Re: Just started to drive any tips???
Quote:
Originally Posted by
ik9000
one of my school friends drove her mum's car into a skip. Quote of the year - "but I didn't see it".
Riding a motorcycle, that's more like quote of the day to us.
A friend was knocked flying because the driver apparently didn't notice him and pulled straight into him... He was stationary with indicator flashing, on a Dynorod-orange/black bike with VERY FLIPPIN' LOUD straight-through exhaust and a three-lamp HID headlight cluster, wearing black/yellow Hi-Viz coat and a white helmet, all in broad daylight.
In the car, the biggest issue I've found so far is having to crane around the A-Pillar to see through right-hand bends.
Re: Just started to drive any tips???
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Ttaskmaster
Riding a motorcycle, that's more like quote of the day to us.
A friend was knocked flying because the driver apparently didn't notice him and pulled straight into him... He was stationary with indicator flashing, on a Dynorod-orange/black bike with VERY FLIPPIN' LOUD straight-through exhaust and a three-lamp HID headlight cluster, wearing black/yellow Hi-Viz coat and a white helmet, all in broad daylight.
In the car, the biggest issue I've found so far is having to crane around the A-Pillar to see through right-hand bends.
A friend of mine was hurt sitting in a stationary car, because the driver didn't see him. Idiot driver hit it so hard that it wrote the car off, and broke the seat-mount bolts on the seat my friend was in, throwing him backwards and injuring his neck. Two months off work followed. The car my mate was in was basically white, but had a blue and yellow sort-of check pattern on the sides and rear, bright blue high-vis stripes all around, flashing blue lights, which were on, and POLICE written all over it.
And the first words out of idiots mouth? I kid you not, he said "I didn't see you".
It's amazing what people can fail to see. Still I bet most people can see the consequences of that incident coming. :D And they started with "please blow into this, sir."
Re: Just started to drive any tips???
Part of me still wants to do my H-Licence, now that I have the B... I'm sure they'll still SMIDSY me, but it won't be more than a scratch to my paintwork. Insurance should be pretty cheap, too!
I can also park anywhere and have the pleasure of flipping the hatch, to lean out and yell, "Come on, I can get a TANK through that gap!!!" :lol:
Re: Just started to drive any tips???
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Ttaskmaster
Part of me still wants to do my H-Licence, now that I have the B... I'm sure they'll still SMIDSY me, but it won't be more than a scratch to my paintwork. Insurance should be pretty cheap, too!
I can also park anywhere and have the pleasure of flipping the hatch, to lean out and yell, "Come on, I can get a TANK through that gap!!!" :lol:
Another friend (sadly no longer with us) was a fireman, and engine driver. He recounted a couple of stories of very near misses, where people were so busy lollygagging at the fire that they VERY nearly drove into the flippin' great bright red fire engine.
As for getting through gaps, his pet hate was illegally parked cars creating a narrow gap, and more than once he told me that delays on an emergency call can cost lives and in such circumstances, if the gap wasn't big enough he'd .... ummmm .... "enlarge it". I don't know about getting a tank through, but he swore he'd get his fire truck through. ;)
Re: Just started to drive any tips???
Through, over, its all the same isn't it? You'd be past the obstruction! :D
As many have said, concentration is the main thing, you can easily get distracted by a lot of things...but most of all enjoy it!
Re: Just started to drive any tips???
De-Icer. Always in my glove box.
Re: Just started to drive any tips???
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Mr_Chris
De-Icer. Always in my glove box.
It's no good in there mate, you need to put it on the screen like. ;)
Re: Just started to drive any tips???
Quote:
Originally Posted by
ik9000
It's no good in there mate, you need to put it on the screen like. ;)
Haha, I'll remember that! :mrgreen: Just don't pour boiling water on the screen, as it can cause cracks or so I've heard.
Re: Just started to drive any tips???
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Mr_Chris
Haha, I'll remember that! :mrgreen: Just don't pour boiling water on the screen, as it can cause cracks or so I've heard.
indeed it can - toughened glass + rapid temperature change = thermal shock induced cracking.
That said, I watched my neighbour do it many a morning and her screen never broke, so I guess it depends on your car, size of windscreen, amount of prestress etc etc. If there is any sort of crack initiated (stone chip etc) then definitely do not even try it.
Re: Just started to drive any tips???
Warm water will work, and much less risk of cracking the screen. Boiling water is just asking for trouble. Just use water from the hot tap. As soon as the screen is clear, use the wipers to clear the water to stop it from re-freezing.
Re: Just started to drive any tips???
Or in my case, just park it in the garage!!
I should be able to get the car in easily if I move some of the motorcycles to one side... :lol:
Re: Just started to drive any tips???
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Ttaskmaster
Or in my case, just park it in the garage!!
I should be able to get the car in easily if I move some of the motorcycles to one side... :lol:
It can also help get your insurance down if you're a new driver. There's normally a section titled "Where do you park your car at night?". Using a garage can help reduce your premium over the option of pavement or driveway, especially for a new driver. The same goes for slightly tweaking your profession, it can affect the premium quite a bit. But of course, make sure you're not blatantly lying on your quote.
Re: Just started to drive any tips???
I tried that on some quotes - My insurance is now around £30 cheaper... but still in the region of £3,200, *despite* being a card-carrying motorcyclist for many many years and being FAR older than they seem to think... !!!
Heck, the full comprehensive bike insurance with every imaginable extra still costs less than the windscreen add-on for a car...
Why did I get this licence, again??!!
Maybe they're trying to remind me of why I never did driving lessons at 17 - Back then I also couldn't afford the car, tax, MoT and insurance that came with it!!
Re: Just started to drive any tips???
£3,200!? I think I'd rather take the bus!
Don't forget to try the comparison sites, they can be useful. The same goes for cash back sites. I just received a free BRIAN toy in the post :)
Re: Just started to drive any tips???
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Mr_Chris
Don't forget to try the comparison sites, they can be useful.
Same results.
Guess the world prefers me on a bike...
Re: Just started to drive any tips???
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Ttaskmaster
Same results.
Guess the world prefers me on a bike...
£3200?? Are you insuring a Bentley to be street parked just off the Oxford Road or something?!