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Driving Lesson Notes - Lesson 1

19/6/2017

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Summary Driving Lesson Notes
Vehicle Control - Starting the car
  1. Move your seat forward and up
  2. Put on your seatbelt
  3. Move your center mirror, so you can see behind you. You are the whole car now.
  4. Push the brake with your right foot and then push the power button
  5. Wait for the ready light to be on. 
  6. Let go of the brake. (Don't have to push hard)
  7. Adjust the side mirrors if required.
  8. Indictors are on your right. Move it down (right) move if up (left)
  9. Look ahead, Don't worry about keeping the steering wheel straight
  10. Push the brake with your right foot, only a millimetre down use your toes just like tapping. Keep your heal on the ground and move it to the right. Only push a millimeter down. Keep your foot between both speed and brake paddles. Keeping your foot on the ground move if left and right like you are waving with your foot.
  11. In the middle you have your handbrake and gears. Look at the dashboard, the red (!) means the handbrake is on. Pull up the handbrake lever only a few millimeters and then push the button in and push the whole lever down. The red (!) should disappear, the hand brake is off.  
  12. The foot brake in general controls the front brakes and the hand brake controls the rear brakes. Incase the footbrake fails you can use the handbrake to stop the car in an emergency. Pull up the handbrake.
  13. The gears P-R-N-D-1-2 .
    P - Only go into Park when the car is stopped at the left side of the road (not waiting at lights, at intersections or in a queue)
    R - Reverse will make the car go back, it will normally make a beeping down and will display R on the dashboard
    N - Neutral - No gear (Think of it like a ball it will just roll) When you need to tow or push the car off the road
    D - Drive will make the car go forward. If it is in Drive the car will try to always go forward.
    1-2 or L/S - Lower gears for going forward, normally used for towing another vehicle or going really steep hills. Lower gears have more power and use more fuel. You get power but loss speed
  14. Put both hand on the wheel and turn all the way to the right and then all the way left. Don't twist your hands. Use your left hand to turn left and right hand to turn right. Push and pull, try to keep one hand on each half of the wheel
  15. Look up at center mirror can you see the ground between us and the parked car behind us? Look back, turn your head. Everything in the mirrors are always closer. Check the side mirrors can you see the cars back there? Its had to judge distance in the mirrors. If you look in the center mirror and can see the ground between us and the other vehicle you have twice the room you need.
  16. Turn head 90 degrees to the left and now to the right. lift your chin up. look in the center mirror keep your head up and now look to the right/left. This is your BLINDSPOT or SHOULDER CHECK. Think of it like you are running/riding a bike and want to see if there is anyone next to you.
Moving - Steering, Braking and Acceleration
  1. Don't do anything sudden. The car is straight look ahead, not inside the car, look outward. Think of it like walking. Where do you look, at the ground or where you want to go?
  2. For now the steering wheel is straight 
  3. Indicate right, move Indicator down, don't turn the wheel
  4. Push the brake down softly. Move the gear lever from Park (P) to Drive (D). Keep your foot on the brake. Put the hand brake down the (!) red light is off. Anyone behind us or next to us? I'm looking for cars, people and animals.
  5. Just lift you foot off the brake and then push down again. Nothing sudden. We don't want to feel the car stopping. We will roll up to the next lamp post and then stop. Anyone behind us or next to us? Look over your right shoulder / Blind spot. Indicate right, check and let of of the brake roll 1-2 meters forward indicate left and brake.
  6. Check and if safe this time we will goto 20km-30km, you will need to push the accelerator / speed only a millimeter, the car will speed up. The car is a ball it will roll down hill and get faster, uphill it will get slower.
Turning and Steering/Hand Position
  1. The car will never go straight, It will pull to one side, because the road is curved. We can only drive is a circle, the car has to curve around corners, we cant turn at 90 degrees. We will goto the end of the road and do a U-Turn, the more you turn right the more you have to turn left. Be ready to turn the wheel back.
  2. If you can see the ground between us and them (other cars) you have lots of room.
  3. At the end of the road we will do a U-Turn - Indicate / Mirror and Shoulder Check. Aim for under 20km. Just let the car roll.
  4. Left Turns - Angle the car to the left / Right Turn move forward and then make one big turn. 20km is a safe and comfortable speed for turning.
Gap Selection and Observations - searching ahead and around you
  1. Always aim to stop, aim for 20km as you slow if you can see 3 lampposts / street lights on each side of the road and it is safe go. If you cant see 3 lamppost on each side (100meters) it is unsafe. Stop and crawl forward centimeters.
  2. Stop Sign - Full Stop and then check
  3. When approaching intersections look early and off the road, 10 cars aways  (rough guess) start looking to see if it safe.
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Refresher Driving Lesson Notes: Glen Innes

8/6/2017

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Refresher Driver Lesson - Feedback Notes - Key Points

1. Vehicle Control - Aux Controls
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Hazard / Warning Lights
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Red Handbrake Warning Light
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Rear Demister / Defogger
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Front Demister / Defogger
2. Release the handbrake before moving off. Don't Rush
3. Know where your blindspots are and why you need to check them
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Blindspots - Turn your head 90 degrees, quick look
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  • Know where is your Blind Spot / Shoulder Check
  • U-Turn - Shoulder check required
  • Parallel Parking - Indicate and Check your blind spot
  • Lane Changing - Nothing sudden, check and then move, Don't Brake Suddenly, shoulder check when moving into flush median / turning bay
  • Full STOP at Stop Sign and then check both sides before moving
  • Right Turn - Position
  • Stopping at Traffic Lights - Don't be to close to the vehicle infront
  • Intersections - Check both sides ( Ped-X, Green-light, Roundabout and Cross Roads)
  • Narrow Roads - reaction time for oncoming vehicle and positioning
  • Roundabouts - searching ahead and positioning the vehcile and check both sides and infront
  • Left Turn - angle the car
  • Overall speed too SLOW (38-40km)
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School Bus: Pass at 20km  

18/6/2015

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  • When passing a parked school bus you must slow down to 20km.
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Roadworks on Triangle Road, slow down to 30km

18/6/2015

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Roadworks on Triangle Road 18th June 2015. You will need to drive at 30km till you pass the work ends sign.
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Lane Change - Right Turn - Fault

3/6/2015

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On Great South Road: You are required to move into the right lane. Applicant exceeded the speed limit to change lanes.


Maximum speed limit was 50km. Applicant reached 60km before changing lanes.


DON'T try to pass the vehicle and then change lanes, Let the other car be in front, and just move in behind.


Position your vehicle so there is no one next to you.

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When ever you see multiple lanes, think the testing officer will make me change lanes. Position your vehicle so you are always ready to change lanes

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INSTRUCTIONS: Restricted and Full Licence Test

23/3/2015

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Instructions for Driving Test

  • Instructions for turning or stopping will be given when needed, otherwise continue to follow the road.

  • Drive to the conditions, but do not exceed the speed limit. This includes any temporary speed limits.

  • Decision making such as gap selection, positioning and speed control are yours to make at all times.


  • (Full Test Only) During the assessment I will prompt you to describe the hazards that you see and its directions from you, you are also required to tell me the action you are taking to response to each hazard identified. 

Do you have any questions?

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Different Speed Zone at Westgate

10/11/2014

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The speed signs are post and very visible. There are 2 roads where the speed limit changes from 50km to 80km and then back to 50km and vice versa on the way back.​
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​Most people see the sign but are unable to slow down in time.

Coming back from the high speed zone on Hosonville Road the maximum speed is 50km, the roads are wide and it’s all downhill. (Really easy to speed up)

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Passing Parked Cars

23/10/2014

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When passing parked vehicle remember to indicate out and then back into your lane.

Narrow roads on side streets will require you to move to the right side of the road when passing parked vehicles.

You must always (if safe): Indicate to the right as you pass the vehicle and indicate to the left to move back to your side of the road.

  • Indicated 
  • Mirror
  • Shoulder Check
  • Move

Be careful when passing parked cars stay about the width of the door away (1.5m
) enough room to react if someone opens there door.

On narrow roads reduce your speed you must have enough time to stop if required.

Drive defensively when passing parked cars.

Also keep an eye out for pedestrians and cyclists.


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Following Distance

21/10/2014

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For your driving test you are required to drive within 5km of the speed without exceeding it. However you are also required to drive the the road conditions.

  • If you are following a truck driving in a high speed zone, double your following distance to 4 seconds.
  • If you are on a narrow side street with parked cars on one side, drive at a speed that will allow you to stop safely if someone opens a door or pulls out.
  • If its raining follow the +4 second rule.
  • If there are people around, be prepared for some to move in front of you.
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U-Turn at a Roundabout

19/10/2014

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During your driving test you will be require to do U-turns. Most of them will at "No Exit" roads or from the left shoulder once you have pulled over.

You however you might need to do a U-Turn at a Roundabout
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  • If you are doing a U-Turn at a Roundabout you will need to signal right as you approach the roundabout and also signal left as you exit the roundabout.

If it was a "Dead End" you don't have to stop you can slow down, keep left and signal right , check your blind spot and turn all the way around.

If you are doing a U-Turn from a stopped position you are still required to 
  • signal right , check your blind spot and turn all the way around.
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Manual Driving Test

6/8/2014

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If you are doing your driving test in a manual vehicle, make sure you use 1st or 2nd for all your left and right turns. If you turn in 3rd gear you won't have enough power to speed up.

Aim for 20km (2nd gear) for all your turns. If you are coming up to a STOP or Giveway, Slow down and go into first. 
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Right Turns - Don't Cut Corners

4/8/2014

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You are required to Turn Right into several unmarked roads. Don't cut the corners on your right turns, presume there is a vehicle approaching from the other side.

If the road is unmarked and narrow keep reasonable left and be prepared for a vehicle to approach from the opposite side.
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Orange Lights

30/7/2014

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The traffic lights will change !!! 


As you approach traffic lights be prepared for them to change.

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Left Turn using bus lanes

24/7/2014

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In working towards the most efficient use of the city's roads, Auckland Transport is trialling new ways to mark bus and transit lanes. These changes are aimed to help motorists identify the 50m maximum entry point where they can move into a bus/transit lane in order to turn left at an intersection.

Changes to road markings include:

  • The use of a solid green line, adjacent to the solid white line, demarcating a bus or transit lane
  • Changing the solid green/white line (marking a bus/transit lane) to a broken green/white line 50 metres in advance of an intersection. This shows the maximum point where motorists can legally enter a bus/transit lane to make a left turn at an intersection.
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Intersection Controlled by a Giveway and Stop Sign

20/7/2014

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Who will go first?
Fully Stop at the STOP SIGN check for vehicles on both sides of the road before moving.

Failing to stop will result in your test being terminated.
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Highspeed Zone / Open Road 100km

19/7/2014

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U-Turn and Left Turn at STOP Sign:

You are required to turn left at a STOP Sign on a High Speed Zone.

Make sure you fully stop at the stop sign. 

I have students that have slowed down, checked to make sure its safe and then moved off without fully stopping.

You are required to do a U-Turn on a main road where you can see 100 metres on each side

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Curved Road - 35 km Sign

16/7/2014

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The signs below warn you that you are coming up to a tight curve or bend in the road. The number recommends a safe and comfortable speed to drive at around the curve – in this example the recommended speed is 35km/h. The arrows show which direction the curve goes.

Note: the recommended speed is for a light vehicle and may be too fast for a heavy vehicle, particularly when laden. Drive carefully and adjust your speed if necessary. If you are carrying a load, reduce your speed on a curve to at least 10km/h below the posted speed shown.

More Details Information
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 Critical vs. Immediate Failure Errors

14/7/2014

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Critical Errors

A critical error is a serious driving error that does not meet the threshold for an immediate failure error. Critical errors are recorded at any time they occur during either stage of the test, whether or not the applicant was undertaking an assessable task at the time of the error. Most illegal driving actions are classified as critical errors (except errors that endanger any road user, which are classified as immediate failure errors). Critical errors are more important than the errors assessed by task assessment items, so critical errors have a greater influence on the outcome of the test. 
Critical errors include: 
  • Too slow 
  • Mounting a kerb 
  • Too fast 
  • Stalling the vehicle 
  • Failing to look 
  • Incomplete stop at a Stop sign 
  • Failing to signal 
  • Other illegal action 
  • Blocking a pedestrian crossing 
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Immediate Failure Errors 

Immediate failure errors are recorded at any time they occur during either stage of the test regardless of whether or not the applicant was undertaking an assessable task at the time of the error. All driving actions resulting in immediate danger to any road user or to property are classified as immediate failure errors and would usually be when the applicant is operating the vehicle carelessly, dangerously or recklessly. Immediate failure errors are the most dangerous errors of all, and result in immediate failure of the test.
Immediate failure errors include: 
  • Testing Officer intervention 
  • Excessive speed 
  • Failing to carry out an instruction 
  • Stopping at dangerous position 
  • Collision 
  • Failing to stop 
  • Failing to give way 
  • Other dangerous action 

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Are you ready to sit your test?


Check out the test guides in the links below to get up to speed on what you will be assessed on.

  • http://www.nzta.govt.nz/licence/photo/docs/restricted-test-guide.pdf
  • http://www.nzta.govt.nz/licence/photo/docs/full-test-guide.pdf
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Searching as you drive for your driving test

7/7/2014

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Searching as you drive for your driving test. Especially for the Restricted Test but also for the Full Driving Test. I have noticed that towards the end / on the way back to the test center after driving for 30-40 minutes my students start to lose focus and don't search as much as they were doing at the start.

Build up your tolerance, be able to drive for over 1 hour while being focused.
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Can I get your drivers licence?

26/6/2014

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You will need to bring your drivers licence with you for the lesson / simulated test / actual test.
Temporary / Paper licence you will require photo ID, with the same name as your temporary licence. 
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Blind Spots  Videos

24/6/2014

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Blind Spot Videos

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Flush Medians

18/5/2014

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How to use a Flush Median

It’s alright to drive on a flush median for a short distance if you’re turning into or out of a side road or driveway. You can use them to slow down before making a right-hand turn, or to merge left into a gap in the traffic flow.

If you’re using the flush median to make a right-hand turn you should indicate, then steer gently onto the median rather than at an abrupt angle. Use the median as an area to slow down and brake. This way the following traffic doesn’t have to slow down rapidly to avoid you.

Carry out a similar manoeuvre if you’re using the flush median as a refuge before merging into traffic on your left. Remember to indicate and check your mirrors, accelerate, and move gently into a gap in the traffic.

When you’re using a flush median, always remember to watch out for pedestrians, other vehicles using the median and any raised islands.
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http://www.nzta.govt.nz/resources/factsheets/52/docs/52-flush-medians.pdf

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High Speed Zones: Changing Lanes

15/5/2014

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When doing your restricted test in a rural area like Westgate or Pukekohe, for the high speed zone parts you are required to change lanes. 

When you see a sign saying "Passing Lanes Ahead, Keep Left Unless Passing"

The testing officer will tell you to, "please move into the right lane".

Just like before when ever you see you 2 lanes be prepared to change lanes.

Once you move into the right lane they you ask you to move over into the left lane.

Beware of vehicle that might try to overtake you on the left.
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You will be required to move into the right lane and then back into the left lane.
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At an intersection, if you can't see

13/5/2014

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When you approach an intersection, and you can't see after you have stopped, tell the testing officer you are moving a little bit forward to see.

Don't just move forward - they might think you are taking off.

If there are vehicles coming from the left and you can sort of see them, wait for them to pass and then tell the testing officer you are moving forward to see.
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Speed Sign - Trig Road

31/3/2014

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The Speed limit on Trig Road is 50km and 80km.

Watch your speed as you approach the speed signs. DON'T SPEED TOO EARLY
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