Attitude towards learner drivers
Discussion
Hi all,
Just a bit of a vent really, my girlfriend is currently learning to drive and was out this morning with her mum practising on the way to college. Approaching an island from duel carriageway of a sort, she assumes position in the left hand lane to go straight on at the island, second exit. Some idiot approaches from behind and decides to speed into the right hand lane. She presumed they were trying to overtake around the island to beat her to the second exit, which in any case they were doing a dangerous job of, but no, instead he wants to take the first exit!
It was an impossible move even with a learner travelling at slow speed (there's only about 15m between where she entered the island and the first exit) and the driver proceeds to scrape the front of the car on his way around the learner car, although they have to have realised what they did, they continued flying off up the exit onto the dual carriage way and out of sight!
I know this probably was a result of what I call 'beat the learner syndrome', where people seem to think the red L's signify an invalid at the wheel, where quite often the driver although under instruction can be quite competent, as in the case of my girlfriend who was obviously too proficient at pulling away for this guy's liking
although she didn't have the split second reactions to avoid him..... although from what her mum said this happened in a matter of seconds so would have been a challenge for any driver.
Just think IMO that learners are given much less space and respect when driving, rather than the extra of both they need.
Rant over
Just a bit of a vent really, my girlfriend is currently learning to drive and was out this morning with her mum practising on the way to college. Approaching an island from duel carriageway of a sort, she assumes position in the left hand lane to go straight on at the island, second exit. Some idiot approaches from behind and decides to speed into the right hand lane. She presumed they were trying to overtake around the island to beat her to the second exit, which in any case they were doing a dangerous job of, but no, instead he wants to take the first exit!
It was an impossible move even with a learner travelling at slow speed (there's only about 15m between where she entered the island and the first exit) and the driver proceeds to scrape the front of the car on his way around the learner car, although they have to have realised what they did, they continued flying off up the exit onto the dual carriage way and out of sight!
I know this probably was a result of what I call 'beat the learner syndrome', where people seem to think the red L's signify an invalid at the wheel, where quite often the driver although under instruction can be quite competent, as in the case of my girlfriend who was obviously too proficient at pulling away for this guy's liking
although she didn't have the split second reactions to avoid him..... although from what her mum said this happened in a matter of seconds so would have been a challenge for any driver.Just think IMO that learners are given much less space and respect when driving, rather than the extra of both they need.
Rant over
BertBert said:
Of course you are right. There is a learning point though...remain calm, be philosophical, dont make a bad situation worse.
HTH
BErt
Agreed. Luckily the damage to the car is minimal, just has really knocked her confidence to the point where she doesnt want to go out in the car at the moment. Her mum was calm at the time and now which is always helpful! Can't say my dad would have been had that happened to me while learning.... HTH
BErt
Also unlucky the car was going so quick that no one got the plate; would have enjoyed ringing up the BIB for that one.
I'm at a junction and see a learner plodding along the road at a steady 23mph. The gaps tight at best but i figure he/she needs to practice emergency stops anyway so give it the beans 
Only joking OP i see it a lot of the time when people, reps usually around here, get impatient with learners costing them valuable seconds of time and try their upmost to cut them up. At least it teaches them what not to do!
Only joking OP i see it a lot of the time when people, reps usually around here, get impatient with learners costing them valuable seconds of time and try their upmost to cut them up. At least it teaches them what not to do!Treat Learners as you would any other driver: like an idiot.
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
Learners get no respect at all. In the last week ive had a woman going mental because we stopped at a red light, shouting and swearing and banging the steering wheel. People honking and gesturing at us for not entering a blocked box junction. I've been given the beans because my learner went slightly across the centre line on the way off a roundabout. Yesterday i was overtaken the wrong way round a mini roundabout and a few days back i was threatened with the police because some doddery old git took exception to us stopping outside his house.
All just perks of the job!
All just perks of the job!
ian_uk1975 said:
It maybe frustrating if you're in a hurry, but I always give learners the space they need and treat them with respect... we've all been there once and I remember how anxious I was behind the wheel when I was learning. It's a shame not everyone can show the same courtesy.
I agree.Amazing how quick many forget though. There is def a beat the learner element out there. I get the same thing in the wagon, but have learned to ignore it. I just smile to myself when they f
k it up 
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