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Topic: Driving Lessons  (Read 13519 times)

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Re: Driving Lessons
« Reply #60 on: November 12, 2018, 12:59:06 PM »
I have to ask what BCCF means.
I googled it, but didn't see anything that looked relevant...  [smiley=dunce.gif]

I wondered the same thing but was too embarrassed to ask and too lazy to try and look it up. I think Nan might be a millenial wanna be  :)
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Re: Driving Lessons
« Reply #61 on: November 12, 2018, 01:02:32 PM »
Stay away from the urban dictionary.  They can make the purest acronym into absolute filth.


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Re: Driving Lessons
« Reply #62 on: November 12, 2018, 02:17:44 PM »
Stay away from the urban dictionary.  They can make the purest acronym into absolute filth.

Urban Dictionary is blocked by the censors at my work!  ;D


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Re: Driving Lessons
« Reply #63 on: November 12, 2018, 02:29:51 PM »
BCCF = Bacon Cheddar Chipotle Fries.  Driving across town to the del Taco drive-through to get Bacon Cheddar Chipotle Fries. Did it every Saturday morning and most Tuesday evenings (Tuesdays was Taco-Two-Fer night). Reminding myself that I have been driving  a car an average of three to five hours a day, every day, in insane SoCalif traffic, for decades. I survived that, I can handle Glasgow. It's kind of a mantra.  8)

I didn't make any major faults today.  Several minors, mostly dealing with mini-roundabouts. I either dead-stopped when I could have gone on (out of paranoia) or didn't remember to signal left when driving straight across. I don't have a problem with that on big roundabouts, but it's counter-intuitive on the minis. No problem cognitively signaling right (then left) for a right exit, or left for a left exit, but signaling left halfway across to go straight just makes something in my mind go ~poink!~ as there is no turn at all involved. (Sigh. I'll get it memorized soon.)

Today we practiced parallel parking. It's easier here. You get two entire car lengths to get into the spot. Not a single car-length like when I took my very first driving test ever. And the car here is fripping tiny.  ;D    Check the road. Pull up parallel to the parked car. Back until back end of parked car is even with back door. Turn wheel one turn to the left. Back up slowly. When the back of the parked car is at the mirror turn wheel one turn back right. Back up slowly. When the front of the car is clear the parked car, one turn to the right. Back up slowly. Be swiveling your head around like the exorcist the entire time to make sure you don't run over the blind little old lady pushing the dog in the pram leading the toddlers.... Straighten wheel up. Put car in park, put parking break on.]

So comfort levels checkoff today:

Big Roundabouts, lane and signaling - check
Speed reduction approaching roundabout - check
Use of mirrors while driving - check
Checking mirrors BEFORE signaling - ehhh, getting there. I automatically signal and THEN look before moving.
Not swiveling around to look when changing lanes, using mirrors instead - mostly check
Construction zones/closed lanes - check
Weird markings on the roads, no stopping on - check
Turning right into the left-hand lane - check
Turning left - check
Stopping or not at orange light - check
Hand-over-hand - wellllllll, at least I got him to say it's not a fault. So I can stop worrying about it for the test.
Not gripping the wheel so hard my knuckles turn white - maybe next time
Parallel parking -  check (mostly - a couple more attempts and I'll have it down. Every car is different.)
Reversing two car lengths - check
Reversing into a parking bay - almost check (such an alien manoever!)
Getting on the motorway without doing a head-turn - check
Speed monitoring - check
Knowing the lights (fog/parking/low-beam) - check
Bus lanes, use of - check
School zones - check
Double-round-abouts - {hives} -  check
Roundabouts with traffic signals - check
Roundabouts without traffic signals - check
Tom-tom - check
Going into the left hand lane at lights to go through the intersection rather than waiting behind people in the right-hand lane who are turning right where there were two lanes - uh, wellllll next time.

It's coming along. I've got eight more hours of practice before the test.


« Last Edit: November 12, 2018, 02:32:30 PM by Nan D. »


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Re: Driving Lessons
« Reply #64 on: November 12, 2018, 02:30:29 PM »
I wondered the same thing but was too embarrassed to ask and too lazy to try and look it up. I think Nan might be a millenial wanna be  :)

hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahhaahhahahaha (sigh) hahahahahahahahaahahahah

Uh, no.  ;) ;D


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Re: Driving Lessons
« Reply #65 on: November 12, 2018, 04:08:22 PM »
You're coming along so well Nan! Glad today was better  ;D
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Re: Driving Lessons
« Reply #66 on: November 12, 2018, 05:07:14 PM »
dealing with mini-roundabouts. I either dead-stopped when I could have gone on (out of paranoia) or didn't remember to signal left when driving straight across. I don't have a problem with that on big roundabouts, but it's counter-intuitive on the minis. No problem cognitively signaling right (then left) for a right exit, or left for a left exit, but signaling left halfway across to go straight just makes something in my mind go ~poink!~ as there is no turn at all involved. (Sigh. I'll get it memorized soon.)

WTF?  We are supposed to signal on mini roundabouts when going straight?  I swear I wasn't taught that.  Left if left, right if right, only signal left to exit if multi-lane.

Like we've all said, you'll forget ALL the rules and just drive when it's all over.  I thought of you last week when I turned my steering wheel with only one hand using the palm.  Your instructor would have gone bat sh*t crazy!  ;D

Sounds like you are doing very very well.  Keep it up!


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Re: Driving Lessons
« Reply #67 on: November 12, 2018, 05:12:50 PM »
WTF?  We are supposed to signal on mini roundabouts when going straight?  I swear I wasn't taught that.  Left if left, right if right, only signal left to exit if multi-lane.

Like we've all said, you'll forget ALL the rules and just drive when it's all over.  I thought of you last week when I turned my steering wheel with only one hand using the palm.  Your instructor would have gone bat sh*t crazy!  ;D

Sounds like you are doing very very well.  Keep it up!

This is exactly what our son was taught as well  this year. Not something I’ve ever done. Back in 1972 I don’t think these painted mini roundabouts even existed.
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Re: Driving Lessons
« Reply #68 on: November 12, 2018, 05:29:28 PM »
Reminding myself that I have been driving  a car an average of three to five hours a day, every day, in insane SoCalif traffic, for decades. I survived that, I can handle Glasgow.


This has been something I keep telling myself to reassure myself that I'm doing fine with my lessons. I lived in LA for 8 years, and the traffic in Southern California is a beast all on its own. Driving around the UK is not easy by any stretch, but if you can manage the manic SoCal traffic, then I think you'll be fine driving around here. Just remember BCCF, nan!  ;D
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Re: Driving Lessons
« Reply #69 on: November 12, 2018, 06:58:00 PM »
WTF?  We are supposed to signal on mini roundabouts when going straight?  I swear I wasn't taught that.  Left if left, right if right, only signal left to exit if multi-lane.

Like we've all said, you'll forget ALL the rules and just drive when it's all over.  I thought of you last week when I turned my steering wheel with only one hand using the palm.  Your instructor would have gone bat sh*t crazy!  ;D

Sounds like you are doing very very well.  Keep it up!

I learned this when taking lessons, do I do it now? Not a chance ;p


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Re: Driving Lessons
« Reply #70 on: November 12, 2018, 09:30:19 PM »
WTF?  We are supposed to signal on mini roundabouts when going straight?  I swear I wasn't taught that.  Left if left, right if right, only signal left to exit if multi-lane.

Like we've all said, you'll forget ALL the rules and just drive when it's all over.  I thought of you last week when I turned my steering wheel with only one hand using the palm.  Your instructor would have gone bat sh*t crazy!  ;D

Sounds like you are doing very very well.  Keep it up!

Yeppo. Signal left immediately if turning left immediately. Signal left at the middle of the first possible left if you are going to be taking the next exit. Which comes down to - signaling to turn left when actually driving straignt. Because straight it's actually straight on a mini, you are circling.... (OY!)


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Re: Driving Lessons
« Reply #71 on: November 12, 2018, 10:20:55 PM »
Yeppo. Signal left immediately if turning left immediately. Signal left at the middle of the first possible left if you are going to be taking the next exit. Which comes down to - signaling to turn left when actually driving straignt. Because straight it's actually straight on a mini, you are circling.... (OY!)

That sounds very dangerous to me, are you sure he didn’t instruct you to start signaling left after entering the mini roundabout. If you are going straight over and signal left before entering the roundabout then someone waiting to enter the roundabout or approaching the roundabout on your left will see you indicating and smash into you when you drive straight ahead.
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Re: Driving Lessons
« Reply #72 on: November 12, 2018, 10:32:46 PM »
That sounds very dangerous to me, are you sure he didn’t instruct you to start signaling left after entering the mini roundabout. If you are going straight over and signal left before entering the roundabout then someone waiting to enter the roundabout or approaching the roundabout on your left will see you indicating and smash into you when you drive straight ahead.

I took it to mean that there was no left exit and that the first 'left' exit is the one going straight across. For example: http://www.learners-guide.co.uk/images/lessons/lesson10/roundabout4.gif

Going into my hometown, there is a mini-roundabout that only has 2 exits: straight on and right turn. You can't go left, because there's a wall in the way, so on approach to the roundabout, you signal left to go straight on and right to turn right.


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Re: Driving Lessons
« Reply #73 on: November 13, 2018, 08:36:47 AM »
BCCF = Bacon Cheddar Chipotle Fries.  Driving across town to the del Taco drive-through to get Bacon Cheddar Chipotle Fries. Did it every Saturday morning and most Tuesday evenings (Tuesdays was Taco-Two-Fer night). Reminding myself that I have been driving  a car an average of three to five hours a day, every day, in insane SoCalif traffic, for decades. I survived that, I can handle Glasgow. It's kind of a mantra.  8)


OFFS!!  ;)
I have been wracking my brain over this, and now find out it's a 'Nan-thing'!  [smiley=laugh3.gif]

When I last lived in CA, Del Taco used to do 6 tacos for 99cents on a Wednesday night.  That was as exciting as it got.


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Re: Driving Lessons
« Reply #74 on: November 13, 2018, 08:54:45 AM »
I took it to mean that there was no left exit and that the first 'left' exit is the one going straight across. For example: http://www.learners-guide.co.uk/images/lessons/lesson10/roundabout4.gif

Going into my hometown, there is a mini-roundabout that only has 2 exits: straight on and right turn. You can't go left, because there's a wall in the way, so on approach to the roundabout, you signal left to go straight on and right to turn right.

Ah, yes, that makes sense. In summary, if you are going to take the first exit on a roundabout start indicating left before entering.
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