Driving test advice

terryya

Bowling_4_Gold wrote: »

Every 7 seconds minimum was the way I was taught...

Are we still talking about mirrors

Mark_Hewitt

You need to check your mirrors before you do anything at all except driving in a straight line and a constant speed. Even then you should check them every 7 seconds, as stated.

Having driven for nearly 15 years now it's subconcious.

DaveF327

Mark_Hewitt wrote: »

You need to check your mirrors before you do anything at all except driving in a straight line and a constant speed. Even then you should check them every 7 seconds, as stated.

That takes you pretty close to the official advice, which is this:

Mirrors (note the plural) must be checked well before:

• Signalling
• Changing Direction
• Changing Speed

Although you don't have to be as exact as measuring 7 seconds, the point being made here is regular updates. The more regularly you update, the less chance of somebody creeping up unseen into your blind spot.

The door mirrors help immensely too. Check in pairs; if you're about to signal or go left, check centre and left. If you're about to signal or go right, check centre and right. Cyclists and overtakers need to be seen and they won't necessarily be in your centre vision line at that crucial moment.

As previous posters have mentioned, there's no point in deliberately "hamming up" your checks to make it obvious; examiners will look for the smallest eye movements, even if you're wearing glasses. After all, what you're marked on isn't solely the check itself, but your reaction to what you have seen. The check should reveal whether a signal is needed, when exactly to give it, the approach speed and proximity of other traffic, whether to carry out the action at all etc. Many a test candidate has come away disappointed because they looked at their mirrors before changing lanes, then moved across regardless, carving up a line of traffic in the process. Having failed, they protest, "but I looked!". Even something as simple as a carefully timed "asking" signal, given while maintaining the same speed as the adjacent traffic could have made all the difference. The traffic may have let them in, giving the examiner no cause for concern.

Late "token" mirror checks are no good either. Pulling up at the side of the road, for example.. a late mirror check given after slamming the brakes on isn't going to undo what's just been done. There has to be some thought to the process. Act on what you see, signal your intention and give others time to react. There's a lot to do and some traffic moves quickly, so the earlier you start this process of mirrors, the better.

Hope this helps!

Bowdyjan18

kaydn wrote: »

Thanks to the constructive advice on here DD has passed her test needless to say I ignored the bus pass advice as unnecessary and uncalled for

Cool

Just let us know when she is out driving

Mark_Hewitt

Remembering this thread I took notice of what I do when driving. I noticed that I do properly check the rear view mirror (without moving my head to do it!) every 10 seconds or so, I also keep it in the corner of my eye while looking at the road ahead. So even though I'm checking it regularly, if something happens between that time (driver behind flashes his lights or whatever), I'll still see it.

Rolandtheroadie

Mark_Hewitt wrote: »

Remembering this thread I took notice of what I do when driving. I noticed that I do properly check the rear view mirror (without moving my head to do it!) every 10 seconds or so, I also keep it in the corner of my eye while looking at the road ahead. So even though I'm checking it regularly, if something happens between that time (driver behind flashes his lights or whatever), I'll still see it.

When do you check your side mirrors?