Differences between driving requirements, old and new.

WIAWSNB

Hi.
This refers to the driving requirements for new drivers, compared to what us oldies had to do 50 years ago...
For example, giving lessons to daughter, I emphasised to not let the steering wheel slip through her fingers, but I wasn't sure whether push-pull was still the order of the day. I suggested she ask her driving instructor during her first pro lesson.
This she did; instructor said no need for pp, and there was a huge amount of flexibility, including hand over hand, "provided you are always in control". 
This seems quite sensible - when doing a 3(or whatevs number)-point turn, rapid rotations are needed.
I also had daughter doing reversing around a corner, but instructor told her this ain't needed. 
Soooo, what are acceptable steering methods? And what else has changed?!
Ta.

Car_54

Her instructor is guilty of teaching only her what is needed for the test.

it is true that failure to use pull-push will not, in itself, be marked as a fault. But it is probably the best method for a complete novice to learn, so as to ensure safe control.

Similarly, reversing round a corner is no longer included in the test, but safe and accurate reversing is still an essential skill, and is tested by parking in a bay or parallel parking.

EssexExile

Car_54 said:

Her instructor is guilty of teaching only her what is needed for the test.

it is true that failure to use pull-push will not, in itself, be marked as a fault. But it is probably the best method for a complete novice to learn, so as to ensure safe control.

Similarly, reversing round a corner is no longer included in the test, but safe and accurate reversing is still an essential skill, and is tested by parking in a bay or parallel parking.

Reminds me when I learnt to drive an HGV1. Reversing was just a matter of moving from one position to another slightly back and to the left, always exactly the same. After doing it about six times you've got that bit of the test sorted!

daveyjp

Changing down the gearbox as you slow, indicating all the time, hand signals for turning left and right, arm out of the window to show you were slowing and pulling to the kerb, using a proper handbrake.

Tests also used to avoid 70mph roads.  Daughter took her test a couple of years ago and it involved driving to a roundabout, joining a dual carriageway, driving 2 miles at 40mph them 2 miles at 70mph, to the next roundabout then coming back, stopping in a car park along the way to park in a space.  

WIAWSNB

daveyjp said:

Changing down the gearbox as you slow, indicating all the time, hand signals for turning left and right, arm out of the window to show you were slowing and pulling to the kerb, using a proper handbrake.

Tests also used to avoid 70mph roads.  Daughter took her test a couple of years ago and it involved driving to a roundabout, joining a dual carriageway, driving 2 miles at 40mph them 2 miles at 70mph, to the next roundabout then coming back, stopping in a car park along the way to park in a space.  

Lol! Brilliant!

Sadly, I remember the hand out t'window, waggling t'arm up down, around, or whatevs to indicate a pending left turn if the indicators have failed!

sigh

Baldytyke88

Reversing around a corner (the "left corner reverse") is no longer a mandatory part of the UK practical driving test, the DVSA still emphasizes that instructors should teach it as a vital life skill. 

The UK practical driving test includes one of three, real-world reversing manoeuvres: parallel parking on the street, reversing into a parking bay, or pulling up on the right-hand side, reversing for two car lengths, and rejoining traffic. Turn-in-the-road and reverse-around-a-corner are no longer tested; you would think that knowing how to turn the car around would be needed, and an example of the best way to do that should be in the test.

Grumpy_chap

Baldytyke88 said:

Reversing around a corner (the "left corner reverse") is no longer a mandatory part of the UK practical driving test, the DVSA still emphasizes that instructors should teach it as a vital life skill. 

The UK practical driving test includes one of three, real-world reversing manoeuvres: parallel parking on the street, reversing into a parking bay, or pulling up on the right-hand side, reversing for two car lengths, and rejoining traffic. Turn-in-the-road and reverse-around-a-corner are no longer tested; you would think that knowing how to turn the car around would be needed, and an example of the best way to do that should be in the test.

I really can't recall any time that I have "pulled up on the right-hand (opposite) side, reversed to two car lengths and re-joined the traffic".  Is that really a common real-world manoeuvre?

I do recall actually doing:
 - parallel parking
 - reverse into parking bay
 - three point turn in the road
 - reverse around a corner

twopenny

They don't seem to be teaching give way to traffic on the right at a roundabout 😬

Hand out of the window can be useful but given the number of drivers who see any form of indication as invasion of their privacy it's probably not necessary.
Friend had to drive with her head out of the window one snowy evening when the wipers failed. I was leaning out the other.

My instruction included driving up the steepest hill in England in the snow at dusk, which includes a hairpin bend.
I don't remember the journey down at all.

James2k

Listen to the professional. Not the 'experts' on here. Pass the test. Then you start the real learning. But pass first and that's what's the Instructor is there for  

chrisw

The reversing round a corner and 3 point turn would seem to be more relevant skills these days. My car will park itself in a bay or parallel park just by pushing a button.

Bigwheels1111

I have my Bike, Car, HGV 1 & 2 and now my PCV.
Collected the lot, no more space on my license.

Bike in 1988, a man stood in the street, gave me a route to follow. Hid behind a van with his feet sticking out.
Then jumped out for the emergency stop. 2 or 3 Highway Code questions and you pass.

Car 1989, left test centre in heavy traffic, stuck at T junction turning right for near on 15 minutes.
Did a very hurried emergency stop and reverse round corner, couple of Highway Code questions and done.
As testing time was running out.

HGV 1&2 2002, as above shown how to pass a test. Not even in a real HGV, A Ford scaffold lorry for HGV 2.
Then the same lorry with a trailer for HGV 1.
Was I surprised when I first had to hook up a real HGV 1 and drive it.

PCV 2025, A little more involved, 3 tests on pc, Hazard perception, Highway Code and case studies.
Followed by a reverse. Start top right in a lane and reverse into left lane without going outside lines.
Very simple.
Then a leisurely drive around a specific route.
Followed by an extensive Q&A and show and tell session.
All the Mod 4 sections were the hard part.

For the HGV & PCV there are cheats for the reversing test.
How to turn the wheel and hold it so you don’t go over the lines, a mark in the ground or wall or fence etc
So you don’t go too far back etc.

I’m not saying that tests are easy, but if you put the work in you should have no issues.

All the tests above, including all theory were passed first time by myself.
That doesn’t make me the best driver, I just worked had and listened.