Do you return to old habits after passing the driving test?

Mr.Success

Do you always maintain your driving habits like you practised for your test or do you end up coasting, not checking mirrors, and not changing up and down gears at the right times.

challengemaster

Well that stuff is sort of important to keep doing...

however the whole both hands on the steering wheel constantly thing...you won't instantly crash or implode if you dont do it... and there's an armrest in the car for a reason

**Timbuk2**

Yes! I don't like reading or hearing people saying "you'll never drive that way again" - everything you learn is important, and you learn it for a reason! Once you get into good habits (checking mirrors, checking blindspots, push-pull steering) it's easy to keep it going!

Having said that, I've noticed that nowadays I sometimes don't come to a complete stop at stop signs, instead just going slowly and proceeding if the way is clear. I didn't even pass any remarks that I was doing that, until my brother (who was learning, has passed his test now) pointed it out to me in the car (I probably told him to make sure to stop at the stop lines). I wouldn't do that in the test, but I honestly believe there are stop signs in places where a yield sign would more than suffice (where there is large visibility). Conversely, there's a good few examples I can think of where there are yield signs that should really be stop signs.

I keep trying to improve mine to be honest, and I certainly use mirrors a lot more now, not less

Compton

nope do nearly nothing by the test.. I drive with my elbows now and use the pedals with my knees. Its fun

Captain Havoc

I drive as I did my test (pretty much), anyone who thinks there's no need to pay attention or not bother about how to approach a roundabout etc... has a Darwin award coming their way (or at least an insurance claim form).

donkey balls

Back when I did my test in the 90s they required you to go around a corner in 2nd gear:eek: could never figure out why other than that I haven't changed.

TheUsual

When I passed my car test first time, I swear I drove like an asshole because I thought I was the best guy on the road.

Passed my motorbike test later on, and I realised that I had learned the rules of the road, but not really understood them, just memorized them.

Passed my bus license and that was the hardest test to do in my opinion. Now I am one of those bores that sees drivers overtake illegally or dont't yield at roundabouts.

Most young drivers are fine but all young drivers think they are great. Not true.

ec18

just don't do push pull really is about it...do everything else though

pudzey101

ec18 wrote: »

just don't do push pull really is about it...do everything else though

same here:) think eveyone has that habbit now:) i also dont check my mirrors as often as your supose to in your test...and give people the odd beep if there stalling at lights/traffic:) but other than that iv no other habbits lol

Digits

I passed last Monday and the old habits are already creeping in (one hand on the steering wheel, not checking mirrors properly, not stopping at some stop signs etc) but tbh some of them thing would drive ya demented if you had to do them every day. I certainly did learn a lot of good practices and still continue them but I cut out all the tedious stuff.

spurious

bluewolf wrote: »

I keep trying to improve mine to be honest, and I certainly use mirrors a lot more now, not less

I'd be the same. I feel if I re-sat my test now I'd pass it with a lot less trouble than I had before.

I_am_LOST

Haven't done my test yet but I have a feeling I will get into bad habits or coasting and not going up and down gears properly but that's about it. I don't think any other bad habits are acceptable (not that the ones I listed are but maybe they're not quite so bad).

For example, it's shocking how people don't check mirrors properly - it doesn't take much of an effort like!! And it's one of the most important parts of driving in my opinion.

I agree with the poster about some stop/yield signs though.

Oh, I probably won't use the handbrake as much either when sitting in traffic for less than a minute like

But yeah...I'll try not to do it!

13spanner

Yep. 1 hand on the wheel, one on the gear knob. Check mirrors the odd time, only when reversing really. Open the door and look back while reversing the odd time Learn it all for a 20 minute test, 80% of it went out the window for me. You'll learn more from experiences through-out the years than you will from any driving lesson...

fearcruach

I kept checking the mirrors and blind spots, indicating properly on roundabouts, correct motorway lane discipline (not on the test but from the Rules of the Road).

The hand position only goes to ten to two if it gets really windy (drive a punto and it's all over the place in wind). Going round most roundabouts in 2nd is out the window too, and also the Stop sign stop - it's more of a slow down and edge out while looking around

ADIDriving

Mr. Success the question becomes, do or will you keep driving properly? From the range of answers most people let bad habits in (more then admit it here). Others keep trying to get better.

challengemaster

ADIDriving wrote: »

Mr. Success the question becomes, do or will you keep driving properly? From the range of answers most people let bad habits in (more then admit it here). Others keep trying to get better.

Having a "bad habit" while driving such as not having both hands on the wheel 24/7 doesn't make you any worse of a driver, though, which is what you seem to be implying.

ADIDriving

challengemaster wrote: »

Having a "bad habit" while driving such as not having both hands on the wheel 24/7 doesn't make you any worse of a driver, though, which is what you seem to be implying.

Stop looking for challenges where there is none. My first post was not a reply to you.

challengemaster

ADIDriving wrote: »

Stop looking for challenges where there is none. My first post was not a reply to you.

I'm aware it wasn't, but that doesn't mean I can't read it.