fredandginger:
I thought you needed to check all other times as well which I think I did, but as the examiner didn’t say when I missed the 2 minors , I can’t rule missing 2 out.
Your checks for that hour out on the road should be exaggerated so that the examiner can see you are doing them.
dar1976:
ROG:
fredandginger:
Thanks dar1976Thought so, the problem was when I did the checks the car was still out of my view round the bend, only came into my view when I had started to pull round the parked car, as I said it is possible the examiner saw it first.
I thought you needed to check all other times as well which I think I did, but as the examiner didn’t say when I missed the 2 minors , I can’t rule missing 2 out.
I sometimes wonder if ‘doing the checks’ takes away the concentration fron the ‘driving’ in many circumstances
Was that reply for real? From an ex trainer.
You should devote equal time to checking around you as for looking forward.
I mean the checks that the DSA want rather than the necessary checks - they are not always the same but if you do not do the DSA checks then you get marked down for them
We have proven this to be the case time and time again on the advanced test
ROG:
dar1976:
ROG:
fredandginger:
Thanks dar1976Thought so, the problem was when I did the checks the car was still out of my view round the bend, only came into my view when I had started to pull round the parked car, as I said it is possible the examiner saw it first.
I thought you needed to check all other times as well which I think I did, but as the examiner didn’t say when I missed the 2 minors , I can’t rule missing 2 out.
I sometimes wonder if ‘doing the checks’ takes away the concentration fron the ‘driving’ in many circumstances
Was that reply for real? From an ex trainer.
You should devote equal time to checking around you as for looking forward.
I mean the checks that the DSA want rather than the necessary checks - they are not always the same but if you do not do the DSA checks then you get marked down for them
We have proven this to be the case time and time again on the advanced test
I’ve read it and re-read it and still don’t understand how your description above differs
Before moving off from stationary the DSA expect the driver to do all the mirror and blind spot checks even if the driver KNOWS it is not necessary which is where the advanced differs greatly because the AD examiner will know that the driver has been observing whilst stopped so ‘procedural checks’ are not always necessary
The AD way leeaves the driver more concentration time on what really matters at the time such as observing cars blasting around a roundabout at the last moment
Hope that has explained the differences
A safe drive can be very different to a DSA drive
Thanks for the explanation.
Checks are often “overtaught” to the point they can become useless. I know of one school where the trainees were taught to raise their backsides off the seat so they could lean forward to check the blind spot in front of the vehicle. But by the time this had been done, something else would be going on and be missed.
I know what Rog means but I don’t totally agree. My view is that the methods adopted for training should be usable when driving. To me, the drive for test isn’t a showpiece - just normal driving. And yes, I do drive like that all the time and there’s not many can beat me from A - B. It’s all to do with planned, progressive driving - as I know Rog will agree.
But I think Rog’s idea of DSA requirements is now out of date and he needs to modernise.
Pete 
Personally I don’t teach to do a physical blind spot check every time the vehicle comes to a stop. An exception to this is where the candidate is poor at the observation element of moving away from the kerb and I want to make the blind spot check 2nd nature.
Moving away from stationary at traffic lights I will tell candidates to check both mirrors before moving away. At roundabouts it is more important to analyse the moving vehicles and to find the right gap than to be overly concerned with the mirrors except when turning left from a stationary position and cyclists might sneak up the nearside.
Don’t get too bogged down with this but try to develop a natural habit of always knowing what’s behind and alongside you.
LGVTrainer:
Personally I don’t teach to do a physical blind spot check every time the vehicle comes to a stop.
I hope your students thank you personally when they hit a cyclist 
LGVTrainer:
Don’t get too bogged down with this but try to develop a natural habit of always knowing what’s behind and alongside you.
Thats what the advanced driving examiner looks for but the dsa examiners look for the physical procedural checks
Ok folks conflicting opinions on the subject of blindspot checks and how differant instructors train at lights etc , but not a answer to my original question which is if you miss one say at a traffic light or held up in a que but are still checking mirrors constantly while stopped, would they give you a minor.
Also been speaking to a few driving instructed who teach regarding moving off and they have said basically if their is no one to tell ie vehicles or pedestrians then why indicate when moving off , in fact that is how my wife’s driving instructed is teaching her.
Now how do other Lgv trainers think about this and which precedure do you teach ie indicate first before observation checks or after. And also again I think if the examiner did not see you indicating regardless of whether there’s anyone to see, he would mark you down.
fredandginger:
Ok folks conflicting opinions on the subject of blindspot checks and how differant instructors train at lights etc , but not a answer to my original question which is if you miss one say at a traffic light or held up in a que but are still checking mirrors constantly while stopped, would they give you a minor.Also been speaking to a few driving instructed who teach regarding moving off and they have said basically if their is no one to tell ie vehicles or pedestrians then why indicate when moving off , in fact that is how my wife’s driving instructed is teaching her.
Now how do other Lgv trainers think about this and which precedure do you teach ie indicate first before observation checks or after. And also again I think if the examiner did not see you indicating regardless of whether there’s anyone to see, he would mark you down.
For missing a blind spot check when moving off could get you a minor because in most cases that is what the examiner is looking for but it does depend on the examiner
Signalling when moving off - how does the driver KNOW if a motorbike is behind them or not and hidden ■■? - it might have parked behind without the driver noticing and be intending to move off at the same time as the truck driver !!
If in a car with good all round vision then often signalling is a waste of time because there is not nor likely to be any other there to receive it
I’m no instructor.
But common sense dictates that someone may be out of mirror view right behind you and you still need to indicate to them.
Signalling when moving off - how does the driver KNOW if a motorbike is behind them or not and hidden ■■? - it might have parked behind without the driver noticing and be intending to move off at the same time as the truck driver !!
If in a car with good all round vision then often signalling is a waste of time because there is not nor likely to be any other there to receive it
I do agree with this and was thinking more or less the same scenario and have said this to my wife, don’t you think that it should be universal though let’s say an 18 year old has been taught this way to drive a car and then when it comes to Lgv training he then has to learn a new method , my other 2 children recently learnt and was both taught differently.
fredandginger:
Signalling when moving off - how does the driver KNOW if a motorbike is behind them or not and hidden ■■? - it might have parked behind without the driver noticing and be intending to move off at the same time as the truck driver !!
If in a car with good all round vision then often signalling is a waste of time because there is not nor likely to be any other there to receive it
I do agree with this and was thinking more or less the same scenario and have said this to my wife, don’t you think that it should be universal though let’s say an 18 year old has been taught this way to drive a car and then when it comes to Lgv training he then has to learn a new method , my other 2 children recently learnt and was both taught differently.
That could be said for driving any other type of vehicle
Not all vehicles can be driven the same so different methods need to be employed which are relevant for each
Dean is quite correct about using a signal because you can never be sure if someone is behind you. This changes slightly when pulling out for parked cars as a more advanced driver will check the mirrors and act on what he sees. Most trainers will advise to signal anyway. I teach this point to the overall ability level of the individual but generally advise to give a quick signal unless there is a turning on the right.
To put another cat amongst the pidgeons what about a begging signal to ask to be let out from the kerb. I’m in the NO camp except unless in a lay by. The reason is that it could cause a car to brake expecting you to just pull out. There are others that teach differently.
No 2 trainers are exactly the same but all get passes and fails. There is definitely more than 1 way to pass the test.
I hope you have booked some extra training before your next test? 14 minors and 3 serious would suggest to me you were not ready for your test.
As regards to the comments on here I would suggest you talk to the trainer who spent a number of hours with you and knows what you need to improve on and listen only to him or her. Trying to get training online can be very confusing and at the end of the day you are paying your instructor who was probably at the debrief with the examiner.
I know of a case where a trainee was having training with an instructor, then in the evening emailing another instructor who was giving different techniques etc. This led to the trainee just ignoring the instructor who was sitting next to them and just doing what was on a email. This just led to frustration for all and a failure!
I hope you have booked some extra training before your next test? 14 minors and 3 serious would suggest to me you were not ready for your test.
As regards to the comments on here I would suggest you talk to the trainer who spent a number of hours with you and knows what you need to improve on and listen only to him or her. Trying to get training online can be very confusing and at the end of the day you are paying your instructor who was probably at the debrief with the examiner.
I know of a case where a trainee was having training with an instructor, then in the evening emailing another instructor who was giving different techniques etc. This led to the trainee just ignoring the instructor who was sitting next to them and just doing what was on a email. This just led to frustration for all and a failure!
Burnie1,
Yes I am having a few hours before my retest, and I am ready , as for failing this was explained early on, nerves got to me, the serious was purely stupid mistakes probably brought on by nerves and half of the minors were in my trainers words iffy and debatable.
The only advice I have asked is whether the car coming round the bend after starting pulling out from behind a parked car could have been a serious, as for the rest I was discussing it not questioning what I have been told , first and foremost is the trainer who has spent his and my time training me and furthermore knows the examiners in the area I am taking my test.
After having discussions with my children who recently took tests and wife currently learning about differant ways they were taught I opened the discussion on my thread, because I did not really agree with it.
Also been speaking to a few driving instructed who teach regarding moving off and they have said basically if their is no one to tell ie vehicles or pedestrians then why indicate when moving off , in fact that is how my wife’s driving instructed is teaching her.
Now how do other Lgv trainers think about this and which precedure do you teach ie indicate first before observation checks or after. And also again I think if the examiner did not see you indicating regardless of whether there’s anyone to see, he would mark you down.
I think because of my typing skills may have confused people about what I was saying, what I was trying to say was I was sat with my wife and kids and was talking about the difference in training for cars and lgvs and son said he got taught not to indicate , daughter said she did and wife was confused so before her lesson we asked him and he teaches not to, bare in mind all differant instructors(cars). I thought that this could have disadvantages if it came to traing for Lgv and asked what people thought.
I would like to stress I do indicate when moving off after all mirror and blindspot checks even in the car and think this should be done.
Hope this clears it up
dar1976:
I hope your students thank you personally when they hit a cyclist
I will of course listen with eagerness to advice from you. Although I may be a bit older it doesn’t mean I can’t learn from you. Not hit a cyclist in 30 years teaching but you never know!!
dar1976:
I’m no instructor.
You’re right Dean but when the ink drys in a year or 2 you could try it. It’s great fun, no stress. Hope to see you at the centre one day.
To be honest the main reason I have taken an interest in this thread is because soon I have the (hopefully) pleasant opportunity to get fredandginger through the C+E in a couple of days.
Any advice Dean?
LGVTrainer:
dar1976:
I’m no instructor.You’re right Dean but when the ink drys in a year or 2 you could try it. It’s great fun, no stress. Hope to see you at the centre one day.
No offence but its not for me.
I hate being a passenger
Well 3 days till my retest and have been giving my self a good talking to after listening to people’s advice about dealing with the nerves. So I have made some notes on my phone to read to myself for 10 minutes before I start and we will see if it helps. It may read a bit daft but I feel that these are the areas that didnt help me with the nervousness
You have practiced to the best of your ability. Trust your automatic pilot to
do most of your work for you.(gears)
Do not judge what just happened or will happen. Only motivate yourself and observe others
( concentrate on 20seconds at a time)
Do not second-guess the examiners reaction to your driving, as
your perception will probably be inaccurate. Please yourself only.
Concentrate on the drive, be in the moment. Be the driver, not the examiner.
You are giving a smooth drive, not the examiner
Single out one aspect of your driving that is the top priority among things
you need to be reminded of at this time. BLINDS-SPOTS and MIRRORS
Enjoy! This will be your last drive around Leicester. Enjoy it!