Learning to Use Your Mirrors and Observation

When you learn to drive it feels like there is enough going on in front of you to fill your concentration and then you are expected to look behind you every 20 secs... and before you brake....and when you change lane...and when you reverse.

The use of mirrors cannot be stressed enough; this can and will be used against you in a driving an exam. Unfortunately, my son's friend failed in the car park outside the test centre at the end of the test when he decided to correct his parking and didn't use his mirrors whilst reversing. True story.

Observation is critical whilst learning to drive and good observation habits built over hours of conscious effort will become a natural habit that you don't have to think about in the exam.

Observation

To avoid thinking it is just about mirrors, let's call it observation, as well as using your mirrors. The examiner will be checking that you look over your shoulders into blind spots. Included in a three letter acronym of POM (Prepare, Observe, Manoeuvre). Great, so what are these observations that you talk about? Basically, every time you change from what you are doing at the moment you need to observe. Let's pick off the main ones.

Moving off

You have been parked up, you have just got into the car and you are about to set off or you have been sat at some lights for a while.

• Prepare, make sure you are ready to release the handbrake, get your feet ready on the pedals.

• Check all three mirrors (assuming you aren't using a classic car to learn in)

• Check over both shoulders, if you are at some lights, a pesky cyclist may have come alongside.

• Assuming it is safe to do so pull away.

Changing lanes

The obvious time for changing lanes is on a dual carriage way, but don't forget that a change of lane can happen in other scenarios, consider approaching a roundabout.

As can be seen in the image, if we assume the driver wants to turn left at the roundabout, they are just passing the end of the bus lane and by the time they get to the roundabout they need to be in the left lane (their left). As the driver passes the end of the bus lane and before moving to their left they will need to check all mirrors and over their left shoulder before starting to move across the lanes.

Reversing

In the test there are several opportunities for the examiner to test your reversing skills and, as we have seen above, this can be an opportunity to fail. A reversing manoeuvre is a full on assault on your observation skills. As well as using your mirrors, checking nothing is coming towards you from the front, you then need a neck like an owl to be able to check 360 degrees in your blind spots. All whilst executing the perfect reversing move. Practice, practice, practice.

Braking

We will cover one more, but remember this isn't an exhaustive list. Before you brake you need to check what is behind you and how close they are driving to you. If they are driving too close you need to give yourself extra room for braking. If you leave it late, brake hard and the person behind has to swerve round you, you could fail. "Well hang on!", I hear you cry, "that sounds like a 'them' problem", not in a test and unfortunately it could mean a failure.

Top Tip - When looking at your mirrors or turning you head to check your blind spots, it needs to be a slightly exaggerated move so that the examiner notices that you are doing it. Try looking with your chin, as well as your eyes!

Note to Coach - Keep an eye on the driver and make sure that they are checking their mirrors. It can be distracting for the driver as they think you are staring at them. Practice side eye glances at people, see if you can observe what they are doing without them thinking you are staring at them.