28/05/2022
Just posted this on my private page, and would appreciate your comments….
Note to drivers who are trying to be nice to the Learner drivers out there, by flashing them out, waving them through, stopping unnecessarily for them to go through first…
I really wish you wouldn’t.
Think of it from the instructors and learners perspective…
We’ve appraised the situation, talked about priorities on the road and discussed (on the go, speed, gears, positioning, brakes, indicators, biting point etc etc) then the other driver puts the kybosh on that by flashing us out… Que complete panic, anxiety, confusion, rush of blood, doubting the road rules and all the information the instructor has been telling them. Ive seen it happen hundreds of times and it really undermines the learners confidence and understanding. Believe me, the last thing the learner wants is to hold other people up, it’s probably one of their highest anxieties. So when you flash and we don’t move off straightaway, there’s good reasons behind that…
Firstly the Learner may not have seen you flash as their mind is set on who has priority and they’re likely NOT looking at you, almost every time I (as instructor) has to inform the Learner that they’ve been flashed, and probably a topic or discussion that we haven’t had yet, so already they’re confused and anxious.
So then there’s me trying to very quickly explain the situation, now one thing learners don’t like, and rarely respond to, is quick, on the move appraisal, risk assessment and options on what to do, it panics them. The instructor has spent hours upon hours in building their confidence, keeping things calm, and explaining the rules of the road. Then this happens, and it all goes out the window.
Then, what generally happens is this… as the Learner hasn’t acted immediately due to their anxiety and confusion, the ‘Flashee’ loses patience and decides to move forward, invariably at the same time the learner gathers their own composure and starts to move off too. Then it’s just Mayhem!!!
Think again please, and just do what you’re meant to do. I appreciate that you’re trying to help, but you really aren’t
Thanks