Don't Hesitate on the Test

On a driving test, one of the worst things to do is hesitate. It shows the examiner you have no idea what you're doing, and even worse, it slows down your reactions and you may run into a dangerous situation. Here is an article about it written by Phill Godridge.

On the UK Driving Test - He Who Hesitates is Lost!

Make progress by avoiding undue hesitancy.

The issue of hesitancy very often causes confusion and problems for learner drivers; 59331 problems for learner drivers during a UK driving test last year to be exact. So exactly where is the dividing line between caution and hesitancy?

The driving test report explains: "You should approach all hazards at a safe, controlled speed, without being over cautious or interfering with the progress of other traffic. Always be ready to move away from junctions as soon as it is safe and correct to do so."
So what does this mean?

I had one pupil who failed two consecutive tests on the same roundabout. First time, he pulled out onto the roundabout whilst another car was coming towards him. The examiner thought he should have waited. Whereas, on the second attempt he waited for a larger gap. The examiner thought he waited too long and should have taken an earlier gap. Clearly he went from one extreme to the other.

A basic rule which you can apply to roundabouts and other junctions, such as pulling out of a side road or turning right into a side road, which I suggest to my pupils is that they think like a pedestrian!

Ask yourself if you would have enough time to walk across the road. If you think you would, then you should have enough time to drive across. In real terms, this means that you need a gap of about 5 seconds between oncoming cars; on a roundabout you should have a clear space past the entrance to your right.

If any vehicles are within this safety zone, then you should wait. But the question is - For how long?

In a situation where you have come to a complete stop, you need to get yourself ready in first gear and be prepared to release the handbrake and move forwards. Don't look at the approaching cars! Instead, look at the space behind them. Try to assess whether that space would be big enough to use. If so, get your car moving as soon as the passing vehicle is clear of your position. Follow it out.

It is always safer to follow someone out than to pull out in front of them. Just so long as you don't leave it too late.

Another major cause of failure due to hesitation is the 'false start'. This is where the candidate almost goes but then decides to pull back. This may seem like the safe option if cars are approaching a little faster than you first thought. However, the vehicle behind you will have seen your initial movement and might naturally think you have pulled away.

The next thing you know the car behind crashes into your rear bumper. Possibly their own fault, but did you give out the wrong signals? Besides, if your observation was better, you wouldn't have tried to pull out in the first place.

Final thoughts. Do not try to second guess what the examiner might want to see. Make your own mind up using your own experience and good judgement. Be decisive. Once you have made your decision, do not change your mind except in an emergency. Be positive. But remember, waiting is just as positive as going - If it is the right thing to do!

Phill is an experienced driving instructor who's been running his own driving school for 14 years. But it's not all work. He enjoys using his underwater digital camera in its underwater camera housing most weekends.

Source: EzineArticles.com.

Hope you learned something,
Nadav

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