Print

Please login or register.
1 Hour 1 Day 1 Week 1 Month Forever
Login with username, password and session length

[Webby the Bear]

that just sounds like a dodgy instructor. i went with BSM and they were brilliant. dont remember seeing anything wrong with a BSM learner roundhere 

[aaronjb]

I'm not all that old and I learnt clutch control in a very similar way to you two - shuffling my granddads car up & down the driveway at ~12, without him in it usually (although he was the first time, IIRC, and he was an ex instructor - the car still had dual controls). I wonder how many of todays kids would be tempted to take it for a joyride...


A friend of mine is a (independent) driving instructor - he doesn't have a very high opinion of a lot of instructors and the "instruct to pass the test" approach rather than "teach to be safe on the roads" ... which explains the standards of driving displayed on the roads, I suppose!

[LJay]

Our local BSM has an office in town with a car simulator.  You have to show that you can master the basics in that before you go out in a car.  Seems like a good plan to me, shame about the other shocking instructors that are about.

My first taste of driving was age 18 in my Dad's cav, seriously stressful!  Proper lessons were then done in quiet lanes before being let loose in traffic.

I've been known to get out and rant at instructors who allow their pupils to drive dangerously, there's just no need for it.  Granted we were all learners once but there's no excuse for being put into dangerous situations before you're ready.

[LJay]

I'm not all that old and I learnt clutch control in a very similar way to you two - shuffling my granddads car up & down the driveway at ~12, without him in it usually (although he was the first time, IIRC, and he was an ex instructor - the car still had dual controls). I wonder how many of todays kids would be tempted to take it for a joyride...


A friend of mine is a (independent) driving instructor - he doesn't have a very high opinion of a lot of instructors and the "instruct to pass the test" approach rather than "teach to be safe on the roads" ... which explains the standards of driving displayed on the roads, I suppose!

My Dad always said that I wouldn't learn to drive properly until I'd passed my test, reckon he had a point to be honest.

[Terbs]

Our local BSM has an office in town with a car simulator.  You have to show that you can master the basics in that before you go out in a car.  Seems like a good plan to me, shame about the other shocking instructors that are about.

My first taste of driving was age 18 in my Dad's cav, seriously stressful!  Proper lessons were then done in quiet lanes before being let loose in traffic.

I've been known to get out and rant at instructors who allow their pupils to drive dangerously, there's just no need for it.  Granted we were all learners once but there's no excuse for being put into dangerous situations before you're ready.

Obviously, the BSM office here do not have that.   To take a learner driver who obviously was not in control of the car and was a danger to all, into Farnham Royal, a dual carriage road, with right turn only lanes, left turn only lanes, umpteen turnings and traffic lights, was totally foolhardy.

[Bionic]

In my learner days I was forced to lkearn to control the car before they let me take charge on the open road!
That to me is common sense but in todays money hungry world they take them out as soon as they book the course and cause headaches for everyone else. Worst of all is that they seem to choose the rush hours to do it!!!!!!!!!!!

[Andy B]

..... Worst of all is that they seem to choose the rush hours to do it!!!!!!!!!!!

There always seems to be a nervous learner doing a 3 point turn or some other slow speed manoeuvre just outside the gates at work just as there's a shift change resulting in dozens of cars waiting. Obviously doesn't do much for the nerves of the learner when everyone is waiting for him/her. I can see the appeal of the roads around work - usually quiet - but you'd think the instructor would use a bit of common sense with his timing.

[LJay]

..... Worst of all is that they seem to choose the rush hours to do it!!!!!!!!!!!

There always seems to be a nervous learner doing a 3 point turn or some other slow speed manoeuvre just outside the gates at work just as there's a shift change resulting in dozens of cars waiting. Obviously doesn't do much for the nerves of the learner when everyone is waiting for him/her. I can see the appeal of the roads around work - usually quiet - but you'd think the instructor would use a bit of common sense with his timing.

They don't teach that at instructor training school!

[Andy B]

..... Worst of all is that they seem to choose the rush hours to do it!!!!!!!!!!!

There always seems to be a nervous learner doing a 3 point turn or some other slow speed manoeuvre just outside the gates at work just as there's a shift change resulting in dozens of cars waiting. Obviously doesn't do much for the nerves of the learner when everyone is waiting for him/her. I can see the appeal of the roads around work - usually quiet - but you'd think the instructor would use a bit of common sense with his timing.

They don't teach that at instructor training school!

Obviously