When do you check your centre mirror?

It seems odd to me that in these days of 'coaching' and 'taking responsibility' instructors are still telling their pupils to check their centre/interior mirror...every 5-6 seconds. I've been on coaching days when highly respected experienced instructors have advocated and used this method. It annoys me when I have a 'new' pupil who has had previous instruction and you ask "when would you look in the centre mirror?" and they say "every 1-2-3-4-5-6 seconds" sometimes "every 2-3 minutes".

I was always taught that the best way to get someone to do what you ask is to get them to understand 'why?' give them a reason for doing it, isn't this what we tell our kids? "don't do things without a reason". What reasons do we give for checking every 5-6 seconds?

When a pupil moves out to overtake a stationery bus (for example) instead of saying check your right door mirror, wouldn't we usually ask "is it safe?" thus prompting them to check that right door mirror.

So, when to check the centre mirror? Think back to the hpt, doesn't that mouse click mean a centre mirror check? Do we not check the centre mirror before we slow down?

I have always believed in giving my pupils a reason for checking the centre mirror, so it's simple.

1. Every time you have to lift your foot off the gas pedal, check behind, you slowing down has an effect on anyone behind you.
2. Every time you THINK YOU MIGHT HAVE TO lift your foot off the gas pedal look in that centre mirror.
3. Every time you push down on the gas pedal look behind you.

Think how many times during a drive you have to lift your foot off the gas pedal,
Fixed hazards such as roundabuts, traffic lights, roadworks, cross roads, junctions, bends in the road, non fixed, brake lights, slow moving traffic, the list is almost endless - all reasons to check behind you giving you the comfort that if you do need to slow down more you can do so safely.

Also how many things do you see that MIGHT cause you to slow down, pedestrians straying close to the kerb, animals, cyclists again the list is endless.

Mentioning this to an experienced and respected instructor it was 'batted back' with that won't work on a straight road! Seriously! how many straight roads do we drive on that doesn't have something that would prompt a centre mirror check! This is the UK even our Roman built 'straight roads' have bends in them and traffic on them!

I'm sure that every one agrees that if you have a reason for doing something you are more likely to do it, give your pupils a reason for checking the centre mirror, rather than trying to remember whether they should count in seconds or minutes before checking again. What if a pedestrian walks out in front of them between counts?
I've had several pupils comment recently that using this method was just so logical, why hadn't their previous instructor mentioned it?
I used to have a sales guy working for (some years ago now) the way he used to decide when to put on his car headlights was when he'd counted, I think it was something random like 28, other cars with their light on, mad? But probably no different to counting seconds between centre mirror checks.

Intensive driving courses from 121

There are driving schools that offer courses that claim 'pass your test in a week'. Sounds great doesn't it, so let's break this down a little...
The DSA research show that someone who passes their driving test has had 47 hours of professional tuition + (PLUS) a minimum of 20 hours private practice. If you adopt the 'drive in a week' principle (say a 5 day working week) 47 hours (based just on professional tuition) means 9.4 hours per day! Can you concentrate on wielding a lethal weapon for nearly 10 hours per day? Plus within this time you have to revise for and pass your theory test!
I accept that time can be saved by your passing your theory test before starting your training, but that requires time and resources.
Ok, let's suppose that you are a natural and you've turned up for the course with the theory test already passed, you get to a reasonable standard within the week, you then have to book your practical test, what's the waiting time for a practical test these days? agreed there are some areas that have shorter times but the average waiting time is 6-7 weeks!

What we offer at 121, is a professionally structured learning experience, 1 to 1 learner centred instruction. You will have access to the DSA theory question bank, plus many hazard perception clips, we will book and pay for your theory test, ensuring that you pass it first attempt (should you not pass, subsequent attempts you will have to pay for yourself), the teaching process is at your pace and designed to ensure that you get maximum from each lesson. We believe that taking into all considerations 6 hours per week (3x2 hour lessons) is suitable for most learners, this can be altered as the driving test looms! We allocate 40 hours of training to you, which is ample for most learners, if you are ready and pass your test before any extra hours are carried over to Pass Plus. When you are established with your training we will book and pay for your practical driving test (should you not pass any subsequent tests are at your expense).
We believe that this is the common sense approach to passing quickly, and the cost?
go to our web site....http://www.driving-lessons-leeds.com/Intensive%20Driving/