Rubbing the curb with your tyre = fail

Munsterforever

I failed my driving test for the second time yesterday.

My sheet was completely clean apart from a big dirty X through the pink section marked "Left turn".

How can you be failed for driving for RUBBING YOUR TYRE ON THE CURB... seriously!?!?! :eek: Not mounting the curb, not grinding it, but allowing the tyre to rub against it.

Doesn't the test set out to check how competant a driver you are, and with a completely clean sheet, I reckon I was a fairly competant driver.

I had the same tester who failed me last time also. :P

kaimera

i'd imagine you shouldnt be so close to the kerb as to allow the tire to rub against it let alone mount/grind ergo major left turn fail.

Munsterforever

Well considering that the curb is supposed to be rounded on a junction to allow you to make a left turn instead of squared off and pointed, i think the woman could have taken that into account before giving me a fail based upon it.

Permabear

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Munsterforever

I wasn't blaming the curb!

Im making a point of how bloody stupid it is to be able to fail a test of COMPETANCY based on rubbing a tyre on a curb!!!!

thorbarry

Munsterforever wrote: »

I wasn't blaming the curb!

Im making a point of how bloody stupid it is to be able to fail a test of COMPETANCY based on rubbing a tyre on a curb!!!!

i think its pretty stupid you failed because of this one thing, fair enough you rubbed against the curb, but if you did everything else to standered, i dont think they should have failed you, its not as if you were speeding, or ran a red light

Munsterforever

Thank-you Thorbarry!

I mean my sheet was clean, and then she gave me a disqualification because of that one mistake, I would have expected a green or a blue, but not a red total disqualification for it! :eek:

Alanstrainor

Munsterforever wrote: »

I wasn't blaming the curb!

Im making a point of how bloody stupid it is to be able to fail a test of COMPETANCY based on rubbing a tyre on a curb!!!!

I think you have to look at the bigger picture though, not keeping the car between the ditches would be seen as a serious fault. I know when you put it that you rubbed against the curb it seems like such a little thing, in a test of competancy i can see how that wuold result in a grade 3 mark against you.

thorbarry

pretty harsh. getting your full driving licence seems totally dependant on what tester you get. Another tester probably wouldnt have failed you

Mr. Presentable

OP, it sounds harsh - it must be the very minimum qualifier for a grade three. But you are a motorist and not permitted to strike or mount the footpath. I doubt the tester is conducting a vendetta, just applying the letter of the law.

Reapply immediately and use what you have learned. You'll be fine! Good luck.

Mr. Presentable

thorbarry wrote: »

getting your full driving licence seems totally dependant on what tester you get.

To be fair, we all know that's nonsense. It's entirely dependant upon your own ability.

thorbarry

nipplenuts wrote: »

To be fair, we all know that's nonsense. It's entirely dependant upon your own ability.

ok your right on that one, i shouldnt have said "entirely dependant". but, it can have an effect, like some testers are going to be more lenient than others... but i suppose thats human nature and there is not a lot you can do about that

Bluefoam

Rubbing the curb has always been an automatic fail. My advice would be to avoid rubbing the curb during the test, thus indicating your basic competancy to control a motor vehicle. If it is beyond your ability to stay between the ditches then your basic competency during the test period was not proven...

rain on

Harsh alright, and does seem to depend on the tester. I hit the kerb hard enough during my test and only got a Grade 2 for it. If you search "mounting the kerb" on this board there are plenty of threads in which the received wisdom seems to be that hitting = grade 2 while mounting = grade 3. It never seems to be that simple though.

Munsterforever

Bluefoam wrote: »

Rubbing the curb has always been an automatic fail. My advice would be to avoid rubbing the curb during the test, thus indicating your basic competancy to control a motor vehicle. If it is beyond your ability to stay between the ditches then your basic competency during the test period was not proven...

Successfully navigating a large busy town, roundabouts, turnabouts etc etc etc with a clean sheet, and having had no accidents or penalty points in my year and a half of learner driving is enough to denote that I do not have enough competance to drive a car, so much so that I should fail my test based on the fact that I had my tyre rub against the curb on a dodgey junction?.. well slap me silly!

Mr. Presentable

I agree it's sad that you can drive for 18 months without transgression, but cannot get through 40 minutes with an examiner.

Bluefoam

Munsterforever wrote: »

Successfully navigating a large busy town, roundabouts, turnabouts etc etc etc with a clean sheet, and having had no accidents or penalty points in my year and a half of learner driving is enough to denote that I do not have enough competance to drive a car, so much so that I should fail my test based on the fact that I had my tyre rub against the curb on a dodgey junction?.. well slap me silly!

In that case, get your instructor to write a letter to the testing authority telling them that you are so good that you don't need to pass a test like everyone else.

BTW, hundreds of cars manage to get around that junction every day without touching the kerb. Why couldn't you? During your test, you have to drive for twenty minutes without any mistakes - you made a mistake. Get over it and re-apply...

Permabear

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jaffa20

Rubbing the curb and not mounting it should be a grade 2 only surely Unlucky op, the more i read the bad stories, the more i worry about doing my test. It seems to depend on the tester whether you pass or fail if it's very close. so it very unfair imo.

Alanstrainor

rain on wrote: »

Harsh alright, and does seem to depend on the tester. I hit the kerb hard enough during my test and only got a Grade 2 for it. If you search "mounting the kerb" on this board there are plenty of threads in which the received wisdom seems to be that hitting = grade 2 while mounting = grade 3. It never seems to be that simple though.

I also think it's worth noting the situation "mounting" or "touching" the curb is usually referred to, which is while completing the "turnabout" and "reverse" manoeuvre. Touching the curb during these manoeuvres where the vehicle is moving very slowly, and while reversing would be seen as a lesser fault depending on the severity. But while driving in normal circumstances "rubbing" or "hitting" the curb could be seen as a complete lack of control of the car.

**Timbuk2**

I can understand why it's a fail. Think of the cyclists that may have been trying to turn left at the same time. I know you're meant to check for cyclists, but it's possible to misjudge their speed, and if you touched the curb that means there is no room for a cyclist to go.

Munsterforever

I re-applied in the North this afternoon, because to be honest, I will never hand another cent to those <SNIP> at the RSA.

I'll probably get my test quicker too, and without cancellations!

DrivingInfo

It is always the testers/kerb/lights/traffic/weather/etc fault when people fail.
Better luck next time.

RSA ADI MARK

hi munsterforever you said you got a grade 3 for [turn left] what heading was that under ,

brian076

The fault for rubbing or touching a kerb when turning left is a Grade 2, a Grade 3 should only be given if your back wheels mount the kerb. Are you sure the Grade 3 was for this manoeuvre? As the last poster asked, what heading was it under?

Cabaal

Munsterforever wrote: »

I wasn't blaming the curb!

Im making a point of how bloody stupid it is to be able to fail a test of COMPETANCY based on rubbing a tyre on a curb!!!!

Its not really stupid, if you rub the tyre against the curb and you didn't mean to this proves you do not have complete control over your car.

The driving test is to show that you have control over the car, in addition to this rubbing the tyre against the curb can damage the tyre and also means your so close to the curb that a cyclist could not pass either which is also something you shouldn't be doing.