Passing parked cars on narrow road?

cactus10

Something that I encounter regularly and how it may be seen by a tester; they say to leave a doors width between any parked cars that you are passing, however on MANY roads, a line of cars parked on the side and space required to do so would put you into the oncoming lane. In most day to day driving people just move towards the centre line but you are less than 'one doors width' away from the parked cars. What does the tester expect in this case?

I'm also wondering whats the correct procedure about signaling to cars that you are letting out/in. I gather flashing your headlights is a big no no, so in a test how should you signal to other road users that you are letting them go?

Cheers

Foxhole Norman

cactus10 wrote: »

I'm also wondering whats the correct procedure about signaling to cars that you are letting out/in. I gather flashing your headlights is a big no no, so in a test how should you signal to other road users that you are letting them go?

Cheers

Don't ever signal to leave someone go on your test. It's usually marked with a blue or sometimes even a red. You never give up your right of way in the test.

MascotDec85

If you need to reduce the door width gap you should reduce your speed, generally go down a gear and if absolutely necessary stop. By reducing your speed you are trying to give yourself enough time to react should a door be opened on you.

You should of course try to maintain progress and take control of your right of way but if someone is pushing through or taking more room that they should be it's up to you to react appropriately. If you don't you'll be marked for reaction to hazards.

As for signalling to others, don't. It falls under the "Do not beckon others" section. If something occurs that makes you have to wait do just that, wait.

ProudDUB

Agree with Foxhole Norman. If you have the right of way, keep on going. Letting other cars out/in may seem like the polite, considerate thing to do, but don't do it on your test. You'll get dinged for lack of progress and/or improper signaling to others if you do. Obviously, if a car is aggressively forcing their way into your path, let them in, but if the way is 100% clear for you to keep on going, do so.

On the parked cars, it depends on the circumstances & what is the safest thing to do in each circumstance. If you are driving past parked cars in a housing estate, with little or no other traffic around, slow down and leave a doors car width between you and the parked cars. Even if it means you will be crossing over towards the middle of the road, It's ok to do it in low traffic situations.

If you are on a busy road, and there is lots of traffic heading towards you, or in the lane beside you, you'll need to stay in your own lane, even if there are parked cars to your immediate right or left. If you don't, you WILL hit other cars & that is far worse than possibly clipping someones door.

ADIDriving

It is a doors width or slower. The less space you have the closser and slower you go, to the extent that you will often stop (well before the obstruction).
During YOUR test look after number 1. If you have right of way take it.

REDLINE@

The correct procedure is just by leaving a gap, also making eye contact helps to reassure the other driver or pedestrian of your intentions. Sometimes leaving a slightly bigger gap helps.


NEVER ever prompt/ beckon another driver or pedestrian regardless whether it’s Driving test or not,

If you’re beckoned by someone by all means take them up on their offer but remember all your checks and don’t feel forced to go until its safe.


Courtesy

On your test if you’re in slow moving traffic and a vehicle is emerging out from a side road or is trying to cross in front of you and you could have easily have let them out/in, you may pick up a mark for Courtesy. Remember your not beckoning you are just leaving a gap.

Driving Fault Marking Guides
Courtesy
An applicant should allow an oncoming vehicle to turn right e.g. in slow moving traffic, or allow a vehicle
to emerge e.g. from private property, when in very slow moving traffic.


ADIDriving quoted correctly

ADIDriving wrote: »

It is a doors width or slower. The less space you have the closser and slower you go, .

But one thing I noticed about your original post that you mentioned the space required would put you into the oncoming lane you didn’t say oncoming traffic… if the oncoming lane is clear give the required clearance to parked cars if the oncoming lane has traffic then reduce your clearance if needed and reduce your speed.

arleitiss

I hate driving on narrow roads, usually I gradually reduce speed, moving slowly, I move near cars on left trying to allow space for others. btw in driving test should you stop in these cases and let ppl through or go ahead?

ADIDriving

arleitiss wrote: »

I hate driving on narrow roads, usually I gradually reduce speed, moving slowly, I move near cars on left trying to allow space for others. btw in driving test should you stop in these cases and let ppl through or go ahead?

Oftentimes, yes. You are probably going to sit your test in Raheny, which has lots of narrow roads, with lots of parked cars. You will have to stop on many of these.

arleitiss

ADIDriving wrote: »

Oftentimes, yes. You are probably going to sit your test in Raheny, which has lots of narrow roads, with lots of parked cars. You will have to stop on many of these.

I am going to do it in Finglas or somewhere there, my instructor showed me roads.

keith16

Hi all,

thought I would reply to this thread rather than start a new one as my question is very similar.

I find this situation arises most in the housing estates and that there can be very little room to play with. What speed should you be looking at generally in housing estates?

Also, sometimes on main roads it appears you have no choice but to cross to the other side of the road and break a continuous white line. Should you always indicate in this instance?

Chris_Heilong

its a rule that can be bent, drive a doors length from parked cars when possible.

ADIDriving

keith16 wrote: »

Hi all,

thought I would reply to this thread rather than start a new one as my question is very similar.

I find this situation arises most in the housing estates and that there can be very little room to play with. What speed should you be looking at generally in housing estates?

USUALLY 30 something. It really depends on so many factors.

Also, sometimes on main roads it appears you have no choice but to cross to the other side of the road and break a continuous white line. Should you always indicate in this instance?

Hard to think of a reason not to signal, so yes.

Chris_Heilong

ADIDriving wrote: »

Hard to think of a reason not to signal, so yes.

well except if there is a turn off to the right.

ADIDriving

Chris_Heilong wrote: »

well except if there is a turn off to the right.

This can discourage you from signaling. But you can still turn the indicator on for two flashes, drift out and then turn the signal off again.

newport2

cactus10 wrote: »

Something that I encounter regularly and how it may be seen by a tester; they say to leave a doors width between any parked cars that you are passing, however on MANY roads, a line of cars parked on the side and space required to do so would put you into the oncoming lane. In most day to day driving people just move towards the centre line but you are less than 'one doors width' away from the parked cars. What does the tester expect in this case?

I remember my instructor mentioned this to me and said it was one of the biggest failing points in the Rathgar test. He said if you can't leave a full doors width when passing a row of parked cars, then slow down to a virtual crawl while passing them.