Stage 1 Practical Lessons 1.07 - 1.11

Unfortunately, I didn't manage to find time to blog for lesson 1.7 to 1.10 earlier and by the time I started to write, I realized I don’t quite remember most of the details. Basically, I only manage to clear one subject for each lesson. Some days, I would take 2 lessons per day. By the way, BBDC doesn't allow you to put practical lessons side by side, reason is to allow you have some rest in between lessons. Even though there was a gap in between, it was still quite tiring to have 2 lessons in a day - my left leg would  be shaking in the second lesson after all the clutching in the first lesson.

Here are the list of lessons I have gone through

• 1.07: Speed regulation - first time driving in gear 4 at Bukit Batok Road
• 1.08: Braking - my foot braking was too harsh
• 1.09: Negotiating Sharp Turns - need to be in gear 2 when doiing left turn 
• 1.10: Safety Routine - learn where to see for left and right blind spot
• 1.11: Stage 1 Review

So far all my lessons were obtained from try-sell, hence I got many instructors from different groups. Good thing is I got to experience the different teaching styles of the different instructors and they gave pointers and advice on different areas (eg one was more particular on my braking and another on my speed regulation). The not so good side is that (I was told by some of the instructors) if the instructor was not from my group, he would not be that motivated since my performance would not impact his KPI. Well, I am not sure about this for now as most of my instructors were not from my own group so I have no way to benchmark.

Things to take note:

• You need to be in second gear to go over hump. You also need to be in second gear when going through raised pedestrian crossing
• When you stop in front of the traffic light, make sure the white line touches the edge of the right side mirror
• When you are overtaking just before a T junction, signal left and return to left lane only when you are over the T junction so as not to give drivers behind you the wrong idea that you are turning left into the junction
• My braking is too harsh. Need to release the foot brake gently when coming to a stop, not step harder.

PS: I realize that whenever I drink coffee just before the lesson, my hands would be shaking (mildly) during driving, probably due to the caffeine effect even though I am a already a habitual coffee drinker. It may not apply to everyone. Hence subsequently, I refrained myself from drinking coffee just before lesson commence. Not gonna drink (coffee) and drive.

Expenditure

Practical             4 X $77.04 + $68.48
Total cost so far: $764.30

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DAY 3: Stage 1 Practical Lesson 1.05, 1.06 Gear Shifting, Slowing Down and Stopping

Second lesson of the day. Going round and round the circuit again. The lesson was on gear changing, back and forth between gear 1 and gear 2. I started to drive in the inner circles where the bends are narrower. I was still not used to the gear changing. I still can’t feel the position for gear 1 and 2 without looking at the gear. The instructor told me that I should not be looking at the gear at any point in time while driving, I need to be able to ‘feel’ the position, something that comes with more practices. Towards the end of the lesson, the instructor drove me out to the roads to show me how it was like to drive in the streets and how to perform gear changing along the way. He told me that depending on my next lesson's instructor, I might be able to drive out to the roads.

Things to take note:

• Never look at the gear while driving - you should be able to feel the position
• Should use gear 2 while going over hump and pedestrian crossing

Expenditure

Practical             $77.04
Total cost so far: $387.66

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DAY 3: Stage 1 Practical Lesson 1.03 1.04 Moving Off and Stopping, Steering Technique

I managed to get 2 cancelled slots today. Similar to yesterday, I drove round and round the circuit. I also started to drive in the opposite direction. While turning, I tend to cross my hands, a habit I need to kick. Also my foot braking was too harsh until my whole body (and instructor’s) would lurch forward. My instructor told me that I need to step gently on the brake and slowly releasing it as the car slows down to a halt.

Things to take note:

• Do not cross hands while turning, especially on narrower bend where you need turn the steering more
• Slow down by releasing the accelerator pedal before entering a bend otherwise the car will tend to flung outward due to inertia.
• In circuit, drive at gear 1 or 2.
• Foot braking is too harsh. Need to step gently on the brake and slowly release it as the car slows down to a halt

Expenditure

Practical             $77.04
Total cost so far: $310.62

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DAY 2: Basic Theory Lesson 1.01, 1.02 and Stage 1 Practical Lesson 1.01. 1.02 Orientation of Vehicle, Pre-drive Procedures

BTL Basic Theory Lesson 1.01, 1.02

In the morning, I took 2 BTL classes. Though I have already passed my Basic Theory previous, the school still needs me to complete the lesson before I can advance to FTL (Final Theory Lesson). Just treat this as a revision. After all, I will definitely see all the signages when I start driving on the streets in the coming practical lessons.

Stage 1 Practical Lesson 1.01. 1.02 Orientation of Vehicle, Pre-drive Procedures

My first practical lesson. I managed to find a cancelled slot yesterday so I decided to go for it. My instructor was a friendly soft spoken guy. In the beginning, he went through the different components of the car and their functionalities. First he described those components inside the car (eg seat belt, steering, all the indicators of the dashboard) then we got outside and he explained the parts of the engine, how to check the engine oil, battery oil and also how to change tyre). 

I thought the whole lesson would be on this but after about 20min, he started to drive me out to the circuit explaining about steering maneuver and the clutch changing. Then we exchange seats and I began to drive the car. My first time driving. Very excited. We drove round and round the circuit for the next 1hr. It didn’t bore me at all. It was like a child who just learned to crawl and he was crawling around the house the whole day and the parents were going ‘Doesn’t he get bored keep crawling round and round?’. All along, I was in gear 1. Clutching is a rather confusing concept. The idea is not totally new to me though (I have played Daytona and Gran Turismo when I was young). But now when I was put inside a real car, I realized that the technique is far more complex. The most difficult part I found was clutching when starting off. The 'biting point' concept is quite distant to me. Basically what I understood is that when you start off in gear 1, you need to step the clutch halfway and the clutch will connect the gearbox to the engine. It is quite difficult to gauge exactly where is halfway. Press too much, the clutch will not catch, too little, the car will stall. I stalled many times along the way. Who designed such a complex mechanism? 

I was also introduced to the concept of engine brake - meaning to reduce speed without using the foot brake but to use the ‘pull back’ from the engine when the accelerator pedal is released. It is meant to prolong the life of the foot brake (by not using it that often). It is kind of hard for me to appreciate it now (not my car). Maybe I will  in the future when I own a car.

Things to take note:

• To move off, make sure gear is at 1. Release clutch to ‘biting point’, hold there for 3s.
• Hands should not cross while turning or returning the steering wheel
• Use engine brake to reduce speed
• To come to a complete stop, step on the clutch fully then step on the brake. Otherwise the car will jerk and stall when it reaches a very slow speed.
• While driving straight, adjust the car so that the dashed white line in the middle of the road appears to touch the right lower corner of the windscreen.

Expenditure

BTL   1.01          $17.12
BTL   1.02          $17.12
Practical             $77.04
Total cost so far: $233.58

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