Driving tuition in Oz vs UK
Discussion
Just wondered if anyone has anything to do with instructors and the differing styles of tuition from Oz to UK.
In particular i was wondering what people thought on these two oddities insights from the instructor who was teaching my GF.
I was always taught to use the handbrake at lights whether i am in auto or manual and taught never to cross my hands while driving. I have always passed that on and did so with my GF. She was told by her instructor (in an auto) that you use the handbrake to park, not at lights, and that "how can you drive a car without crossing your hands"?
The first one i do not know, as nearly every single car at lights have their brake lights on, but what about the second one.
In particular i was wondering what people thought on these two oddities insights from the instructor who was teaching my GF.
I was always taught to use the handbrake at lights whether i am in auto or manual and taught never to cross my hands while driving. I have always passed that on and did so with my GF. She was told by her instructor (in an auto) that you use the handbrake to park, not at lights, and that "how can you drive a car without crossing your hands"?
The first one i do not know, as nearly every single car at lights have their brake lights on, but what about the second one.
My experience of driving tuition is not good.
Skid pad and track days are run by "blokes".. seem to want to crack jokes and be known as popular guys than an ability to impart knowledge.
On last skid pan day the instructor was " a famous rally driver" (who I had never heard of before).. kept on giving commands like brake, turn and go fast. When I asked him the child like question "why??".. he was kind of quiet.
I am sure he can drive.. but getting that from his right foot into my brain was a challenge.
I am however happy to accept my brain could be at fault..
Skid pad and track days are run by "blokes".. seem to want to crack jokes and be known as popular guys than an ability to impart knowledge.
On last skid pan day the instructor was " a famous rally driver" (who I had never heard of before).. kept on giving commands like brake, turn and go fast. When I asked him the child like question "why??".. he was kind of quiet.
I am sure he can drive.. but getting that from his right foot into my brain was a challenge.
I am however happy to accept my brain could be at fault..
I did a few lessons in the UK and often drove mates cars there. I got my licence here in Aus and the instructor asked me what I was doing when I used the handbrake whenever we stopped...he was shocked when I told him it was a mark down in the UK to not use it and it was another mark down to use the ratchet!
During the test they didnt seem to give a s
t about stuff like getting in a car and checking its in neutral or adjusting mirrors. They dont look at hand positioning and dont seem to have an issue with staying in gear and using the foot brake at the lights. There is no 3 point turns, no reversing around corners and no emergency stop.
I had a handful of lessons here to get used to the roads and did a 20 minute driving test which consisted of trundling around the suburbs to do one hook turn, one turn around using a drive way, one reverse park at a shopping centre and back to the test centre. Didnt even pass through a set of traffic lights.
During the test they didnt seem to give a s
t about stuff like getting in a car and checking its in neutral or adjusting mirrors. They dont look at hand positioning and dont seem to have an issue with staying in gear and using the foot brake at the lights. There is no 3 point turns, no reversing around corners and no emergency stop. I had a handful of lessons here to get used to the roads and did a 20 minute driving test which consisted of trundling around the suburbs to do one hook turn, one turn around using a drive way, one reverse park at a shopping centre and back to the test centre. Didnt even pass through a set of traffic lights.
cinquecento said:
My experience of driving tuition is not good.
Skid pad and track days are run by "blokes".. seem to want to crack jokes and be known as popular guys than an ability to impart knowledge.
On last skid pan day the instructor was " a famous rally driver" (who I had never heard of before).. kept on giving commands like brake, turn and go fast. When I asked him the child like question "why??".. he was kind of quiet.
I am sure he can drive.. but getting that from his right foot into my brain was a challenge.
I am however happy to accept my brain could be at fault..
I'm not surprised that some instructors can't get the message across, they probably don't know themselves.Skid pad and track days are run by "blokes".. seem to want to crack jokes and be known as popular guys than an ability to impart knowledge.
On last skid pan day the instructor was " a famous rally driver" (who I had never heard of before).. kept on giving commands like brake, turn and go fast. When I asked him the child like question "why??".. he was kind of quiet.
I am sure he can drive.. but getting that from his right foot into my brain was a challenge.
I am however happy to accept my brain could be at fault..
Some time back I told a mate I had been inducing under steer in a car into a particular corner, & told him I could induce under or oversteer at will, he asked me how to do it.
I spent about 10 minutes carefully explaining, in detail how to do first one then the other. When I'd finished he then suggested that I had told him to do exactly the same thing, to induce either.
When I thought about it again, I realised he was correct, & I really could not put the difference into words. It was my feet & hands that knew what to do, not my head.
ariddell said:
There's driving tuition in Australia?
I'm yet to see any evidence of it.....
This is very true. Drivers here are not taught the art of driving at all. Simply taught to pass the "test". I taught my daughter to drive in my Monaro, then sent her for a few lessons to learn how to pass.I'm yet to see any evidence of it.....
200bhp said:
My wife doesnt drive here in the UK and is trying to decide if it's best to learn and pass her test before we leave the UK, or top do it in Perth.
Reading the above, I think she'll find it easier to pass in Perth!!
Yes, but she'll be a better driver if she learns in England... do her (and us) a favour Reading the above, I think she'll find it easier to pass in Perth!!
It is cheaper and easier to pass the test in Perth and you dont need to worry about crap like reversing around a corner or 3 point turns.
You might get somewhat frustrated by the rules here though.
You go and do a theory test and on passing that apply for a learner permit like in the UK. As a learner you are restricted to 100KMH but you can drive anywhere.
Once she passes her practical test it is then a case of completing a log book of 25 hours supervised driving (she is still on a learner permit and L plates at this point) but you can not just plough through it in a week anymore, there is a minimum 6 month period between passing the practical and going to the next step, so for 6 months you or someone that has held a full licence for 4 years MUST supervise in a clean and sober state. You will need to apply for an Australian licence when you get here so technically you might not be able to do it as your licence will be new..do your research! Luckily there was no 6 month period when I got my licence so my log book was filled in very quickly......
Once that is done she can go do her hazard perception test. Very easy computer based test where it plays a video and asks you a question which you answer with a mouse click or no click at all if it suits.
When she has done that she can FINALLY get her provisional licence and get on her P plates...which come with more restrictions! The provisional licence lasts for a 2 year period, for the first 6 months there are restrictions on driving at night, no driving midnight - 5am and you display a red P plate. After 6 months you get a green P plate and can drive at night. Zero alchohol for the entire 2 years.
You might get somewhat frustrated by the rules here though.
You go and do a theory test and on passing that apply for a learner permit like in the UK. As a learner you are restricted to 100KMH but you can drive anywhere.
Once she passes her practical test it is then a case of completing a log book of 25 hours supervised driving (she is still on a learner permit and L plates at this point) but you can not just plough through it in a week anymore, there is a minimum 6 month period between passing the practical and going to the next step, so for 6 months you or someone that has held a full licence for 4 years MUST supervise in a clean and sober state. You will need to apply for an Australian licence when you get here so technically you might not be able to do it as your licence will be new..do your research! Luckily there was no 6 month period when I got my licence so my log book was filled in very quickly......
Once that is done she can go do her hazard perception test. Very easy computer based test where it plays a video and asks you a question which you answer with a mouse click or no click at all if it suits.
When she has done that she can FINALLY get her provisional licence and get on her P plates...which come with more restrictions! The provisional licence lasts for a 2 year period, for the first 6 months there are restrictions on driving at night, no driving midnight - 5am and you display a red P plate. After 6 months you get a green P plate and can drive at night. Zero alchohol for the entire 2 years.
Do it right in the UK i think. Not saying its wrong here, but this whole log book thing is a bad idea, and any shonky instructor can sign you off. It puts zero pressure on you which i think is required to prove you can drive in everyday situations.
Apparently my GF's friend is fine to take her VORT after only 4 lessons in Australia, coming from a country that has no formal driving test, and with no experience of Australian roads. Geez
Apparently my GF's friend is fine to take her VORT after only 4 lessons in Australia, coming from a country that has no formal driving test, and with no experience of Australian roads. Geez
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