command position

[The Spin Doctor]

Interestingly i was told recently that teaching new riders "to ride to pass a test" was 100% wrong and if that was how they were being taught the training was poor yet that is exactly how the above has been put by both.

You'll notice then that I turned the answer round by asking another question - "what are you trying to achieve?" rather than offering prescriptive 'do this / don't do that' advice.

As Horse said, what we would like to think examiners "might" take into account/understand and what they actually apply on the day of Mod 2 test might vary greatly. I even questioned one of the higher ups at the new place in Manchester where all the instructors are assessed as to how "cornering" should be delivered in order to comply with what examiners want as the guidance in their own literature and what examiners want appears to differ. The reply was to teach the pupils what will keep the examiners happy so thats what i do.

It's entirely possible to guide riders to make the right decisions in the traffic situations they encounter so that they satisfy the examiner on the day without laying down rules... and the fact is, 90% of the skills we use on a daily basis ARE the ones we learned 'to pass the test' - so whether you appreciate it or not, you are teaching skills for life!

As for the oddball requirements, I took several thousand candidates to test over the years I was a basic trainer and whilst there were odd 'foibles' that some examiners had that caused me the odd raised eyebrow, I can genuinely say that at the dozen or so test centres I used with different schools I only encountered one examiner who was off the charts for weird requirements and random fails, and who I genuinely had to warn trainees about.

And I believe he retired in 1996!

[The Spin Doctor]

Funnily enough, it's not just the weight, it's how close together the wheels are. Asphalt is - or should be - 'springy', it should deflect under wheel load, then rebound. Heavy trucks with multiple close wheels don't allow that rebound before the next wheel loading arrives.

It gets worse. Once the tramway starts to form, trucks tend to use it rather than spreading loading over a wider area.

I can believe the 'spring' issue... but surely axle loading also matters?

That's why the road tax is significantly lower for trucks with multiple axles.

When the HGV load limit was raised, I recall many highway people saying "the roads weren't built to carry the weight"!

[The Spin Doctor]

I used to be a great enthusiast for the early Roadcraft positioning style, but many years and sage comments by Kevin and other later I've greatly modified that and now as said pay far more attention to other things.

With regard to white lines etc I find that most in the UK are OK but have come across some horrors in France - ped crossings like greased glass in the rain.

Gloss paint in the south! Italy's no better. And - rather to my surprise since it rains there - nor is New Zealand. I nearly dropped the V-Strom on day one of the first round the islands trip when my foot slipped on a white line. The bike hung at an angle where I had just caught it. Fortunately my passenger sat very still - if she'd moved I think it would have done down. I just about managed to get the bike back upright by sliding sideways off the seat and pushing it up under me.

[Horse]

it's not just the weight

... surely axle loading also matters?

When the HGV load limit was raised, I recall many highway people saying "the roads weren't built to carry the weight"!

Hah! There's an idea floating around to allow longer artics.

https://www.gov.uk/government/consultat ... iler-trial

[Horse]

I think the answer is, if you’re still preparing for your test, then listen to your instructor.

That.

I'd happily give you suggestions on how to decide where to be within the lane width. However, for now your priority - presumably? - is getting a full licence.

Any secondhand advice from the Internet is open to misinterpretation and likely to confuse you.

I'm out of touch with current DVSA requirements. Ideally examiners would understand if you were to be using appropriate positioning relative to the situation ahead. But I wouldn't like to guarantee that would actually happen.

Interestingly i was told recently that teaching new riders "to ride to pass a test" was 100% wrong and if that was how they were being taught the training was poor yet that is exactly how the above has been put by both.

As an aside, this is on the edge of discussion about the differences and benefits (in terms of improved safety) of post-test (typically 'advanced') training. I've long held the view that if there are skills or techniques that provide safety benefits, then they should be incorporated into L training.

It usually only needs a few moments of watching a rider to tell whether they have had such training. But the majority seem to manage without.

My experience* with the MSF showed that 'L' training improvement could have substantial benefits.

* pre-Mod 1. I haven't seen crash stats to show whether Mod 1 might have had any affect on them for the types of crashes that riders have.