Silk wrote:TripleS wrote:What Mr C-W says makes sense, but I thought Steve was referring to getting into one's own car and doing the checks every time. That, to me, would seem unnecessary. Getting into and driving an unfamiliar car is a different matter.
That's what I meant. It's this tedious ritual that some people insist that you demonstrate *every* time you get in the car.
I can understand it in an "arse-covering" situation, such as driving Police cars. But is it really necessary to go through all that nonsense, such as telling the passengers how to operate the doors?
Of course I constantly check for damage, tread depth and all the other stuff and I'll familiarise myself when driving different car. I also make sure the car is safe before moving off and again when I've parked. What I don't do is more checks than a fighter pilot, just to pop to the shops.
It's just another example of something that does nothing to attract people to Advanced Driving - quite the opposite.
...and let's not get started on shutdown procedures, although I believe Mr Toad does one rather well.
StressedDave wrote:Many many years ago, there was a competition within a certain organisation that shall remain nameless for a decent mnemonic for the correct starting drill. IIRC the one that was most popular was Wally Goes Slowly Everywhere - waggle gearstick, start engine. There's way too much process in proving that you've checked everything. There's probably very little added value in the full 24 point (are you f$cking kidding me?) check.
StressedDave wrote:To a large degree I'm with Silk on this one - you should be doing an appropriate one, I don't need to see you doing one and I have no idea why it's considered important to be tested on your ability to do one
StressedDave wrote:As for your mental black mark, I'm surprised the behemoth in question didn't have automatic lights
TripleS wrote:Oh, shutdown procedures: that's a new one to me.
All I can say on that front is that poor old CUBby suffered a turbo failure about two weeks before the three year warranty expired, so Peugeot, bless 'em, supplied and fitted a new one at no cost to me. Ever since then I have been careful to finish off each journey with a gentle period of driving, letting the turbo cool down somewhat from extreme temperatures before stopping the engine. I've no reason to believe that ill-treatment by me caused the original failure, but I am now more careful about that aspect, just in case.
That's about the extent of my (consciously carried out) shutdown procedures.
jont wrote:Silk wrote:But is it really necessary to go through all that nonsense, such as telling the passengers how to operate the doors?
It certainly was in the Elise. A good 3/4 of them couldn't work out how to shut the thing
Ancient wrote:jont wrote:Silk wrote:But is it really necessary to go through all that nonsense, such as telling the passengers how to operate the doors?
It certainly was in the Elise. A good 3/4 of them couldn't work out how to shut the thing
Currently driving a Skoda Superb; an unremarkable and fairly mainstream car one would have thought. Several passengers (including drivers of classic cars - not resident on ADUK AFAIK) have had trouble working out how to open the doors. Worth checking with new passengers I'd have thought, since there are several different mechanisms in current use.
Silk wrote:I'd also extend it to manoeuvres. They should have been covered on the basic L test.
martine wrote:Best thing about a POWDEREY/cockpit drill is imagine you've just picked a hire car...what do you need to do before you set-off?
jont wrote:martine wrote:Best thing about a POWDEREY/cockpit drill is imagine you've just picked a hire car...what do you need to do before you set-off?
Go round with a fine tooth comb looking for every tiny mark, blemish or scratch to avoid getting stitched up when you return it?
GJD wrote:jont wrote:Oh yes, TVR is another good one for maximum passenger confusion
Yep. I generally point out to passengers how to get out before we set off. Doesn't seem fair not to.
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