Questions for teaching

MrCostington

I'm giving someone the odd informal lessons, well more practise then lessons as she had had formal lessons which are finished now, but will have 6 more before the test.

I passed my test in the '80s and have not opened the rules of the road since then. So I really have no idea of what they are, I just drive on experience now. So, I try not to tell her too much and always say take what your instructor says over what I say. However, I'd like to clear up a few things that have come up.

A) last Sunday we were on a 2 lane road, buslane and car lane, and we where in the car lane and a few cars from other side got close to us. I suggested to move into left (bus) lane, pointing out it was Sunday (or after 7 say). She thought she could not cross white line, only the broken part into bus lane. I said that line is not same as a continuous line in middle of road. Who was right?

square speed bumps - is it OK to zig zag to drive over them? What would the examiner think?

C) waiting to turn right at a lights controlled junction. Lights go red before you get a gap - is it OK to complete the turn on red?

D) another light controlled junction turning right this time it was downhill. I've been teaching her to press the button applying the hand brake. When the lights went green she started fine but had to stop for second before making turn. She let the car roll for a bit. I suggested she might have pulled off with one hand on the hand brake to control that bit - is that an approved technique?

No doubt I'll have more later!

MascotDec85

If the bus lane wasn’t in operation she should have been in it. Change lanes safely at the first opportunity to get in after realizing the error.

Don’t zig zag over them. ie. don’t move over to the left to try and avoid them. You may straddle the ones that are more central in the lane.

You MUST complete your turn once you are sat in the middle of the junction even once the light has gone red as long as you are sure that nobody is running the red. It’s a proceed with caution type scenario.

If it was a brief pause the handbrake probably wasn’t necessary. If it was to be applied it can normally be disengaged by applying pressure to the accelerator when deciding to move off. To release it manually, as it were, often requires the brake to be pressed before pressing the handbrake and it’s not a great method to use.

MrCostington

MascotDec85 wrote: »

If the bus lane wasn’t in operation she should have been in it. Change lanes safely at the first opportunity to get in after realizing the error.

Thanks, so just to clarify, it is ok to cross the unbroken white line if the bus lane is NOT in operation?

MascotDec85 wrote: »

If it was a brief pause the handbrake probably wasn’t necessary. If it was to be applied it can normally be disengaged by applying pressure to the accelerator when deciding to move off. To release it manually, as it were, often requires the brake to be pressed before pressing the handbrake and it’s not a great method to use.

Are you describing an electronic parking brake? The car has the older mechanical type. The button I refer to is the one on the top of the leaver that releases the ratchet. I always push that when applying the brake as a) it avoids the noise/wear of the ratchet, and b) in a case like I described allows me to modulate the break pressure

MascotDec85

In that instance yes, if it was safe to do so I’d enter the bus lane crossing the white line. It’s there to delineate between that and the carriageway. Ideally, you would enter at the start but in the event of making the error, fix it.

Apologies, I thought you were describing an electronic one. Yes, there’s no problem in briefly pushing the button in and maintaining the pressure by holding it up. I wouldn’t do it for a sustained period but briefly, say to prepare to go as a car approached.

MrCostington

Many thanks, and your answers re B&C were clear. Maybe I'd still pass the test myself!