Hiring a driver for the driving test

Car_54

alihd said:

Herzlos said:

You need to check the blind spots *because* you can't see them in your mirrors, what's why they are called blind spots. Admittedly, you need to exaggerate when looking in a test. 

Correct. That exaggeration in looking into the mirrors is something that doesn't become a habit and I forget. When you are in an environment (empty parking) and you know (by many different ways of perceptions) that no car has come into the parking, what's the point of observing the exact 360 degrees. It's unfair to fail for that.

You're not looking just for other cars, but for all road users - pedestrians, cyclists, animals, etc.

And there's no need for exaggeration. The examiner is looking for effective observation, not gymnastics.

Dr_Crypto

I guess driving in Iran must be very different. I've driven in some out-of-the-way Asian countries and you need a totally different style to the UK, still managed to do it without any accidents though!
Just ignore light flashing. Like many things in the UK it means many different things to different people and in different contexts. 

photome

alihd said:

Yeah, driving in the UK is entirely different. When you drive for a decade and then try a new system and environment, all you learn from the lessons is a "short-term memory" thing unless you drive and drive for a year and the new habit sits in your "long-term memory". 
If I don't practice driving (which is hard to do with such a shortage of instructor slots and the regulations for L-plate supervisory), I roll-back to my old habits built in decades. For example:

• 
  

Its not entirely different. I have driven many different vehicles in many different countries, you dont just forget how to drive 
seems to me you need many more lessons so observation comes naturally

AdrianC

alihd said:

AdrianC said:

Remember - HC110 tells you what a headlight flash actually means, while HC111 is explicit in what you cannot assume it means.

Thanks for pointing to HC 110.

Did I need to...?
Faced with your fourth driving test in, presumably, a fairly short space of time, I'd like to think you've got it pretty much memorised.

alihd

AdrianC said:

Thanks for pointing to HC 110.

Did I need to...?
Faced with your fourth driving test in, presumably, a fairly short space of time, I'd like to think you've got it pretty much memorised.

With so many instructors overriding the HCs, I won't blame myself. For example, one instructor says that in residential areas you must stick to 20 MPH, the other says 20-25 is OK, and the HC says 30MPH unless there is a road sign saying otherwise. 

forgotmyname

Block the rear window and you will soon learn to use your mirrors.  If you don't use your mirrors how will you know
if that car trying to catchup with you is the police?  Or an ambulance who often turn off their sirens in certain
situations so that motorists do not panic.

You should be aware of your surroundings at all times. On my HGV lessons the instructor would often ask
"without looking in the mirror right now what is behind us". 

neilmcl

alihd said:

AdrianC said:

Thanks for pointing to HC 110.

Did I need to...?
Faced with your fourth driving test in, presumably, a fairly short space of time, I'd like to think you've got it pretty much memorised.

With so many instructors overriding the HCs, I won't blame myself. For example, one instructor says that in residential areas you must stick to 20 MPH, the other says 20-25 is OK, and the HC says 30MPH unless there is a road sign saying otherwise. 

I'm sure no instructor has said that, maybe they were simply trying to get you to drive with due care and attention in certain built up areas.

Car_54

alihd said:

AdrianC said:

Thanks for pointing to HC 110.

Did I need to...?
Faced with your fourth driving test in, presumably, a fairly short space of time, I'd like to think you've got it pretty much memorised.

With so many instructors overriding the HCs, I won't blame myself. For example, one instructor says that in residential areas you must stick to 20 MPH, the other says 20-25 is OK, and the HC says 30MPH unless there is a road sign saying otherwise. 

Not all "residential areas" are the same.

Different road widths. Cars parked on one or both sides, or no parking. You need to take all of that into consideration.

JamoLew

forgotmyname said:

Block the rear window and you will soon learn to use your mirrors.  If you don't use your mirrors how will you know
if that car trying to catchup with you is the police?  Or an ambulance who often turn off their sirens in certain
situations so that motorists do not panic.

You should be aware of your surroundings at all times. On my HGV lessons the instructor would often ask
"without looking in the mirror right now what is behind us". 

that is such a good bit of advice - never done an HGV, but I can usually state whats behind me without instantly looking as well

alihd

SoftCentaur said:

If you DO take the test in your car, not only should your "supervisor" be insured to drive you if needed, but you also need to be insured for  "driving test purposes".  Unless  you specify this to your insurance company the majority of car insurance will not include it. Naturally, the car needs to be legal too.... and don't forget the "L" plates !

I called the insurance company (Admiral) today and they were surprised that I'm asking if I can use it for the test. "Of course", they replied. 
Any piece of evidence that the insurance contract (paid for a provisional licence) has to be specifically for the "driving test purposes" to cover the test?