New car tech and the driving test

Stheno

Dropped into my mechanic yesterday to have a chat about sorting out the OH's car servicing needs.

Turned into a conversation about changing technology in cars, and how he as a mech. has to keep up. I work in IT so I face the same challenge, but he'd two really interesting examples:

1. He'd a customer who has a fiesta with park assist and when they did the test, and were asked to park, they hit the button. The tester couldn't fail them, but it's under investigation as the person driving didn't technically park the car.

2. Automatic braking on sensing an obstacle, how is that going to work going through a roundabout with potential obstacles?

Thought it was interesting how new tech might impede people getting through the test?

challengemaster

Actually parking isn't actually a marked part of the test anyway, at least I don't remember it being and haven't heard it get introduced since.

Alanstrainor

Parking isn't part of the test, and as far as I know, having to parallel park is extremely rare.

Things such as reverse cameras and sensors are perfectly fine in a test environment, so long as all the usual checks, such as blindspots are checked, in conjunction with whatever technology the car has.

colm_mcm

Wonder how electric handbrakes and hill-hold are looked upon in the driving test?

Bpmull

I recently passed my test in an octavia with parking sensors which beeped and came up on the centre display. I couldn't turn it off and I ignored it and done all my checks looked in mirrors etc . Tester didn't mind as he seen I had no dependence on the system. Hope this helps.

Bpmull

Also I assume the above situation about parking that the op stated Is parking at the test centre after the test they will mark you on this parking alright. People often get marks here as they think the test is over its not and if the car is not straight or you didn't observe probably while parking at the test centre you will be marked.

Alanstrainor

Bpmull wrote: »

Also I assume the above situation about parking that the op stated Is parking at the test centre after the test they will mark you on this parking alright. People often get marks here as they think the test is over its not and if the car is not straight or you didn't observe probably while parking at the test centre you will be marked.

Just to be clear though. There is no parking section in the marking sheet. So long as you keep it between the lines, and don't do anything stupid you will not be marked for it. That's why people are always advised to just park as easily as possible.

Gran Hermano

Whilst not on the Irish test I believe it is on the English one.

Stheno

Interesting feedback guys thanks
Been about five years since I did my test, if ye don't mind I'll give my mechanic that feedback to give to his customer?

Atlantic Dawn

Tech or no tech a good tester will recognise a bad driver.

Marcusm

Gran Hermano wrote: »

Whilst not on the Irish test I believe it is on the English one.

Second part is definitely correct; have to perform 2 manoeuvres out of (1) reverse (parallel) parking, (2) bay parking, (3) turning in the road, (4) reverse around a corner and (5) emergency stop.

Is it correct that there's no formal manoeuvre testing in the Irish test?

Edit: looking at the marking sheet here ( http://lizindublin.com/2012/08/getting-my-irish-driving-license-a-six-year-journey/ ) it seems that the final marking section is headed "parking".

Nissan doctor

I personally think that all driving aids that can be should be switched off for a driving test(aside from ABS of course).

Its supposed to be a test of a persons driving skills, not the on board computers driving skills.

Stheno

Nissan doctor wrote: »

I personally think that all driving aids that can be should be switched off for a driving test(aside from ABS of course).

Its supposed to be a test of a persons driving skills, not the on board computers driving skills.

Strangely enough, that was my own mechanics thoughts, along the lines of "well how'd you cope if it failed?"

Turtle-TM

Funnily enough I was only thinking this in relation to the nct also. My car only took 10 mins to go through,it couldnt go on the rolling road/suspension device as it has all wheel drive and air suspension. And with the electric hand break that couldn't be tested either as pressing the accelerator when it's on releases it.

If I did my driving test now in it I wouldn't be able to do a hill start for the above reason. Also a lot of new cars are shipping with accident avoidance systems which break if an obstruction is sensed in front of it. And as mentioned above the new focus has auto park,which was,originally only on high end lexus'. There's going to need to be some big changes in the nct and testing soon as tech starts going into the €20k mid size hatch backs

awec

This post has been deleted.

Stheno

Turtle-TM wrote: »

If I did my driving test now in it I wouldn't be able to do a hill start for the Also a lot of new cars are shipping with accident avoidance systems which break if an obstruction is sensed in front of it.

That was another thing we discussed not just in relation to the driving test but how dangerous it could be a. on a motorway with animals crossing (I drive regularly at night on motorways at the moment) and b. if it stopped, especially with motorway driving where you are or should be always looking out for what is going on.

How do you hill start in normal situations if you don't mind my ignorance?

Turtle-TM

Well if I was I'm the car I passed my test in I.e a manual with regular handbrake I'd use the normal procedure to do a hill start, in my automatic with electronic hand brake, once I put it on, I release the brake pedal, the car is held by the handbrake, then to move off I simply press the accelerator. I don't know how this would be assessed in the test though.

I know in the new focus it slows you to a stop under 19km/h if it senses an obstruction ahead, I.e a car suddenly braking

flanders2006

Stheno wrote: »

How do you hill start in normal situations if you don't mind my ignorance?

My auto Citroen C4 Grand Picasso has a hill start feature where when the car is stopped on a hill and I release the handbrake the car won't roll back for 2 seconds giving me time to move off.

antodeco

I did my test in a mini, which literally had no tech in it. No power steering, no abs, etc. I think the instructor was going to pass regardless of how I did, as he was just happy to get a spin in the car!

Brian_Zeluz

I did my test just over and year ago, there is no parallel parking involved. However you do have to park in one of the bays at the centre which are just like any other car park and you are marked for a reverse parking manoeuvre which is why it's recommend that you reverse park the car before the test. That way you can just drive straight in to a spot when the test is over.

Dartz

colm_mcm wrote: »

Wonder how electric handbrakes and hill-hold are looked upon in the driving test?

Done my test in a car with one.

Didn't tell the tester. We stopped on a hill and I racked the brake on with my right hand. He didn't see that. When I slipped it into neutral the poor fella jumped forward in his seat expecting the car to roll back. Ended up explaining it to him what was going on.

My instructor told me that it's nothing more than a feature of the car. Made the hillstart easy.

Still, I learned to drive on a regular handbrake car. It's useful to know. And still can, as the new Megane proves. Even with the **** clutch on it that has about a foot or more of pedal travel and only does anything in the last inch.