Why me? The answer to that question might be i'm now the smartest person she knows :) but on a serious note, I believe I will be an excellent driving instructor/coach and I have some stuff to back it up.
Firstly, I have done this road test before and scored a big fat zero, it was my first time and I was pretty nervous. I did not even score a point. In an exam that probably means that I suck but in my road test examiner's mind I was a driver who had already graduated from the student level. And this is what the driving test is all about, it shows to the examiner that you don't need your hands held and you can make the decision necessary to be a safe and defensive driver and I aced it.
Proof to come later (exhibit A).
Secondly, I have been told that I am a pretty reckless driver, i'm not proud of it by any means as I have paid (literally money and time) for my actions but driving at higher speeds meant that you need excellent spacial awareness and maneuvering skills.
TIP: being able to put you car in a spot 100 ft ahead of you means that you have to be able to judge the length and width of the vehicle.
As you start off driving it can seem like a complicated task Ms. activities adviser, and it is but with some time in the driver's seat, you get accustom to the act of defensive driving. As time goes on, you almost do things unconsciously.
So lets go to the car, you first get in and get comfortable, adjust your seat and mirrors. On the day of the exam, I suggest you do this even if everything is already set. It shows the examiner that you are going by the book and that you must have had someone experienced grind this in you. Also, I kinda think this reassures the examiner that you have been driving for a while (and will not kill them), if done naturally, this can build on that illusion.
Don't try to shake there hands or start up a conversation, these people are not there to be your friend, as a matter of act, I reached out my hand for a shake and was left hanging. You are there to prove that you're a driving so show them what you are.
They can not shake your hand as examiners are accused of being bias and are now striving to neutrality.
Once you have greeted them and checked everything, be prepared to listen, maybe take a look at their seat belt and ensure it is buckled. If not, you can politely ask him/her to wear their seat belt,
Now, listen listen listen, no more talking from you until you can show you're a driver. The examiner will tell you everything you have to do so wait until you are told to do something. Once you are told to take the car out of park your exam commences.
"When its safe to do so, please proceed" ... take a deep breath, relax your nerves and just drive, it is as nature to you as breathing! Put your turning signal on look at your mirror and blind spot and confidently turn out, keep your speed up but under the speed limit. Listen for your next instruction.
"Please make a right at the light" ... remember to signal and you stop before the white line but not so far as you can still see it. When turning into a two-way street, use the S from "Stop" road marking as your guide, go as close to the S without touching it. If it is one way, stay in the middle.
If you are asked to make a left turn, most student driver get nervous but you are a driver so turn your signal on, wait for the light to go green and touch the gas confidently, if there are no cars in the opposite direction, tip the brake in the middle of the intersection and turn. If there is traffic, go to the middle and stop, keep your wheels straight and turn when its safe to do so. Remember, if it is busy you can stay in the middle until the red light stops for vertical traffic.
There is no point to get nervous while waiting, once you are in your lane and your foot is on the brake, you aren't going to kill anyone nor are you going to be penalized for it. Having said that, do not stand there after the light goes red as you will be blocking traffic from the horizontal flow.
You will be asked to make a broken U turn and parallel park during the test, lets tackle the broken U first, "Please pull to the corner and turn around" maybe the verbiage will not be the same but you get an idea when they mean broken U turn. Some key points here are signalling, number of wheel turns, head movement and not hitting the curb.
For every turn you make, follow this sequence:
1. Signal
2. Look (if you can look and turn the wheel at the sometime, even better)
3. Turn the wheel
4. Slowly move the car
When making a broken U turn, you signal that you are going to pull into the curb, signal that you are leaving the curb ;) ensure that it is safe to pull out and not an inconvenience to drivers in the opposite direction. Turn your wheel all the way to the left and go forward 3/4 of the way, stop, signal, turn the wheel all the way to the opposite direction, look and move 1/2 way back, then finally, turn the wheel three times, signal, look, then proceed.
It seems more challenging writing about it but let give parallel parking a shot, I personally am not the best at parallel parking but the key here is to practice and remember your "V" Try doing it a few times and remember the space between the side of the car and the curb, I consider this the V, If you can notice anything else that will help, like the backdoor handle try to remember that spot too.
You have done parallel parking before so no sense going over the details but once you have practiced and found that sweet spot, you will be hitting perfect again and again. Try to get half a foot to a foot away from the curb, no more, no less.
If you did well, you'll know before the results are handed to you. It should be all smiles, big grins and satisfaction of all the hard work you've put in. When you pass, lets drink and drive :D.
Be the nerd I know you to be and show me you're a driver, I know you can do it, and I think being able to drive will make a pretty big change to your lifestyle.
Exhibit A:
.. Drive Safe ..
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