got my test date, for blackrock in cork

derek2009_

hey all i got my test date for blackrock in cork city,
i dont know this area at all, anyone have tips & advice for me??

thanks

tba

get a few pretest lessons with a local company

DriveSkill

Hi,

The Blackrock test center is in a pretty good location, traffic is usually OK unless you are unlucky and have a time around 'rush hour'.

Same advice really applies for all tests - prepare as much as you can!

There are several checklists available on the web and you should have received a notice with the test date letter which gives the requirements.

Some basic ones :

1. Ensure your Learner Permit (or Provisional Licence) is in date!
2. Ensure your car's tax, insurance and NCT (if applicable) are in date and valid for the date of the test with correct details shown on the discs - i.e. car reg on disc is your car's reg.
3. Ensure you have L plates up front and rear.
4. Check front and rear indicators and brake lights and if possible carry a set of spare bulbs just in case.
5. Know the rules of the road and the road signs.
6. Try and remain calm and concentrate on your driving while on the test - it is normal for people to be nervous but try and keep the concentration and focus on what you are doing.

Dont get too hung up on 'knowing the routes', concentrate on the basics of correct procedure for turning left, turning right, roundabouts etc and then it should not matter which left or right turn you are asked to take.

For the routes there are a few options :

1. On to Skehard road and turn right, straight at the traffic lights by CSO and then usually first left and junctions left and right around Mahon/Blackrock area

2. On to Skehard Road and turn left, right up Church Rd and around Beaumont usually

3. On to Skehard Road and turn left, continue as far as the Well Rd Roundabout and turn left into Ballinlough Road

You certainly need to know how to navigate roundabouts correctly as regards position and signalling as there are 2 coming out of the test center and obviously you will go through these 2 again going back so that is a minimum of 4 roundabouts no matter what route you take.

There is one deceptive junction on Ballinlough Road when turning right into Shrewsbury Downs (sometimes used for turnabout) - be careful of your road positioning here.

Understand was a 'flashing amber arrow' means!

As the other advice said get a lesson as soon as you can - dont wait until 2-3 days before the test! Get the instructor to point out your faults or bad habits (depends how long you are driving!) and how to correct them. Then work on eliminating those faults every time you drive for the next 2-3 weeks or however long you have to the test. Get a few more lessons closer to the test then to iron the last few issues!

Best of luck and remember for the next few weeks drive like you are on a driving test all the time The more you get into the 'habit' of correct driving the easier it is to reproduce it on the day of the test!

Any specific questions feel free to post.

Good luck,
Declan.

DUBLINHITMAN

yeah good luck derek.

sunnyside

Driveskill would you say Blackrock or Wilton is easier?

DriveSkill

sunnyside wrote: »

Driveskill would you say Blackrock or Wilton is easier?

I think in general I would say Blackrock is easier simply because the traffic is lighter, most of the juctions are pretty standard layout and the roundabouts are generally small and quiet. Even the Well Road roundabout has really only got 3 real exits on it so is not too bad. There are a few tricky spots but nothing that could not be overcome after a little practice in the area.

By comparison the Wilton test center is in a much busier part of the city. The Wilton roundabout is tricky as it is usually busy and is not a 'standard' layout (there are 3 lanes in some parts of it). The approach to the Sarsfield Rd roundabout, coming from Wilton towards the test center, is also problematic if its busy because the road markings are poor and people are often in the wrong lane. Other junctions around Ballyphehane and Togher can be a little tight on space if you are turning right and there is oncoming traffic.

Both locations are pretty much equal from a point of view of the maneouvers (turnabout, reverse, hill-start) as these will always be done in relatively quiet areas.

As is the case on most driving tests a lot depends on how you react to the other traffic and in Wilton you will have a lot more to contend with. Most people approaching driving test standard could drive on empty roads but when its busy and a lot going on around you its harder to emerge from junctions, join roundabouts, merge into a correct lane etc while at the same time keeping proper observation and smooth car control. Therefore in that situation there are more possibilities for errors or mistakes to be made.

All that being said, there is no reason why anyone could not pass in Wilton (there are thousands who have ) it just needs a little bit of extra concentration and awareness.

Declan.

sunnyside

Thank you, when I did my beginner lessons the instructor brought me to Mahon and there was hardy any traffic. I live nearer to Wilton and have driven to Tesco and to Togher from there so familiarity with the area is making me prefer the idea of doing test in Wilton. But Wilton is always busy and you need to change lanes at the Sarsfields roundabout which isn't the easiest thing to do.

Not that I'll have a choice of location anyway.

Do they allow in any way for Wilton being difficult when they are marking you?

I wonder how people who learn to drive out the country can manage the test in the city.

DriveSkill

There is no real allowance in terms of easy marking just because the traffic is busy. There are some allowances given in all tests at the beginning (first 2-3 mins) to allow people to settle the nerves - they may let some small mistakes go and give you the benefit of the doubt but watch to see if you repeat it. Some testers are more lenient than others but in general they should all follow the same guidelines and recommendations.

There is a recommendation for example that you should not be faulted if the road markings are unclear or missing. There is one obvious case as you exit from the test center, there is a STOP as you exit the car park just by the gate, you will then turn right and come to the T-Junction with Sarsfield Road. This junction is a STOP but the line is pretty much worn away - in cases like this you may get away with Yielding as the assumption is that you may have never driven the road before so how are you to know that it was once a STOP line. Obviously I'm not recommending you treat that as a Yield - you should STOP. If you exit any junction without due care you will be faulted irrespective of what road markings are in place.

Another case of poor road markings is coming down past Tesco from Wilton Roundabout to the Sarsfield Rd Roundabout. The normal direction from the tester will be to take the 2nd exit at the roundabout - continuing straight up Sarsfield Rd. There are 2 lanes continuing straight as you come through the lights at Tesco and again as you pass the ESB entrance and traffic lights. Lane markings then pretty much disappear and suddenly re-appear as 3 lanes at the entrance to the roundabout. Left lane is for 1st exit only, center lane is for 1st, 2nd or 3rd Exit (nice and confusing!!) and right lane is for 3rd Exit (or beyond) so you need to be in the center lane. The correct procedure to get to the center lane is to approach (past Tesco, ESB etc) in the left lane and then move to the center as the road opens up. However in practice you will see lots of people merging from the right lane into the center as they get to the roundabout. You need to be very aware of traffic on your right as you get to that point.

As for people who learn to drive in the country, they usually do their test in the local area (like Mallow, Youghal or Skibbereen in Cork). These test centers and routes have their own pitfalls like some narrow streets etc but it is true that there are thousands of people who pass driving tests in rural towns and would not know the correct way to handle a busy multi-lane roundabout. Not a lot that can be done about it really except try and educate people with the national ad campaigns etc - you cant force everyone to come a city to do the test. Same applies wrt driving on motorways or even dual-carriageways - some people have no experience and worse no understanding of correct lane discipline.

Declan