In Case Of Breakdown?

[EcclesCake]

Are new drivers given any direction as part of their lessons and test on what to do when your car is playing up?

I've just passed a young woman in a Golf who was chucking out a considerable amount of white smoke.

From my position on the motorway I could see that bunching was occurring and some kind of smoke cloud, as I got nearer it became apparent that the Golf was limping along. The driver was on the phone, hopefully asking for advice (I'm not going to debate the rights and wrongs of using a phone whilst driving), I also spotted that she had a flippin' great crazed ding in her windscreen.

I would have pulled over and called for assistance but she was resolutely limping on, causing more damage to her car (probably), causing a hazard from the cloud of smoke and effectively blocking one lane of two on the motorway.

So, are new drivers told what to do in case of breakdown?

[erin-x]

I wasn't but I definitely know that I would pull over if my car was in that state! Lol!

[Smowball]

When you say young woman you mean our age I assume? : )

[EcclesCake]

Smow, you and I are young women with the benefit of wisdom.

She has another twenty years to acquire our wisdom.....although on today's performance she might need a bit longer to reach our level!

A part of me felt sorry for her, no one wants to be stuck on the side of a motorway in freezing conditions, I just don't think she realised just how far the next junction was :-(

[Smowball]

I broke down once when heavily pregnant and not one bugger stopped to help me.

[EcclesCake]

Your car broke down or you did? I believe the latter is common in pregnant women, hormones and stuff ;-)

[tamborine]

flippin' great crazed ding

whats that ?

[EcclesCake]

A large crazed area emanating from a single point of impact.

[TWR]

I believe they have to know where the Dip stick is, where the battery is?? why that I don't know,how to check the coolant, but they never tell them "DO NOT OPEN THE CAP if the engine has been running for a while.

what you describe Eccles 2 White / blue smoke, If white, out of water, if blue, the engine timing.

[Smowball]

LOL, the car broke down, not me!

[tamborine]

a busted windscreen ?

I presume her engine overheated. Not a lot you could do unless you carry water. Ofcourse if you're an AA member & passenger in defunct car the AA will assist.

[TWR]

I used to stop often if I'd seen women with Flat tyres or on their own Snowball, that was going back some years ago, If someone stopped for you on a Motorway hard shoulder, they can get done if seen by the police.

[EcclesCake]

I'm not so concerned about diagnosing her problem or if she's a member of the AA.

I just wondered if new drivers are given any advice on what they should do if their car starts chucking out a load of smoke (irrespective of colour), loses power, etc.

At the end of the day you can't teach common sense I suppose :-(

[boxtops]

I don't know about new drivers, I wasn't given any advice when I passed my test about maintenance, changing tyres, odd noises, etc. I still don't know.

[Prudie]

I wasn't given any and neither was my daughter who took her test about 4 years ago. We rely on family to tell us I guess.

[derekpara]

'I wasn't given any advice when I passed my test about maintenance....'

Driving test examiners are not there to instruct motorists on vehicle maintenance or emergency procedures.

[mikejb1]

generally speaking, they are not. Driving Instructors are required only to prepare a pupil for the DSA driving test. Very few (pupils or their parents) will pay for additional lessons to cover such areas as tyre changing, accident protocol, etc

[mikejb1]

re derekpara's comment, Driving TEst Examiners are not required to teach anything!