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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To believe that 'feeding the wheel' is actually dangerous, a waste of time etc...

139 replies

Feminine · 13/09/2012 09:19

I hold a driving licence from abroad, so does my DH. We are allowed to drive on it for one year , then we must sit the entire UK test again...

I've been driving for 7 years and him since 1977!

As we know the UK is obsessed with this feeding the wheel crap, we have been practicing.

It actually makes things more dangerous, stopping the car from doing what it does naturally.

I am not suggesting that crossing your hands is great, we don't do that...but not letting the wheel run through ones hands is, (imo) plan daft.

Worrying really, as its a fail here isn't it?

OP posts:

Original poster

Feminine · 13/09/2012 11:34

Good Morning Kayano.

Have you seen me drive? I can do it. I don't like it, I would like it to feel more natural.

With my 'no feeding' I have driven in conditions that would probably scare the crap out of many of you. I feel concentrating on 'feeding' is dangerous.

OP posts:

gordyslovesheep · 13/09/2012 11:36

pmsl are you Jeremy Clarkson?

what 'conditions' a bit of snow and wind?

valiumredhead · 13/09/2012 11:36

If you have to concentrate on it then you ARE rubbish at it, sorry but you are, kay is right!

CaseyShraeger · 13/09/2012 11:37

I don't think you do have to make a particular performance of it in your test, you just have to do it. I suppose there's always an element of performance about any aspect of the test, though -- I remember my instructor suggested that I have my rear-view mirror angled just a tiny bit off its best position, so that I'd naturally move my head when doing it and it would be obvious that I was checking the mirror.

Original poster

Feminine · 13/09/2012 11:39

Same vallium :)

Its not some crazy 'free for all' in the states. There are people who fail and pass tests all the time.

They don't just give you a license you know

Comparing it to the UK is tricky, they can't teach you to drive in conditions that I have had to, so they make sure you can handle a car safely.

I have looked at the theory for here, taken it on -line and passed. It was very similar to the US one.

OP posts:

DowagersHump · 13/09/2012 11:44

I struggle to believe anyone actually fails the US driving test. I have never done anything so easy in my entire life :o

valiumredhead · 13/09/2012 11:44

People do drive in the snow in the UK you know

Original poster

Feminine · 13/09/2012 11:45

gordy are you serious?

Have you ever driven in a Mid-west winter.

Ice? heavy, heavy snow ? horrific winds? wind so strong it takes your windscreen wipers off -plus its raining in sheets? how bloody patronizing!

vallium If I told you to suddenly drive with one hand , could you do it? I'm not suggesting that you should, but...just because something feels unnatural does not make the person doing it bad. Its annoying more than anything else. I don't want to mess up a test on something that I feel is a waste of time.

But.... I will practice , I do get I must perfect it

OP posts:

valiumredhead · 13/09/2012 11:45

That's exactly what my sister said Dowagers she said if she'd known how easy it was she wouldn't have bothered getting so nervous before hand!

ClippedPhoenix · 13/09/2012 11:45

Depends what you feed it with I guess

Kayano · 13/09/2012 11:46

I never said you are a rubbish driver. But if you have to concentrate that hard to feed te wheel, you are rubbish at feeding the wheel!

Simple as that!

Original poster

Feminine · 13/09/2012 11:46

Vallium ...the snow in the mid west of America makes the stuff we get here look laughable.

I know people who have failed their US test dowager people that hold a full UK one

OP posts:

IsItMeOr · 13/09/2012 11:47

Tee - I agree. From memory, I think the key factor in how likely you are to have any sort of driving accident is how much mileage you do. So I think the argument goes that women aren't actually any less likely to have an accident than men, it's just that, on average, they do a lot less mileage.

I'm sure you're right that there are more miles driven per person in US than in UK. I wonder if we can find the stats on that too?

valiumredhead · 13/09/2012 11:47

Yes I could drive with one hand holding the wheel at the top

But it's not a waste of time, thats the point you aren't getting

Anyway! Have a lesson, and I wish you luck on passing! :)

Ormiriathomimus · 13/09/2012 11:47

feeding the wheel? Is this yet another area of car maintenance I am neglecting?

AntsMarching · 13/09/2012 11:48

I've taken the test in the UK and the US. I'd been driving for 14 years before I took the UK test. I had to "unlearn" a few things in order to pass the UK test. I hated feeding the wheel, thought it was ridiculous and immediately dropped it once I'd passed my test.

I think it's worth retaking the test in either country because the road conditions are so different, e.g. Lane size, meaning of road signs, rules for zebra crossings. I don't think the "skills" tested in the UK have made a single difference to my understanding of how to drive.

Original poster

Feminine · 13/09/2012 11:49

ormir yes, your wheel will enjoy carrots!

Thanks vallium, thanks for your time :)

OP posts:

Kayano · 13/09/2012 11:50

I'm the daughter of a bus driving instructor though and out motorway 'games' were being drilled on the highway code and spottig bad driving practices. He drilled 10 and 2 into me as soon as I was old enough to understand

I could tell you the sequence of the traffic lights from amber at the age of 8 and name all the coloured cats eyes on the motorway and their purpose aged 8 so don't try and tell me about your driving because you have driven on ice

CumberdickBendybatch · 13/09/2012 11:51

Sometimes I don't even hold on to the wheel with both hands.

Kayano · 13/09/2012 11:52

I should have been an instructor myself but as Much as I can recite the highway code and good driving Practices at you I don't actually like driving (don't tell my dad!)

Original poster

Feminine · 13/09/2012 11:53

What kayano what on earth...

Your Dad is a bus driving instructor..I'm failing to see how teaching you things as a child has anything to do with my situation.

If you haven't driven where I have, in those conditions I explained, then you have no idea what you are talking about!

OP posts:

Kayano · 13/09/2012 11:58

Well you've just totally missed the point on purpose there haven't you?

The point is is that in the uk it is good and standard driving practice that is taught to everyone

It isn't hard

Nor is it dangerous

You are just not very good at it. I only mentioned my dad as he is required by law to teach it that way for 'safety'!

It's In NO WAY dangerous to drive well

drjohnsonscat · 13/09/2012 12:01

feminine since you started out claiming that feeding the wheel was dangerous I wouldn't start accusing other people of not knowing what they are talking about

Kayano · 13/09/2012 12:02

Lmao

Kayano · 13/09/2012 12:03

And you can't dismiss the opinion of someone for not having driven down the same roads as you. I doubt many people here on this mainly uk mothers forum have driven in Midwest USA tbf

Lol

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