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 [...]]]>

Biting The Dust

Buy at AllPosters.com

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.

Overtaking an other vehicle is something most learner drivers are not keen to do.It takes some practice to develop the skill and confidence to complete an overtaking manoeuvre quickly and safely. It is better to start by learning to pass vehicles moving much slower than yours, such as tractors or heavy goods [...]]]>

Safe Overtaking

Overtaking an other vehicle is something most learner drivers are not keen to do.It takes some practice to develop the skill and confidence to complete an overtaking manoeuvre quickly and safely.
It is better to start by learning to pass vehicles moving much slower than yours, such as tractors or heavy goods vehicles,before trying to overtake other cars.It also helps to learn overtaking on a dual carriageway,where you don`t have to deal with oncoming traffic.
Firstly,you should ask yourself,is it necessary to overtake?In other words,will you gain much from passing the other vehicle?
Many times I have been overtaken by a vehicle only to have to use my brakes as the car pulls back in front of me and immediately slows down to make a left or right turn!What was the point of that?
It is most important to leave a reasonable gap between you and the vehicle you are going to overtake.This enables you to see oncoming vehicles from far away and also allows you room to build up your speed to make the manouvre quickly and get back on the correct side of the road.
I see many experienced drivers who try to overtake when they are nose to tail with the car infront and therefore cannot safely see if there is oncoming traffic.
Having checked both oncoming traffic and traffic behind you,you should indicate your intention by signalling,select a gear that will give you enough acceleration to overtake briskly(that may mean changing down a gear), and then move out onto the opposite lane.Having passed the other vehicle,check your rear view mirror,signal again where necessary and move back into your lane.
Checking your mirror before moving back into your lane is very important.Many drivers do not do that and begin moving back into their lane when still only half way past the car they are overtaking!
A few years ago,I was side-swiped by an overtaking car whilst doing a lesson and the other driver didn`t even realise that she had hit us!
Remember,when you are being overtaken to back off the accelerator a little as the other car draws alongside you to assist the overtaking manoeuvre.
As with all manoeuvres,if you are in doubt about whether it is safe to overtake, best not to attempt it,as you will probably be hesitant.