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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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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:

CatMad90 · 07/10/2020 07:58

It is related to the distance you would travel on a motorway while looking over your shoulder. Even though it's only for a second, you will travel quite far because of your speed, and you won't actually be looking at the road ahead during that time. Something could happen on the motorway and your head it facing the wrong way, meaning you will have less time to deal with it. They say you should check your mirrors every 5 seconds (who does), so on a motorway you should know what is going on around you anyway.

ImSleepingBeauty · 07/10/2020 08:00

A quick shoulder check saved me from a crash on the M25 after some idiot speed up the inside of me using lane 3 (I was in 2).
I had been checking my mirrors regularly but it was a congested 4 lane motorway and he was going so fast undertaking I didn’t know he was there by mirrors alone.

I think the instructor is wrong.

Whataboutnodontyouunderstand · 07/10/2020 08:01

As a motorcyclist not doing a shoulder check is a terrifying thought! That's where we usually are especially if filtering. An accident waiting to happen if no one checks there blind spot

cologne4711 · 07/10/2020 08:02

I always check over my shoulder, and if I am coming into the left hand lane from the right hand lane I check my left mirror. I never take a chance, especially if I've overtaken a lorry - it is possible I've not noticed a small car in front of it.

My DH doesn't check, and he has been beeped by angry drivers a couple of times over the years. I think the OP's driving instructor is wrong, unless you have the blind spot mirror on your wing mirrors. Agree that any problems are likely to be caused by speeding Audi drivers though ;)

cologne4711 · 07/10/2020 08:04

I would also say that if you are turning left on a normal road, you should check your left mirror for cyclists even if you don't think any are there. Just get into the habit of it.

Also, I always indicate, even if I don't think there's anyone around because there may be a pedestrian wanting to know what my plans are that I've not seen.

CounsellorTroi · 07/10/2020 08:05

Never heard of putting your hand break on unless you’re still for ages I.e. outside a shop OR on a VERY steep slope x

Shouldn’t you turn the engine off if you are waiting outside a shop. Not sit there with it idling.

I don’t do shoulder checks. My car is an automatic with electronic handbrake (passed in a manual) and I only use it on very steep slopes.

Junkmail · 07/10/2020 08:08

@ImSleepingBeauty

A quick shoulder check saved me from a crash on the M25 after some idiot speed up the inside of me using lane 3 (I was in 2). I had been checking my mirrors regularly but it was a congested 4 lane motorway and he was going so fast undertaking I didn’t know he was there by mirrors alone.

I think the instructor is wrong.

Same. If I hadn’t checked over my shoulder I would have been in an accident. That was fairly recently coming off a slip road onto a busy dual carriageway.

Also OP—I drive an auto and learned at a bit of a later age around 5 years ago. My instructor said you don’t have to use a handbrake at lights but strongly advised that I should as an added safety measure. She won’t pass or fail based on that but I always put my handbrake on and I do think it’s a good habit for safety.

dontdisturbmenow · 07/10/2020 08:09

The handbreak has definitely changed. I remember that conversation with one of mine 3 years ago. However, that means you don't always have to put it on, but you do if starting on a hill.

I didn't know about the looking over shoulder, it does make sense when changing lane but I wouldn't be comfortable when starting off. Just yesterday, I reversed around a corner, was about to go and If I hadn't looked over my shoulder would have hit the car coming from the right as the road was bending and I could have seen it before I was ready to move out.

Gobbycop · 07/10/2020 08:09

Nice one.

I ride motorbikes, good to know there are fucking idiot instructors saying not to check blind spots.
Makes my life more exciting.

StCharlotte · 07/10/2020 08:10

After two near misses on motorways (neither were of my making before you pile on), I always do a shoulder check.

Other people can do what they like and whilst it might be taught and "correct" not to do it, I personally think it's bloody stupid.

As for the handbrake, I use my judgement for the conditions although I was taught (way back) always to do it.

Cars may have changed since I passed but people haven't.

Nicknacky · 07/10/2020 08:11

I don’t think anyone is saying that you should NEVER look over your shoulder, I do if I’m not convinced the road is clear but it shouldn’t be done routinely. And I check my mirrors every few seconds as habit anyway.

I’m actually more alarmed by the amount of posters who have said they would have hit something if they hadn’t done that. You are admitting your observations are poor!

sashh · 07/10/2020 08:15

I learned in 2002 and was told emphatically to always check my blind spot.

Things change though, mainly as car changes. I was taught to build up speed before going up a hill and to accelerate into or out of a bend depending on whether the car was front or rear wheel drive.

With modern cars you can just drive up a hill with no fear of losing momentum.

Cars these days are more powerful and go faster. When I got my first car is had a 1.3 engine, my dad gave me the a piece of advice, to remember when he passed his test (he had the little red book licence) a 1.3 was a sports car and to treat it as a powerful engine.

As others have said go with the instructor.

Oneisdrunk · 07/10/2020 08:21

I’m currently learning to drive. You only do a shoulder check when going onto the motorway from a slip road. You don’t use the blind spot when changing lanes, just your mirrors.
Also I’m not sure about the handbrake as I use it at lights but maybe different in an automatic.
2bh I’d trust the driving instructor as he will have other people not just your dd that he’s taking out and who are passing tests. I also would guess it’s slightly different in each areas what’s getting taught (although it probably shouldn’t be)

Takeitonthechin · 07/10/2020 08:26

Yes I shoulder check... 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?

Janevaljane · 07/10/2020 08:28

I had a brilliant driving instructor and have never been told to put my handbrake on at traffic lights.

CounsellorTroi · 07/10/2020 08:44

@Takeitonthechin

Yes I shoulder check... 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?

And why would this be a problem?

Chaotic45 · 07/10/2020 08:49

It is pointless doing a shoulder check in a van, even the small car sized one which I drive. You just can't see anything.

I disliked it at first, and have adapted by using my mirrors more.

I realise OP's daughter isn't driving a van, but it's food for thought....

CherryValanc · 07/10/2020 08:52

"Modern cars are not designed well for short women!"

No, they really aren't. I I don't think any car has ever been designed with the average woman in mind, it's all based on the average man. (I too do the handbrake in neutral and off clutch at traffic lights - unless I'm in the first three. My driving instructor suggested it to rest my legs.)

As for the shoulder check when moving at speed no. You should be checking all your mirrors with such frequency you see someone moving up beside you into any blindspot. Can't see them anymore and they haven't past you? Then they are in your blind spot so don't do the manoeuvre.

Shoulder check for moving off or out of junctions, yes to that.

EvilPea · 07/10/2020 08:58

I was taught in driving lessons not to shoulder check except for pulling away as your likely to pull the wheel to the way you are looking and swerve

But in my pass plus lessons I was taught to blind spot check for motorways.

I think new cars are worse for blind spots than old ones. But I always blind spot check, even though I am a constant mirror checker, seems good practice, having witnessed too many near misses

EvilPea · 07/10/2020 09:00

@Chaotic45

It is pointless doing a shoulder check in a van, even the small car sized one which I drive. You just can't see anything.

I disliked it at first, and have adapted by using my mirrors more.

I realise OP's daughter isn't driving a van, but it's food for thought....

I drive vans a lot and agree. There’s one I can’t adjust the mirror appropriately and I hate hate hate driving that one. I feel much better with Windows in the rear doors for reassurance!

Lara53 · 07/10/2020 09:00

My son is learning at the moment and has been told you must check blind spots etc when changing lanes

VenusTiger · 07/10/2020 09:03

I'd say it's common sense, if you're driving at 70mph on a motorway, you surely must not turn your head ever, that's ridiculous. Mirrors for motorways definitely.
Hand brakes at traffic lights also are dangerous - my brother was rear-ended and it was only because he didn't have his hand brake on that it didn't break his neck! His car was pushed into the car in front of him, and yes 3 cars damaged, but think about the physics.

Wheytaminute · 07/10/2020 09:11

I have no idea - I passed my test in 1985 and DO a shoulder check when I think necessary as well as using all my mirrors constantly.

What this thread does highlight is that perhaps all drivers should have refresher training every 15/20 years? Rules change, habits that have become ingrained may not be right for the traffic and roads 0f 2020. i did a speed awareness course 14 years ago - when it was a half day theory and the rest of the day out in a car with an instructor. That was an interesting afternoon as I hadn't realised how slack my driving style had become.

Taylrse · 07/10/2020 09:37

I learnt to drive 11 years ago.

I can't shoulder check as it makes my steering swerve! I just use my mirrors very frequently to always be aware of what's around me.
Also I was never taught to use handbrake for every time I stop. You used them for hill starts and "stop" signs.

I'm all for everyone being re tested every 10 years or so. Driving can be so dangerous and it's easy to become complacent when you've been driving for many years

jonny9487 · 07/10/2020 09:39

As for the shoulder check, I imagine all car mirrors cover blind spots better now and whilst moving, looking over your shoulder is more likely to make you drift. I learnt in 1991 and was told this

The number of times I've nearly been wiped out on my motorbike because people think they don't have blindspots. And if you can't avoid drifting if you look over your shoulder for a second, you really shouldn't be driving.

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