Final Questions Before Test

robobobo

Hey Guys,

I've got my test on Monday in Rathgar and just have a few questions before it.

There is a lot of streets around Rathgar which have cars parked on the side of the road, and half up on footpaths etc...

Should I indicate when going around these cars? Sometimes the roads are fairly wide and I don't even have to cross the white line to avoid them, but should I still be indicating?

Other times the whole road can be lined with cars and I might as well have my indicator on the whole way then! This doesn't seem right, so what do you guys recommend,

Those of you who have passed, did you indicate?

And one more thing, if I do pass (hopefully I will) I've heard of people picking up their pink licence straight after, are you able to do this? I thought you had to send it off etc... and wait 10 days, or at least I did for my provisional

Cheers

Max Power1

I was told (by my adi) not to indicate unless you are crossing the white line. Just check both mirrors and move out gradually.

I think that you have to post off and wait for the full licence (meaning that you have no paper licence in the intervening time because you need to include your LP in the application for a full licence)

Best of luck with the test. Ive mine on wednesday in finglas (and have the same dilemma with parked cars too)

LookBehindYou

Watch out for those cycle lanes in Rathgar.

sentient_6

Indicate to move out if your crossing the line. But turn it off once your out also. As in no need to indicate the whole way around a big line of parked cars.

J_R

Hi,

An indicator is a signal that you intend to change your position on the road. (or your intended direction at a junction).

Therefore, for parked cars, you indicate that you intend to go out, you then cancel the indicator when you have gone out as far as needed to clear the obstruction.

I was told (by my adi) not to indicate unless you are crossing the white line

Whither you cross the white line and irrespective whither it is a dotted, continuous single, double or hatch markings has no bearing whatsoever whither you indicate or not.

If you intend to move out, you indicate, period.

Would love to know where some of these "Rules" originate

Max Power1

J_R wrote: »

Would love to know where some of these "Rules" originate

As you quoted me, i will say that I was told this by my ADi, himself a former tester. I will take that as a reliable source for me - however you can choose to listen to wherever you want!

J_R

Max Power1 wrote: »

As you quoted me, i will say that I was told this by my ADi, himself a former tester. I will take that as a reliable source for me - however you can choose to listen to wherever you want!

Hi,

Sorry, did not mean you, was referring to the ADI.

Ask him next time, if there is no white line, what then ??

Also ask him where can you find this rule.

It simply does not make sense that you only need to indicate if you cross a white line. (Whither it exists or not)

Also IMHO it is dangerous to bring the white line into an explanation on an overtaking manoeuvre. An inexperienced driver might be inclined to squeeze inside it, subsequently not giving the obstruction a safe margin. And needlessly worrying about whither to indicate or not.

It is very simple, you ignore the line, you indicate to move out and give the obstruction a safe but not excessive clearance, cancel, then when clear, indicate and move back. (After proper checks, and safe to do so, etc)

(Keep It Simple.)

robobobo

J_R

you're reasoning is good, but in Rathgar there are several fairly wide roads, and cars may be parked on the side of them, or half up on footpaths and you barely have to move out at all to avoid them.

And other times there could be multiple cars along the road, but with enough space in between them that you would have to be moving out, moving in, moving out,moving in etc..... multiple times,

would you still be indicating for each time you move in and out?

J_R

robobobo wrote: »

J_R

you're reasoning is good, but in Rathgar there are several fairly wide roads, and cars may be parked on the side of them, or half up on footpaths and you barely have to move out at all to avoid them.

And other times there could be multiple cars along the road, but with enough space in between them that you would have to be moving out, moving in, moving out,moving in etc..... multiple times,

would you still be indicating for each time you move in and out?

Hi,

Had a young lad fail two weeks ago for the above. Line of parked cars, he went in/out/in/out/in/out. Thought he was doing a great job. (Fair to me, he only took two lessons)

Line of cars, ,you indicate, move out cancel, and stay out. Indicate and move back in when clear.

Make life simple for yourself and others

Max Power1

J_R wrote: »

Hi,

Sorry, did not mean you, was referring to the ADI.

Ask him next time, if there is no white line, what then ??

Also ask him where can you find this rule.

It simply does not make sense that you only need to indicate if you cross a white line. (Whither it exists or not)

Also IMHO it is dangerous to bring the white line into an explanation on an overtaking manoeuvre. An inexperienced driver might be inclined to squeeze inside it, subsequently not giving the obstruction a safe margin. And needlessly worrying about whither to indicate or not.

It is very simple, you ignore the line, you indicate to move out and give the obstruction a safe but not excessive clearance, cancel, then when clear, indicate and move back. (After proper checks, and safe to do so, etc)

(Keep It Simple.)

I believe he meant a figurative white line (ie the centre of the road) not a literal one.

Its a bit late to be worrying about this for me anyway, my test is on wednesday!
In my previous test, although I faild, I got no marks for mirrors/indicators and I didnt indicate when passing parked cars. I certainly would never indicate unless I was breaking the centre of the road.

robobobo

Well I've got my test tomorrow so I'll find out pretty soon!

I think I'll just use a bit of common sense, if im obviously moving out to avoid the car (ie.break line) then I'll indicate but if it's just a slight adjustment in my road position I'll leave it

but always remember to check those mirrors!

Max Power1

robobobo wrote: »

Well I've got my test tomorrow so I'll find out pretty soon!

I think I'll just use a bit of common sense, if im obviously moving out to avoid the car (ie.break line) then I'll indicate but if it's just a slight adjustment in my road position I'll leave it

but always remember to check those mirrors!

^this

Ive always been advised that this is the correct COA. ( I think you may be marked down for controls if you indicate unnecessarily - so I wont indicate unless needed, ie when crossing the centre line)

**Timbuk2**

Don't indicate unless it is a major obstruction, e.g. a van parked leaving very little room. Indicating is fine, if you want to, but remember that other people may not be clear on what exactly you are indicating about - for example coming up to a right turn, a car could pull out thinking you are turning in, or something similar, and you will get marked for a misleading signal (according to my ADI).

I didn't indicate in either of my tests, and I didn't get marked down. Don't indicate back in left after you overtake cars though, as it is obvious to cars that you will move back in and indicating only serves to confuse road users (is he turning left ahead, etc.?)

With regards to getting the full licence after the test - you do not get it straight away. As far as I know, you can only get the full licence on the same day in Cork County Council (open to correction). When I passed my test in Dundalk, I had to wait 2 days for my licence to arrive in the post.

robobobo

Thanks for all your help guys!

One final question about the L Plates.....
I've one on the front left windscreen and one on the back left windscreen (not behind drivers seat)

They wont fail you on that will they? It doesn't matter what side there on as long as there visible to others isn't it?

**Timbuk2**

No, it doesn't matter which side they are on, as long as they are not obstructing your vision. The usual is top left side on the front, and bottom right on the back, but you won't get a mark on your test for L Plate position as long as they are present and visible.

J_R

Originally Posted by robobobo
Well I've got my test tomorrow so I'll find out pretty soon!

I think I'll just use a bit of common sense, if im obviously moving out to avoid the car (ie.break line) then I'll indicate but if it's just a slight adjustment in my road position I'll leave it

but always remember to check those mirrors!

Sounds OK

Max Power1 wrote: »

^this

Ive always been advised that this is the correct COA. ( I think you may be marked down for controls if you indicate unnecessarily - so I wont indicate unless needed, ie when crossing the centre line)

Best of luck in the test and here's hoping you are not brought onto any very wide roads where there is a large obstruction but still plenty of space for you to overtake yet still stay inside the white line.

Max Power1

J_R wrote: »

Sounds OK



Best of luck in the test and here's hoping you are not brought onto any very wide roads where there is a large obstruction but still plenty of space for you to overtake yet still stay inside the white line.

You said sounds ok to robobobo who said exactly the same as what I said?

Seems a bit ridiculous imo to indicate if you are not moving lanes! I wouldnt do it in general driving and I dont think others would (except for auld ones driving a micra at 5kph)

J_R

Hi,

Robob said he would use his common sense.:D

Look, the vast majority of test routes are through town streets and housing estates where roads are generally relatively narrow and to overtake obstructions means you must cross the white line. (or an imaginary line) so statements like 'you do not need to indicate if you do not cross the line' holds true for most tests and test routes.

However in real life you will encounter roads which are wide enough to accommodate say a parked lorry and still allow room to overtake safely without crossing the meridian.

Even if you check your mirrors, blind spot there is still the possibility that you may have missed something. A good driver always allows for this and would indicate in above situation.

Rule books say you indicate without mentioning white lines.

Indicator lamps only cost a euro or two and they last for years.

J_R

Hi,

Robob said he would use his common sense.:D

Look, the vast majority of test routes are through town streets and housing estates where roads are generally relatively narrow and to overtake obstructions means you must cross the white line. (or an imaginary line) so statements like 'you do not need to indicate if you do not cross the line' holds true for most tests and test routes.

However in real life you will encounter roads which are wide enough to accommodate say a parked lorry and still allow room to overtake safely without crossing the meridian.

Even if you check your mirrors, blind spot there is still the possibility that you may have missed something. A good driver always allows for this and would indicate in above situation.

Rule books say you indicate without mentioning white lines.

Indicator lamps only cost a euro or two and they last for years.

**Timbuk2**

I agree with the above! I wouldn't indicate all the time though. If there are cars parked halfway up the footpath, or something, that only require a slight change in my road position, cars in front and behind know that I will move out slightly to overtake, so signalling isn't necessary.

If there is a possibility that cars behind and in front may think I will wait behind instead of overtaking (such as a bin truck stopping momentarily outside a house) then I will indicate.

If you use your common sense, and read the road well ahead of you, you will be fine. Just remember not to indicate in such a way where it is unclear what your intended action is, such as indicating to overtake parked cars whilst approaching a right turn.

J_R

**Timbuk2** wrote: »

I agree with the above! I wouldn't indicate all the time though. If there are cars parked halfway up the footpath, or something, that only require a slight change in my road position, cars in front and behind know that I will move out slightly to overtake, so signalling isn't necessary.

If there is a possibility that cars behind and in front may think I will wait behind instead of overtaking (such as a bin truck stopping momentarily outside a house) then I will indicate.

If you use your common sense, and read the road well ahead of you, you will be fine. Just remember not to indicate in such a way where it is unclear what your intended action is, such as indicating to overtake parked cars whilst approaching a right turn.

Hi,

OK, above in bold is a situation I come across quite often.

A parked car and a road to the right almost imediately after.

Way I see it, if there is a car behind then I would indicate to warn him that I am pulling out to overtake. It does not matter which way he interprets this, whither I am taking the road to the right or merely overtaking the car. Either way it should stop him from overtaking me.

However if there is an oncoming car, or a car waiting to merge would not indicate.

In all situations just use your common sense.

Reason I really do not like these arbitrary statements like 'only indicate if crossing the white line'. As if it was written in some bible. What has a few drops of paint in the road got to do with safe driving. ?

And I have had several near misses because pupils attempt to squeeze between said white lines and parked cars. That usually comes from too much emphasise on indicators and white lines from previous instructors.

robobobo

Right guys, did my test today, and got the

"you have not been successful this time" :-( ...........

at least it wasn't for overtaking parked cars, only got 1 grade 1 for that and it was because i didn't indicate soon enough im sure.

I just used common sense as mentioned previous and only indicated if it was an obvious obstruction etc...

reason i failed though was cause i got a grade 3 right at the beginning! :mad:

Can anyone tell me what's the right thing to do here

your coming up to traffic lights, and you want to turn right, so your in the right lane and the lights are green (theres no filter light), as standard you move up into the junction slightly waiting for a gap in the traffic. Then no gap appears and the lights change. what do you do cause your out in the junction and can't just stay there otherwise your blocking other traffic.

do you turn?

**Timbuk2**

Sorry to hear you failed!

Usually when the light goes full green (the circle, not an arrow) you move out into the junction (slowly) and wait for a gap in the oncoming traffic. Once a gap appears, you turn right, and then the car behind you should have moved into the spot you were in. If the lights turn red while you are out there, then the traffic coming from the opposite direction should have stopped, creating a gap. Therefore, you should be able to turn before the lights of the other road turn green, and you shouldn't be blocking anyone.

Does that make sense? Maybe I interpreted your post incorrectly?

robobobo

yes the traffic had stopped, but I also had a red light, should I have turned on the red?

Max Power1

I had this issue before - once you are passed the lights and in the yellow box, you should make the turn (in the gap between your lights going red and the oncoming lights going green - as above)

robobobo

but I couldn't make the turn, there was traffic the whole time until there lights went red and mine did at the same time

**Timbuk2**

robobobo wrote: »

but I couldn't make the turn, there was traffic the whole time until there lights went red and mine did at the same time

But once you were on the junction (i.e. passed the first traffic light) then you can make the turn, even if it is just as the lights go red. Failure to do so would avoid traffic from other directions from making any progress, or having to weave around you.

J_R

robobobo wrote: »

Right guys, did my test today, and got the

"you have not been successful this time" :-( ...........

at least it wasn't for overtaking parked cars, only got 1 grade 1 for that and it was because i didn't indicate soon enough im sure.

I just used common sense as mentioned previous and only indicated if it was an obvious obstruction etc...

reason i failed though was cause i got a grade 3 right at the beginning! :mad:

Can anyone tell me what's the right thing to do here

your coming up to traffic lights, and you want to turn right, so your in the right lane and the lights are green (theres no filter light), as standard you move up into the junction slightly waiting for a gap in the traffic. Then no gap appears and the lights change. what do you do cause your out in the junction and can't just stay there otherwise your blocking other traffic.

do you turn?

Hi,

When the lights are green and you held up by oncoming traffic you move right up into the junction, preferably with your bumper level with the white line in the center of the other road. But you must not interfere with the oncoming traffic which is going to their left or straight on. (Traffic turning to their right, as you are also turning right, both of you are doing the same thing so you play by ear)

You have now in the words of a RSA supervisor that I had a chat with once "Taken possession of the junction". You ignore the lights and go when clear.

You may not have gone right up into the junction, hence you needed more time to safely clear

robobobo

ah so it's ok to turn even as the light goes red.......

that's what I did then, there was another incident where I didn't turn when the light went red, i stayed there, that must have been the grade 3 :mad:

anyways,

to re apply, is there anyway I can get it quicker, I need it asap because I had this special insurance deal which runs out in the middle august and I need to pass before then.

I know I can apply for cancellations, but can I apply saying I need it for work and get it quicker? ( I kinda do need it for work as well)

How do I go about this, I don't see anything on the RSA site,

J_R

robobobo wrote: »

ah so it's ok to turn even as the light goes red.......

that's what I did then, there was another incident where I didn't turn when the light went red, i stayed there, that must have been the grade 3 :mad:

anyways,

to re apply, is there anyway I can get it quicker, I need it asap because I had this special insurance deal which runs out in the middle august and I need to pass before then.

I know I can apply for cancellations, but can I apply saying I need it for work and get it quicker? ( I kinda do need it for work as well)

How do I go about this, I don't see anything on the RSA site,

Hi,

Yes, not 'even' as they go Red, you go when clear irrespective how long they have turned red (or green or blue or any other colour).

Go to the RSA website immediately, you may be able to pick your time/date, this option appears to be available most of the time now.

robobobo

It lets you pick it after you've paid though,

I don't want to pay and then see the next available date isn't until September or something

anyone know if you can apply for a cancellation online?

**Timbuk2**

What people usually do is apply for their test online, and then ring the RSA and state that they are willing to accept cancellations. There is an option on the online booking form, and I selected it for my second test (although I didn't ring the RSA) and it took the same time to get the test as it did to get my first test (12 weeks) - so I think it is necessary to ring.

Maybe you could ring the RSA and explain your situation, i.e. that you wish to get a cancellation before a certain date due to insurance.

murrayp4

Book another online, select the cancellation option and ring the RSA in around 2 weeks, you'll likely get a spot within 4-5 weeks in total. They only seem to advise of cancellations over the phone so you'll have to ring them. My 1st test was on June 23rd , my second is July 28th:eek:...

**Timbuk2**

murrayp4 wrote: »

Book another online, select the cancellation option and ring the RSA in around 2 weeks, you'll likely get a spot within 4-5 weeks in total. They only seem to advise of cancellations over the phone so you'll have to ring them. My 1st test was on June 23rd , my second is July 28th:eek:...

Best of luck in your test!

Jenna69

Max Power1 wrote: »

I was told (by my adi) not to indicate unless you are crossing the white line. Just check both mirrors and move out gradually.

I think that you have to post off and wait for the full licence (meaning that you have no paper licence in the intervening time because you need to include your LP in the application for a full licence)

Best of luck with the test. Ive mine on wednesday in finglas (and have the same dilemma with parked cars too)

Best of luck today with your test Max. Let us know how you get on, i'll be doing my test in Finglas too when i get round to it, (only 2 months left to go of the 6 months) although i'll only decide to do it if i feel ready.

Max Power1

Jenna69 wrote: »

Best of luck today with your test Max. Let us know how you get on, i'll be doing my test in Finglas too when i get round to it, (only 2 months left to go of the 6 months) although i'll only decide to do it if i feel ready.

Thanks. I passed in the end! I really thought I had failed, at least 2 grade 3 (or i thought so). I pulled out turning right onto a major road from a minor, at the last minute a car sped down from my left and I had to stop half way accross the junction. Turns out i got a grade 2 for progress there (apparently i shouldnt have stopped). Also I conked out doing the turnabout for the first time in months!
I think I was a bit unnerved by the accompanying supervisor.

Also - I went from getting 8 or more grade two for speeding last time, to 3 progress faults this time!

robobobo

Well Done Max,
Only wish I was as lucky,

Does anyone have a number for the RSA to ring them up and make sure i get my cancellation slot and try and convince them that I need one asap!

The number on there site just put me through to a machine
This is the one I tried but just got a machine 1890 40 60 40