Life savers

stef234stef · Renault 5 Driver Joined: 22 Feb 2005 Karma :

Ok i have my practical test coming up soon and im not 100% sure where to do them and where to do left hand life savers. Please help.

Frost · World Chat Champion Joined: 26 May 2004 Karma :

First you need to be certain you know the difference betwean a life saver, and a shoulder check.

Left hand lif savers are done when before turning left if there is a chance of being undertaken, such as a cycle lane to the left. And to check it's clear when changing lanes such as leaving a roundabout or before moving back into the left hand lane.

Vespa · Traffic Copper Joined: 12 Feb 2005 Karma :

beasty1711 · Nitrous Nuisance Joined: 18 Mar 2005 Karma :

best bet is to do as many as ya can... and make sure u make it clear when ur doing it... so he can tell ur looking....

someone once suggested offs ettign the mirrors so if u want to look in them u have to make an effort rather than just a flick of the eyes so the examiner can tell ur using them
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stef234stef · Renault 5 Driver Joined: 22 Feb 2005 Karma :

Ok i got it, thanks guys. Thumbs Up

Jayman · Derestricted Danger Joined: 07 Apr 2005 Karma :

yeah, he wont penalise you for doing plenty of lifesavers as long as they are not making you dangerous.
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garth · World Chat Champion Joined: 15 Dec 2004 Karma :

Going left, look left.

Going right, look right.

That's about all. If in doubt, do them both.
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ginguar · Traffic Copper Joined: 19 Feb 2005 Karma :

I think you are supposed to do them if you are changing speed for example going from a 30 zone to a 60 zone to make sure no-one is overtaking you as you do so.

froggy128 · World Chat Champion Joined: 14 Mar 2005 Karma :

okay so you can see some traffic lights on red and 3 cars waiting your say 20meters away, should you do a lifesaver then or wait till you about to stop.

Also do you have to go down the gears as you move or can you kick it down when you stop say if the lights had just changed

Jayman · Derestricted Danger Joined: 07 Apr 2005 Karma :

paulyzf600 · Scooby Slapper Joined: 24 Oct 2004 Karma :

A head check should be done every time you change position in the lane. So if there is a parked car o the left hand side you 1 check your mirror 2 left hand head check then 3 move out to the left when all is clear make sure you follow through straight away as if you wait after doing a head check then move a few moments after thats kinda canceling out the head check cos anything can creep up in that few moments.
If you are turning left onto a road check your mirror left hand head check indicate and turn (think the indicate is there I kind of do it all together!)
I Life saver is for when you pull away from a stand still so say you are about to move off you indicate check mirror life saver (full look around behind you then when clear move away again move away straight after the life saver!
Or if you are turning right from a major road you need to do a life saver here as someone can easily try to over take you! (this is the hardest to remember but will be a fail if you don't do it on a major bit of road!

So life savers are full looks behind you for turning right from major road or pulling away from stand still. also going onto a motorway!
Head check is for when changing position on your side of the road just a chouldercheck not a full check behind you as this will pull your arm around coursing you to loose control when moving.

Just remeber head check around every parked car going out for bus lanes etc!
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paulyzf600 · Scooby Slapper Joined: 24 Oct 2004 Karma :

The gear selection thing well you should be in a gear that will slow you down with the engine as well but just before coming to a stand still you should bring the clutch in and drop it into first before stopping so that you are ready to pull away straight away. If you stop then change to first you have to go through the whole other foot down then front brake on clutch in first gear other foot up back brake on front brake off etc which looks less like you are in control.
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Yamaha YZF600 Thundercat

froggy128 · World Chat Champion Joined: 14 Mar 2005 Karma :

so just as am about to stop put it in first and put left foot down,

paulyzf600 · Scooby Slapper Joined: 24 Oct 2004 Karma :

Yeah when moving along you will be able to dudge when to flick it into first before stopping so you will have plenty time to get you left foot down.
It means coasting the last few yards but this is ok to do to get it into the correct gear.
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Yamaha YZF600 Thundercat

FZRBluegirl · Derestricted Danger Joined: 15 Apr 2005 Karma :

Yup thats right, always keep your foot on the back brake when your stopped thats probably one of the best things I learnt, slow down put it into first, stop and sit there with your foot on the brake otherwise you end up in an awkward situation especially if its on a hill then you'd be there looking like a fool, trying to change gear while not rolling backwards Laughing

JonT · Crazy Courier Joined: 06 Feb 2005 Karma :

As a tip for pulling out arround parked cards pretend that you are moving into another lane on the right to go arround them, and then changing back into a lane once your passed them even though you mostly don't have to change lane.

It's easier to remember the lifesavers if you think like that rather then just moving over slightly within the same lane.