Learner drivers... give them a chance...

[Rallye Sport]

I've been bestowed the honour of teaching my nephew how to drive, I like to think its because of my history in trucks and heavy machinery but at the end of the day I'm the only one in the family with a manual nowadays, lol we're driving the TE50 no less...
He's picking it up well, logbook is filled early, I'm trying to teach him all aspects, from driving down the coast (perve cruise), heavy freeway (going to work), country runs (endurance) and things like pulse braking, if that fails escape routes and physically talking about what he's doing and seeing as we drive. We've got a track day booked soon to teach him 'the right place and time' for fun...
It's been a great bonding experience but one thing I've noticed is the impatience of drivers, be it tailgating, swerving lane changes and general contempt... In particular the driver of a silver modeo caught behind us after an unfortunate stall this arvo, mate, the L plates were up, I signaled stop out of the window, if you're going to hit the horn give it a 'toot toot' not a prolonged blast... You shattered the poor young bloke and uncle rallye sport did well not yell 'revs up, clutch out, smoke him boy!!!'
Please show the youngens' some patience guys and gals, we were all there once upon a time... CheeRS...

[Sabantien]

Well said.
I still recall people tailgating, honking, flashing lights, speeding past to pull in front and brake check, etc when I was a learner.

Best part of that was my (paid) instructor reaching over to honk back, giving people the finger, and hanging out the window to yell at them.

[Itsme]

It is a problem these days as too many drivers being impatient with the learners, people need to give them a fair go to build up their confidence.

[98TLS]

Good thread RS,dont envy people starting out on 4 wheels (or 2) these days,i was lucky and grew up on a farm so was driving a tractor at 9 and riding a motorcycle around the same age,the progression to a car was easy.Must be a bloody nightmare learning to drive on public roads for young uns good on you for taking the time to teach the young fella.

[EBSXR6]

When I learnt to drive in the late 70s you were able to go to a local shopping centre on Saturday afternoon or Sunday and get a bit of practice on the basics of how a car works without the pressure of all the traffic, changing gears, handbrake starts, parking, 3 point turns etc.

[xr6-FTW]

The worst part of being on my L's before i got my ps was tailgating. I would always be driving the speed limit but bang some one would be up my ***. What really annoyed me real bad was when I'd be driving normal and the **** wit behind me would be right up my **** speed up to overtake go in front of me and Chuck's the brakes on???? I would get so mad that I was swearing my head off, but my old man would say calm down which made me feel even more angrier. Now on my P's no one tries to overtake me????

[jgs393]

What's the bet the idiot behind you in the Mondeo was driving an auto coz he doesn't know how to drive a manual.

Good on your nephew for learning in a manual, it's an important life skill I reckon.

[JC]

Originally Posted by xr6-FTW

.......Now on my P's no one tries to overtake me????

Probably because they can't keep up?

[fps_grandma]

Ahh I remembered to learning to drive in a BA Falcon and thought it was a big boy of a car but now there's full-size SUVs and dual cabs running around.

If I see some parking attempts that take longer and are less precise I can forgive them if they are a Learner driver.
Unfortunately I see way more pathetic parking attempts from those apparently with a full licence.

[BPXR6T]

I hit google and learned to drive a manual overnight. I had bought a manual car and needed to drive it from Canberra to Melbourne the following day. Learning on the job. Hill starts were a bit rough on the way out of canberra and I learned what having no synchros on first meant pretty quick. Fun times...

[blackf6]

Originally Posted by BPXR6T

I hit google and learned to drive a manual overnight. I had bought a manual car and needed to drive it from Canberra to Melbourne the following day. Learning on the job. Hill starts were a bit rough on the way out of canberra and I learned what having no synchros on first meant pretty quick. Fun times...

I learnt by myself too. Burnt out the clutch two days later.

[Express]

Originally Posted by EBSXR6

When I learnt to drive in the late 70s you were able to go to a local shopping centre on Saturday afternoon or Sunday and get a bit of practice on the basics of how a car works without the pressure of all the traffic, changing gears, handbrake starts, parking, 3 point turns etc.

We didn't have a local shopping centre, we had a shop and I cruised past that over a billions times in my early driving years.

I learnt some car control in the clover paddocks out back of the house and started driving regularly by the age of 10.

And only the wealthy drove automatics.

Times have definitely changed.

I don’t know why an experienced driver would feel the need to show off their offensive side by being impatient with a learner driver? What do they think, they'll suddenly learn by blowing the horn at them?

[Qwerty321]

Good thing you brought this up. Everyone on the road was a learner driver once, and people seem to forget that too quickly. Personally I never honk at learners because I understand they're just trying to learn and already know when they've done something wrong, me hoking won't help them learn and the last thing they need is some ***** on the road making them too afraid/embarrassed to keep on learning.

Its the same with babies/little kids crying on a plane. In fact I had a little toddler sitting in the seat behind me on the plane 2 days ago, little fella was crying and kicking my seat for all but the 30 minutes in between when the plane wasn't climbing or descending (flight from Dunedin to Auckland). I made it a point to smile at the parents and have some small talk with them as we were all leaving the plane, just so they didn't feel bad (Which it turns out they really did). I don't blame the little fella for crying. Babies ears are particularly sensitive and the "popping" we get would have been quite painful for him. The sheer number of people on the flight getting annoyed/angry with the kid for crying was what really annoyed me! The only time I'll ever get annoyed or ****ed of with someone is when they're intentionally being a dick with the intention of annoying other people or just a complete disregard for other people.

[Rallye Sport]

Thanks for the positive comments...
After the best part of forty hours on the road it only took ten seconds for all his confidence to be lost.
Pleased he remembered two things, communication and mechanical sympathy... A couple km's up the road he gingerly muttered "sorry about the clutch 002" (002's the cars nickname)
All's forgotten now, we'll be on the road next weekend, talking to our car all the way...

[66GT]

It certainly sounds that the OP is doing his best to provide the youngen with as much varied experience as possible. Good on you mate. I've taught my 4 kids to drive, with 4 manual licences + 2 bike. Very happy with all their driving with only 2 minor scrapes, 1 on the retaining wall in the back yard from then mister 12 practicing his 3 point turns in a confined space, & another son 15 gently tapping the shade sail post as he was reversing up the steep drive & failed to negotiate the tight turn to get into the side yard. So all up great. My issue with learners is the incompetent idiots in the front passenger seat failing to provide any worthwhile instructions whilst taking junior onto the freeway in peak hour traffic on their second or third lesson when they obviously have ZERO experience in any aspect of driving. Yes do what the rest of us have done & refuse to let them graduate the abandoned carpark until they have mastered the basics. Congrates to all who are trying to educate these kids safe driving habits.

[TheInterceptor]

Oh yeah. Thats unfortunate but not surprising at all.

I tend to get similar things crusing in my EA. Slow n steady just doesnt compute in todays society. It doesnt get any better unless you go to the country.

People need to calm down on the roads!

[BENT_8]

Good thread, ive been considering posting something similar myself.

Im currently in the last stages of teaching my son to drive and im disgusted in the behavior of many road users with regard to learners.

Everyday he has some clown up his **** at an intersection or on a roundabout, and to be honest i wouldnt consider him a hesitant learner, he gets into and out of intersections fairly swiftly, it just seems like having the L plate puts a target on your back.

It makes me laugh when they blast past, like awesome clown, you beat a learner, how skillful.

Its not just younger people or Commodore drivers either, every man and his dog has a crack.

Sometimes i feel like lobbing a bottle out the window, but these days, its probably some Ice addict and it would only gain their focus.

[josh1990]

I had the luxury of learning to drive on the farm. First ride was a lovely old international tractor (7), then into the Navara followed by a single axle bedford tipper (9 or so). Only ever had one issue, when I got a bit touchy with the auger when I had the chaser bin on (got made hammer that one out myself too!). As it stands, my partner will NOT be doing any of the teaching. She was never taught properly herself and has absolutely had no confidence outside of a country town. As it is now, I've been fixing all her issues but she still won't have a crack at a manual (which is great, don't have to worry about my ute).

[STEALTHY]

Originally Posted by Rallye Sport

I've been bestowed the honour of teaching my nephew how to drive, I like to think its because of my history in trucks and heavy machinery but at the end of the day I'm the only one in the family with a manual nowadays, lol we're driving the TE50 no less...
He's picking it up well, logbook is filled early, I'm trying to teach him all aspects, from driving down the coast (perve cruise), heavy freeway (going to work), country runs (endurance) and things like pulse braking, if that fails escape routes and physically talking about what he's doing and seeing as we drive. We've got a track day booked soon to teach him 'the right place and time' for fun...
It's been a great bonding experience but one thing I've noticed is the impatience of drivers, be it tailgating, swerving lane changes and general contempt... In particular the driver of a silver modeo caught behind us after an unfortunate stall this arvo, mate, the L plates were up, I signaled stop out of the window, if you're going to hit the horn give it a 'toot toot' not a prolonged blast... You shattered the poor young bloke and uncle rallye sport did well not yell 'revs up, clutch out, smoke him boy!!!'
Please show the youngens' some patience guys and gals, we were all there once upon a time... CheeRS...

The only time i get upset at an L plated car, its usually at the instructor, as its their job to be making sure the L plater is doing the right thing (not talking about a stall, but things like not keeping left, or planning your lanes etc).

[FPV GTHO]

I learnt to drive in 4WD's, can't say I remember getting much grief.

[tranquilized]

Ahhh yeah the good ole L plates, brings back memories doesn't it?

A year or three before I was legally allowed to have my "L"s Dad used to allow me the occasional drive on public roads - usually driving back from the dump, trailer hitched up, in the EA Falcon. I remember sitting on his lap and steering the XE down our street many years before that. By the time I was 15 Mum used to get me to manoeuvre the car out of any tight spots she couldn't handle herself. My uncle used to get my cousin to drive extended interstate legs when she was about 15 - she's older than me so we're talking late 80's I guess. Times have changed indeed - any parent allowing that kind of activity nowadays would be branded highly irresponsible to say the least.

Whenever I see an L plate displayed I just keep my distance from the car, mainly to give the learner their space and not pressure them unnecessarily. Can be annoying if you're in a hurry but it's just basic courtesy I reckon.

[Revolver]

Originally Posted by Sabantien

Well said.
I still recall people tailgating, honking, flashing lights, speeding past to pull in front and brake check, etc when I was a learner.

Best part of that was my (paid) instructor reaching over to honk back, giving people the finger, and hanging out the window to yell at them.

Fight fire with fire I say.

[chevypower]

When I had my learners, my dad had a brand new VS Statesman V8, and what joy it was to beat P-platers and fully-licensed drivers. Very immature of me, but it was all lot of fun. I'm sure that Statesman isn't that quick by today's standards, but it did ok back then.

[Mesa]

Originally Posted by STEALTHY

The only time i get upset at an L plated car, its usually at the instructor, as its their job to be making sure the L plater is doing the right thing (not talking about a stall, but things like not keeping left, or planning your lanes etc).

An inherit problem of the log book system. People dismissive of the basic road rules passing their bad habits on to their kids. Good argument for driver education as a mandatory subject at school. It's a life skill most people will use unlike algebra.

We've been through the same problem as the OP with three of our kids. About the only advantage they had was they knew how to drive before the got their 'L's (grand parents property). The fourth has been go karting to get the basics.

[Dezza]

Originally Posted by josh1990

I had the luxury of learning to drive on the farm. First ride was a lovely old international tractor (7), then into the Navara followed by a single axle bedford tipper (9 or so). Only ever had one issue, when I got a bit touchy with the auger when I had the chaser bin on (got made hammer that one out myself too!). As it stands, my partner will NOT be doing any of the teaching. She was never taught properly herself and has absolutely had no confidence outside of a country town. As it is now, I've been fixing all her issues but she still won't have a crack at a manual (which is great, don't have to worry about my ute).

It was a similar story to me, growing up on a farm. I also drove around in an old International tractor (Dad had 2 of them), and an 89' Rodeo Diesel non-turbo (what a powerful machine :P), so by the time I got my L-plates, I already had a lot of driving under my belt, all of it in manual vehicles. Learning to drive in the country was relatively easy. I would have hated to do all my learning in city traffic.

[Spudz27]

Originally Posted by BPXR6T

I hit google and learned to drive a manual overnight. I had bought a manual car and needed to drive it from Canberra to Melbourne the following day. Learning on the job. Hill starts were a bit rough on the way out of canberra and I learned what having no synchros on first meant pretty quick. Fun times...

Just got my r-e license, so my bike was my first manual. Now I wish my car was.

[mitelsx2000]

Its so hard for kids to get thier learners in NZ. The amount of hours my 2 x boys did was amazing, but worth it in the end driving my work car every where possible. a few tanks of gas was used!!!

Now they got their restricted, they have not looked back

[maat1985]

yep... people see the l plate and instantly they have to overtake.... they see the l plate and instantly they get angry and impatient... they just assume that it is an l pater and therefore they cant drvie.... they just assume it is an l plater and therfore something bad will happen....
too many "instructors" have absolutely no idea how to teach someone to drive... most of these people who are teaching someone to drive do not even know the road rules properly themselves... most of these people cannot even reverse park properly themselves....
how are they supposed to teach someone to drive???
all too many people cannot drive a manual these days either.....
i know all this cus i have often given friends and friends kids and so on some driving lessons. and i see the way others drivers treat me as soon as there is l plates on my car as opposed to normally.... and also when i am telling them stuff and showing the stuff and they are all surprised and had no idea when they had already been driving for a little while and hadn't been shown or told yet....

[olfella]

I am another one that supports starting them off in a car park or similar until they get the feel of the car and the confidence to go the next step. Then, once on the road the inconsiderate's will not be a concern and they can continue to learn. I left the advanced training bit off until they had their licence a few months of going solo then sent them off. We all need to be defensive drivers these days.

[b0son]

Yep, when they're that green, keep them well away from busy traffic. I get annoyed at the parents who take their kids out for practice in peak hour traffic who clearly aren't up to the task yet. Or onto the freeway where they're a mobile chicane?