On Sat, 4 May 1996 S1500@aol.com wrote:
> The UK driving test *is* hard IMHO. I was never able to pass it.
> I remember my failed attempts well to this day. The whole experience
> (read ordeal) was very intimidating for a new driver. It was a "given" that
> you would fail the first time. I failed the second time because I crossed
> my hands on the steering wheel while performing the complicated
> "three point turn but don't touch the kerb and use your hand-brake in
> between shifting from first to reverse while checking the mirror sequence".
Bob, I found this fascinating. I took nearly every driver education
teacher prep course I could in college, with one of the foremost and
respected experts in the field. His methods, as well as those of many
others in the field, included crossing hands in most "turning"
situations. Are you saying that this is a no-no under UK testing rules?
I know that this long has been a matter of some controversy in the
field, with a number of folks saying that "shuffling" the wheel is
better and/or more efficient than crossing hands. Both sides seem
adamant about their philosophy, each condemning the other side as WRONG!
I never got to teach driver ed, primarily because only otherwise
certified secondary school teachers -- not my chosen career -- could do
so in New York State. However, I did for a short time work at a
commercial driving school. Through that and through other sources, I
learned a lot about what passes for "driver testing" in New York State.
Even the rather more rigorous testing by NYS DMV of candidates for a
commercial school instructor's license pales in comparison to what a
driver's license candidate goes through in England and in many other
countries. My road test for the instructor's license was still confined
to city streets, albeit occasionally using actual streets with actual
traffic -- here, as with the "regular" road test, still no two-lane
country roads or limited access highways. In short, still very little
demonstration of skills in "real-world" situations.
Not surprisingly, many of my students at the commercial school simply
needed to get a license. Period. They come to commercial schools mostly
because they don't have a car/ driver available for practice. What
was a bit surprising was the number who did want more than to learn how
to parallel park. They actually wanted experience outside of quiet side
streets, i.e., country roads, interstate highways, etc.! Refreshing!
All of which leads to a scenario I don't think anyone ever has witnessed:
"Now, Mr. Andretti, er, Mario: before I can send you out for qualifying
here at Watkins Glen, I'd like you to pull up alongside that red car --
YES, the Ferrari -- and parallel park behind it. And please remember
appropriate hand signals, sir...."
Maybe someday here in New York and in the rest of the country, we'll
focus driver training and testing on skills a driver really needs the
majority of their time behind the wheel, not just on the admittedly
extraordinarily useful [;-)] three-point turn!
--Andy "I failed my road test three times; long hair in 1969 had a lot
to do with that" Mace
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
* Andrew Mace e-mail: amace@unix2.nysed.gov *
* *
* Mrs Irrelevant: Oh, is it a jet? *
* Man: Well, no... It's not so much of a jet, it's more your, er, *
* Triumph Herald engine with wings. *
* -- The Cut-price Airline Sketch, Monty Python's Flying Circus *
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