont want myself or anyone else in danger. I'm naturally arragant LOL, and im not going to let anyone else make me drive faster, i just do the complete opposite and slow down!

Safety is my main priority.

[Craig.]

lol its people like you who stop me getting where I am going quicker
To be fair, when I was learning to drive I did exactly the same thing. In some cases where I could get away with it, I would be a little more forceful on the brakes just to convince the person behind to back off.

[Woodlouse2002]

When it comes to your test, be sure to do the exact opposite to what I did and you're sure to pass.

Things to avoid,
Mounting the kerb,
Not looking in your mirrors,
Stalling, repeatedly,
Failing to stop for oncoming cars that have right of way (I thought the silly person had stopped for me...),
Cutting across the inside lane while going round the outside of a round-about,
Carving someone up after exiting the above roundabout.
Failing to wait for the car behind to pass before continuing after an emergency stop.
And finally, approaching a roundabout at 50 miles per hour, breaking hard, swerving before going hard left without checking mirrors or blind spot. (That one was marked on the test sheet as "dangerous".)

Failiure to do all of the above must surely result in a pass.


Hopefully I shall pass on my next (4th) attempt.


You'll learn to hate L plates. No matter how you drive the car behind will always overtake you at the first opportunity no matter how inconvenient or dangerous.

[Jimbo]

When it comes to your test, be sure to do the exact opposite to what I did and you're sure to pass.

Things to avoid,
Mounting the kerb,
Not looking in your mirrors,
Stalling, repeatedly,
Failing to stop for oncoming cars that have right of way (I thought the silly person had stopped for me...),
Cutting across the inside lane while going round the outside of a round-about,
Carving someone up after exiting the above roundabout.
Failing to wait for the car behind to pass before continuing after an emergency stop.
And finally, approaching a roundabout at 50 miles per hour, breaking hard, swerving before going hard left without checking mirrors or blind spot. (That one was marked on the test sheet as "dangerous".)

Failiure to do all of the above must surely result in a pass.


Hopefully I shall pass on my next (4th) attempt.


You'll learn to hate L plates. No matter how you drive the car behind will always overtake you at the first opportunity no matter how inconvenient or dangerous.

LOL!!!!!

Good luck with the next attempt Woody!

[Craig.]

When it comes to your test, be sure to do the exact opposite to what I did and you're sure to pass.

Things to avoid,
Mounting the kerb,
Not looking in your mirrors,
Stalling, repeatedly,
Failing to stop for oncoming cars that have right of way (I thought the silly person had stopped for me...),
Cutting across the inside lane while going round the outside of a round-about,
Carving someone up after exiting the above roundabout.
Failing to wait for the car behind to pass before continuing after an emergency stop.
And finally, approaching a roundabout at 50 miles per hour, breaking hard, swerving before going hard left without checking mirrors or blind spot. (That one was marked on the test sheet as "dangerous".)

Failiure to do all of the above must surely result in a pass.


Hopefully I shall pass on my next (4th) attempt.


You'll learn to hate L plates. No matter how you drive the car behind will always overtake you at the first opportunity no matter how inconvenient or dangerous.

Now that sir, is impressive
50mph up to a roundabout? what was it, over the top of a blind hill?

[Jimbo]

lol its people like you who stop me getting where I am going quicker
To be fair, when I was learning to drive I did exactly the same thing. In some cases where I could get away with it, I would be a little more forceful on the brakes just to convince the person behind to back off.

But would you like to actually arrive at work in one peice in the morning? I know it sounds harsh.. But people need to "look out" for each other. I drive slow, because i dont to harm anyone, and i dont want to pay for the chuffin car if i crash!

Ive got Plenty more lessons to get my clutch practice etc sorted out!

Cheers!

[Woodlouse2002]

Now that sir, is impressive
50mph up to a roundabout? what was it, over the top of a blind hill?

Pretty much. That and the trees that covered the roundabout merged with the hedge almost perfectly so even when I saw the turn left chevron things I still didn't realise it was the roundabout.

[Jimbo]

Pretty much. That and the trees that covered the roundabout merged with the hedge almost perfectly so even when I saw the turn left chevron things I still didn't realise it was the roundabout.

I'm just imagining the look on the instructors face!

[Craig.]

But would you like to actually arrive at work in one peice in the morning? I know it sounds harsh.. But people need to "look out" for each other. I drive slow, because i dont to harm anyone, and i dont want to pay for the chuffin car if i crash!

Ive got Plenty more lessons to get my clutch practice etc sorted out!

Cheers!

Dont worry Jimbo,
I treat learners with respect, since I was one myself not long ago, I go out of my way to create space for them from clear ahole's and I let them out at junctions.
I only get annoyed with drivers who take the p*ss when it comes to driving slow. The main road I use to work is 40mph, I can quite happily cruise down it safely at 50 as can anyone. But some people seem content to do 30 which is ridiculous.
I am by no means a good driver, thankfully though I have good reaction times to save me from the mistakes I am still likely to make being so young

[Jimbo]

Dont worry Jimbo,
I treat learners with respect, since I was one myself not long ago, I go out of my way to create space for them from clear ahole's and I let them out at junctions.
I only get annoyed with drivers who take the p*ss when it comes to driving slow. The main road I use to work is 40mph, I can quite happily cruise down it safely at 50 as can anyone. But some people seem content to do 30 which is ridiculous.
I am by no means a good driver, thankfully though I have good reaction times to save me from the mistakes I am still likely to make being so young

LOL!

Learning is as hard as i thought.. So much to remember, it all gets confusing. But little by little, It all goes "into place" and it works fine.

Only thing i dont like (as i said) is up-hill starts, I chuffin cant stop stalling!

[Woodlouse2002]

I'm just imagining the look on the instructors face!

I did notice afterwards he would reach for the handhold above the passenger side window when ever we approached a bend.

It was an absolute pisser though cause if i'd seen the roundabout, I would have passed.

[Jimbo]

I did notice afterwards he would reach for the handhold above the passenger side window when ever we approached a bend.

It was an absolute pisser though cause if i'd seen the roundabout, I would have passed.

LOL! It is a bit of Pisser 'aint it!

How much are tests these days?

[Craig.]

The best bet with hill starts, is to not worry about them till your able to do flat starts 100% of the time. This is how my instructor did it with me. Then we moved onto some rather steep hills. I am guessing she was working on the basis that if you can pull away from those then the less steep ones would be a breeze.
Too bad I moved and switched to an automatic as passing in a manual wouldn't have been a problem. Damn birmingham drivers.

Woody, try to find a route with no roundabouts. Just remember you can influence you test route you go on, by nervously taking a wrong turn As long as you only do it a couple of times, they dont count against you.