Why do different instructor say different things?

redarmy1929

Went out for a lesson with a driving instructor the other day.

He told me a couple of things that were strange I thought.

First he said it was ok to stop in 4th gear.

Secondly he said when at a junction with lights, and I'm going to turn right, that I shouldnt look left.

Other instructors Ive had said the opposite, which is correct?

loobylou

Its perfectly ok to stop in 4th gear, especially approaching a situation where you MUST stop.
Its equally ok to go down through the gears as you slow to a stop. The problem with the latter is that beginners often don't come back fully off the clutch between gear changes and effectively coast to a halt.
Not sure what you mean in the second scenario. Possibly he meant there was no need to look left when proceeding through the junction on a green light. Wouldn't recommend this myself though, a quick glance is always advisable. If you are first or second car through take a good look to your left, there may be someone running a red from your left.

I can't tell you why

As a driving instructor, this is something I hate about driving instructors.
So many instructors say that X or Y is the correct way of doing something and you must not do it any other way. The reality is that there is usually correct WAYS and incorrect WAYS.
It can be perfectly acceptable to make no gear change from 4th ( or 5th or even 6th ) before stopping. It can also be perfectly fine to change down through every gear before stopping. Often the problem is that the driver is not doing which ever method they choose correctly, eg; leaving their foot on the clutch too long.
As regards best practice at light, look everywhere. You don't have to check left though. If you are preparing for a driving test and having issues with progress. I would say, Get moving don't waste time looking left. You won't loose any marks for it. But, for safety in your life of driving, do take a quick glance in the opposite direction of where you are going.