How do I keep improving?

hippiechickie

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CamperMan

keep driving!!

Mr. Frost

Do you drive to work/college? How far is it? You kind of need to get out there and drive on a variety of different roads daily. You'll soon improve.

When I was learning I was driving from North County Dublin to Leopardstown everyday and I'd consider myself a better driver because of it - well what I mean is it helped me be a better driver sooner rather than later...

So like I said, when you can find time just get in your car and drive somewhere - through town, get on the motorway. You'll become accustomed to many different forms of traffic and hazards...

hippiechickie

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timmywex

Maybe do an advanced course or get more advanced lessons aimed at advance driving?

Its all about practice, confidence and the rest will pick up eventually

Thoie

Maybe set up a running commentary for yourself while driving? Or ask a more experienced friend/family member to come for random spins with you and provide the commentary?

So, get into car.
Mirrors, seat position, seat belt, neutral, engine on, lights, engage and off to Neverland!

Roundabout ahead sign
Check mirrors, decide on lane, mirrors, indicate, gears, brake, observe...

That kind of thing. Some evening when you've nothing better to do, take a look at the rules of the road book, and look through the road signs section. Imagine you're driving and think what you'd have to do when you saw each of those signs. So when you see a speed sign in the distance you want to prepare to slow down to that speed as you approach it. Level crossing sign - look around for red or orange lights, prepare to stop, look around, etc.

If you can get a friend to sit in the car with you, play a game with the engine on, sitting in your driveway, where they'll yell "wipers!" or "dims!" and you have to do that immediately. If you get the wrong thing you have to pay a forfeit.

It's all about getting into a mindset where these things come automatically. When you start driving first you have to remember all these things - one day you'll be driving, and realise that you didn't have to actively think about the steps to change gear - you just decided to change gear, and your feet and hands did the rest.

Permabear

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Wishbone Ash

donegalfella wrote: »

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Not helped by all those instructors out there doing those stupid "pre-tests" instead of giving proper driving lessons.

brian076

Wishbone Ash wrote: »

Not helped by all those instructors out there doing those stupid "pre-tests" instead of giving proper driving lessons.

Unfair comment, in general instructors can only do what's reqiured by the pupil. In an ideal world everyone would take 10 or 15 lessons starting off and get experience in being taught how to drive in most situations except motorway driving. If however learners elect to take 1 or 2 lessons then basically teach themselves until just before their driving test what can an instructor do?

Permabear

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brian076

donegalfella wrote: »

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I fully agree and I think this will be the case at some stage either this year or early next year, but at the moment instructors can only give "stupid pre-tests" if that's what the customer wants.
I can only speak for myself, but if someone takes 10 lessons, I'll teach them how to park, how to negotiate country roads, night driving and various other aspects of driving not necessarily essential to passing the driving test.
The point I was making however, is that at the moment not everyone will take 10 lessons, and instructors are often called on a few days before a test to try and correct bad habits built up over years of driving by people who are self-taught.

Permabear

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brian076

donegalfella wrote: »

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Yes that's exactly the point, and despite the criticisms levelled at the RSA (many of which are justified), I'm sure that's the route they're going. We'll still have people moaning about having to take 10 or 15 lessons but in the long run it's going to save them time and money, through cheaper insurance and fewer attempts at the test