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Getting a Driver's License Is a Royal Pain in Britain

Getting a Driver's License Is a Royal Pain in Britain

Old Oct 30th 2002, 4:52 pm
  #31  
Brandon Sommerville
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Default Re: Getting a Driver's License Is a Royal Pain in Britain

On Wed, 30 Oct 2002 16:25:17 GMT, Frank Matthews
wrote:

    >Yes, it's amazing how often I've found it necessary to back around a
    >corner. Wait a minute. Surely it's happened at least once in the last
    >40 years. Well I guess not. But it's still a really basic skill.
    >Perhaps everyone should have to do it while towing a trailer.

Backing out of a driveway is essentially this procedure, isn't it?
Particularly if you live on a busy street.
--
Brandon Sommerville
remove ".gov" to e-mail

The easy way is always mined.
 
Old Oct 30th 2002, 4:56 pm
  #32  
Alex Rodriguez
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Default Re: Getting a Driver's License Is a Royal Pain in Britain

Don't I wish the US had similar standards.
-----------------
Alex __O
_-\<,_
(_)/ (_)

 
Old Oct 30th 2002, 5:09 pm
  #33  
Martin McGowan
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Default Re: Getting a Driver's License Is a Royal Pain in Britain

"BrianE" wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
    > "Barbara Vaughan" wrote in message
    > news:[email protected]...
    > >
    > >
    > > [email protected] wrote:
    > > >
    > > > Getting a Driver's License Is a Royal Pain in Britain
    > >
    > > Can someone explain to me why you're supposed to use your hand brake
    > > instead of your foot brake when stopping at a red light?
    > >
    > > Barbara
    > You mean, you really really can't work that out for yourself?
actually it is when stationary at a red light LOL. If you are used to
driving an automatic and or you have been driving for many years then you
probably don't use your handbrake. In the case of the automatic you take
your foot off the brake and if you are on the level you edge forward, if on
a hill you stand still. If you are experienced with foot clutch and gear
lever you heel and toe the brake and accelerator and balance it on the
clutch and brake. you look at the majority of drivers with 5 or 6 years
driving experience and they do not use the handbrake. Martin
 
Old Oct 30th 2002, 5:15 pm
  #34  
Barbara Vaughan
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Default Re: Getting a Driver's License Is a Royal Pain in Britain

BrianE wrote:
    >
    > "Barbara Vaughan" wrote in message
    > news:[email protected]...
    > >
    > >
    > > [email protected] wrote:
    > > >
    > > > Getting a Driver's License Is a Royal Pain in Britain
    > >
    > > Can someone explain to me why you're supposed to use your hand brake
    > > instead of your foot brake when stopping at a red light?
    > You mean, you really really can't work that out for yourself?
    >
    > Just imagine you're on an incline, when you take your foot off the brake you
    > roll back into the motorist behind.
    >
    > Now, if you followed the correct procedure as is explained by your
    > instructor regarding a hill start, then this wouldn't happen.
    >
    > For the purpose of the driving test can you explain why you have a problem
    > with the handbrake. Millions of us have manged so far...
    >
    > Just go with the flow, follow the rules and you'll cruise the test.

I've passed driving tests in both the US and in Italy, thank you, and
have no need to pass another one in England. I use the hand brake when I
stop on a steep incline, to avoid rolling back when I start up again.
When I was a novice driver, I used to use the hand brake when stopping
even on moderate slopes. However, unless the incline is quite steep I've
managed just fine with the foot brake since the age of 20, and in 40
years of driving have never rolled back into anyone.

Barbara
 
Old Oct 30th 2002, 5:20 pm
  #35  
Barbara Vaughan
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Default Re: Getting a Driver's License Is a Royal Pain in Britain

James Silverton wrote:
    >
    > "Barbara Vaughan" wrote in message
    > news:[email protected]...
    > >
    > >
    > > [email protected] wrote:
    > > >
    > > > Getting a Driver's License Is a Royal Pain in Britain
    > >
    > > Can someone explain to me why you're supposed to use your hand brake
    > > instead of your foot brake when stopping at a red light?
    > >
    > > Barbara
    >
    > It's almost certainly because most people there are using manual
    > transmissions. Under those conditions, you might need three feet if you did
    > not use the hand brake :-)

I prefer manual transmission myself, and have rarely driven a car with
automatic transmission. However, I use my foot brake to stop the car.
Unless I'm on a steep slope I have no problem starting again without the
use of the hand brake. I engage the hand brake after the car is stopped,
if it seems advisable. If I understood correctly, in the UK you are
expected to bring the car to a stop with the use of the hand brake, but
maybe that was a misunderstanding.

Barbara
 
Old Oct 30th 2002, 5:34 pm
  #36  
Barbara Vaughan
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Default Re: Getting a Driver's License Is a Royal Pain in Britain

Tom wrote:
    >
    > R J Carpenter schrieb:
    > >
    > > I thought I heard that some people from Continental Europe go to the UK to
    > > get driving licences because it is easier and cheaper in the UK than in many
    > > other European countries.
    >
    > Correct. You want to try the German driving test. Compulsory minimum
    > theoretical and practice hours put the cost up to $1500 minimum. Plus if
    > you fail three times, you have to start again from square one.

In the mid 1990s, we had a German exchange student staying at our home
in New Jersey. She got a New Jersey driving license, because it was
possible to convert it to a German license very easily and
inexpensively.

Barbara
 
Old Oct 30th 2002, 5:51 pm
  #37  
Briane
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Default Re: Getting a Driver's License Is a Royal Pain in Britain

"Martin McGowan" wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
    > "BrianE" wrote in message
    > news:[email protected]...
    > >
    > > "Barbara Vaughan" wrote in message
    > > news:[email protected]...
    > > >
    > > >
    > > > [email protected] wrote:
    > > > >
    > > > > Getting a Driver's License Is a Royal Pain in Britain
    > > >
    > > > Can someone explain to me why you're supposed to use your hand brake
    > > > instead of your foot brake when stopping at a red light?
    > > >
    > > > Barbara
    > >
    > > You mean, you really really can't work that out for yourself?
    > >
    > actually it is when stationary at a red light LOL. If you are used to
    > driving an automatic and or you have been driving for many years then you
    > probably don't use your handbrake. In the case of the automatic you take
    > your foot off the brake and if you are on the level you edge forward, if
on
    > a hill you stand still. If you are experienced with foot clutch and gear
    > lever you heel and toe the brake and accelerator and balance it on the
    > clutch and brake. you look at the majority of drivers with 5 or 6 years
    > driving experience and they do not use the handbrake. Martin

Sure, but for the purposes of the test stick to the 'proper' procedure.

B.
 
Old Oct 30th 2002, 5:52 pm
  #38  
Briane
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Default Re: Getting a Driver's License Is a Royal Pain in Britain

"Barbara Vaughan" wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
    > BrianE wrote:
    > >
    > > "Barbara Vaughan" wrote in message
    > > news:[email protected]...
    > > >
    > > >
    > > > [email protected] wrote:
    > > > >
    > > > > Getting a Driver's License Is a Royal Pain in Britain
    > > >
    > > > Can someone explain to me why you're supposed to use your hand brake
    > > > instead of your foot brake when stopping at a red light?
    > > You mean, you really really can't work that out for yourself?
    > >
    > > Just imagine you're on an incline, when you take your foot off the brake
you
    > > roll back into the motorist behind.
    > >
    > > Now, if you followed the correct procedure as is explained by your
    > > instructor regarding a hill start, then this wouldn't happen.
    > >
    > > For the purpose of the driving test can you explain why you have a
problem
    > > with the handbrake. Millions of us have manged so far...
    > >
    > > Just go with the flow, follow the rules and you'll cruise the test.
    > I've passed driving tests in both the US and in Italy, thank you, and
    > have no need to pass another one in England.

Congratulations.
 
Old Oct 30th 2002, 6:01 pm
  #39  
Grey
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Default Re: Getting a Driver's License Is a Royal Pain in Britain

On 30 Oct 2002 08:38:21 -0800, [email protected] (Nate Nagel) wrote:

    >[email protected] wrote in message news:...
    >> Getting a Driver's License Is a Royal Pain in Britain
    >GOOD! I'm glad someone still has standards. Over here you just
    >collect cereal box tops or Betty Crocker points and turn them in at
    >your local DMV.

And then you wait in line three hours and take your driving test.

About the "standards"--what about all the illegit drivers on the roads
in Britain now because they can't pass a test that may be too tough?

---------------------------
A truly cool book:
The World Is Already Yours
Conscious living in the real world
www.alreadyyours.com (sample chapter, etc...)
 
Old Oct 30th 2002, 6:21 pm
  #40  
Ricardo
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Default Re: Getting a Driver's License Is a Royal Pain in Britain

On Wed, 30 Oct 2002 08:07:34 -0500, "R J Carpenter"
wrote:

    >I thought I heard that some people from Continental Europe go to the UK to
    >get driving licences because it is easier and cheaper in the UK than in many
    >other European countries.

I think it's a myth, for three reasons:

- the UK test does not seem to be easier than the continental ones,
with one or two exceptions such as the lack of freeway driving. And
in fact the UK test can include freeway driving, it's just that they
call 'em "dual carriageways" instead but those are basically 4 lane
divided freeways.
- Most people would not find driving on the wrong side of the road
easier in the first place!
- there is a rule in the Soviet EU-nion that out of state licenses
are only valid if the holder has lived in the issuing state for at
least 6 months.

As for "cheaper in the UK", you *may* be right about that part.

--
ricardo, ex-euroslav
vancouver bc canada
e-mail: sovietjamaicanguy yahoo ca
 
Old Oct 30th 2002, 6:28 pm
  #41  
Ricardo
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Posts: n/a
Default Re: Getting a Driver's License Is a Royal Pain in Britain

On Wed, 30 Oct 2002 14:01:52 -0500, grey wrote:

    >About the "standards"--what about all the illegit drivers on the roads
    >in Britain now because they can't pass a test that may be too tough?

The police just pull 'em over and arrest them.

In Europe, you don't have to be breaking any laws, and the police
don't need probable cause to check your driver's license (if you're
operating a motor vehicle) and identity papers (at any time). I've
seen 'em do it to motorists stopped at red lights. This is one
reason why the EU does not need to use gro$$ly underpo$ted $peed
limit$ to augment police powers: the police already have those
powers.

--
ricardo, ex-euroslav
vancouver bc canada
e-mail: sovietjamaicanguy yahoo ca
 
Old Oct 30th 2002, 6:31 pm
  #42  
Ricardo
Guest
 
Posts: n/a
Default Re: Getting a Driver's License Is a Royal Pain in Britain

On Wed, 30 Oct 2002 19:20:25 +0100, Barbara Vaughan
wrote:

    >If I understood correctly, in the UK you are
    >expected to bring the car to a stop with the use of the hand brake, but
    >maybe that was a misunderstanding.

It was.

--
ricardo, ex-euroslav
vancouver bc canada
e-mail: sovietjamaicanguy yahoo ca
 
Old Oct 30th 2002, 6:33 pm
  #43  
Ricardo
Guest
 
Posts: n/a
Default Re: Getting a Driver's License Is a Royal Pain in Britain

On Wed, 30 Oct 2002 17:14:12 +0000 (UTC), "Gazz"
wrote:

    >I can see the reason for wanting to make a speedy getaway from traffic
    >lights if your abroad.. where the lights go straight from red to green,

This is no big deal: the change to amber on the X street indicates
that your light is about to go green. For longer stops I usually use
the formal handbrake/neutral method. I've just found it to be
easier, and it helps prevent shunting, like another poster pointed
out.

--
ricardo, ex-euroslav
vancouver bc canada
e-mail: sovietjamaicanguy yahoo ca
 
Old Oct 30th 2002, 6:33 pm
  #44  
Ricardo
Guest
 
Posts: n/a
Default Re: Getting a Driver's License Is a Royal Pain in Britain

On 30 Oct 2002 17:56:51 GMT, [email protected] (Alex Rodriguez)
wrote:

    >Don't I wish the US had similar standards.

Retroactive at that?

--
ricardo, ex-euroslav
vancouver bc canada
e-mail: sovietjamaicanguy yahoo ca
 
Old Oct 30th 2002, 6:37 pm
  #45  
Ricardo
Guest
 
Posts: n/a
Default Re: Getting a Driver's License Is a Royal Pain in Britain

On Wed, 30 Oct 2002 16:05:04 -0000, "Bob Builder"
wrote:

    >The UK is covered with fixed roadside speed cameras that
    >read your number plate and send out fixed penalty notices
    >for £60 ($100) plus 3 penalty points [12 and you get a driving ban].

Yep. At least most of the GATSOs are detectable with a good RD. But
then there are the unmarked pace cars and piezoelectric timing
strips... ya just can't win. Couple that with a low motorway speed
limit, high ga$ price$ and kaboom! Not exactly a motorist's
paradise. Plus the fact that they drive on the wrong side too...

I think the "fun" aspect of British motoring these days is pretty
much restricted to darting about on narrow country lanes. That's
what British motoring was always about anyway, right?

Otoh, one probably doesn't even NEED a driver's licence in the UK. I
got by perfectly ok without one.

--
ricardo, ex-euroslav
vancouver bc canada
e-mail: sovietjamaicanguy yahoo ca
 

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