The bay park exercise can be one of the most frustrating to teach and to learn.  Getting the car in between the two white lines first time isn’t always easy, especially from a 90 degree angle to the bay, and when there are no other parked cars in the adjacent bays to help guide you.

But does it have to be done this way?  Not at all!

Two common myths among learner drivers (and even some instructors) seem to be that on driving test day:

1.       You have to park from a 90 degree angle, and
2.       You will fail your driving test if you don’t get the car into the bay in one movement.

A recent trainee driving instructor I was training believed the above to be true because she was told this by her previous ADI trainer.  Many other instructors will have been told the same by their trainers.  Inevitably, this gets passed on to the learner driver.  They too believe they have to carry out the bay park from a 90 degree angle and complete it first time.

The ‘90 degree’ method

The ‘90 degree’ method is often the preferred option by instructors for the following reasons:

• It can be easier to develop a ‘method’
• It helps them relate to the reverse around a corner exercise
• It can encourage the learners to not rely on their mirrors as much.

It can be easier to use reference points from a right angle to the bay, but this relies on the driver starting the manoeuvre from the same distance from the bays, and the width of the bays being the same in each car park.  If these conditions are met, this method regularly results in success.

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“Hello Ged, I’m looking to get your opinion on the “use of signals”.  A discussion has started up in our local association with regards to following traffic and giving signals.

Some say that once you have stopped and taken up position in a meeting situation, you should put on your signal to show your attention to all parties. Others say that you should solely use your vehicle position to show your intention and no signal is required.

Basically, would you give a signal every time you are stopped from making progress?

Another question on signals also came up today – some instructors are saying that when changing back to lane 2 or lane 1 on dual carriageways or motorways that we should always give a signal.  Would you say that it’s necessary?

I would be interested to find out your opinion on these points and pass them on to the association.”

This is a regular topic of discussion with many PDIs that are working towards their Part 2, and I also often come across it when assessing ADIs in preparation for their Check Test.  In a nutshell, many PDIs and ADIs are guilty of trying to create a ‘one rule fits all’ approach.  In the modern world, this just isn’t workable – there are far too many factors to take into account, and besides, a good driver should be able to decide if and when a signal is appropriate, or when one could lead to confusion or even danger.

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Earlier this month, I had the pleasure of being asked to give a presentation on Coaching & NLP with Kathy Higgins at the MSA (NW) Seminar & AGM.

It was a truly excellent day, with some great speakers.  Towards the end of the event, Peter Harvey (MSA’s National Chairman) gave delegates lots of latest industry news, having very recently met with the new Minister for Transport, Mike Penning.

Mr Penning is the person responsible for the decision to cease the publication of test routes and the theory test questions, so it appears he is not afraid to take immediate steps to change our industry.  A few interesting things appear to be coming our way, which will obviously not come without much controversy!

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Mike Penning MP

Road Safety Minister, Mike Penning, has announced that the DSA will cease publishing the theory test multiple choice questions  Tests taken from 1st January 2012 will be generated using new, unpublished questions.

This decision follows the move to stop publishing practical driving test routes from October this year, making it easier for examiners to test a learner’s ability rather than their capability to memorise routes.

The decision will ensure that learners have better knowledge and understanding of the theory of driving.  It will also ensure they have prepared well for the theory test rather than just learning answers from the published question bank.

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With effect from Monday 1st November 2010, the Driving Standards Agency will accept vehicles fitted with any type of electronic parking brake on practical driving tests.

Electronic parking brakes had until recently mainly been fitted to some higher specification vehicles, but now more mid-range vehicles are having them fitted, too, including the popular new Vauxhall Astra.

Marie Law DSA ADI, with her new driving school car

Until now, the DSA had refused the use of any vehicle fitted with this technology on driving tests, which in recent times has meant that ADIs have been restricted as to which training vehicle they choose. Marie Law, a driving instructor with Latics Driver Training in Oldham had been unaware of this restriction when she recently traded in her 2006 Vauxhall Astra at her local dealership in Rochdale for a brand new 2010 model which arrived with an electronic parking brake. After voicing her concerns, the salesman assured her that all new Vauxhalls were being fitted with the new parking brake. As Marie had purchased the car through Vauxhall’s Driving Instructor scheme, she took his word for it and drove off in her new car.

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