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Originally Posted by Samurai Well, let's just hope you never have to take driver's test in UK, where they don't really tolerate such dogmatism.
When I was training for my US driver's road test in 1993, I was a little nervous since I had not driven cars before. Yeah, yeah, I had learnt car driving in a Bangalore driving school a year before, but that's just 10 classes with instructor and not real driving. My only real driving experience was few years on scooter.
However, my NJ driving instructor calmed me down saying that the mostly likely test candidates from India that fail road test frequently are the ones with prior car driving experience from India. He said they bring so much baggage of bad habits, it is hard for them to unlearn it. Since I was a clean slate, he said I will do alright. And I did, cleared the test in one attempt.
Here is a list of reasons why many of my colleagues/friends failed the road test thanks to having bad habits from India:
1) Didn't turn and look back while reversing, just used the rear-view mirror and not even the side mirrors.
2) Using just one hand on the steering saying other hand is needed on the gear shift.
3) Didn't use turn signals while turning since most Indian cars didn't have turn signals.
4) Oblivious to brake lights in the car in the front.
5) Passing a car from the wrong side.
6) Couple of them who gave the test in manual-shift cars since they were more used to it, failed for half-clutching.
I am told that UK driver's test is 10 times or more difficult than US driver's test. And they really don't care about what you believe. You better follow every one of the written rules or you fail. |
Exactly, that's was the reason we are discussing it here. but it is like we have two school of thinking. and these are both coming from experience and trainings at different places, persons etc.
As in UK, getting DL is Germany is one of the toughest thing to do. on an average one has to take about 30-35 practical lessons which incl. highway, city, state highway, night and 30 zone driving apart from first aid, theory classes covering car technicals and road signs, rules, regulations etc. you will also be taught about all kind of parking, emergency braking and reversing on corner. it cost about 1800Euros if you make it first time in theory as well in practical tests, which is highly unlikely.
one of my friend has failed it 3 times; 1st failed because he couldn't answers some technical questions about his car at start of test and then after 5 minute driving he was asked to park which he did but let go of clutch without turning off the engine(though parking brakes was pulled up!).
2nd failed because he was too close to the car in front of him on highway!
3rd he failed when he just came driving out of the transport office building and he didn't come to complete halt on a stop line!
so, there they don't leave any scope for "your way" only correct way is how it is written. and i believe that's how it should be. Traffic is a system, it has to follow the rules to be efficient and for glitch free function. that's one of the reason that there is no speed limit in Germany. Recently this year, they came up with study result that younger people who just got their license are main cause of accidents. so, they already have made the rule and amended their DL process, so that now after getting your first license within 1yr (in that time of period DL is not permanent), you have go through 10hrs of driving lessons again at Driving School to get feedback and improve.
I got my DL there in Hamburg(and in first attempt
). and i was taught to use both clutch and brake same time because a. it's easier/simpler b. stalling engine is not allowed when you are driving under any circumstances c. you are not allowed to leave steering wheel till you have finished the emergency maneuver and anyway it takes only less than a second, you don't have enough time to do a lot when you are going to hit someone/something.
I did my emergency braking test practice and exam in snowing/icy road conditions with Audi A3. lot of juddering from brake pedal but no out of control movements from car. in fact my practice was on little downward slope. it is just matter of less than a second and engine braking and all that is non-existant. further you are doing that in straight line so, no controlling of car either, just you have to hold it straight.
anyway, as noop said we are discussing here two schools and they are bound to different. but only one of them is correct for you and is one which you have practiced and are confident in.