I have had a few interesting (read challenging) pupils recently that seem not to appreciate that they need to THINK whilst they are driving - particularly when they have been around the same route - not just at another occasion - but THAT DAY !!!
With this in mind, I have gone around a supposedly familiar route (with the inevitable issues of where to bake, mirrors and being in the wrong gear). After explaining AGAIN, what the issues were, I have tried to get the pupil to imagine where the have been and the issued that may arise and the problems they have had.
Once they have 'imagined' themselves around the route, we have gone round it in reality again and it seems that they have finally got the idea. I have then set them a bit of homework, where I have asked them to think about a route we can do on our next lesson. Once they have explained where they would like to go, I have asked them about the issues that are on that route and then we have driven it - with much improved results !!!
I am hoping that I may be able to develop the idea and use it more often with more of my 'challenging' pupils.
For more information, go to http://www.gtdrivingschool.net or call me on 07906 302910
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
Friday, May 7, 2010
Views from the back seat...
Since the rules have changed about examiners asking pupils if they wish their instructor to sit in the back of the car for their test back in April this year, I have only had to do it twice. On both occasions, the experience seems to have created more questions than answered them...!
The first experience was in Maidstone. the pupil was more than capable of passing the test, but had made a number of silly mistakes in the hour before her test, so I was hoping she could keep herself together long enough for the test. Her examiner was one of the better ones at Maidstone and he immediately put her at ease. However, this did not stop her from hitting the curb when asked to stop early on in her test. She also moved away leaving the right indicator on and stalled a couple of times after waiting for ever at a couple of junctions. Next she was asked to do a 'Turn in the Road'. The place the examiner wanted her to take it was crowded with cars on both sides. He asked her to stop on the left and she moved into the space rather diagonally and close to the car in front. The examiner asked her to reverse back and straighten the car up. She managed to do so after a couple of attempts and then did her 'Turn in the Road'. The way the examiner almost had to man-handle her himself to get into position, I was sure, was going to be a dead certainty to fail...
By the time we got back to the test centre, I was sure she had failed at least a couple more times. I waited for the inevitable 'I'm afraid you were unsuccessful in passing the driving test on this occasion' when he said, 'Well done Christina, you passed'!!!
HOW ON EARTH WAS THIS ALLOWED TO HAVE HAPPENED?
Everything was telling me she had failed!!!
I just had another experience this week, this time in Tunbridge Wells. The pupil make a complete hash of the Left Reverse and Parallel Parking, that I thought she certainly had failed. What was more ridiculous was the fact she did indeed fail but for a slight misdemeanour at a roundabout, where she jumped in front of a car, who decided to do a U-turn around this mini roundabout! and action no-one could have foreseen. For her two terrible manoeuvres, she earned herself driver faults for observation AND control for both of them.
The only reason I can see why one person passed and the other failed, was that the problems with the manoeuvres did not involve other road users, but the roundabout issue did - so therefore a fail.
I'm going to have to sit in on a couple of other tests to see if my theory is correct...
For more information, please go to http://www.gtdrivingschool.net or call 07906 302910
The first experience was in Maidstone. the pupil was more than capable of passing the test, but had made a number of silly mistakes in the hour before her test, so I was hoping she could keep herself together long enough for the test. Her examiner was one of the better ones at Maidstone and he immediately put her at ease. However, this did not stop her from hitting the curb when asked to stop early on in her test. She also moved away leaving the right indicator on and stalled a couple of times after waiting for ever at a couple of junctions. Next she was asked to do a 'Turn in the Road'. The place the examiner wanted her to take it was crowded with cars on both sides. He asked her to stop on the left and she moved into the space rather diagonally and close to the car in front. The examiner asked her to reverse back and straighten the car up. She managed to do so after a couple of attempts and then did her 'Turn in the Road'. The way the examiner almost had to man-handle her himself to get into position, I was sure, was going to be a dead certainty to fail...
By the time we got back to the test centre, I was sure she had failed at least a couple more times. I waited for the inevitable 'I'm afraid you were unsuccessful in passing the driving test on this occasion' when he said, 'Well done Christina, you passed'!!!
HOW ON EARTH WAS THIS ALLOWED TO HAVE HAPPENED?
Everything was telling me she had failed!!!
I just had another experience this week, this time in Tunbridge Wells. The pupil make a complete hash of the Left Reverse and Parallel Parking, that I thought she certainly had failed. What was more ridiculous was the fact she did indeed fail but for a slight misdemeanour at a roundabout, where she jumped in front of a car, who decided to do a U-turn around this mini roundabout! and action no-one could have foreseen. For her two terrible manoeuvres, she earned herself driver faults for observation AND control for both of them.
The only reason I can see why one person passed and the other failed, was that the problems with the manoeuvres did not involve other road users, but the roundabout issue did - so therefore a fail.
I'm going to have to sit in on a couple of other tests to see if my theory is correct...
For more information, please go to http://www.gtdrivingschool.net or call 07906 302910
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