How To Fail Your Driving Test

Anything that could be classed as dangrous driving will give you a grade 3.

Also if you mount the kerb on either the turnabout or the reversing around the corner.

And rolling too far back at the hill start.

jonny24ie wrote: »

An automatic fail is hitting the kerb on the reverse around the corner alright.

Mounting the kerb perhaps but not hitting it.

As has been said anything which is dangerous will merit an automatic fail -.e.g. not yielding when entering a roundabout/major road, driving on the wrong side of the road, not stopping at a red light, not in control of the vehicle, etc.

Alanstrainor wrote: »

This is not true, both my brother and friend did this, and still passed, so long as you remain in control of the car, ie. stop and reposition you will be fine.

Whoa.. what?!

Are you sure they MOUNTED the kerb and not just clipped it? I know 3 people who failed because they went up on the kerb on the turn about, all women.. :rolleyes::p

In all driving test books and any instructor I've talked to has said that is an instant fail.

according to the RSA guidelines on test marking that the testers are supposed to follow on the reverse manoeuvre "where the applicant hits or mounts a kerb......a fault may be recorded opposite 'competently' ". A blue mark is recorded if the tester feels you show a 'serious lack of control' (usually a bump), a pink mark is recorded if you show a 'dangerous lack of control'.

As an instructor I always tell students that mounting the kerb will result in an instant failure, as 99% of the time a tester will fail you on it. But as laid out in the guidelines it is still at the discretion of the tester to fail you or not, the guidelines do not specifically say "mounting the kerb will result in an instant fail".

But then again i think its fair enough to say that if a driver mounts the kerb it would constitute a 'dangerous lack of control'.

I think the tester was especially lenient on you Lazygit - or suitably impressed by the rest of your test that he decided to give you a break. It doesnt happen often so congratulations to you - and keep practising your reversing!

In summary, for the OP, if your driving is safe and in compliance with the rules of the road and with regard to traffic controls, you don't have to worry about Grade 3 faults with few exceptions. It's the finickety bits like progress, how you brake and clutch, hand position on the steering wheel, the maneuvres, adherence to the MSMM, and that perennial favourite, reaction to hazards that raises Blue (Grade 2) faults.

50% of this stuff, maybe more, noone will ever give a <SNIP> about once you get your full license. But it's in the Blue section that it's all to play for "on the day." If you have a good instructor, s/he will have trained you into the kind of habits that will allow you to either pass your test, or come very close. Waiting times seem to be down on what they were a couple of years ago, if you don't get it the first time, you most likely will the next time.

Good luck.

HungryJoey wrote: »

+1

My instructor went bananas at me too when I once thanked a driver on the road for letting me out during one of my lessons:o Ahh, back in the day.

The poster you quote made a gesture to beckon another driver but it ok to make a small gesture of thanks such as raising your hand briefly when another driver shows consideration but anything involving lights/hazards etc. is a no no.