did my first big drive and have a few questions

Appreciate input from more experienced drivers on these situations. I went to the lake district btw so the driving was tough given i passed 5 weeks ago!!!

1. On the motorway 3x as I was passing a HGV in the middle lane the HGV started indicating right. I didn't know if they could see me so what to do. Each time I just got out of the way asap either sideways front or back just in case but it freaked me out.

2. When should you peep the horn? I saw people doing it on blind turns/hills on the narrow single track roads but only a few did it.

3. I got stuck behind a cyclist on a seriously steep hill and I didn't feel I could see far enough to safely overtake so I was crawling behind him. Think the car behind just thought I couldn't handle the hill and was trying to get past me and beeping. I didn't know how to communicate that I was waiting for a reason.

4. I struggled generally on severely steep hills (like 10-20% gradient) with gear changes. I found if I wanted to change down a gear the car slowed so fast the second I put the clutch down that I was in danger of causing someone to go into the back of me. This was leaving me taking hills probably in a lower gear than necessary to avoid gear changes which made people frustrated at my speed.

1) Don't sit next to a HGV. Either overtake it, or pull in behind it. That's their blind spot.

2) Read the highway code.

3) You probably could have overtaken it just fine.

4) Use. Your. Right. Foot.

Appreciate input from more experienced drivers on these situations. I went to the lake district btw so the driving was tough given i passed 5 weeks ago!!!

1. On the motorway 3x as I was passing a HGV in the middle lane the HGV started indicating right. I didn't know if they could see me so what to do. Each time I just got out of the way asap either sideways front or back just in case but it freaked me out.

2. When should you peep the horn? I saw people doing it on blind turns/hills on the narrow single track roads but only a few did it.

3. I got stuck behind a cyclist on a seriously steep hill and I didn't feel I could see far enough to safely overtake so I was crawling behind him. Think the car behind just thought I couldn't handle the hill and was trying to get past me and beeping. I didn't know how to communicate that I was waiting for a reason.

4. I struggled generally on severely steep hills (like 10-20% gradient) with gear changes. I found if I wanted to change down a gear the car slowed so fast the second I put the clutch down that I was in danger of causing someone to go into the back of me. This was leaving me taking hills probably in a lower gear than necessary to avoid gear changes which made people frustrated at my speed.

1. I was overtaking... on the speed limit... But it still takes a few seconds.

2. I'm aware of what the highway code says. But do you beep on every blind section? Cos that was multiple times a mile.

3. I could not and I'm not going to take chances overtaking a cyclist.

4. How does using my accelerator help? I was always taught you can't use the accelerator with the clutch down. If I speed up before changing I just exacerbate the engine braking.

Also... if you find my questions annoying hit the back button rather than being snarky. I've been driving 5 weeks and driving in the lake district is very different and much harder than anything I had previously experienced on local roads. Just trying to learn from the experience for next time.

I've been driving for many years and if I'm overtaking on a motorway I check that the lane to my right is clear behind me, indicate then pull out to overtake.

Lorries tend to indicate even if the lane to their right is not clear and often expect traffic in lane 2 to move to lane 3 to allow them to overtake as it takes them a while to build up their speed and don't want to lose momentum.
As they're a lot bigger than my car I either move out to lane 3 to overtake or slow down in lane 2 to let the lorry pull out.

1. Usually HGV drivers start indicating having seen the car behind and intend to pull out after you, or hope you will give way to them by holding back or changing lane. The secret is keep your nerve, never sit in their blind spot (where you can't see their mirrors) and to either confidently pass them while they signal or purposely hold back or change lane so they realise you are giving way. In my experience confidently passing them is usually the best bet to keep the traffic flowing, but be aware if anyone is approaching in lane 3 in case they do pull out. I think this situation is one of the most common and difficult busy motorway dilemmas, by the way.

2. This is a grey area. Advanced driving promotes a horn signal ahead of blind turns etc, but few are advanced drivers. Plus it could be a risk on roads where horses are likely. Best advice is to make use of the horn more than most would, but not routinely at every tight bend nor where you have seen horses or horse warning signs.

3. Select the right low gear and hold back until you can overtake leaving a full car width between you and the cyclist. You can't really avoid that there are countless idiots behind you that will not follow this, you just have to be aware of them and not be foolish like them. However if there is a safe gap be aware of what is going on behind and go for it, don't dither. A dilemma I have had is where the centre road line is solid, the cyclists are going at more than 10mph but it is safe to pass. Strictly speaking you shouldn't straddle the solid line to pass but I think you can use a bit of 'estimation' about the cyclists' speed.

4. I think you are largely doing the right things. On steep down hills you want the benefit of 'engine braking'. So use your brakes first to get to speed you are comfortable with for the hill, select the right gear (usually 3rd) and go for it. A trick I have learnt is to keep a foot very lightly on the brake so the brakes lights are showing through out, encouraging others behind to hold back and making it easy for you to do some further light braking if you wish. Avoid harsh on and off braking,

Anyway, sounds like you did really well on your fist novice driver challenging experience. All your questions are advanced driving ones. Have a look at the IAM or RoSPA advance driving test on line. Really good tuition is available at a fraction of the cost of learning to drive.

1. I was overtaking... on the speed limit... But it still takes a few seconds.

2. I'm aware of what the highway code says. But do you beep on every blind section? Cos that was multiple times a mile.

4. How does using my accelerator help? I was always taught you can't use the accelerator with the clutch down. If I speed up before changing I just exacerbate the engine braking.

Thanks for the advice, really helpful. Yeah I was mostly doing the hills in 2nd once they were 15-20% as it was easier to adjust on corners and more engine braking on windy descents etc but i think I annoyed people going too slowly. I just pulled over a couple of times in laybys if a few cars built up behind. The roads were mostly quiet. I knew all the theory but then you come to a sign saying '14% gradient low gear now' and I'm thinking what's low? 2? 3? 1? I know about brake fade but what's too much braking? Can be hard to judge and you don't wanna find our where the line is!. I'll definitely look at those courses, I did extra motorway lessons and that was really helpful.

4. I struggled generally on severely steep hills (like 10-20% gradient) with gear changes. I found if I wanted to change down a gear the car slowed so fast the second I put the clutch down that I was in danger of causing someone to go into the back of me. This was leaving me taking hills probably in a lower gear than necessary to avoid gear changes which made people frustrated at my speed.

Tell me what car is that, what engine version and at what revs did you try to climb and failed?
Even weak modern cars have pretty flat torque characteristics, they are usually able to climb most of hill without doing kick downs.

Speaking of kicking gears down, it can be done very quickly, exactly like here:
https://youtu.be/xqy5x3ufyK8?t=50

It's all a matter of practice.
First, move your hand to the stick shift, then switch to the lower gear, and hit the clutch only mid the move, before you go from neutral to the gear you want, but not before getting to neutral.

That's actually very helpful I might practice doing it very fast. I have a fiesta 07 1.4l and I didn't fail on any hills but rather often took them a gear lower than I maybe could have to avoid having to change half way up.

Start off slowly. With the engine turned off, practice all the moves very slowly, gradually increasing the speed of performing all the movements combo, like a pianist who starts of pracitcing a new piece very very slowly. Once you master doing it very fast, then start off slowly again, this time driving the car. The point is to learn the right habits, without inprinting any errors into your brain. It's nowhere as difficult as playing the piano, but this pianist technique of learning is extremely effective.

Speaking the revs, petrol engines are generally unable to climb if they don't rev at least 2200-2500 rpms.

You’re a stupid prick mate

I was in the exact same position as you last year, just trying to ask some decent questions and got some pointless replys from iwmtom. Best to ignore the n**** and every thing he says. All rubbish