A few quick general and safety questions.

wayne0308

So I've just booked my first set of lessons in quite some time. I'm disappointed I waited so long as I could have had my test done by now. I think my driving has come on in leaps and bounds just in the last few weeks even. Getting much more used to busy traffic, so really happy with that, but still plenty to improve on.

I'm booked in for a double this Friday and singles for the next 8 weeks after that (special offer on 10 lesson block). I'll hopefully be booking my test next week.

That brings me to my first question.

1) On the RSA website (in the section on waiting times) it says they are "issuing test appointments for the applications received on the following dates". What is the general waiting time after the appointment is given? I know I seen the answer somewhere but cannot find it.

Now onto safety questions:

2) There are a few streets where I live that are quite tight with cars parked at either side. I know I need to keep at least a doors length between the side of my car to cars parked on my left.

Now if I drive down this street there would be about 2 feet between my car and the parked cars on the left giving (thats giving people driving against me space to drive aswell.)
Should I stop up and wait? (which no one seems to do, everyone just drives down there) I always feel like I'm doing the wrong thing going down this street. (Sexton street in Dungarvan if anyone knows it).

3) Is it acceptable to approach/enter roundabouts in third gear in some situations. My car can go quite slow in third gear. Or should it always be 2nd gear at most?

4) Now one a bit more mechanical. My gearbox has a minor problem with a worn synchromesh. It's like it tries to throw itself out of forth gear when you put down the accelerator. A mechanic had a look at it and says that its very minor and the gearbox itself is fine. The gear stick does however kick forward about an inch just after you put your foot down on the accelerator for the first time after changing into 4th. It hasn't gotten any worse over the last few months and has never actually put itself out of gear.

Would a tester say the car is unroadworthy because of this?

Thanks for your help.


Edit:
Think I found the answer to Q1, I found a previous thread that said 2-3 weeks after you get the appointment you will do the test. This sound right? Waiting times seem fairly small...

daveharnett

2) There are a few streets where I live that are quite tight with cars parked at either side. I know I need to keep at least a doors length between the side of my car to cars parked on my left.

How busy is the street in question? If you are likely to get a break in oncoming traffic within a few seconds, wait. If not, move out in good time and pass slowly, being very obviously careful of nearside activity.

wayne0308 wrote: »

3) Is it acceptable to approach/enter roundabouts in third gear in some situations. My car can go quite slow in third gear. Or should it always be 2nd gear at most?

No problem at all, provided third gives you enough flexibility to accelerate briskly if you need to.

wayne0308 wrote: »

4) Now one a bit more mechanical. My gearbox has a minor problem with a worn synchromesh. It's like it tries to throw itself out of forth gear when you put down the accelerator. A mechanic had a look at it and says that its very minor and the gearbox itself is fine. The gear stick does however kick forward about an inch just after you put your foot down on the accelerator for the first time after changing into 4th. It hasn't gotten any worse over the last few months and has never actually put itself out of gear.

Would a tester say the car is unroadworthy because of this?

I'd be very surprised if it was a problem. If it happens during the test, point out that you are aware of it, and you have made sure it's safe.

wayne0308

How busy is the street in question? If you are likely to get a break in oncoming traffic within a few seconds, wait. If not, move out in good time and pass slowly, being very obviously careful of nearside activity.

It's fairly busy, it would be the main route that anyone coming from the waterford city side of Dungarvan would take in or out of the town. Managed to find a pic of the street for you. There are quite a few streets in the town that are tight enough not to allow you the door length separation that you'd want which makes me a little wary of them in a test situation. This would probably be the busiest of them though.

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_PBomfiTtNzk/SnSHTwLmGGI/AAAAAAAAEXc/MvYcEcIyBbU/s400/SNV34603.JPG

In this pic you are at the most eastern end of the street and looking towards the bay. The street gets a bit tighter further on, and the parking gets a bit worse usually because that's where the chippers are


Thanks again for your reply.

Richie15

wayne0308 wrote: »

It's fairly busy, it would be the main route that anyone coming from the waterford city side of Dungarvan would take in or out of the town. Managed to find a pic of the street for you. There are quite a few streets in the town that are tight enough not to allow you the door length separation that you'd want which makes me a little wary of them in a test situation. This would probably be the busiest of them though.

The idea of keeping a door's width is so that if one of the parked cars opens their door, you wont hit it. Slow down enough that if you see a door open, you can stop without causing any danger or inconvenience to traffic following you.
Your instructor can advise you just how slow would be appropriate.

Be careful not to go too slow, or you could get marked for progress. A good rule-of-thumb is to keep up with traffic in front of you, but don't always count on the other guy to do the right thing. Anyway what if your test happens to be the one day that road's not busy! :P

wayne0308

Richie15 wrote: »

Anyway what if your test happens to be the one day that road's not busy! :P

One can only hope but knowing my luck...