Ramp up your students' learning with slow-speed manoeuvres:

♦ parallel parking;

♦ reversing;

♦ forward figure '8s';

♦ reverse figure '8s';

♦ reverse parking;

♦ 3-point turns, and others.

Student Benefit

Slow-speed manoeuvres provide a kinaesthetic learning for the student. The student learns about the vehicle and its controls; in other words, the student gets a better “feel” for the vehicle faster, which translates into better control on-road, and at higher speeds.

• Slow-speed manoeuvres give the student much needed confidence.

Observation

• Backing teaches spatial observation & awareness;
  • The student should be thinking, “where are other vehicles, obstacles & fixed objects in relation to my vehicle?”
• Slow-speed manoeuvres teaches dynamic spatial orientation;
• • The student should be thinking, “where is my vehicle in relation to other objects as my vehicle moves?”
• Slow-speed manoeuvres allow the student to learn where the blinds spots of the vehicle are located;
  • The student asks, “how do I maximize my ‘lines of sight’?”
• Slow-speed manoeuvres teach observation in a forward, lateral & reverse moving vehicle;
  • The student should be thinking, “What path of travel is important to my success?”
• Backing teaches observation and steering response;
  • The student should be thinking, “that is my target – how do I get my vehicle to that location from here?”

 Turning

• Slow speed manoeuvres teach observation angles in relation to a moving vehicle.
• Parking teaches turning radius of the vehicle.
• Slow-speed manoeuvres teach that the slower the vehicle travels, the sharper it turns.
• Backing teaches throttle, steering, brake & clutch control.

Primary Controls

• Slow speed manoeuvres teach fine-motor control of the primary controls (steering, braking, & throttle).
• Slow-speed manoeuvres allow students to learn about primary control combinations (steering & throttle, steering & brake, brake & throttle).
• Slow-speed manoeuvres teach both the friction point of the clutch and brake response.
• Reversing teaches steering wheel orientation:
  • On every vehicle the steering wheel turns 1½ to 2 revolutions in each direction.
• Every time the vehicle stops, the student should bring the steer tires back to the straight position. The student learns to know where her vehicle is when she starts and is not distracted by having to crank the steering wheel back to straight.
• Reversing teaches pivot points – the front of the vehicle travels in a different direction than that of the rear.