Failed driving test - question about my major fault

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Aod

Aod

Aod

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Hi chaps, had my first driving test yesterday, which unfortunately for me, I failed.

Aside from a minor for mirrors when turning and for insufficent speed, I got a couple for "steering", apparently I wasn't steering sufficiently to the left when turning left, as I was taught by my instructor who was extremely paranoid about coming within a meter of the curb, and a couple for position in lane, apparently I was too far to the right on narrow roads with cars parked on both sides, again, as I was taught by my instructor who was extremely paranoid about being within a meter of parked cars.

But that's not why I failed, and not what I wanted to ask about. The examiner told me that my major (a "Serious" fault, not a Dangerous) was getting too close to a bus.

What happened was, I was approaching a 4-way junction and was turning right. I approached in the correct lane and signalled in good time. Immediately in front of me was a bus also turning right, and as the bus and I approached the junction, the lights went red and we came to a gentle stop.

When the lights changed, the bus moved off, and I followed behind. Shortly after the junction, the bus went to stop at a bus-stop, pulling to the left. I maintained my position in lane, and came to a gentle stop about a foot behind the bus, with the right edge of the bus in line with the middle of my car, giving me a clear view of the road ahead (empty), oncoming traffic (lots) and the bus drivers mirrors.

I should add that the bus and I were on level ground.

What I don't understand is why this is a Major fault. I didn't get distracted and have to slam on the brakes, I didn't even come close to colliding with the bus. I'll freely admit that I should have pulled to a stop more firmly, leaving more space between me and the bus, but why is this a major fault?
 
Nobody can tell you without being there unfortunately - he must have seen something he didn't like. It makes no difference to him personally whether you pass or fail so he wouldn't fail you for no reason no matter how many others would love to believe.
 
Potentially it looked to the examiner like you had been maintaining too close a gap whilst following, and hadn't noticed the bus stoppig early enough to leave a sufficient gap when you pulled up.

But it's a bit difficult to say without having been there - should have asked for an explanation
 
A foot away from a bus? he probably thought you were about to hit it, that's insanely close. If the bus rolled back (it does weigh a lot, even an automatic transmission might roll back with that much weight) he'd have hit you.
 
Don't be too disheartened by failing your first test. What one examiner considers a fault another might overlook. Use this time to hone your driving skills, and learn to drive more defensively i.e. keep safe distance, anticipate other drivers actions, this will put you in good stead when you get on the road and drive for real.
 
Lol, 1 foot away?! That'll be why right there...

Also, they do have quotas as to how many they need to pass etc so wouldn't totally believe Fox's comment. No doubt many of the older blokes doing the testing pass the pretty young girls too!
 
Instructor thought you were going to run into the back of the bus = major fault

You need to leave enough space so that you can see tyres of the vehicle in front and 6 feet of Tarmac.
 
Too close behind bus.

As we are on subject, when my wife took her test approx 25 years ago, her tester was called 'Mr Pass'. Awesome name for that job. Yes, she passed first time!
 
I got a minor in my test because I went down into 1st gear approaching a round-about due to there being roadworks on it and my view partially obscured by smoke from what they were doing - examiner told me I should have proceeded in 2nd and kept up more with the car infront to keep the traffic flowing - can't see it myself as it was slightly dangerous. Doesn't seem to be that much rhyme or reason to it sometimes.

To be fair though he let me off what should have been a major when I had to go over the other side of the road slightly to avoid killing a cyclist (entirely the cyclists fault).
 
You don't usually fail because of one major fault, the examiner will have taken a view over the whole time on the test and made a judgement. He then list some of the things that went wrong. At the end of the day you need to inspire confidence in the examiner, it's not always black and white.

Andi.
 
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My instructor always used to say 'tyres and tarmac' (meaning you should be able to see the rear tyres and a bit of the road of the car in front) when in slow moving or stationary traffic.

In reality, this is a bit overkill but if you're not sure, probably best to leave a larger gap.
 
andicole0 said:
You don't usually fail because of one major fault
Click to expand...

Er... yes you do. That's why it's a major and not a minor ;)

To echo others, 1 ft is too close. If the bus had rolled back when pulling off it would have hit you. If it had broken down/been stopping for a long period, how are you going to manoeuvre round it without reversing? (impossible with traffic behind you = causing an obstruction).
 
Did your instructor never teach you that when you pull up behind a stopped vehicle in traffic/bus stop that you need to leave enough space to get around it if it breaks down/if it rolls backwards? 1ft is not gonna be enough, if it's a bus at a stop, leave a cars length, if it's another vehicle in traffic, leave half a cars length.

Your examiner doesn't know the turning circle of the vehicle you're using to do your test.

Sounds a lot to me like your instructor is either incompetent or you aren't ready to take your test yet, probably due to having a rubbish instructor. :o
 
Foot away from a rather large and unwieldy vehicle with an end that can also swing out is too close to be fair. Could have indicated a number of things to the instructor, poor attention span, braking technique or simply bad habits. Simplest rule of thumb for driving tests is that you want to be able to see the back wheels/bumper for stopping distances.

Also take the feedback about your minors to the instructor, metre off a curb and parked cars just won't fly driving in England heh.
 
andicole0 said:
You don't usually fail because of one major fault, the examiner will have taken a view over the whole time on the test and made a judgement. He then list some of the things that went wrong. At the end of the day you need to inspire confidence in the instructor, it's not always black and white.

Andi.
Click to expand...

This. Sounds like you are not ready yet.
 
andicole0 said:
You don't usually fail because of one major fault, the examiner will have taken a view over the whole time on the test and made a judgement. He then list some of the things that went wrong. At the end of the day you need to inspire confidence in the instructor, it's not always black and white.

Andi.
Click to expand...

Yes they do lol. My Mrs failed her second test, not one minor fault was marked down.. But during a parallel park she caught the rear wheel on the curb and scraped the alloy (bloody women) that was marked down as a major and instant fail.

The test she passed she had like 5-6 minors.

Op you were too close I'm afraid, Better luck next time.
 
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