Do you think the driving test needs to be reworked?

af_thefragile

I feel it is too pedantic and tough. You get failed for stupid things that'ld make no difference to how you'ld drive everyday.

I'ld say over 90% of the people if they'ld do their driving test and drive the way they normally do would instantly fail it. No one can drive everyday the way you're supposed to in the driving test. When you drive normally, you just assess the situation and drive accordingly. You don't have to be in 2nd to go over speed bumps or have both hands on the steering wheel all the time or be exactly in the right position while taking the turn. You can't drive like that all the time. You just see whether the junction or turn is clear of not. If it is, you go ahead. If there's traffic on it, you stop.

Why can't the test be more focused towards the driver's competency to assess situations and drive according to them than all these rules about you need to be in this gear, you need to control your clutch this way, you need to be in exactly this position.

If the driving test was easier, cheaper and waiting times were shorter, then a lot of people would get their full license and we there wouldn't be so many L drivers driving unaccompanied.

I think a system like the UK where you get R plates after you pass your driving test would be better. As really the moment you pass your driving test doesn't instantly make you a perfect driver. You been driving with someone all along and suddenly after the test you're free to tackle all the crazy traffic on your own...
You become a good driver through experience on the road. How are you supposed to get experience if you're not allowed to get on the roads in the first place and then in the text they expect you to drive absolutely perfectly and flawlessly....

Lando Griffin

af_thefragile wrote: »

When you drive normally, you just asses the situation and drive accordingly.
Why can't the test be more focused towards the driver's competency to asses situations and drive according to them

I agree mostly except for the use of asses.

loobylou

Lando Griffin wrote: »

I agree mostly except for the use of asses.

I think asinine would be a more fitting adjective.

af_thefragile

Lando Griffin wrote: »

I agree mostly except for the use of asses.

Sorry, spell check... its assess. I'll fix it.

loobylou

Lets outsource the test to these guys, that'll solve the problem.:D
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xGfLNqjh4j0

goat2

Lando Griffin wrote: »

I agree mostly except for the use of asses.

i know that the driving test today is harder than say 20 yrs ago, with all the roundabouts, zebra crossings, new road and street markings
i did mine 20 yrs ago
i think we should all sit exam every 10 yrs to update ourselves on the rules and new sinage, as i see people driving through zebras with people on them, pure ignorance, as the fellow walking is in far more danger than the person in the car
i always update myself
i read the new rules of the road books from time to time, as other wise i would more likely to make mistakes, that would put others in danger
this test should be mandetory, and for a small fee say 15 to 20 euro, and if you fail you would have to repeat within 3 months

i have seen too many stupid mistakes being made, as these are new to some and they dont bother to look them up, and find out what the proper procedure is

Lando Griffin

goat2 wrote: »

i know that the driving test today is harder than say 20 yrs ago, with all the roundabouts, zebra crossings, new road and street markings
i did mine 20 yrs ago

I did mine around 15 years ago before all the new infrastructure was in place, and while doing the sign test at the end the examiner pointed to the Motorway sign and asked me "whats that"
I told its a motorway sign and gave 4 examples of whats not allowled on it.
He closed the book and said
"Dosent really matter there are none in Ireland anyway!"
I told him th M50 was a motorway and he said how do you know?
I told him there was a big blue sign with motorway written on it.

Faith+1

loobylou wrote: »

Lets outsource the test to these guys, that'll solve the problem.:D
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xGfLNqjh4j0

Looks tricky, especially that sharp left turn!:D

Permabear

This post has been deleted.

erwinvr101

it's easy in the philippines too. you can find the answers on the walls of the testing room when doing the written exam. on the practical test itself, you just have to show that you can move the vehicle forward and backward, and you get your license the same day. if you don't want to do the exams at all, since there's a long queue and it would take hours to complete them, you can just pay someone inside and they'll sort out the license for you. corrupt eh...

**Timbuk2**

I think the test is fair enough (I failed first time though, still have to pass).

However, I think it would be more effective if the reverse around the corner was replaced with parallel parking, as the latter is a much more common manoeuvre than the former in everyday driving. It stills test much of the same skills, i.e. control and slow speeds, and effective observation.

Tinker_Bella

I think the reversing around the corner is a bit silly. My boyfriend and a few friends have had their full license's for 1-2 years and haven't once needed to reverse around a corner!

Melia

It's not about actually reversing around a corner though, it's about the skills needed to do so, and demonstrating several different abilities at once.

I do think parking should be a bigger part of the test. So many people (myself included, until recently) can't park for peanuts.

TestTransmission

af_thefragile wrote: »

I feel it is too pedantic and tough. You get failed for stupid things that'ld make no difference to how you'ld drive everyday.

I'ld say over 90% of the people if they'ld do their driving test and drive the way they normally do would instantly fail it. No one can drive everyday the way you're supposed to in the driving test. When you drive normally, you just assess the situation and drive accordingly. You don't have to be in 2nd to go over speed bumps or have both hands on the steering wheel all the time or be exactly in the right position while taking the turn. You can't drive like that all the time. You just see whether the junction or turn is clear of not. If it is, you go ahead. If there's traffic on it, you stop.

Why can't the test be more focused towards the driver's competency to assess situations and drive according to them than all these rules about you need to be in this gear, you need to control your clutch this way, you need to be in exactly this position.

If the driving test was easier, cheaper and waiting times were shorter, then a lot of people would get their full license and we there wouldn't be so many L drivers driving unaccompanied.

I think a system like the UK where you get R plates after you pass your driving test would be better. As really the moment you pass your driving test doesn't instantly make you a perfect driver. You been driving with someone all along and suddenly after the test you're free to tackle all the crazy traffic on your own...
You become a good driver through experience on the road. How are you supposed to get experience if you're not allowed to get on the roads in the first place and then in the text they expect you to drive absolutely perfectly and flawlessly....

You want to make the test easier?Are you serious?How much easier could they make it?

erwinvr101

i also do think that the test is easy. what needs to be reworked is the way the testers evaluate the exam as we now know that they are inconsistent. a friend of mine deserved to fail the test as she mounted the kerb twice, stalled in a junction and delayed traffic for a good while and failed to signal going out of the roundabout, but still managed to pass the test with only 2 grade 2s (and that's all). i know she's a mess of a driver so the above i mentioned, i'm sure, were not the only ones she got wrong. you need to have skill and competency to pass the test but you also need luck a great deal

Permabear

This post has been deleted.

af_thefragile

erwinvr101 wrote: »

i also do think that the test is easy. what needs to be reworked is the way the testers evaluate the exam as we now know that they are inconsistent. a friend of mine deserved to fail the test as she mounted the kerb twice, stalled in a junction and delayed traffic for a good while and failed to signal going out of the roundabout, but still managed to pass the test with only 2 grade 2s (and that's all). i know she's a mess of a driver so the above i mentioned, i'm sure, were not the only ones she got wrong. you need to have skill and competency to pass the test but you also need luck a great deal

Yeah, exactly. I mean, the test itself isn't hard. But the testers fail you on stupid little things that make no difference to how you'ld drive normally and no one drives the way normally like you're supposed to in the test.

When I normally drive, I don't take every corner in 2nd gear, I don't slow much down at roundabouts if I see no one is coming onto it. When I'm turning at a junction, I slow down, look if the junction is clear and then take the turn if its clear and this is how most people drive. Yet if you drove this way in the exam, you'ld fail it.

I did everything right at my previous test. Not a single incident of any sorts. Drove safely and considerately, yet I ended up getting more faults than at my first test where I admit I wasn't as good as I didn't have much driving experience back then. Like in my previous test I got a grade for observation at the turn about when I did it absolutely perfectly, didn't hit anything and it was a clear road, there was nothing around. Why am I supposed to look 5 times out every window when I know the road is clear and there's nothing coming... Then my car's got a light clutch so it takes a lil while to pull off at the lights but not too long, about 3secs max, didn't hold anyone up and got 3 grade 2s for progress at traffic lights... like seriously?! Its these sorta things I don't get...

And then I do know some people who aren't the best drivers and pass their test first go. One of my friends said she even hit the kerb and still she passed.

I'm sure if people sat their driving test again, most of them would fail. Which is why I think they should make the grading more coherent in the test and shouldn't fault you for stupid little things that make no difference to your driving. And maybe they could instead bring in something like all drivers should do another test in 10years time or something to see if they're still driving upto standard instead of just passing you once and then most people forget about all the rules of the road... You get people not signaling at round abouts, overtaking from the left, not slowing at lights, going too fast and all sorts of things...

Permabear

This post has been deleted.

erwinvr101

i understand what donegalfella is saying. it's a test so we should be doing it perfectly based on road standards and not based on the reality like what other professional licensed drivers are doing. If we can't be disciplined enough to follow rules and standards at least on the day of the test, then i'm afraid that we could be a lot worse on an ordinary day of driving.

J_R

af_thefragile wrote: »

no one drives the way normally like you're supposed to in the test.

Sorry, but I do and I also strife to get my pupils driving the same.

Take your roundabouts. Irrespective whither you are going/coming from work, Sunday afternoon drive or doing the driving test you approach at a speed that you are totally, completely comfortable with, a speed and appropriate gear that you can easily stop if necessary, equally keep moving if clear. An open fairly large roundabout this could be third gear. There is no rule that you must use 2nd gear.

af_thefragile wrote: »

turn about...
. Why am I supposed to look 5 times out every window

Are you exaggerating slightly your instructors advice ?

Only necessary to take adequate observation, this could consist of a quick check all around the car.

af_thefragile wrote: »

Then my car's got a light clutch so it takes a lil while to pull off at the lights but not too long, about 3secs max, didn't hold anyone up and got 3 grade 2s for progress at traffic lights.

Do not understand. Perhaps your clutch work at nothing to do with getting marked. Could be several other reasons why you got marked for progress.

My advice, take a lesson with another instructor.

greenie

TestTransmission wrote: »

You want to make the test easier?Are you serious?How much easier could they make it?

Lol have you seen the latest pass rates?

greenie

donegalfella wrote: »

This post has been deleted.

Very true & the same with sharp corners/bends..I don't understand why people would not do this instinctively.

One thing I didn't get during my test was this: Approaching a smallish (2 exits) roundabout with the intention of tuning left, I noticed a man start to walk across but when he saw me he stepped back. I'm not sure whether he was drunk or not but there was a bit of swaying! As I was slowing down & changing into 2nd gear he again took a step forward as if intending to chance walking across. As I was unsure of his next move ( he wasn't on the footpath at this point) I slowed down completely & I guess he presumed I was letting him pass & off he ran. The whole thing happened quite quickly & I handled it very confidently.
The tester later told me I had been given a grade 2 for this (progress at the roundabout) as I'm not allowed give way to pedestrians. I knew this of course but in this situation I felt it would have been extremely unsafe to continue driving. Maybe if I hadn't slowed completely down this guy would have stepped back again but I couldn't take that chance. Wouldn't most people have done the same thing?

erwinvr101

greenie wrote: »

Lol have you seen the latest pass rates?

i think he's comparing the test here to driving tests in other countries

greenie

erwinvr101 wrote: »

i think he's comparing the test here to driving tests in other countries

Ah I must've taken it up differently. When he said 'Are you serious, how much easier could they make it?' I presumed he was just talking about the test here and I thought if it was that easy then surely the pass rates in some areas wouldn't be so ridiculously low.

The Big Red Button

Tinker_Bella wrote: »

I think the reversing around the corner is a bit silly. My boyfriend and a few friends have had their full license's for 1-2 years and haven't once needed to reverse around a corner!

Wow, that long?! :rolleyes: