The rules of the road thread

BogMonkey

I failed the theory test a 2nd time. I can't afford to fail it again. I have the book and CD but I can't learn by rote memorising like that I need to know the reasons behind things. I'm starting this thread so I can ask questions about the various rules in hopes that knowledgeable people here can answer them. Anyone one else here with questions, you might as well ask them here since I'm dedicating a thread to it.

Q1.) What are full headlights for? According to the book, in fog you're supposed to drive slowly with "dipped" headlights. If you're not allowed to use them in fog, then what situations are you supposed to use them in?

Q2.) Is there a sure shot, easy way to remember the appropriate stopping distances? I can't just memorise arbitrary figures "when driving at 100km/h in rain you must allow a stopping distance of exactly 15.8km. I need some kinda formula that will allow me to calculate the appropriate stopping distance for any speed I might be driving at. There must be some kinda logic behind setting these stopping distance rules and if so there must be a mathematical formula I can use. When its raining do I double the stopping distance that would apply to a dry road?

Q3.) What are the rules concerning displaying your tax disc, insurance disc and NCT disk? In the question on the practice exam I ticked the option saying "you must display tax disc and insurance disc on the windscreen at all times" but that was wrong, the correct answer was that you must only display your insurance disc on your windscreen.

partyatmygaff

BogMonkey wrote: »

Q1.) What are full headlights for? According to the book, in fog you're supposed to drive slowly with "dipped" headlights. If you're not allowed to use them in fog, then what situations are you supposed to use them in?

As far as i'm aware they're only used on dark unlit roads. Dipped lights for roads with lighting and when in fog.

Q2.) Is there a sure shot, easy way to remember the appropriate stopping distances? I can't just memorise arbitrary figures "when driving at 100km/h in rain you must allow a stopping distance of exactly 15.8km.

15.8KM stopping distance?

I need some kinda formula that will allow me to calculate the appropriate stopping distance for any speed I might be driving at. There must be some kinda logic behind setting these stopping distance rules and if so there must be a mathematical formula I can use. When its raining do I double the stopping distance that would apply to a dry road?

There are formulas but to use them you need to know specific details about the car such as its braking system performance, the friction generated by the tires, the car's drag coefficient, the car's mass amongst many other things. The figures used in the theory test are based on the average car in average condition. You don't need to over complicate it anyway. Just keep doing the questions over and over until you remember them. If all else fails make a table with speeds and "Rain" "No Rain"

BogMonkey

partyatmygaff wrote: »

15.8KM stopping distance?

I was just coming up with random numbers off the top of my head. I can't remember what the actual figures on the test were. I need to be able to answer any of these stopping distance questions that I might get on the test. I think this theory test contains loads of unnecessary questions because
things like adequate stopping distance are things you will learn through practice while doing driving lessons. Memorising numbers isn't going to do you any good when you're actually driving.

Mister Jingles

BogMonkey wrote: »

I failed the theory test a 2nd time. I can't afford to fail it again. I have the book and CD but I can't learn by rote memorising like that I need to know the reasons behind things. I'm starting this thread so I can ask questions about the various rules in hopes that knowledgeable people here can answer them. Anyone one else here with questions, you might as well ask them here since I'm dedicating a thread to it.

BogMonkey wrote: »

Q1.) What are full headlights for? According to the book, in fog you're supposed to drive slowly with "dipped" headlights. If you're not allowed to use them in fog, then what situations are you supposed to use them in?

Roads that are very dark and have no street lights. But only to be used when there is no oncoming traffic.

BogMonkey wrote: »

Q2.) Is there a sure shot, easy way to remember the appropriate stopping distances? I can't just memorise arbitrary figures "when driving at 100km/h in rain you must allow a stopping distance of exactly 15.8km. I need some kinda formula that will allow me to calculate the appropriate stopping distance for any speed I might be driving at. There must be some kinda logic behind setting these stopping distance rules and if so there must be a mathematical formula I can use. When its raining do I double the stopping distance that would apply to a dry road?

You learn them the same way you learned for your Junior Cert

BogMonkey wrote: »

Q3.) What are the rules concerning displaying your tax disc, insurance disc and NCT disk? In the question on the practice exam I ticked the option saying "you must display tax disc and insurance disc on the windscreen at all times" but that was wrong, the correct answer was that you must only display your insurance disc on your windscreen.

Seems odd. I would of picking Tax, Insurance and NCT too. As far as I know you are legally obliged to display Tax and Insurance and after the car's 4th birthday an NCT disc.

BogMonkey

Heres another one I dont get:

A solid white line means its a mandatory cycle lane that only cyclists are allowed to use but a broken line means its a non mandatory cycle lane which I thought meant that other vehicles can use the lane.

**Timbuk2**

No a broken white line at the edge of a cycle lane just means that you can cross the cycle lane - e.g. when the cycle lane crosses a side road, the lines will be broken because cars from the main road can turn across the cycle lane into the side road, and cars from the side road can drive across the cycle lane and turn onto the main road (assuming of course, that the cycle lane is clear).

Having said that, the Irish Statute Book states this:

(5) (a) A mechanically propelled vehicle, other than a mechanically propelled wheelchair, shall not be driven along or across a cycle track on the right hand edge of which traffic sign number RRM 022 has been provided, save for the purpose of access to or egress from a place adjacent to the cycle track or from a roadway to such a place.

RRM022 is a continuous white line. It doesn't make specific about a broken white line, which leads me to believe that it's possibly allowed to drive into a cycle lane with a broken white line on the right, but I'm not sure.

BogMonkey

**Timbuk2** wrote: »

No a broken white line at the edge of a cycle lane just means that you can cross the cycle lane - e.g. when the cycle lane crosses a side road, the lines will be broken because cars from the main road can turn across the cycle lane into the side road, and cars from the side road can drive across the cycle lane and turn onto the main road (assuming of course, that the cycle lane is clear).

Ah right, that explains it. Thanks. I never seem to get these kinda questions right: Whats the reasoning behind this? Why do you do those things in that specific order and why engage a low gear at the end rather than putting it in neutral?

**Timbuk2**

The handbrake (or parking brake as they refer to it as) is always the first thing you do when you park, and the last thing you do before you move off.

So when you park, put the handbrake on to secure the car. Then you turn off the ignition. After this, you put it in gear. The reason you put it in gear (and preferably first or reverse gear) is in the event of the handbrake failing, the gear will stop the car from rolling away!

As for the order, if you were to engage the gear first (after turning off the car), then the handbrake, it would be the gear that would be holding the strain of the car, not the handbrake, and as far as I know, the handbrake doesn't wear down as fast as the gears do!

Another step that could be included is if you are parking on a hill. If you are parking uphill, make sure to turn the wheels away from the kerb, and engage first gear after switching off the engine. If you are parking downhill, make sure to turn the wheels towards the kerb, and engage reverse gear after turning off the engine. This is because if the gears and handbrake were to fail, the front would roll towards the kerb which will help stop the car from rolling out into traffic! As far as I know, you should always engage a gear that opposes the direction it will roll, hence first gear while uphill and reverse gear while downhill (but this isn't hugely important, and wouldn't be asked on the theory test)!