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Some very specific questions

  • 17-06-2011 4:21pm
    #1
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 46


    I've a test next week and am reasonably hopeful. I drove a lot in the 90s but failed the test 4 or 5 times for reasons that were sometimes clear to me and sometimes not. So I got rather despondent and cynical about the testing process and gave up and barely drove for about 8 years. I've been back in the car for a year or two on or off with the wife and had more lessons.

    Anyway I have been reading this with some interest but here are some specific questions about certain situations that have been causing me some stress.
    My wife’s car is not entirely happy at 50kph. To be in 4th gear you really need to be at 55 for it to sound totally smooth. But my instructor reckoned you need to get into 4th and cruise along at 50 at some points – like Braemor road. I think this is one where I’ll just hope for the best or should I mention this to the tester.
    Cars coming out of driveways/parking lots. Do you slow down for these. Obviously you have right away but what if they are being driven by nutters?
    Yields seem to be more likely to get you an error mark as sometimes you could should move quickly but other times not. Depends on how good visibility is and how quickly you can assess the conditions in both directions. And if there’s awkward parked cars seems like a reason to stop and be sure. A specific example is cars indicating when you are at a yield, do you pull out anyway or wait to confirm they are turning before pulling out. Maybe this is one of those things where there’s no easy answer as the safe distance will depend on how fast you are, how fast they are and how far you can see.
    Having learned to drive nearly 20 years ago I tend to use the handbrake more than is normal these days. Basically its hardwired that I do it whenever I stop, so at stop signs in quiet estates where nobody is coming it does slow me down a bit. My instructor reckoned to leave it off in situations like that if I can but not to worry too much as its a pretty safe habit. Any thoughts.
    Speed bumps – do you always slow down and hit 2nd gear for these?

    Stop signs with no line on road. I gather the rule is stop at the sign if there's no line.There was certainly one near chruchtown where this wasn't really an option as you couldn't see anything at all from the sign which was a 2 metres before the end of the road. My ADI seemed a bif conflicted about whether you should drop to 1st or 2nd gear at the sign and crawl forward and then stop and observe. He reckoned if I did what i did and stopped, crawled forward and stopped to observe and then moved off I could be done for lack of progress. Equally if I don't stop at the sign a different instructor could give a fault. Hard to know really and I think this is where the luck of which tester comes in.

    And if anyone can think of a way to hardwire my brain to remember to check the blind spot before indicating before turning would be handy. I get it most of the time but not always - which is ironic as I was once knocked off my bike by someone who was suddenly veered toward the pavement right beside me (passenger wanted to get out).


Comments

  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,418 ✭✭✭loobylou


    1 Always drive in the highest gear suitable to the speed you are going. If this happens to be 3rd gear then so be it.
    2 You don't need to slow down because cars MIGHT come out of a driveway, etc. What you must do though is to prove to the tester that you have seen/are aware of this potential hazard. So, mirror check as soon as you spot it, then he knows.
    3 You pretty much answered this yourself, it all depends on how much you can see. As to the specific question about cars indicating/turning be aware that indicators are not the only form of signalling. Look also at the cars speed and road position. Do not pull out unless you are SURE the car is turning.
    4 The handbrake is your friend. Use it often.
    5 Depends on speedbump, some are OK in 3rd gear.
    6 Stop means stop. You must ALWAYS stop at a stop sign, even when it feels unnecessary. The situation you describe, stop,peep,creep,etc
    7 You would normally only need to check your blindspots when moving away from a parked position or when changing lanes.
    Hope this is of help and good luck with the test.


  • Posts: 16,720 ✭✭✭✭ [Deleted User]


    I've a test next week and am reasonably hopeful. I drove a lot in the 90s but failed the test 4 or 5 times for reasons that were sometimes clear to me and sometimes not. So I got rather despondent and cynical about the testing process and gave up and barely drove for about 8 years. I've been back in the car for a year or two on or off with the wife and had more lessons.

    Anyway I have been reading this with some interest but here are some specific questions about certain situations that have been causing me some stress.
    My wife’s car is not entirely happy at 50kph. To be in 4th gear you really need to be at 55 for it to sound totally smooth. But my instructor reckoned you need to get into 4th and cruise along at 50 at some points – like Braemor road. I think this is one where I’ll just hope for the best or should I mention this to the tester.
    Cars coming out of driveways/parking lots. Do you slow down for these. Obviously you have right away but what if they are being driven by nutters?
    Yields seem to be more likely to get you an error mark as sometimes you could should move quickly but other times not. Depends on how good visibility is and how quickly you can assess the conditions in both directions. And if there’s awkward parked cars seems like a reason to stop and be sure. A specific example is cars indicating when you are at a yield, do you pull out anyway or wait to confirm they are turning before pulling out. Maybe this is one of those things where there’s no easy answer as the safe distance will depend on how fast you are, how fast they are and how far you can see.
    Having learned to drive nearly 20 years ago I tend to use the handbrake more than is normal these days. Basically its hardwired that I do it whenever I stop, so at stop signs in quiet estates where nobody is coming it does slow me down a bit. My instructor reckoned to leave it off in situations like that if I can but not to worry too much as its a pretty safe habit. Any thoughts.
    Speed bumps – do you always slow down and hit 2nd gear for these?

    Stop signs with no line on road. I gather the rule is stop at the sign if there's no line.There was certainly one near chruchtown where this wasn't really an option as you couldn't see anything at all from the sign which was a 2 metres before the end of the road. My ADI seemed a bif conflicted about whether you should drop to 1st or 2nd gear at the sign and crawl forward and then stop and observe. He reckoned if I did what i did and stopped, crawled forward and stopped to observe and then moved off I could be done for lack of progress. Equally if I don't stop at the sign a different instructor could give a fault. Hard to know really and I think this is where the luck of which tester comes in.

    And if anyone can think of a way to hardwire my brain to remember to check the blind spot before indicating before turning would be handy. I get it most of the time but not always - which is ironic as I was once knocked off my bike by someone who was suddenly veered toward the pavement right beside me (passenger wanted to get out).

    My own opinions below, some may or may not be correct procedure :)

    I did my test in Churchtown, so I assume that's the Braemor Road you are referring to! I never look at the speed as an indicator of when to gear up, I listen to the revs of the engine. But most traffic on Braemor Road would easily be going over 50km/hr, so in the test I think I went between 50 and 55 km/hr, and when I noticed the speed was over 50 I just took the foot off the accelerator.

    If I would see someone reversing out ahead, I'd slow down and prepare to stop but still proceed ahead. I'd beep if they were to reverse out into the road when quite near you. Really though it depends on the situation. Nutters will be everywhere, so just be calm, if they reverse out in front of you, just make sure you've slowed down a bit and are prepared to stop. Remember, the testing knows that there are crazies on the road too.

    Speedbumps - it depends on the bump! I was told there's no one rule for this. But do of course slow down for the bump.

    Stop signs - I'd stop at the sign, look around, wait 2 seconds, then do the creep & peep thing.

    Blindspots when indicating? I never do that, I just check all the mirrors. Blindspots when moving off/reversing is what I always do.

    Best of luck with the test!


  • Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 38 tommyp


    you can drive in 5th at 50kmh in all cars.


  • Moderators, Education Moderators, Motoring & Transport Moderators Posts: 7,396 Mod ✭✭✭✭**Timbuk2**


    tommyp wrote: »
    you can drive in 5th at 50kmh in all cars.

    Maybe in some cars, but certainly not all cars will be 'happy' in 5th, the car I drive would require at least 60km/h to be in 5th otherwise it feels a bit laboured and doesn't accelerate well - but listen to the engine revs, not the speed to determine when to change gear!


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 46 Emperor Tomato Ketchup


    Thanks for the answers and best wishes.

    I am reasonably practisced and commited to doing 50 in 4th gear its just the car does not sound totally happy. The only question is whether to mention it to the tester for fear they won't like the sound of the engine. The car is a relatively large hyundai but with a small engine so it doesn't sound like what you might expect. And is probably bigger than a lot of cars people use for the test, but its the one I'm used to so I see no point changing.

    For handbrake if anything I overuse it, e.g. stopping in slow traffic, at stop signs which are on the level, during turnabout. Means I lose a few moments letting it off. This won't be a problem if the tester is especially keen on caution but might be a problem if they are obsessed with progress. My ADI reckoned the small risk of G2s for overusing it were ok compared to to not.


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