Learner drivers

[JB]

Years ago had a mk111 ford zodiac auto ,stopped at traffic lights on duel carriage way with a mk11
jaguar at side of me, before the lights he'd been trying to pass me for a long time, what I won't to point
out is the lights went to green and we both floored it I knew every time he pressed the clutch and changed
gear because he lost the length of my car , he did not get past me, auto every time.

[Lord Voltermore]

It may eventually come like the USA  where 'stick shift' is such a  novelty  that only a few enthusiasts  learnt to  drive them partially so they can revel in the  additional driver input and skills  required.

I suspect  the UK will eventually allow driving manuals on an  'auto' driving licence.  So few people will need  to that those few will be tolerated as a bit of a novelty and allowed to get on with it.

Just like having a manual licence allows you to drive  a Model T Ford  despite the controls being so significantly different.  They have three foot pedals.  The left is combined clutch and low/high gear selection . Middle selects reverse, right  is the pathetic   transmission brake. Throttle is not a pedal ,its a hand throttle on the  steering wheel.   

[Sean Regan]

The "good news" for learner drivers is that cars these days are easier to drive.
The "bad news," I would guess, although I have no experience of it is  the "theory" part of the test.
For people of my generation, you could say that driving was the hardest part of the test. In my case with a pre-war car I had to contend with double de-clutching a crash gearbox every time I changed down and the examiner made me use hand signals.

But the "theory" was easy. Just two questions.

What follows the amber on traffic lights?

What governs your speed at night?

[Kremmen]

Yes, my test just involved a couple of questions about stopping distance, identify some road signs and where not to park

Passed first time in a Triumph Herald

[Sean Regan]

Yes, my test just involved a couple of questions about stopping distance, identify some road signs and where not to park

Passed first time in a Triumph Herald

I always thought the traffic light question  was a trick one. As when you look at traffic lights it's red at the top, amber in the middle and the "green follows." But of course the correct answer is red.

I too, passed my test first time. I'd driven around without L plates for a couple of months and would have carried on without them had I failed, until I took the test again. So I was quite relaxed and displayed confidence, which is what examiners want.

It wasn't long after when as a learner driver, you didn't have to have a qualified driver with you.
This was a temporary concession, during the Suez crisis, as the examiners had all been put on working with the issuing of petrol coupons.
I was insured, as it didn't matter to insurance companies in those days, if you didn't have a licence, you just needed not to be disqualified from driving.

[coldstart]

What follows the amber on traffic lights?

This question appears to be specific to the UK!

In Switzerland we have amber along red before green and of course single amber before red.
In (parts of) Austria there are 4 blinks of green before a very short amber phase and then red (you're not supposed to enter the crossing on blinking green!).
In France there is no red and amber before green (but they do have these nifty lowered additional lights for the cars in front of the queue)