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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think what the driving instructor has told Dd is wrong?

263 replies

JacobReesMogadishu · 06/10/2020 21:09

Apparently you never do a shoulder check unless you’re stopped. So if you’re changing lanes on a motorway or coming down a slip road you just use your mirrors and don’t do a quick shoulder check. I know it’s a long time since I took my test but I was told you must because of blind spots.

Second thing is apparently when stopped at traffic lights, etc you don’t need to put your hand brake on. Again I was told you must so if someone rear ends you hopefully you don’t crash forward into the person in front. She’s driving an automatic if that makes a difference.

So last week when driving with me she was stopped at lights with quite a hill start and hadnt got the hand brake on. It’s a good job she is in an automatic or she’d have rolled backwards when she took her foot of the brake to move forward!

She has her test in less than two weeks! 😱

OP posts:
LunaNorth · 07/10/2020 22:24

I passed 21 years ago in an automatic. I’ve never regretted it and it’s never caused me a single issue or problem.

ProfessorInkling · 07/10/2020 22:32

15 years in an auto here too and no regrets.

Hiddenmnetter · 08/10/2020 04:24

@ChristopherTracy well no, it's not the same at all. Your car is not rolling back because of a specific additional feature, not because it's an automatic. So people's cars who are automatic who don't have that feature will then roll back. A torque converter doesn't lock your drive shaft or gear box and will permit your car to roll back unless something else is going on.

TabbyStar · 08/10/2020 05:23

I had a truck pull out on me when I was in their blind spot whilst I was passing them in the middle lane and pushing me (literally) into the outside lane. Fortunately the car in the outside lane behind me was quick enough to brake so they didn't hit me. I don't think the lorry driver had any idea at all that he'd actually hit me, he didn't stop.

The other danger point I've experienced is when you're pulling out into the middle lane to overtake someone and there's someone coming up fast in the outside lane that also wants to pull into the same space, a check to ensure they're not indicating at the last minute seems sensible, I might have crashed in this situation if I hadn't checked.

torquewench · 08/10/2020 06:55

Can I please ask, as a motorcyclist that everyone, learner or long time driver, checks their blind spots, particularly before changing lanes. I cannot believe that a driving instructor would suggest its OK not to!!!

torquewench · 08/10/2020 06:58

Shoulder checks were called "lifesavers" when I learned to ride a motorbike!

mathanxiety · 08/10/2020 07:20

The instructor was correct. You should take a quick glance at traffic while on the ramp to gauge how you can slide in, and adjust your speed if necessary.

Similarly, no need for more than a quick glance while changing lanes. You should be checking your mirrors every few minutes to keep an eye on developments behind you anyway.
Fast moving traffic + driver swinging head even slightly, or upper torso around in seat to look behind often = swerving vehicle.
Slow moving traffic - indicate desire to change lane well in advance of change, watch mirror frequently for an opening and for developments in the lane you wish to enter.

You should fine tune your mirrors so that your blind spot is as limited as possible. Adjust your mirrors every time you get behind the wheel.

You definitely do not need to use the hand brake when stopped in an automatic. You can even get away without the hand brake in a stick shift.

Abraid2 · 08/10/2020 10:15

Ramp?

amusedbush · 08/10/2020 11:44

@Abraid2

Ramp?
The slip road onto a motorway is called an "on-ramp" in the US. I assume that's what it's referring to.
Abraid2 · 08/10/2020 12:25

Oh thank you. Was picturing wooden boards. Sounded dangerous.

MoistMolly · 08/10/2020 12:32

@torquewench

Shoulder checks were called "lifesavers" when I learned to ride a motorbike!
Thats because motorbikes have really, really, small mirrors
torquewench · 09/10/2020 07:26

Bike mirrors, on every bike ive ever owned or ridden, have been/ are roughly the same size as the ones on my car. They're also positioned much closer to me than my car and van wing mirrors, and the field of vision is actually better, IME. In fact, the mirrors on my van are huge compared to my bike mirrrors (probably about 3-4 times the size) yet the blind spots are worse, so I need a little add on mirror especially to cover them.

HeyDuggeesCakeBadge · 09/10/2020 07:30

I'm currently learning to drive and this is definitely incorrect advice!

SnackRussell · 09/10/2020 08:20

It terrifies me to think that people don’t check over their shoulders!

Downwithcovid · 09/10/2020 08:27

How do you check over your shoulder in a van or lorry with no back windows? Just saying.

He is also correct about the handbrake. My son only took his test last week in a manual, and I was surprised that it’s no longer a requirement to use the handbrake or go into neutral at traffic lights. You do have to after emergency stop and for three point turn and parking though - no logic at all

CherryValanc · 09/10/2020 08:47

It terrifies me to think that people don’t check over their shoulders!
But as people have said, it terrifies them that people take thier eyes off of what is in front of them to look behind.

How do you check over your shoulder in a van or lorry with no back windows? Just saying.
I think van and lorry drivers would check over their right shoulder through the side window just as in a car.

Actually, it would be interesting to see how many people check over thier left shoulder through the back window. That takes a full turn - really taking your eyes off the road in front and potential missing a sudden braking or unexpected manoeuvre of a vehicle in front of you.

It's possible all this shoulder checking is for blindspots on the right.

CherryValanc · 09/10/2020 08:50

As an FYI the ramp isn't an American expression. It's also used in Ireland.

Downwithcovid · 09/10/2020 08:52

@CherryValanc

It terrifies me to think that people don’t check over their shoulders! But as people have said, it terrifies them that people take thier eyes off of what is in front of them to look behind.

How do you check over your shoulder in a van or lorry with no back windows? Just saying.
I think van and lorry drivers would check over their right shoulder through the side window just as in a car.

Actually, it would be interesting to see how many people check over thier left shoulder through the back window. That takes a full turn - really taking your eyes off the road in front and potential missing a sudden braking or unexpected manoeuvre of a vehicle in front of you.

It's possible all this shoulder checking is for blindspots on the right.

You can’t see thing that you can’t see in the mirror by turning your head in a van with a bulkhead. You drive off the Mirrors completely, including reversing into parking spaces and around corners.
pinkbalconyrailing · 09/10/2020 08:54

@Downwithcovid

How do you check over your shoulder in a van or lorry with no back windows? Just saying.

He is also correct about the handbrake. My son only took his test last week in a manual, and I was surprised that it’s no longer a requirement to use the handbrake or go into neutral at traffic lights. You do have to after emergency stop and for three point turn and parking though - no logic at all

a lorry or work van has extra mirrors or angled mirrors that (should) cover the blind spots. in addition, cameras and sensors are now commonplace and mandatory for certain kinds of vehicles in certain regions.
CounsellorTroi · 09/10/2020 09:02

[quote Takeitonthechin]@CounsellorTroi , who said it was a problem?!, I don't think the word 'problem' was mentioned in my original post![/quote]
You said

can I ask why your daughter is learning to drive in an automatic car?, is she intending to only drive automatic cars for the rest of her life?

I inferred from this that you thought it would disadvantage her to only be able to drive an automatic. Apologies if I got that wrong.

holdingpattern · 09/10/2020 12:21

Maybe the issue is the type of looking over your shoulder? I mean a

sideways glance is all you need,

not a 160degree bend your neck back to slowly survey the lane while you crash into the car in front?

Abraid2 · 09/10/2020 17:45

@holdingpattern

Maybe the issue is the type of looking over your shoulder? I mean a

sideways glance is all you need,

not a 160degree bend your neck back to slowly survey the lane while you crash into the car in front?

^ This.
IdkickJilliansass · 09/10/2020 17:54

Automatics do roll back! In any event driving instructor is wrong

ManOfPies · 10/10/2020 02:41

I think van and lorry drivers would check over their right shoulder through the side window just as in a car.

No, we don't because most truck windows don't even go fully down and poking one's head out the window would be a bad idea. We have wide angle mirrors and stay aware of what's around us. You can also lean forward when looking in mirror, which is probably safer than taking eyes off the road.

RichPetunia · 10/10/2020 21:31

To the person who said about tilting your head to the side to adjust your mirrors- Thank you! It’s been a revelation. Did this today and for the first time I can honestly say my mirrors were perfect. Thanks again.

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