Driving Lesson and Test questions

Hey all,

Some fairly stupid questions for you here, but has me wondering, and seen as I got my learner permit a week ago, I figured I may ask these silly questions while im still looking into it all.

So anyway, firstly i was wondering about Driving lessons. Two friends of mine did lessons (With two different instructors) and the instructor took them straight out onto the motorway. Driving in a straight line and overtaking, etc.

Another friend was taken to a church that had a big empty car park, and he drove around that for a little while.

Now, these lads i'm talking about did their lessons many years ago, so I'm wondering, do instructors generally all do the same thing these days? I'd say I could be a bit of a nervous/over-alert driver at times, so I'd be wary of my first lesson involving me racing alongside articulated lorries and other such vehicles.




Secondly, what does the driving test actually consist of these days? I've heard that they used to give you a series of questions, but the theory test replaced that. So is it just a case of pulling up to the centre, person testing you sits in, you drive off, come back, get told if you pass or fail, and leave?

Is it all just taking place in the car? entirely a practical test?



Cheers.

Alanstrainor

This post covers it really. It's just a basic outline of what to expect. But still.

I wouldn't worry about ending up on the motorway! It's just not going to happen.

**Timbuk2**

Hi!

Instructors generally will spend a few minutes in a car park and/or quiet road at the start to gauge how good the person is, but usually you will be on the road on your first lesson. Country roads, possibly, not in the centre of town unless you're really good!

Definitely not on motorways. I don't know where you heard that, but the instructor did not take them out on the motorway. Learners cannot drive on motorways until after they have passed their test. Even if it was a dual-carraigeway N road, it's not ideal for a first lesson - overtaking, joining dual carraigeways, keeping up with traffic speed all require good competency and observation skills, not something that a newly learning driver would be expected to have!

The driving test consists of a few questions at the beginning (when can you overtake on the left, what does a continuous white line mean, what do these road signs mean - that kind of thing) and then he goes outside to your car. He asks you to open the bonnet and point out a few things to him (he might say, where would you check the oil level, where is the windscreen washer resevoir) and he might do some checks on the controls inside the car (how do you turn on your dipped lights, rear fog lights, what do you do if the window gets steamed up).

Then he'll ask you to move off when you're ready. He won't talk to you, apart from when giving instructions (you can ask for them to be repeated if you can't hear him), and he'll have a clipboard and will record faults you make.

You generally drive for about 30 minutes, mostly in 50km/h areas. You will demonstrate a three-point turn (known as a turnabout, as doing it in 3 turns isn't essential) and a reverse around the corner (this tests your car control and observation skills - the same skills you'd use to park a car). Apart from some general driving, that's basically it. He might get you to pull in, park by the kerb, then move off again. Often while you're pulled in, he may ask you to demonstrate hand signals.

Once you get back, you both leave the car and walk inside to the testing centre. You only find out your result once back there (for safety reasons!) - whether you pass or fail depends on how many faults you have accumulated along the way. There are three types of Faults. Grade 1 (green) faults are minor and do not affect your test score. Grade 2 (blue) faults are serious, and you cannot get more than 8 of them (or 4 for the same thing, e.g. reaction to hazards). Grade 3 (pink) faults are 'dangerous' and just one of them will fail your test. this would happen if you mounted the kerb during a manouver, failed to stop at a stop sign.

I hope this helps! Best of luck with the learning process!

Cheers guys. It's good to have that cleared up.

Though i know that my brother was taken onto a motorway straight away, so... there's some truth to it! Maybe it was just some cowboy instructor (we're talking about 15 years ago).

Thanks a lot again. I'll more than likely be on this forum for a while now, asking silly questions and replying to threads with no real idea what I'm talking about :pac:


EDIT: Though I'm surprised about the road signs and such in the test. I thought they were completely eliminated in favour of the theory test?

**Timbuk2**

There's no such things as silly questions when it comes to learning to drive!! Ask away

Oh, 15 years ago - I'm not sure then. Still, don't worry about being on a motorway anyway - it won't happen! Motorways are actually easy to drive on, but only once you are so used to driving that the controlling the car is automatic - for a new driver, I'd imagine it's quite daunting. The speeds are very high - if something goes wrong, it goes really wrong! But they're very safe, so things very rarely do go wrong.

Yes, the theory test does overlap with the questions asked at the start of the test. But I should have mentioned, you only spend about 2 minutes being asked "theory" questions - it's not tough, and it's still possible to get them all wrong and pass (although of course, starting your test with 3 Grade 2 faults isn't the best way to go about things!).

Ah well that's not too bad then. I just hate the thought of being a competent driver who constantly fails on theoretical questions and situations.

**Timbuk2**

Ah not to worry - if you can pass the theory test you'll be more than capable of the theory part. They have a few favourite questions that they tend to ask over and over again. As for most signs - you probably don't realise it, but you know most of them even from just being a passenger/cyclist! There's a few which you mightn't know, such as some of them to do with roadworks, but generally they are very familiar. If you have a rules of the road book, they're all in there. If not, you can view them on the website www.rotr.ie

Your location says Drogheda so I'm assuming when it comes to taking the test, you'll be in Dundalk! I did my test there too - Dundalk is a great place to do a test, there's no tricky sections or huge roundabouts or anything! And the town is ridiculously flat as well (unlike Drogheda, you'll get good practice with your hill starts if you're driving around Drogheda in traffic ). If you don't know, the test centre is at the Fairways Hotel, which is on the Old Dublin Road.

Mint Sauce

Preety much what timbuk2 said. The instructer will gauge you on your experience and will not make you do anything he does not think your capable of.

Deleted User wrote: »

So anyway, firstly i was wondering about Driving lessons. Two friends of mine did lessons (With two different instructors) and the instructor took them straight out onto the motorway. Driving in a straight line and overtaking, etc.

My third lesson I was taken on the Duel carriage way. Done the merging and exiting at DC speed, indicating, observing, etc. Dont remember having to over take.

Deleted User wrote: »

Another friend was taken to a church that had a big empty car park, and he drove around that for a little while.

I was taken to an empty car park, this was for controling the steering and learning the 12, 3, 6, and 9 clock face on the wheel. This helped for later when being told to turn to the wheel to a certain time during reversing arounf the corner, and lining up beside the kerb, etc.

Deleted User wrote: »

Secondly, what does the driving test actually consist of these days? I've heard that they used to give you a series of questions, but the theory test replaced that. So is it just a case of pulling up to the centre, person testing you sits in, you drive off, come back, get told if you pass or fail, and leave?

Is it all just taking place in the car? entirely a practical test?

First part of the test is in the office, you will still be asked some random rules of the road questions. Then out to the car for random checks, such as checking fluid levels, tyre wear, then inside the car deminstrating things such as window washers, how do you control this and that etc. The examiner will also ask to see the indicators works and posibly the other lights. Finally before hitting the road you will have to demonstate a few hand signals. Then its out on the road for 20 minutes or so. My test including going out on the same DC as it was right beside the test centre, then heading to the quiet areas of town to do the turn in the road, reversing around corners, road juctions, roadabouts, observation, being aware of hazards, etc etc. Then back to the office for result.

If you do fail, you preety much wont be told any more, rarely will they go into the specifics nor are they obliged to.

If you pass, you get a pass slip to bring to the tax office to apply for the full licence.

Other than that, again what timbuk2 said.

**Timbuk2**

**Timbuk2** wrote: »

Your location says Drogheda so I'm assuming when it comes to taking the test, you'll be in Dundalk! I did my test there too - Dundalk is a great place to do a test, there's no tricky sections or huge roundabouts or anything! And the town is ridiculously flat as well (unlike Drogheda, you'll get good practice with your hill starts if you're driving around Drogheda in traffic ). If you don't know, the test centre is at the Fairways Hotel, which is on the Old Dublin Road.

Ah that's a good thing to hear, so! I'm not too familiar with Dundalk, but if I'll be doing the test there, then Ill be sure to scope it out sometime prior to doing the actual test.


Can I ask another question; are there any rules or regulations on the lessons or timelines with lessons? Can I book 12 lessons (I know I don't have to do the new EDT thing, as I got my learner permit before the 4th, but I assume lessons will start being offered at discount in sets of twelve), and do them all in the same week?

Say, Monday-Saturday, two hours a day (provided myself and the instructor are both available, of course)? Or do instructors generally make you wait a week or a day or such between lessons?

Mint Sauce

Deleted User wrote: »

Ah that's a good thing to hear, so! I'm not too familiar with Dundalk, but if I'll be doing the test there, then Ill be sure to scope it out sometime prior to doing the actual test.


Can I ask another question; are there any rules or regulations on the lessons or timelines with lessons? Can I book 12 lessons (I know I don't have to do the new EDT thing, as I got my learner permit before the 4th, but I assume lessons will start being offered at discount in sets of twelve), and do them all in the same week?

Say, Monday-Saturday, two hours a day (provided myself and the instructor are both available, of course)? Or do instructors generally make you wait a week or a day or such between lessons?

If you have got in before the deadline then there should be no limit on the number of lessons you can do. Some one else might be able to answer better.

In relation to when you do your lessons, a good instructer should constuct a lesson plan, based on progress and your own experience. In may case I had taken lessons many many years before in the UK. Reapplied for my provisional here. Paid for block of ten, need a few more. Had 3 or 4 lessons initially at the start of the 6 month period, had 7 or 8 more instenive lessons nearer the end of the 6 months prior to my test.

DrivingTestTips: Brian

Here is our free video tutorial website which will help you. http://www.DrivingTestTips.ie

Please note you should get in contact with an ADI because a lot of the information in the videos are ment for learner drivers who can drive and control the vehicle.

If you are nervous about driving tell your ADI and learn at your own pace.

**Timbuk2**

KKV, twelve lessons in one week is not a good idea... not at all.

remember, you can't take the test until 6 months after you're Learner Permit is issued (but you can apply beforehand).

This isn't like cramming for a biology test, you're learning to drive - lack of competence can cost lives! A bit dramatic, yes, but it should be done slowly and gradually.

If you do one lesson a week, and practice with an accompanied driver in between lessons, you will make considerably better progress, and become a much more experienced driver.

Chances are doing 12 lessons a week would be very inefficient - there's only a certain amount you can take in and practice, and the newer you are to driving the longer it can take for things to stick.

You can block book lessons though - but normally they're taken over a long period of time. This definitely is for the benefit of the learner. It shouldn't be a race to a pink licence, you want to be as competent as you can when you pass, because that's when you're allowed to drive on your own, on motorways, etc.

mulner92

Would consider myself decent at reversing and finally getting the hang of moving off smoothly, just a basic question here, when you bring the car to a gentle halt in traffic or at the traffic lights, do you just press the accelerator again to move off or have you to use the clutch again before moving off? Thanks

Mint Sauce

mulner92 wrote: »

Would consider myself decent at reversing and finally getting the hang of moving off smoothly, just a basic question here, when you bring the car to a gentle halt in traffic or at the traffic lights, do you just press the accelerator again to move off or have you to use the clutch again before moving off? Thanks

If you are coming to a stop you need to use the clutch or you will stall. When you are setting of again use the clutch to find the bite as you normally would.

If you are going to be stopped at the lights I would put into netural and hand brake on. If at the head of the queue, I'd be in first with the clutch pressed in ready to go when lights go green. With hand brake on whilst waiting.

challengemaster

**Timbuk2** wrote: »

KKV, twelve lessons in one week is not a good idea... not at all.

remember, you can't take the test until 6 months after you're Learner Permit is issued (but you can apply beforehand).

This isn't like cramming for a biology test, you're learning to drive - lack of competence can cost lives! A bit dramatic, yes, but it should be done slowly and gradually.

If you do one lesson a week, and practice with an accompanied driver in between lessons, you will make considerably better progress, and become a much more experienced driver.

Chances are doing 12 lessons a week would be very inefficient - there's only a certain amount you can take in and practice, and the newer you are to driving the longer it can take for things to stick.

You can block book lessons though - but normally they're taken over a long period of time. This definitely is for the benefit of the learner. It shouldn't be a race to a pink licence, you want to be as competent as you can when you pass, because that's when you're allowed to drive on your own, on motorways, etc.

That's just not true and you've got no proof to back it up either...

Doing things slowly and gradually has not been proven in any account to be the best way to learn. There's also no proof it would be very inefficent either. Also, how much a person can "take in" is entirely dependant on the person. Some people may only be able to process one lesson at a time.

Personally, when I started driving, I took 7-8 lessons within the first week or week and a half, depending on availability. After that, i didn't need any more and just practiced with the parents in the car until the test date came up, when I went back for fine-tuning and ridding of bad habits.

I also firmly believe that if you have mutliple lessons very close to eachother, you will benefit more-so than spreading them out. Especially very early on, as over your first 2-3 lessons you learn the fundamentals and progress to driving on the roads. By having them close together, the information stays fresh and you build confidence in a safe enviornment, and can build on what you've already learned. By 6-8 lessons you should be fully confident to drive on the roads, progress through the gears and have learned how to do the necessary maneuvers for the test, so basically you should be able to go off and practice on your own in all situations, which gives a much quicker and better progression when learning.

I don't believe there's any merit to taking 1 lesson, going away and practicing driving around a secluded estate in 1st and 2nd gear for a few hours until your next lesson. Surely being able to drive there, go through the area properly and exit again onto proper roads, progress through traffic and so on is far more beneficial?

And I'm far from incompetent behind the wheel.

DrivingTestTips: Brian

challengemaster wrote: »

That's just not true and you've got no proof to back it up either...

Doing things slowly and gradually has not been proven in any account to be the best way to learn. There's also no proof it would be very inefficent either. Also, how much a person can "take in" is entirely dependant on the person. Some people may only be able to process one lesson at a time.

Personally, when I started driving, I took 7-8 lessons within the first week or week and a half, depending on availability. After that, i didn't need any more and just practiced with the parents in the car until the test date came up, when I went back for fine-tuning and ridding of bad habits.

I also firmly believe that if you have mutliple lessons very close to eachother, you will benefit more-so than spreading them out. Especially very early on, as over your first 2-3 lessons you learn the fundamentals and progress to driving on the roads. By having them close together, the information stays fresh and you build confidence in a safe enviornment, and can build on what you've already learned. By 6-8 lessons you should be fully confident to drive on the roads, progress through the gears and have learned how to do the necessary maneuvers for the test, so basically you should be able to go off and practice on your own in all situations, which gives a much quicker and better progression when learning.

I don't believe there's any merit to taking 1 lesson, going away and practicing driving around a secluded estate in 1st and 2nd gear for a few hours until your next lesson. Surely being able to drive there, go through the area properly and exit again onto proper roads, progress through traffic and so on is far more beneficial?

And I'm far from incompetent behind the wheel.

I would have to agree with Timbuk2. Doing a lot of lessons in a short time is not a good idea for most.

Reason which sticks out in my mind is over confidence. If a beginner learns how to control a car in a very short time they normally think they are a great driver; BUT they would have no experience, this is why they should practice between lessons.

For you I will say "WELL DONE" but for most I must say the practice is just as important as the lessons.

**Timbuk2**

Challengemaster, the reason I think that gradual lessons are better than "intensive" lessons is that if I do one lessons and learn the basics of car control (like a beginner would have to do), I could then spend the rest of the week practicing this in a car park, and by the next lesson, I would have as good as mastered car control, thus allowing me to make better progress on the next lesson.

Imagine I was doing both lessons over two days. During the first lesson, I'd be learning car control, and as beginners do, possibly cutting out, being in the wrong gear, being jerky starting off. By the next day, I won't have mastered this and it's very plausible that I might still cut out, or have not got the full hang of the gears yet. I wouldn't be making as much progress in this case. Same argument for the rest of the lessons.

Mind you, I feel that learners should get the hang of moving off slowly in 1st or 2nd gear before even doing the first lesson (maybe a parent or friend could show them in a car park). Most would disagree, but I feel that spending a whole lesson moving around, finding biting points, releasing handbrakes, changing from 1st -> 2nd and stopping isn't an efficient use of money.

And as Brian said above, a person who has taken a lot of lessons in a short period of time is not experienced which can cost lives. They may well be able to pass their test, but passing the test doesn't necessarily mean you're a "good" driver, no more so than failing the test means you're a "bad" driver.

starlit

I think learning over a long period of time is better, it makes you more aware and become an experienced driver before you do the driving test. Now practicing in between lessons is very important, but I have found that my accompany driver is not willing to go back over stuff I learn with my driving instructor, she asumes going out for a drive is enough, that I learn everything in one session but that in itself is not enough. She is just not willing to go practice the same route more than once with me she thinks thats the instructors job and feel I am getting mixed information how to do things between her and my previous instructors. Feel I need to get a good instructor go to them for at least 10 lessons and then go back to her, I'm just not willing to practice with her anymore and not prepared to do it on my own at the back of the house until I become a more competent driver!

I believe learning over a longer period of time is better than over a short period of time. I am one of those people who learn things better over a longer period time than a short period of time its the same with anything like college or anything else I learn new. Repetion and practicing the same thing over and over for as long as possible is the best way to learn anything not just driving!

Some people are lucky that they can learn to drive over a short period of time but that doesn't necessary mean they are a good driver! They just learnt to be able to pass the test, even so isn't it better to have learnt to drive for life rather than just for the test and no more!

DrivingTestTips: Brian

snuggles285 wrote: »

I think learning over a long period of time is better, it makes you more aware and become an experienced driver before you do the driving test. Now practicing in between lessons is very important, but I have found that my accompany driver is not willing to go back over stuff I learn with my driving instructor, she asumes going out for a drive is enough, that I learn everything in one session but that in itself is not enough. She is just not willing to go practice the same route more than once with me she thinks thats the instructors job and feel I am getting mixed information how to do things between her and my previous instructors. Feel I need to get a good instructor go to them for at least 10 lessons and then go back to her, I'm just not willing to practice with her anymore and not prepared to do it on my own at the back of the house until I become a more competent driver!

I believe learning over a longer period of time is better than over a short period of time. I am one of those people who learn things better over a longer period time than a short period of time its the same with anything like college or anything else I learn new. Repetion and practicing the same thing over and over for as long as possible is the best way to learn anything not just driving!

Some people are lucky that they can learn to drive over a short period of time but that doesn't necessary mean they are a good driver! They just learnt to be able to pass the test, even so isn't it better to have learnt to drive for life rather than just for the test and no more!

Well said!

I am now working on a new FREE video tutorial website called EssentialDrivingTraining.ie (EDT.ie) which will be there for learners to check before and while they are learning.

I am doing this because of the success of DrivingTestTips.ie and I also, like you, know that the learner driver is better off learning over time with the correct advice and practice.

The new RSA EDT system is based on the same concept (learning and practice).

starlit

irish-stew wrote: »

If you are coming to a stop you need to use the clutch or you will stall. When you are setting of again use the clutch to find the bite as you normally would.

If you are going to be stopped at the lights I would put into netural and hand brake on. If at the head of the queue, I'd be in first with the clutch pressed in ready to go when lights go green. With hand brake on whilst waiting.

It has taken me sometime to realise when I come to a stop/yield sign not to stop completely, hold on and not conk out but stop/hault at the sign/line of course just that sometimes I stop too far before meeting the line or go pass the line and end up conking out sometimes and could take a couple attempts to pull out. I'm not used to stopping at lights and moving through traffic but learning to control the car and pedals take time, its important to get the biting point right though OP then you be well on your way and just a matter of learning the maneuvers. Take your time and drive at your own pace, do maybe one or two lessons a week is better over a couple of months than a couple of weeks, what you learn is more likely to stick! Good luck OP.

stevenmu

I'm another who thinks spreading lessons out is better. Learning basic car control, and in fact most aspects of driving, requires repetition and experience. If for e.g. you do two lessons back to back, there's a good chance that the first lesson will teach you something new and you'll spend the second lesson practicing and perfecting it. If you seperate the lessons by a few days, you can learn something new in the first, practice in your own time, then learn something new in your second lesson and so on.

Of course better student will be able to take maybe a block of two or three lessons, learn lots of things and then go practice before the next block, but I doubt anyone could do a full course of 12 lessons straight through without wasting at least half of them practicing stuff they could do on their own without paying an instructor.

Cheers guys.

Unfortunately, i havent really got a car to practice in, outside of lessons, which is why im thinking of cramming them in.

My brother drives, but has no patience and uses his car a fair bit, and i dont want to buy a car as i have no intention on actually being a car driver anytime soon, so im not spending hundreds/thousands on a car for that sake.


Though actually, re-reading this thread has me thinking maybe i should spend a couple of hundred on a piece of crap to play with?

IpreDictDeatH

Are the theory questions you get asked before your practical text multi choice or not? I got 40/40 in my theory test, but that was with multiple choice. Id be afraid of wording them wrong in my actual test.

stevenmu

The testers aren't very fussy about exact wording, once you can show that you understand the basic concept you should be ok.

IpreDictDeatH

Sound, thanks.

**Timbuk2**

No they aren't multiple choice. He'll just ask a simple question, like When are you allowed to overtake on the left?

And you will reply with a short answer (it doesn't matter about the wording) like if the car ahead is waiting to turn right but I want to go left or straight on, or if traffic is moving in slow-moving queues with traffic in the left lane going faster than traffic in the right lane.

The theory questions are nothing to worry about. If you've been driving for at least 6 months, then you'll definitely know them!

Make sure you're familiar with the engine components before your test - they're very basic questions, but you don't want to spend an awkward 10 seconds trying to look for the Brake fluid container, or where to fill the oil (most of these have stickers/symbols on them) - this is especially true if you're doing the test in a car that you don't usually drive, such as an instructor's car.