Blog Posts

Full Driving Test Results for Mt Wellington / Sylvia Park

25/7/2017

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Full Driving Test FAILED
Multiple Critical ERORRS:
Duration: 17 Minutes
Distance: 5.07km

Downhill too fast, at 58km and then 60km
Right Turn - Entering Flush Median - Failed to check blind spot
Right Turn - Gap Selection - Too Slow
Roundabout - Failed to Indicated Out.
Hard brake at traffic lights - Slow Reaction to Red Light

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New Lynn Full Driving Test Notes

23/7/2017

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Feedback / Notes from New Lynn Full Simulated Test
Key Points to Remember:

Hand Position - keep both hands on the wheel, till the car is fully stoped.
Backing out of carpark - move back use the space available.
Left turn - angle the car, make a nice smooth turn.
Hazards - Talk about what is behind. (cars, people and animals) {Where it is? and What will you do?}
Keep left on narrow roads.
Right Turns - unlane keep left
Left Turn don't be too fast, aim for 20km.
Speed Control - aim for 45 - 50km in 50km zones (40km too slow) drive to the road conditions.
Moving onto the road - don't move suddenly, small 2 degree turn to the right.
Parked cars with brake lights on - check your blind spot, be prepared for them to move or open doors.
U-Turn - you have to indicated and check your blind spot
Fully Stop at STOP Signs
Entering turning bay for right turn - check your right shoulder / blind spot
Right Turn - Don't cut corners - keep left (narrow road)
One lane splitting into 2 lanes, both lanes are going straight, aim for the left lane.
Red Lights - Don't be too close to the cars infront.
Roundabouts - before you enter know which exit you are required to take.
Downhill / Wide Roads - Don't rush (speed control)

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First Manual Driving Lesson - Meadowlands

18/7/2017

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Lesson notes for first manual driving lesson:
Lesson focusing on clutch control and changing gears.

For now always use the handbrake when taking off, (later on only when you need to) just getting in the habit of using both your hands and feet when you take off.
Let go for the clutch in 2 steps. Find the bitting point as you let go of the clutch and hold, when you feel the car rattling. Push softly on the speed (only a few millimetres) the car should sound normal. As you hold the clutch and speed in the same position, release the hand brake. Hold the clutch and speed for a few seconds, wait for the car to move, as it moves let go of the clutch and speed up.
All turns aim for 20km .. If you can see 100meters on each side and it is safe (3x lamp posts) use 2nd gear. If you cant see or unsure drop down into 1st gear. The other way to think of it is: If you can only turn left or right use 1st gear (10km). If you can go straight or right/left you can see a lot more aim for 20km and use 2nd gear.
Left Turns - Angle the car to the left, it will make turning easier and it will be easier to take off if you are on a hill.
Roundabouts - always indicated out
Right Turns - unlane roads keep left
Narrow road / blind corners - If you can't see around the corner, be prepared for someone to come around.
Uphill - use lower gears (stay in 3rd for longer)
Don't ride the clutch around corners /when turning
Slow down first before pushing in the clutch.
U-turn go into 1st aim for 5-10km and indicate right and shoulder check

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Highbrook Refresher Lesson Notes / Simulated Test

5/7/2017

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First lesson notes with student that has done several lessons with AA and wanted a run through the Highbrook Restricted Test Site.

Hand Position - Keep your hands up, around 9-3
Parked Cars - If moving around more than .5 meters check you blind spot.
Park Cars / Oncoming Vehicles - After passing the parked car move to the left. Keep left
Speed Control - Notice Speed Signs @ Start everyone drive a bit too slow.
Right Turn at Traffic Lights - Check before moving
Wet Roads - 4 seconds for following distance
Dual Lanes going straight - Always aim for the left lane
Waiting at Red Light - don't be too close to car in front
Roundabouts - More searching and hazard ID Required. Check both sides and look ahead, be ready before the last car passes. Indicated out of the roundabout even if you are going straight.
Roundabout Right Turn - too close to center island. Rear right wheel hit curb
Moving on to the road from P - don't keep rolling forward while looking in the side mirror to see if it is safe. (If safe move)
Lane Changing - Indicate till you are fully in the other lane
Merging - Indicate and Check your BLIND SPOT. Don't move suddenly, nice small 2 degree turn.
Curved Roads - Keep left reasonable
Steering - Incorrect hand position.
Roundabouts - Angle the cars as you approach, while checking for vehicles from both sides.
Notice Speed Sign - too fast 50km zone - speed at 60km.
Parking in a carpark - Indicating and doing shoulder checks are required. Keep left while in the carpark
U-Turn - Indicate and check you blind spot
Parallel Parking - more practice required (indicating , positioning and searching)
Orange Light = Red Light, Stop and wait

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Greenlane / New Market and Parnell - Driving Lesson Notes

4/7/2017

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Night driving through New Market - Simulated Driving Alone (15minutes)

Release Hand brake before moving out of car park
Aux Controls - windows started to fog up
Green Light - check before moving (Ped X, cyclist and cars)
Poor Positioning - too close to Bus and late reaction time, don't rush to be next the bus, just stay back the road is getting narrow.
Lane change - slow reaction time, searching ahead. Bus

Greenlane (30minutes)

Narrow Roads - Keep left
Straight Roads - Check your center mirror every 10-15seconds and check side streets
Right Turn - Cut Corner - Rear right wheel hit center line cats eye /reflector
Right Turn - Turning Bay - Shoulder Check when entering
Curved Road to the right with side street on left, Check for traffic
Keep left - too close to middle of road
Islands in the middle of the road - adjust you positions and speed control as you move around them
Left Turn - Hit Curb - rear left wheel (sharp corner)
Parked Cars - Shoulder Check for Cyclist, when moving back to the left.
Left Turn in to a 2lane road, failed to notice safe lane, moving when it was unsafe

Parnell (15minutes)

Greenlight - Driving straight on duallanes (Left lane turning left), check the left lane incase they are driving straight.
Right Turn - Turning Bay Check your blind spot and Indicate before moving in.
Roundabout - failed to follow instructions and when left