Driving lessons in different area to test?

happyfish

Hi everyone I'd really appreciate some advice I've been driving for about a year now,I sat my test in Cavan over the summer and failed it, at the time I felt I was confident enough and probably could have passed with a few more lessons but then I started college in Dublin and haven't had the chance to drive much since I've only had access to a car at the weekends.
Anyway I really want to pass the test so I can bring my car up to Dublin with me, because between placements and different projects in college I spend hours on public transport and it seems such a waste when I have the car that I'm paying for.:(
What I was wondering is about the feasibility of having lessons in a different area to the test? I'm reluctant to take the test in Dublin because the traffic in Cavan is so much more manageable imo. Would this be stupid or would it be worth it to practise the different manuveres like reversing around a corner?
I'm really grateful for any advice!!

MascotDec85

You want to learn how to drive not learn how to pass a test!

Take lessons wherever you can, if that means Dublin then so be it. Get as much experience where and when you can. Wherever you decide to take the test contact an instructor in that area well before your test date so that you can familiarise yourself with the test routes

ADIDriving

It certainly would be a good idea to get practice lessons and advice from an instructor in Dublin. If you are going to return to Cavan for your test, go back a little early to allow for a pretest lesson or two on the routes. If you can move off properly, turn left, turn right, stop properly, reverse around a corner, etc in Dublin, then you can do it in Cavan also. It is common enough that people have to practice in one area, then sit their test it another.

Del2005

MascotDec85 wrote: »

You want to learn how to drive not learn how to pass a test!

+1

happyfish wrote: »

Hi everyone I'd really appreciate some advice I've been driving for about a year now,I sat my test in Cavan over the summer and failed it, at the time I felt I was confident enough and probably could have passed with a few more lessons but then I started college in Dublin and haven't had the chance to drive much since I've only had access to a car at the weekends.
Anyway I really want to pass the test so I can bring my car up to Dublin with me, because between placements and different projects in college I spend hours on public transport and it seems such a waste when I have the car that I'm paying for.:(
What I was wondering is about the feasibility of having lessons in a different area to the test? I'm reluctant to take the test in Dublin because the traffic in Cavan is so much more manageable imo. Would this be stupid or would it be worth it to practise the different manuveres like reversing around a corner?
I'm really grateful for any advice!!

So your not confident enough to do your test in Dublin but think you are good enough to drive in Dublin after passing in Cavan. If you don't think you can pass in Dublin you shouldn't be driving to Dublin.

The rules are the same and you have to deal with the traffic you get on the test. I've done several tests in Dublin where there has been hardly any traffic on the roads and some tests have had loads. Generally the Dublin test routes I've done, Chruchtown/Rathgar and Finglus, haven't been on the busy roads they are usually on the quieter urban roads.

ADIDriving

Del2005 wrote: »

So your not confident enough to do your test in Dublin but think you are good enough to drive in Dublin after passing in Cavan. If you don't think you can pass in Dublin you shouldn't be driving to Dublin.

The OP is making a fair and reasoned decision to sit their test in Cavan. It is simply easier to pass the test in non-Dublin test centres. Why should they make life harder by sitting the test in Dublin on roads that they are possibly less familiar with. If they pass in Cavan they are then qualified to drive where ever they want.
I don't think that it is right or fair that the test centres have such different pass rates: Cavan ~ 54%, Finglas, Raheny, Rathgar ~ 40%. But this is the country we live in.

Del2005

ADIDriving wrote: »

The OP is making a fair and reasoned decision to sit their test in Cavan. It is simply easier to pass the test in non-Dublin test centres. Why should they make life harder by sitting the test in Dublin on roads that they are possibly less familiar with. If they pass in Cavan they are then qualified to drive where ever they want.

That's all we and good to pass the test. But people should be thought to drive not pass a test.

If the OP is going to be driving in Dublin but doesn't fell confident enough to pass the test in Dublin then they shouldn't drive in Dublin. They may well have a full licence and be able to drive anywhere but if they don't think they can pass a test in Dublin they should at least consider getting some lessons in Dublin to build up their confidence.

ADIDriving wrote: »

I don't think that it is right or fair that the test centres have such different pass rates: Cavan ~ 54%, Finglas, Raheny, Rathgar ~ 40%. But this is the country we live in.

Of course it's going to be easier to pass a test if all you have to worry about is a few tractors double parked. More traffic makes driving harder and therefore the test will require more skill to pass.

The testers are supposed to do the same test and if you think they aren't, as an instructor, you should be escalating it and not encouraging people to take the easy option for what is a hard life long learning process.

happyfish

Del2005 wrote: »

+1




So your not confident enough to do your test in Dublin but think you are good enough to drive in Dublin after passing in Cavan. If you don't think you can pass in Dublin you shouldn't be driving to Dublin.

QUOTE]

If I was totally afraid of driving in dublin I wouldn't even consider getting lessons here. Doing my test in Dublin doesn't make sense to me not just because in Rathgar there's a much lower pass rate than Cavan and I'm far less used to the roads here but also because I don't have a car or an accompaying driver in Dublin.That's just my opinion though but I think it's a little unfair to say i'm taking the easy way out when I'm from Cavan/
I have decided to get lessons in Dublin though just to improve my driving even if not for the test:D
Thanks for the advice everyone.Got a notification for the test today eeek!!

ADIDriving

Del2005 wrote: »

That's all we and good to pass the test. But people should be thought to drive not pass a test.

People get lessons to learn to drive at the start. When their test is imminent, their focus turns to passing the test. A person who is a few weeks away from their leaving cert. should be focusing on that syllabus rather then studying different subjects to broaden their knowledge in a vague, non-specific way.

Of course it's going to be easier to pass a test if all you have to worry about is a few tractors double parked.

A bit ott. Driving properly for a test in Cavan is still driving properly.

The testers are supposed to do the same test and if you think they aren't, as an instructor, you should be escalating it and not encouraging people to take the easy option for what is a hard life long learning process.

I and many others have questioned the vast difference in pass rates with senior members of the RSA. They have their reasons. I don't accept these reasons, but that has little to do with this thread. The OP answered very well as to why it is simply logical for them to sit their test in their home town. The pass rates are simply another reason that they may not have been aware of. As suggested above when I teach people to drive, I teach them to drive as perfectly as possible, for a life time of varied driving. When someone comes for pretest lessons I still do this, but passing the test is realisticly their goal.

happyfish

I've had my first lesson in Dublin and I'm hopefully getting another one some day next week Found the actual lesson a bit vague but I think this was mainly because I already know all the basics and he didn't want to focus on the test when we weren't in the right centre! Next week I'm hoping to do lots of reversing round corners though..:D Hopefully I'll pass the test at some point even if not this time!

ADIDriving

The lesson may be more vague as practicing driving in Dublin has less focus then an early lesson on roundabout for ex ample.There should be plenty of difficult driving with a lot of advice and constructive criticism. They could also simulate a test to help prepare you for that.

Chris_Heilong

I think driving correctly and learning the tricks needed to Pass the driving test and two completely diffrent things and most people I talked to that want to go for their test will look for somewhere with a high pass rate as opposed to there local center.

Proxy

When learning for my test, I had lessons on both the test route (Tuam) and where I was living (Dublin centre). I found lessons in the completely unfamiliar area of Dublin centre prepared me better for the driving test than the lessons in Tuam. The lessons in Tuam obviously got me familiar with driving in the town, but since I knew the town inside out anyway (living there for over 20 years), I found myself more prepared for unexpected situations and better concentration. I'm not driving long, so that's just my experience of it...

I suppose my point is drive anywhere and get used to driving, since it's a test of that rather than how well you know the area. Past the test, that'll last you better than a 40 minute assessment.