Left/Right in a Test

BarraOG

Hi,

I mix up "turn left" and "turn right" when given the command by my instructor. This can, for example, result in me indicating left, then right, then back to left again. A previous instructor I had used hand signals and this really helped, but I later failed my test during which the wagon testing me point blank refused to use hand gestures.

Anyway, I need to beat these commands into my head somehow. Has anyone overcome a similar problem before or have any advice for me?

Thanks,

Barry

Wesser

Just because she didn't use hand gestures does not mean she is a wagon.
Surely you can assume some responsibility here given that you can't tell right from left.

Mr.Crinklewood

If you're right handed,just remember you Write with your right.

Alternatively get into your head that when the instructor days turn left,then actually mean turn towards them.

Mr.Crinklewood

Mr.Crinklewood wrote: »

If you're right handed,just remember you Write with your right.

Alternatively get into your head that when the instructor days turn left,then actually mean turn towards them.

Write L and R on the back of your hands

Sand

Maybe think of it as pushing the indicator stalk in the same direction as you are going to turn the wheel to make the turn? Clockwise and right, or anticlockwise and left.

You don't have to and usually shouldn't hit the indicator as soon as the tester makes the instruction because they will give you advance notice. Don't rush, be deliberate. You have some time to think about it and then indicate when its appropriate.

Timfy

I am not taking the p1ss! I did the same. For some reason, although I am fully aware of my right and left, I used to constantly head of in the opposite direction to what my instructor told me... it's a form of word blindness / mild dyslexic condition.

endacl

Are your shoes on the right feet?

ignorance is strength

Wesser wrote: »

Just because she didn't use hand gestures does not mean she is a wagon.
Surely you can assume some responsibility here given that you can't tell right from left.

The tester refused to, it seems. No reason why they couldn’t have.

OP can distinguish between the directions, just struggles to quickly compute which is being referred to. It doesn’t impair driving.

my3cents

OP I have suffered from something similar. Left and right is OK for me but points of the compass don't work for me unless I think through North South East West and visualise the points of the compass first. If someone says to me go south I have to go through the whole North South East West thing to be able to say which is south.

My starting point is North, and you need to decide either Left or Right as your starting point, so if you have Right as your base point anything that isn't Right is Left.

So how do we define right? Easiest I know of is wearing a Ring on your right hand. So if I say turn right you think where your ring is and thats the way your turning. Now you could associate something with the Left but if I say turn left you just have to think my right is my ring finger side so left is the other side.

Don't just do this while driving. Do it all the time even when you pick up a cup of tea. If you use your right hand to pick up a cup of tea so you think to yourself thats the side I have my ring on so my tea is on the right. Walking down the road think I'm turning so am I turning left or right and make the associations. Keep doing that until its automatic.

BarraOG

Wesser wrote: »

Just because she didn't use hand gestures does not mean she is a wagon.
Surely you can assume some responsibility here given that you can't tell right from left.

It was her attitude that made her a wagon. She was rude and condescending. I think it’s a reasonable request to make and if there is a reason why they won’t gesture then they should explain why in a respectful manner.

J_R

Timfy wrote: »

I am not taking the p1ss! I did the same. For some reason, although I am fully aware of my right and left, I used to constantly head of in the opposite direction to what my instructor told me... it's a form of word blindness / mild dyslexic condition.

Hi,
Ships at sea use coloured lights for sides of the ship. Left - Red, Right - Green. (easy way to remember "There is no Red Port Left"

Wear one of those rubber gloves, red glove on the left hand, Green on the right.:)

Scraggs

A child I used to babysit taught me that you can make an L shape with your left hand (palms facing down). I was embarrassed at the time but I've never been confused since! Get friends and family members to test you even when not in a car... practice makes perfect as they say.

J_R

BarraOG wrote: »

It was her attitude that made her a wagon. She was rude and condescending. I think it’s a reasonable request to make and if there is a reason why they won’t gesture then they should explain why in a respectful manner.

Hi,
more than reasonable and I believe fairly common. At least I had several pupils who were worried, just told them to tell the examiner at the start. In all cases the examiners complied.

Your instructor should have dropped a letter of complaint to the RSA.

Next time, tell the examiner at the start. You could also drop a letter to the RSA when you get your test date.

Do not worry. just take it easy, check your mirrors immediately, interior and relevant side mirror, repeat the instructions, indicate when you reach correct position, if you do go right instead of left, no problem. The examiner can not mark you for taking the wrong direction. (If it legal) Especially as you had warned him/her at the start.

Wesser

BarraOG wrote: »

Wesser wrote: »

Just because she didn't use hand gestures does not mean she is a wagon.
Surely you can assume some responsibility here given that you can't tell right from left.

It was her attitude that made her a wagon. She was rude and condescending. I think it’s a reasonable request to make and if there is a reason why they won’t gesture then they should explain why in a respectful manner.

It's for safety. What are you going to do if there is a sign that says buses only turn left. Or no turn right. Some of them do not have arrows. You have to be able understand and react to these signs quickly to be safe. Without having to think about ships and starboard and such.

That's no excuse though is she was rude to you. She should have explained why nicely

my3cents

Wesser wrote: »

It's for safety. What are you going to do if there is a sign that says buses only turn left. Or no turn right. Some of them do not have arrows. You have to be able understand and react to these signs quickly to be safe. Without having to think about ships and starboard and such.

That's no excuse though is she was rude to you. She should have explained why nicely

Rubbish, I've never seen a legal road sign for no left or right turn that didn't have an arrow on it.

dennyk

I've a similar issue myself; can never remember left from right physically. It's not dyslexia, as I've no issue with reading/writing and don't confuse letters or anything; I just get the directions themselves mixed up unless I actively think about which is which. I can also navigate using a map perfectly well, but can't take (or give) multi-step turn-by-turn directions to save my life.

For me, I just told the examiner ahead of my test that I confuse left and right sometimes and asked him to provide upcoming directions early so I'd have plenty of time to remember which was which, and that worked out fine. Maybe you could try doing something similar with your instructor (without any hand gestures) and see how well it works out for you.

Wishbone Ash

J_R wrote: »

Hi,
more than reasonable and I believe fairly common. At least I had several pupils who were worried, just told them to tell the examiner at the start. In all cases the examiners complied....

It could be difficult for the examiner where the instruction is "Take the next available left/right" as the examiner could cause more confusion by trying to make a gesture in that scenario. (i.e. in a scenario where utilising the actual next left/right is not legal but very close to the next available legal left/right).

my3cents

Wishbone Ash wrote: »

It could be difficult for the examiner where the instruction is "Take the next available left/right" as the examiner could cause more confusion by trying to make a gesture in that scenario. (i.e. in a scenario where utilising the actual next left/right is not legal but very close to the next available legal left/right).

I don't buy that, that scenario has already been dismissed. The tester is quite at liberty to say take the next left when the next left is a one way street with no entry, the next left is the next left that you can legally take. It would make no difference for the tester to say take the next left in that case and to hold up their left hand to indicate left.

I think the language the tester uses in all cases is quite specific. In the above case they would say something like "take the next available left".

fritzelly

This worked for this guy

http://www.jimmycricket.co.uk/2016/05/28/famous-wellingtons-get-their-own-photo-shoot/

Apart from that you probably shouldn't be driving if you can't understand simple instructions - never get a satnav!

keyboard_cat

your thumb and index finger will make an L on your left hand that's how I remember

Not sure how true it is but my instructor said to me if I misheard the tester and took a left when the tester said to take a right that it wasn't an issue once I did everything correctly. He said whatever you do don't panic and make a stupid manoeuvre at the last moment.

biko

Your right hand is your handshake hand.
Or make little notes on the dash.

Don't call someone a wagon because you have a problem.
It doesn't reflect well on you.

J_R

Wishbone Ash wrote: »

It could be difficult for the examiner where the instruction is "Take the next available left/right" as the examiner could cause more confusion by trying to make a gesture in that scenario. (i.e. in a scenario where utilising the actual next left/right is not legal but very close to the next available legal left/right).

Hi,

Giving a hand gesture would only confirm the verbal and should not in any way confuse the test applicant. They should already know that they should not do anything illegal like drive down a one way street the wrong way.

If a test applicant does take a wrong direction then no problem whatsoever, provided done legally, safely.

GrumpyMe

This may appear off topic but it is not meant to be! How do deaf applicants receive instructions from examiner?

fritzelly

GrumpyMe wrote: »

This may appear off topic but it is not meant to be! How do deaf applicants receive instructions from examiner?

Specialised examiners

GrumpyMe

Thanks
But how are the instructions given?
Cant be lip reading.
Signing "...Take the next available left/right..."would be stretching it.

fritzelly

GrumpyMe wrote: »

Thanks
But how are the instructions given?
Cant be lip reading.
Signing "...Take the next available left/right..."would be stretching it.

http://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/travel_and_recreation/motoring_1/driving_tests/driving_tests_for_disabled_drivers.html

ct5amr2ig1nfhp

I had a friend who would get mixed up between left and right, especially while driving. A little trick she learned...

With your two hands at the 'usual' 10 and 2 position, point your index finger in the air and stick your thumb out. Your left hand index and thumb will be in the shape of the letter L, which tells you it's your left hand. Your other hand is your right hand obviously

Edit: here's a picture