Hi, my name is Sheila. I have failed my drivers test three times already; every time I seem to have a problem on the alley docking and end up bumping a pole. Please help!
From personal experience I find that a lot of new learner drivers tend to struggle with learning how to reverse a vehicle. When it comes to learning how to do alley docking, I would suggest that you just concentrate on following the curve of the poles. I know most driving schools teach methods for alley docking. I however prefer equipping my learners with skill. Always remember that where you are looking when you reverse is ultimately where you will end up going.
So if you stare at the poles you will probably end up going into one of them. The key is to focus on the space between your vehicle and the poles on the side you are busy with. Try keep about a half a meter space between your vehicle and the poles. Also look up ahead where you want the corner of the car to go. Now guide the car there. Whatever you turn on the steering wheel to go in is what you must turn back to straighten your wheel.
Let me know how it goes. Practice makes perfect.
Wednesday, January 31, 2007
Saturday, January 27, 2007
Clutch control
I struggle a lot with my clutch control. The car seems to cut out all the time when I try and pull away. Do you have any suggestions?
Learning clutch control is probably one of the most important aspects of the whole driving experience. The main cause of stalling the vehicle is either too much clutch or too little petrol.
The way I teach clutch control would be to select your gear (the handbrake would of course be up to prevent rolling). Press on the accelerator first to get the engine to run at a higher idling speed. Keep it at a constant idle speed. Listen out for the sound of the engine that you are not giving too much petrol. Now start adding the clutch to where you feel a tugging on the vehicle as if it wants to move. Now keep the clutch steady, release the handbrake and the car will move away. Only add more clutch once the car has started moving. Once it has moved away take your foot completely off the clutch and away you go.
Learning clutch control is probably one of the most important aspects of the whole driving experience. The main cause of stalling the vehicle is either too much clutch or too little petrol.
The way I teach clutch control would be to select your gear (the handbrake would of course be up to prevent rolling). Press on the accelerator first to get the engine to run at a higher idling speed. Keep it at a constant idle speed. Listen out for the sound of the engine that you are not giving too much petrol. Now start adding the clutch to where you feel a tugging on the vehicle as if it wants to move. Now keep the clutch steady, release the handbrake and the car will move away. Only add more clutch once the car has started moving. Once it has moved away take your foot completely off the clutch and away you go.
Tuesday, January 23, 2007
The Runaway Car
DO NOT LEAVE YOUR VEHICLE UNATTENDED WHILE THE ENGINE IS RUNNING, OR ELSE IT MIGHT RUN AWAY
Too much to do, too little time. Get up at 6 am. Get dressed for work. Get the kids dressed. Have breakfast. Pull the car out the garage. Run into the house. Round up the kids. Where is the wife? Hurry we must leave or we will be late for school and work! Out the house we go.
Sounds like the happenings in an average suburban home.
Looking towards where I last spotted the car. Not a pretty sight. I am sure I parked the car in the road. I was only in the house for a few seconds. Now the car is gone.
Upon further investigation the car was found 100 meters down the road parked in someone else’s garden. This is what may happen if you leave your vehicle with the engine running and the handbrake down. You laugh; these are real things which happen. Anyway besides the fact that the vehicle may drive off without a driver, someone could easily steal the vehicle.
One of the most important rules of the road for the learner licence test is that you never leave your vehicle unattended while the engine is running.
Can you imagine how embarrassing it must be to have to explain to your neighbour what your vehicle is doing parked in his garden?
Too much to do, too little time. Get up at 6 am. Get dressed for work. Get the kids dressed. Have breakfast. Pull the car out the garage. Run into the house. Round up the kids. Where is the wife? Hurry we must leave or we will be late for school and work! Out the house we go.
Sounds like the happenings in an average suburban home.
Looking towards where I last spotted the car. Not a pretty sight. I am sure I parked the car in the road. I was only in the house for a few seconds. Now the car is gone.
Upon further investigation the car was found 100 meters down the road parked in someone else’s garden. This is what may happen if you leave your vehicle with the engine running and the handbrake down. You laugh; these are real things which happen. Anyway besides the fact that the vehicle may drive off without a driver, someone could easily steal the vehicle.
One of the most important rules of the road for the learner licence test is that you never leave your vehicle unattended while the engine is running.
Can you imagine how embarrassing it must be to have to explain to your neighbour what your vehicle is doing parked in his garden?
Friday, January 19, 2007
How to become a driving instructor?
I would like to open up a Driving School, but I am not sure what are the correct procedures of opening and signing up a legal driving school are. Mandla
Hi Mandla,
The first step would be to approach your local traffic department in order to obtain the relevant documentation to apply to become an instructor. These forms would include an application form, a medical and police clearance. Other documents they would need would be your drivers licence and your identity document. They will make copies of these for their record. Once completed, return to traffic department.
These forms will in turn be forwarded to Department of Transport where they will decide on whether or not you are fit to be tested as an instructor.
Once this requirement is met you can then be tested in terms of the Road Traffic Act. This would mean that you would have to pass the appropriate learner licence and drivers test. Upon passing you would be issued with an instructor certificate.
You would probably have to teach yourself the ropes of being a driving instructor in terms of the K53 system of driving or else you could apply for a position at a reputable driving school to gain the required experience.
In order to register a close corporation you could obtain the forms from a book store and forward it yourself. You could also purchase a shelf company.
Register as a provisional tax payer with South African Revenue Services.
In order to ensure that your vehicle is test ready you could put it through a roadworthy test.
All the best,
John
Hi Mandla,
The first step would be to approach your local traffic department in order to obtain the relevant documentation to apply to become an instructor. These forms would include an application form, a medical and police clearance. Other documents they would need would be your drivers licence and your identity document. They will make copies of these for their record. Once completed, return to traffic department.
These forms will in turn be forwarded to Department of Transport where they will decide on whether or not you are fit to be tested as an instructor.
Once this requirement is met you can then be tested in terms of the Road Traffic Act. This would mean that you would have to pass the appropriate learner licence and drivers test. Upon passing you would be issued with an instructor certificate.
You would probably have to teach yourself the ropes of being a driving instructor in terms of the K53 system of driving or else you could apply for a position at a reputable driving school to gain the required experience.
In order to register a close corporation you could obtain the forms from a book store and forward it yourself. You could also purchase a shelf company.
Register as a provisional tax payer with South African Revenue Services.
In order to ensure that your vehicle is test ready you could put it through a roadworthy test.
All the best,
John
Wednesday, January 17, 2007
Lost my learner's
I am supposed to be doing my drivers test on Friday but I have lost my learners licence. What should I do?
Don’t worry there is hope. What you need to do is go to your nearest traffic department. Take along your Identity document ( I. D. Book ), two photos and R 30-00.
At the traffic department you need to fill in learners application form requesting the issue of a duplicate learners licence. Your details would be able to confirmed on the NATIS system of the traffic department. Once this has been done a duplicate learners may be issued.
Make sure you obtain the duplicate before your actual test date and don’t forget to take it along on the day you do your drivers test.
Don’t worry there is hope. What you need to do is go to your nearest traffic department. Take along your Identity document ( I. D. Book ), two photos and R 30-00.
At the traffic department you need to fill in learners application form requesting the issue of a duplicate learners licence. Your details would be able to confirmed on the NATIS system of the traffic department. Once this has been done a duplicate learners may be issued.
Make sure you obtain the duplicate before your actual test date and don’t forget to take it along on the day you do your drivers test.
Tuesday, January 16, 2007
A day in the life of a driving instructor - how not to go around a circle
The instructor arrives at the home of the learner driver and gives the client a pep talk as to one of the new things they are going to practice for the lesson.
Instructor: Today I am going to teach you how to handle a traffic circle. The most important thing to remember is you always go clockwise around the circle. Secondly remember to always yield to traffic to your right if you are going to enter a circle. Right seatbelt on here we go!
Instructor: Ok further up in the road there is a circle. Do you see it. Now we are going to go around the circle and yield to the right.
Learner: Ok
Instructor: Alright we are nearing the circle, you can start slowing down and remember to yield to traffic to your right.
Learner: Ok
Instructor: What the !!$$&% are you doing I never said go right at the circle. You will cause a head on collision. ( all you hear is the screeching of brakes as the learner brings the vehicle to a very abrupt halt ).
Instructor: Quickly reverse before a car comes. Hurry!
The above was based on a real life situation. Do not try this at home. Leave it to the professionals.
Traffic circles are used worldwide to ease congestion where you have a merging of large volumes of traffic. They are there to help facilitate the free flow of traffic. A traffic circle is normally guarded at each entry point by a yield sign. This means that if you are about to enter the circle and there is a vehicle to your right in the circle, you must stop and yield right of way to such vehicle. If not, enter if it is safe.
Always go clockwise around the circle!
In terms of indicating. If you intend going left at the circle then you must indicate to the left on approaching the circle. If you are going straight or to the right around the circle, you do not have to indicate on approach, but should indicate before leaving signaling your intention to other road users.
Instructor: Today I am going to teach you how to handle a traffic circle. The most important thing to remember is you always go clockwise around the circle. Secondly remember to always yield to traffic to your right if you are going to enter a circle. Right seatbelt on here we go!
Instructor: Ok further up in the road there is a circle. Do you see it. Now we are going to go around the circle and yield to the right.
Learner: Ok
Instructor: Alright we are nearing the circle, you can start slowing down and remember to yield to traffic to your right.
Learner: Ok
Instructor: What the !!$$&% are you doing I never said go right at the circle. You will cause a head on collision. ( all you hear is the screeching of brakes as the learner brings the vehicle to a very abrupt halt ).
Instructor: Quickly reverse before a car comes. Hurry!
The above was based on a real life situation. Do not try this at home. Leave it to the professionals.
Traffic circles are used worldwide to ease congestion where you have a merging of large volumes of traffic. They are there to help facilitate the free flow of traffic. A traffic circle is normally guarded at each entry point by a yield sign. This means that if you are about to enter the circle and there is a vehicle to your right in the circle, you must stop and yield right of way to such vehicle. If not, enter if it is safe.
Always go clockwise around the circle!
In terms of indicating. If you intend going left at the circle then you must indicate to the left on approaching the circle. If you are going straight or to the right around the circle, you do not have to indicate on approach, but should indicate before leaving signaling your intention to other road users.
Monday, January 15, 2007
Can I have a backseat driver?
Hi John. Is it possible that when I do my drivers test, that my father can sit in the back of the car ? I am a very nervous person and would feel more at ease if I had someone I know be there while I do my test.
I have had situations where a parent of one of my learners has gone along for a lesson. When it comes to a drivers test, nobody except a member of the Inspectorate of drivers licences or an examiner who is undergoing training under the supervision of a qualified examiner may be in the vehicle while a drivers test is being done.
Very often learners become familiar with their instructors and are more relaxed with them than with strangers. To help overcome your fear, I would suggest that you ask your instructor to book a lesson with another instructor in their driving school nearer to your actual test date. His person could put you through your paces and even do a mock test with you. At least then you will have an idea of the type of pressure you may experience during the actual drivers test when the examiner is a stranger. Good luck!
I have had situations where a parent of one of my learners has gone along for a lesson. When it comes to a drivers test, nobody except a member of the Inspectorate of drivers licences or an examiner who is undergoing training under the supervision of a qualified examiner may be in the vehicle while a drivers test is being done.
Very often learners become familiar with their instructors and are more relaxed with them than with strangers. To help overcome your fear, I would suggest that you ask your instructor to book a lesson with another instructor in their driving school nearer to your actual test date. His person could put you through your paces and even do a mock test with you. At least then you will have an idea of the type of pressure you may experience during the actual drivers test when the examiner is a stranger. Good luck!
Learning to fly is important, but hey, learn to land also
Being a driving instructor can be a very scary and potentially hazardous occupation, but that can also apply to being an examiner of driver’ s licences.
What do you do when the examiner who is testing you is more afraid than you are?
I know of an examiner who has had a few very nasty experiences while testing clients. For example I know of an incident where a learner driver had passed the yard test, gone onto the road, come back and as she was stopping her vehicle at the traffic department, pressed the accelerator instead of the brake pedal and ended up parking the car on the pavement, almost evicting a tree in the process.
When you start replacing your work shoes every three months, then you know there is a problem.
He was so stressed out that even his shoes became worn out. How did this happen you may be asking. Well whenever this examiner was out on a test and the learner was approaching a stop situation, this was where the problem arose. Sitting in the passenger seat while someone else is driving, you are approaching stationery traffic at a robot and the driver you are with does not in your mind start braking on time. It makes you look for a brake pedal where there is’nt one. You start pressing down and rubbing your foot on the passenger side floor. I suppose changing shoes is better than having to have to go home to change your underwear.
How does the saying go, you can choose your friends, but you can’t choose your family. Closer to home, you can choose your driving instructor, but you can't choose your examiner. I think a lot of examiners need to work on developing their people skills. At the traffic department where this particular examiner was stationed there were chairs outside the office of the examiner where the learner drivers had to wait for there names to be called. I am sure a lot of you remember what it was like sitting outside the principal’s office. This was ten times worse.
All this examiner would say as he walked past the learner was “KOM” ( come ) and off they went to do the test. Maybe learning more than one word would be a good place to start on a journey of developing people skills.
Having come to know this examiner over the years, he was actually a very splendid person. I suppose looks can be very deceiving also.
Uniforms also put fear in most people. So try not to be intimidated by the fact that the examiner may be wearing one. A few of the traffic departments have moved away from examiners wearing uniforms, this does make a difference. Uniforms symbolize different things to different people.
A key thing to remember is that the examiner is not there to fail you, for what on earth would they gain by doing that; you cause yourself to fail by things you do or fail to do. There is no grey area, so make sure you are practically as well as mentally prepared for your drivers test then you can only pass.
What do you do when the examiner who is testing you is more afraid than you are?
I know of an examiner who has had a few very nasty experiences while testing clients. For example I know of an incident where a learner driver had passed the yard test, gone onto the road, come back and as she was stopping her vehicle at the traffic department, pressed the accelerator instead of the brake pedal and ended up parking the car on the pavement, almost evicting a tree in the process.
When you start replacing your work shoes every three months, then you know there is a problem.
He was so stressed out that even his shoes became worn out. How did this happen you may be asking. Well whenever this examiner was out on a test and the learner was approaching a stop situation, this was where the problem arose. Sitting in the passenger seat while someone else is driving, you are approaching stationery traffic at a robot and the driver you are with does not in your mind start braking on time. It makes you look for a brake pedal where there is’nt one. You start pressing down and rubbing your foot on the passenger side floor. I suppose changing shoes is better than having to have to go home to change your underwear.
How does the saying go, you can choose your friends, but you can’t choose your family. Closer to home, you can choose your driving instructor, but you can't choose your examiner. I think a lot of examiners need to work on developing their people skills. At the traffic department where this particular examiner was stationed there were chairs outside the office of the examiner where the learner drivers had to wait for there names to be called. I am sure a lot of you remember what it was like sitting outside the principal’s office. This was ten times worse.
All this examiner would say as he walked past the learner was “KOM” ( come ) and off they went to do the test. Maybe learning more than one word would be a good place to start on a journey of developing people skills.
Having come to know this examiner over the years, he was actually a very splendid person. I suppose looks can be very deceiving also.
Uniforms also put fear in most people. So try not to be intimidated by the fact that the examiner may be wearing one. A few of the traffic departments have moved away from examiners wearing uniforms, this does make a difference. Uniforms symbolize different things to different people.
A key thing to remember is that the examiner is not there to fail you, for what on earth would they gain by doing that; you cause yourself to fail by things you do or fail to do. There is no grey area, so make sure you are practically as well as mentally prepared for your drivers test then you can only pass.
Sunday, January 14, 2007
How many lessons?
Hi John, my name is Andrew. I am currently at a driving school where my instructor has been telling me that I must do at least twenty driving lessons before I can do my drivers test. Is this true ?
Great to hear from you Andrew. For the record, the Road Traffic Act does not specify that you have to go for a certain amount of driving lessons. In fact the act does not specify that you have to go for driving lessons at all.
The reality of the situation however is that if you don’t go for driving lessons, you are not going to learn what is required for your drivers test, which means you will probably fail.
The amount of lessons will always depend on the individual concerned. Twenty lessons may in fact be a fair amount of lessons if you for example are a beginner driver. Never be afraid or shy to ask your instructor questions whatever it may be. Its about teamwork; so go out there and get that licence!
Great to hear from you Andrew. For the record, the Road Traffic Act does not specify that you have to go for a certain amount of driving lessons. In fact the act does not specify that you have to go for driving lessons at all.
The reality of the situation however is that if you don’t go for driving lessons, you are not going to learn what is required for your drivers test, which means you will probably fail.
The amount of lessons will always depend on the individual concerned. Twenty lessons may in fact be a fair amount of lessons if you for example are a beginner driver. Never be afraid or shy to ask your instructor questions whatever it may be. Its about teamwork; so go out there and get that licence!
Saturday, January 13, 2007
You're never too old to learn!
A few years ago I when I was just starting off in the driving school industry I was approached to assist an elderly lady with driving lessons. Little did I know what I was letting myself in for.
Being the person that I am, I struggle to say no, I agreed to take on the challenge. Back then I had a Fiat Uno which I was using for teaching. This particular dear lady’s husband had one of these huge Mazda 626 vehicles which even an experienced driver would shudder at when it came to reverse parking. Her husband insisted that she learn to drive this Mazda. We only discovered later that there was method in his madness.
Over eighty lessons later we were still stuck on the reverse parking. My black hair by that time had started changing to silver grey. The learners licence was about to expire. There were probably more things going against her getting her licence than going in her favour. One ingredient this lady had though was perseverance.
We managed to get an appointment just prior to expiry of the learners and she went for it. The big challenge for her was getting past the yard test. That she did and went on to passing her drivers licence first time. A very proud moment for both of us!
Not too long after her obtaining her drivers licence her husband passed away. Herein lay the method to her husband’s madness.
Maybe you have had a bad experience. An accident. Maybe you have already failed five times. Possibly you suck at reversing. You have no idea which is left and which is right. To all of you out there who have gotten to the point of wanting to give up learning to drive. Take courage from a 65 year old granny.
Being the person that I am, I struggle to say no, I agreed to take on the challenge. Back then I had a Fiat Uno which I was using for teaching. This particular dear lady’s husband had one of these huge Mazda 626 vehicles which even an experienced driver would shudder at when it came to reverse parking. Her husband insisted that she learn to drive this Mazda. We only discovered later that there was method in his madness.
Over eighty lessons later we were still stuck on the reverse parking. My black hair by that time had started changing to silver grey. The learners licence was about to expire. There were probably more things going against her getting her licence than going in her favour. One ingredient this lady had though was perseverance.
We managed to get an appointment just prior to expiry of the learners and she went for it. The big challenge for her was getting past the yard test. That she did and went on to passing her drivers licence first time. A very proud moment for both of us!
Not too long after her obtaining her drivers licence her husband passed away. Herein lay the method to her husband’s madness.
Maybe you have had a bad experience. An accident. Maybe you have already failed five times. Possibly you suck at reversing. You have no idea which is left and which is right. To all of you out there who have gotten to the point of wanting to give up learning to drive. Take courage from a 65 year old granny.
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