h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

So, this in the latest installment of my progress on learning to drive features one of the most hectic road systems in the area. I started off on a simple (!) main road, which I could handle reasonably well at 30mph in 4th, and then just around the side streets for a block or so.

Then, instructed to park the car and turn off the engine, I was given a theory introduction to crossings. And dammit. Why do Pelican and Puffin crossings have to be so similar? They could at least have redesigned them. But anyway. It doesn't make all that much difference.

Don't ever let anybody tell you driving on dual-carriageways and the like is better because you're at a faster speed and everything you do is a smooth action (changing lanes, etc). It's uber-stressful. On the way, we must've encountered a helluva lot of traffic lights (one set about five seconds in front of another for chrissake), an accident scene, all the types of crossing in the theory introduction, a few necessary lane changes and the rest. It was like it was planned in a learner centre, *everything* was going on.

A Police Ambulance came up the road as I was parked in my own street, but I didn't get a chance to give way to it, being parked and all. I imagine as long as you don't get all panicky about the emergency vehicles, just hold back, let it overtake you and give it room before picking your speed up again, it's probably quite easy. But anyway. We come to my next issue: stalling.

I'm fine getting myself back into first at traffic lights, handbrake on and everything, revs up, handbrake off, clutch up, gas, go. But I keep coming up from the clutch too quickly. O, how n00bish that I start the engine again at every set of lights.

Well almost. Hopefully I have it sorted for my next lesson (Seems to be the way with me. Make mistkaes for 1hr 45 minutes, then get over them in the last 15 minutes.) but as long as I don't rush moving off again, I should make it fine.

Next issue. Keeping a steady speed over 20.
If I'm in a 30 zone, I tend to stick to about 20-25, and lapse back into about 20 again. Because I'm conscious of the fact that I actually *do* that though, next lesson should help me fix it.

So, take time moving off, and get to 30 and keep the foot still. Should be ok. I think the reason I do that though, is because when I just glance at the speedometer, it's a glance too long, and I end up crossing lanes a bit, so I think I find comfort in going at 20.

Although, when the traffic went down a bit I was definitely a more efficient driver. I reckon it's all the psychology of it. So maybe if I tell my brain not to worry I'll be fine.

I guess.

you'll get the hang of of it before you know it it'll be second nature

sounds like you are driving a manual transmission. I always use an automatic.
When I was your age I worked for a land surveyor and we chained a quarter mile when the boss said: Go get the truck and bring it here!
The only gear I could manage was reverse so I backed the truck up a quarter mile. He never let me drive it again

Better to get your manual licence or you can't drive all types of car in the UK. i.e you can drive an automatic on a manual licence but not a manual on an automatic licence.

Don't panic about stalling it just sounds like you haven't got used to the cluch biting point yet. Maybe you could ask your instructor to do some excersises with you so you get used to it.

Don't worry too much about the speedo, your instructor will be keeping an eye on that At the moment concentrate on finding a steady speed and you will soon find that you can tell if you're going too fast or too slow. Glance at the speedo as you approach a new limit and just after passing obstacles or changing gear etc, most of the time you will find that your speed is steady, only when there are signs it has changed should you concientiously look at the speedo. Don't forget to listen to the engine too, it will tell you a lot about the situation you are in.

Dual carrigeways are always a nightmare at first because everything happens so quickly, soon however they do become a gliding drive as you become accustomed to the speed and think ahead more.

Be warned if you've been travelling fast on a dual carriage way when you come back onto the 30 limit roads they seem awfully slow, this means you will need to check your speedo more often.

Is that enough advice or am I just contradicting your instructor

Hope everything goes well for the next lesson and the most important thing to remember is to relax, not too much but enough so you're not on edge and jumping at things. Driving is an enjoyable experience when you get into it.

Mel

Thanks for that Mel, that helps.
I'm probably half-way to 'being one with the engine' as it were - the ability to know the situation based on engine noise. Some people I speak to say they can't really tell when to change gear based on engine pitch, but already that seems like second, if not first nature.

All I need to do I think, is just remind myself that the other traffic is moving at the same (roughly) speed as me, and that I don't have to drop my speed until they start to stop (if that makes sense. ) if I don't want to hit them.

And you're right. It certainly is. When it's not stressful, it's enjoyable, I mean. When I was driving around a 20mph residential area for 2 hours, barely moving out of 2nd gear, it was, and even getting stressed out on a dual-carriageway, it was still marginally *enjoyable* - I didn't feel the urge to do an emergency stop and get out and run away terribly fast. And thank the relevant gods I didn't.

loved reading your story about driving. good luck on your next time and i'm looking foreward already to reading your next instalment. by the way what are pellican and puffin crossings?

Hey leafy.

Well, my next lesson is coming up in a few days, so you won't have to wait too long. Pelican and Puffin crossings are Pedestrian crossings here in the UK - They're basically just traffic lights where people can cross. I'm not sure of the actual name for traffic lights where people can't cross, but traffic has to stop (ie: to make way for other traffic crossing their path) though.

boy do i nkow how you feel! i've just finished that whole scene. i took driving lessons too. i hated the guy i had. however luckily for me driving seemed to come somewhat naturally. but i still never wanted ot go more than 20. i know how it feels. the first time i went into a 50 zone was a nightmare!! i was so scared, an i did go too slow a few times, but i was pretty okay. my dad tricked me into going onto the highway. i though i was going to turn into the mc donnalds parkinglot but i ended up going past it and onto the highway. that was really scary! at least it was a right turn. that was easier i think. but then again i have no problem with left turns and when i think about it if i ahd turned left i wouldnt have had to merge. maybe it wouldnt have been easier. well anyway good luck! and remember everyone else out there had to learn to drive too. we all make mistakes. on my driving test i cut someone off, and if the driving tester person had seen it i would have failed. i failed the first time... i backed into a cement thingy. it was really low so i didnt see it as i was backing up. i failed for that, otherwise i would have passed. have fun!

Pelican and puffin crossings? Wow, I'm glad we don't have any of those here. Nor do we have distinctions between manual and automatic licenses. 'Round here, you're free to screw up manual transmissions if you feel like it.

Right turns? Easier than left turns? I'm assuming you're somewhere you drive on the right rather than the left here in the UK. But . Backing up into cement.

I guess I'll sort out the whole too-slow on 40 zones in time; I'm only at my fifth lesson. Speaking of which, I should update you all on how Friday's lesson went. I'll do that later.

Sea, you don't have differing traffic lights where pedestrians are either allowed, or not allowed, to cross at?

That's basically what that is, we just have names for them. And the road deeleys tend to be named after animals:

"Zebra Crossing"
"Puffin Crossing"
"Pelican Crossing"
"Toucan Crossing"

I guess if you had heard those without knowing what they were, you might think they were road signs to alert drivers to the hazardous, tropical wildlife in the UK!

what's a toucan crossing then...that's a new one on me

http://www.warwickshire.gov.uk/Web/corporate/pages.nsf/Links/C863DAA086CF103380256C6A0059A5D5

http://www.cheshire.gov.uk/Environment/Engineering/a-z/a-z/P/pelican.htm

Google is your Friend!

The Guide also has these entries on the subject(ish)
A1101484
A954713
A568587

Mel

yeah you're right here in canada we drive on the right side of the road... guess i should have mentioned that, sorry.

No problem, I wasn't confused.

Oh and Mel - it's amazing what you can find out on Hootoo, isn't it? I mean. I didn't know before today that Pelican was an acronym!

what does pelican stand for?

PEdestrial LIght CONtrolled crossing
(The O is changed to an A to complete the acronym)

oh... thanks!

Ach. I just made that same typo.
Pedestrian, not pedestrial.

"Don't ever let anybody tell you driving on dual-carriageways and the like is better because you're at a faster speed and everything you do is a smooth action (changing lanes, etc)."

This is something I never got the hang of while still a learner. Once you get to the point where you're totally in control in a mechanical sense, and you can devote all your attention to being aware of where everyone is and planning where you're going to be, it does become quite easy and pleasant. Until then, it's incredibly frightening. It feels like you have no idea what's going on, cars suddenly appear here and there as if from nowhere, etc. You kind of get tuned into it after a while.

I still feel a bit like that on the North Circular in London though.

what are dual-carriageways? i'm not sure we have them in canada... if we do maybe we call it someting different. or else i just dont know about it...