First Driving Lesson Tomorrow!

[GarethB]

Cleanliness of a car windscreen on the inside can make a huge difference to the amount of glare you get.

The cleaner it is the better, even cars fitted with cabin filters let loads of fine dust and airbourne greesy deposits that really foul a windscreen.

Next tiem you get in a car, use a white paper towel and wipe part of the window avoiding the screen rubbers, you will be surprised at how greasy and dirty a window can get.

[Amarpal]

Thanks. Well so far, the off the shelf polarised sunglasses are working really quite well. The driving position seems OK in the Polo, so should be OK.

As for the windscreen, its always clean in our car, hate to see a dirty car! Gets a good clean at least once a week. However, in the instructors car, it is slightly dirty looking, but not too bad.

[GarethB]

When the sun is low like it is strating to get now in the mornings it won't be long before my windows get done daily on the two main cars I use.

The third car will be getting a final clean and then put in storage over winter.

[Barney]

When I had the problem I found one of those blue or green tinted plastic strips that stick to the top of the screen worked better than a visor. On posh cars you can usually specify a graded tinted strip at the top of the screen and there are specialist screen tinting companies around that could probably replicate that effect.

[GarethB]

There is a legal limit as to how far a tint can come down, but the protective films for the windscreen are practically clear but have all sorts of UV filtering, heat reducing glare reducing properties.

Like most things it is finding someone who will do the job properly and listen to your needs.

Fortunatly my friend does this sort of thing for a living

[Barney]

Seems a 6" strip across the top is the max according to one of the companies that do it.

[Amarpal]

Well, the inevitable happened today, was on my 6th driving lesson, taking my first reverse round a corner, and as I was looking out the back window, out popped my right lens! I'm so annoyed, just as I thought everything was going OK with my lenses while driving. And what's worse is that I did not find my lens, we spent ages looking for it, but couldnt find it. Don't know what to do now, will just have to wear an old lens for my next lesson on Thursday. Can't decide if I should just order a new lens, or make an appointment to get the eyes checked too....

[GarethB]

Sorry to hear about the lost lens, personally I would get a full eye check, might be possible to get a lens less likely to pop out.

Reversing round a corner is one situation that is likely to cause a lens to pop because your head is turned an your eyes are at their extreme too which is a posotion your eyes are not commonly in which is why lens fit is at its worst then.

You are allowed on reverse parking to unbuckle your belt which allows twisting that much further but i find my legs are in an uncomfortable position for throttle and clutch control.

I personally favour not twisting so much, turn my head as far as possible not not my eyes to the extreme. If needs be the mirror is alterd which is also permisable ona driving test to aid the manouver and also reducing the risk of a lens popping out.

That is what works for me anyhow. As you get more experienced you will be able to reverse park and revers round corners on mirrors alone which I try and do as much as possible. only if it is really busy do I turn my head and look out back as a matter of extra safety.

[Barney]

Don't worry, as you get used to it you should find you learn to anticipate a lens popping out so it's less likely to happen. You'll learn the wondrous knack of catching a lens with your eyelids as springs out.

It's a pity that being able to reverse on mirrors isn't part of the test because most drivers need to learn it eventually. Only way to reverse a van or caravan and even reversing an SUV looking out the back window alone isn't a great idea. With mirrors you can see along the sides and out of the back window and much more than just turning round. The good old wing mirrors were even better, could see both at once without going cross-eyed.

Still, much better to happen on just a driving lesson than on your test.

[Andrew MacLean]

Arampal

That used to happen to me, too. I got to the point where I was reversing with the mirrors rather than looking over my shoulder (this is easier to do now that all cars except Gareth's Capri) have good door-mounted mirrors.

Andrew