Driving around learner drivers

[Wolfie]

I am quite astonished at how badly people drive around learner drivers…. No empathy and even less patience

I got a an old ford KA to help teach my eldest daughter to drive…. She’s doing really well, but will be slower / observing the speed limit and will make the odd error

Other drivers were, in the main, appalling…. At one stage she managed to stall coming out of a T Junction and someone directly behind aggressively beeped their horn. I am by no means a confrontational type, but, I got out my car to be confronted by a 60 year old woman…. I yelled “she’s learning to drive…. BAD…. NO’….” A pretty stupid thing to do on my part as it didn’t help Grace and she just flicked me the rods anyway!

Any of you had similar experiences?

Be kind out there!

Ben

[draftsmann]

Bring her to Malta to learn to drive. For a nervous learner our crowded roads and unscientific approach would either kill or cure.

[Wolfie]

Bring her to Malta to learn to drive. For a nervous learner our crowded roads and unscientific approach would either kill or cure.

Ha! Having experienced many other driving ‘cultures’ maybe we aren’t so bad!

[Huertecilla]

Ha! Having experienced many other driving ‘cultures’ maybe we aren’t so bad!

Over here it´s ok, actually. Not the driving standard; that is on average as bad as anywhere, but the ´L´ plate is generally well respected. As are UK plates/RHD drive; simple self preservation.
Also especially during winter months the hire cars are pottered around by pensioners; same thing; most shrug and give them wide birth.
Lastly there are many moped-cars about. Again same thing.
Bottom line is that the norm is less agression.

One almost exception: Over here the roundabouts are baffling most drivers. Turning right from the inside lane or continuing to go round on the outside lane on a triple lane one instead of turning off, are the norm. Near escapes are things as usual and that does give rise to horns used. As auditive signals more than agression though.

[adrianw]

I have never driven around a learner or tailgated one, it’s not the learners that are at fault it is the teachers, taking a learner out in the morning or evening rush hour causes chaos, huge tailbacks and bad tempers, lessons should be banned between 7-9 am and 4-6m, or at least kept away from main commuter routes.

[seadog1408]

I have never driven around a learner or tailgated one, it’s not the learners that are at fault it is the teachers, taking a learner out in the morning or evening rush hour causes chaos, huge tailbacks and bad tempers, lessons should be banned between 7-9 am and 4-6m, or at least kept away from main commuter routes.

Quite agree, bloody nuisance.

[AndyMilts]

People have no tolerance for any bad driving these days

[Gyp]

Following my son on his first motorcycle ride after passing his CBT was terrifying. No tolerance of L plates at all, and he didn't have the luxury of a metal cage around him.

[Puntsdog]

Sadly the roads are full of inconsiderate, intolerant drivers who have the sole intention of getting wherever they are going as selfishly as possible.
It is a shame other road users quickly forget that they were once learners.
Frustrating as it may be it is the right thing to give space and time to learner drives.

[Mr.D]

Ignoring them is always the best policy. You should be deliberately calm and cool when driving.

Ironically I usually find its the experienced middle aged and older drivers who drive terribly rather than the younger ones.

Lack of signals , late and random lane changes , undertaking , blasting through 50 zones at 70 plus.

Usually an older driver with 3 kids jumping around the back.

When I sat my test I had someone pull out as I was going around a roundabout , had my signal on at the right time . His vision was clear , must have seen me. He came out so close to me and so fast I couldn’t stop and I had to swerve around the front of him to stop him t-boning me , Thankfully there was no one on the other side of the road on the exit .

Passed the test but I was a nervous wreck after that. Driver was middle aged.

[Frakius]

I don't drive badly around them and don't notice anyone else doing the same around them, the only bad driving going on is their bad driving I live down the road from a driving school and it does get old been stuck behind them every day as they sit at the intersection for 10 minutes missing every opening or stopping on the side of the road and blocking everyone behind them or driving at 15 in the 30mph etc etc etc.....I admit I am bitter after living near to a school for 10 years and having to put up with them every day as they use the road I drive on every day to learn

[Finners]

Sadly the country is full of inconsiderate, intolerant people who have the sole intention of getting wherever they are going as selfishly as possible.
As for driving, it is a shame other road users quickly forget that they were once learners.
Frustrating as it may be it is the right thing to give space and time to learner drives.

There you go, fixed

[Maysie]

People have no tolerance ....... these days

Edited to summarise people generally.

[berin]

I’d also say the standard of tuition doesn’t help with this. When I was learning my instructor insisted I got smartly up to the speed limit, pulled up to the line at junctions (rather than 3m from it) do I could see to pull out, and looked ahead to roundabouts so I could drive through without stopping if it was clear.
I see a lot of learners, even in driving school cars and not just with a parent sat next to them dithering about at 20mph, sat so far from junctions that they can’t see and stopping at roundabouts. I don’t blame the learners but the idiot sat next to the learner.


Sent from my iPhone using TZ-UK mobile app

[Pitfitter]

I’d also say the standard of tuition doesn’t help with this. When I was learning my instructor insisted I got smartly up to the speed limit, pulled up to the line at junctions (rather than 3m from it) do I could see to pull out, and looked ahead to roundabouts so I could drive through without stopping if it was clear.
I see a lot of learners, even in driving school cars and not just with a parent sat next to them dithering about at 20mph, sat so far from junctions that they can’t see and stopping at roundabouts. I don’t blame the learners but the idiot sat next to the learner.


Sent from my iPhone using TZ-UK mobile app

Completely agree here, we must have had the same instructor, or be from the same era, a little patience works wonders, and for blood pressure too.

[trident-7]

I've got L plates on my car because my 17 year old daughter is learning to drive. So the L plates are on when I'm driving up the hill where my house is a right turn half way up the hill. The speed limit is 20mph. I'm bemused by the boy racer driving about 3 feet from my rear bumper as I drive at exactly 20mph up the hill & am waiting for the inevitable punishment pass as the road opens out into a straight section which happens to be the bit where I turn right into my property. I wait until I hear the after market exhaust cans bark their presence & the guy is almost alongside before I indicate right & almost immediately start to hang a right as the guy is mid manoevure. The boy racer almost shit himself. I regarded it as giving said boy racer a lesson in being patient

[justin44]

I live on an estate that has one road in and out, for some reason that totally baffles me about 5 driving schools have chosen to use the road in to teach 3 point turns, it may sound trivial and I appreciate everyone has to learn but the other day I was working from home and had to keep going out, every time I left or returned I got stuck behind a learner doing a 3 point turn. It can’t be good for them because of the added pressure of 2 or 3 cars trying to get home!

[Jeremy67]

Symptomatic of the general lack of courtesy and empathy in the world today I'm afraid. Being in a car seems to give the same isolation based lack of empathy as the internet does, people don't treat each other like fellow humans.

[Onelasttime]

I've got L plates on my car because my 17 year old daughter is learning to drive. So the L plates are on when I'm driving up the hill where my house is a right turn half way up the hill. The speed limit is 20mph. I'm bemused by the boy racer driving about 3 feet from my rear bumper as I drive at exactly 20mph up the hill & am waiting for the inevitable punishment pass as the road opens out into a straight section which happens to be the bit where I turn right into my property. I wait until I hear the after market exhaust cans bark their presence & the guy is almost alongside before I indicate right & almost immediately start to hang a right as the guy is mid manoevure. The boy racer almost shit himself. I regarded it as giving said boy racer a lesson in being patient

Once again, you've revealed yourself to be a bit of a prat and part of the problem. And you're teaching your daughter how to drive?

https://forum.tz-uk.com/showthread.p...me-feel-better

[Kingstepper]

Once again, you've revealed yourself to be a bit of a prat and part of the problem. And you're teaching your daughter how to drive?

https://forum.tz-uk.com/showthread.p...me-feel-better

Shouldn’t be driving with those plates either.

[trident-7]

Once again, you've revealed yourself to be a bit of a prat and part of the problem. And you're teaching your daughter how to drive?

https://forum.tz-uk.com/showthread.p...me-feel-better

Once again you've shown yourself to be very unpleasant. One to be ignored.

[IAmATeaf]

I’ve noticed this too, the sad thing is that the more pressure you put the learner under the more likely they’ll delay the car behind.

I've got L plates on my car because my 17 year old daughter is learning to drive. So the L plates are on when I'm driving up the hill where my house is a right turn half way up the hill. The speed limit is 20mph. I'm bemused by the boy racer driving about 3 feet from my rear bumper as I drive at exactly 20mph up the hill & am waiting for the inevitable punishment pass as the road opens out into a straight section which happens to be the bit where I turn right into my property. I wait until I hear the after market exhaust cans bark their presence & the guy is almost alongside before I indicate right & almost immediately start to hang a right as the guy is mid manoevure. The boy racer almost shit himself. I regarded it as giving said boy racer a lesson in being patient

Why you would purposely want to do this? One day you’ll meet a “boy racer” as obstinate as you and end up in crash. Yep “boy racer” is in the wrong but the way the world is these days I’m sure the insurance claim won’t go as easy as you think.

[Seamaster73]

We should remember we were all learners once.

[jordan-arch]

I've got L plates on my car because my 17 year old daughter is learning to drive. So the L plates are on when I'm driving up the hill where my house is a right turn half way up the hill. The speed limit is 20mph. I'm bemused by the boy racer driving about 3 feet from my rear bumper as I drive at exactly 20mph up the hill & am waiting for the inevitable punishment pass as the road opens out into a straight section which happens to be the bit where I turn right into my property. I wait until I hear the after market exhaust cans bark their presence & the guy is almost alongside before I indicate right & almost immediately start to hang a right as the guy is mid manoevure. The boy racer almost shit himself. I regarded it as giving said boy racer a lesson in being patient

Why do you have L plates on the car if your not teaching your daughter to drive?

This is the reason people don't pay any attention to them, because they are stuck on and left on making them pointless.

[Andyg]

Alas it would seem location, time of the day, weather conditions, etc make bugger all difference to some drivers.

Today I was out with my son and despite being on a wide B road, out in the sticks, with L Plates, dash cam, driving within the speed limit (which was 50), he was flashed and beeped by some old dear in her a Honda Jazz before she overtook him on a corner and just before the brow of a hill.

What a complete t**t.

Fitting a car with a blackbox is pointless unless it becomes mandatory for all cars. A better option might however be mandatory Dash Cams.

[Wolfie]

I’d also say the standard of tuition doesn’t help with this. When I was learning my instructor insisted I got smartly up to the speed limit, pulled up to the line at junctions (rather than 3m from it) do I could see to pull out, and looked ahead to roundabouts so I could drive through without stopping if it was clear.
I see a lot of learners, even in driving school cars and not just with a parent sat next to them dithering about at 20mph, sat so far from junctions that they can’t see and stopping at roundabouts. I don’t blame the learners but the idiot sat next to the learner.


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I have zero issue with my tuition of Grace by the way (not insinuating that you were suggesting that I am the idiot sat next to the driver)

Patience, relevant feedback, early warning, clear communication and keeping her calm even when things aren’t going smoothly (where I failed)

Also…. This was all based on my experience on a Saturday afternoon…

However, even when she was hitting the speed limit people were undercutting her, overtaking her and generally acting like pr@cks….

My stepdad taught me (had 6 paid for lessons) and he was amazing…. I try to channel my stepdad when teaching Grace…!

Fundamentally learners are learning and will, consequently, make mistakes…. And even if they do have poor tuition deserve patience…

[berin]

I have zero issue with my tuition of Grace by the way (not insinuating that you were suggesting that I am the idiot sat next to the driver)

Patience, relevant feedback, early warning, clear communication and keeping her calm even when things aren’t going smoothly (where I failed)

Also…. This was all based on my experience on a Saturday afternoon…

However, even when she was hitting the speed limit people were undercutting her, overtaking her and generally acting like pr@cks….

My stepdad taught me (had 6 paid for lessons) and he was amazing…. I try to channel my stepdad when teaching Grace…!

Fundamentally learners are learning and will, consequently, make mistakes…. And even if they do have poor tuition deserve patience…

Not it at all, though those people do exist - reading back I could have worded that better🥴.
Learners are learning, and should be given a bit of space and consideration which works both ways - not just with learners, either!

[kevkojak]

I’d also say the standard of tuition doesn’t help with this. When I was learning my instructor insisted I got smartly up to the speed limit, pulled up to the line at junctions (rather than 3m from it) do I could see to pull out, and looked ahead to roundabouts so I could drive through without stopping if it was clear.
I see a lot of learners, even in driving school cars and not just with a parent sat next to them dithering about at 20mph, sat so far from junctions that they can’t see and stopping at roundabouts. I don’t blame the learners but the idiot sat next to the learner.


Sent from my iPhone using TZ-UK mobile app

Exactly this. My instructor took me around an old industrial estate for the first couple of lessons to make sure I was comfortable changing gears, holding speed etc.

You see far too many learners in their early stages who clearly should not yet be on main roads. Not their fault, it's usually the instructors.

[j0hnbarker]

Exactly this. My instructor took me around an old industrial estate for the first couple of lessons to make sure I was comfortable changing gears, holding speed etc.

You see far too many learners in their early stages who clearly should not yet be on main roads. Not their fault, it's usually the instructors.

Agree with this though I don't think it's a new phenomenon.

I clearly remember my instructor on my first lesson taking me round a local housing estate. After 5 minutes we went out onto a 60mph road and drove the mile or so down to the next town. This was 23 years ago.

[berin]

Agree with this though I don't think it's a new phenomenon.

I clearly remember my instructor on my first lesson taking me round a local housing estate. After 5 minutes we went out onto a 60mph road and drove the mile or so down to the next town. This was 23 years ago.

But were you doing 60?

[nunya]

The number of numpty drivers on the road these days I'm glad I stopped driving.

I miss the motor and over the years had some great ones, and I still love cars, but I do not miss the act of driving. It used to be fun once, I even remember going out just for "a drive". Not anymore, people have no tolerance, patience and most of all real world driving skills.

[j0hnbarker]

But were you doing 60?

I think I got up to 50mph but my speed was probably all over the place!

[mrushton]

What could have gone wrong there? And they post this online?

[julian2002]

I don't consider myself to be a fantastic driver however I've not had an accident in 20 years and have never been the subject of road rage consisting of more than a hand gesture.
I try to be considerate of other road users, especially those on 2 wheels and those learning, I attribute this to the time I spent riding an L-plated 50cc 'moped' where you spent 90% of your time being overtaken by much faster traffic while in a state of abject terror. You learned what it was to be low man on the totem pole and how to anticipate what the melons around you were likely to do. You had almost preternatural awareness of exactly who else was on the road within a 500 meter radius, their direction, speed and likelihood of intersecting with your vector.
Personally I believe that you should have to spend at least a year 'in country' on a 30 mph restricted moped on a provisional license, before you can even sit in the drivers seat of a car.

[geran]

It's not much better once they pass the driving test, my lad has a box fitted in the car to monitor driving speeds, smoothness etc, lots of folk sat on his bumper in the 30 / 40 limit areas, in the end I got a sticker for the back screen, basically states sorry for the slow speed black box fitted, it does appear to help.

[Wolfie]

I don't consider myself to be a fantastic driver however I've not had an accident in 20 years and have never been the subject of road rage consisting of more than a hand gesture.
I try to be considerate of other road users, especially those on 2 wheels and those learning, I attribute this to the time I spent riding an L-plated 50cc 'moped' where you spent 90% of your time being overtaken by much faster traffic while in a state of abject terror. You learned what it was to be low man on the totem pole and how to anticipate what the melons around you were likely to do. You had almost preternatural awareness of exactly who else was on the road within a 500 meter radius, their direction, speed and likelihood of intersecting with your vector.
Personally I believe that you should have to spend at least a year 'in country' on a 30 mph restricted moped on a provisional license, before you can even sit in the drivers seat of a car.

The thought of any of my 3 pootling around on. 50cc mopes brings me out in hives…. Glad your still with is Julian!

It's not much better once they pass the driving test, my lad has a box fitted in the car to monitor driving speeds, smoothness etc, lots of folk sat on his bumper in the 30 / 40 limit areas, in the end I got a sticker for the back screen, basically states sorry for the slow speed black box fitted, it does appear to help.

Black boxes are a great idea and really instils the habit of respecting speed limits…. Id’ve happily placed them on a number of cars I saw this weekend

[bubi]

I plan to take my kids karting before they are of licence age

...
BUBI 0_0