How to improve observation and braking?

af_thefragile

This seems to be a bit of a problem with me and my driving instructor has repeatedly pointed out this one thing at the end of most lessons.

I'm fine most of the times but a lot of times I forget to look into the rear view mirror before signaling, end up just signaling and checking out the side mirror to see if anyone's coming. A few times I forget to look into the side mirror when turning into or coming off a round about as it was an empty road and I knew no one was behind me. A lot of times I also have to be reminded by my instructor to check my mirrors, look behind before taking off and stuff like that.

I do feel a lot of times its due to the nerves I forget to do one or two things. Its like I've got all these "checklists" going on in my mind at some tricky situations that I end up missing one or two things and I guess this really wouldn't be good for the driving test.

I did notice when I'm fairly relaxed I rarely make any mistake or forget anything. Its only when I get nervous and "trying to do it right" that I start to cock things up...


Also another thing, when I break, I try to be gentle at first and keep applying more pressure till I reach the spot I want the car to be stopped at. In this way most of the time the car comes to a stop with a bit of a jolt. Its not very abrupt but you can still feel it. I feel if I break earlier, I slow down a bit too soon and will end up stopping much before the stopping point so I end up mostly feathering the brake till I'm like past the yellow sign traveling at around 10-20kmph about 5 car lengths from the lights/stopping line and then break more firmly till I reach the point where I want the car to stop when I think I press in more firmly to get the car to a total stop which causes the car to jolt a little as it stops. I don't know if this could get me penalised during my driving test but if it does how could I make my braking better?


So any advice on how I could make sure I don't do any such cockups during my test. Thanks!

ADI34722

af_thefragile wrote: »

This seems to be a bit of a problem with me and my driving instructor has repeatedly pointed out this one thing at the end of most lessons.

I'm fine most of the times but a lot of times I forget to look into the rear view mirror before signaling, end up just signaling and checking out the side mirror to see if anyone's coming. A few times I forget to look into the side mirror when turning into or coming off a round about as it was an empty road and I knew no one was behind me. A lot of times I also have to be reminded by my instructor to check my mirrors, look behind before taking off and stuff like that.

I do feel a lot of times its due to the nerves I forget to do one or two things. Its like I've got all these "checklists" going on in my mind at some tricky situations that I end up missing one or two things and I guess this really wouldn't be good for the driving test.

I did notice when I'm fairly relaxed I rarely make any mistake or forget anything. Its only when I get nervous and "trying to do it right" that I start to cock things up...


Also another thing, when I break, I try to be gentle at first and keep applying more pressure till I reach the spot I want the car to be stopped at. In this way most of the time the car comes to a stop with a bit of a jolt. Its not very abrupt but you can still feel it. I feel if I break earlier, I slow down a bit too soon and will end up stopping much before the stopping point so I end up mostly feathering the brake till I'm like past the yellow sign traveling at around 10-20kmph about 5 car lengths from the lights/stopping line and then break more firmly till I reach the point where I want the car to stop when I think I press in more firmly to get the car to a total stop which causes the car to jolt a little as it stops. I don't know if this could get me penalised during my driving test but if it does how could I make my braking better?


So any advice on how I could make sure I don't do any such cockups during my test. Thanks!

Mirrors during your driving test does not fall into observation on the driving test as such. Anything to do with mirrors falls into the Mirrors section on the test sheet. You would get marked on "Mirrors on the straight" if you are contuniually checking the mirrors (ie 3-5 seconds) while travelling straight. This is a common instructoral fault that we come across from time to time. Remember Observation means looking at where you are going. Observation turning right faults come from failing to look right into turns before you turn in. As the old saying goes.... Look before you leap.

As for braking this is an experince issue. The cars we use (Honda Jazz) have brake disks on all four wheels and have what you might call "sensitive" pedals. When coming to a complete stop try releasing the brake just a fraction and allowing the car to stop rather than making it stop with a "jolt". Takes abit of practice but will make sence when done right.

driverite

Mirrors during your driving test does not fall into observation on the driving test as such. Anything to do with mirrors falls into the Mirrors section on the test sheet. You would get marked on "Mirrors on the straight" if you are contuniually checking the mirrors (ie 3-5 seconds) while travelling straight. This is a common instructoral fault that we come across from time to time. Remember Observation means looking at where you are going. Observation turning right faults come from failing to look right into turns before you turn in. As the old saying goes.... Look before you leap.

I diagree on a couple of points ADI34722....Its not a Mirror fault for over looking in your mirror's. This is marked as a reaction to hassard when the person is late reacting to something in front of him because he/she is not looking.

And an all Observation Marks are awarded for NOT looking in your mirrors, Not in the direction you are going, For an example Observation turning right mark is awarded when a person does not look into there out side mirror when turning right because you have to check your blindspot, Its nothing to do with looking into the road you are turning into,



In a Van, Truck and Bus outside Mirrors are marked as Mirrors but in a Car they are always marked as Observation

Also i agree with you about the Breaking

cruizer101

Just on the braking I used to make the same mistake, still do a bit.

The trick is to ease the pressure off the brake pedal a small bit just before you actually stop, so its nearly like the car is just coming to a natural stop and that the braking was just to slow it down to nearly stopped.

So still a bit of pressure but just ease up at the end.

I don't think you would be directly penailised for this, unless very bad, but its all about making the tester feel comfortable being a passenger in your car and this helps.

ADI34722

driverite wrote: »

I diagree on a couple of points ADI34722....Its not a Mirror fault for over looking in your mirror's. This is marked as a reaction to hassard when the person is late reacting to something in front of him because he/she is not looking.

And an all Observation Marks are awarded for NOT looking in your mirrors, Not in the direction you are going, For an example Observation turning right mark is awarded when a person does not look into there out side mirror when turning right because you have to check your blindspot, Its nothing to do with looking into the road you are turning into,



In a Van, Truck and Bus outside Mirrors are marked as Mirrors but in a Car they are always marked as Observation

Also i agree with you about the Breaking

I dont want to hi-jack this thread anymore than we have to so i've set-up a new thread for instructors to post there opinion on different marks and where they fall on the test.

brian076

Drivrite is correct, mirrors are generally classed under the "Observation" heading except for the "Mirrors on the Straight". It's very unusual however to be marked for MOS as the tester would have to be staring at the candidate the whole time.
Probably the most common mirror fault is not checking your right mirror when changing lane to turn right, this is marked as "Observtion Changing Lane"

af_thefragile

Thanks for the replies.

As I started driving by taking lessons, it has become an instinctive habbit of mine to look into the side mirror before I make a turn or switch lanes. Its only the center/rear view mirror I forget to check at times.

As I was saying I sometimes forget things like looking behind your shoulder before taking off or I forget to indicate right before taking off or forget to indicate left at a roundabout (though this is very rare)...

And about the breaking thing, the car I drive on has quite sensitive brakes too as its all disc breaks. Instinct always tells me to push in the pedal to get the car to a complete stop. I kind fear if I don't press in the car might keep rolling forward and hit something up ahead or pass the white line. I'll try to ease off the break a little before the car comes to a complete stop the next time I'm driving... Might take a little extra thinking but with some practice it should become a habit hopefully and I should be able to drive more smoothly...

Thanks guys!