10 best learning tips from driving instructors
Handy hints for learner drivers, from those who know best
WHEN your examiner says you've passed your driving test a door opens to a whole new world.
miDrive, an app helping learners pass their test quickly and cheaply, asked to top instructors for their tips and hints…
1. Don’t plan for the test, plan for life
Chris from CBs Driving School focuses on the importance of learning skills for life, not just learning skills to pass a test. He makes sure he teaches his students safe driving skills which they’ll use forever, and asks them if they would feel safe driving with a small child in the back. If the answer is yes, Chris says they’re ready for life post-test.
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2. Practise with the music on
Graham Hooper from 1st4 Driver Education urges his learners to practise driving with music on. The majority of learners won’t be listening to music during their driving lessons, but practising with the radio on can be a great way to prepare learners for going it alone on the road.
3. Don’t dwell on your mistakes
Driving instructor, Louise Moore, explains how important it is not to dwell on mistakes you make during your driving test. You can’t change them, and there’s no guarantee that your mistake has resulted in a fail. Louise tells her learners to concentrate on what they’re seeing ahead of them at that very moment instead of looking back at what’s already happened.
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4. Think about footwear
Your shoes might not be the first thing you think of when you start learning to drive, but wearing the wrong footwear while driving can not only make it harder, but it can also be dangerous. Chris Lamport from Christy’s Driving School says learners should wear something with a flat but thin sole, because you want to be able to be able to feel the car respond to what you’re doing.
5. Know your routines
You’re likely to hear lots of strange new terms while you’re learning to drive, and Delwer Khakh from DK Safe Driving School explains just how important it is that you get to know what they all mean. The MSPSL routine, for example, is the Mirror, Signal, Position, Speed, Look routine which all drivers should go through every time they’re on the road. Learn your routines and make sure you’re using them every time you drive.
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6. Get your gear changes right
There’s nothing worse than a clunky gear change, so driving instructor, Peter Blight, teaches finding the correct palm position to all of his pupils. He tells his pupils to face their palm towards the passenger when changing into 1st or 2nd gear, and towards themselves when changing into 3rd and 4th. Peter explains that taking a moment to position your palm will achieve an unrushed, smooth gear change which will always put you in the correct gear.
7. Think about how you learn best
Graham Hooper asks his students to think about how they learn best, and, if they don’t know, ensures they find out. As every learner is different, it’s important that you know which learning style and teaching technique works best for you. Are you a practical learner or do you learn best through reading and listening?
8. Forget about the examiner
Having a driving examiner next to you can understandably make you nervous, but Alastair Goodale of GT Driving School suggests pretending you’re just taking someone out for a drive. You’d want to give your passenger as smooth a ride as possible, just like you do with the examiner.
9. The learning doesn’t end once you’ve passed
Chris Bensted explains that it’s important to keep in touch with your instructor even after you’ve passed your driving test. Having lessons for post-test skills like motorway driving, night time driving and driving in snow can all be crucial for a lifetime of safe driving.
10. Break up your learning
Chris Lamport explains that learning to drive can be broken up into small pieces. You will never be able to pick it all up at once, but learning new skills every lesson will allow you to build up safe driving skills which you’ll use for the rest of your driving life.