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Hectic Week

18/09/2010

I’ve been a bit quiet on the posting front of late. There is a reason…

A bit of background. I used to play a lot of squash – once a day, at least, but sometimes twice. Squash is quite a demanding sport, and I played it to a reasonably high level for teams in both the Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire leagues. This stopped on 1 December, 2001.

I was playing a doubles match that Saturday, and I went for a dropshot. I felt something give in my leg – it was somewhat more uncomfortable than a normal sports-related sprain or tear, but not agony or anything. I had a job walking that night, but although it got a little better over about 6 weeks it was obvious it wasn’t going to get properly better. I went to see my GP and he immediately discovered it was a torn Achilles (almost – but not quite – a complete tear). I won’t go into all the details of the operation and subsequent infection, but from the moment I did it I went from doing all that exercise to doing absolutely no exercise at all. I wanted to start playing squash again, but having moved into this job there was no way I could risk doing it again and not being able to drive. So I just stayed lazy – and sedentary.

I also get occasional bouts of eczema and slight early-season hayfever (from tree pollen). To help alleviate some of the symptoms I had been taking Sudafed (pseudoephedrine hydrochloride) capsules.

Anyway, just over a week ago I had a mild headache. Paracetamol and Ibuprofen didn’t do much to help, and the headache persisted for 3 days. That’s not especially unusual, but for some reason I decided to measure my blood pressure for the first time in about 2 years. I nearly had a heart attack there and then: the machine displayed “EE” (error), but it worked perfectly when I tried it on other people. My blood pressure was basically off the scale!

The next day – Friday, which I’d booked off work, planning to get some other stuff done – I called my GP and went in to see the surgery nurse. She couldn’t get a reading either – eventually, one was recorded at 210/120 or something like that. For anyone who doesn’t know, that is bloody high. She called in one of the doctors, and I was immediately referred to the Acute Medical Unit at the hospital. I spent the whole day there having blood tests, ECGs, and x-rays.

My GP’s worry was that I might have malignant high blood pressure, or that damage might be caused to my vision. However, he was also pretty sure that it was the pseudoephedrine to blame (I’d looked it up the night before, which was why I told him I was taking it). He was even worried about letting me drive!

Fortunately, I didn’t need to be admitted to hospital and all the tests proved negative. I was given some tablets and the next day my blood pressure was back down again (albeit slightly elevated). It gave me a bloody great scare, though – so I am now on the Mother Of All Diets and getting back into exercise again (although I was told NOT to exercise until my blood pressure was down, which it is, so I’m all right).

So, the advice there is:

keep fit
keep your weight down
don’t take pseudoephedrine as if it were M&Ms

Having got all that sorted, I was out on a lesson on Sunday afternoon when the car made a rumbling sound and refused to go anywhere. It was either the clutch or the gearbox, but either way I had to cancel the rest of Sunday’s lessons and arrange a replacement car. I eventually got it first thing Tuesday – but not before it had cost me in the region of £200 in lessons (admittedly, I moved two of them into a couple of free slots over the following few days, so it wasn’t as bad as all that).

So anyway, that’s why I haven’t added any new stuff for a few days.

Will They Ever Learn?

09/09/2010

DOAADI

DSA

This is an old post. A very old one. DSA is now DVSA. However, the points made are still valid.

While I was searching for news articles concerned with the impending change to the driving test, I came upon this one on the BBC website from May 1999. It relates to a previous change to the driving test, and makes hilarious reading.

Referring to the DSA’s Test Timeline , the changes made in 1999 were:

…extending the length of the test, randomising the emergency stop manoeuvre and failing candidates for committing 16 or more driving faults.

Today, we take this for granted and no one gives it a second thought. But look at the rubbish being spouted back then.

Keith Cameron, the head of road safety policy at the British School of Motoring (BSM), said: “Minor faults are minor faults, let’s face it.”

…Mr Cameron, a former chief examiner with the Driving Standards Agency, told BBC News Online: “Their argument is that if someone commits 15 faults they are not very good at driving so they should not be on the road.

“But nerves can affect someone’s performance on the day and if it’s only affecting in terms of minor faults then it should not matter.”

Mr Cameron said the Driving Standards Agency had conceded there would be a drop in the pass rate, but he said he thought they had underestimated how many people would fail under the new rules.

“It really is not difficult to ratchet up 15 minor errors,” he said.

This is hilarious! If someone gets anywhere near 15 faults they are a crap driver – on the day of the test, at least. Examiners can tell if someone is a poor driver or not, just as I can when I’m taking someone out for the first time who can allegedly drive.

Furthermore, he claims that the pass rate was going to fall. Let’s take a look at the reality – the DSA’s own pass rates for every year since 1935 (up until 2004 in this table) . Notice how the pass rate gradually fell from 63% in 1935 – with no big steps, and almost completely in a downwards direction year-on-year – to 45% in 1977, and then rose gradually back up to around 52% in the early 90s. It then gradually fell again to 47% in 1997.

There was a hiccup to 48% in 1998, and it dropped to 46% in 1999. It has been at 43-44% since then.

So, the worst you can say happened is that the new test introduced in 1999 caused the pass rate to fall by 5% (and that’s by taking the most extreme values). In reality, it was more like 2-3% – and even that doesn’t allow for any background fall that might have occurred anyway.

It’s not a lot when you consider that according to BSM’s Keith Cameron, the end of the world was nigh, is it?

So, just bear that in mind when you hear some of the rubbish being spread around about Independent Driving.

Driving Test Routes Withdrawn

08/09/2010

DOAADI

DSA

This is an old story. DVSA (then known as DSA) used to publish complete test routes for all parts of the UK. However, they ceased publication of the routes from 4 October 2010.

They were simply text directions, and to be honest I gave up after only a couple of attempts to follow them just after I qualified as an ADI, when I realised it was pointless. Any ADI who has a bit of experience can easily identify where examiners take their pupils and teach tricky elements on lessons accordingly. But there is absolutely no point trying to teach precise routes, since examiners can vary them to suit road conditions on the actual test.

As mentioned in the press release in the previous post, driving test routes are to be withdrawn. This BBC story repeats the press release, but I mention it because it is likely to link to further related stories as we approach October 4th. Already – since the press release – hits to the blog have risen dramatically for this topic.

Real Experience For Learners

08/09/2010

DOAADI

DSA

An email alert from the DSA:

Road Safety Minister Mike Penning has announced today that the Driving Standards Agency (DSA) will no longer publish details of test routes after 4 October.

This change will help make the test more representative of real driving. It also supports the introduction of independent driving, which will allow candidates to demonstrate their ability to drive safely in more realistic situations.

You can read more in the press release.

Since the press release is quite short, I’ve reproduced it here:

DSA press release

Real driving experience for learners

To help make the driving test more representative of real driving, the Driving Standards Agency (DSA) will no longer publish details of test routes, Road Safety Minister Mike Penning announced today.

Currently test routes used by each driving test centre are published online but this will stop when new routes are introduced at the beginning of October.

This change is being made to support the introduction of independent driving, which will allow candidates to demonstrate their ability to drive safely in more realistic driving situations rather than memorising a particular test route.

Mike Penning said:

“We want new drivers to be able to drive safely and independently and learning to drive test routes by rote isn’t the way to achieve this.

“Stopping the publication of test routes will help to make sure that the driving test better reflects realistic driving conditions and will give new drivers the skills and confidence they need to stay safe on the roads.”

DSA’s Chief Driving Examiner Trevor Wedge said:

“Evidence shows that the biggest challenge newly qualified drivers face after passing their test is learning how to cope when they no longer have their instructor there to help and prompt them.”

“We want to make sure that new drivers and riders are ready to make their own decisions when driving alone; learning how to do that in preparation for their test should lead to better and safer drivers.”

To better assess whether a learner driver is ready to drive unsupervised, independent driving will be introduced into the test on 4 October 2010. Candidates will drive for about 10 minutes, without step-by-step direction from their examiner. This will involve either following a series of directions, following traffic signs, or a combination of both. To help candidates visualise the directions, the examiner may also show them a simple diagram. The remainder of the test is unchanged.

In January 2010, DSA published independent research showing that with careful route design, candidates were able to complete the independent driving tasks without any significant impact on pass rates. Additional research found widespread support for inclusion of independent driving in the practical test.

I’ve been trying it out on my pupils (actually, I always expected them to drive properly so it isn’t much of a change), and they are all doing fine – even ones who have not been driving long and who aren’t test-ready yet.

As for driving test routes – the only time I ever downloaded one was just after I qualified as an instructor. I never deliberately took a pupil on the published routes, but what I did do was pick up from pupils after their tests where they went (bit by bit – most people can’t recall much of their test, and especially not road names). My view is that if a pupil can drive anywhere I take them, they can drive anywhere, full stop. It hasn’t let me down yet.

Roadworks

07/09/2010

DOAADI

ADI

I was driving though some roadworks today – since spring, Nottingham City and Notts County Councils have gone berserk (obviously there’s no recession up here) – and I suddenly thought of something. The silliest of things.

Roadworks are usually demarcated by those orange blinking lights (see inset, which these days are often solar powered and timed to come on when it gets dark) – but for some reason I just thought of those ones I used to see when I was a kid.

Inside there was a small metal container which contained paraffin, and in the top of that container was a small wick assembly. They often used to be lit and left running all day, and someone used to come and fill them up regularly. The case had three thick glass lenses to spread the light, and they used to be hung on the side of scaffolding or other attachment points, or just stood alongside the thing they were warning you of (building sites used them a lot, too).

The thing is, these lamps were in use well into the 70s and possibly even longer, so don’t think I’m that old!

Few people dreamed of stealing them or tampering with them, but – and I think this is probably why I suddenly thought of them – can you imagine what might happen if they were still using anything like this today? Even the electronic ones have to be nailed down nowadays.

I got this picture from a site which sells them for £35 as curiosities

Seating Position

02/09/2010

DOAADI

ADI

Someone found the blog on the search term “foot strain on gas pedal, learner”.

Obviously, it’s hard to know exactly what problem this person is experiencing, but there are a few things I find with my own pupils.

First of all, if you are new to driving it does take a while to get used to operating the pedals, and if you combine that with being tense and nervous then it is quite common for your leg (either or both) to start aching or even to get a severe bout of cramp! But it gets better the more you practice.

Another likely issue is your seating position. If you sit too close to the pedals you’ll have to lift your foot from the ankle to a point where you put a strain on your shins. That can really make your foot and lower leg tired. To fix it, when you go through your cockpit drill first make sure your back is at a comfortable angle – then move the seat backwards or forwards until you can just push the clutch all the way to the floor without having to stretch. The ideal position will be around one or two clicks forward from there. What you want is to be able to comfortably push the clutch all the way in and still have a slight bend at the knee – but only a slight one. This way, when you operate the pedals your ankle will be doing it within its comfortable range without having to stretch to its limits.

Remember that if you adjust the seat first, then fiddle with the back rest (or height adjusters), your forward/backward position will change, so readjust as necessary. Also remember that you can usually move the steering wheel in or out – you want a slight bend in your arms, as well, and if your elbows are pointing down to your thighs then you are too close to it.

Another range of linked possibilities is injury, general weakness, or illness. I have a pupil at the moment who had a torn Achilles tendon who suffers pain and fatigue when she uses the pedals – especially towards the end of the lesson. Some time ago, I had an older (not “old”) lady whose legs were just weak and – combined with her being nervous at the start – I could feel the car shaking when we were doing certain manoeuvres. If you are unwell (or pregnant) it can also be tiring to use the pedals. If it becomes a real problem then you ought to see your GP.

Usually, though, it is just sitting too close to the pedals that causes strain and fatigue – and especially so with the gas pedal (which is not as stiff as the clutch, but which requires your foot to be in a raised/taut position for much more of the time, particularly when you’re doing a lot of stopping and starting).

Horslips: King Of The Fairies

01/09/2010

DOAADI

Music

I’ve been doing some scouting around on YouTube and found some footage of Horslips. Looking back, what annoys me is that when I was a teenager I was too bloody naive to even consider that Horslips might have released any stuff like this. Mind you, back then – with no Internet – it was virtually impossible to find it if it wasn’t in the stores you physically went into, and even then it would only have been on VHS tape. I obviously missed quite a lot. This video shows them very young indeed:

Their sound really holds up well. This must date from around 1974.

Independent Driving Gets Closer

01/09/2010

DOAADI

ADI

I was out on a lesson tonight with a pupil who’d passed his Theory Test yesterday. I suggested that he book his Practical Test, because with the waiting time what it is we’re already looking at early November.

He isn’t too far off test standard, so I suggested that we could look at any date from the beginning of October. He was a bit unsure because it is “only 4 weeks away” – but then he had a thought and asked “when are they changing the test?”

I explained again what the change was, and assured him he had nothing to worry about. I then told him part of where we were going to drive to on today’s lesson, and said I would let him do it without any directions from me.

He did it perfectly. All the mirror checks and signals were there – and, if anything, he did it better than he had done any time before. And I’ve found the same thing with various pupils over the last couple of months – not one of those who I have felt ready to try it have had even the slightest problem.

So, moving from the real world into its dark underbelly, I noticed a comment on one of the forums:

The most common [complaint by pupils] by far is when they are so focussed on the route that the most basic of routines (MSPSL etc) seem to disappear as if they were never learned.

Well, teach them properly and they won’t! It’s a fault of the pupil (and their trainer), not Independent Driving if they can’t do it – and it’s exactly what Independent Driving is designed to test, and therefore what the ADI is supposed to teach.

Woman Parallel Parking

01/09/2010

DOAADI

Bad Drivers

This link was sent to me by a reader.

Some time ago, I posted a video titled (on YouTube) “Worst Woman Driver I Have Ever Seen“. This one is right up there as a contender for that title!

Four and a half minutes of perfect comedy. I love it how she nearly gets in at one point – then goes further out again. The space is so large you could actually drive into it forwards! In a bus.

Disclaimer: I’m just posting this for information. No offense is intended to anyone of the female gender 😉

Knowing The Numbers

30/08/2010

DOAADI

Movies & TV

I saw a great film last night on one of the movie channels.

It’s from 2009, and it is called Knowing – starring Nicholas Cage. To be honest, the only reason I started watching it is because it had him in it. I’m not particularly “into” any specific modern actor or actress, but I do admire some of Mr Cage’s films – 8MM in particular, though most definitely NOT The Wicker Man (it was sacrilege to even think about improving on the original of that).

Anyway, Knowing seems to be one of a rush of films trying to capitalise on The Da Vinci Code principle (find some sort of code from the past, decipher it, make a movie around it). I haven’t watched The Da Vinci Code all the way through – it’s rubbish, and the original story by Dan Brown plagiarises a book I read years ago called The Holy Blood And The Holy Grail. What with 2012, and morons all over the world accepting it as fact (like they did with the Brown story), these “Code” films don’t do a lot for me.

In a nutshell, Knowing starts 50 years in the past. A group of schoolkids is asked to write letters to seal in a time capsule, and one troubled young girl just writes two sides full of numbers. When the capsule is opened in the modern day, the letters are passed out to kids at the school – and the one written by the girl ends up with Cage’s son (who is also troubled). Anyway, Cage sees it and recognises a particular date and incident (an event, and the number of people killed). He then goes on to identify a whole series of other dates, and recognises the accuracy of the death toll in each case… but then it moves into future dates, which also turn out to accurately predict various events and death tolls. He realises that other coded data reveals the locations of the events. Then there is the final date…

Mixed in with the events Cage is investigating are the mysterious strangers, who are not of this world… but precisely which type of “world” they are from is kept ambiguous.

There is not a happy ending.

It’s a great film, in my opinion – by “great” I mean great to watch. Good acting (by most), good special effects, and suspenseful storyline. Definitely worth a look.

I downloaded an HD copy from my favourite video download site for a very reasonable $3.00, and I was amused by some of the comments people had left (spelling as written by them):

“This movie really scared me. I believed in their thoery which there is a possible the can to do that. I’m not sure the terms they’re using but totally I believe in this one… theres one part of this movie it is so fictional, and made me laugh a little. I think the writter want to show that still despite of this big tragedy in our world we need to believe there are still hope on something because thats what we are we believe and hold on something to survive. But it is great. nice one.”

And:

“Overall this movie is one big invitation to open your mind and consider a very different view on reality. The ending reminded me very much of the deeply inspiring channelings from Operation Terra. Please google this if you are prepared to challange your views on reality and if you want to discover the deeper dimensions of this filmographic masterpiece.”

If extraterrestrials (or deities) ever did decide to save some seeds of life from this planet and put them somewhere else, it is very clear which weeds they would probably not bother with!