Driving Instructor Ramble.

Chris1712 said:
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That's Michael Cera right? What film is that from?

Oh and your instructor obviously has issues maybe mental. What you did is everyday occurrence. I did it many times during my lessons.
 
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The only thing I can think is he said be careful of the junction because he saw it amber or red already then was angry because you went straight through, which would be very bad on your part as he tried to give you a gentle warning.

If its green and turns yellow as you cross into the junction you aren't supposed to stop, which makes me think, was it one of those weird junctions with several sets of lights, maybe you were looking at one for a right hand turn or something which was green but the ones to go straight on were amber or red and you just didn't see them?

But speak up at the time, he was angry, ask him why he was angry, say you saw it turn amber only as you entered the junction, that way it gets cleared up on the spot either way, maybe he explains when you ask him and you realise/see there was more than one set of lights, maybe he was looking at the wrong set of lights and would realise and apologise.

Its life, its his livelyhood, if you actually have done something wreckless and stupid, or he thinks you have you could understand him being pretty pee'd off.

I still haven't learnt to drive, i did for a while but barely had any money, really didn't like the instructor and didn't like learning to drive around the area, stopped going and never finished it off, well not yet.
 
[FnG]magnolia;20036251 said:
Yes and it doesn't matter. I have a fairly substantial mancrush on him. I would ... I would take for that guy.

Welp.
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Well, it matters to me because It looks like an awesome scene and I'd like to bloody watch it! :p
 
From the driving situation you described I would say you did the right thing! Not continuing across would have been dangerous. If you stay with your current driving instructor you're essentially paying to be in an uncomfortable position, as others have said time to seek another instructor that isn't on there menstrual cycle!
 
I just remembered, my instructor taught me to keep going if it hits amber and I have enough time so as to avoid braking harshly and potentially getting rear ended.
 
Scuzi said:
You are paying him to provide a service. If you are not happy with it, tell him. Set some boundaries and if you continue to be unhappy, take your business elsewhere.

You're an adult so act like one! So many people seem to resort to becoming a school child in situations like this for whatever reason.

Try something like, "I understand that I could have put you in a difficult situation but I'm not comfortable with how you handled it and would appreciate you speaking to me in a more respectful manner."
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This.

A spine, grow one..
 
asim18 said:
I just remembered, my instructor taught me to keep going if it hits amber and I have enough time so as to avoid braking harshly and potentially getting rear ended.
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Given the fact it is also an instructor vehicle, then with dual controls, if there was a problem, he should have been supervising, and braking for you if he thought the situation to be unsafe.

He is angry at himself for not supervising you properly.
 
kingy666 said:
If their is a camara at the lights and you are driving the car then you get the ticket. Any ticket will be sent to the registered owner of the car and your instructor will then inform them that you were the driver.

If it was me who was learning to drive and my instructor did that i would be reminding him that he is the employee and i am his employer and if he has an attitude problem then i will be cancelling my contract with him as he is not up to the job. You are the person who pays him so tell him to STFU. :D

I remember my first driving instructor turning up and straight away he looked at my feet and said "tut,tut,tut, those will not be any good for driving in. Do you have any slippers as they are much better" i had the one lesson with him and told him and at the end i told him i will not be requiring his services as he was not very good.
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If you actually knew what you were talking about it would help!

The instructor is an "accompanying driver" and is therefore responsible for the actions of the driver he is supervising! If he allows someone he is supervising to do something that would attract penalty points, not only will the driver be prosecuted, but so too will the instructor.
That is completely different to when a DSA driving examiner sits in with a student on their driving test - he is technically not responsible for the test candidate's actions though of course, he will usually react with the dual controls if there is a chance of an accident.
In the eyes of the law, a learner driver must behave in a manner like that of a reasonable driver and there is no allowances made when an offence is committed.

As for wearing "appropriate footwear" the instructor was doing his job correctly and probably correct in advising you NOT to drive in certain footwear!

I have held an instructor's licence for 31 years and I will always advise novice students that it's unwise to wear thick or clumsy footwear, paticularly when it's their first lesson - in fact anyone booking with me is told prior to the first lesson to try and provide something akin to deck shoes. If not, it's sometimes difficult to tell whether they are having problems in not understanding how to control the clutch or the problem is the lack of feel due to inappropriate shoes which makes their learning more difficult.
For some people, wearing inappropriate footwear when learning to drive can undoubtedly add several hours of extra tuition to their training to gain smooth control over the clutch which comes at a cost to the student and only a questionable instructor would not offer that advice.
 
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campbell said:
Had a few brews and feel the need to vent about my driving lesson today, well yesterday.

Finally at the age of 24 after uni etc. I decided to learn how to drive. I thought it was about time. Had 26hrs all ready and i thought it was going ok. My driving instructor is assertive but not shouty.

So today were driving along a quiet dual carriageway with a box junction ahead with lights. We get about 30 feet from the junction the lights are at green.

Instructor 'Watch this junction ahead'

Im like okie dokie.

Drive up to the junction going straight ahead, everything seems fine. The lights were at green so i continued on.

The only prob was when my front bumper reached the junction the lights changed to amber. I continued on through the junction. If i were to stop i would be stopping in the middle of the box.

Instructor 'What the hell are you doing, the lights were are at red'

I said nothing and was in shock.

We made it thought the junction and did not cross a red light but an amber on the opposite side. He made me pull up and gave man a huge dialogue abotu how (and i quote) 'have given him 3 points on his licence'. He also went on about the camera at the lights and how it is his livelihood.

I've never felt more down before. It was like my dad catching me when i was 5 doing something atrocious.

For the rest of the lesson he did not want to be there and nor did I. By the end of the lesson he claimed 'Well Scott, this time next week we will find out if we have points'. I just stayed calm and never retaliated.

I couldn't believe it! He should have stopped the car if we were in a position to stop. Im a learner, its as much his fault as it is mine.

Sorry for the long text but needed to vent.
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Without being there, there is no way to verify if either you or the instructor was right.
However, if the situation is as you've described and you were travelling at or near the speed limit, then clearly it would be inappropriate to stop suddenly if you are at or very near the stop-line and the amber light shows - stopping suddenly in that situation could cause an accident if a driver is following too closely and stopping suddenly like that on a driving test could also result in failure.

It also depends upon the quality of instructor - they are all graded. However, if it's one of those driving schools which offers X-number of lessons at unrealistic prices, then you have to ask why they are charging so little? Many are new instructors with no experience who have been made redundant and thought being a driving instructors was an easy job or they are experienced but not very good and need to put on offers to attract customers. Not all instructors are the same although the DSA will tell you otherwise and my advice for anyone is to choose an instructor with a good reputation rather than base choice on price - it usually works out cheaper in the end.

Logically, if the instructor and yourself do receive a fixed penalty notice through the post and the situation was exactly as you describe, there should be no reason not to win the argument in a court of law as the camera or lights weren't set correctly to allow vehicles to clear the junction before a theoretical offence was committed in that situation.
 
26 hours is perfectly normal amount these days if someone doesn't have a friend or relative taking them out driving on a regular basis as well.
 
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