Driving Test

[the wopster]

Have they changed the "grading" in the last few months, I'm confused.. When I did my test last October or whatever it was, if you had 1 major you would fail. THis was for not driving safely or things like that (not over taking a bus as well, or not attempting to...if the bus was there for a while you are creating traffic so this was one)

But then otherwise you could have like 13? Minors, so a minor for not doing a side mirror check, things like that.

There are three category's
The correct terminology is driving fault = minor ,serious/dangerous driving fault = major
And your allowed 15 driving faults before you automatically fail

 

[Jason2]

People who took their test over 10 years ago should be made to retake. There really are that many bad drivers on the road. And more often than not it's the older folks.

 

[the wopster]

People who took their test over 10 years ago should be made to retake. There really are that many bad drivers on the road. And more often than not it's the older folks.

I have been saying that for years, but it should be everyone that must do refresher training every 5 years like PCV/HGV drivers have to now do CPC training every 5 years.

 

[King4aDay]

People who took their test over 10 years ago should be made to retake. There really are that many bad drivers on the road. And more often than not it's the older folks.

Christ, I'm 29 and already I'm getting lumped in with the old folks.

Back under your bridge matey.

 

[yosamuel]

Congratulations.

Like you, I passed last summer after having lessons on-and-off for nine years—I’m still buzzing off the fact that I can legally drive.

I found that it wasn’t until I bought a car, and started driving regularly, that the real learning started. I’m still getting used to it (driving around the city still terrifies me), but I can feel my confidence build every time I go on the road.

Good luck out there!

 

[Gammawolf]

Have they changed the "grading" in the last few months, I'm confused.. When I did my test last October or whatever it was, if you had 1 major you would fail. THis was for not driving safely or things like that (not over taking a bus as well, or not attempting to...if the bus was there for a while you are creating traffic so this was one)

But then otherwise you could have like 13? Minors, so a minor for not doing a side mirror check, things like that.

You can be awarded a minor or a major for doing exactly the same thing in two different scenarios depending on whether or not it affects another driver. See it like not needing to indicate if theres no one to indicate to type thing.

 

[Buchanan0204]

Congratulations.

Like you, I passed last summer after having lessons on-and-off for nine years—I’m still buzzing off the fact that I can legally drive.

I found that it wasn’t until I bought a car, and started driving regularly, that the real learning started. I’m still getting used to it (driving around the city still terrifies me), but I can feel my confidence build every time I go on the road.

Good luck out there!

City driving is BRUTALLL!

Get onto some country roads or smaller towns to practice and play.

 

[Buchanan0204]

Christ, I'm 29 and already I'm getting lumped in with the old folks.

Back under your bridge matey.

Haha!

I think at age 60 their should be yearly retests. Also failure to declare going blind or whatever should see your license revoked indefinitely.

I think your safe at 29

 

[EdGey]

I failed my first test because I failed to stop at a zebra crossing when an old lady was apparently waiting at the side.

I wonder if she knows.

 

[Gammawolf]

City driving is BRUTALLL!

Get onto some country roads or smaller towns to practice and play.

I question how standardised the tests actually are. I mean as a complete novice to driving (Having passed my test and not driven since) I don't feel daunted at all by city driving or motor ways. But thats to do with the driving centre my instructor was aiming for me to pass at (Sheffield Parkway). In order to pass this center you need to be prepared for city driving and they will pretty much always take you out onto the parkway, which for all intents and purposes functions like a motorway. But then theres centres that are out in the sticks that don't have these types of situations? Just some rambling really as the thought came into my mind..

I failed my first test because I failed to stop at a zebra crossing when an old lady was apparently waiting at the side.

I wonder if she knows.

Sounds a bit naughty if you ask me, no where can I find that you are required to stop if someones waiting. It only states:

As you approach a zebra crossing look out for pedestrians waiting to cross and be ready to slow down or stop to let them cross
You MUST give way when a pedestrian has moved onto a crossing
Allow more time for stopping on wet or icy roads
Do not wave or use your horn to invite pedestrians across; this could be dangerous if another vehicle is approaching
Be aware of pedestrians approaching from the side of the crossing.

So as long as she wasn't on the crossing you were fine? Of course though everyone does stop but I can't see it stated that you must if theres no one on the crossing.

 

[the wopster]

I question how standardised the tests actually are. I mean as a complete novice to driving (Having passed my test and not driven since) I don't feel daunted at all by city driving or motor ways. But thats to do with the driving centre my instructor was aiming for me to pass at (Sheffield Parkway). In order to pass this center you need to be prepared for city driving and they will pretty much always take you out onto the parkway, which for all intents and purposes functions like a motorway. But then theres centres that are out in the sticks that don't have these types of situations? Just some rambling really as the thought came into my mind..


Sounds a bit naughty if you ask me, no where can I find that you are required to stop if someones waiting. It only states:

As you approach a zebra crossing look out for pedestrians waiting to cross and be ready to slow down or stop.
You MUST give way when a pedestrian has moved onto a crossing
Allow more time for stopping on wet or icy roads
Do not wave or use your horn to invite pedestrians across; this could be dangerous if another vehicle is approaching
Be aware of pedestrians approaching from the side of the crossing.

So as long as she wasn't on the crossing you were fine? Of course though everyone does stop but I can't see it stated that you must if theres no one on the crossing.

Your incorrect if someone is waiting to cross you MUST stop, if you don't you will get a serious driving fault in a number of areas.

It tells you in the first part or what you wrote-As you approach a zebra crossing look out for pedestrians waiting to cross and be ready to slow down or stop.

you must give way to a zebra crossing hence the reason they are not traffic light controlled pedestrians have the right of way, also that's the reason you won't find zebra crossings on roads that are above the 30mph limit they will be PELICAN, PUFFIN, TOUCAN crossings.

 

[FishFluff]

Congrats on passing your test OP. I only passed last February at the age of 31 and it was the best thing I ever did. Such freedom!

 

[MooMoo444]

Whats wrong with not looking through rear window?

The rear view mirror is the same thing. I don't see the fuss. You don't stick your head out the drives window and look behind you when turning right, you use the mirror.

 

[Gammawolf]

Your incorrect if someone is waiting to cross you MUST stop, if you don't you will get a serious driving fault in a number of areas.

It tells you in the first part or what you wrote-As you approach a zebra crossing look out for pedestrians waiting to cross and be ready to slow down or stop.

you must give way to a zebra crossing hence the reason they are not traffic light controlled pedestrians have the right of way, also that's the reason you won't find zebra crossings on roads that are above the 30mph limit they will be PELICAN, PUFFIN, TOUCAN crossings.

It doesn't say that you MUST stop though, only to be ready to slow down or stop. This is presumably because the moment they step on the crossing they have right of way so you then have to be prepared stop. The lack of the "MUST" command makes it advisory rather than a command is what i thought.

 

[original.wood]

just to state what happened, the Examiner told me that due to the reverse park being next to a grass verge it wasn't seen a major fault, I did look through the rear window, just not at the start of the maneuver, so he let me skip on that one.

 

[original.wood]

Whats wrong with not looking through rear window?

The rear view mirror is the same thing. I don't see the fuss. You don't stick your head out the drives window and look behind you when turning right, you use the mirror.

its because apparently when cars were much bigger many years ago, and children played in the streets, you physically looked through your rear window so you might be able to see children's heads.

 

[mame]

Congrats! I passed on my 2nd test, got the same examiner. I've got to say as well, that myth about only passing a certain amount of people each month. I always thought it was stupid, but my boyfriend kept making a point of it. My first test was at the end of the March, and I failed. The examiner pulled me over at the side of the road near to a school at the school kicking out time. Traffic everywhere, and because I didn't pull out quick enough for him, he didn't like it, and failed me.

2nd test was at the beginning of the May, got the same examiner. He pulled me over at the side of the road after my independent drive section and I mounted the kerb a tiiiiiny bit (one of them flat low kerbs, not a standard one), but my heart sank and I was like noooooooooooooooooo i've failed. I even forgot the road changed to 20 and was doing 30 until the next set of signs, and I still passed, hahah!

So yeah, the myth might possibly not be a myth

I failed my first test due to effective use or mirrors when signalling. Apart from that I did quite well. On my 2nd test I did OK but with plenty of minors. I was in a filter lane waiting to turn into the test centre (well its estate) after a minute or so the examiner told me that I needed to put my indicator on I was always told that if the examiner needed to tell you anything then you had failed. I parked back up in the test centre with a face like a smacked arse only to be told that I'd passed. Apparently I did indicate but the indicator had cancelled as I straightened up in the filter lane. This was a long time ago and I don't mind posting it here as I understand that any appeal after the test, the examiners decision still stands. This was a long time ago anyway