Driving Test Manoeuvres (Continued)

Turning In The Road.

This manouevre is often still called a three point turn, and can be useful when you need to turn around and you can't find a side road or opening.
It is important to apply the usual rules of control, accuracy and observation.

The key to this set piece is to move the vehicle slowly, while steering quickly. Top clutch control is essential.
Before you turn.
Choose a place where

• The road is wide enough.
• There are no obstructions in the road or on the pavement.

Position the car on the left, avoiding trees or lamp-posts.

Select 1st gear and prepare to move.

Check all round, especially blind spots and give way to passing vehicles.

Turning across the road.

Move slowly forward in 1st gear, steering quickly to full right lock. Try to get the vehicle at a right angle across the road.

Just before you reach the opposite kerb, steer quickly to the left, to set up your wheels for the reverse part. You should then stop the car before it reaches the kerb. Apply the handbrake if necessary.

To Reverse.

Select reverse gear and prepare to move.

Check it is clear all round. Looking over your left shoulder, through the rear window, ease the car slowly across the road, steering quickly to full left lock. As the car nears the kerb, look over your right shoulder, and steer quickly to the right. Stop the car and your wheels should be pointing to the right, ready for the next part.

Driving forward again.

Select first gear, check it is safe and drive forward. Straighten up on the left hand side of the road.

Remember.

All round observation is essential.

Your Driving Instructor at John Lowe Driving School will coach you fully on this and any other manouevres.

Customer Review.

"I started learning to drive with another driving school some years ago in a manual car, but the instructor was always shouting at me. This used to upset me and so I didn't really get on that well and eventually stopped learning. I left it until recently, when I decided to try automatic driving lessons with John. It really is an amazing difference, John is patient and kind, and I'm getting on really well. We started reversing today and I'm looking forward to passing. John says there is no reason why I should not pass first time." Anna Stec, Cheltenham.

Driving Test Manoeuvres

During your driving test you will be asked to complete one reverse manoeuvre, which is not too bad really. The DVSA examiner will however, be able to choose your one manoeuvre from a batch of four potential set pieces, so it is no use just learning the one, you have to be able to do all four, as you will not know which one the examiner will choose.
The four potential manoeuvres are:

• Reversing into a side road on the left.
• Turning in the road.
• Reverse parking.
• Reverse into a parking bay.

In this post, I will explain the main points to be aware of, starting with the first manoeuvre on the list, reversing into a side road, often called" reversing round a corner." I will cover the other set pieces in subsequent blogs.

Reversing Into A Side Road On The Left.

If you are asked to perform this manoeuvre on your driving test, the examiner will ask you to pull up just before the side road on the left. He will then explain that he wants you to drive slowly past the end of the road, position the car and then reverse around the corner, keeping reasonably close to the kerb.

So, you should carry out these instructions, using the MSM and POM routines at all times.(Your instructor will have briefed you fully on these routines already.)

As you drive slowly past the end of the road, you should be checking what shape the corner is, square or round, uphill or downhill, any potholes etc., that might surprise you.

Start the manoeuvre using the POM routine.( Prepare, Observe and Move)

Turn slightly in your seat, set the gas, ease the clutch to biting point, check all around, release the handbrake and if its perfectly safe, start reversing. Use clutch control to keep the vehicle moving very slowly backwards until you reach the point of turn. That is the beginning of the corner. Start to steer left at this point, about 2/3rds of a turn for a round corner, and often to full lock on a square corner. Remember the front of your car will swing out as you turn, so full observation is essential. Remember to check all blind spots before you start to steer and if you are likely to affect any road user, you should pause until it is safe.

When you can see into the new road through the rear window, be ready to straighten the steering. Using a sticker or something similar as a focal point can be very helpful to line up with the kerb. Your driving instructor will have a reliable method to help you get used to the final position of the car.

Remember

Keep on the lookout for other road users, particularly:

• Pedestrians about to cross behind you.
• Vehicles approaching from any direction.

Thanks, John

John Lowe Driving School-Mission Statement.
The purpose John Lowe Driving School is to provide high quality driver education and top class customer service.

*We will distinguish ourselves from our competitors by providing excellent customer services.
*The office staff will aim to answer all customer calls in person between 09.00 am and 18.00 pm Monday to Friday.
*We will deal with calls at all other times if possible.
*Driving instructors will endeavour to arrive on time, 90% of the time, or offer an apology.
*Instructors will offer an interactive recap of previous lesson to set base line for tuition.
*Instructors will agree aims and objectives for the current lesson so student fully understands the purpose of the lesson and what they are trying to achieve.
*Instructors will coach in a non confrontational manner.
*Instructors will offer feedback and encouragement linked to specific areas of development.
*Instructors will interactively summarise the lesson so student is fully aware of strengths and weaknesses and whether the objective was achieved.
*Instructors will endeavour reply to text and other messages from students the same day.
*Instructors will keep the tuition vehicle well maintained and in a condition that reflects the professional image of the driving school.
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*Instructors will ensure that the pricing agreement is adhered to.

Overtaking.

Is overtaking worth it? One of the questions I ask my pupils is ‘what is the difference between queue jumping and overtaking?’. We might then watch the car behind. We can see up the road and we have a good few cars in front of us all queuing up behind a horse box for example. The chap behind us overtakes us. Is that overtaking or queue jumping? We are all waiting to overtake the horse box as well.  Think about this on a deeper level. You may think that if someone did that at the till in Tesco you wouldn’t be very happy about it. This  helps drivers to think about their actions when they are faced with this situation. Are they overtaking or just queue jumping?

Customer Review:

"I really enjoyed learning to drive with John Lowe Driving School. My instructor, Tom Lowe was great. He was calm and patient and had some great techniques to help me remember the manoeuvres and other tricky things. He always made time to make sure I understood what we had agreed to do each lesson, so learning was quite quick. He was always on time and I would recommend them anytime."

Harry Edwards, Gloucester.

Congratulations to Harry Edwards on your 1st time pass at Gloucester test centre. Your instructor, Tom Lowe, and all of us at John Lowe Driving send our best wishes.

Floods.

Driving into Cheltenham this morning, after the heavy rain, there was a massive puddle across Shurdington Road, which must have qualified as a flood. Vehicles were having to slow down quite dramatically to sensibly go through it, although some were too fast, creating a large bow wave,which can cause problems for others.
Keep your speed down, revs up, and test your brakes when you are out of it, to cope successfully with flooded roads.
Thanks, John.

Customer Review.

 "I had my first driving lessons in Poland, which frightened me sometimes, and when I came to England, I wanted to carry on as the driving seemed more sensible. I decided to learn automatic and got in touch with John, who got me started again. Automatic has made a big difference and I have got on quite fast, with my test coming up later in November. John has been really helpful and calm, which is good for me."

Renata Seneniuk, Brockworth.

Customer Review.

"I decided to learn automatic, as I just didn't seem to have time to do manual with ayoung family. John Lowe Driving had an automatic for driving lessons, and John is my instructor. It has been great and I'm nearly ready for my test. I keep my lessons up and hope to pass this year."
Jo Pierce, Brockworth.

New Website

We have a new website at John Lowe Driving School. You can find it at www.drivinglessonsgloucester.org
We hope you find it interesting.
Thanks, John Lowe.

Passed, Ben Davis, Gloucester.

Congratulations to Ben Davis, who passed his driving test on November 6th 2014, at Gloucester Test Centre, with 2 minor faults. All of us at John Lowe Driving School send our best wishes. Bens instructor was Tom Lowe.

Driving Test Passes

Some of our successful students.

Passed-Genie Staelens, Gloucester

Congratulations to Genie Staelens, who has passed her driving test at Gloucester test centre. Her instructor was Nick Butters. Driving Lessons Gloucester.

Passed-Karen Davis, Gloucester   Well done Karen Davis, who passed her test in some style at Gloucester. She has a very nice BMW waiting for her to drive. We look forward to seeing you on the road, Karen. Her instructor was John Lowe. Driving Lessons Gloucester Passed,Anisha Patel, Gloucester.   Well done, Anisha Patel, on your well deserved test pass at Gloucester. Her instructor was Tom Lowe. Best wishes for the future from the whole team at John Lowe Driving School. Driving Lessons Gloucester. Passed, Harrison Howells, Cheltenham.   Congratulations to Harrison Howells, who has passed his test at Cheltenham test centre. His instructor was Martyn Brewer. See you on the road soon, Harrison. Driving Lessons Cheltenham. Passed,Esme Harding, Gloucester.   Great result Esme! You passed your test at Gloucester test centre. Your instructor was Tom Lowe. All at John Lowe Driving School send their congratulations and best wishes for the future. Driving Lessons Gloucester. Passed, Natalie Earp, Gloucester.   Congratulations to Natalie Earp who has passed her test at Gloucester Test Centre. Her instructor was John Lowe, who sends his congratulations. Well done, Natalie! Driving Lessons Gloucester. Passed, Callum Busby, Gloucester.   Congratulations to Callum Busby who passed his test at Gloucester. Well done! His instructor was Martyn Brewer. Driving Lessons Gloucester. Passed,Carrie Godwin, Gloucester.   Carrie Godwin passed her test at Gloucester test centre. Congratulations from all at John Lowe Driving. Her instructor was John Lowe. Driving Lessons Gloucester. Passed, Will Borthwick, Gloucester.   Congratulations to Will Borthwick on passing his driving test in Gloucester. Best wishes from his driving instructor, Tom Lowe, and all at John Lowe Driving School. Driving Lessons Gloucester.