Pass the driving test is seen by many as the most difficult skill they had to demonstrate to an examiner. For many it would been the first time someone examined their competency at a skill, especially the skill for life driving on today’s road.
The task of driving redeems itself as the most dangerous skill with the potential of serious consequences if the machine is mishandled. The prospect of personal responsibility for many drivers is what puts many people off starting the journey from beginner to competent driver.
Yet as soon as you accept this responsibility you quickly begin to show great control of the vehicle as it you who are in control of this lethal machine. To embark on the journey of learning to drive we started from not knowing that we could drive – this learning stage is the subconscious incompetence, to the final stage in the learning process the subconscious competence.
We have to allow the learning stages to happen and not control the process of learning or it will take longer. There are 26 million drivers in the UK and each one has mastered the craft of driving skill. The only difference between good drivers and bad drivers is their concentration levels whilst driving and their ability to positively react to the changing scene before them. All this can be learnt by having belief in your ability as a driver.
However, as we learn the skill of car control we continuously punish ourselves with negative comments on our ability to master the biggest co-ordination feat ever which involves our feet, hand, eyes, touch, smell and hearing – true multi-tasking.
So hear are the six positive steps to realising our driving desires and achieving the driving test success.
Keep in mind why you started to drive
What was your motivation to learn to drive? Was it because you turned 17 and it is a right of passage, is it for a job, to give you more freedom to travel places. Whatever your reason to learn to drive continually remind yourself of what achieving more independence in your life will mean to you and your quality of life. Focus on your goal and keep it in the forefront.
Expect that you will pass your driving test
Have a date in mind as to when you will pass your test. Be totally committed to the idea that on that day you will pass your test by demonstrating to the examiner that your driving ability is at a high standard.
Imagine you have passed you driving test
Powerfully visualise yourself driving your dream car in a safe, convenient and legal manner. The subconscious mind is a powerful tool and when you are dreaming your mind doesn’t know reality and projection, past or present. Use this to your advantage so that your whole mind is ‘persuaded’ that it has already happened. What you are doing is confusing your mind in believing that you have what you desire and that you lack nothing.
Negativity will drag you down and down
Comments such as’ I can’t do this’ or ‘I am hopeless at this’ or ‘I will never do it’, will be detrimental to your ability to achieve whatever you have set out to master. You must recognise your limiting beliefs and deal with them. The result having limiting beliefs is that it will take longer to achieve your desire goal, that pink driving licence. If you realise that you have said something negative then reverse the process and say something positive. Any instructor or coach will belittles you in your achievements is not worth your money. Never say that I will ‘try harder next time’ as this is given yourself permission to fail. Say I will achieve the desired result.
Keep focused and be consistent in your learning
Motivation is essential to realising your dreams. Remind yourself of your desire and what it will mean to you once your have passed your test. If you visualise this intensely you will have the motivation to succeed your wildest dreams and
Let the Past go.
Whatever has happened in the past with your driving has no bearing s on the future. What you can do is to learn from your mishap and accept your responsibility of moving your life in the direction you wish and you will soon learn from the mishaps.
Six Positive Steps to Realising Your Driving Desires and Achieving a Successful Driving Test
January 27th, 2010EFT and Trauma
January 18th, 2010Twenty one years ago I was involved in a horrific accident, nobody hurt except me and my dad’s Austin Maestro. The car was the top of the range. I was on my way back from visiting my nephew in Alnwick one sunny afternoon, travelling south on the A1 past the turn off for Earsdon, when I noticed that the road ahead was flooded, the whole of the left hand lane was covered in water and over flowing into the right hand side of the road. As I slowed down to pass around the flood a black car, I think it was a Jaguar, began to overtake at the point I should of overtook the flood. I had no choice but to aqua-plane through the flood.
What follows are my Submodalities of what I remember from the crash and I am associated with the memory. As the car hit the flood, I can visualise my hand trying to grapple with the steering wheel as the car glided on the flood. The car bounced off the side of the road causing more unbalancing of the car as it span around and around. The spinning continued for a long time but I still tried to do something with the wheel, turning it from left to right in sheer panic but nothing was happening to the car – it just glide around and around as it travelled further down the road. I noticed bright green grass all around the car, I must have been spinning. Then the car tilted towards the left, it was the embankment on the other side of the road. I hear sounds now of the wheels on grass rushing at great speed. Then very loud solid bang! I hit a tree on the other side of the road. I was unconscious for a few seconds before coming realising what has happened. The seat belt was tight against my chest and my knees were up against the dashboard. I noticed a clean smell of meadow and noticed that the grass was wet with dew or fuel. The tree I hit was where a passenger would have been if there had been a passenger there. I had completely demolished the car’s front end beyond any repair. I heard a voice cry: ‘Is there anybody in the passenger seat,’ I shouted, ‘No! Get this seat belt of me.’ It was pressing hard on my chest to which a fainted for a few moments. A passing doctor came to my aid, thank you whoever you are. With the seat beat off I could get out of the car. I had a dislocated toe and a sore rib. The Police, Fire Bridge and Ambulance crew arrived at the scene and carted in the ambulance to hospital. It was in Wansbeck A&E I had a post-reduction done on my toe. About 18:30 my parent arrived all shaken by the event. The following morning my dad went to see the car. He must have had a shock at the car, so did the recovery guy. The car was a right off the complete front end and passenger side gone. I was lucky to be alive.
So what has this got to do with EFT or Emotional Freedom Technique, well since the crash I have had several flashbacks that are so vivid I didn’t want to drive, though I did drive. What EFT did was to lessen the traumatic effect of the crash so that I am able to think about the crash and not have any of the anxieties of the flashbacks.
EFT works and you should not dismiss it as a prank. Don’t knock it until you have tried it. The technique works by tapping on various median points on the body. The tapping is done by the fingers on various acupuncture points on the end of the major energy meridians to balance out the energy systems. Here are a few more issues that EFT works on:
Fears and phobias, Stress and anxiety, Allergies and sensitivities, Pain, Cravings Traumas and abuse, Headaches and migraines, Muscle pain, Self confidence, Quitting smoking, Grief Anger and many more.
To try EFT on you here is the basic recipe procedure. This is also called the ABC of EFT, Awareness, Balancing, and Clearing.
- Awareness – to eliminate the problem you need to bring it to mind. As you think about the problem rate it 0 (comfort) to 10 (maximum distress). Take a guess at what you think.
- Balancing – Using a set up phrase to help to prepare your energy system for the tapping. It removed Psychological Reversal that is cause by self-defeating, negative thinking. All you have to do is to repeat a set up statement three times while tapping on the ‘Karate Chop’ point. In the case of a headache saying: ‘Even though I have this headache, I’m alright, I’m OK.’ Then tapping on the meridian points whilst repeating the Reminder Phrase, i.e. headache.
- Check the intensity of the issue now
- Repeat the process once again if any intensity still exists.
There is more to it than this; this is just a very brief introduction to EFT.
If you issue doesn’t resolve then there may be some other deeper lying emotion that will need exploring. But please do not mock until you have tried EFT. On the above car crash I have worked with emotion and the emotion is now down to a zero.
Blue light response and your response
January 14th, 2010Glancing in your rear view mirror and the sight that most driver dread is a blues and twos response team coming up behind. What will go through your mind? Oh my God! What have I done? However, the response team are probably on their way to an emergency. So what should we do to help? It should be clear that the response team have a responsibility for the safety of other and themselves.
There are three legal exemptions and each one is challengeable by the prosecution if the driver of the response car is driving dangerously or driving without due care and attention. First is exceed speed limits within reason, secondly going through a red light on the understanding that the driver treats the red light as a Give Way or Stop sign, thirdly is driving on the wrong side of left/right sign. Therefore, exercising this right becomes a matter of personal responsibility of the highest order and one mistake can have high price of causing a fatal crash and having to live with the consequences.
The advice I give my learner and advanced drivers is this. You, the driver have a responsibility to other road users and you could also be prosecuted if you compromise the advice in the Highway Code. If you over react to the ‘blues and twos’ behind you and cause injury to property or persons then it will be you in the dock.
Reacting to emergency vehicles
- Kerbs. Mounting the kerb is dangerous to pedestrians and it will damage your vehicles steering, tyres, wheels and suspension. Larger vehicles may damage the pavement.
- Causing an obstruction. Consider parked vehicles on the opposite side and ask yourself if the emergency vehicle has room to pass without your vehicle causing an obstruction.
- Junctions If you about to emerge from a junction and see and hear an emergency vehicles, consider waiting for the emergency vehicle to pass and check around you before you move off.
- Traffic Lights. On approach to traffic light you should be aware of what is behind you and expect the lights to change. If whilst travelling across a traffic light junction, you’re alerted to the noise of the emergency vehicle approaching from either side slow down normally and do not brake harshly – this may cause an accident. If you cannot stop by gradual braking keep travelling across the junction. The emergency must give way to traffic crossing on the green light.
- Roundabouts. Same advice as traffic light, avoid harsh braking there may be a vehicle behind you who might not stop. Best advice is to slow down gradually to allow the emergency vehicle to pass safety.
- Second emergency vehicle. Be aware of a second emergency vehicle approaching. Check all around using mirrors and blind spots and listen out for the second vehicle, different types of sirens should be used to assist you in recognising a second vehicle.
- Double white lines. Rule 129 of the Highway Code states that if the line nearest you is solid you MUST NOT cross or straddle it unless it is safe and you need to enter adjoining premises or a side road. You may cross the line if necessary, provided the road is clear, to pass a stationary vehicle, or overtake a pedal cycle, horse or road maintenance vehicle, if they are travelling at 10 mph (16 km/h) or less. So if an emergency vehicle is behind you it should hang back, unless you can pull in and indicate your intentions to do so. At the end of the white line system, stop at a safe place or slow down to allow it to pass.
- Motorways or dual carriageways. Moving in to the nearside of the road will help the emergency vehicle; however consider the vehicles already in the nearside line. Consider their speed, the distance between the vehicles on the nearside try not to encroach on their two second gap, or they slowing down. Before you move your vehicle ensure that it is safe to do so, check and double check and signal your intentions. If you’re in queuing traffic and you become aware of an emergency vehicles consider moving to the appropriate direction to facilitate the progress of the emergency vehicle.
Whatever you do to assist an emergency vehicle to make progress do so with the highest regard for safety and convenience but stay within the advice of the Highway Code. or you could be prosecuted for driving without due care and attention.
January 10th, 2010
Driving in Snow and Ice
If your journey is not necessary then don’t drive in snow or ice.
If you do go out wait for the snow plough and gritters have had a chance to do their work, and allow yourself extra time to reach your destination. You should have, before the winter checked that your car is prepared for the winter and know how your car handles in such conditions. Read your car owners handbook. Check tyres, including the spare.
Driving safely on icy roads
- Anticipation and planning your journey is essential for survival on icy road. For example, coming to a stop at a junction, traffic lights or queue of traffic, then plan your stopping distance ten times your normal stopping distance. Leaving your braking too late will result in you skidding and losing control.
- Brake gently to avoid skidding. Try this out in open space to discover how gentle braking has to be. The best way is to use your brakes to reduce speed and allow the car’s own weight to bring the car to a stop.
- Lights are important to increase visibility to other road users. If visibility is reduced below 100 meters then lights on or if the environmental light diminishes then switch on your lights.
- For added safety clear all snow and ice from the windscreen and lamps.
- While driving on ice or snow, you’re aiming to maintain traction on the roads, use low gears to keep traction is a good idea, especially on hills.
- No cruise control or overdrive
- Black ice is very common in areas were shadows are present or east facing areas. Open areas, such as bridges, overpasses and infrequent travelled roads. are also more prone to develop ice patches
- Don’t assume that you car or you can handle the snow or ice. Develop your confidence slowly and be aware of becoming complacent, which is the cause of many accidence in a long spell of snow fall.
- If you do get stuck in snow revving your engine will not help. Select a high gear and slowly and gently raise the clutch so that the road wheels just begin to rotate. If this does work turn the steering wheel left and right to clear any snow away from the wheels. Use a shovel to remove any snow. Pour sand, car litter, a door mat to get traction on the road wheels.
- Plan for a breakdown or trapped in snow. Take a shovel, a blanket for each occupant, sleeping bags to keep you warm, full set of dry clothes, enough food for overnight, a radio, a fully charged mobile.
- These are only guide lines and something to think about.
Happy New Year
December 31st, 2009New year’s eve winter carnival of fire and ice in Newcastle City Center was a spectacular colourful show of dance, music and the fantastic display of queens, goddess and floats. The elegant Newcastle’s Ice Queen stood over ten feet tall made of polished steel, showed her icy snow shower but the sudden warm of her fire soon warmed you up. The PachaMama goddess celebrates the Latin Americana’s diversity, sensuality, and passion and extremes. The goddess baboon show a trilling endowment of masculinity and display. A huge golden tiger protected the South Asia Peacock Queen together with her costumed dancers and drummers.
As we stood patiently in the cold for the arrival of the parade, with a clear sky and the full moon edging on the blue lit tower of the civic center, the warmth of crowd gathering were offering new year wishes to friends and foe. Friends who we had not seen for years greeted us on road in front of The Respone Memorial.
The procession moved from the Monument to the Civic Center and was welcomed by a spectacular montage of whirling, spiraling, whizzing and bursting array of fireworks. Voices of enjoyment and excitment from the spectators was continuous as the cheers and clapping echoed around the front of the civic center at the wonderful display. It all ended in a final firework colourful loud spray at about 18:20.
Its great to see people enjoy the collective festive activities though all good things must end. So we finished the evening out with the kids to Costa Coffee. Oh! That mocha was nice and warm.
I did something amazing, my 65th blood donation!
December 31st, 2009Today was the 67th donation of blood. Every 4 weeks I give up two of my time out of driving tuition to give platelets. I am attached to the cell separator machine and is on it for up to 90 minutes. During the time there is TV to watch, tea and biscuits and a good chat to your neighbour on the adjacent machine. A platelet donor would expect to give 400ml – 600ml of straw–coloured liquid, enough for two or three adult doses or eight to 12 infant doses of platelets
Everything is painless and worthy of the experience knowing that I have helped someone who needs platelets. To find out more visit NHSBT or NHSBT platelets do something amazing give blood.
About William your Driving Coach and Mentor
December 30th, 2009One aspect of life I believe in is continuous professional development or CPD for short. It means to develop oneself to enhance the values of professional driving tuition. It is the values that give me the motivation to develop myself to enable me help others to acheive their goal of passing the driving test. Not only do I attend the annual meeting DIA at Manchester Metropolitan Police HQ, where workshops are held on the subject of Driving Tuition, I am also developing skills in Neuro-Lingistic Programming (NLP) with IntegrityNLP and in June 2010 will have Practitioners status under the Professional Guild of NLP.
The value of NLP is that William can help you learn faster, achieve your potential, harness your natural powers, enhance our personal life, pass the driving test and be a better driver. Drawing on his vast experience he will show help you discover how your learn at your best to achieve your goals.
In the near future William will be embarking on a Emotional Freedom Techniques, which is a leading energy therapy and can be used effectively reduce the impact of a wide range of physical and emotional issuse including fears and phobias, performance anxiety, bad habits, back pain, insomnia and many more.
More on this will follow…