There are really only two reasons for this:

Insufficient instruction/prompting if required- Make sure that you give an appropriate level of help and support.

Lack of understanding - Ask questions to ensure that your learners understand why it is important to start the MSM routine with the mirrors. The answer of course, is to ensure that it is safe to carry out the intended manoeuvre.

Important: If problems with the MSM routing persist it's likely that you are either moving through the syllabus too quickly or are choosing routes that are too complex for the learner's current ability. This also applies to most of the issues listed below.

There are several reasons why the driver might be going too fast. Perhaps the most common reason is that he/she is unable to judge an appropriate speed.

Start by checking your learner's understanding - does he/she know how fast to approach? Fix any gaps in knowledge.

Next, if the route is appropriate repeat the junction with a level of assistance agreed with the learner. Saying things like, "go slower" or "slow down" will often not be enough. You need to be more specific "Press the footbrake to slow down to about 5 miles an hour". You might also need to add in extra instruction such as "brake a bit harder". If the route is not appropriate or if the fix doesn't work, move to a less demanding situation.

Explain that when approaching too fast there is not enough time to make proper observation - this means that safe and appropriate opportunities to proceed might be missed. Another danger is that vehicles behind are more likely to bump into you if you approach quickly and then stop because they might be expecting your car to keep going.

As with speed on approach this is more than likely due to 'overload'. The most common cause being insufficient assistance or an inappropriate route.

Check for understanding and then agree a level of help (if needed) to prevent the problem occurring again for a least two junctions before handing full responsibility back to the learner.

Coasting is normally only likely to happen on major-to-minor turns, and predominantly on left turns.

You should be able to spot coasting quite easily by the sound and feel of the car. If you don't instantly recognise coasting, go out in your car and practise. Practise coasting that is! Get used to what the car feels like in different situations and at different speeds with the clutch pressed down.

Again, as with virtually every other fault, fix will be to ensure that your learner understands the importance of keeping the clutch pedal up followed by an agreed level of help preventing the fault from reoccurring at the next couple of junctions before transferring responsibility

As with T-junctions ensure that observation is taken early enough to take opportunities to proceed. Remembering that there are three roads to check!

This is either a judgment or an observation problem.

Make sure that your learner is actively looking to the right and left, not just going through the motions. Discuss the approaching traffic and how much time is available.

If it's a judgment problem it might help if you take control by making the decision to proceed for two or three junctions, instructing your learner accordingly. Make sure that any course of action is agreed beforehand and that the learner knows exactly what to expect.

Taking up a position too far away from or too close to centre lines / Positioning too close or too far away from the left kerb

Learners will often take information literally. This means that if you explain your briefing that the car should be positioned to the right when turning right the learner might take up a position to the right completely block the road for approaching traffic.

If this happens, pull up for a moment and demonstrate (using your Visual Teaching System) the relationship between road width and road positioning when turning right.

Make sure that your learner understands how much time it takes to safely pass in front of other vehicles. Recap the 'walk across' rule.

If this is a persistent problem it would be wise to fix it on right turn approaches away from crossroads - returning to add the extra dimension of the third road at crossroads after the problem has been fixed.

• Ignoring pedestrians when entering or emerging other roads
  
  
• Cutting right hand corners
  
  
• Driving through traffic lights or marked crossroads without taking appropriate observation
  
  
• Assuming priority at unmarked/uncontrolled crossroads
  
  
• Failing to emerge promptly when safe to do so
  
  
• Giving priority to other vehicles when it is safe to proceed
  
  
• Waiting behind stop line at green traffic lights when intending to turn right
  
  
• Entering or failing to enter a box-junction in accordance with regulations