test coming up in Finglas

watdub

My test is coming up in March for Finglas, was wondering if anyone has any opinion regarding the speed ramps, should I be going over them in 2nd or 3rd, anytime i have practiced with my instructor he said 3rd is fine but I have seen in some posts that people have failed for going over the ramps in the wrong gear, please help as I'm a bit confused and really want to pass the test.

**Timbuk2**

I think people overthink speed ramps a bit. Put your car in a gear that allows you to go over the speedramp with your foot off the clutch, and also without braking.

2nd tends to work well, in my expierence. Remember not to brake while you are on the speedramp!

af_thefragile

watdub wrote: »

My test is coming up in March for Finglas, was wondering if anyone has any opinion regarding the speed ramps, should I be going over them in 2nd or 3rd, anytime i have practiced with my instructor he said 3rd is fine but I have seen in some posts that people have failed for going over the ramps in the wrong gear, please help as I'm a bit confused and really want to pass the test.

I'm usually in 3rd when I go over a ramp. Depends a bit on the speed you're traveling though. If I'm traveling in 2nd gear, I wouldn't shift up to 3rd for the ramp. If I'm in 4th, I'ld shift down to 3rd for the ramp. If I'm in 3rd, I'ld leave it in 3rd...
What I do is break till you hit the ramp and as soon as your front wheels hit the ramp, get on the accelerator...

It is pretty simple. You just wanna let the examiner know that you know what the ramps are there for, which is to slow you down. And you do this by breaking before the ramp showing the examiner that you are aware of the ramps and obeying them.

And also don't coast onto the ramp. i.e. don't have your foot on the clutch as you're approaching the ramp. Get into gear well before the ramp. Have your right foot on the break and your left on the floor. As soon as you hit the ramp, right foot right back on the accelerator and you're off...

greenie

I was told 3rd gear is fine too but personally I prefer 2nd. In 3rd I feel the car start to shudder a bit because by the time I'm over the ramp the speed I'm doing isn't really enough for 3rd. Try practising both then just stick to what you feel most comfortable doing. Just remember like Timbuk2 said, brake before the ramp never on it. Good luck:)

John Mason

i failed my test in finglas for being in 3rd gear rather then 2nd gear going over the speed ramps - no other marks on the sheet except for gears and the testor told me it was a perfect test except for being in the wrong gear going over speed ramps.

now the only thing me and instructor could think of was the height of the ramp. if its a really high one, you should be in 2nd but it if is a wide kind of rolling one, 3rd should be fine.

you shouldnt be banging into them.

i took my tester around the route i went on and he couldnt see any ramps that i should have been in 2nd for - but there you go.

just use your judgement, is the best, i can tell

MascotDec85

It's really down to your observation in assessing the size of the speed bump.

Flatter ones could be done in 3rd gear, steeper ones in 2nd.

If you hit a bump hard you could get marks for Gears, Speed(road conditions) Reaction to Hazards etc.

They key is to get over them as smoothly as possible without the car struggling to pick up speed once you are over.

Finglas has non-continuous type bumps, in that there's are 3 or 4 individual bumps across the road. Don't be tempted to steer around these on either side. You will be marked for it.

Good luck with your test

DrivingsCool

When you look at a speed bump, what shape would you say it is??

You cant say what shape it is, because every speed bump is different.

With regard to the Finglas test route, there are several roads which cause alot of problems to students.

JAMESTOWN ROAD : Going up hill away from the village towards the test centre. Learner drivers crawl up this road in 2nd gear sometimes and its a pet hate for testers. Stay in 3rd gear and stay on and over the accelerator. Be logical about your driving!

CASEMENT ROAD: They dont really use this area much for the test route but its more for example. There are speed bumps that resemble an oversized red brick platform in the middle of the road in this area, and its been known and accepted that cars have to come down to first gear for these bumps because they are so severe.

---

Have a look and see how slow other motorists proceed over a given speed bump and follow their speed line aswell as your own judgement. With regard to the gearing, if you are going for your test you should know what speed dictates which gear!

Trust your Instructor. (As long as he is ADI of course)

DrivingsCool

MascotDec85 wrote: »

Finglas has non-continuous type bumps, in that there's are 3 or 4 individual bumps across the road. Don't be tempted to steer around these on either side. You will be marked for it.

Good luck with your test

I understand the bumps you mean but you make its sound very specific and its not.

The student can bring the car to the left slightly to avoid that individual bump giving sufficient clearence to the kerb or side of road, like they would a pot hole. They would have to Left Mirror and Manouver and then once over the bump, regain their original road position.

Regards.

MascotDec85

DrivingsCool wrote: »

I understand the bumps you mean but you make its sound very specific and its not.

The student can bring the car to the left slightly to avoid that individual bump giving sufficient clearence to the kerb or side of road, like they would a pot hole. They would have to Left Mirror and Manouver and then once over the bump, regain their original road position.

Regards.

I thought that was the case until I sat my Stage 3 ADI test there. Like you I deemed it acceptable for my "pupil" to do this.

Unfortunately, my "pupil" did not and I got marked down for it in my report.

I clarified this with my trainer after receiving my reprt and he agreed with the examiner.

Reloc8

I got mixed signals on these non-continuous bumps too. Checked with who I consider to be a very good instructor, who said he'd asked a tester. The advice given was :-

- if no other road user around (oncoming or behind, pedestrians on left) acceptable to steer so as to minimise the bump, reducing nonetheless accordingly. You can steer to the left or right to do this as appropriate, presuming safety checks all done properly.

- if other road users present, do not vary course - doing so would likely be at least a grade 2.

- if the former situation (no road users around) and you do not steer to minimise the bump, you will not be marked for it presuming speed is reduced properly. Obviously hitting the speed bump too hard can be marked as poor reaction/avoidance of hazard. Proceeding too slowly could pick up mark for progress.

- note the potential to pick up faults for poor observation/safety checks if choosing to steer around.

I thought that was all good advice.
In either instance speed to be reduced accordingly.

DrivingsCool

All Very good info!

With regard to gear selection, going over a bump in 3rd gear in a new model fiesta wont be as severe as in a old model micra due to how the suspension re-acts to the speed bump, so unless knowing your type of car and a specific road with specific bumps, its difficult to say.

Maybe You can get that info, and re post!

Cheers.

ADI34722

Dont let the Gear dictate the speed but rather the Speed dictate the Gear. If your travelling to slow for 3rd gear the car will shake and wont have the power to pull off properally. If you get the speed right the Gear should be right too.