As a trainee driving instructor you will be getting used to 'lists' by now. Here is another one for you that I would have dearly loved to have been shown when I was in your shoes.
There are some key essentials that you should be striving
for your pupil to at the very least ‘understand’. I’m not suggesting that a pupil can’t drive
without mastering the following, but it will affect how well they drive!
All round effective observations are required at ANY speed
of the vehicle
The gas is needing to be set in order to prevent a stall
Picture in the mind a gear change BEFORE the left foot puts
the clutch down
Observations when reversing involves literally turning the
head right round as well as mirror checks
Situations develop that will have a consequence and
accurately assessing the risk is a skill
A speed limit is not an instruction, drive to conditions not
speed limits
Rush practising bay parking and you will regret it for the
rest of your life
To identify which way to turn a steering wheel when
reversing the eyes must physically look where the rear of the car needs to go –
staring at mirrors will inevitably result in steering the wrong way
Limit the amount other road users are adversely affected by
you to an absolute minimum
Safe driving demands constant attention – managing distractions
is a skill
If the car is needing to stop, the clutch MUST go all the
way down
Less vision – less speed – lower gears – slower lifting up
of the clutch
The feet must control pace to enable the eyes to identify
and assess hazards
Putting the handbrake on enables the right foot to get off
the brake to then set the gas
It is the extent of lifting the clutch that dictates pace,
not how much gas is set
Check a ‘new road’ is clear to enter BEFORE steering into it
Understanding the BEST thing to do is more important than
doing anything
The right foot (braking) often dictates how well a driver
negotiates roundabouts – too fast on the approach and the eyes/hands simply can’t
keep up
A good driver will give others plenty of warning of their
intentions PRIOR to doing them
It is possible to judge how severe a bend is in the road
BEFORE you get to it
Never drive faster than you instinctively feel comfortable
with
Dangerous situations develop quicker on faster roads –
anticipation is a skill
You and your environment will affect your driving behaviour
Do not look down at the gear lever before changing gear, it
will affect your position in the road
On reversing manoeuvres the feet are quiet and the hands are
busy
Position trumps everything
From a standstill, when you enter a roundabout, don’t delay
with a 1-2 gear change
A poorly timed observation is as bad as no observation at
all
Changing from 2nd to 3rd gear requires
no sideways pressure at all – the gear lever is spring loaded
The condition of a vehicle will impact on safety – they do
not look after themselves
Unless the clutch goes fully down, the vehicle will continue
to ‘drive’ in the gear it is in – if you are unsure where to park, you MUST put
the clutch down or the vehicle will just keep on driving
Driving is a physical activity with practical consequences;
events change fast and others WILL do unexpected things
If the car stalls, it will be for a reason
Don’t do blind-spot checks when the vehicle is travelling at
high speeds
If you think a signal is needed, put a signal on, if you
think the lights need to be on, put them on
A heavy right foot is an insult to your passengers
Oh…….. and put the phone in the glovebox
Tom Ingram provides payg training to trainee driving instructors 0775 607 1464
http://drivinginstructortraining.bigtom.org.uk/
http://drivinginstructortraining.bigtom.org.uk/
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