DAY 77: Stage 2 DS 1.01 Driving Simulator

I finally went to attend my driving simulator lesson today. The idea is to allow you to get exposed to driving hazards that cannot be simulated in real life driving. You attend the lesson with another 2 students. Each student is given about 15min to try the simulator, which is an automatic transmission car by the way. Even though it is a simulator, you're still required to perform all the safety checks (eg check blind spot, signal 3s before lane change, wear safety belt). In the simulation, you will encounter dangerous situations like pedestrian dashing out onto the road or motorcyclist suddenly appear at your blind spot while turning. You will also get to try e-brake in wet weather and the 4s rule.

By the way, for school student, in order to go for practical test, you need to complete the driving simulator lesson.

Expenditure

Practical                 $13.91
Total cost so far:     $1832.24

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DAY 70: Stage 2 Practical Lesson 2.11 Stage 2 Review

Today driving lesson was a review of all the Stage 2 lessons. We drove a few rounds around the circuit and then moved out to the streets. I am now more familiar with night driving. I think the whole lesson was quite alright including moving off the up slope. I passed. By the way, today's lesson was another try-sell night lesson.


Things to take note:

• Must come to COMPLETE stop at the Stop line even if there is no vehicle on the major road
• After coming to a complete stop at the Stop line, can inch out a bit if the view of the major road is blocked (by trees, poles etc)
• Turning right can be improved by changing to gear 2 while turning (to move faster). If you are the 2nd car, can change to gear 2 before turning
• Moving off on up slope can still be improved. 
• Keep at centre lane when reaching Choa Chu Kang Road if not turning left as the left lane is meant for turning left only.

Expenditure

Practical                 $68.48
Total cost so far:     $1535.85

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DAY 69: Stage 2 Practical Lesson 2.10 Overtaking and Being Overtaken

I managed to get another try-sell night lesson. Today’s lesson was on overtaking (and assist other vehicles to overtake me). The instructor commented that overtaking lesson should not be put too late at night as there would not be many cars to overtake. I told my instructor that my next lesson would also be at the same time tomorrow. So if we couldn’t find any car to overtake tonight, it would be the same situation tomorrow and subsequent night lesson of the week. So he tried hard to look for a slower cars. (Appreciate it a lot!) We drove to many places, from Teck Whye until Jurong East Ave 1. Finally, we managed to find 2 slow L plate cars (one at Bukit Batok Road and the other at Bukit Batok West Ave 3)  which I hastily proceed to overtake in gear 4. The instructor commented that I drove as if I was racing with someone. Yeah, racing to overtake so as not to repeat the same lesson tomorrow.

I had one near-hit incident happened while driving along Bukit Batok Road when a cyclist suddenly appeared out of the merging lane. He was quite close to my car. Luckily I noticed him (from his bike’s headlight) and shifted my car to the right (need 1.5m distance). Now it began to sink into me the importance of checking my blind spots.


Things to take note:

• Overtaking lesson should not be put too late at night as there would not be many cars for you to overtake
• Do not be hasty - I was a bit anxious not being able to overtake, so I kept changing up gears rapidly. I was also hasty in moving off. I also stopped twice over the Stop line. In previous lesson I was too slow, today I was too fast. Sigh...
• While overtaking from right lane, if you ended up too near to traffic light, maintain at right lane until you pass the traffic light before changing back to left lane. If traffic light turns red, just stop at right lane.
• Need to pull handbrake on any slope, steep or gentle. The instructor said that if I roll back even slightly, points would be deducted.
• Some slopes which are candidate for handbrake stop apart from the ones at Teck Whye test routes::
• All traffic lights along Bukit Batok Central road (Bukit Batok Community Centre and Bukit Batok Polyclinic)
• T traffic junction at the end of Bukit Batok Ave 1 (in front of Bukit Batok MRT)
• When stopping on slope, the instructor preferred that I step on foot brake even if handbrake was pulled.
• Need more practice on moving off slope - there was once at the horrendous Teck Whye up slope traffic junction, I thought my clutch was at biting point but in reality it was not. The car ended up rolling backward, not matter how hard I stepped on the accelerator. Immediate failure if roll back more than 1m.
• I was late to react to some obstacles because I kept trying to adjust car position to the centre of the lane. The instructor said not to keep focusing on the dash line to adjust car position as it remove my focus from the actual driving (and would become slow to reach in case of obstacles)
• Check blindspot 2s before turning or lane change

Expenditure

Practical                 $68.48
Total cost so far:     $1460.87

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DAY 67: Stage 2 Practical Lesson 2.09 Lane Changing in heavy and fast Traffic

Today’s lesson was on ‘Lane Changing in heavy and fast Traffic’. We went around the circuit a few times, performing lane changing several times along the way. Then we moved out to the streets. Apart from lane changing, we did some U turns and also stopping/moving off of slope (at the pedestrian crossing traffic light in front of Bukit Batok CC along Bukit Batok Central road). I found my moving off getting smoother. There were not many jerking incidents. The instructor feedback was that I should step on the accelerator harder when moving off in order to gain power faster. I was too gentle to on the pedal.


Things to take note:

• When moving off, step on the acceleration pedal harder for more power.
• Cover foot brake when approaching green traffic light in case need to brake when light suddenly change to amber.
• Brake harder if need to stop when traffic light suddenly changed amber so as not to stop after Stop line.

Expenditure

Practical                 $77.04.
Total cost so far:     $1392.39

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DAY 66: Stage 2 Practical Lesson 2.08 Reacting to Road Hazards

I managed to get a try-sell slot at night. It was my first time driving at night. I decided to start going for night lesson because it is too slow to only have lessons during weekends. Furthermore it is good to have a feel of night driving, unless you're planning to drive only in the day for the rest of your life! However, do take note that there is no practical test at night so if you find that certain subjects are crucial to you, please do them in a day lesson.

Driving at night felt different than driving during the day (obviously). The roads were not as visible even with the street lights. It was quite difficult to notice people at the side of the road especially when the person was wearing dark clothes. However, the dashboard was very bright, I could see the speedometer, tachometer and odometer clearer as compared to during the day.

In the beginning, the instructor told me to go two rounds in the circuit to get used to the night driving before moving off to the streets. Today’s lesson was on ‘Reacting to Road Hazards’. We didn’t specifically go around looking for hazards but more on react-if-I-see-one kind of lesson. As this was the first time I’m driving at night, the reduced visibility was already a hazard to me. I had some difficulties judging the correct distance of oncoming vehicles based only on their head lights. It was also quite difficult to see where the humps and pedestrian crossings were. My instructor told me to look out for cues like the ‘HUMP AHEAD’ marking on the road and the zig zag white line or the ‘X-ING AHEAD’ marking for pedestrian crossing. Throughout the lesson, I was driving all too careful. I was in gear 2 on some of the small roads which I used to be in gear 3 during the day. In one of the T junction (where Bukit Batok St 33 meets Bukit Batok West Ave 4), I made a mistake when I did the right turn too sharply until I went over the double white line. The instructor told me that it would be an immediate failure during test. There was also once I forgot to stop before a solid white line (with a Stop sign) at the end of a deceleration lane at at Bukit Batok West Ave 7, which is also an immediate failure.


Things to take note:

• Right turn be careful not to go over the double white line which would be an immediate failure
• When moving off in gear 1, don’t release clutch. Once reach sufficient speed, immediately step full clutch and change to gear 2.
• If you’re able to see red light from far, slow down (foot brake or engine brake if far enough) then change to gear 2 to engine brake.
• Engine brake is stronger at lower gear (reminder)

Expenditure

Practical              $68.48
Total cost so far:  $1315.35

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Day 59: Stage 2 Practical Lesson 2.07 Driving on Slopes

I managed to get a cancelled slot today. Today's lesson is on driving on slope. In the beginning, I did some practices on the circuit's slope before moving out to the streets. Most of the time we were at Teck Whye. There are several up slopes there - One has a T junction right at the top. The other one has a pedestrian crossing at the top. The instructor said that the one with the traffic light is a killer test route. Pray hard that I'll not get it. If I really get it, pray that there is nobody crossing the zebra crossing or the traffic light is green when I reach there so that I don't need to stop...

To go up these slopes, it is fine to use gear 2. The tough part about the up slope is when I need to stop and move off from it. To stop on an up slope, step on foot brake then full clutch before coming to complete halt. Once fully stopped, pull hand brake and release foot brake. To move off, half clutch to biting point while at the same time press on accelerator until about 3000rpm. You'll observe that the car bonnet will raise slightly once you reach the biting point. (Note that the accelerator need to be stepped harder as it requires more force to move the vehicle up slope than on level ground). Once clear to go (check rear mirror and blind spot), fully release hand brake and move off. If you're doing a right turn at the same time, make sure to turn to the right most lane, change to gear 2 and maintain lane discipline (change to leftmost lane).

The tough part of the up slope T junction is that I need to check left and right for incoming traffic, at the same time my left foot must maintain biting point, right foot controlling the acceleration, left hand release hand brake and right hand turn the steering wheel (the ultimate multi-tasking octopus in the making). In addition, there is a thick bush blocking the view of the right traffic making it difficult to judge if the road is clear. I stalled several times at the junction but managed to move off after several tries. Perhaps it is a good idea to cut down the bush the day before my test  (just kidding)


Things to take note

• When moving off, maintain biting point for 3 seconds. I tend to release clutch too fast especially when I am doing a turn at the same.
• I tend to rush when changing gear up or down. Relax and don't be a 'kan cheong spider'
• My driving performance is not consistent. Sometimes I am fine, other times I will go back and repeat the same old mistakes again.

Expenditure

Practical              $77.04
Total cost so far:  $1246.87

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DAY 52: Final Theory Practice and Final Theory Evaluation and Stage 2 Practical Lesson 2.06 U-turn and Roundabout (again?)

Final Theory Practice and Final Theory Evaluation

In order not to flung the Final Theory Evaluation again (check out what I did in my last FTE attempt), I decided to complete all the practice booklets before going for the evaluation. I spent another 3 lessons today to complete all the booklets. Then I went for the Final Theory Evaluation during the next timing slot. I passed with a score of 98/100. Hooray!!! I can go for my Final Theory Test now. The latest available night slot was 2 weeks later. Hopefully I can still remember all the stuff after 3 weeks.

Things to take note:

• All (I think) the questions for the Final Theory Evaluation comes from the practice booklets. If you finish practicing all the booklets, you should be able to pass the evaluation.
• The theory practice allows you to review the answers, it is better to do so to understand the logic and reasons for the answer (no matter right or wrong)

Stage 2 Practical Lesson 2.06 U-turn and Roundabout

Today's instructor was from my default group. I think he is team leader of the group. I didn't make it to the next lesson. He was very strict - he finds that my fundamental techniques are not up to standard, given now that I'm already in stage 2 and I'm still making silly mistakes like releasing clutch too early and not able to hold half clutch.

At one point, he let me decide if I want to proceed to 2.07 or use today's lesson to improve on my weaker areas. I chose the latter. It is better to fix mistakes earlier than later right? Otherwise, he said, it would turn into a 'bad' habit that is hard to kick

We drove around inside the circuit and Bukit Gombak areas doing left, right turns, stopping at the side of the roads and also U-turn. I didn't perform up to my usual standard today, probably rusty after not having lesson for more than 2 weeks (no choice, I had an overseas assignment) and I was in a rather low morale.


Things to take note:

• For starting off, half clutch biting point need to be smooth. 
• Left leg need to be touching clutch when gear 1. 
• Gear 1 is only for starting off. Must change to gear 2 swiftly. 
• Do not step on accelerator while turning. Only step accelerator after you have positioned the steering wheel correctly
• When reach 40km/h, must go to 4th gear already at Choa Chu Kang road. Small road can be in 3rd gear. Do not drag gear too long. Listen to engine sound to judge
• For Choa Chu Kang/Bukit Batok Road, maximum speed is 70km/hr. Need to keep near to it and maintain 4th gear while cruising
• Check rear mirror every time 1s before brake and move off
• Signal 3s earlier before turning or changing lane.
• Position car with your shoulder in line with the edge of the kerb (use the pole or traffic lights as marking) for right turn
• Foot brake is to reduce speed to a desired range before gear down. Do not gear down when speed is still about the range
• For U-turn, maintain around 1m to the right kerb in the bend to leave more space on the outer (left) side of the car. This allows motorcyclist to move up on the left side instead of the right (and end up in your blind spot)

Expenditure

FT Practice         $3.21 x 3
FT Evaluation      $5.35
Practical              $77.04
Total cost so far:  $1169.83

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DAY 51: Stage 2 Practical Lesson 2.06 U-turn and Roundabout

Today’s lesson was on U turn and Roundabout U turn. After having no lesson for 2 weeks due to work commitment, I started to forget the things I have learnt previously. Luckily it all came back after a while of driving round the circuit. Today’s vehicle was type C (the one that start engine with a red button). We drove to Hillview where there is a roundabout. The idea of U-turn at a roundabout is to keep to the right lane when entering the roundabout (signal right) and after ¾ of the round signal left before exit. By the way roundabout U-turn will not be tested.

Then we moved on to do U-turn along Bukit Batok Road, Choa Chu Kang Road and also Bukit Batok Central. The one at Bukit Batok Road and Choa Chu Kang Road are in some of the test routes. Always remember to U-turn to the 3rd ‘lane’. Thick kerb is considered as one lane. So for the U-turn at Bukit Batok Road and Choa Chu Kang Road, U-turn to the right most lane since the middle kerb is a thick one.

Things to take note:

• Maximum speed at Bukit Batok Road is 70km/hr so try to keep close to it. Should go to gear 4. 
• Use engine brake to reduce speed if you see red light and you are still far away. Using too much of foot brake will wear off its effectiveness esp when emergency braking.
• If you reach a green traffic light in gear 4 (~70km/hr) cover break do not lower gear (or reduce speed) suddenly near the traffic light unless need to emergency brake.
• After right turn (to right lane) immediately maintain lane discipline and signal left and try to move to the left lane.
• For U turn, from left lane (assume in gear 3-4), check rear and side mirrors for clearance, then signal right, check blind spot and change to right-most lane (repeat the mirror checking in each lane). When you enter the deceleration lane (keeping left signal and check blind spot), brake, change to gear 2 and slow down. For thick curb U turn, turn to the right most lane (check blind spot before turn). Try to keep the car about 1m distance from the curb during turning. After turn, signal left, change to gear 2-3 maintain lane discipline and change to left most lane (check mirror and blind spot while changing lane).
• U turn is a slow process, make sure the incoming cars are far far away.

Expenditure

Practical              $68.48
Total cost so far:  $1077.81

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DAY 31: Stage 2 Practical Lesson 2.04 2.05 Lane Change, Right Turn

Today was the first time I drove to Choa Chu Kang. Previous, my street driving was only in Bukit Batok and Bukit Gombak area. I know that a few of the test routes are in Choa Chu Kang area so it would be better for me to start familiarizing myself with the roads in Choa Chu Kang.

The instructor commented that I need to fine tune on my lane changing as I tend to turn the steering too much causing the car to turn sharply. Another pointer he had for me was that I need to reduce speed when nearing traffic light  (reduce to gear 3) and cover brake in case the traffic turns yellow suddenly and I would be able to stop in time. I should only drive along in amber light if I am driving near the speed limit and already reached the last arrow when the light turns amber.

Right turn was a bit difficult for me as I need to watch out for vehicles on both sides of the major road (for T or cross junction). There was this situation where my car stalled (due to releasing the clutch too quickly) while doing a right turn at the junction along Bukit Batok West Ave 8.so I ended up right in the middle of the junction and the traffic light was turning red. The instructor asked me to reverse back to the minor road (first time reversing) but there was a lorry behind already formed up. He was honking his horn off afraid that I would reverse into him. It was quite a tense situation there.

Things to take note:

• Lower speed when nearing traffic light (gear 3)
• If light is green, cover brake until you reach the last arrow
• If light turns amber when the car is already at the last arrow, you can proceed because stopping the car now will cause you to end up in the junction
• Lane change cannot be too abrupt (do not turn steering wheel too much). You should shift the car gently to the next lane.

Expenditure

Practical              $77.04
Total cost so far:  $1009.33

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DAY 24: Stage 2 Practical Lesson 2.02, 2.03 Pedestrian Crossing, Left Turn and Slip Road at Junction

Learn about left turn at junction. Spend all the time driving around Bukit Batok area. I met with daring pedestrians that even tried to stop my car to cross the road. Whenever there is a stop sign at junction, I need to stop even if there is no incoming traffic on the main road. The stop line (solid white line) is also an indication that you need to stop. If it is dashed white line, it means you need to give way to vehicles on the main road. If no vehicle, then you can proceed without the car coming to a full stop. When you are reaching traffic lights, make sure not to speed up. Instead maintain speed, with right foot covering foot brake in case the light turns amber suddenly and you need to brake. However, if you have already reached the last arrow before the junction when the light turns amber, you are allowed to proceed as stopping at such a last minute is dangerous and the car would likely end up in the junction.

Things to take note:

• Stop sign or solid white line means need to stop the car completely.
• Give way sign or dashed line means can proceed if no vehicle along the main road
• Cover foot brake when nearing green traffic light
• Once reach the last arrow before the traffic light, can accelerate and proceed on amber

Expenditure

Practical             $77.04
Total cost so far: $918.38

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DAY 24: Stage 2 Practical Lesson 2.01 Driving in Observance of Traffic Rules

Very early morning lesson. First drove a few rounds in the circuit to warm up before going out to the road. I learnt how to stop at the roadside. Before stopping, need to check rear mirror, signal 3s earlier before steering left slightly. The instructor also let me try driving a few rounds of up slope and downslope in the circuit. He told me that my basic is quite weak - he is referring to my clutching technique. He told me i can actually control the moving off and low speed by clutching unclutching while the right foot is holding steady on the accelerator. Also that if down changing gear, i should keep pressing on my brake. I have a tendency to release my brake when changing gear. More practice required. He told me it is better to know it early and rectify than to make the mistakes during test. He also commented that it is not good to keep taking up cancelled slots as i will most likely get a different group and instructors that do not know my weaknesses.

Things to take note:

• Control the moving off and low speed by clutching unclutching while the right foot is holding steady on the accelerator
• When down changing gear, you should keep pressing on the foot brake, instead of release and full clutch

Expenditure

Practical             $77.04
Total cost so far: $841.34

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