how do some people pass their driving tests???

bytesize

ok i was just down in the local tesco picking up some bits and pieces. on my way into the car park, the very first car there was parked way out of his spot and halfway in the junction. this caused that particular lane to be blocked and was a pain in the back-side. as luck would have it, the culprit was just returning to his car when i was driving passed so i rolled down the window and asked 'did he not know how to park'. at which point he went off into a rant about how it was his car and when i pointed out that yes it was his car but it wasn't his road, he started with' do i not have any other problem in my life etc etc etc.

now i find that many people just cant park and have gotten into the habit of writing little notes and placing them under their wipers stating that they should learn how to park.

the thing that gets me is that we all know how the test centers have quota's on how many people to pass a day but could they not pick the ones that can actually drive. my sister who is a very good driver failed based on petty little things like not knowing the specific word for word definitions of certain things. she explained what they were but lost marks cos they weren't word for word. yet my bro's gf passed with flying colors but hasn't a clue how to drive. she is purely not experienced enough....


ahhhh rant over

MagicMarker

You should have hit him with your rhythm stick

Mossy Monk

Indicating and roundabouts seems to be another mystery that most drivers cannot solve :mad:.

mikemac

bytesize wrote:

the thing that gets me is that we all know how the test centers have quota's on how many people to pass a day but could they not pick the ones that can actually drive.

You, my friend are talking sh**te and just passing on an urban myth.
The test isn't perfect for sure, but there are no quotas. I suppose all candidates fail on Monday mornings as the instructor is grumpy and all candidates fail on Friday evenings as the instructor is planning their weekends and have no interest in their job. If you fail your test it's your fault and if you feel hard done by then lodge an appeal.

Your sister had months and months to learn to learn the rules of the road and the theory information so to be fair if she didn't get know them on test day, is that someone else fault?
Are you telling us she got a grade 3 fault and so an automatic fail on the theory part of the test?

Anyways, you have a point about parking but afaik the signs in the Tesco car park are advisory only and do not compare to signs on public roads. May be wrong on this though and maybe some legal expert can advise here.

copacetic

bytesize wrote:

now i find that many people just cant park and have gotten into the habit of writing little notes and placing them under their wipers stating that they should learn how to park.

this is one of the saddest things I have ever heard.

tampopo

I think, to help incompetent parkers, the powers that be should mark parking bays at 45 degrees to the road. This would enable drivers to reverse out much more easily and safely than the 90 standard parking bay.

Karoma

I've lost count how many times I've walked past the local school which is adjacent to a supermarket car park filled with cars parking lengthways across two spaces (Some with L plates)...



I want to obtain/make something like http://www.iparklikeanidiot.com but with the stuff Irish Rail uses that makes their stickers very difficult to remove.

kelle

bytesize wrote:

now i find that many people just cant park and have gotten into the habit of writing little notes and placing them under their wipers stating that they should learn how to park.

I was tempted to do that on a lab tech at the hospital where I work, as she constantly parked using 2 spaces in our very small car park. Didn't have to, as one day one of her tyres was slashed. I secretly jumped for joy:D

kdouglas

kelle wrote:

I was tempted to do that on a lab tech at the hospital where I work, as she constantly parked using 2 spaces in our very small car park. Didn't have to, as one day one of her tyres was slashed. I secretly did it

fixed

and yes, i cant stand bad parking either, really gets on my nerves

StephenC_IRL

i found a great way, im learning in a decent car. anyone else ever seen a Lexus with L plates :P

Capt'n Midnight

If they cross the line then park right next to them so they have to get in the passenger door.

ctc_celtic

i quite regularly park in two spots, i've so many door scraps that i just dont give a feck anymore. but i never do it in a very small parking area and always drive to the far point of the carpark, but if there are 2 spaces, i'll use them.

a few months ago i got one of those notes left on my window screen, 'learn to park you W***er', i never laughed so much in all my life. it was a massive parking lot, i was away for less than an hour and there were loads of spaces when i parked (even closer to the exits) and loads when i arrived back.
so since then i've concluded that these people that leave the notes just have a very sad life. and it my goal to own a big enough car that i could take over 3 spots.

WindSock

Good on you for sticking notes down. It may help that inconsiderate f-wit to take another few seconds to straighten up next time. And agree with having diagonal spaces.

Nephew

I completely understand why people take up two spaces, some cars are just too big/long to fit in standard parking spots or if they do fit there is not sufficient room to safely open the door without scratching the car door. Especially the likes of Sprinter vans and certain jeeps where reversing out of a tight spot can be quite awkward particularly those with no rear window who have to rely on side mirrors to avoid hitting other cars.

Oriel

tampopo wrote:

I think, to help incompetent parkers, the powers that be should mark parking bays at 45 degrees to the road. This would enable drivers to reverse out much more easily and safely than the 90 standard parking bay.

And reverse into oncoming traffic...

mkennedy

shouldn't this be in the motors forum.

5starpool

mkennedy wrote:

shouldn't this be in the motors forum.

I'm glad you took the time to make that point. Well done.

I hate crap drivers with a passion.

WhiteWashMan

there are good drivers and there are crap drivers.

most crap drivers put themselves in the good drivers catagory, and give out about other crap drivers.

i myself am a model driver, having only crashed 5 times, blown up my car at tara street in rush hour traffic, and been caught doing 92 mph on a motor way.

i do however indicate, and i let people out. actually, im a much more considerate and cautious driver in my golden years. as for being a good driver, well, i guess we all have our moments of stupidity.

padi89

micmclo wrote:

You, my friend are talking sh**te and just passing on an urban myth.
The test isn't perfect for sure, but there are no quotas.

I remember reading an article a few years ago on the driving test in Ireland.A nation wide survey was done and they found out that there was never a noticeable increase or decrease in the amounts that passed or failed the test in any given year,it was always pretty much the same.
The first time i did my test i was 45 mins in the car,done a whole tour of Galway when we returned i was told that it was at the end of the test i had failed for not fully stopping as a pedestrian crossed the road in front of me, fair enough.
The second time i did it i was less than 15 mins in the car with the same guy.All i had to do was drive around a housing estate across from the test centre whilst the tester spaced out the window.He didnt seem bothered on what i was doing at all.I was under the impression that he had made his mind up to pass me before i even took the test.
Im not saying they have quotas but there are certainly some strange goings on.

Wertz

A particular bane of mine is the old supermarket parking. I've been driving full time for a little over 8 months now, I can fit my car moreorless into any space and have no trouble paralell parking either. No instructor ever showed me, I just practised outside my house with two traffic cones.

Back on topic, I was waiting for my mate to come out with beer the other evening at our local tesco. Across and down from my space was an empty one. Along comes some guy in a 4runner or similar SUV, backs it into the space and whacks his towbar into the bumper of a passat. So he pulls out again, straightens it up a wee bit and reverses again....straight into th passat again. He jumps out, doesn't even look at what he's tipped and wanders off. The guy didn't give a toss. That could have been my own car. There mightn't be any damage but ho the hell would you know without going round to look?
I honestly believe if they're going to let these arseholes out onto the road in needlessly large all terrain vehicles there should be some sort of supplementary driving test, to prove that you have the experience and skill to negotiate Irish roads and streets in such cumbersome cars.

watna

You don't have to do much parking in your driving test, except park when you get back to the centre so you can't ask how someone passed they're driving test just because they can't park.

As for people who write notes and leave them on other peoples cars... please.... find something better to do. I think people that take two parking spaces should be arrested for something like public disorder.. it's that annoying, but I wouldn't go as far as to leave a note! I parked in a space in a shopping centre. I drive a little nissan micra and parked normally between the lines. That car that was parked on my passenger side was a lot bigger and parked over to my side. When i got back to the car he'd left a note saying "next time, park closer" but it was his fault for being slightly over the line in his space...... pathetic!

j2dab

I reckon for people who do pass their driving test there should be a separate test where they are taught the basics of driving efficiently so as to help traffic move more freely. In particular on the motorway where people do not understand the concept of the overtaking lane.

Dun laoire

I saw this woman driving a car this morning and i taught to myself "If she can drive anybody can drive"

flogen

j2dab wrote:

I reckon for people who do pass their driving test there should be a separate test where they are taught the basics of driving efficiently so as to help traffic move more freely. In particular on the motorway where people do not understand the concept of the overtaking lane.

Well a major fault of the current driving test is that they can't go on the motorway - I think they were talking about having a motorway test as part of a general overhaul of the licence system, though.

As for bad drivers passing tests, the fact is that many people can drive well if they choose to but decide not to - usually because they see poor driving tricks as being to their benefit (speeding, dangerous overtaking, parking in 2 spaces so the car doesn't get scratched). Also many people assume they can forget most of what they've learned once they have their test - what use is that information afterwards anyway?!
Finally, bear in mind the huge amount of people on the roads who haven't passed any real test. 400,000 L-drivers, not to mention the people who automatically got their full licence years ago when the Government tried to clear the test backlog.

j2dab

flogen wrote:

400,000 L-drivers

That just says it all :eek: :eek:

Alanthroneus

the thing is .... you dont need to pass the driving test to drive on the road.... you just need to pass the theory

Donald-Duck

I saw a guy drive backwards around a roundabout a week ago. No L sign either.

Wishbone Ash

mkennedy wrote:

shouldn't this be in the motors forum.

...or even in the Learning to Drive Forum.

Wishbone Ash

flogen wrote:

not to mention the people who automatically got their full licence years ago when the Government tried to clear the test backlog.

There is a common perception that, in 1979, the Government granted a full license to everyone on a provisional. That is simply not true. In October(?) of that year, the Government chose a date about 6 months(?) earlier and announced that a full license would be granted to all provisional drivers in CATEGORY C (now category who were on their SECOND provisional license and had ALREADY APPLIED for a driving test on that date. (I'm not 100% sure about the dates in question).

Those provisional license holders who were on their 1st, 3rd or subsequent license and those who had not bothered applying for the test did not benefit. Nor did provisional holders in other categories. Although it's widely assumed that many motorists got their license this way, I say they only account for a very small fraction (probably less that 1%) of current drivers.

Prior to 1964 there was no driving test. The license could be bought over the counter (in a post office?). Any drivers who availed of this system would now be at least 60 years of age. You can't blame thes people - they haven't done anything wrong. That was the system at the time.

flogen

Wishbone Ash wrote:

There is a common perception that, in 1979, the Government granted a full license to everyone on a provisional. That is simply not true. In October(?) of that year, the Government chose a date about 6 months(?) earlier and announced that a full license would be granted to all provisional drivers in CATEGORY C (now category who were on their SECOND provisional license and had ALREADY APPLIED for a driving test on that date. (I'm not 100% sure about the dates in question).

Those provisional license holders who were on their 1st, 3rd or subsequent license and those who had not bothered applying for the test did not benefit. Nor did provisional holders in other categories. Although it's widely assumed that many motorists got their license this way, I say they only account for a very small fraction (probably less that 1%) of current drivers.

Prior to 1964 there was no driving test. The license could be bought over the counter (in a post office?). Any drivers who availed of this system would now be at least 60 years of age. You can't blame thes people - they haven't done anything wrong. That was the system at the time.

Didn't know the details, but it still amounts to the Gov handing out licences to people who haven't passed a test.

And no, of course you can't blame the people who benefited because it's not like they scammed the system in any way, it's still a bizarre way to do things to hand out a single full licence to anyone who hasn't passed a test.

Mr. Presentable

Wishbone Ash wrote:

Prior to 1964 there was no driving test. The license could be bought over the counter (in a post office?). Any drivers who availed of this system would now be at least 60 years of age. You can't blame thes people - they haven't done anything wrong. That was the system at the time.

My da did his test in 1956. Hill start at Christchurch was on the route.

kelle

kdouglas wrote:

fixed

and yes, i cant stand bad parking either, really gets on my nerves

A smack on the bum for changing my thread!:D
Though if somebody had planted the idea in my head and there was no chance of me getting caught, you never know....

kenmc

StephenC_IRL wrote:

i found a great way, im learning in a decent car. anyone else ever seen a Lexus with L plates :P

In fairness, what has that got to do with anything? :rolleyes:

You can be an equally crap driver in a Lexus as in a Nissan Micra.

modalcommand

bytesize wrote:

ok i was just down in the local tesco picking up some bits and pieces. on my way into the car park, the very first car there was parked way out of his spot and halfway in the junction. this caused that particular lane to be blocked and was a pain in the back-side. as luck would have it, the culprit was just returning to his car when i was driving passed so i rolled down the window and asked 'did he not know how to park'. at which point he went off into a rant about how it was his car and when i pointed out that yes it was his car but it wasn't his road, he started with' do i not have any other problem in my life etc etc etc.

now i find that many people just cant park and have gotten into the habit of writing little notes and placing them under their wipers stating that they should learn how to park.

ahhhh rant over

You sound like a really sad person. Writing notes of peoples cars, what are you like? I pray for the day I get to deal with a person of your sort for real.

ejmaztec

I like the notes left by drivers who've bashed someone's car whilst trying to get out of a parking space in front of several witnesses.

"Whilst I'm writing this note, the people looking at me think I'm a decent sort and assume that I'm leaving details of my name and address, so that I can pay for the damage that I've done. Well, I'm not - so f**k you and f**k them"

Karoma

Wishbone Ash wrote:

...or even in the Learning to Drive Forum.

It's a rant about bad driving - I thought I'd spare the other fora.


Although, a theory is developing as I write this watching a driver teaching his missus to drive - and it's taking both of them about 6 minutes to work out how to stick the L plate on the window (No, it doesn't go on the outside... *sigh*)




modalcommand: careful now.

mkennedy

5starpool wrote:

I'm glad you took the time to make that point. Well done.

I hate crap drivers with a passion.

:rolleyes:

watna

kenmc wrote:

In fairness, what has that got to do with anything? :rolleyes:

You can be an equally crap driver in a Lexus as in a Nissan Micra.

Nissan Micras are the coolest cars around and you know it! Plus they're made of tin so all Nissan Micra driver's are extra cautious!!

Mrs. MacGyver

I agree, i've a micra myself and was in a car accident a year and a half ago (boyfriend driving in a toyota- not his fault , head on collision) and i was told by the gusrd that came on the accident if i was driving the micra we would both be dead, as a result i'm a careful driver but i don't admit to being great either since i can only reverse in limited circumstances! By the way i have passed my test.

Anyway sorry for going off the point. Two incidents happened two weeks ago to my famiy which highlights the stupidity and carelessness of fully licensed drivers.

1. We were driving to my uncles removal in the gaeltacht. This eejit decides to pass out a car in the cortege unaware that there was a fiierce line in front of that car (i.e. they were following the hearse to the church and there was no hard shoulder). The guy then realised this with oncoming traffic facing him in the opposite direction and tried to cut in in front of my dad nearly swiping the drivers side off of his car. Good thing the funeral was going so slow or there could have been a desperate pile up. Flipping boy racers in souped up golfs!! I was travelling with my Aunt and was very shocked.

2. I has heading back from the Mart two weeks ago and was in the central median on the main Killarney-Cork road for turning right for Bandon. There were cars coming in the opposite direction and i was waiting for a suitable gap in traffic so as i could make my turn. Then this guy in a white small transit van comes up behind me, honks (but it's not safe for me to turn) so in frustration he turns a sharp right and cuts up the side road i was about to turn into on the right hand side of the road at speed. If anyone was waiting at the stop sign on the right at that junctiion they would have been blown to bits. I was shaking after that encounter.

3. Why can't people indicate at roundabouts?

Both of the above appear to have been fully licenced drivers (no L plates - then again they could have opted not to put them up.

If i had to drive in Dublin i dunno what i'd do. Cork is enough of a challenge for me at weekends.

Collie D

I am constantly amazed how everyone on Boards is an excellent driver. :rolleyes:

Gingerspice99

I know the public transport system here in Ireland isnt the best but I think we should take a leaf out of the way its done in the UK

You take your theory and practical on the same day and you cannot drive on your own on a Provisional - I know on your first here you have to have a qualified driver in the car with you but its not enforced by the Guardi.

The insurance is cheaper in the UK because of this

I know its a bit off topic but thought I'd throw it in anyway

looksee

That will be a great idea when the wait for a test is down from over a year to a couple of weeks. And how does that make any difference to the cost of insurance.

ejmaztec

looksee wrote:

That will be a great idea when the wait for a test is down from over a year to a couple of weeks. And how does that make any difference to the cost of insurance.

Because, if a learner driver is hammering up and down the roads, with no accompanying qualified driver to give them advice on their driving skills, they make stupid mistakes and an accident is more likely.

That's the theory, but in practice, even if the learner-driver law is changed, the insurance companies will think of another excuse to increase the premiums.

Blush_01

Gingerspice99 wrote:

The insurance is cheaper in the UK because of this

Are you sure that's not because of a little thing called Sterling?

OP - the note thing is a bit excessive. But I suppose as long as you've parked immaculately first, nobody can really fault you. :rolleyes:

I'm terrified of learning how to drive, tbh. The only time I ever took the car around the yard at home my dad feigned a heart attack and it freaked me out so much I don't ever want him near me in a car again. He thought it was fcuking hilarious.

bytesize

OP - the note thing is a bit excessive. But I suppose as long as you've parked immaculately first, nobody can really fault you.

i know it may seem a bit over the top, but its better than taking my wheel lock and smashing in their window. its from constant drivers not taking the extra few seconds to straighten their cars. i always reverse or pull back out if i havent gotten it right first go as i hate when others dont.

i think the best thing would be to just clamp cars that go over their line. simple as. it may cause the space to be taken up for a while but it would teach them and make them think twice about parking ****ty again.

i was out in blanchardstown shopping centre a few weeks ago and a big van took up 2 spaces. a clamper van[ncps i think] clamped him for it.

seamus

This weekend was particularly bad for idiot drivers. Don't know why, it just was. Had one particular idiot almost pull right in on top of me on a roundabout (I was going right, he was going straight). He had to swerve to avoid hitting me, in my rear view mirror I could see he was immersed in conversation with his phone :rolleyes:
Also had two people attempt to drive the wrong way through a car park - you know those idiots who go straight through on 45-degree spaces, and so end up facing the wrong way? Two of them looking at me like I'd two heads, wondering why I'm in the middle of the lane :rolleyes:

Mossy Monk

ejmaztec wrote:

Because, if a learner driver is hammering up and down the roads, with no accompanying qualified driver to give them advice on their driving skills, they make stupid mistakes and an accident is more likely.

So with a full license an accident is less likely. That's a load of ****. Plenty of people on full licenses who are clueless about the rules of the road. Like those ****ing idiots who use the hard shoulder as a slip lane.

Archeron

bytesize wrote:

i know it may seem a bit over the top, but its better than taking my wheel lock and smashing in their window. its from constant drivers not taking the extra few seconds to straighten their cars. i always reverse or pull back out if i havent gotten it right first go as i hate when others dont.

So if one person parks outside the lines, and this has a knock on effect on all the cars in that parking line causing everyone else having to do similar, how do you tell the difference between the one thats an idiot, and the one that just had to make do and park in the space that was actually left for them? In my town, you will virtually never see any cars parked between the lines of the on street parking, people just have to do the best with the spaces that are left for them, and unless everybody who is parked outside the lines happens to pull off at exactly the same time, this will be the way everybody will park for the rest of the day. And I sure as hell wont drive by a parking space just because my having to park outside the lines may upset some delicate soul who gets upset by the mere thought of such a thing.

senordingdong

Just carry a few copies of the rules of the road with you. When someone steps out of line, just throw it at their car.

lynchtp

Archeron wrote:

So if one person parks outside the lines, and this has a knock on effect on all the cars in that parking line causing everyone else having to do similar, how do you tell the difference between the one thats an idiot, and the one that just had to make do and park in the space that was actually left for them? In my town, you will virtually never see any cars parked between the lines of the on street parking, people just have to do the best with the spaces that are left for them, and unless everybody who is parked outside the lines happens to pull off at exactly the same time, this will be the way everybody will park for the rest of the day. And I sure as hell wont drive by a parking space just because my having to park outside the lines may upset some delicate soul who gets upset by the mere thought of such a thing.

I was just going to say that.
You just cant presume the last car was the the culprit.

ejmaztec

Mossy Monk wrote:

So with a full license an accident is less likely. That's a load of ****. Plenty of people on full licenses who are clueless about the rules of the road. Like those ****ing idiots who use the hard shoulder as a slip lane.

Well, I did say "Theory" in the second paragraph.

I know at least one person who got a full licence by default after the postal strike all those years ago. I also know that he should never be allowed to drive a car, or even ride a pushbike on the open road, because he drives like a twat.

I can't believe the vast number of drivers who overtake on single/double white lines or the dickwads who don't stick to the slow lanes when there's one available going up steep hills. They sit there, doing about 60kph, refusing to move.

Then, there are the old boys! 50kph constant speed, wherever and whatever road they're on. These people have the same silhouette from the rear. You can make out that they've got a cap on and their ears stick out of their heads like two tennis balls. They get overtaken by tractors and hold up the traffic for twenty miles.