B+e test- a blog!

On the 16th I completed a two hour assessment lesson with a local instructor who advertises that he specialises in towing lessons. It was a definate drain  to complete, it was surprising how much stress having an instructor in the car causes, despite 12 years of driving! My previous driving experience includes 12 years road experience, 10 hours completed on track under one to one instruction, a session on a skid map, the driver improvement course following a fairly upsetting crash which resulted in a write off situation for my car and the IAM advanced driver course. 

During the first half hour of the lesson I drive the instructors car with a horse box sized and shaped trailer for half an hour while the instructor scored me using the test marking standards. I scored 6  minor faults, which according to the instructor was, and I quote, an excellent drive! Win! Apparentlymet ost people get 20-30 minor faults using this system on the first drive, I got 6! !  ! Brilliant! I got a minor fault for speeding which was stupid of me, another for not changing gear on the motorway when I was in 4 th and the car was at  3000 revs but I was concentrating on a police car that was cutting me up trying to get in front of a lorry to pull it over, my positioning with a trailer on a  round about wasn't brilliant and I forgot to indicate once. IMHO none of this is a problem and all can be corrected with a little concentration and thought on my part.

My biggest problem is the fact that I have never reversed with a caravan. Well during the  assessment lesson I managed to reverse backwards in a straight line and could  almost complete the s manoeuvre that the test requires - so watch this space! I definately need more practice! Lots of! 

The instructor complemented me on my motor way driving and how I read road markings. 

The instructor recommended that I take approx 9 hours lessons and then do my test. Test should be booked at the beginning of August so I shall be all legal to share the driving wen we take our van to Edinburgh on the august bank hol. 

Wish me luck and I shall continue to share my experiences for the future  caravan drivers! 

Ps I am not glyn, I am glyns wife Clare using his log in, must sort that out! X 

And ps I would love an edit facility! How many typo's? X