Dave Collinson Driving Instructor

20/05/2026

Congratulations to Jake Holey on a successful driving test result today. Well done Jake it’s been a pleasure knowing you, happy car hunting 👍.

13/05/2026

Well done to James Milam of Leven on a successful driving test pass today in Bridlington on his first attempt. It’s been a pleasure knowing you James, enjoy driving your corsa 👍

12/05/2026

11/05/2026

L plates aren’t just for show, they completely change how other drivers treat you on the road. Unfortunately not as described in the write up below, instead of understanding that the learner driver can and will make mistakes, other drivers bully and are very impatient with learner drivers. Please can we give learner drivers space and forgiveness

05/05/2026

🚗 Wrong Turn on Your Test? Did I Just FAIL🫤❌

​We’ve all been there—the Sat Nav says "Right, 3rd Exit," but your nerves steer you straight ahead to the 2nd. 👀🙃 Your heart sinks... "Did I just fail?"

​The short answer: NO!

The examiner is testing your safety, not your sense of direction. A wrong turn is just a WEE detour, not a defeat. Here is how to turn a "wrong way" into a PASS:

​✅ Commit to the Mistake: If you’re in a "Left Only" lane, go left! It’s much safer to go the wrong way legally than to swerve across lanes to "fix" it.
✅ Signal Your Intentions: Always signal for where you are actually going, not where you were told to go.
✅ Follow the New Route: Stay calm; the examiner or Sat Nav will simply recalculate.
✅ Prioritize Safety: As long as you follow road markings and road signs, you won't get a serious fault.

​Silver lining: You might have just accidentally avoided that nightmare junction you hate! 👀

​What WILL Cause a Fail? (The Real Mistakes) 🙁

​It’s never the turn that fails you; it’s the reaction. You could get a serious fault for:

​❌ Panic-Swerving: Dangerous lane changes to try and force the "correct" direction.
❌ Sudden Braking: Slamming the brakes without checking mirrors. Your car’s "body language" says ahead, but you suddenly brake to turn left—that HGV behind you won't have time to react! 🚛🛑
❌ Illegal Maneuvers: Prohibited U-turns or stopping in the middle of a busy junction.
❌ Incorrect Signaling and Positioning: Signaling right while physically turning left. It confuses other drivers and creates a major risk.
❌ Ignoring Instructions: There’s a big difference between a mistake and repeatedly ignoring the examiner. Listen closely!

​Pro Tip: Keep it safe, keep it legal, and commit to that wrong direction!

You've got this! 🏆

​

30/04/2026

Coasting and Engine Braking - How to get the most help from your engine.

It's the natural instinct of learners to put the clutch down on the approach to junctions. But it's doesn't help them to slow down. If it's down hill the car actually picks up speed and you have to brake more to control the car.

Rule 122 of the highway code talks about Coasting and Engine Braking.

Coasting is when neutral is selected or the clutch is down meaning the engine no longer controls the wheels.

This could result in the car speeding up downhill, steering is harder and you have to use more foot braking. It also wears the clutch out if you do it for long periods! That's expensive and stressful.

It also removes engine braking. Every gear has a max and min speed. In my Fiesta, 1st gear is 5-10mph, 2nd is 10-25mph, 3rd is 15-50mph. I did extensive testing!

And I show this to pupils. I get them to select 1st gear and move off then leave all the pedals alone. The car slows to 5mph then crawls along very happy. Then 2nd gear from 20mph and it slows us to 10mph and crawls along. That's engine braking! Engine Braking isn't as effective above 2nd gear because the range of the gear is too long plus the power to speed ratio.

So on the approach to a roundabout Mirror, Signal, Postion then Speed/Gear. Brake with footpedal down to 30mphs and change down to 2nd (bring the clutch up slowly to keep the car smooth)

The car is now bringing you down to 10mph, and you only brake a bit to help. Lovely and smooth, under control. Lots of time to look for a gap. If we need to stop, less than a car length required, back to 1st ready to move. Or see the gap and on the gas ready to go.

But if you just put the clutch down as soon as you brake, then engine doesn't help you, you have to brake much harder and then you forget about the gear change.

Pulling away in 3rd or above doesn't work. Even 2nd is pushing it. If you emerge onto the roundabout and stall that's dangerous. Make the gear change and bring the clutch up or don't use the clutch.

It makes a huge difference to your driving. Understanding this might save your life in icy conditions!

23/02/2026

What should I do if I'm at a red light and an emergency vehicle needs to get through?
Simon, a sergeant on the Roads Policing Unit, explains:

Emergency 'blue light' vehicles have three exemptions in law. Speed limits, red lights and keep left signs. If we are looking to make progress with blue lights and siren, we are asking you to let us through.

If possible, move over to somewhere safe and allow us past. There's no need to mount kerbs or verges or make sudden moves. We won't come past until we know you have seen us.

If you are at a red light and you can let us through, please do so but we don't want you to go through the red light, moving aside is fine but going through the light isn't. Doing so is an offence and you can be fined or receive points for doing it. Similarly, going through a red light and ending up in a collision could place liability on you.

If we can't make progress we do something called effective non-use. The lights stay on, the siren goes off. This is saying 'I'd like to come through when I can'.

Other helpful things to consider would be not stopping dead in your tracks. Often it's safer to keep going and let us pass in a safe place.

Stopping on a bend, the brow of a hill or directly opposite another vehicle makes it harder to get past too. In these situations it's better that you keep going until the road opens up and we can pass safely when we have a view.

The bottom line is, we don't want you to commit offences to let us through, just make it easier for us to get past if you can.

Warwickshire Police
Warwickshire Fire and Rescue Service
Officialwmas

31/01/2026

TUNNEL VISION VS WIDE AWARENESS

Why it happens with learners and how we fix it

Tunnel vision is common in learner drivers.
It is not a flaw.
It is a phase.

When someone is learning, their brain is busy doing many things at once.
Steering.
Speed control.
Gears or pedals.
Road position.
Signs.
Instructions.

When the brain is overloaded, it narrows focus to cope.
That is when awareness shrinks to what is directly ahead.

This is why learners sometimes miss:
Vehicles approaching from behind
Pedestrians at the side of the road
Cyclists
Changes developing further ahead

The goal of learning to drive is not just control of the car.
It is freeing up mental space.

That is where instructors step in.

As skills become automatic, attention expands.
Scanning improves.
Mirrors become purposeful.
Hazards are seen earlier, not reacted to late.

Wide awareness is not taught by telling someone to “look more”.
It is built through repetition, calm teaching, and confidence.

Tunnel vision fades as competence grows.

Sheena Ahmed
Motorvation School of Motoring

26/01/2026

Well done to Amber on passing your driving test today in Bridlington. It’s been a tough journey for you but all the hard work you put in finally paid off. Enjoy driving your corsa Amber 🚗

26/01/2026

People think driving lessons are expensive. Wait till you have to insure a car for the first time 🫣