Ok...
As most of my close friends know, I've been trying of late to get my restricted licence.
Again - as most of you guys should know is that I've had my Learners for five years....
I passed my Learners in 2000 only getting one question wrong... (something about who gives way on a hill...?) Since then after much whineing etc to my parents I finally get to have driving lessons from them, only to have them come to a screaching halt when I crashed into a tree...
So, for about 2 years I didn't have any lessons, due to the fact that I was too scared, Dad didn' t have enough time or anyone else who could teach had heard the story about the 'Tree Incident'
Just recently I have been having driving lessons once again - this time I have managed not to crash into nething...
I sat my 1st Restricted Licence test on Wednesday 5th Jan 2006. - It wasn't pretty, aparently I got the guy that always fails EVERYONE. He gave me Five reasons of why I didn't pass.
1. Three Point Turn
- I had to do it in a very narrow street, and considering this I think I did pretty well... But the test dude didn't think so, he told me that I failed that because "didn't spin my wheels b4 I started moving" Now I'm sorry, but I was always taught that you DON'T do that as it can ruin the tyers?
2. I am a Very over causious driver.
-Just because I waited for a few cars to go past doesn't mean that I am overly causious, and Whats so bad about being even a little causious? There are too many drivers out there that don't even think about what they are doing and because of this, they cause accidents - prob the reason why I crashed into that tree!
He gave me two examples of when I was overly causious:
1. Where I was having the test, there were two zebra crossings - one just before the corner, and after. I stopped just after the first one as a guy was going to cross the second one, and at the last second... he changed his mind and walked off in a different direction. I was rewarded with the test dude asking 'And we are stopping because...?' in a very impatient voice. Obviously my explanation wasn't good enough.
and 2. I had 50 metres gap between cars where I 'could have' driven out into traffic... I don't agree with this as in the road code it says that 100 METRES has to be available before you can go etc.
3. I failed at my hill start. I don't know how. I didn't roll back or anything and a hill start, in an AUTO ???? COME ON!
4. Parking on a Hill. He didn't tell me how I did this one wrong, so I think he was just grabbing for a mistake...
and last of all lucky number 5!
5. When I backed round the corner, ONE of my back wheels when slightly over the curb, but back off again and I was able to correct it, so it wasn't too bad. (BTW this was the only one I accepted as it is a breach of the traffic laws, be it only a small one)
The bad thing is, I found out that one of my mates had done the same thing as #5 and still managed to pass because it was only one wheel instead of both(she also almost cras hed into three cars!)
But after all that, he told me that I was a good driver, and just needed to focus on those five things. I still can't believe it! and I have to some how tell work tomorrow about me failing!
*Sigh* oh, well...
21 Jan 2006
Today I went out for a driving lesson with dad... In his manual. (Work went and brought a manual car, so I have to learn to drive that instead of an Auto)
We both ended up getting upset with each other as he wouldn't tell me in advanced what he wanted me to do, just till the VERY last minute. Another reason I got upset is because I felt as if I was not incontrol of the situation... Ever since I started driving (Auto - I know it is easier)
I've been feeling a whole lot more freedom etc. being put back into a manual car just took that right away (considering that I crashed into a tree last time I drove one)
Part of the reason I feel out of control is because I have never been able to get the concept of the gears... No matter how someone explains them to me, I just don't get it - And I feel stupid and worthless as everyone else has been able to, even my sisters have been able to and first off too!
To tell you the truth, I'm scared and I hate it. But I will not give up!
If Anyone out there Knows how to explain the gears and purpose to me, please do!
Laterz
'Blonde Little Driver'
25 Jan 2006
Well, I went on another driving lesson last night with a real driving instructor person thingy... I never really realised how competitive they are towards each other... I did something and this instructor said "Is that what the other Instructor taught you?" as if it was a bad thing...?
Oh well, If I'm lucky one of my mates might teach me...?
Laterz
03 March 2006
I Passed! I Passed I PASSED!
Yes ladies and germs, Look out watch the roads as I am now legally able to drive the car all by my little self!
6 comments:
1: From what you said it sounds like he asked you to do something illegal and you should've talked to his supervisor/manager about it.
3 & 4: Did you remember to have the wheels turned into the curb?
5: the person who passed proberly had a leaniant tester.
BTW what happened to the 100 books you were reading?
1. True, well next time I'm just going to ask for someone else.
3&4: Yes I remembered!
5: True, but still!
100 Books? I'll have to pled the 5th on that one...
Try reading this:
http://auto.howstuffworks.com/transmission.htm
Basicaly the engine rotates a shaft at
a high rpm (it varies depending on the engine and how much throttle is used).
The transmission (read gears) converts
the high rpm to a lower rpm which produces more torque (a rotational force that turns the shaft) this force eventualy reaches the wheels after passing through the differental (DON'T ASK). The torque pushes the wheels allowing them to rotate.
In a manual, the gear stick selects which pair of gears in the transmision is used. the ratio of the pair (the number of cogs in one compared to the other eg 1.223:1) is what determines what the resulting rpm and torque is, which in turn determines the speed of the car. note that the last one or two gears actually increase the rpm instead of decreasing it. The clutch is used to
disengage (disconnect) the engine from the drive shaft (the shaft that leads to the wheels). When it isnt used while changing gears, the difference in speed between the gear (which is always connected to the engine even when not currently selected) and the drive shaft causes it not to not to engage the gear properly causing a horrible grinding noise (and can eventualy damage the transmission).
Automatic transmissions use a special type of clutch called a fluid clutch, which allows gears to be changed automaticaly based on rpm. However these cluches are inefficent meaning they cars equiped with them use more fuel and travel slightly slower.
I'll have a look a the web site when I have time... I'm warning you now though, if the web site has everything written like you have put down in your comment, I won't understand a Thing It says!
(Considering that I am not as academically minded as you, I don't think I ever will!)
Also, depending on which Andrew I am replying to, How could I get advice from you when you don't even know how to keep away from the curb? ( I know about this as a little bird told me all about it... :)
Given that ive only ever driven a car twice and i didn't hit anything, let alone something like a tree (ie things that don't move) i did better than SOME people. and keeping to the left is better than going towards the middle. it's what your supposed to do.
Put it this way:
you don't need to know how a gear box works to use it. you just use it!
BTW im not that good at explaining stuff and transmissions can be hard to explain with out pictures.
A better explaination for you:
What it does is it allows you to keep the engine running at as close to optimal speed as possible while leting the actual vehicle vary it's speed. This allows you to use less fuel.
A manual gearbox requires the driver to change gears using the stick when appropriate (ie when the rpm is too high or too low).
An automatic gearbox will change gears for you (except for changing into reverse), but at a cost to engine effiency (accelerates slower, uses more fuel and has a lower top speed).
A CVT (Constant Variable Transmission) is an automatic gearbox that is designed so that the engine always runs at or as near to as possible its optimal rpm (speed). This means that you get the best fuel effiency possible. However due to their expensivness and difficulty to make they are very rarely used in cars (the Toyota Pirus is the only one i know of).
BTW did you get my invotation?
Congrats
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