anthonysdrivingschool.com » LATEST TIPS

Filling Up Is A Gas!

anthony — Tue, 31 Aug 2010 01:17:39 +0000

Gas Station Blues?

One of the things that many learners and newly qualified drivers dread the most is the thought of going to the petrol station to fuel up the car!

Ok, all motorists dread going to the gas station to fill up but usually the dread comes from seeing the latest fuel price increase!

However if you are a new driver the idea of filling the tank yourself can be scary.

In Cyprus we are spoiled because almost all petrol stations still have attendants who do it for you. Sooner or later though, you will have to fuel up after hours or at the weekend when there is no attendant but just a cash machine!

Here are some things to remember to make it less of a stressful experience:-

Make sure you know on which side of your car the fuel tank filler cap is situated so that you know on which side of the pump to park your car!

Be familiar with how you open the fuel cap-does it open with a key or is there a release catch (next to your seat, for example).

Make sure you know what kind and grade of fuel your car uses! You don`t want to be putting diesel in a petrol driven car or vice versa!

Make a mental note of the pump number you are parked at before going to the machine to insert your cash otherwise you might be paying for somebody else to fill their tank!

Remember to remove the pump nozzle after filling up and refit the filler cap before driving off!

It is a good idea to go to the gas station with an experienced driver to watch what they do before attempting to fill up for the first time on your own.

Driving At The Correct Speed-Are You A Hare Or A Tortoise?

anthony — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 00:09:18 +0000

Read The Road Ahead And Adjust Your Speed Accordingly!

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Many learner drivers have problems with driving at the correct speed in any given situation. We can divide these learners into two groups which, with no insult intended, I will call the hares and the tortoises!

The hares are those that over rev the engine in each gear, frequently drive over the speed limit and do not accurately anticipate changing traffic conditions ahead.The result is that they often have to react and brake suddenly. This style of driving will leave any passenger in the car feeling uneasy.

The tortoises are the complete opposite to the hares, as you would expect. They feel safer and happier staying in second gear, keeping well below the speed limit at all times, despite the line of traffic building up behind them.

Do you perhaps fall into one of these categories? Be honest with yourself now! Both the hares and the tortoises are driving in a way that will not impress a driving examiner.

Firstly you have the safety issue. The hares can be caught out by situations and have to react quickly, with heavy braking.This in turn can catch out another hare in a vehicle behind, or emerging from a junction, who may not be able to stop in time.

The tortoises will frustrate and annoy any other drivers because they are not making proper progress according to the prevailing traffic conditions. This may lead another motorist to attempt a risky overtaking manouevre. Also, the tortoises will very often have other drivers pulling out infront of them from side roads because they are in effect handing out an invitation to do just that by driving too slowly for the traffic conditions.

Apart from the impression we make on the driving examiner and the safety issue, we have the economic and environmental issues to consider. Driving at more constant, even speeds, with as little harsh acceleration and braking as possible, not only feels more relaxing-it saves you money! You will use less fuel and put less wear on your tyres , brakes and suspension.This in turn has a positive effect on the environment.

So how should we drive? Good driving is about good observation and anticipation.You have to be constantly monitoring the situation, assessing possible hazards and adjusting your speed according to changes in traffic conditions. To do this well needs concentration and experience. The more practice you have, the better you will get at so called "defensive" driving. Defensive driving doesn`t mean driving slowly-it means driving at the correct speed and with awareness of all that is going on around you so that you are able to safely deal with any unexpected events. By the way, the better you get at this technique, the fewer unexpected events you will come across!

Generally, you should drive as close to the speed limit as traffic conditions safely allow. Be careful not to be drawn into speeding because all the other traffic is breaking the speed limit. You cannot use that as an excuse to the driving examiner or to the Police!

As previously stated, these observations are not in any way intended to insult any learner driver. Hopefully, if you recognize that you are a hare or a tortoise, you will, with help from your driving instructor, be able to take steps to correct your driving style in order that you are better prepared for the driving test and for your future as a safe, responsible driver.

Dealing With Traffic Lights

anthony — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 10:08:24 +0000

Will It Change?!

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Traffic lights are very common in built up areas and are a very effective way to control the flow of traffic at intersections. They give the traffic clear and simple instructions as to how to behave - who should proceed and who should stop. The only time you really need to show skill and judgement is when turning right at the traffic lights because unless there is a filter arrow showing, you have to give priority to oncoming vehicles. So in theory, junctions controlled by traffic lights should be the easiest type of intersection for learner drivers to deal with.

However, many students have problems with traffic lights which cause them to fail their driving test. So let us go through some of the mistakes that are being made.

Some learners have difficulty stopping in the right place. Remember that if the light is already red as you approach , you should stop without passing the first line. Of course, sometimes the lines are not very clearly marked but keep in mind that the first line is always just before the traffic light on your left. Sometimes it pays to stop a little further back so you can clearly see that light on your left because some drivers have a habit of creeping forward at red lights and if it is a high sided vehicle next to you that does this it may obscure the other traffic light opposite you completely!

If the lights are just changing against you as you approach, it doesn`t matter too much if you just pass the first line before you stop, as you don`t want to be stopping too suddenly. However, if you are going to pass the third line and be in the middle of the junction, then you shouldn`t be trying to stop anyway.

This brings us to speed on approach to lights. Some learners make the mistake of speeding up as they approach the lights in order to get there before they change.This is like playing russian roulette-sooner or later you will get caught out and it is very dangerous. Some other learners make the opposite mistake-driving very slowly towards a green light as though hoping it will change. Although not so dangerous this is also wrong and is likely to frustrate and annoy any drivers behind you.

By the time you reach test standard you should have developed a feel for when the traffic lights are due to change. This comes with experience and good observation-for example:-a long line of cars waiting on the left & right of the intersection as you approach could imply that your green light is about to change. So if you sense the light may soon go against you, approach at a speed that you have your options open. Ideally you should have enough momentum that you can actually remove your foot from the accelerator and hover over the brake as you get nearer. When you are about a cars length or so from the lights you can be back on the gas pedal because if the lights start to change then, it is probably too late to stop safely anyway. Always check your mirror so that you know the distance and speed of any vehicle behind you, as this information can influence your decision in a 50-50 situation. Be aware too that many drivers seem to be colour blind and wont necessarily wait for their light to change to green!

Approach the lights in the correct gear-if you are intending to turn you should be slowing to 2nd gear as you get near and even if you are intending to go straight, you should be in no higher than 3rd gear.

As I previously mentioned, turning right at the lights is the most diffcult task. Fortunately most of the traffic lights in built up areas are now fitted with filter arrows which give the first few cars a chance to turn without giving way to oncoming traffic. As you approach a red light to turn right, determine if the light has a filter next to or under the lights and if it does keep your eyes on it. Because of the strong sunlight in Cyprus and the dust that accumulates on the lights(does anybody clean them?), sometimes the only way you will notice the arrow is lit up is if you are looking at it when it comes on. That being said, if there is a car behind you, don`t worry -you will soon be informed by the driver that the filter arrow is on!

If you don`t arrive in time to take advantage of the filter arrow, then remember to give priority to oncoming traffic before turning. If there are already two cars(or one longer vehicle such as a truck) waiting in the middle of the junction to turn right, then stay back until the first vehicle is clearing. If the light is still green you should move forward to become the second car in the middle. If the amber light is on don`t move into the middle-stay where you are and wait for the next sequence of the lights. When you are in the middle and heavy oncoming traffic has meant you haven`t found a chance to turn right be aware that once the lights are changing against you, you must clear the junction as soon as is safely possible.

You may have to let an oncoming car pass if it is obvious it is not able or willing to stop at the lights just as they are changing-but make sure you don`t get stranded in the middle of the intersection. Sometimes just inching forward slightly gives the hint to a cheeky oncoming motorist that his light is red and he really needs to stop! If you stay completely motionless many drivers will think that this is an opportunity for them to sneak across the red light-they won`t be thinking about poor you getting stranded in the middle of the crossroads with the lights against you!

Whilst waiting at a red light it is advisable to apply the handbrake but- having checked you are in first gear-keep your left hand on the handbrake otherwise if you have put it back on the steering wheel it is so easy to forget the handbrake is on once you see the green light coming on!

Take Care At Mini-Roundabouts

anthony — Sun, 17 Jan 2010 10:49:21 +0000

Beware of Vehicles Taking A Shortcut!

Mini-Roundabouts are being installed more often in Cyprus these days as a convenient way of controlling traffic at intersections in quieter residential areas. Generally they work very well but just a word of warning...

The basic rules of roundabout use apply-which of course means that on reaching a mini-roundabout you give way to any vehicle approaching from the right. However be extra careful because a lot of drivers seem to think that as the roundabout doesn`t physically exist but is just painted on the road surface, they can treat it as being for decorative purposes only! In other words you might have a situation where a car takes a short cut right across the roundabout. This can catch you out if you were taking it for granted that it was going to take the proper route around the roundabout.

So when trying to assess if you have time to safely enter the mini-roundabout take note of the speed of any vehicle approaching from your right. Mini-roundabouts are by nature small and require you to go fairly slowly to negotiate them properly. So a driver approaching too fast may be giving you an unintended clue that he intends to treat it as an overabout rather than a roundabout!

By the way- always expect larger vehicles such as trucks, buses and those hollywood-style stretched limos to take a shortcut over a mini-roundabout. At least they have the excuse that they cannot possibly take the tight turn to go around properly!

Stopping Smoothly

anthony — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 03:13:01 +0000

Biting The Dust

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A lot of learner drivers worry about the fact that they cannot stop the car very smoothly. When you are a passenger in a car driven by an experienced driver you will notice that the car usually comes to a nice smooth stop with very little or none of that sensation of being pulled forward in your seat after the car has stopped.

So how can you also stop the car as smoothly as that? And is it that important? Well, to be honest it is not that easy to do and takes time and practice to perfect. Basically, the secret is that at the precise instant that the car is coming to a stop you shouldn`t still be braking hard, but infact easing off the pressure ever so slightly so that the car actually more or less stops by itself. Once the car is stationary, the brake pressure is increased again to avoid the possibility of the car rolling either forwards or backwards. The changes in pressure on the brake pedal are very subtle and should not be noticeable to a passenger. Of course to be able to have the possibility to decrease the brake pressure just as you are stopping means that you already have full control of the car and have already reduced your speed to the point that the last meter or so before the car stops is actually no more than a controlled roll. This is where practice is required:-being able to time your slowing down and accurately using the correct amount of braking in various situations is a skill that needs to be developed.

The good news is that when you sit your driving test the examiner does not expect you to be able to stop perfectly smoothly. That doesn`t mean you can get away with doing emergency stops at every junction of course! However, an occasional slightly sharp stop should not be a problem. Having said that, being able to stop the car smoothly can only make a good impression on the examiner. Don`t worry too much about it though, because you will find that as you get more experience, you will develop this skill without even thinking about it.

Driving In Bad Weather

anthony — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 22:52:15 +0000

Roads Can Become Rivers!

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Some learner drivers will cancel or postpone a lesson rather than drive when it is raining! If it is your first or second lesson that is understandable but sooner or later you will have to drive in rainy conditions! It could even happen on the day of your driving test, so better to face it before that!

The recent heavy rains, flash floods and localised tornadoes prove that even in "sunny Cyprus" we can experience bad weather conditions whilst driving. So what should we do in these cases? Well, if the weather conditions are extremely bad, you should think twice about using your car in the first place. Is the journey really necessary or can it wait until the weather clears up?

Realistically, there are times when you will have to drive in bad weather so it pays to be prepared in advance. Most bad weather does give some advance warning, so there is no excuse for not at least making some basic checks on your vehicle to ensure it is in tip-top condition. If you have no idea about basic mechanics or are just not interested in doing these checks yourself, get your local mechanic to give your car the once-over before winter begins. Here are a few of the things to check for:

Tyres-Make sure they have plenty of tread left, are not unevenly worn and are inflated to the correct pressure. If you don`t do high mileages in your car, and have had your tyres for some time, check that they have not perished. The strong sun and hot conditions in Cyprus take a toll on rubber and plastic car parts. The tyres may look OK treadwise but if they are very hard to the touch or show signs of cracks or wrinkles on the sidewalls they really should be replaced. Don`t neglect to check the most important tyre you have-the spare wheel!
Windscreen Wipers-Don`t wait until you are caught in a thunderstorm to discover your wiper blades have perished and are smearing instead of clearing the water! Check also that the screen washer system is working. (Putting some white vinegar in the washer bottle can help to stop limescale from clogging up the narrow nozzles that spray the water onto the screen)
Lights-Make sure all your lights are working properly so that you can see and be seen in bad weather conditions.
Heater & Screen heater-These are often neglected until they are needed.
Car Battery-Get your auto-electrician to check your battery and electrical system is fit for the extra workload it will face during bad weather conditions.
Antifreeze- Yes, even in Cyprus there are times when your engine cooling system could freeze up over night. Check that you have the correct amount of antifreeze in the system and check all hoses and replace any dodgy ones before they let you down!

Driving in bad weather conditions means making adjustments to your driving style. Most importantly, it will mean driving slower and leaving more distance between you and the vehicle in front of you. Try to avoid sudden braking or changes of direction, especially if the roads are icy.

If the roads have been dry for a long time, the first rain can leave the road surface very slippery as there will be deposits of oil and tyre rubber which can form a dangerous and invisible hazzard. Expect this mostly at traffic lights and junctions where vehicles are stopping frequently and spending time stationary.

In Cyprus the roads tend to flood very quickly so watch out for deep puddles or even road rivers! Try to avoid the deepest water where possible and drive slowly so as not to get water into your engine bay, or your engine could stall or even be seriously damaged.

Also, try not to drench any unfortunate pedestrian or biker by going through a puddle too fast. If you`ve ever experienced that yourself, you will know how unpleasant it is! I`ve seen a few 4x4 and "double cab" drivers doing this.

When coming out of a deep puddle press the brake pedal lightly for a few seconds to help dry off the brakes.

Switch on your lights when visibility is poor by all means but remember fog lights are only meant for fog! I see a lot of drivers who put them on whenever it rains, with the result that they dazzle other drivers.

There are times when the rain is so heavy that your wipers just can`t cope. If you can`t see properly, the only thing to do is find somewhere safe to pull over and wait for it to ease off.

Remember To Learn The Highway Code!

anthony — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 12:51:53 +0000

The Highway Code Book Must Be Studied Well!

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Yes, I know there are a lot of signs in the highway code book to memorize and many of them are never seen on the roads of Cyprus. Many people ask me why there is a page about railway crossings when we don`t have trains in Cyprus! The fact is that many of the signs are international and you will be getting an EU licence, so you really need to know them all.

You will be tested on the highway code by an examiner twice: once when you go to obtain your provisional licence and then again before setting off on your driving test.

It isn`t that difficult! The easiest way to learn the signs is by category.In other words-

Triangular signs are warnings of some sort

Round signs with red borders are prohibitive or NO signs

Round blue signs are compulsory signs telling something you have to do.

Round blue signs with red borders are parking related , etc, etc.

Breaking the signs down into categories like that makes it easier to identify them, especially as some signs are quite similar.

As the highway code test is still done verbally, you aren`t given much time to think about your replies, so you need to have learnt the book thoroughly so you can answer quickly. Long pauses or wild guesses will not impress the examiner!

You do not have to learn the exact wording in the book, in fact it is better to express yourself in your own words, as long as the examiner realizes that you understand the meaning of the sign, road marking or hand signal in question.

Having looked through the book a few times, concentrate more on the signs that do not give you a visual clue by looking at them:-

It Virtually Describes Itself!

No Clue From The Picture Here!

This No Right Turn Sign, for example should be much easier to learn than this No Parking Or Stopping Sign!

Some people make the effort to learn the highway code for the provisional test, and then promptly forget all about it after that!

Remember that on the day of your driving test, the highway code test comes right at the beginning. If the examiner is not satisfied that you know the signs, you will fail the driving test without even sitting behind the wheel! That can and does happen, so don`t let it happen to you!

Parking On A Slope

anthony — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 20:01:58 +0000

What If The Handbrake Fails?

I remember an incident years ago when I did a double-take upon seeing a neighbour`s Mini car rolling sedately and silently down the road, followed seconds later by said neighbour, looking anything but sedate as she tried to catch up with her escaped vehicle!.

Yes, she had parked it outside her house and forgotten to put the handbrake on! Luckily the slope was gentle and the car rolled harmlessly into the kerb.

Recently I heard about a similar but more scary incident when a vehicle could have rolled off a cliff onto a house below. Fortunately that didn`t happen as the car hit a wall which stopped it, albeit causing extensive damage to the vehicle.

So what are the lessons to be learnt from these incidents?

Firstly, never ever leave your vehicle parked without applying the handbrake. Sometimes an incline can be so slight that you don`t even realise that it is a slope.Your car will certainly realise it though!

Secondly, if you are parking on a very steep hill, never rely solely on the handbrake to hold the car. Always take the extra measure of leaving the car in gear. If you drive an automatic you usually have no choice anyway, as in most cars you have to select "Park" before you can remove the ignition key. In a manual car, select first gear if you are facing up the hill and reverse if you are facing down it. That way, even if you didn`t pull the handbrake up sufficiently, or even in the unlikely event of the handbrake cable snapping, your car will move only an inch or so and then stop again.

As a third precaution when parking on very steep slopes, you should leave your wheels turned so that if the car does roll it will roll into the pavement and hopefully come to rest.

Oh and when you come back to your car later, do remember that you have left it in gear! Take it out of gear or press down fully on the clutch before attempting to start the engine otherwise your car will lurch forward or backward and maybe hit another parked vehicle!

Driving Test Nerves!

anthony — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 21:16:43 +0000

Driving Test Nerves?

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Everybody is at least a little bit nervous on the day of their driving test. Take with a pinch of salt any stories you may hear from people who say they were completely relaxed during their test and made no mistakes at all. People tend to have a selective memory when it comes to recalling their driving tests! Actually, very few people drive faultlessly during the driving test. In any case, remember that the examiner is not looking for or expecting perfection. He is looking for safe, controlled, confident, courteous driving-but not perfection.

Being a little nervous is normal and natural and can be helpful. After all, it is during times of stress that the body releases adrenaline, which makes the brain more alert and efficient. The important thing is not to let the nerves take over, to the point where your legs turn to jelly and you cannot perform at your best.

Easier said than done though, isn`t it? So what can you do to keep calm for your driving test? Well, you have to be sensible about this. Don`t even think about drinking alcohol to relax you before the test! That would be stupid and dangerous! The same applies to any sort of drugs or funny cigarettes!

It is possible to ask a pharmacist for something mild to calm your nerves. You could also ask your doctor for advice if you suffer from more severe stress problems.

There are various herbal remedies available, which do work for some people. Other people have claimed to have been helped by hypnosis techniques.

For the majority of people these methods will not be necessary, but if you really feel that you need extra help to control your nerves, then by all means consider them.

I find that putting pupils through mock tests as the big day approaches helps to prepare them for the real test and reduces nerves. Even though a mock test is not “real”, it still gets you used to the pressure of being tested, and means that it won`t be something new and unfamiliar on the day of the actual test.

Don`t increase the pressure on yourself by thinking you have to pass at all costs. Try to tell as few people as possible exactly when your driving test is. Don`t think about what friends or relatives will say if you fail.

Try to think positively, and give it your best shot-but if you don`t pass it really isn`t the end of the world(it just seems that way!). Sometimes the line between pass and fail is very thin.You will succeed, just don`t give up!

Think about how far you have progressed to get from total beginner to this stage and remember you just have that one more hurdle to get over. You will get there!

Lose Your Fear of Driving!

Emergency STOP!

anthony — Sun, 27 Sep 2009 08:41:54 +0000

Emegency Stop!

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It is fairly unlikely that the examiner will ask you to do an emergency stop during your driving test. However, you do need to practice it just in case!

It isn`t difficult and should only take you a few attempts to perfect. After all, if you have been learning to drive in Cyprus, you have probably done a few real ones already during your lessons!

The examiner is always going to pre-warn you if he is going to ask you to do an emergency stop-he can`t just spring it on you as a surprise!

The examiner will choose a quiet road so that you do not cause a problem to other road users.

You are not going to have time to check your mirrors, indicate or change gear-remember it is supposed to be an emergency situation!

When he tells you to stop by slapping the dashboard with his clipboard or hand, you will be expected to stop the car as quickly as possible, without losing control, locking the wheels or skidding.

Use firm, progressive pressure on the brake, keeping just short of the point when the wheels will lock up. Follow up by pressing the clutch fully to the floor to avoid stalling the engine. At the relatively slow speed that you will be doing during this excercise, it is OK to press the clutch at the same time as the brake as long as the pressure on the brake is sufficient to stop the car free-wheeling and speeding up before the braking takes hold. What you must never do is press the clutch down before the brake, so beware of that.

Once the car has completely stopped you should apply the handbrake , select neutral and await the examiner`s instructions to proceed. I find many learners have difficulty at first in keeping both hands on the wheel until the car has completely stopped. The left hand is usually ready on the handbrake whilst the car is still moving!

Another common mistake is stopping the car too gently! Remember this is the one time you need to see the examiner pulled forward slightly in his seat as you come to a stop!

Make sure there are no unsecured objects in the car, mobile phones, bottles of water etc which will launch forward when you brake hard!

Remember to make the usual observation checks before moving off again, and signalling if need be.

That`s all there is to it!