Driving In New York | The Driving Test Part 2

[@SuperVitz]

This series is just making me appreciate just how good the UK Highway Code and driving education culture is. I'm often critical of our systems, but it could be far worse!

[@PedroConejo1939]

Too true. The UK system relies much more on drivers' judgement, whereas the US has everything codified. What has surprised me is that if you turn across someone who runs a red light, you are at fault, not the red light runner. This is the understanding imparted by the combined wisdom of several US/Can dashcam channels. I don't think I'll ever get my head around that one.

[@RichardHartl]

​​​@@PedroConejo1939 oh definitely I'm in Canada and it's the same codified and very rule based driving style. That's why we have such moronic drivers 😅 Thing is in North America there is an ingrained understanding that you MUST drive as public transit is spotty and mostly avoided, moreso in the US though. Therefore our roads are designed for the biggest dummies to utilize. Believe me Toronto has some of the most 💩 drivers because it's just too easy to get a driver's licence here. Although the red light runner thing you describe makes no sense to me. Maybe only in the US and not Canada Also I've driven in the UK and Europe several times and I'm so sure this NYC instructor would poop his pants on your roads 😅

[@MorrisGuy]

Would happily contribute to a crowdfund to get this guy to the UK to try a UK driving test. Would be an interesting video haha. Good video Ash.

[@hughraynor8670]

He'd make it 20 yards down the road before the examiner asked him to return to the test centre.

[@Adamlllllllllllljjjljljjjjj]

This would be so interesting😅

[@davidrumming4734]

Magic roundabout, Swindon 😂

[@yggdrasil7942]

@@Adamlllllllllllljjjljljjjjj More like hilarious. Especially a busy multi-lane roundabout.

[@busog97641]

@@hughraynor8670 I totally agree with you. And mind you, I am a Yank, I have lived in NY, plus several other cities here in the States, and I can say, you are so right about his driving.

[@rogiermaas]

I love the fact that you give Chris a big smile when he interrupts you. You both like to talk but Chris doesn't let anyone interrupt him. 😄😄

[@lewismeechan]

Ashley was very respectful even though we all knew what he was thinking

[@busog97641]

Exactly.

[@JulianShagworthy]

10:41 "Signal left. Without looking." 🤣🤣🤣 Oh man, and what proceeded to follow was comedy gold, three different lots of indicators during a three point turn, including while reversing... What a disaster 🤣

[@DB7PHiL]

Ash, when you say 'that's Interesting', what you really mean is "are you kidding me!" 😊

[@RichardHartl]

Yup!!! 😅 Was thinking the same. I dunno this NYC guy seems a bit dodgy somehow. I'm in Canada but it's the same road design and style mostly here

[@David_Trowbridge]

Every time Ashley says “okay” he must be thinking “this guy hasn’t got a clue”

[@momentsinfragments1536]

Exactly my thoughts,he felt too good 😂😂😂

[@ibs5080]

It would have been interesting to see Chris drive and give a running commentary for a while, just to observe his own thought processes first hand and how they differ from UK practices.

[@epsleon]

That broken U-turn was awful. He doesn't explain what is expected of Ashley in the manoeuvre until Ashley has turned, like he was told to, but then had turned too far because Ashley was only told to turn at a right angle after he'd got stuck and asked what to do. Seems like it would be a very ineffective teaching method. It would annoy me to no end to be blamed for doing something wrong when I was never told how to do it right.

[@kenbrown2808]

I didn't see it as blaming ashley - but he certainly didn't explain anything beforehand in that case.

[@Edsbar]

Given that he knew Ashley is a highly experienced professional driver, I think he just expected him to know all this stuff. I think he presumed that we all drive the same throughout the world so why did he need to talk through the most basic things.

[@kenbrown2808]

@@Edsbar it's the first time I've ever heard the term "broken U-turn" and the first time I've ever seen someone do a U-turn in the middle of the block. it's not even legal in most places.

[@busog97641]

In all honesty, I don't think that Chris is that good of an instructor... unless he and Ashley had an agreement before all of this had started. But I don't think so.

[@MeganLaveyHeaton]

​@@kenbrown2808 I have NEVER heard of this term. I went and looked up the New York exam and it's not on there. Just a standard 3-point turn.

[@timeboy58]

You should invite Chris to Liverpool, and see how well he does here. Great series Ash.

[@RichardHartl]

I found Liverpool actually quite challenging to drive, from Toronto, Canada

[@phil3038]

Fair play to you Ash for accepting your part as the supposed student 😮 But i got to say you clearly are the more generally knowledgeable Driver by far!! And your situational awareness was almost perfect, despite being forced to drive on the wrong side of the road!! 😂😂

[@Species1571]

18:10 What was that guy all about? Get out at a crossroads and stand in the middle of the road to use your phone? 22:00 Verrazzano Narrows bridge. Longest suspension bridge in the world when it opened. I went across it when I was over there.

[@smilerbob]

Nice series so far and interesting to see the differences between the two countries. Not sure our roads have the patience for someone to stop at 90 degrees doing a three point turn and signalling for every stage of the manoeuvre. 20:30 was my favourite part though - drive into an oncoming vehicle that is reluctant to give way otherwise it will be your fault for blocking the road. Wow, they take the phrase not looking beyond the bonnet literally Looking forward to part 3 already 👍

[@RyansRandomRants]

Cringed while watching the whole aftermath of that incident. Why on earth anyone would be told to drive into danger baffles me.

[@smilerbob]

@@RyansRandomRants It is videos like this that does help understand how conflicts can occur on the roads especially when non locals are travelling. Everyone local has an “understanding” that everyone else doesn’t know about

[@microcolonel]

It's about etiquette and language. In New York City, that situation is routinely and calmly resolved in the way the instructor suggested; but it looks crazy to outsiders. In Michigan, they have something called the ”Michigan left”, where you take a U turn through a median, then turn right, rather than taking a left turn directly off a median. In New Hampshire, the three-point turn they did in the video would almost always be illegal. New York City is special in many ways as well; the double parked vehicles you see in this video would be towed and ticketed very quickly in most American cities, and your driving instructor would almost never allow you to cross a double yellow.

[@fredashay]

15:53 That's what I was taught in driving school as well. When you stop, you should be able to see the line over the hood/bonnet. And when you stop behind someone, you should be able to see the road surface between your car and the car in front of you.

[@guganotubo]

I know people that tailgate everyone and then stops 2 car lengths to the car in front at a junction

[@fredashay]

@@guganotubo I hate tailgaters with a passion! I wouldn't brake check them, but I either park on the side of the road to let them pass or slow down (gradually) so in case they hit me it won't be too bad. I don't even like it when people stop too close behind me at lights -- if they get rear ended, they're gonna hit me.

[@usernamemattie]

Another really interesting watch Ashley, once these episodes have finished it would nice to have you make a reaction video to go through your thoughts on the differences. Also would be great to Chris over here and he become the student 😂

[@em0_tion]

Thank you for sharing this, Ashley. I'm busting Chris' balls in my mind, but seriously he looks like a very knowledgeable colleague with interesting insights and reasonings from his perspective. 🙏👏 15:49 That was my favorite advice from him, especially for tight streets where city buses frequent. Generally sound, but particularly now with all the road construction around my city. 😁

[@KXXULADavidOC]

really enjoying this series, its so interesting ans as Liz mentioned im amazed to see who quite the streets are, would have expected alot more traffic it being New York, looking forward to the next one and seeing what things are like as you get nearer Manhattan.

[@younggarethr]

Firstly, thanks for all the great videos you post. As for this series I can only think the American way of driving around that grid system is nuts. Appreciate its their country, their rules but a lot of methods don't make sense. I can only imagine what expletive was going through your mind at 18:10 when the guy stands pretty much mid-lane and takes a photo. Your instructor didn't bat an eyelid. Looking forward to the next installment.

[@warrenSPQRXxl]

The two parked drivers are having some kind of discussion. I think there was a fender bender. The man getting out has his car parked over the crosswalk (illegal). As with any unusual situation caution is called for.

[@charlieb749]

The whole road layout seems very sluggish and basic. Makes me feel very grateful for all our roundabouts!

[@RichardHartl]

Oh yes! I'm in Toronto, Canada and I laugh because the city's politicians keep griping about our traffic woes yet we have slow traffic lights literally every 5 seconds I'm serious. You're absolutely right we have lazy and uninspired roads for the most part. You should be proud of the efficiency and logic your roads employ. Roundabouts are becoming more popular in Canada, especially in the west. But far far too few of them in the biggest cities. We do focus more on pedestrian safety but we fail at that too and nothing moves. North American road design is a failed experiment. We look at the UK roundabouts and road design as almost one of the 7 wonders of the world The channel Not Just Bikes, it's really good he's a Canadian guy who moved to Amsterdam because of his frustrations with idiotic design of North American roads and cities with all their stop signs. About it he says the planners in Canada threw up their arms and said "we haven't tried anything new or different and we're all out of ideas" 😅 so true

[@thomaselliot2257]

The patter and the facial expressions gave me an unexpected chuckle . Liz didn't seem impressed though 😄 Interesting to see the suburbs of New York . Like Liz I just went along for the ride 👍

[@ibs5080]

It took me a moment to realise Liz was a back seat passenger, though as soon as she spoke, I immediately recognised her voice, having met her and Ash in person at the NEC a few days ago

[@Keithbarber]

@@ibs5080 hello 👋

[@ibs5080]

@@Keithbarber Good afternoon Keith.

[@rustydusty2992]

Stop signs at every intersection along with those operated by traffic lights means a lot of stop start driving and therefore more polution than with rounderbouts over here.

[@703sam]

this is like a comedy skit, i hope he dosent charge much for his lessons

[@UKfreedom-n5b]

Steering wise its because they have had power steering for ever , in the UK its only standard in recent years

[@MrKev82]

I was taught the stopping short to see the line past the bonnet, stopping behind vehicles you should be able to see the rear tyres of the vehicle in front. I’m glad you asked about the steering, I was always taught to feed the wheel, my dad insisted that you had to do that to pass your test! Interestingly the moment I passed my test I went to hand over hand, as many do, but recently I’ve gone back to feeding the wheel and actually find it more efficient. I was in New York just before Christmas and one of the first things I noticed was how smooth the roads are, and I’ve got to say I’ve barely noticed any potholes on the 2 videos so far, wonder if the Americans could come over here and give some lessons in road maintenance?

[@davidmiller1379]

Driving in New York would do my head in. I am going to be thankful for every roundabout from now on.

[@charlieb749]

I know right! It seems like you barely make any progress whatsoever with all the stop signs and traffic lights.

[@sanchoodell6789]

In a round about way you are right! I've only been to the US once (San Francisco) and hired a bicycle there. I rode from the rental store on Columbus Avenue to Fisherman's Wharf and along the harbour front to the Golden Gate Bridge where you can ride along the sidewalk (which has a cycle lane on it). Which is just as well as the motorised traffic flows across the bridge quite quickly. But in parts of the city where I did ride with the normal traffic, all those "four way stop" intersections were a bit baffling and hard to get use to at first. You can now see why it takes so long to get from one part of NYC to the other compared to the equivalent distance in a major British city!

[@RichardHartl]

Man I'm in Toronto, Canada and I honestly think roundabouts are pure British ingenuity. Some are scared of them here but they have no clue. I hate North American road design, it's honestly so idiotic

[@RichardHartl]

​​@@charlieb749 yup that's a huge reason Toronto, Canada has such bad traffic. Get a plane ticket here and let me know. Try driving across St. Claire Avenue West and you will be in pure shock, I'm serious. Try it and let me know, we design roads for dummies because in North America (although moreso in the US) you are expected to drive to get around and so we make it so that the biggest numbskulls can use our simple yet extremely inefficient roads

[@tmerchead1]

The amount times I've seen a driver fk up a roundabout in the UK dashcam vid makes me thankful for fourway stops here.

[@rustydusty2992]

10.55 Yes Ashey they also as as in part one have got something against their tyres haven't they with all the dry steering inputs which also would start early wear of steering gear.

[@ImranOO7]

This NYC instructor is so annoying and he’s talking to you as if you have never driven let alone being a driving instructor

[@kenbrown2808]

he's bouncing back and forth between teaching ashley like a first time driver and teaching to the difference between US and UK driving codes. I found it problematic as well.

[@tmerchead1]

The ego on you is amazing he is treating Ashley like a student

[@vx4716]

Chris might be a qualified instructor but i would not do some of the things he says because compared to what we get taught in the UK some of the methods just seem confusing and misleading and more risky for example signalling to come back into lane after overtaking for example after overtaking the fedex truck at 5:10 putting a right signal on would make 9/10 people think your turning right at the crossroads.

[@ibs5080]

A follow up comment regarding stopping back from a traffic light Stop line in order to give large vehicles more space to turn into the road you are waiting in: One interesting road design in the USA and Canada is when there are two lanes of travel in your direction. Quite often at traffic lights, the Stop line for the left lane will be set further back than the Stop line for the right hand lane, for the aforementioned purpose. It helps long vehicles making an incoming left turn from the street on your right as well as those making an incoming right turn from the street on your left. I can't recall seeing such an arrangement in the UK (with left and right reversed obviously), though no doubt it may indeed exist. Further to this principle of stopping a little way back from a traffic light Stop line, I know Ashley has often advocated this in his UK videos, in order to give yourself space to manouvre out of the way of an emergency vehicle, without having to overshoot the Stop line during the red light phase.

[@ianl1052]

I'm seeing more and more junctions where cyclists get to stop ahead of motorists. This must surely be a help for larger vehicles turning. Observant cyclists would probably accommodate by moving back a little and as close to the kerb as possible.

[@andrewpenfold6165]

I thought that if you stopped prior to the stop line in the US you got honked for "stopping short"😂

[@kenbrown2808]

it bears mentioning on this topic that in many US cities, emergency services will override the traffic signal in the direction they are coming from, and turn it green, which allows traffic in front of them to go through the intersection and clear the path. - but if they do not, and the only way to clear a path is to cross the stop line, most places will not issue a citation.

[@sw8296]

Junction of High Road and Burgess Road in Southampton has this staggering. Only one I can think of.

[@andyalder7910]

UK has staggered stop lines although the only ones I can think of is where one lane is a turn lane.

[@richardeggett9432]

will you be inviting Chris over here. i think that would be good to watch

[@TheBeardedQuack]

This is really interesting, I would also love to see Chris come over and do a driving lesson/tour in the UK with yourself! We might find even more interesting differences in perspective.

[@Lee3De]

Seems like he’s doesn’t want to get involved with the intricacies of driving. Do they even have a Highway Code??

[@ibs5080]

Each state usually has what's known as a "Driving Manual" and laws / practices can vary from state to state. Same for Canada.

[@tmerchead1]

Nope no rules whatvsoever especially not state by state, don't have even licenses and those road markings you see are just for decoration also if you see a camera here in the states makes sure to increase your speed well over the limit.

[@zaphod4245]

00:05 Not quite right about that, the reason you have to stop like that in the US is that at traffic lights, you have a green light, but the pedestrians on the road you turn into also have a green man, in the UK pedestrians only have green man if no one can turn into the road, which isn't the case in the US

[@ruawhitepaw]

In the Netherlands, if you get a green arrow to the left or right, the pedestrians and cyclists must have red. But if you just get a regular green circle, then they could have green too and you have to look out for them when you turn.

[@kenbrown2808]

@@ruawhitepaw that's the US system, as well.

[@deyfuck]

I'm being pedantic here, but In the UK, you can have cars in the middle of a junction who need to complete a right turn, and a green man on the road they're turning in to at the same time.

[@zaphod4245]

@@deyfuck I mean yeah, being pedantic. Though at junctions where this is common it'll be factored into the timings, so the green man won't go green straight away. So only if theres an exceptionally long queue or someone stalled or smth will this happen

[@deyfuck]

@@zaphod4245 happens pretty regularly on my daily walk, even with little traffic to speak of. seems more common to me at lights that cycle very quickly. must be harder to get the timing down perfectly at those.

[@margaretnicol3423]

I hate that there's no wiggly lines at the crossings or seemingly no rules to not park right at the junctions. You can't see what's coming - cars or pedestrians.

[@Jim610]

Was it just me or was Cris very defensive?

[@PedroConejo1939]

Wow, that was hard work. I've never had lessons in the States, like most people, just got in whatever car was available to me and driven - although I have taken the time to read the HWC for whatever state I was based in. Most of it is common sense but the rules that relate to 100 ft for signalling and distances away from certain vehicles have always completely baffled me. I've no idea what 100 ft looks like.

[@normiedeathsquad40]

30 meters or around the width of a football pitch.

[@PedroConejo1939]

@@normiedeathsquad40 How does that help me? Football pitches are different sizes.

[@normiedeathsquad40]

@@PedroConejo1939 that's why I said 'about' the size.

[@PedroConejo1939]

@@normiedeathsquad40 That's about meaningless.

[@kenbrown2808]

@@PedroConejo1939 that was something that surprised me, passing through towns in the UK. not only were the football pitches not of uniform size - some were only vaguely horizontal. here, a football field is always exactly the same size, and always perfectly horizontal. but 100 feet roughly corresponds to 6-7 car lengths.

[@paull7725]

6:49 in the us it is forbidden to park in front of a fire hydrant 😊

[@czebemarci]

What's the situation with the UK parking on either side of the road, even opposite the oncoming traffic? This seems strange and different to the rest of world, as far as I can tell, US also parks only on the side of the direction of travel.

[@mistercallme3047]

Would love to see you come down and drive in Australia's wide open roads

[@josephj6521]

Sydney’s roads in the inner suburbs are narrower than New York’s!

[@EinkOLED]

Not at nighttime in the outback. Kangaroos

[@ToadmcNinja]

Drive in Sydney mate then you will see how narrow it is lol

[@mistercallme3047]

Sydney doesn't count. No one drives in Sydney, there's too much traffic

[@ToadmcNinja]

@@mistercallme3047 yea I agree but I drive and Iam a Learner and it can get stressful with the impatient traffic lol

[@zaixai9441]

There is "unnecessary signalling" and then "absurd signalling" and the signaling to go around a car are pedestrian and then signalling to come back is absurd.

[@warrenSPQRXxl]

As with the first video in New York City, everyone watching should realize that this largely residential area of Brooklyn is quite unusual in its driving patterns. Look at his Florida videos for a better understanding of typical U.S. driving.

[@thelovelyM]

Exactly every places has diffrent street

[@microcolonel]

The sheer amount of double yellow crossing in NYC is astounding. This is very different from just about everywhere else in America. The people stopped in the traffic lanes would have been towed and ticketed in most American cities.

[@drumnbassjd]

I can't quite put my finger on what it is but Ashley comes across a little bit Alan Partidge in these NY videos 🙂

[@margaretnicol3423]

Being superior because he knows this guy would fail miserably in the UK?

[@picklestheswift]

Glad to see the doughnuts weren't done by you Ash 😂! I couldn't bare all that dry steering in the 3 point turn manoeuvre/ u turn!!! 😅

[@smilerbob]

Ashley “claims” they weren’t him…😂

[@picklestheswift]

@@smilerbob yeah, I half expected the U turn to be a doughnut 😂😂

[@smilerbob]

@@picklestheswift I was waiting for it when he said shall we do a Brooklyn turn 🤣

[@kenbrown2808]

the pedestrian walking out to open their car door while Ashley was approaching - that is illegal in my state. it is specifically illegal to open a car door into traffic, but the only time it is enforced is if it causes a crash. at that point, it is the fault of the person who opened the door; assuming the other road user didn't deliberately crash into it.

[@Teguvas]

We took a driving test in Arizona for fun, Turned up in a British RHD car, manual gearbox, we were testing cars out there. The tester got in and said "Oh you drive in Europe! Just drive around the block, if you can drive there this will be easy"

[@ImScottJones]

Love this series. Mad interesting

[@radius4914]

Your communication is on point 👌 I wish I had your amazing skills!

[@suznet]

17:00 just pulling out from double parked no signal + 18:20 just get out the car & stand a yard from it, would have me swearing.

[@luluistheking1000]

You should have gone to Gold Success Driving School in Queens. They are the highest rated driving school in NY

[@paulphillips8855]

I see scrotes on scooters are exempt from red lights there too

[@n8nate]

I'm sure Chris is very good at his job and has a good pass rate in NY, but it would've been much better if Ash had been with someone that understood what he was trying to do. Show and explain the differences to UK drivers.

[@frostysog]

Are scooters allowed to go through the red lights and turn across the traffic?

[@BsktImp]

18:12 Red jumper guy doesn't give a fig. lol

[@Edsbar]

A UK driving examiner once told me that they don't care if you cross your arms when turning, rather they are looking to see if you are in good control of the car and that is where a lot of instructors think that always having both hands holding the wheel demonstrates 'better control' to the examiner. I suppose it's teaching to pass rather than teaching to drive.

[@kenbrown2808]

the hand to hand shuffle came from heavy vehicles without power steering. in a lorry, without power steering, if the wheel gets away from you, and catches a finger, it can do injury. so the teaching is to never give it a chance to get away. with power steering, there is nearly no chance of the wheel getting away.

[@MarkHewitt1978]

Driving an automatic I generally have my hands at quarter to three (or just above) and they don't move from that spot the entire time.

[@workmad3]

My driving instructor was pretty clear that crossing hands was fine when manoeuvring, but push/pull was preferred in most cases. When I did an IAM course they were much more adamant on push/pull, pointing out that any time you have an arm over the centre of your steering wheel, you are risking that arm being shattered if your airbag goes off. Needless to say, I almost always push/pull nowadays 😅

[@rogermolineux9741]

Ashley is being very diplomatic in his responses: " Why was I confusing him? Right, I totally get that."

[@JordanLR]

Very pedantic teaching methods from Chris.

[@jaycee330]

I imagine he's used to teaching very new drivers.

[@deyfuck]

To be fair to him, they were just winging the video. I think at the start they figured they'll approach it like Ashley was a complete newbie learning in NY, and then it immediately became clear to Ashley, being an experienced KZbinr, that a better approach would be to follow a route but have an open discussion about the intricacies of different driving styles, but Chris just didn't seem to pick up that the mood of the room had changed and was still in "first lesson" mode, so I think he maybe he felt like Ashley was just critiquing him personally or not giving him the due respect between two driving professionals or something, when really it was just a bit of a miscommunication about their expectations.

[@rogiermaas]

@@deyfuck My thoughts exactly.

[@JordanLR]

@@deyfuck I can see your point however you’ve assumed most of what you’ve said

[@deyfuck]

@@JordanLR Apologies, from now all opinions will be strictly evidence-based and peer-reviewed, cheers.

[@AABB-kh9eb]

2:10 Impala SS!!! 😱

[@ibs5080]

Regarding the 4 way stop, I've often wondered if this would work well in the UK as an alternate to our mini roundabouts but here in the UK we don't really "do" Stop signs. And if it was a "four way Give Way" rather than four way stop, I fear many drivers would just barrel through at an even higher speed. I guess with a painted mini roundabout, even drivers who drive over it will slow down that much more than if there was no obstacle in the middle of the intersection.

[@ruawhitepaw]

If I were to encounter a 4-way stop/give way without knowing what it's for, I'd be very confused and think everyone has to give way to everyone, and nothing ever happens. In the Netherlands, when there is no signage, you're supposed to give way to traffic from the right, but if there's traffic coming from all sides at the same time you kinda end up in the same situation and it's not clear who should go first. I was never taught what to do then.

[@kenbrown2808]

really, the only practical difference between a an all way stop (stop, all way, as the instructor calls it) and a mini roundabout, is that the all way stop is an overabout.

[@kenbrown2808]

@@ruawhitepaw if cars are waiting in all directions, the rule is you gain priority after the car from your right (or your left in the UK) has proceeded. if cars are coming to the junction in ones and twos, then cars get priority in the order they arrive.

[@rrp6405]

@@ruawhitepaw there are some 4 way give ways in the uk

[@mickyg1953]

Here in S Africa we have loads of Stop signs and 4 way stop streets. But hardly anyone stops. The only give ways are really at traffic circles (roundabouts) and freeway slip roads. Our mini traffic circles are in effect 4 way stops as the rules were changed a few years ago from the give way to the right to treating them as a rolling 4 way stop.

[@georgeg99]

Just a idea if Chris come to the UK and you do the same but in the uk

[@ibs5080]

At 5:21, I know just how much you "loved" having to right signal to come back in after passing the van! Just to show that you weren't going to carry on driving down the wrong side of the road after passing a parked vehicle eh? And yes, I was thinking the exact same thing that it could confuse others you might be turning right down that side street. Enjoying being back in the UK I take it? :)

[@kevinmartin8088]

The indicators get a constant workout, with the endless double parking!

[@ibs5080]

@@kevinmartin8088 How do BMW drivers ever survive in NY? Ok an outdated joke these days I know!

[@walkingthroughpixels]

I've never looked at my wheel while driving

[@ibs5080]

The putting on of signal when half way across the previous side road is something I do indeed do when I intend to turn or pull in immediately after. Pretty much the same principle as signaling to exit a roundabout one exit prior.

[@kenbrown2808]

yes. proper indicator use is an art in and of itself.

[@RichardHartl]

The dry steering thing is just down to him being terrible, I've never heard of that technique here in Canada

[@jeriatrick]

It's a shame common courtesy is lacking on both sides of the Atlantic and probably around the rest of the world, and that's not just in the driving arena.

[@ianl1052]

"We never take beginners onto 3rd Avenue."😉🤣

[@OxenOrb2]

I did much trickier roads in my first lessons in the UK, as Ashley alludes to

[@ibs5080]

The lower speed limit around schools is something that has been extended in my other homeland of Vancouver Canada. It's 30 kph as has always been case. However, it used to be 8 am to 5pm on school days but during covid was extended to 10 pm would you believe...and it's here to stay as a permenant measure. And yes, police will often set up to catch transgressors.

[@kenbrown2808]

here, you want to read the fine print on the signs. they will have specifics about when it is in effect, ranging from 24 hours a day, down to when children are present at the school.

[@ibs5080]

@@kenbrown2808 Indeed yes, I know that there can be several "school zone" variations, such as (but not limited to): 1. Different times of operation 2. Qualifier sign that reads "When children present" 3. "Qualifier sign that reads "When lights flashing" Plus, in any such variations there can also be a "Radar Enforced" sign - which can either be via mobile police or a fixed camera. Another variation in British Columbia (and I can't recall if I've seen it in WA and OR) are Playground Zones. Unlike School Zones, Playground Zones are in effect every day (not just school days) and the lower limit is by default in effect from dawn to dusk. Drivers sometimes get the two types of signs (and their rules) mixed up as they are very similar, but the key difference is that the school zone signs do indeed say "School" or state the times of operation with the words "School Days". One interesting feature or school / playground zone speed limits: There is no sign facing you at the far end to tell you when you are out of such a zone. It's actually the sign that tells the oncoming traffic in the opposite direction that they are entering such a zone that also tells you that you are leaving it. The shape of such a sign is pretty distictive and you can also confirm it is indeed that sign via your drivers side mirror after passing it.

[@kenbrown2808]

@@ibs5080 I suppose this is a good subthread to let people from out of the US know that we have two types of speed sign. the big white ones are speed limits, and are enforced with citations. the smaller yellow ones seen on signs warning of a bend in the road are "advisory" limits, which advise of the recommended speed to avoid a crash.

[@ibs5080]

@@kenbrown2808 Oh yes! Very familiar with the yellow advisory speed signs in the USA and Canada. Kept having to remind my Mum that yellow means advisory and are set "somewhat low" for the lowest common denominator of vehicle. As you will know, one gets used to approximately how much more than the advisory limit your vehicle will safely take. I will say, I would not exceed the yellow advisory speeds by much and if on an unfamiliar road, would likely be right at that advisory speed anyway.

[@kenbrown2808]

@@ibs5080 and I've been caught saying, "if mine is pushing your sports car around the corner, you could maybe take it a little faster"

[@ibs5080]

Chris commented that flashing yellow means Yield but also said that flashing yellow means proceed with caution. To me, those are two contradictary statements. Taking my example of Vancouver, flashing yellow does indeed mean proceed with caution. However, you still have priority. Any traffic on the side streets will have to stop or yield to you depending on the "traffic control device" they are facing. They might have a flashing red light, or a Stop or Yield sign - it varies but the principle is the same.

[@martincheesman4564]

I concur, he didn’t say look at the steering wheel!

[@ibs5080]

Regarding the feeding the wheel in the UK, I've heard others describe it as though it's like milking a cow!

[@kenbrown2808]

good way of putting it.

[@stupot008]

Enjoyed this, interesting

[@MeganLaveyHeaton]

I am an American driver being shown this by my Scouser husband. I have NEVER heard of a "broken U-turn." I was tested on doing a 3-point turn in Alabama in 1997. He is greatly enjoying the yelling I have been doing during these two episodes. Also, the grabbing of the steering wheel like was done? The instructor when I learned never did that. It was considered very dangerous.

[@grahamnutt8958]

Where to start? Hmm..... First point - Using one full turn of the steering wheel is something that I do not agree with. Different vehicles have tighter turning circles/steering racks than others. My argument here is that a full turn for one car might only require 3/4 of a turn in others. My old Camry - long gone now - was awful in terms of its rack/turning circle compared to a number of other cars I've owned. One size does not fit all situations. Second point - using a turn signal for a 3 point turn would absolutely screw up the majority of 🇬🇧 BMW drivers as they rarely; if ever; seem to use them......... Whoops; I'm stereotyping again lol. As for the dry steering; that goes against everything I've been taught 😮. For some reason - don't ask - I thought about Bruce Willis rampaging through Central Park (and the streets) in "Die Hard With a Vengeance"....... I'm sure that your Instructor would disapprove! Suffice to say that I will not be driving in New York 😅.

[@bii2176]

you have the patience of a saint my friend

[@chrispop99]

Wide roads, very similar junctions - looks like a piece a cake!

[@mihohobaba]

What's with all that unnecessary signalling while doing a three point turn? Weird!

[@Wahian1]

I thought the same-he could have explained who you’re signalling to besides no one as it seems pointless.

[@warrenSPQRXxl]

Remember he is teaching to pass the test. I think it something peculiar to New York City which is highly atypical from most of the U.S.

[@tmerchead1]

@@Wahian1 Its not unnecessary if your going to turn you should indicate your intentions to other road users not just do it. Safety is important .

[@micheals1992]

Is it just me or do all those stop signs make it very slow and inefficient to drive around in New York? Especially having junctions where all 4 sides have a stop sign

[@RichardHartl]

You're right, we have inefficient and idiotic road design in North America. I'm in Toronto, Canada and we have maybe 3 obscure minor roundabouts in a city of 3 million and thousands of stops signs and traffic lights. And the politicians wonder why nothing moves 😔

[@tmerchead1]

This is a highly populated urban residential area its not a place for speeding.

[@micheals1992]

@@tmerchead1 you don't need to speed to be efficient and have a decent average speed. I'm guessing the issue is I live in the UK where these stop signs would probably be roundabouts. There's also roads where I live that are 40mph limits but you can get the same average speed doing 30mph as the traffic lights are timed perfectly when you're doing 30mph, if you do 40mph you have to stop at every single one.

[@bwoo6223]

What about the scooter going through a red light?

[@leedorney]

Wonder if Ashley's gonna tour the world

[@gareth14111984]

I really don't like his style of teaching, not telling you what to do beforehand, but telling you off for doing it wrong afterwards... tells you to hold back due to oncoming white car, then tells you off for holding back for white car... A teacher like this wouldn't last a month in the UK.

[@gillas26]

Interesting concept these videos but I think a different format might be better. I would suggest doing it more like Ashley's own instructor tuition where the "native" instructor drives and commentates on what is going on then teaches Ashley. I think Chris expected Ashley to know a lot of the local practises because he wouldn't know that they are any different. (And neither would Ashley if he hadn't done this). Chris also doesn't seem to be that interested in the point of the video and is treating it more like another job which could just be his personality but he doesn't come across as being that engaged with the whole concept. I would like to see more of this type of video but it would need the correct personality to make it work which is why Ashley's videos work so well. It would be useful to see some videos of a similar nature in Europe, other states and countries where we are are likely to find ourselves driving. Perhaps there are some international "Ashley's" out there that would like to collaborate because them doing the same in England would also be interesting and useful to those coming to drive in England.

[@sassyboofle6983]

That was different , think you dealt so well . Some fun exchanges there . 🤭

[@andyb8015]

Are Mopeds allowed to jump red lights in NY?

[@loopwithers]

Feeding the wheel UK style works better if you are in a skid or a slide.

[@olii9062]

I don't get that. When you keep your hands in a fixed position you can feel exactly what position the front wheels are at which is perfect for steering into a slide.

[@kenbrown2808]

my results are different. correcting a skid wants a fast response, which in a small skid is well accomplished without changing hand positions, but to catch a bad oversteer, you have to get the wheel cranked around faster than feeding the wheel is conducive to.

[@loopwithers]

@@olii9062 True. However, if you are driving on ice or gravel or get hit in the side, rotating the wheels fast from one lock to the other is quicker and more accurate if you learn to shuffle the wheel.

[@loopwithers]

@@kenbrown2808 Yes but you won't need to 'shuffle' the wheel for a small correction. And yes, spinning the wheel using two fingers is fastest...but you barely have a grip if the wheels feed back on you (for example, if they whack an obstruction or a tyre blows).

[@kenbrown2808]

@@loopwithers the answer is to not be locked in to one style of steering wheel handling. turning around in my driveway, I spin the wheel with a finger. making sharp turns in traffic, I either go hand over hand or shuffle depending on travel speed.

[@darenbayliss7173]

It’s so same but different!

[@SuburbanDon]

I'm from Philadelphia and I totally don't agree with signaling to pass vehicles stopped on the roadside or for pedestrians or bicycle riders in my lane. as in the UK, it's not necessary and can be misleading to drivers in front of you

[@vanessabanting4764]

Was that on a Sunday ? It was so quiet

[@ashley_neal]

I think it was a Thursday👍

[@vanessabanting4764]

@@ashley_neal you should get Chris over here that would be interesting . Loving the New York videos thanks Ashley

[@adammoorby99]

@@vanessabanting4764 he’d not last one minute with all the signalling before looking and dry steering etc.

[@stefansoder6903]

I first thought he called it a Brooklyn U-turn!

[@ibs5080]

That was very interesting Ash. And for me, not only was I comparing it to driving in the UK but also Canada. Looking forward to Part 3. BTW, your face is very familiar. By any chance, have we met in the past? Oh wait! :)

[@ibs5080]

Re: Ashley's opening comment regarding giving priority to pedestrians and that this is how it now should be done in the UK (due to the HC changes): I absolutely DREAM of the day where this becomes universal in the UK but as we all know, many drivers here either don't know of the changes or don't care. In my case, I've been rather "spoiled" in Canada / USA regarding this aspect for many years. I have to say, every time I see a driver in the UK give pedestrian priority in this way, I just want to go up to their window and give them a huge Thank You...or even a bar of chocolate! But alas, that's not practical! However, I live in hope that over time, this "pedestrian priority" will become universally understood practice in the UK. To give a parallel example, decades ago I truly wished that daytime headlights would become the norm in the UK. I actually never thought it would ever happen over here but it did. So I do feel there is hope with this.

[@kenbrown2808]

they should paint give way markings as the border for the pedestrian crossings. that might help people adapt.

[@smilerbob]

I was pleasantly surprised yesterday morning when for the first time I saw someone stop for a pedestrian coming off a junction near me. Everyone appears to claim the “well the road is busy behind me so I cannot stop” attitude of the should wording. I will always stop *unless* I see someone speeding and not paying attention behind me. I don’t want to stop, get rear ended and then pushed into the pedestrian

[@MarkHewitt1978]

@@kenbrown2808 Agreed there should be 'zebra crossing' markings painted across juntions to make it clear. Best will in the world very few are going to give way to peds crossing when turning into a minor from major road for fear of being rear ended. The physical layout doesn't help with wide radius pavements to enable cars to enter at speed.

[@kenbrown2808]

@@MarkHewitt1978 the paranoia about being rear ended is another emotional difference between American drivers and UK drivers. just like we don't lose sleep over the occasional "dry steer" and think you will wear out the parking brake if you pull it on every time you come to a stop, we don't lose sleep over the possibility somebody will rear end us. if they do, that's THEIR problem, not ours.

[@ibs5080]

@@smilerbob I can totally relate to the being "pleasantly surprised" part with this and it's then pretty obvious that such a driver is clued in to the new HC rules. I do agree with you about being cautious to not get rear ended when letting pedestrians cross. I have on occassion carried on driving when in fact, I would have preferred to wait for the pedestrian but deemed it to be unsafe to do so. I have to admit to feeling somewhat mean spirited towards a waiting pedestrian whenever I do that. However, it's preferable to getting rammed and as you eluded to, possibly being projected into the very pedestrian you were hoping to keep safe.

[@kenbrown2808]

a fair bit of this is "two great nations separated by a common language"

[@ibs5080]

Never heard the term "Broken U turn", neither in the USA or Canada. As Liz commented, it's simply what we call a "3 point turn" in the UK. And I've never heard of having to signal each portion of a 3 point turn in the UK. I can perhaps understand an initial right signal in the UK to pull away from the curb and steer hard right but no more.

[@kevinmartin8088]

And doing the 3 point turn over a set of double lines! Most places if you did that on a driving test, would be an instant FAIL. Mind you there was absolutely no traffic around, just as well considering how long it took to complete the task, with Chris endlessly telling Ashley how to drive!

[@ibs5080]

Sure seems there's a lot of double parking around NY, including for deliveries. I don't see that in Canada as much.

[@kenbrown2808]

in my town, we have a continuous left turn lane through much of it, so deliveries park in that.

[@rdshaw92]

Not going to lie, I am shocked if this is how US drivers are being taught in their lessons. But I guess you can get away with it more when a lot of the roads are wide and straight, with 90 degree turns. Not only do I think the Highway Code and the standard of teaching is better in the UK, but I find the way signalling is taught questionable as well. I prefer the signalling where necessary approach, with a thought process as to why I am putting a signal on, rather then doing it because just because that is the process.

[@ballbag]

I've driven in America loads no issues at all, but the rules and techniques seem so so badly thought out and old fashioned.

[@johnm5092]

Be honest Ashley, after the filming took place, how many swear words were uttered because of this guys personality? It’s like you were talking to a brick wall. Zero attempt to find common ground, just a very rigid perspective on things and not a very nice manner of teaching.

[@charlieb749]

My thoughts exactly!

[@adammoorby99]

Typical american tbf

[@momentsinfragments1536]

That guy loves to talk,a bit too much 😂😂not very nice to interrupt you all the time,I have to say,I ADMIRE your patience🙏🙏🙏🙏

[@groovytirma2409]

Bitta banta innit bruv

[@two-countiesdashcam]

I would imagine patience goes with Ashleys job...

[@cooltechno360]

@@two-countiesdashcam You'd be surprised the number of instructors that lack patience, it's difficult to find instructors like Ashley.

[@andrewgilbertson5356]

Great vid thank you.

[@davidrumming4734]

Oil in the power steering? Mines fully electric steering…is there any oil in that? In a way USA broken U turn is a bit easier than our 3 point turn. Less todo if you can just dry steer the whole thing. Tbh, so far, Swindon and the smaller towns around it are way more busy than that - even on a weekday out of rush hour. Fiat owners could keep their City steering button permanently switched on.

[@AB-oc7de]

I always taught your hands follow your eyes, never look down at steering wheel.

[@ketchup901]

Would like it if you could do this with someone who is actually a good instructor.